Today, I gave my team mbers so freedom.
Whether they drank, embraced won, or enjoyed the scenery, it was their business.
Simultaneously, I, with my two wives, shifted our steps.
Through the path that Nox had shown, we headed toward the sea.
Ner seed to inhale the increasingly pungent sll of salt beside .
She took a deep breath and repeatedly sighed.
Can you sll it?
I asked her.
Huh?!
Ner, startled and flustered, curled her tail tightly.
Perplexed by her behavior, I spoke.
...No. The sll of salt... why are you so surprised?
I asked about the part that puzzled before trying to question.
Ner spoke, shaking her head roughly.
I, I was thinking of sothing else and was startled without realizing it. Yes. I, I can sll the salt.
Arwin gently turned her head to the side and looked into the distance.
I could feel her eagerness to see the sea soon.
Seeing her like this got excited as well.
What would it look like?
They said it was a space where saltwater spreads endlessly.
It had been a long ti since I had been curious about the sea, ever since Sien told about it
.
.
.
We ascend a small hill.
Faintly, the sound of water striking sothing and sloshing was heard.
Now, I too could detect the sll Ner had spoken of.
A distinct scent coming from fish wafted towards us.
The air also beca fresher. Seagulls fly about.
We were approaching the sea.
Soon, I was the first to reach the top of the hill.
........
And for a mont, I was at a loss for words at the vast scenery.
The endlessly sprawling blue hue.
Far in the horizon, the sea and sky rge harmoniously.
Like nurous gems embedded, the water sparkled.
I even forget to breathe in this liberation.
Then, Arwin and Ner followed up the hill.
Wow....
Ner exclaid in awe, and Arwin slightly opened her mouth, frozen.
I too felt a sense of openness, but how would Arwin, who had been confined all her life, feel?
For quite a while, we silently gaze at the sea.
Waves collide and shatter amongst themselves, constantly changing their form.
We will watch the sunset from there, Bell. You will surely love the sea.
Siens voice, which I had always resisted, beca acceptable this ti.
She was right.
It seed I was going to like the sea.
...Lets go.
I spoke to my stunned wives.
Ner snapped back to reality and hastily followed .
Be, Berg. This is the sea, right?
Yes.
To Ner, who was not inford of our destination, it seed she was even more astonished.
Looking at her, I felt a sense of pride.
Its really beautiful...
Arwin approached the sea with a tense expression.
Take off your shoes.
I spoke as we stepped onto the beach, where soft sand was spread.
Id heard from Nox that this was how to enjoy it.
Obediently, my wives removed their shoes, neatly placing them aside.
...
Arwin, feeling the sand with her feet, sported a gentle smile.
...Its ticklish.
She whispered, looking up at .
Thus, we gradually moved closer to the sea.
I was the first to step into the chilly waves.
The cool seawater soaked my feet.
Smiling, I spoke to my wives.
Co on in.
Ner gripped the hem of my clothing and cautiously placed her foot in the seawater.
Startled by the cold sensation, she withdrew her foot and gazed at .
...
...
Only for a mont.
Our gazes t, and we both burst into laughter simultaneously.
Soon, using both hands, Ner grabbed my arm and slowly entered the sea.
Waves struck, occasionally wetting her calves.
Whenever a high wave rolled in, Ner lifted her legs, to avoid the cold touch.
Next, I looked at Arwin.
Already wetting her feet in the sea, she dipped her finger in the water and tasted it.
...Its really salty...
She said, smiling.
Then, standing upright, she quietly gazed at the horizon.
The sea breeze rustled Arwins hair.
I couldnt discern what thoughts might be racing through her mind.
Yet... I felt that just standing like this would be no fun.
I turned to look at Ner, who was clinging to my arm.
She was beaming up at , a lively smile on her face.
Look down, Berg! Little fish are swimming around!
I chuckled, watching her wagging tail.
Her expression briefly clouded with confusion at my smile.
-Whoosh!
Huh!
Before she could react, I lifted Ner off her feet.
Wh-what, Berg?
-Throw!
Then I threw her far into the water.
-Splash!
