Cecilia loved Arthur.
It was a truth she had finally surrendered to completely, an absolute fact that her heart would no longer allow her to deny. The realization had crept up on her gradually, then all at once—like the dawn breaking after a long night of resistance.
She loved him with a ferocity that surprised even herself. The mere thought of him being harmed ignited a rage within her that burned hotter than any combat mana she had ever channeled. She loved him to an extent that frightened her; there was nothing she wouldn't sacrifice for his wellbeing, no line she wouldn't cross.
This truth made the quiet moments like today—the final day of the Inter-Academy Festival—all the more precious. Walking beside him through the festival grounds, watching his face light up at the simplest things, feeling the occasional brush of his arm against hers—these small joys had become the highlights of her existence.
