Celeste frowned, hearing the sound of the door to the entrance opening.
She was in the living room, trying to distract her mind from thinking about Alden.
The noise of the egress had broken her out of her daze.
'Who could that be?'
She pondered the identity of the new arrival.
Both her parents were already home. Perhaps one of the Guild members had requested an audience and wanted to speak with her father privately.
But then, if that was the case, Celeste knew they would have knocked first, instead of casually strolling in.
Her frown deepened.
Just as she was about to alert one of the guards - it was strange how they hadn't intercepted the threat already -, she paused.
Her eyes slowly widened as she heard the echo of a familiar set of footsteps.
Those calm footfalls…
Celeste knew them off by heart.
She had burned their cadence into her memory, hoping to hear them again one day.
Her face lit up with pure joy.
Jumping to her feet, Celeste dashed towards the entrance.
However, she bumped into another figure before she left the living room and entered the corridor.
Celeste groaned and instinctively closed her eyes as she swayed.
Two strong arms wrapped around her frame, steadying her.
She unconsciously relaxed.
This warm touch…
Her eyes snapped open.
Celeste shifted her gaze, staring at the young man opposite her.
His deep, captivating, crimson eyes had a magnetic allure that drew her in.
White hair framed a pale face brimming with life.
A radiant smile gave his features a sparkling glow.
Celeste felt like she had butterflies in her stomach.
This young man gazing at her with tender affection… was none other than her beloved childhood friend.
"Al!"
Celeste jumped into Alden's arms, her profound relief overpowering any shame she might have felt at hugging him so tightly. She pressed her face against his chest, breathing in his scent and listening to his strong, steady and vigorous heartbeat.
The sound both calmed her and sent an excited shiver down her spine.
It was a strange, but not entirely unpleasant feeling.
Gripping him tightly, as if he was about to disappear, Celeste sobbed in her love's arms.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
She repeated those words, hoping Alden would forgive her.
After all, she was the reason he had embarked on the expedition.
"It's okay."
Celeste felt Alden gently rub circles on her back, and soon, under his soothing touch, she calmed down.
Wiping her eyes, she extricated herself from his arms.
Her cheeks flushed, recalling the embarrassing way she had leapt into his arms.
…It was then she noticed the pitch-black little bird hovering slightly above Alden's left shoulder.
Celeste felt her heart melt at its adorable appearance.
Then, her eyes widened, realising she was looking at a phoenix.
She sent a quizzical glance towards Alden.
"I found it on the verge of being devoured by one of the Defiled. I saved it and nursed it back to health, and now she's my familiar."
He grinned.
"Ignia, say hi to Mama."
The young man coaxed the bird, a twinkle in his eye.
Celeste's heart skipped a beat.
Something about Alden's tone sent another shiver of pleasure down her spine.
Swallowing, she smiled at the young phoenix.
Ignia cried, her intelligent amber eyes scrutinising her curiously.
Celeste slowly and carefully reached out her hand.
She stopped at the last moment, afraid of somehow marring the sacred bird.
"Go on. She won't bite."
Under Alden's encouragement, Celeste closed her eyes and stroked the little bird.
A sense of warmth assaulted her fingertips.
She unconsciously smiled as the little bird nuzzled her hand.
Her heart warmed.
Chancing a small peek, Celeste discovered a broad grin splitting Alden's face.
His eyes seemed to dance with both mirth and joy.
She flushed.
"I-I'll go make lunch!"
With that, Celeste ran away like a frightened mouse, suppressing the desire to pinch herself as her heart raced a million miles an hour.
Alden's boisterous laughter echoed in her wake.
***
Sitting at the dining table as he treated himself to some spicy soup, Alden sighed contentedly.
The broth warmed his soul, removing any lingering imprint of the chilly weather.
'How great it is to be back home…'
Especially, since he had the chance to taste Celeste's cooking again!
Asterons knew how much of a treat that was.
Alden felt like he was melting inside from the sheer bliss of it all.
Moreover, embracing Celeste as soon as he entered further increased his delight.
He hadn't done that in a long time. Not since they were kids.
The memory lingered in his mind.
He absently drank the delicious soup, remembering the childhood he shared with his first love.
Back then, she had been such a pure and innocent soul.
A real bundle of energy.
…Like a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dreary world.
Now, perhaps for the first time, Alden realised Celeste's charm had changed subtly.
Sure, she was still pure and innocent. However, after entering the later stages of adolescence, Alden noticed her beauty shoot through the roof, gaining a mature and refined charm.
It was as if she was coming into her own as a woman.
Subsequently, Celeste's figure had also experienced a noticeable change during those years.
…One that Alden couldn't help but be keenly aware of.
Although her lithe frame made Celeste seem weak, he knew she was anything but.
Beneath that apparent feebleness lay a fearsome woman in the making.
One that was quickly on the cusp of reaching adulthood.
Still, Alden couldn't help but view her as the fragile kid he had befriended all those years ago.
In his mind, she was still the same weepy person who cried whenever she got hurt.
…The same little girl who pleaded with him not to do anything dangerous and take better care of himself.
Alden sighed a little wistfully.
Time sure passed by in a flash.
'A little too fast for my liking, actually.'
However, even if an aeon passed, one immutable truth would always remain.
It was... his love for Celeste.
No matter what happened, she would hold the key to his heart.
She was the only one there was, and the only one that ever would be.
Alden itched to tell her how he felt.
'Tonight.'
He decided.
Alden was intent on confessing to her tonight.
Unfortunately, any future relationship they could have was now complicated by the vision he had seen.
Every time he recalled her lifeless corpse sprawled on the ground, his blood would run cold.
It was as if someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water on him.
Gritting his teeth, Alden shook off the maddening sensation.
He would raise the issue with Celeste at a later date.
Hopefully, by then, they'd be stronger and possess more information as well.
And hopefully, he could also gather some evidence to support his claims.
Alden swallowed and inwardly shook his head to get rid of his nerves.
He remembered how frail Celeste seemed as she sobbed in his arms.
He resolved never to make her worry like that ever again.
A second later, Alden grimaced, knowing that was a tough promise to keep in an Apocalypse.
'Oh well, I'll try to do the next best thing. Come back home in one piece.'
"Is the soup too spicy?"
Alden broke out of his musing and shifted his gaze towards Celeste.
She had an anxious look plastered on his face
"No, it's perfect."
Alden smiled.
"I saw you grimace and thought I had over-seasoned the broth. That's relieving!"
He saw Celeste show a relieved expression, pushing her bowl away.
'Typical…'
Alden's eyes danced with mirth.
"Ah, is the reason you winced because you're hurt?! Do you need me to heal you??"
He saw her scan his figure, noticing the cuts, bandages and scrapes.
He inwardly chuckled at her frantic tone.
"Cece…"
Alden whispered the nickname warmly.
Celeste blushed.
"I told you not to use that embarrassing nickname! We're no longer kids, Al."
Alden cracked up, which made her flush even more.
Flashing a teasing grin, he answered her question more seriously, staring into her emerald orbs.
"I'm okay. Actually, I'm better than okay! Anyone would be after getting a taste of your delicious cooking."
As he watched her beam at the praise, Alden inwardly smirked.
'Looks like some things never change…'