Ch. 10: A Sight I Longed For (SUN)
Somehow, the sky before me seemed so much clearer…-.
We returned to the town after having successfully stopped the spread of the forbidden grounds, and the people with white wings surrounded us, though they kept their distance.
Villager 1: "Lord Lucien…"
Lucien: "…"
It seemed as if the information about us obstructing the swamp had spread, and the people of the town looked at us in wonderment.
Lucien: "The thickening miasma is taken care of. But…no one must ever go near that place. I've decided to take responsibility for managing the area, so there's no need for you to worry."
Villager: "…"
At that time…-.
Little Girl: "Thank you Lord Lucien!"
A single girl came to stand before Lucien and gave him a flower.
Lucien: "You…"
Lucien bent down and met the girl's gaze.
Little Girl: "You know, my mom and dad went in there, and their wings turned black. So I couldn't see them…but it's okay now, right Lord Lucien?"
Lucien: "…"
Little Girl: "I can see my mom and dad, right?"
Lucien: "Yes…I promise."
Exchanging promises with the little girl, Lucien stood up straight.
Then one after another, the expressions of the townspeople who had watched the exchanged began to change.
Villager: "They just have black wings…what's wrong with that? Just now, those guys filled in the swamp for us. We…"
Hearing the commotion that was breaking out, Lucien quietly closed his eyes.
Lucien: "…"
Such a tender expression…
He once more slowly opened his jet black eyes, and this time they looked at me.
Lucien: "You went into the forbidden grounds back there…and if you hadn't gone in when we made the discovery, we never would have been able to take this step forward."
OO: "…!"
Lucien slowly closed the gap between us.
Soon he was beside me, and he placed a warm hand on my shoulder.
Lucien: "Actually, back then, I was scared…but you kept me positive. You woke me up…I think when that happened, I was actually given a fresh start."
As we stood there like that, he put his arm around my waist and pulled me into a tight embrace.
With a thrum in the air, his beautiful black wings shook.
OO: "U-um…"
At that moment I was worried he would hear the pounding of my heart, so I looked away.
Then…-.
Lucien: "Now, I can spread my wings."
As soon as he said those words, full of strength, Lucien lightly lifted me up.
As I was in his arms…-.
His beautiful jet black wings spread out wide, and Lucien leaped up towards the heavens.
I instinctively clung to Lucien at the sudden sensation of being airborne.
OO: "Lucien…!"
Lucien: "It's okay, hold on tight."
His wings pumped in the air as we lifted up higher, and the place we'd just been standing already looked very small.
Before long, we were far enough away that I couldn't even hear the noise of the people below…
Lucien: "I've always wanted to fly in the sky like this."
As he beat his gorgeous black wings in that sky that seemed to be just for the two of us, Lucien started to speak.
Lucien: "I've always been hiding these black wings, shutting myself up in the castle…"
OO: "…I'm sure you can spread your wings from now on. The people of this country…I believe they'll soon come to understand it too."
Lucien: "Yeah. I'll have to tell Micaela…my little brother."
OO: "Your brother?"
Lucien: "It always weighed heavily on my little brother, when my wings turned black."
OO: "…why is that?"
I was nervous about asking, but Lucien's expression seemed so open now, and he gave me a bittersweet smile.
Lucien: "When my brother, my friend, and I were playing near the forbidden grounds…they both lost their footing and were about to fall in. I saved them."
OO: "Then that was when you…"
Lucien: "Yeah."
To think that's what his past was…
Lucien: "I wonder…if we can go back to how things used to be."
Lucien looked up to the heavens.
Lucien: "But now I don't feel indebted to them, or inferior to them …This sight that I've always wanted to see, I think I could look at it forever and I would be content."
OO: "Lucien…"
Lucien: "OO…I want to show it to you too."
OO: "…!"
Lucien: "Please…won't you stay by my side and support me from now on? Because you're the one who gave me this step forward."
His wings that spread out were such a beautiful and deep black, but because of those black wings, he had been a bewitching person who wouldn't allow people to get near him.
He slowly asked me that question as both of his eyes sparkled.
He's kinder than anyone I know…
OO: "…yes, I'd be happy to."
Speaking quietly, I buried my face in his chest.
Then…
Lucien: "…"
Suddenly I wondered if his face was drawing closer, and he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
OO: "!"
Lucien: "To think the day would come…when I could love someone."
His smile was mischievous and he rested his cheek against my forehead. The place where his hair brushed against me tickled…
As I prayed that Lucien could always be smiling, I controlled the pounding of my heart and smiled at him.
END