Pretending To Be Gilead's Prince and Master Wizard

I know Alex said just now that we will conquer our fears together, but… looking at him now all frozen to his seat next to me, I am starting to feel guilty for forcing him to ride this thing with me.

Alex is acting weird now with all that clinging he is making in my arms, just like a kid who clings to his mother for life. 

Wait, does that mean he really sees me as his mother right now? Ah, just forget it. I am beginning to talk nonsense here.

"Hey," I called out to him, but he simply wouldn't budge and kept clinging to my arms for support. "Are you seriously afraid of heights or are you just taking this opportunity to cling to me like a girl?"

The moment I said that, Alex may have realized sooner what he has been doing for the past couple of minutes and immediately peeled himself away from me.

He looked at me in disbelief and asked, "Can't you tell that I am really afraid of heights over here?!"

I meticulously looked at him and saw his handsome face getting paler and paler each time this thing is moving. 

To test him out further, I tried stomping my feet and was just about to stand from where I am currently seated when Alex annoyingly pulled me back in his side and clutched his hands into mine.

"Dummy, what are you doing? Do you seriously want me to die of a heart attack, huh?"

With that kind of reaction I was kind of expecting from him, I can't help but laugh to my heart's content. He is just so cute that his cheeks are now starting to turn beet red!

Turning away quickly, Alex added with a hint of sarcasm, "W-why are you laughing? You're just too sweet and considerate, aren't you?"

Almost instantly, I hurriedly tried to contain my laughter and get back on his good graces. I'm afraid that something bad will happen once I get to have the captain mad at me.

Smirking, I replied, "Consider this as getting even for all those hardships you've also caused me in the past." and I stuck my tongue out to even annoy him more.

By the time I stopped making faces, Alex turned again to face me and held my hand once again. But this time, his hands are not trembling anymore unlike earlier. There was also a subtle expression in his face along with the blowing of the gentle breeze around us.

"W-what? What is it?" I asked as I got anxious all of a sudden.

"Why?Aren't I allowed to stare at the beautiful face of my girlfriend?"

Girlfriend… he said that word out loud without any hesitation. Just that one simple phrase from him instantly made my heart skip a beat.

Trying to suppress my overwhelming feelings, I said, "What is this? One second you were acting like a scaredy cat, and now you're acting like this. You're just too weird, aren't you?"

Alex ignored my remark and snuggled up close to me. I was so shocked by his sudden movement that I almost pushed him away for that. After all, I am still really not used to guys being this close to me.

"Let us stay like this until the ride ends, then will I only be at ease when I am this close to you."

Acting like his obedient servant, I didn't dare to move for the next couple of minutes and just enjoyed this rare moment with him. 

The first time I saw this man back in the train station, I thought that he was this rude, heartless jerk inside and out. Alex strikes me also as a guy who doesn't like to express his feelings that much.

Yet, amidst all the conflicts that we are both facing today, who would have thought that we get to share this beautiful moment together? Who would have thought that all those trials that we have faced would end up being with each other's arms like this.

I smiled at those beautiful thoughts running through my head. Nothing makes this moment even more beautiful than having the guy I adore right beside me…

The ferris wheel ride was over in a flash. We almost fell as we exited, which caused us to laugh as if on cue afterward.

"How can you call yourself a captain of a magic army if you act like a scaredy cat?" I blurted within hearing distance as we walked towards a diner that he had recommended not far from him. 

We got hungry after that thrilling ride just now. The ferris wheel was so high we could almost see the whole city from the top!

"And how can you become a master wizard if you're also afraid of heights? Geez." Alex countered a good one against mine. I only shot daggers in his direction before focusing my gaze back to the road and silently walked while feeling his warm hand against mine.

I don't know if I am just too happy to care or too naive to notice, but when I happened to look in my right, I saw a glimpse of shadow not far from where we are currently walking. I blinked my eyes once, and the figure was instantly gone from my sight.

Yeah, it must have been my imagination…

***

-THIRD PERSON-

At the castle's backyard, there stood Lancelot's slender and tall figure as he watched the big oak tree standing proudly in front of him. He caresses the trunk with such importance, as if this tree has so much value in it.

It was only known to his clan what this tree holds inside its trunk, and that is something that they have devoted themselves into in order to preserve it.

For this tree holds a very important person in their clan, a powerful wizard that was kept hidden on its very trunk who, at his time, was feared and loathed by everyone… a man that Lancelot's clan was devoted to serve him with all of their lives.

"Soon… my lord, you will be resurrected once again." Lancelot croons, just like he was talking to a living person.

"Just a little patience, and soon we will conquer the world again."