A Year

“Have you decided what you wanted to do?”

August nodded with a heavy breath. “Just as a precaution. I will enlist.”

Heilke bit her lip.

“Don’t worry, Heilke. Just get some rest,” August said as he gave her a hand massage. “You must be exhausted after casting such a complex spell.”

*

August left his mansion early in the morning. He did not want to see Heilke upset–or rather, he did not want to see her and then want to stay. She could make him on the fence of everything.

Halfway to the enlistment hall, rain started to pour. August imagined Heilke arriving at his mansion and getting wet, just for him not to be there. One last look would be fine. He spun his horse around and went at max speed, feeling the mud from the floor splashing onto his face.

He reached the garden just outside the mansion, just to hear Heilke’s voice. It was coming from really close by—the brooch Heilke gave.

“August…” Heilke said.

August rushed to look for where Heilke was to spot her within the gates of the mansion. She was holding something white and thin. It was the pearl hairpin he had gifted her.

She rubbed the pin between her fingers, spinning it. “I’ll miss you.”

So that was the other half of the communication device. August teared up with a smile.

“See you, Heilke.”

*

The year was long. The spell alteration must have worked, as August did not have to fight any monsters. It was only training and other minor labour the nobles wanted to hire knights for.

Every night, August would pull out the brooch. He would always look forward to the day he could return to Heilke. He would do a proper proposal with a shiny diamond ring. How wonderful that would be.

Occasionally, Heilke would contact August. They would both not mention anything about the crystal, but only talked about their daily activities.

~

“Good news today, August.”

“What is it?”

“Renée and Francis are finally engaged.”

~

“I bought some shoes today. I also tried a new restaurant near the golden cafe. It was quite different, I must say. What did you do?”

“Just the same old. But we were also summoned to carry these trees into some random person’s yard. I’m not sure why they needed a specialised group for that.”

~*~

Soon enough, the time August planned to exit the army had come. The closer he was to Heilke’s meeting place, the more his heart raced. The journey was taking too long.

Right in the horizon line, he spotted the familiar aqua hair. Elated, August ran to her and grabbed her in a big hug.

August felt something off however, and paused his hug.

“Did you get thinner while I was gone!?”

Heilke giggled. “I didn’t. You just became bigger and more buff.”

Heilke was a million times prettier than in his memories. Her jewellike eyes, flowy hair. They decorated her face, where the smooth skin of her cheeks were inviting him for a peck. He went in for a second round of the hug, embracing tighter than before while rubbing his cheek against hers.

“Can I kiss you?” August asked.

Heilke chuckled. “Of course,” she said. Before August could make his move, however, Heilke had already turned her head and gave him the kiss. “But me first.”

August stood there, stunned.

“Are you not going to return it?” she asked jovially, to which August responded by lifting her in the air in his hug to give her a kiss she could not escape from.

“August!”

“I love you.”

Heilke’s eyes were in the shape of the crescent moon, while her gaze darted to the floor, then back at August. She signalled for him to lean in close and whispered in his ear, “I love you too, August.”

August might have felt his heart explode right then and there.

*

“August.”

“Hm?”

“I wanted to surprise you so I haven’t told you, but let’s go to the crystal. Bring your sword.”

August nodded. The beautiful crystal that Heilke and him worked together to perfect. That would be a nice spot for the proposal. He had the ring all ready in his suit pocket. He did not stop to think about the request for the sword.

“Good news is that it worked!” Heilke said. “Remember Matilda? Even limbs that did not have the other half could be healed.”

August, overjoyed, clung to Heilke. Heilke continued talking while patting August.

“I just think that it is time for the crystal to not exist anymore. I’m not sure what risks it has, or what other potential, and I’m not sure I would like to know.”

August nodded, rubbing his head into Heilke’s shoulder. Heilke moved towards the large crystal, now swirling with a light blue mana. August released his hug and put one hand in his pocket, and the other on his sword.

Swiftly, he cut the crystal into tiny pieces. The crystal still held its shape, possibly due to the friction. He knelt down on one knee, presenting the box with the ring in it.

“Heilke, would you marry me?”

The crystal shattered and the tiny pieces sparkled, as if the stars were cheering for the two. Heilke’s eyes widened, a smile slowly rising. She then burst out into laughter.

“You know, August. This was the same date as the time we ran into each other in my original timeline. You were about to do something to me but I got away.”

August quickly shut the box case and stood up. “I’m taking back this proposal and choosing another date,” August said, frustrated. “I don’t want to be associated with that version of me.”

With tears in her eyes, Heilke shook her head. “Please don’t take it back. It’s funny. I like it. Give me the ring. I say yes.”

August pouted, then smiled a sweet smile while putting on the ring properly.

“Thank you, Heilke.”

“What are you thanking me for? Save those for something else, August. Let’s pack these crystals up.”