Ner disappeared, montarily subrged in the shallow water.
Huh?
Arwins surprise at the loud sound was fleeting.
-Whoosh!
In the sa manner, I reached under Arwins back and picked her up into the air.
Ha! Wh-what are you doing, Berg?
Ner, erging from the water, called out to with a mock complaint.
Arwins eyes darted between Ner and , unsure of what would happen next.
It seed as if Arwin sensed the imminent future for herself, and she hurriedly hardened her expression and warned .
...Dont do it.
However, upon seeing my smiling face, she seed to realize that it was futile.
Her response was more vehent.
She grabbed onto my forearm tightly, refusing to let go.
...I said dont.
Do you co all the way here and just soak your feet?
I...I was thinking that-
-Whoosh!
I threw still-talking Arwin into the air.
Maintaining a dignified posture, she fell into the water without resistance.
-Splash!
She bounced back up from where shed sunk.
Berg!
A passionate emotion emanated from her previously cold deanor.
She flicked her hair back, scattering droplets of water.
She looked at , her expression scowling.
I burst into laughter at the sight of the two of them, soaked to the skin.
Ner dashed straight towards .
Hmm..!
She tried to knock over.
Gently grasping her hands that tried to do so, I picked her up and, once again, threw her again.
-Splash!
Arwin, not wanting to be thrown like Ner again, started splashing water from a distance.
-Swish! Swish!
Watching her earnestly splashing while maintaining a serious face just kept making smile.
Nonetheless, my clothes effectively got drenched.
I started skipping away, cackling, while Arwin chased after , splashing water.
Where do you think youre going!
Ner, tenacious as ever, got back up and charged at again.
Once again, as our bodies intertwined, a bright smile lingered on Ners face.
Fall over already!
With ease, I tossed her back into the water.
Arwin, from a distance, was also splashing water with a smile.
Her plan to get my clothes wet worked.
So, there was no reason to run anymore.
I paused for a mont, then charged at Arwin again.
Huh?
Arwin was taken aback, but it was already too late.
She was helplessly hoisted into my arms.
Ah!
She waved her legs, trying to escape from , but it was a futile struggle.
Simultaneously, I scrutinized Arwins expression closely.
The upward curve of her lips indicated that Arwin, too, seed to be enjoying herself.
Seeing that smile, I threw Arwin back into the sea.
We played like that for quite a while.
.
.
.
Getting accustod to the water play, I found myself teaching them things they hadnt experienced before.
I took Ners hand and infused her with courage.
I wont let go, okay?
Really...? Truly?
Firmly holding her hand, I led her.
As promised, I didnt let go of her hand.
Ner entrusted her body to my hand and laid back on the water.
Crossing her legs and fluttering them, she learned how to swim.
Her tail swung vigorously from side to side, showing her earnestness.
Seeing this, I burst into laughter once again.
Then, I did the sa for Arwin.
Initially, she refused, but eventually got swept up in the atmosphere and took my hand.
Arwin imrsed her head into the water.
Gradually moving forward, she crossed her legs.
Paha!
After swimming for a while, she suddenly raised her upper body and stood up.
Haa...Haa...
I asked her, as she took deep breaths,
Why? You were doing well.
Huh?
Arwin looked at , flipping her wet hair.
Drenched in seawater, her beauty shimred just like Ners.
Ah...my breath...
You should turn your head to the side to breathe.
...its hard, okay?
In Arwins sassy reply, there was an inkling of interest.
I could sense she would practice for a long ti.
mories were being stacked, one by one.
****
Arwin sat on the sandy beach, gazing at the sunset as it dipped below the horizon.
She realized that such a breathtaking beauty could exist in the world.
The sunset reflected off the sea, illuminating it.
A sight so touching it might bring tears to ones eyes.
The only thing holding back her tears was the sight of Ner, who, undaunted, still frolicked tirelessly in the sea.
Arwin looked at Berg, who sat beside her.
He too was deep in thought, quietly watching the sunset.
Sohow, his eyes seed sad.
...Perhaps it was just her imagination.
...
Suddenly, she found herself wondering what he might be thinking about.
