Chapter 25 - Watch the Sunset.

"Now Kaoru, where to?"

"Straight ahead and up to the top, Lionel! As simple as that!"

"Okay! Let's do this!"

And so we walked and climbed up the clouds.

"Man... What a sight! Look, Kaoru, everything is so small! I can see the whole forest up here! And look at the sunset!"

"Beautiful..."

You're more beautiful than the sunset, Kaoru...

"Yeah..."

I gently held her hand.

The cold wind blew around us, gently tossing our hair. The setting sun colored the whole forest and the clouds with orange gold radiance. It's all so epic and wonderful... I'll never forget this...

"Let's go, Lionel...?"

"Yeah... let's go."

We climbed up and up the clouds, getting higher and higher with every ascent. I'm not getting tired at all. Even though I'm using my hands and feet, it's still better than those horrible spiral stairs. Yes, Kaoru's still floating but I'm catching up with her. I didn't know that climbing clouds is much easier than going up the stairs! I guess it's because the clouds are much softer.

Finally, we reached the very top of the clouds. Gosh... We're really, really high now. It's like we're in the night sky already!

"Is this the place...? Is this the Exosfir?"

"No. We're just in the Meysosfir. But we're almost there."

"Oh..."

Silence...

"Lionel. Look!"

"What is it...?"

She pointed to my left.

I turned around and looked at it...

"No! Are we too late?!"

I really got scared and began to tremble.

"The star crystals! They're falling!!! No!!! After all we've been through, is this our reward?!! No!! I can't accept this!! Can't we do something?! Can't we catch them?!"

"Lionel, please calm down..."

"NO!!!"

I started to run but she stopped me and placed her arms around my neck...

"Calm down, Lionel..."

"How can I calm down? That's our treasure... falling away..."

"Let me explain."

"But..."

"Please listen."

"Okay..."

"Those are not falling star crystals, Lionel. It's a meteor shower."

"Meteor shower...?"

"Those are stars that came to Tera."

"Why did they come here?"

"To grant wishes."

"Grant wishes?"

"Yes. Just make a wish and it will come true. They're called wishing stars or shooting stars. Never call them falling stars, okay?"

"Okay... But, why do they grant wishes? Man, if they really do, they're very kind stars."

"Well, they are really kind stars. They will make your wish come true in one condition."

"What is it?"

"If you made a wish, you should believe and also make the effort to make it come true."

"Oh..."

Silence...

"Sadly, no one believes in that story anymore..."

"I believe."

"That's good to hear, Lionel"

Silence...

"So, Lionel, you're not scared, panicky, and angry anymore?

"Yes."

She let me go.

It's an awkward situation so we're both silent for quite awhile.

"The meteor shower..."

I looked at her.

"Do you like them now?"

I looked at the wishing stars...

"I guess..."

"You're not angry at them anymore?"

"No. I'm not angry anymore."

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yes. It's beautiful."

We gaze as hundreds of shooting stars passed us by...

"Don't be shy, Lionel! Make a wish!"

"Okay, okay."

I closed my eyes...

I wish with all my heart that you're my true love, Kaoru...

Silence...

"There, I made a wish."

"So, what did you wished for, Lionel?"

"Secret."

"Huh?!! Hey! No fair! Tell me!"

I laughed and started walking.

======================================================

After a few minutes, I stopped at the very edge of the highest cloud.

"Uhmm... Kaoru..."

"Yes?"

"I think we can't go any further..."

There's nothing left but the sky now.

"Oh, Lionel, you worry too much..."

She continued to walk to the very edge... She did not stop!!!

"No, Kaoru! Wait!!!"

I really thought she would fall but she didn't... She's now walking... Or floating in the sky...

"See?"

"Ha...?"

Silence...

"Hey! No fair! You're cheating!"

"Huh?"

"I can't use magic! I can't float like you!"

"But I'm not using magic."

"HA?!! But that's impossible! You're standing on nothing!!"

"Let me explain. We're so high now that everything becomes light. So, if you take one step forward from that edge, you will not fall. You'll float just like me. Why do you think the clouds and the stars in the sky are up here in the first place?"

"Ahh..."

You've got to be kidding me!

I looked down from the edge...

"Whoa!!!"

I quickly stepped back.

"It would take hours before I hit the ground!"

"Oh, come on! Where is that brave, courageous, golem slayer Lionel?"

"You're asking for a very hard thing to do, Kaoru!"

"Are you scared Lionel?"

"Yes! I'm definitely scared! It's like jumping-in-a-high-place-to-your-death thing!!!"

"Oh, it's not like that, Lionel. It's really easy if you ask me. All you need to do is step forward from that edge!"

Easy for you to say, you're an Elementalist in the first place! You'll be safe no matter what happens!

"Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you. You're my best friend."

"So, what are you waiting for? Jump in!"

I took a deep breath... Man! This is crazy!

I stepped forward...

"You can do it, Lionel! Just a little bit more!"

"You know, this is the first time I'm doing this..."

I took another step...

I'm on the edge now...

I looked down again...

Gosh... It's a long way down...

"Ah... You see... I'm quite afraid of heights..."

"Well then, this is the perfect time to conquer that fear, Lionel!"

"Oh, man... There's no escaping this, huh?"

"None whatsoever!"

"Sigh..."

"Come on, Lionel! We're almost there! You can do it, I tell you! I know you can!"

No I can't.

The wind gently blew...

My mind is blank. I'm really, really scared. I just stood there like a rock.

"Come, Lionel."

She offered her hand.

"You tugged me into the clouds, I'll tug you into space!"

"You sure are a very brave girl."

"Lady, Lionel, lady. Now, grab my hand."

"Okay."

I reached out and held her hand...

I took a step forward...

"..."

Silence...

I can't believe it... I'm speechless and my mind just stopped working...

I didn't fall...

I'm standing in empty space...