Naria's hands are neither petite nor delicate. On the slender and powerful fingers, the knuckles are slightly protruding, and the palm can even touch the thin calluses sharpened by sword practice.

It wasn't the first time Ed had held her hand, and for some reason, it seemed to feel a little different.

It's not like the usual natural touch, and it's not like the careful apprehension and joy of pretending to be husband and wife in Balach...... He was anxious and flustered, his heart beating fast and slow, chaotic, sinking into his stomach at one time, heavy as an indigestible stone, and at another as if it was about to rush out of his throat, restless like a little fireball, making him sweat on his forehead with heat for a while, and shivering with coldness the next.

But he had never known so clearly as he did at this moment that he liked Naria...... It's much more than just "liking".

Perhaps it was the ignorance of the first time they met a few years ago—he could still remember her annoyed look, her glowing eyes, and the reddish face of flour that she couldn't wipe clean......

Or maybe it's when they're fighting all obstacles side by side in the search for Is.

Without Naria's courage and persistence, he would have easily retreated to his mother's objections, retreating into his room and lamenting the friendship that had never returned with his white wings.

There was no need for Tess to remind him, intentionally or unintentionally, that he knew that Naria was different.

He's not River, he's never been able to talk about love easily, and he's not like his father at all in that regard. And branding all your concerns and concerns as "friendship" makes things much easier.

But now...... He didn't know how to change this different "friendship" back to its proper name.

The hand unconsciously clenched tighter and tighter. He knew he had to say something, but he opened his mouth for Ai Ai. But he couldn't say a complete sentence for a long time.

Nalya looked at him with a slight surprise at first, a faint blank smile on her face, and then gradually became a little embarrassed.

"Ed ?...... Is there something wrong?" she asked softly, awkwardly. He seemed to be trying to pull his hand out, but he didn't use much force.

Ed let go of his hand as if he had suddenly woken up, and staggered behind his back.

"I just...... Just wanted to thank you......" he stammered, his voice getting lower and lower, "No, thank you, thank you for staying with me...... Whatever I've done wrong......"

"But you didn't do anything wrong. Naria told him softly. "Besides, isn't that the way it should be? We're your friends. ”

Ed loves the word "friend" and always brings him warmth and strength. But at the moment...... But it was like a bead of ice that wouldn't melt and fell into hot magma, and he didn't like the cold that spread so quickly.

"What if...... I don't just want to be your 'friend'?" he blurted out.

A hint of panic swept over Naria's face. She shrugged her shoulders with a forced smile, "If you will call me 'sister'." I don't mind thinking of you as my brother either—and I don't think Is's will. ”

“...... Is there no other choice but 'friend' and 'brother'?" Ed asked softly, feeling an unknown flame burning in her heart. A little bit of it went down.

Naria lowered her eyes. Biting her lower lip slightly, avoiding his gaze.

That's an answer.

Disappointment came up like cold water from the bottom of my heart - disappointment, but it didn't seem so unexpected.

It was too sudden...... This is not the right time...... Ed could deceive himself for many reasons, but he knew very well that the real reason was that he wasn't the right person – at least not yet.

They've known each other for so long and been through so much together, and some things don't need to be said at all. He should have understood, he was just...... Suddenly I couldn't control myself.

He lost so much. He desperately needed something to fill his empty heart...... But not his. After all, you can't force it.

It's kind of sad...... It's ridiculous again. If he could, he would really like to dig a pit under the roses and bury himself in it. But he could only be silent for a moment, and then laughed hastily and pretended to be relaxed: "Then I'll choose 'friend'." I can't be Scott's nephew and his brother...... It's also weird. ”

That's probably a joke...... But no one could laugh.

Naria tugged at the corners of her mouth, as if she didn't know what else to say.

"I have to ......" Ed waved his hand behind him haphazardly, but couldn't think of any suitable reason to get out of the stiff and awkward atmosphere, so he simply shut his mouth, gave Narya a smile that would never look good, turned around, and hurried away like a runaway.

Before it began, it was over - he suddenly thought of an epitaph for himself.

Whether it is his love or life, it seems to be quite an appropriate description.

Naria watched in amazement as Ed's back disappeared into the night, her clasped hands twisted together in annoyance.