Her curiosity about Berg grew more and more profound.
Perhaps this burgeoning curiosity sprouted from her gratitude towards him.
For her, Berg had traveled to such a remote place to take on a request.
Everything was because he wanted to gift her this mont.
She hadnt forgotten that.
And she knew that such a gift from Berg would be engraved in her long life forever.
It was peculiar.
Every mont with Berg felt both brief and eternal.
In the enriching day-to-day he gifted her, mories accumulated imasurably.
A few days with Berg held more mories than several years in the aningless Celebrien Territory.
In that regard, ti seed to flow slowly.
But then, she was surprised by the fact that she had only been with him for a few months.
When she was with the World Tree, every single day dragged so slowly.
But it felt like an age had already passed with Berg.
In that sense, ti seed to flow quickly.
Could she continue to live like this in the future?
...
For the first ti, while with him, she experienced the emotion of looking forward to tomorrow.
Before she knew it, Arwin found herself unable to tear her eyes away from his face.
A race that was incomparably different from herself.
A person who would live in a different era.
She was captivated by him and couldnt move.
...Arwin.
Suddenly, Berg turned his head.
Thinking that her gaze had been caught, Arwin hastily averted her eyes.
Her heart startled again.
...Yes?
Her responding voice trembled. She was embarrassed by her foolish sounding voice.
Berg fumbled sothing out of the luggage he brought.
...Here.
Arwin swallowed as she saw the ornant, which glittered, reflecting the sunset.
It was a ring.
Berg spoke.
...Humans exchange rings with the person theyre engaged to. Youve seen it through Ner, havent you?
...
I intended to give it as a gift if another wedding ceremony was held in Stockpin... but it naturally passed by, didnt it? Given the circumstances.
...
Going through that complex process again from the beginning takes a long ti. I thought it would be better for us to do it this way, just the two of us.
Arwin, like she did with Berg, had her gaze stolen by the ring.
That round ring without any gemstone could not have looked so beautiful.
...Is this for ?
Arwin asked cautiously.
Berg laughed softly as he spoke.
What if it is?
...
Arwin looked up at Berg.
The atmosphere as the sunset settled was a flawless, beautiful spectacle.
Within it, Berg made a promise.
...Ill protect you from now on.
Arwins heart beat strongly.
...Ill wait until the day you co to like .
He spoke evenly.
So lets live life enjoyably.
Perhaps because it was Bergs promise.
The sense of trust felt different.
She felt that his words could absolutely not be false.
And with that truth, Arwins heart beat even more wildly.
Her heart raced so fiercely, that she wondered if it had ever beat this fast before.
...
Soon after, Berg gently took her left hand.
Unable to take her eyes off Berg, Arwin felt sothing being slid onto her ring finger.
Then, Berg passed his ring to her.
Now, it was her turn to slip a ring onto his ring finger.
...
But on his sturdy hand, Ners ring was already fitted.
Perhaps because of that, Arwin inadvertently blurted out sothing she didnt need to say.
...Theres no place to put it.
Theres always the right hand.
She wanted to argue, wasnt the aning different then, but Arwin stifled the words.
It felt like it would imply she was taking this ceremony seriously.
Arwin spoke.
...I havent changed yet, you know?
Berg laughed at her words.
He seed to not be overly concerned with whatever she said.
So. Are you not going to put it on?
...
Arwin soon gazed at Bergs necklace.
Her World Tree leaf touched Bergs heart.
Seeing that eased her spirit.
Arwin cautiously picked up the other ring that Berg was offering.
...Im doing this because Im thankful. Going forward, I still have to act.
And so, with a fleeting excuse, she slipped the ring onto Bergs finger.
Even as she put on the ring, her gaze kept straying to Ners ring.
In her head, she continuously compared which ring was more beautiful.
...Our ring seems prettier, sohow.
She thought to herself.
...Nice.
Berg comnted, looking at the newly donned ring.
Arwin said she still didnt want to love Berg.
She could list dozens of reasons for that.
...
Nonetheless, she couldnt deny one fact.
This day, even after a thousand years, would be unforgettable.
The End of The Chapter
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