Epilogue — Blue is the Color of Freedom

Luna stiffened in response.

But it was in surprise, not rejection, because she then returned his hug. And the kiss. It was the first time he had ever kissed a woman but it didn't matter at that moment, it all seemed natural, as if they had rehearsed it a million times, as if it had been preordained.

A kiss with the shadow of the inn burning behind them, shaken by the rippling flames.

It had turned into a false dawn, in the middle of the hills, it looked from here. It just burned.

But it was still standing, a great bonfire in the midst of unfathomable darkness, even if it was to be consumed soon. Perhaps...

Maybe he, no, they in the same way might be all right.

Burning, whether it was for a short time or a long time.

Against the dark.

——

"Hey."

They hadn't been able to save the inn. That beast had finally crumbled to the ground. But Shuji was fine with it.

Yes, it had been the closest thing to a home he'd had these past two years. But what was so good about them, worth fighting to preserve and remember? Nothing, of course. Absolutely nothing. Except what he had found at the end. Their encounter.

"I know you're too smart not to have realized how strange it is. They set fire to the inn and then came after me, not the other way around. Don't you want to know?"

"I don't care. I don't care where you come from or the... the baggage you carry. I'm just happy you're here."

Shuji hoped she understood the spirit and not his poor words.

He heard her sigh.

Relief, perhaps with a small smile? Or the opposite? He could only imagine. He was ahead, so he could only imagine her expression. He had been doing it for some time now, even when he was alone, lying in bed, lost in his own thoughts. These days his thoughts inevitably revolved around her. Sooner or later.

"Maybe I want to share it."

"I'm listening, then."

"About a year ago, a nobleman passed through my village. It's a great opportunity, especially for the poorer areas. Like I said, you're a smart guy. You can imagine the rest, can't you?"

Yes. He had an idea. Suddenly it was like he had a lead ball for a stomach. But he kept quiet, he thought she really needed to tell someone.

That in the long run she'd regret it if she let him assume and it ended here.

"He was interested in me. Maybe I was a little prettier or a little cleaner than the typical peasant girl. Or maybe he just wanted to try it because he could. In any case, my parents sold me. It's not like they had much choice, of course, but they took the money. They took it and..."

Luna fell silent. What was going through her mind? How was her expression changing? Even now, Shuji didn't turn around to look at her. He had a feeling she wouldn't like it. He had to give her some privacy, so to speak. Something like that.

"He took me with him. He did horrible things to me. He made me feel less than human. Then the soldiers attacked. I never thought I'd be relieved by the invasion of an enemy country. It was the soldiers from before, the soldiers from Albion."

Uh-huh. But what would she have done to get chased all the way here? Shuji couldn't see that yet.

"In the midst of the chaos and confusion, I killed that man. That's also where I stole the book of magic I learned with. I escaped and tried to return home. But when I did, I saw that I had nowhere to go back to. My village had been razed to the ground. There was nothing left..."

Luna took a deep breath. What should he say? What could he say?

"Since then, I've been wandering, just trying to survive."

And at some point she'd arrived on his doorstep. And everything had changed.

"Why did the soldiers come for you?"

"I did a lot of things to survive," she answered simply. Explanation enough for him. He didn't need the details. "Hasn't what you think of me changed?"

What a question. Of course it had. How could it not?

"You're a strong person. I'm sorry. But thank you."

He felt Luna's hand on his back, after a moment.

The two of them crossed the darkness across the bridge formed by the moonlight. Two lonely people, not so lonely anymore.