Love

|Lancelot|

"Lancelot!" a melodious voice called out, interrupting my sword training. I turned my head to find Rachel standing there, a captivating smile on her face and her sapphire eyes shimmering in the distance.

I couldn't help but feel a slight blush creeping onto my face as I wiped the sweat off my brow with my shirt.

"Wow, Lancelot, you're training so—" Rachel began to speak, but her words were cut short as Bell suddenly materialized in front of her.

"Don't you dare come closer!" Bell yelled, though her childlike voice lacked any real intimidation.

Before I could intervene, Rachel's spirit also appeared, adding to the commotion.

"Oh my, oh my. Is the wind spirit, Sylph, feeling jealous of a female approaching her contractor?" Undine teased, her mischievous tone adding fuel to the fire.

I let out a frustrated groan as Bell threw a tantrum. This scenario seemed to repeat itself almost daily whenever Rachel visited me during my solitary training sessions.

"Bell, don't be so mean to Rachel," I intervened, regretting it instantly as I watched Rachel's face turn pale as a sheet. She turned towards Rachel and stammered out.

"How... how dare you!" Suddenly, she vanished, likely retreating back to the Spirit World.

"Don't worry, Lancelot. I will find and console her," Undine reassured me before a teasing smirk appeared on her face. "So enjoy your time together, fiancés."

Our faces turned red in unison at her comment as she giggled and disappeared. It was remarkable how different the two spirits were—Bell, the innocent child, and Undine, the playful and mature adult.

Turning my attention back to Rachel, I mustered the courage to speak, but before I could, she hurriedly extended her left hand, holding a basket filled with fruits.

"H-here," she stuttered, handing me the basket.

"Thank y—" I began to thank her, but she abruptly dashed away. I let out a sigh and bit into the fruits she had picked for me.

They were sweet, and as I savored the flavor, a strange sensation washed over me. The scarlet color of the fruit reminded me of Rachel's lips. In that moment, I could almost feel their soft texture and taste the sweetness as if they were real.

"God, what's wrong with me?" I muttered to myself, my face still flushed as I finished the fruit.

'Why am I thinking like this about a twelve-year-old girl?' I wondered, feeling a mixture of confusion and concern.

|Rachel|

As my heart continued to thump loudly and rapidly, I hastily distanced myself from Lancelot. Leaning against a pillar, I tried to regain my composure, taking deep breaths to calm myself. However, his image refused to leave my mind.

His youthful yet well-built physique, his shirt clinging to his sweat-drenched body, revealing the defined muscles underneath, and his lustrous black hair—it all played like a reel in my thoughts.

'No, no, no!' I mentally exclaimed, interrupting the intrusive images. 'Why am I developing feelings for a twelve-year-old? Is this some form of pedophilia? But physically, I am the same age as him in this world, even though I died at sixteen.'

Despite my attempts to dismiss these thoughts, they persisted, refusing to be ignored.

'Do I... do I actually love him?' I pondered, my face turning as red as a ripe tomato.

"No, that's impossible," I firmly concluded. "I can't possibly be in love with him."

However, my body seemed to contradict my rationality, as my mind continued to conjure up even more... inappropriate images involving Lancelot.

"I need help," I resolved, recognizing the need to address this confusing and distressing situation. With that decision made, I walked away, determined to find guidance and support.

|Tessia|

The training under Master Goodsky had been going great. The four of us were advancing by leaps and bounds in conjuring under her tutelage.

She was truly one of the greatest mages on the continent.

I managed to reach the light orange stage and could break through to the dark yellow stage a few months into the Academy.

However, there was something up with Lancelot and Rachel. There was this tension between the two of them, and I could tell that Master was slightly concerned about them.

The four of us, as one would expect, had gotten very close. They were my closest human friends after Art.

'Speaking of Art, I should visit him soon with Al.' I thought while taking out some pink lipstick to put on my lips.

Suddenly, someone knocked on my door.

"Come in," I said as I expected it to be Alistair. However, I was surprised when a beautiful girl entered my room instead.

"Rachel! What brings you here?" I asked, taken aback by her visit.

"A-ah, Tess," she stammered out, "D-do you mind having a girl talk?"

My eyes widened as I let out a giggle. "You wish to have a girl's talk with me?" I questioned.

She nodded her head slowly as if she was unsure of what she wanted.

'I never thought that Rachel would be asking for a girl's talk with me,' I thought.

"Sure! I am free right now anyway!" I replied with gusto.

