I managed to find a temporary shelter in the midst of a raging blizzard: a cave.
It was sheer luck that had led me here, and I was grateful for it. I knew that I had to make the best of this situation, as it was better than being stranded out in the open with no protection from the harsh, unforgiving blizzard that was raging outside.
Despite not knowing how we got here, I was relieved that we had a place to stay even if it was just temporary. I couldn't help but think about how fortunate we were to have found this cave, as without it we might have perished in the freezing cold.
The howling winds outside were merciless, but for the moment, we were safe.
I quickly assessed our situation and noticed that the girl I was with was in a worse state than I was. She was shivering uncontrollably, and I knew that I needed to do something to help her.
I removed my robe and laid it on the ground. Despite the frigid temperatures, I knew that I needed to take some layers off to keep the girl warm. It was still cold inside the cave, but I knew that it was bearable enough for me to remove my robe without freezing to death.
I carefully placed her on top of the robe, making sure to wrap it around her as tightly as possible, in an attempt to ward off the cold.
As I looked at her trembling form, I knew that I needed to do more to help her. I decided to go outside and try to find some wood or anything that could be used to start a fire.
Stepping outside, I was immediately hit by the biting cold. It was so cold that I could feel my fingers and toes becoming numb within seconds.
I constantly relied on Heat to keep myself warm enough to go outside without my robe. Despite my efforts, the cold was still unbearable, making me shiver uncontrollably. However, I knew that I had to gather branches from the tree near the cave to make a campfire.
I approached the tree and began rubbing my arms to warm myself up even just a little.
"I-It's so cold," I muttered through chattering teeth, my body shivering uncontrollably despite the protective layer of mana I had coated myself with.
Even with the added warmth from my Heat spell, the chill of the winter air was still biting and relentless.
"But I have to do this..." With my fingers coated in aura, I started cutting branches from the tree.
Although my aura wasn't powerful enough to make the cuts as sharp as a blade, I persisted until I had enough branches for a campfire. The process left my hands slick with blood, but the pain was not significant in comparison to the importance of the task at hand.
As I looked up, my heart sank as I realized that it was already dark. Even though the visibility was poor, I could still discern whether it was day or night.
A wave of apprehension washed over me, and I mumbled to myself "...This is going to be a challenging situation." After all, it had been two long years since I last ventured outside. And now, I was compelled to spend the night outdoors. Despite my nerves, I had to accept this fate.
With a heavy heart, I trudged towards the cave, clutching a bundle of branches in my arms.
Upon entering the cave, I was greeted with the sight of the girl lying motionless on the cold, hard ground. The only thing between her and the unforgiving surface was the robe that I had placed under her quivering body. Though it was hardly a comfortable bed, it was better than nothing.
I couldn't help but notice the labored sound of her breath, which indicated that her condition was worsening. If I didn't act fast, she would surely catch a cold. I was actually surprised that she had not already fallen ill yet, given how long she had been exposed to the harsh elements.
Without hesitation, I placed the branches near her and began to chant the spell for Ignite. This simple yet useful spell was a staple in situations like these.
At first, the branches didn't burn immediately as they were still damp from the snow, but I persevered and attempted to ignite them multiple times.
Eventually, my persistence paid off and the branches finally ignited, their warmth spreading throughout the cave. It was a small comfort, but it was a comfort nonetheless.
The warmth slowly but surely enveloped my body, and after a few minutes, it seemed that the heat had finally fully embraced the girl's body as she stopped shivering.
I took the time to check if she had a fever as well, by lightly touching her forehead. To my relief, it seemed that she had not caught a cold or any other illness. With that, I breathed a deep sigh of relief.
However, as I looked down at her, I noticed how her clothes were already soggy and damped with snow. The wet fabric was clinging to her skin, leaving her body exposed to the icy temperature.
"...Oh, no." I muttered under my breath. If I wanted to prevent her from catching a cold, I had no other option...
