Night by the Lake [NOEL]

Noel gasped as her eyes flew open.

She wasn’t in Leon’s home anymore.

She was in the palace’s chambers she was assigned in.

The thoughts were filling Noel’s mind.

Now, what could happen? Where would she end up re-appearing? How will she meet Leon and all? She was troubled.

The thoughts constantly reappeared in her mind all day, she even forgot that she had to visit the royal library today.

Her day just went over with these thoughts, her day went unproductive.

As usual, she had dinner with the king and the queen.

Queen, “Noel, I heard you didn’t visit the library today? Why?”

King, “Is that so?”

Noel with a sudden realization, “Ah! I guess it slipped through my mind. I kind of just forgot. I just had some things in my mind”

King, “Is something bothering you, Noel? Feel free to share it with us. Are you feeling unwell? Should I call the high priest?”

Noel is flustered by the floods of question though this also shows how genuine the king was towards his concerns.

“No, I-”

Queen stops the king, “Dear…Stop it. You are making her difficult. She must have something on her mind. I think she needs some space.”

King understood the Queen's intentions.

Dinner’s over and they go to their respective chambers.

Noel lays on the bed. She is hesitant, she is unsure of what would happen. Noel sleeps.

Back to the dream.

As she opens her eyes, to her surprise she is not in her usual spot.

No towering buildings and no masses of crowd.

Yet, Leon was there to welcome her. “Welcome Back, Noel”

She was back in Leon’s home.

Noel is shocked, “How? How am I here?”

Leon out of curiosity, “Huh? What do you even mean by that?”

A sudden realization struck her mind,

Leon! “Is this phenomenon connected to Leon? Of course, this was easy to guess but hard to confirm but I think there’s some connection. Something that Leon himself doesn’t know. Something that makes Leon say things that don’t make any sense.”

Noel nods in disagreement, “Nothing just some thoughts”

Leon brings her along to have breakfast.

Mom, “You didn’t meet your dad yesterday, did you?”

Leon with a sudden realization, “Ah!”

Mom, “I didn’t really remind you yesterday because you were tired but you should go now. Liz is still sleeping so I will also come let’s all go”

Three of them then go to a specific room.

Noel was a bit confused, “Is his dad inside the room? Is he maybe bedridden?”

Then a sudden reveal. A huge picture on the table with a garland. Burning Incense stick beside that. Father’s stuff is organized and tributed.

Leon sits down, bowing, his hands clapped against each other (a namaste position), he is praying. “Ya, Dad? I hope you’re fine. Your son’s life is continuing as usual. It’s just a bit merrier than before”

Noel is standing alongside Mom. She doesn’t say anything. T

hen something piques her interest.

Beside the picture, there is a small tablet containing the father’s name.

“Leica Walder”

Noel thinks, “Why does this name sound familiar?” but before she can process anything,

Mom, “it’s my husband’s name. It has been several months since his demise. He was caught in an accident during work.”

Noel doesn’t say anything. Leon stands up. Mom, “Now, let’s go have a breakfast.”

Suddenly we hear a pattern sound.

Liz has woken up. She comes where everyone is present and looks at Noel. “Mornig…Brother’s…wife…?”

Noel is taken aback and a gentle blush arises on her face, “Huh?”

Mom laughs off.

Leon feeling the heat in his face along with awkwardness tries to correct Liz,

“Wrong! It's Noel, No…e..l..”

Liz, “Noe…”

Leon sighs, “Even that is fine I guess”

Everyone has breakfast.

Leon, “Noel, let's just wander around the village today”

Noel agrees.

They go to the village, greeting many people.

One of the elderly, “Oh? Leon, son when did you come?”

Leon with a smile, “Haha, it was yesterday” In this way their days went wandering off.

The view was beautiful for Noel. It was refreshing.

Noel, “This place is much cleaner and healthy than your usual town, Leon”

Leon, “Is that so? Probably because this is countryside.”

Noel, “The mana is also much clearer here”

Leon, “Hoh? Does that mean you can use magic here?”

Noel, “No, I don’t think that’s quite possible”

This way with casual talks about this and that, their day went by. Villagers knew Leon. So every time Leon met one of the villagers, they would give him fruits and vegetables out of gesture.

They were loaded till they reached home.

Mom, “Oh my, you have brought so many things”

Leon, “It's just that villagers gave me a lot of stuff”

Mother laughs off.

The night falls and they have dinner.

Leon, “Mom, we are coming back later”

Mother, “Where are you off to this night?”

Leon, “The lake by the hill”

Mother, “Okay, but don’t take too much time.”

Leon, “Noel, let's go”

Leon grabs Noel’s hand and tells her to follow him, there is slight excitement in Leon’s tone this time.

Before Noel could even say anything, she just ended up following him.

The night of the village is beautiful. Tranquil vibe. Windy chilly weather. Noel just follows Leon.

At last, they reach a certain hill.

Leon excitedly, “See this, Noel…”

Noel did not fully understand his excitement until she saw it herself.

The moon in the sky along with stars that have covered the sky. Right down the hill is a large lake. Beautiful lake amidst the plains. Fireflies dance around the lake, and the moon, stars, and the entire cosmos are reflected in the lake. The hum of the insects. The beauty of the night.

Noel smiles, “I finally understand your excitement. This is beautiful and majestic. This feels there’s something mysterious about this lake and the moon-”

Leon, “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Noel’s breath caught.

It was just a simple phrase.

But something in the way he said it, something in the way his eyes reflected the night sky, made her chest tighten.

Her heartbeat quickened.

It was a confession.

Not in words. Not in directness.

But in meaning.

She turned to face him, her heart pounding in her ears.

Leon was watching her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. Yet, there was warmth there—undeniable, unshaken warmth.

Noel swallowed. “…Yes.”

The air between them grew heavy with something unnamed.

Something neither of them dared to voice.

Leon took a step closer. The distance between them was barely anything now.

Slowly, hesitantly, he reached out tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

His fingertips lingered against her skin.

Noel felt her breath hitch.

The world around them faded.

No sound, no movement. Just the quiet rhythm of their breaths, the warmth of the night, the gravity pulling them toward each other.

Then…

As if guided by the unseen forces of the universe…

Their lips met.

It was soft, like the touch of a feather.

Yet it sent a thousand shivers down her spine.

His hand cupped her cheek, gentle yet firm, anchoring her in place.

Noel's fingers instinctively clutched his sleeve, as if afraid the moment would slip away.

The kiss was slow, hesitant…like an unspoken promise.

And for that brief, fleeting moment…

The world felt perfect.

But the time was ripe as always and the red-eyed came and killed off Noel.

Darkness consumes her and she wakes up in her own world.