"Once more, let this humble woman introduce herself to thee… I am Celis Verillia."
Her voice carried a lodious quality that seed to resonate with sothing deeper than re sound.
"Sanctified of the Immortal Daylight, servant of divine grace, and now... humbly at thy service, my Savior."
She perford a humble bow as the ornants attached to her ears swayed slightly according to her gestures.
"Right, right... but you can drop the whole 'Savior' thing."
Nero scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Just call Nero. Nero Walker. That's my na."
"Nero Walker..."
Celis repeated the na softly, as if tasting each syllable.
Her half-closed eyes seed to brighten slightly with recognition.
"'Tis a na that carries strength and purpose. I shall honor it accordingly."
She paused, then added with gentle firmness.
"However, I must humbly decline thy request, my Savior. To address thee without proper reverence would be... improper for one such as I."
"Seriously? I an… sure, if that's what you want to call ."
"Indeed, my Savior. 'Tis only fitting."
The way she said it, with such absolute conviction and respect, made it clear this wasn't sothing she'd budge on.
If that's what floats her boat then so be it. People have their own preferences, they might have their own unique ways of calling him.
And not to ntion, it does add flair with the way they're calling him.
The outdated blue system did warn him before that different won might call him different things… he's just thankful that she doesn't call him a walking ATM or the like…
"..."
Before he could dwell on that feeling too long, Celis's gentle gaze shifted past him.
"..."
Her serene expression flickered for just a mont.
A flash of sothing that might have been shock, or perhaps recognition, or maybe even disbelief.
The change was so subtle that anyone not paying close attention would have missed it entirely.
But Nero caught it.
"Is sothing wrong?"
"Forgive , but..."
Celis's voice remained gentle, but there was an undercurrent of uncertainty now.
"The lady standing behind thee... might I inquire as to her identity?"
Nero glanced back at Aurelia, who maintained her usual stoic expression despite the obvious scrutiny.
"Her na is Aurelia. She's my first summon and... well, my lover."
He couldn't quite keep the warmth out of his voice when saying that last part.
"..."
The silence that followed stretched just a bit too long.
Celis's gentle smile remained fixed in place, but her eyes had widened ever so slightly.
"Prithee... might she be the one known as the First Star Valkyrie?"
The question hung in the air like a held breath.
"!!!"
Now it was Nero's turn to be surprised.
"... You know about that?"
"I have heard tales, yes."
Celis's voice carried a reverent quality now.
"During mine own ti, the First Star Valkyrie was a figure of legend. One who had lived since the ages when angels and demons first walked the realms. Her sacrifice during the Heavenly Demon War was spoken of with the utmost respect amongst those who served the divine."
She looked directly at Aurelia now, her half-closed eyes studying the silver-haired angel with newfound understanding.
"To think that she stands here before , alive and whole... 'tis beyond miraculous."
"..."
Aurelia's expression remained carefully neutral, though Nero could sense a hint of discomfort through their ntal connection.
Being recognized for her legendary status clearly made her uneasy.
"Wait, so you actually are talking about Aurelia?"
Nero wanted to confirm, even though the answer is very obvious.
"Indeed."
Celis nodded slowly.
"Though I must apologize for mine surprise. 'Tis simply that seeing such a renowned figure in person is... overwhelming."
She perford another graceful bow, this ti directed at Aurelia.
"To stand in thy presence is an honor, First Star Valkyrie."
"There is no need for such formality."
Aurelia's voice was neutral, clearly she had dealt with such things as before.
"I am simply Nero's summon, nothing more."
"Thy humility doth speak to thy character."
Celis straightened, her gentle smile returning.
"Forgive this old woman for her shock. 'Tis rely that during mine own era, tales of thy deeds were legendary. To learn that thou art here, alive and serving alongside my Savior... it doth paint a picture of great significance."
"..."
Nero processed this information carefully.
It made sense, really.
According to what he'd learned from Aurelia herself and what he'd seen on her original summon card, she'd been around for eons.
