The moonlight fell unimpeded like a veil over the sea, creating a path of white on the water.
Kalen jumped over a crevice, landing on the other side of the rock. Taking a peek at the gap, the faint light reaching the bottom revealed only sea water. He offered a hand to help Shiori and after a few more steps and leaps over more gaps in the ground they stopped at the edge of the cliff.
A cold sea breeze blew softly past Kalen as he held Shiori in front of him. Both contemplating the vast dark ocean underneath layers of stars.
When thinking about the day he found the passage leading to that viewpoint, Kalen couldn't help but question what he knew about life. He could vividly remember being drawn to it by the calling in his mind. As if an invisible line guided him until he could finally discover the way. The second he laid eyes on the scenery, he knew that was the place he needed to find all along.
Kalen slipped one hand in the pocket of the jacket he had placed over Shiori and gripped the small box in there. His intent had been to control the building tension ravaging his nerves, he succeeded in increasing it tenfold instead.
Have some courage, Kalen, he thought. You can't falter now.
"This view," Shiori said. "it's breathtaking. I am glad you brought me here."
Kalen nodded. "I was lucky when I found that passage. Have been wanting to bring you here ever since."
How many times had he played in his head how he wanted the night to go? How many times had he practiced the words he wanted to say? Being finally there, it seemed those plans and words kept fleeing from him.
"Were you waiting until the night of the Festival?" Shiori asked. "You said you found it last month."
"I..." Kalen hesitated. They were childhood friends, training partners, boyfriend and girlfriend. Every important moment in his life had been shared with Shiori, either directly or in conversations afterwards. There probably wasn't a single detail about him she didn't know. But when it came to exposing his deepest feelings toward her, his throat clogged and his voiced failed him.
Shiori turned to face Kalen, curious eyes glancing at him.
I jump from forty meter cliffs, Kalen told himself, why is this so much harder?
"I wanted it to be a special memory for us." He finally said, immediately sensing his face burn as if he had just entered a hot sauna.
"A memory of this year's Festival?"
"Not really." Kalen said, staring deeply into her eyes and pushing his insecurities away. "Of the night I told you I love you."
Shiori widened her eyes, blushed, then hid her face in Kalen's chest. He waited for a few seconds in bemusement, but she kept silent and glued to him.
Maybe he needed to be more direct? No, that wasn't the case. Could he have misunderstood her feelings?
"Did I say something wrong?" He asked uncomfortably.
"You didn't." Shiori whispered. "I just wasn't expecting that answer." Then, she hit him in the arm and looked up again, eyes watering. "Can't believe you said it first. I love you too, idiot."
A wide smile appeared in Kalen's mouth. So wide he felt the muscles in his face stretch. Lightly touching Shiori's cheek, his fingers caressed her smooth skin. He stood still for a second or two, admiring her, glad he had finally let out the words stuck in his throat for so long. She moved her hands to encounter his and tilted her head slightly while closing her eyes. He let his do the same and leaned closer. Then, Kalen kissed her.
His body abruptly felt light as a plume. His mind was overcome with serenity and for a moment even the consistent sound of waves hitting the base of the cliff disappeared. His heartbeats, on the other hand, were fast and heavy, like punches trying open a hole through his chest. Slowly moving his hand through Shiori's back he felt the warmth of her skin and wished time could stop for them. If only for a little while, this night could—
Steps sounded from his left.
Kalen flinched, startling Shiori. He turned to the sound while reflexively positioning himself between whatever created it and her. The calling stronger than he had ever heard.
"What happened?" Shiori asked.
Even with the moon providing some lighting over the cliff, Kalen had difficulty looking through the darkness of the night. He focused on the direction he had heard the sound and noticed a silhouette approaching. From that side? He thought confused. How?
"I am not sure." Kalen said. With each breath he took the calling became more intense, sending bells of warning all over his mind.
He maintained his eyes locked on the shadow slowly moving their way. It was still some distance away but his vision began clearing and Kalen could make out the face of a man. His trimmed dark hair barely moved under the wind of the seaside. His ghostlike pale skin gave Kalen goosebumps and the corner of his mouth was lifted in a crooked smile while he was... frowning. As if surprised Kalen had noticed him.
"Something is off." Kalen said apprehensively. "There's no path in that direction but there's a man coming."
He didn't know why he was so unease, just that he was. A primal instinct in his core screamed he needed to run or fight to defend his life.
"I don't see anyone. Are you sure?" Shiori asked, grabbing his hand.
Kalen nodded and turned to face the man again. Each step he took was unhurriedly, yet, Kalen's incomprehensible tension only grew stronger. He noticed the man's irises were too clear, almost white. That meant there was someone else with distinguished eyes and Kalen would have wanted to talk with him, if not for something in that crooked smile of his sending chills down Kalen's spine.
Should he run back to the passage with Shiori? Was that man really a threat? Kalen had no real reason to believe it was the case, Iroyama was such a peaceful place after all. Then, he remembered the eerie figure he had spotted earlier that afternoon.
"Here you are." The man said. Even with the distance between them, he didn't shout. His calm voice reached Kalen's ears perfectly nonetheless. "I have been looking for you."
"Looking for me?" Kalen asked with surprise. "Who are you?"
"Kalen?" Shiori asked. "I think a see a shadow but it's too far away. I don't think they will listen to you."
Despite Kalen himself not understanding exactly how he was able to speak and listen to someone standing at such a distance, he would have wanted to explain it to her. But not at that moment. His instincts told him he needed to dedicate his entire attention to the figure approaching.
"I am just a messenger." The man said.
Kalen's tension was quickly turning into fear. Whoever this man was, it had become clear he had an ulterior motive in being there.
"Shiori, let's return to the passage." Kalen said, still maintaining eye contact with the unknown man.
She let go of his hand and Kalen heard her steps as she appeared to have leaped over one of the gaps they had passed before. He took a step backwards and turned his face to look at the gap himself.
"Leaving so soon?" The man said. "That would complicate things for me. And we can't have that, can we?"
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