Chapter 43: A Moment Between
The evening air was soft and calm, carrying a quiet sense of home as dinner time arrived. Amelia moved gracefully between the table and the kitchen, setting plates filled with steaming food. The aroma of roasted vegetables and warm bread filled the room, mingling with the soft laughter of Mary and the quiet hum of a settling household.
As they sat down, Amelia handed out the dishes with a gentle smile. "Here you go. Make sure you eat well."
The meal was simple but comforting, each bite warming them more than the fire crackling nearby. Lirael found herself relaxing, her eyes flicking to Ethan occasionally, catching his subtle glances, and feeling a warmth she couldn't quite place.
Amelia leaned slightly toward Lirael, her expression patient but kind. "Would you like to stay here tonight? Or perhaps longer?"
Before Lirael could answer, Mary practically bounced in her seat, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Please! Please let her stay! I… I really like her!"
Lirael laughed, the sound light and musical, glancing toward Ethan for reassurance. He gave a small nod.
"Well… if Ethan's okay with it," Lirael said, cheeks tinged with pink, "I'd be happy to stay."
Amelia chuckled softly. "Then wait here for a moment. I'll clean up your room first."
The rest of the evening passed in quiet comfort. Mary, exhausted from the day's events, had fallen asleep almost instantly in her own room, leaving Amelia to tend to her before retiring herself. Soon, only Lirael and Ethan remained in the living room, the soft firelight flickering across the wooden panels, bathing everything in golden warmth.
Lirael stirred slightly. "It's… really nice here," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of wonder. "I mean, it feels… safe. Cozy. I didn't expect…" Her words trailed off as Ethan's gaze met hers, steady and attentive.
"I'm glad you're comfortable," he said, his tone quiet, but there was a weight behind it that made her pulse quicken. "It suits you… seeing you relaxed like this."
A soft blush crept across Lirael's cheeks at the remark, and she instinctively looked down at her hands. "Y-you really think so?" she asked, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.
Ethan smirked slightly, leaning back against the chair. "I do. And… it suits me, too. Seeing you… like this."
Her blush deepened, and she found herself giggling, unable to meet his gaze for more than a second. "You… you really know how to make someone embarrassed," she murmured.
He only smiled, and for a few moments, the room was filled with the quiet crackle of the fire and the soft comfort of shared presence.
Then, Ethan's expression shifted, his eyes sharpening with seriousness. "So… are you ready?"
Lirael blinked, caught off guard by the sudden tone. "Ready… for what?"
He leaned forward slightly, his voice steady but gentle. "For this. Now is the proper moment to release your seal."
It felt as if a jolt of sensation traveled through her, a mixture of anticipation and fear. Her hands clenched slightly in her lap. "W-what… really? You mean it will be… really removed?"
Though she trusted him, the uncertainty of the future still gnawed at her. "I… I don't know if I can… just jump in."
Ethan reached out, his hand brushing against hers. The warmth was grounding, reassuring. "You can," he said softly. "I'll be with you the entire time. No matter what happens, I'm here. You don't have to face this alone."
Lirael took a shaky breath, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly under his calm presence. The blush on her cheeks spread a little further, a mix of nervousness and something warmer, deeper.
"Alright," she said finally, her voice almost a whisper. "Then… let's go to my room."
Ethan gave a small nod, standing. "Good. Let's move carefully. I'll guide you."
The firelight flickered once more, casting soft shadows across the room as they stood side by side. The night was quiet, but the air between them seemed charged, alive with anticipation, trust, and the first tender sparks of something neither of them would soon forget.
When they stepped into the softly lit room, a quiet warmth hung in the air. The faint scent of burning wood from the fireplace mixed with the subtle fragrance lingering on Lirael's clothes, making the space feel both intimate and heavy with anticipation. Ethan gestured toward the bed. "Sit here," he said gently.
Lirael perched at the edge, her hands twisting together in her lap, trembling slightly. Every heartbeat echoed through her chest, and a nervous flutter danced in her stomach.
Why does my heart feel so heavy… and so light at the same time? she thought, biting her lower lip. I… I trust him, I know I do. But what if something goes wrong? What if… I can't handle it?
She glanced up at Ethan, trying to read his expression, finding only calm determination. It made her hands shake even more.
He… he looks so calm. So certain. And I'm just… shaking like a leaf. How am I supposed to… just let it happen?
Her chest tightened, and she swallowed nervously. "E-Ethan...I… I don't know if I can… really…"
He looked up, meeting her gaze. "You can," he said simply, his voice soft but firm. "I'll be with you every step of the way. Trust me. Trust yourself."
Lirael closed her eyes for a moment, taking a shaky breath. I do trust him… I want to… I want to be free… but it's scary. So scary… She opened her eyes again, voice trembling. "I… I'm ready… I think. Please… be careful."
Why am I so nervous…? she thought, glancing at Ethan. I trust him… I really do… but this is so… real. So close…
Ethan knelt before her, his expression calm and steady, though inside he was quietly interacting with the system in his mind.
SP: 57,404
How do I safely initiate her seal removal?
The system replied:
>Host needs to place hand on the subject's chest near the heart, with direct skin contact, and will the seal to be removed.
Ethan froze, brow furrowed. What the hell… damn…if I say this outright she will freak out, I need to choose my words carefully..
Lirael noticed his pause. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Is something wrong?"
He looked up, meeting her gaze with warmth and reassurance, trying to keep his own mind from showing the calculations and measurements running through it. "The seal is bound close to your heart. I'll need to place my hand there, directly… but only enough to guide the magic. Nothing more."" he said carefully. "It's the only way to safely guide the magic. But… I promise I'll be very gentle. I'll make sure it's comfortable for you the entire time. You won't feel pain—just my hand, and nothing more. You're safe with me."
Her eyes widened, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks. Her hands twitched nervously in her lap. "Y-you… you have to… touch me?" she whispered, voice trembling.
He nodded, giving her a soft, reassuring smile. "Yes. But only enough to focus the spell. I'll be careful. You're safe. If anything feels uncomfortable, you'll tell me immediately. I'll stop. I won't let anything hurt you."
Her throat tightened...She drew in a shaky breath. "I… I-I… it's fine. You're… doing this for me… and I… I trust you… because it's you," she murmured, her voice quivering.
She hesitated a long moment, then slowly began to lift her top, revealing her smooth skin gradually. The fabric brushed lightly against her arms and shoulders as it moved upward, exposing her midriff and the delicate curve of her waist and then her naval. Her skin looked soft under the warm lamplight, a pale contrast against the faint blush climbing her chest. Her fingers lingered over the hem of her top for a heartbeat, as if summoning courage to reveal herself further.
Ethan's gaze remained soft and steady. "Take your time," he murmured, "there's no rush. Just enough for me to place my hand. I won't make you uncomfortable."
Lirael's breath hitched slightly as she finally revealed the area around her heart,revealing just enough of her chest for him to reach her heartbeat, rising and falling with nervous anticipation. Ethan's hand hovered for a moment, then gently made contact with her modest swell. The warmth of his palm was grounding, pressing lightly against her soft, smooth chest. He could feel the subtle rise and fall of her chest, her rapid heartbeat trembling beneath his hand, and the slight shiver that traveled through her at his touch.
Her body tensed at first, then gradually leaned just enough to let herself be supported by his hand. Every small sensation—the warmth and the pressure, and the reassuring steadiness—made her pulse race faster, her face burning, yet strangely comforted.
"I… I'm ready," she whispered, trembling. "Please… be careful."
Ethan nodded once, and willed the system to initiate the process...