***
Shionne's POV:
I awoke to find myself lying on the cold, hard ground. As I tried to understand where I was, I realized that I wasn't directly on the ground. Instead, I was resting on something soft and somewhat warm.
"This robe..."
It was then that I remembered this robe. This was the same one that Leon had lent me when I was crying in the hospital's courtyard.
As I looked around, I tried to piece together what had happened to me. It was a struggle to recall the last few moments before I lost consciousness, but then it hit me. I remembered being carried by a red-haired boy—Leon himself—on his back. The warmth of his body against mine had made me feel comfortable, and my eyes had grown weary with exhaustion.
But where was Leon now? As I attempted to sit up, I heard his voice.
"Are you awake?" he asked, gazing at the fire. He didn't turn to face me, and his shadow danced on the wall in the flickering light.
He seemed to be bundled with leaves and branches, probably an attempt to keep warm.
I slowly pushed myself up, rubbing my eyes as I tried to focus on Leon's silhouette. "Leon? Uhm, where am I? What happened?" I asked, my voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.
"Y-You passed out, and I tried to carry you back to our estate. Unfortunately, the blizzard made it difficult for me to navigate my way, and I got lost. I-I stumbled upon this cave while I was moving, and I had to stop here to avoid us dying in the blizzard outside. We're safe here, as long as we stay put."
I nodded slowly, still feeling a bit disoriented. "T-Thank you, Leon. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"I-It's no problem. I couldn't just leave you there, could I?" he said.
I let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of remorse as I reflected on the danger that I had inadvertently put him in. "I am truly sorry, Leon. I know that I have caused you a lot of trouble, and I deeply regret the fact that my actions put you in harm's way."
"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad I could help. Are you feeling better now?"
I nodded my head, feeling a small twinge of guilt. "Yes, I do feel much better now, thank you. But still, I cannot help but feel guilty for all the trouble that I have caused you. I never meant to worry you or put you in such a dangerous situation."
"It's not a big deal, really. I'm just glad you're okay now. But are you still cold? You should keep warm so you don't get sick."
I shook my head, grateful for the campfire he had made. "No, I'm not cold anymore. Thank you for making this campfire. It's really warm and comforting."
"I'm glad. But you really didn't have to thank me. I was cold too, after all."
I couldn't let his humble response go without acknowledging the immense gratitude I felt towards him. "I was thanking you for all the things that you've done for me. Not only did you save me from certain death, but you also made me a campfire so I wouldn't get cold. You had to go outside and gather branches in the freezing cold, even though you were cold yourself. I really appreciate everything you've done for me, so thank you."
He seemed taken aback by my words, his cheeks turning slightly pink. "It's nothing, really. You don't have to thank me for it."
Despite his words, he didn't meet my gaze. In fact, he hadn't looked me in the eye once since we began speaking. I couldn't help but recall our previous conversation six days ago, during which he also refused to make eye contact.
While I was reminiscing about our previous interaction, Leon interrupted my thoughts, saying, "M-M-May I ask why you're out in the cold this time?"
Frustrated by his lack of eye contact, I chose to remain silent. I didn't see the point in speaking to someone who couldn't even make eye contact while asking a question.
Leon seemed to notice my reluctance to speak. "D-Did you perhaps not hear me?" he asked, his voice a little louder this time.
I replied with a huff, "Hmph!" But then, something caught my eye, and I couldn't help but widen my eyes in shock.
My clothes, the ones I had been wearing when I left our estate, were lying near the campfire. I turned back to Leon and finally understood why he had deliberately avoided looking at me while he was talking.
My head felt like it was spinning as I looked down at my body, realizing that I was completely naked. Although the robe I was wearing covered most of my skin, enough of it was visible to make me feel self-conscious.
In a rush of embarrassment, I quickly wrapped the robe around myself. It then dawned on me that someone must have removed my clothes. I turned to Leon, who was blushing just as much as I was.
"N-Noooooo!!!"