Rachel looked surprised by my response, almost as if she didn't expect me to accept her request.

"T-thank you," she asked before sitting on the bed.

"So, is the lucky boy Lancelot?" I asked with a knowing smile.

Her cheeks turned a rosy tint, and I could see that she was embarrassed. I remembered feeling the same way when I was around Art and my grandfather.

"Yes," she replied softly. "But I don't think I should have these feelings. I'm not worthy of him. He shines so brightly, and I don't deserve to be next to him."

I frowned at her words, "That's not true, Rachel. You are a bright star in your own right. I sometimes feel the same way about Alistair."

"Alistair is one of the most powerful mages I've ever seen, and his talent is almost unmatched in Dicathen. But, unlike you, I am not even close to being on his level," I explained.

"But that doesn't matter. Love isn't about status or ability. It's about the sacrifice and commitment you're willing to make for the other person and how much you want to be with them," I added with a warm smile.

Rachel looked shocked at my words as if she had never considered this perspective before.

"It doesn't matter who you are, what your status is, or how powerful you are. Love brings everything together. That's what I learned when I fell in love with Alistair. Different levels, not being worthy of him - none of that matters as long as you love each other," I emphasized.

"Rachel, do you truly love Lancelot?" I asked at the end of my speech.

She hesitated for a moment before answering, "I do. I love him."

Her eyes, which had been clouded with doubt, were now clear and shining like sapphires. I smiled at her, "That's your answer."

|Lancelot|

Do I love Rachel?

Love was a complex emotion, with various forms including familial love, platonic love, and romantic love. I had never experienced romantic love before, but I couldn't deny the feelings I had for Rachel.

Thinking about her filled me with a strong desire to protect and care for her, to hold her hand and share intimate moments. My heart would race at the mere thought of her, a feeling so new and different.

With the help of Alistair, I realized that yes, I did love Rachel.

However, our love was not meant to be. I passed away at the age of seventeen, and it was not acceptable for me to love someone as young as twelve.

I gazed up at the night sky, the twinkling stars bringing light to the darkness. The star formations were different from my previous life, serving as a reminder that I was in a new world.

My past life was both a blessing and a curse. It had allowed me to progress rapidly, to become stronger and even regain Bell, but it also limited my potential and my ability to love Rachel fully.

But I wouldn't let my past hold me back any longer. I was no longer Yuno Grinberryall, but Lancelot Orbel, the son of Marquis David Orbel of the Kingdom of Sapin.

This was a new life, and I deserved the chance to experience love without the restrictions of my past. I would not be foolish enough to let it limit my potential and happiness.

As a twelve-year-old in this world, I deserved the right to love and be loved in my own right.

I opened my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination rising within me. I was going to live this life to the fullest, and that included pursuing love, wherever it may lead me.

As I gazed up at the stars once more, I made a silent promise to myself. I was going to break free from the constraints of my past and embrace the future with open arms.

The night sky was filled with endless possibilities, and I was ready to seize them. I was no longer Yuno Grinberryall, I was Lancelot Orbel, and I was determined to live life to the fullest.

"Lancelot," a familiar voice sounded from behind me.

|Rachel|

"Lancelot," I called out, my voice barely above a whisper. He turned to me, his usual apathetic grey eyes now alight with excitement and anticipation. I took a deep breath, gathering my courage before speaking again. "I have something to tell you."

Lancelot stepped closer, a small smile spreading across his face. "Same here, Rachel," he replied, his voice gentle.

My heart was pounding in my chest as he approached me. 'This is it,' I thought, 'This is the moment I've been waiting for.'

Lancelot stopped just a few feet away, his eyes locking with mine. "I've been thinking a lot lately," he said, "And I realized how foolish I've been, pushing away these feelings inside of me."

My heart skipped a beat as he continued, "Your smile, your laughter, the way you carry yourself... everything about you takes my breath away. You bring out the best in me, and I can't imagine my life without you in it. Rachel Glidesburn, I love you."

Tears sprang to my eyes, and I could barely contain my joy as he stepped even closer. Wiping away my tears, Lancelot looked at me, his eyes full of love and affection.

"So, what's your answer?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

"Yes, Lancelot," I replied, smiling through my tears. "I love you too, I have for a long time."

With that, I rose on my toes and pressed my lips to his, feeling an electric spark between us. As we pulled away, we both blushed, our faces red with the heat of our passion.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him in for another kiss, this time filled with the love and happiness that we both felt.