"So where did we go, before I was so rude?" He asked in the urbane rhythm of the early centuries.

"To tell you the truth, I don't remember."

He smiled, but his expression was a little ashamed. "I think we're talking about why you're scared, beyond the obvious ones."

"Oh, that's right."

"Hmm."

Imia looked down at Roger's hand, scribbling aimlessly in his smooth, rainbow-like palm. Minute by minute.

"I'm always so easily frustrated." He sighed. Imia looked into his eyes and realized unexpectedly that every bit and every bit of this moment was new to him, just as it was to himself. Even with so many years of unfathomable experience, it was tough for him. Imia took courage from the thought.

"I'm scared...... Because, for well, obvious reasons, I can't be with you. And what scares me is that I want to be with you, and this desire is even stronger than I should be. Imia said, looking down at his hand. It was very difficult for Imia to say it out loud.

"Yes." He slowly agreed. "That's something to be afraid of, indeed. Want to be with me. This really shouldn't be your greatest interest. ”

Imia frowned.

"I should have left a long time ago." He sighed. "I should have left now. But I don't know if I can do it. ”

"I don't want you to leave." Imia said as she bit her lip sadly and lowered her head again.

"That's exactly why I should leave. But don't worry. I was originally a selfish guy. I'm too sure of you to even do what I'm supposed to do. ”

"I'm very happy."

"Don't do that!" He withdrew his hand, this time more gently. His voice was much harsher than usual. It's harsh to him, but it's still more beautiful than any human voice.

Imiah had a hard time keeping up with Roger - his sudden mood change always left Imia out of the way, leaving him alone.

"I'm more than your company! Never forget that. Never forget that I am far more dangerous to you than I am to anyone else. Roger stopped, and Imia looked over to see him staring into the forest, but oblivious to everything.

Imia pondered for a moment.

"I don't think I get exactly what you mean - the last part." Imia said.

Roger looked back, looked at Imia, and smiled. His mood changed again.

"How do I explain that?" He said thoughtfully. "Can't scare you anymore...... Uh-huh. Without thinking, he put his hand back in Imia's hand, and Imia held his hand tightly with both hands. Roger looked at their clasped hands and felt a rush of warmth.

"It's amazingly pleasant, it's so warm." He sighed.

After a few moments, he gathered his thoughts.

"You know how everybody likes different tastes?" He began. "Some people prefer chocolate-flavored ice cream, while others prefer strawberries?"

Imia nodded.

"I'm sorry to use food to analyze it – I can't think of any other way to explain it."

Imia smiled. He smiled miserably.

"You see, everybody smells different and has a different essence. If you lock a drunkard in a room full of bad beer, he will be tempted to drink. But he could hold back, if he wanted to, if he was a reformed ex-alcoholic. Now, suppose you put a glass of century-old brandy in your room, the most precious, the finest cognac – and fill the whole room with its warm aroma – what do you think he will do next? ”

They sat in silence, looking each other in the eye – trying to read each other's thoughts.

He broke the silence first.

Perhaps the analogy is not quite right. Maybe it's too easy to restrain yourself from drinking brandy. Probably, I should use the example of an addict instead of an alcoholic. ”

"So you're saying I'm your personal brand of Hai-Loin?" Imia teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He smiled quickly, seeming to appreciate Imia's efforts. "Yes, you're absolutely right."

"Does this happen often?" Imia asked.

He looked up over the treetops and into the distance, pondering his answer.

"I talked to my brothers about it." He was still looking into the distance. "To Akkas, every single one of you is the same. He was the last to join our family. For him, restraint alone was already struggling. He hadn't had time to experience different smells, different tastes. Roger looked at Imia quickly, his expression full of apologies.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"I don't mind. Please don't worry about offending me, or scaring me, or anything like that. That's how you think. I can understand, or at least I will try to. Whatever you want, as long as you can explain it. ”

He took a deep breath and gazed at the sky again.

"So Aekas wasn't sure if he had ever met such a person," he hesitated, searching for the right word, "so attractive, just as you and I did." It made me think it was impossible. Dyson Card has been drinking a little bit longer, so to speak, and he understands what I mean. He said that there were two times, and for him, once he tried, the temptation of the second time was stronger than the last. ”

"What about you?"

"Never tried."

The words lingered for a moment in the warm breeze.

"What did Dyson Card do?" Imia asked, breaking the silence.

But Imia asked the wrong question. Roger's face darkened, and his hands clenched into fists in Imia's. Roger looked away. Imia waited, but he wasn't going to answer.

"I guess, I already know." Imia finally said.

He raised his eyes, his expression full of pleading.

"Even the toughest of us get addictions back, don't they?"

"What are you asking about? My permission? Imia's voice was sharper than she had planned. She tried to make her tone more friendly—Imia could guess that his honesty must have tormented him. "I mean, there's no hope anymore, right?" Imia suddenly felt that she could talk about her death so calmly!

"No, no!" Roger immediately remorseful. "Of course there is hope! I mean, of course I won't ......" he hung the unfinished sentence aside. His gaze burned Imia's eyes. "It's not the same for us. Dyson Card ...... Those two were just strangers he met by chance. That was a long time ago, and he wasn't old enough then...... You can't be as experienced and cautious as you are now. ”

As if halfway through, Roger fell silent and looked intently at Imia.

The scene suddenly fell into embarrassment, and Imia was thinking about the scene when she first met, as if she wanted to draw some conclusion.