102 Black

Aucuses stood on the deck of a boat, leaning against the railing, his face aglow with the last orange rays before sun beckons the stars. He gazed upon the vast sea ahead, his lips bearing a semblance of a smile, just enough to show that he was enjoying the view.

He was looking into the horizon, where the sky and sea were merging together. The colour was almost black. The setting sun was in rich crimson colour, almost as though it was dyed in blood. It looked as if the red sun was sinking into the water like a piece of live ember, and the heat made the air around the sun shimmer. The sky was almost dark and the first stars could be seen.

It was a mesmerising scene. Aucuses gazed at it in silence, his mind wandering somewhere else.

"Aucuses…" A voice interrupted his reverie, but he felt happiness rather than displeasure, as the voice graced his ears.

He turned and looked, letting his back lean on the pillar near the railing while crossing his legs and hands.

There was a divine woman standing in front of him. Her otherworldly beauty was illuminated by the twilight. She was none other than Lilith.

Surprisingly, she wore different attire than usual. She was clad in a sleeveless black gown embroidered with crimson lines. Her golden hair falls down to her hip, leaving the tips of her locks white. There was a symbol of moon in between her brows, gleaming in the twilight of the sun.

Lilith noticed that Aucuses suddenly went into a daze. She chuckled and went forward towards him. She flicked his forehead with a mischievous smile, adoring her lips. It snapped him out of his fake daze. It was an act. She knew it, but she didn't break it either.

Gaining his attention, she asked, walking backward and clutching the side of her gown with both her hands. She lifted it up lightly.

"How is it? I decided to finally change it and try something new…"

She lied. Black has always been her favourite colour. The attrite that she wore when she was the sanguine ancestor was always a mix of black and crimson.

So, it couldn't be considered "trying something new". It's just her slowly returning to her true self, only for Aucuses alone.

"Black looks great on you." Aucuses said, while walking towards her. He caught her hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed in between her fingers. "You. Look. Amazing."

Lilith smiled at his compliment, while trying her best to remain calm and composed despite the tinge of bliss coursing through her body from her fingers. She immediately took her hand from his hold.

Aucuses smirked at her action. He asked, folding his hands, "I didn't expect to see you here. Do you miss me that much already? It's been only 2 days."

"As if…" Lilith snorted, though her crimson eyes gave away the truth to Aucuses.

She noticed this when she saw his widening grin. "I just came here to check on you after what happened with Tolzana." She admitted, dodging her eyes away from him.

Aucuses had been too silent after the death of Tolzana. When she observed him through the astral world, it really started to bother her.

"Here." She continued, taking out a box out of nowhere. "I made this."

Aucuses took the box with surprise plastered across his face. He opened the lid, greeted with an aroma mixed with various flavours splashing across his face.

It is Ramen. Miso Ramen.

"Oh?" Aucuses said, his eyes sparkling at the ramen. "I didn't know that Earth Mother could actually cook...."

Lilith pouted, "It wasn't that hard to learn. Now, stop with the jokes and eat it."

Aucuses nodded, though his smile stretched a tad.

"Come on, let's sit."

They made their way to the chairs on the deck and sat down, facing the setting sun.

'That's beautiful…' Lilith thought, gazing at the mythical scene on the sea.

Suddenly, her attention was drawn when a cup of black coffee was brought to her face.

"What?" Aucuses said, noticing her sudden silence. "You didn't think I would forget, did you?" He sounded aggrieved.

"No." Lilith said, her heart filled with emotions. "It's not that…." She paused, as if lost for words. Then, she continued with a forced smile, almost immediately. "Thank you."

Aucuses saw a flash of pain and sadness in her eyes as she took the black coffee from him, which caused him to sigh, but he didn't press on this.

They both began to eat and drink in the silence of twilight.

Lilith was afraid. She was afraid of how things were going on between them. They were walking on thin ice. Even though they tried their best to ignore their responsibilities and troubles while meeting each other, she knew that they couldn't go on like this.

As for what made her afraid, It was the future. Her concealment cannot be broken. She knew what kind of horrible consequences would happen if her concealment was broken hastily.

It will destroy all the plans of Amanises and her opportunity to retrieve the uniqueness of the moon pathway from Amanises. It would lead to war. A war in which she would be forced to stand against the one she loves. Just thinking about that possibility tormented her heart and soul.

She needed to find a way. No, she will find a way to deal with their situation.

'Amanises…' Lilith thought, her dimmed eyes regaining their brilliance. She was drinking black coffee while her thoughts were wandering.

She was still not completely sure how Amanises would react, even if she had known Amanises for thousands of years. She can only hope.

Pushing her thoughts aside, Lilith focused on Aucuses, who had already finished the ramen.

"How is it?" She asked.

Aucuses answered with his actions. He gave a chef's kiss.

A warm smile formed on the lips of Lilith. She looked at him in the illumination of the twilight.

She didn't want this to end at all. She wished they could be like this forever….

Supressing her surreal emotions, Lilith continued, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay, Aucuses?"

"I am fine…" Aucuses said, shaking his head. "The death of Tolzana just got me thinking about a lot----our world and lives in general."

"You don't need to worry though.." He continued with a bright smile. "I often go through this emotional stuff. I will get over on my own."

"Aucuses…." Lilith sighed, seeing his act. She can clearly see that he is totally sulking in his own depressing emotions.

"Come on." She said, grabbing his hand and standing up.

"Where?" Aucuses asked, putting away the glass and box in a different space.

"There is still half a day before we reach the northern continent." She said briskly. "I think we shouldn't waste it sulking. There is a party going on in the cabin with games and much other stuff…"

She was speaking while pulling him into the cabin, while Aucuses just followed her, shaking his head….

Finally, the sun set into the ocean, heralding the advent of night. The entire ship was in a festive mood as the couple danced under the sky.

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Meanwhile, in the spiritual world, Amanises floated, dressed in a layered black gown. Her beautiful face was covered in a black veil. Her mere presence calmed the chaos in the spiritual world.

However, her beautiful face behind the veil suddenly frowned, and her heart was troubled…