A Night For Bonding And Brain Freeze

The campfire crackled, warm and pleasant. Night birds twittered in the darkness while flame bugs drifted silently, just outside the fire light.

Takao smiled at Sumire. Although he’d just been angry with her and even felt hatred for her, he felt only gratitude now. He never thought he’d have someone to share his most painful memories with, but here she was, watching him closely and listening patiently.

“I’m sorry.” Takao said without warning.

Sumire looked shocked and surprised.

“You have nothing to apologize for! I owe you more apologies, if anything. I’m sorry I lied and cheated. I understand if you hate me for it.” Sumire said, looking guilty and miserable.

“I did hate you when you told me.” He saw Sumire flinch at this. “That’s why I apologized. But I don’t anymore. I think I understand why you did it. Now I just feel grateful. I’ve never told anyone about what happened to my family. Thanks for listening.” He said, looking deep into her eyes.

Sumire blushed, visible even in the firelight, and broke eye contact.

“Takao. I’m so sorry about your family.” She said with wet eyes.

“Thanks. I just felt like you would understand, I guess.”

Sumire smiled sorrowfully.

“I suppose I do. My own family isn’t dead, but I’ll never see them again. Once a dragon descends to the mortal realm, there’s no going back. At first, I didn’t think it was so bad here. The people of Sukiya became my new family. I loved them and I still do, but in the end, they're all mortal, and I’m not. Over and over again, the people I loved died. For three hundred years, I watched them die, and it broke my heart every time. The loneliness was unbearable! My family in the immortal realm was as good as dead, and my mortal family kept dying again and again. I was so alone.”

Her voice quivered as she spoke, and a tear escaped her eye. She wiped it away then continued.

“After beating the invaders one hundred years ago, I was injured. I had to rest, but after my injuries healed, I— I didn’t come back. I couldn’t bear it. I knew what coming back meant. More death, more pain, more loneliness. So I went back to sleep, and I slept for a hundred years. I abandoned my people, knowing that they could be attacked again, and would be destroyed if I wasn’t there.”

Sumire spoke with tears in her eyes and guilt evident in her voice. She stared silently into the fire.

Takao waited, but she didn’t continue.

“But now you’re back, so you didn’t abandon your people.” He said sympathetically.

Sumire gave a short, sarcastic laugh.

“Not for the right reasons.” She retorted.

Takao didn’t know what to say, so they both fell silent.

He’d been right about Sumire. She did understand. She was just as hurt and lonely as he was, probably far more hurt and lonely. He felt sorry for her. He wanted to help her. Wanted to cheer her up, but what could he do? He thought hard, then an idea came to him.

“Can you use ice magic?” He asked, without any explanation.

She looked confused, but nodded yes.

“Can you make snow?” He asked, again without explanation.

“I’ve never done it, but I think so. Why?” She asked.

Takao didn’t answer. Instead, he retrieved two wooden bowls and spoons from his pack. Then asked Sumire for a pot, cooking spoon, some fruit, and honey which she produced from her magical storage. He added the fruit, honey, and some water to the pot, then set it over the coals to heat. He crushed the fruit and mixed the ingredients together as it heated. Once it looked just right, he removed it from the fire and had Sumire cool it with magic. Following his instructions, she filled the two bowls with snow. He drizzled liquid from the pot over both bowls of snow, handed a spoon to Sumire, and indicated for her to try it.

She looked unsure, but scooped up a pile of glistening snow and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up the moment she tasted it. Takao laughed and started on his own snow.

“Mmm! What is this?” She asked between mouth fulls.

“It’s called flavored snow. Yukki came up with it. She was always coming up with new ways to use her magic.” He said while happily eating his own snow.

“Humans make the best food!” She touted, eating her own snow happily.

Suddenly, Sumire froze mid-scoop. She dropped her spoon in her bowl, and grabbed at her head, face contorted with pain.

“Ahhh! What is this!?” She screamed softly.

“Ah right. If you eat flavored snow too fast, it can get on your brain. Very painful, but it passes quickly.” Takao explained, unconcerned.

After finishing their first bowls, they each had another. Takao was happy to see Sumire liked the treat. He was glad he remembered how to make the flavoring. He hadn’t made it since before his family died. He hadn’t been able to because it stirred up such painful memories, but he thought he might start making it again. The problem was, he couldn’t make it alone, since he couldn’t use magic. He considered this, then made up his mind.

“Hey Sumire.” He started.

“Yeah?” She said, happily finishing her snow.

“You know, if you like the flavored snow, I could make it for you again.”

Her eyes sparkled at this.

“Really! Yes, please!” She said excitedly.

“I just can’t make it by myself, so I’ll need your help.” He said tentatively, watching Sumire for reactions.

“That’s fine! I’m happy to help!”

“I guess— I guess we’ll have to stick together then.”

Sumire stopped eating. Takao could see understanding slowly appear on her face. She blushed, which made him blush too.

“Yeah, we’ll just have to stick together.”

She smiled softly, and Takao smiled too.

“Besides, you’re the reason I’m an adventurer without the qualifications to be one. You’ll just have to stick around till I’ve learned magic and become a true adventurer.” He said with a sly smile.

“Geh. I’m sorry. You don’t have to keep bringing it up.” She pouted.

Takao laughed, and couldn’t help but think her pouting face was cute. Sumire laughed too, and their laughter filled the quiet, peaceful night.

After being alone for so long, Takao felt happy to have someone he could rely on. Relief washed over him, and exhaustion along with it.

“Tomorrow we have our first job as adventurers. I suppose we should get some rest.” He said with a long yawn.

Sumire stretched he arms and lay back on the soft grass.

“Yeah. I suppose so.” She agreed.

Takao stretched out on the grass too.

“Good night, partner.” He said.

“Good night— partner.” Sumire echoed.

And although he couldn’t see her, as he fell asleep, Takao imagined Sumire was blushing cutely in the fading firelight.

Sumire’s Exposé!
Dragon god’s very rarely descend to the mortal realm, since they become trapped there if they do. The last time a dragon descended was over a thousand years ago. Shortly after his descent, dragonian’s first appeared, and not long after that, the dragon god died.