Her shoulders collapsed, and she felt more strenuous than she had been climbing up and down the mountains of the north all day. A gust of wind penetrated her sweaty vest, making her shiver unconsciously.

It's not that she didn't think that sooner or later there would be this day, but she didn't expect it to be today, so suddenly that she couldn't avoid it, and she was completely caught off guard.

Now her mind was in a mess, and she could barely remember what she had said...... She didn't seem to say anything, but that was bad enough.

She rejected Ed in such a clumsy way that she wanted to erase the entire memory from her mind. Nothing will happen to the guy who has lost his soul under the repeated blows, right? Maybe it won't be so difficult to give him a little hope with a few perfunctory words......

No, it was really hard for her. She probably wouldn't have done better if she had to do it all over again, but that didn't stop her from wanting to punch herself in frustration.

Even if she was so upset that she wanted to use her sword to slash someone, she didn't miss the rustling sound among the flowers.

"Who's there?" she snapped, quickly drawing the dagger from her boot. Many times more murderous than usual.

“...... I!

Tess immediately raised her hands and stepped out from behind a clump of hydrangeas.

Naria exhaled and lowered her sword. The muscles in his face were still stiff and tense.

"Did you hear them all?" she asked, not knowing what to say.

"Hear them all!" Tess patted her chest, "the gods are above...... Or whatever is on it, see him grab your hand and squeeze out a ...... word, my heart is about to break...... But by this time, his heart was probably shattered to powder. Oh! poor fellow. ”

It was a very simple sentence of sympathy, without any accusation, but it was a little harsh to Naria's ears.

But this is Tess...... She couldn't be indifferent. Tess, who had no malice, got angry, but muttered in a little frustration, "I knew you would be on his side." ”

Tess was stunned for a moment, then rubbed it over with a smile. Stretched out his arms and hugged her waist: "How come! If you want to choose a side to stand, of course I will always be on your side, sweetheart—— but this is not a war, where is there any side to stand, I just want to know...... You really don't like Ed at all. Or didn't you think about it at all?"

"I was like, 'I didn't think about it at all.'" Nariara grimaced. "But you never gave up reminding me. ”

"Because it is very, very important to find someone who loves you and you love and live well with him. "Although it is not the only important thing...... So you really didn't like him at all? You know, 'that' like. ”

Naria hesitated for a moment, but slowly shook her head: "He is my best friend, and I am willing to face any danger for him...... I think that's all I think. I knew he was good, and I thought maybe that would be good...... But no. That's not right, like pepper in a cookie. Or something as wrong with spicy sausage with jam. ”

Tess tilted her head in thought and burst out laughing.

"It's not funny! Tess!" Naria was upset.

"Of course!" Tess quickly straightened her face, "but if you think something is wrong, it's wrong, and there's nothing wrong with letting Cookie die early to find its jam, and maybe one day he'll thank you for it." ”

“...... Really?" Naria wasn't so sure, "I know I'll have to turn him down one day, if he doesn't find the girl he really likes before he's brave enough to speak...... But I didn't want to give it to him again at such a time...... He'll be fine, right?"

"Oh, he's not that vulnerable, okay? Honestly, you're all so careful about him, it makes him feel too vulnerable. Tess pouted disapprovingly, "I told Norway that, but he takes care of everyone like a child in his bones...... He's three hundred years old, after all—do you like Is? I mean, 'kind' like. ”

This unforeseen change of subject made Nalya almost choke on her own saliva.

"Isn't it Ed, it's Eth?" she cried out, "I have to like this childish and headstrong guy who doesn't know anything?——

She stopped abruptly, her face flushed in the moonlight.

“...... I see. Tess glanced at her and nodded solemnly, "I see." ”

“...... What do you understand?" asked Naria, skeptically.

"Sweetheart, even you can't like my elf. ”

"What the hell...... I didn't want to like your elves!"

"But he's the only one here who isn't childish...... Well, except for your father. ”

"The gods are above...... "Naria's desperate voice drifted through the night, "I shouldn't have told you this......"

"Well, I don't think the gods have had time to deal with this lately...... Hey, sweetheart, what do you think of Gavin, he looks pretty reliable, doesn't he?"

"Tess!"

"Or Goodyle?oh, I've always felt like we're missing something in our adventuring team, and now I know - a mage!"

"Oh my God, Tess...... Leave me alone......".

(To be continued......)