Hitory opened his eyes, looking at her gently before answering.

  — "Yeah, I remember. Right here, under this cherry tree. It felt kinda weird at the time, but I didn’t ask. Why?"

  Tekime lowered her gaze, as if gathering the courage to continue. After a moment, her voice came out calm, yet filled with emotion.

  — "That time… I was thanking my father. Before he died, he told me that one day, he’d bring someone... someone to help me and protect me. And, well…"

  She paused, softly running her fingers through Hitory’s hair as he watched her in silence.

  — "I think he kept his promise. Because you're here."

  Hitory stayed quiet for a moment, caught off guard, but then a genuine smile spread across his face. He closed his eyes again, feeling inexplicably connected to that moment and the weight of her words.

  — "If that’s true, Tekime, then I’ll honor his trust. I’ll always be here for you."

  His words hung in the air, while the gentle breeze carried the cherry blossom petals around them. Night fell slowly, but the bond between them seemed to shine brighter than ever, making the memory of that tree even more special.

  After that moment under the cherry tree, Hitory and Tekime decided to head back home. The night air was cool, and the stars had begun to dot the sky, softly lighting their path. They walked side by side in silence, still lost in the meaning of the words they had just shared.

  When they arrived, the warm scent of food welcomed them, filling the place with a comforting atmosphere. Elyndra was in the kitchen, setting the table for dinner. She lifted her gaze for a moment, watching as the two walked in.

  Hitory looked tired, but his expression still carried a quiet determination. Tekime, on the other hand, seemed calm, almost radiant, despite her silver hair still being something that puzzled Elyndra.

  Without hiding her curiosity, Elyndra watched them for a few seconds before returning to what she was doing.

  — "How the hell do they keep going like that? After everything they’ve been through, it’s like nothing shakes them..."

  Even though she was impressed, Elyndra chose to keep her thoughts to herself. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for questions or to try and figure out what made these two so damn resilient.

  Hitory and Tekime sat down at the table in silence. The meal was served, and the dishes were plentiful, reflecting the resources Elyndra still had at her disposal.

  — "Well, hope you guys are hungry. Looks like you had one hell of a day." — Elyndra said with a small smirk.

  Hitory and Tekime exchanged a brief glance before nodding, and soon, they all began eating, enjoying a rare moment of peace in the middle of the storm they knew was still coming.

  After dinner, Hitory and Tekime got up from the table, thanking Elyndra before heading toward their rooms. The hallway was quiet, dimly lit by a lone lantern hanging on the wall.

  As they walked side by side, Tekime hesitated for a moment before breaking the silence.

  — "Hitory… can I ask you something?"

  He looked at her, curious, but with a small smile.

  — "Of course, Tekime. What is it?"

  She averted her gaze for a second, as if trying to muster up the courage to speak.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  — "Can I sleep next to you tonight?"

  Hitory stopped in his tracks, momentarily surprised by the request. But when he looked at her, he saw something in her expression that made him understand. Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe she just needed to feel safe after everything they’d been through.

  He smiled gently and nodded.

  — "If it makes you feel better, of course you can."

  Tekime smiled back, relieved by his response.

  When they entered the room, Tekime immediately headed to the bathroom, needing a moment to herself after the intense day. Hitory, on the other hand, stepped onto the balcony, sitting on the edge as he gazed up at the starry sky. The soft sounds of the night filled the air as he reflected on everything that had happened in the past few days.

  As he watched the stars, his thoughts drifted to Lunaria’s words and his connection to édros. Hitory couldn’t shake the doubts now lingering in his mind. What exactly did this bond between him and the mysterious édros mean? And where did Lunaria fit into all of this?

  The cool night breeze brought some clarity, but the answers were still far away. He sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibilities he was only beginning to understand.

  After her bath, Tekime walked out wearing only her underwear. Seeing Hitory still on the balcony, she spoke casually.

  — "Hitory, go grab your clothes. I’ll stay here."

  Hitory turned to look at Tekime but quickly averted his gaze, clearly flustered. He muttered under his breath.

  — "Again, Tekime…?"

  Tekime, with a playful smirk, looked straight at him and teased.

  — "I’ll let only you look, alright?"

  Hitory, his face slightly flushed, quickly grabbed his clothes and hurried to the bathroom, avoiding any more eye contact.

  A few minutes later, he came out feeling more composed. When he returned to the room, Tekime was already lying in bed, seemingly asleep. Hitory walked over, lay down beside her, and after a deep breath, closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion take over.

  As he drifted off, his sleep quickly turned into a vivid dream. In it, he found himself immersed in Tekime’s past. Images and fragments of her life played before him, as if projected on an invisible screen. He saw a younger Tekime, going through pain, but also growing stronger.

  Hitory was pulled into a deeply painful dream—a vision of a distant and tragic past. It felt like he was watching someone else's story, yet it hit him in a way he couldn’t escape. The images started to form, and suddenly, he was transported to Tekime’s childhood.

  She was a lively kid, but something about her always seemed to push others away. Tekime was always helping, doing her best, always lending a hand to those in need, whether it was daily chores or assisting the elderly. But whenever she tried to play with the other children, they ignored her or even pushed her aside. Still, Tekime never let it break her. She believed that kindness in her heart was more valuable than any game or shallow friendship.

  Whenever she found an injured animal, she did everything she could to help. Her heart was big, and her determination seemed unshakable, even when she was constantly rejected.

  But then, Hitory saw it—the moment that changed Tekime’s life forever.

  She was helping her mother at a small donation tent, giving food to the poor. It was a mission they shared, one that made Tekime proud. But that day, everything went to hell. A gang of thugs stormed in, desperate and violent, demanding everything. They didn’t care about the people Tekime’s mother was helping.

  And then, right in front of Tekime’s eyes, they stabbed her mother.

  Blood spread across the floor as Tekime stood frozen, powerless to stop the brutality. She watched as her mother’s life slipped away, leaving nothing but an unbearable void in her heart.

  After losing her mother, Tekime went to live with her father, who had been away on business. She tried to keep going, helping with small tasks, finding happiness in his presence. But that peace wouldn’t last.

  One night, as she slept above their shop, the worst happened. The same gang broke in, looking to loot the place. Her father tried to protect it, but it was a losing battle. A sword to the stomach sealed his fate.

  Tekime rushed downstairs, unaware of what awaited her. And when she opened the door, she was met with a nightmare. Her father lay in a pool of blood, his life slipping away.

  With his final breath, he looked at her and spoke his last words:

  — "Don’t become like them… I’ll bring someone to protect you… That’s a promise."

  And with that, he was gone. Tekime was alone.

  End of Episode 12: “Memories That Bleed.”