A figure from ancient history, predating most modern civilizations.
For Celis to recognize her wasn't strange at all.
What was strange was the timing.
"How old are you exactly, Celis?"
The question ca out more bluntly than he'd intended.
"Old enough to have witnessed many ages pass."
Her answer was deliberately vague, though not unkind.
"The specifics matter little, I believe. What matters is that I am here now, in service to thee."
"Right..."
The conversation was starting to feel like trying to grab smoke.
Every ti he thought he had a handle on sothing, it slipped away into mysterious non-answers.
Celis seed to sense his frustration because her expression softened even further.
"Forgive , my Savior. I do not an to be evasive. 'Tis simply that my past is... complicated. Full of matters that may be difficult to explain in brief… Ah, but I do want to know my situation if mine can ask? I feel thy connected to Savior…"
"..."
Her words only made him more curious, but he decided to let it go for now.
There would be ti to learn more about her history later.
"Well, for so complicated reason, you sohow ended up as one of my summons. That's the connection."
Nero crossed his arms.
"Well, I know it's badly explained. But that's the simplest gist of it."
The reveal seed to catch Celis off guard.
Her serene expression wavered for just a mont before settling back into that gentle smile.
"A summon..."
She looked down at her own hands, studying them as if seeing them for the first ti.
"I can feel the changes within . My soul is now connected to thee, bound by whatever miracle brought forth as thy summon. 'Tis a strange sensation, yet not unwelco."
She nodded at the slight change only visible to her as her gaze lifted to et him.
"And to witness the First Star Valkyrie alive once more, to see such impossibilities made manifest... it doth confirm what I have co to believe."
"Which is?"
"That thou art soone of great importance, Nero Walker. Soone who may very well reshape the fate of this world."
The words were spoken with such absolute conviction that they made his skin prickle.
"..."
Nero studied her carefully.
Sothing about the way she spoke, the deliberate vagueness combined with that air of mysterious certainty...
It reminded him of fortune tellers and prophets from stories.
People who knew more than they were saying but couldn't or wouldn't reveal everything.
"I'm going to be frank with you, Celis."
His tone shifted to sothing more serious.
"I can sense sothing odd about you. Not bad necessarily, but... different. Like there's more going on beneath the surface than what you're showing."
"..."
The silence that followed was telling.
Celis's gentle smile didn't falter, but there was sothing in her silence now.
A flicker of acknowledgnt, perhaps even respect for his directness.
"Thou art perceptive," she said finally. "Very well. If thou dost wish for honesty, then honesty thou shalt receive."
She took a small breath, as if gathering courage.
"Mine goal, Savior Nero, is to beco thine woman."
"..."
"..."
The statent hung in the air like a bomb that had been dropped but hadn't quite exploded yet.
Aurelia's expression, usually so carefully controlled, showed the barest flicker of surprise.
And Nero himself just stood there, brain temporarily short-circuiting as he processed what he'd just heard.
"I... what?"
"I wish to be thy woman," Celis repeated calmly, as if she'd just announced plans to help with laundry rather than proposing to beco his lover.
"To stand at thy side, to serve thee in whatever desires my Savior hath, to share in whatever destiny awaits thee. That is mine purpose, my Savior."
"..."
The festival continued around them, people laughing and celebrating, completely oblivious to the absolute bomb that had just been dropped in their little corner.
***
The walk back to the festival grounds was oddly silent.
Aurelia strode ahead with her usual perfect posture, wings folded neatly against her back.
Celis followed a few steps behind, her gentle smile fixed in place like a mask.
"..."
The atmosphere between them felt heavy despite the cheerful sounds of celebration growing louder with each step.
Finally, Aurelia broke the silence without turning around.
"... What is your real goal?"
The question was direct, cutting through any pretense of small talk.
"Pardon?"
Celis's voice remained gentle and unsettled despite the sudden question.
"Art thou the type of woman who wisheth to keep my Savior solely to herself?"
"That's not what I inquired."
Aurelia stopped walking, turning to face the Saintess fully.
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