Lucan and Julia walked side by side through the forest, the canopy above casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air was cool, filled with the scent of pine and earth, but there was an unspoken tension between them that neither seemed to know how to break.
"..."
"..."
The silence stretched, punctuated only by the rustle of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of birds. Julia glanced at Lucan out of the corner of her eye, her heart beating faster than she would have liked. She cleared her throat, trying to muster the courage to speak.
"Um, we've been in the forest together before, remember? During the noble academy's class." Her voice wavered slightly, betraying her nervousness.
Lucan looked at her, surprised by the sudden conversation. "Huh? Oh, during the monster-hunting class?"
At the academy for nobles, where they had both studied, there were practical classes that involved venturing into the forest or mountains to hunt monsters. It was expected that nobles, who would one day lead others, should be capable of defending against the threats that lurked beyond the city walls. Lucan, aspiring to be a priest, had participated as a healer, assisting the more combat-oriented students.
Julia continued, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "We got separated from the group due to a monster attack, lost our way back… and ended up sharing a tent, right?"
"Yeah… We didn't have enough food, so we split dried meat and cheese," Lucan replied, his tone calm as he remembered the incident. The memory was distant but vivid—one of those intense experiences that remained etched in his mind.
"Yes…" Julia's voice softened, almost wistful. "I sprained my ankle because of a monster, and you carried me until we found our way back…"
"Huh?" Lucan was momentarily taken aback by the emotion in her voice, but before he could respond, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
Julia had reached out and grabbed it, her fingers trembling slightly. She turned to him, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "…You were a priest who couldn't fight, but you desperately tried to protect me… You looked so cool back then."
Lucan blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. "Thank you."
It was rare for Julia to be this open, and expressing her feelings. Usually she hide her true feelings but seeing her like this, with her defenses down, made Lucan feel a mix of emotion.
Julia's face was still flushed, her eyes locked on his with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. "Lucan…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'm an adventurer, but I'm twenty-three this year, and… well…"
Lucan sensed where this was heading and he was hoping someone Interrupts this because he wasn't ready for any relationship. Julia's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her emotions laid bare in a way that was so unlike her. She took a step closer to him, her hand still gripping his sleeve as if she feared he might slip away.
"Lucan," she said, her voice trembling, "I've always—"
The white fox, which had been absent for the past few minutes, appeared out of nowhere, leaping between Lucan and Julia. It landed gracefully on the ground, its eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Whoa!" Lucan jumped back, startled by the sudden appearance of the fox.
"Kyaa!" Julia also recoiled in surprise, her hand slipping from Lucan's sleeve as she took a step back.
For a moment, they both stared at the fox in confusion. Then, Lucan's eyes fell on the small creature that the fox held in its mouse with golden fur and a bright red gem on its forehead.
"Is that… a Golden Mouse?" Lucan asked, his voice filled with astonishment.
The white fox wagged its tail proudly, as if to say, "Yes, it is!"
Julia's eyes widened as she realized what had happened. "You found it… Great job!" Her tone was enthusiastic, but there was an undercurrent of something else—something more resigned.
Lucan, relieved by the interruption, bent down and scooped up both the white fox and the Golden Mouse, holding them gently in his arms. "Foxy, you're amazing!" He laughed, feeling the tension of the moment dissolve into something lighter.
The Golden Mouse, surprisingly docile, looked around with curious eyes but made no attempt to escape. It seemed almost content to be in Lucan's arms, its tiny nose twitching as it sniffed the air.
Lucan looked at Julia, "We did it, Julia! We completed the assignment!"
"…Yes, indeed." Julia's response was quiet, almost lifeless. She turned away, her earlier enthusiasm replaced by a hollow emptiness. Her mind was spinning, the words she had almost spoken echoing in her head. She had come so close to revealing her feelings, and now that the moment had passed, she felt a mixture of relief and regret.
Lucan, sensing the shift in her mood, took a step closer to her. "Julia, are you okay?"
She nodded, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… let's get back to the others. They'll be thrilled we found the Golden Mouse."
"Right…" Lucan agreed, glad that moment passed. If she had confessed then he had to reject in order to keep Maris around. If he rejected her then he would had lose contact with her, Hima and Olive.
As they began walking back through the forest, the white fox nestled comfortably in Lucan's arms, he couldn't help but glance at Julia. She was silent, her gaze focused straight ahead.
For Julia, the moment had passed, and with it, the chance to bridge the gap between them. She had come so close to telling him the truth about her feelings, but the appearance of the fox had interrupted her at the critical moment. Now, she felt exposed and vulnerable, her heart aching with the weight of what could have been.
And yet, as they walked side by side, Julia couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Even if she hadn't been able to say everything she wanted to, she had taken a step forward. Perhaps, one day, she would find the courage to try again.
For now, though, she was content to walk beside Lucan, sharing the silence with him, even if that silence was filled with words left unsaid.