Midnight
The fire swayed between them like a ghostly dancer, flickering in Aona's eyes as she handed Ronald a piece of roasted venison. The scent wafted through the cold night air, and the darkness around them felt like a barrier protecting them from the world.
Aona (softly):
"You know… I haven't felt this peaceful in years."
Ronald (chewing slowly):
"Strange… even the demon in my head is quiet tonight."
Aona (gazing into the fire):
"Perhaps because, for the first time, you don't feel alone."
A gentle silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling of the fire and the sounds of night insects.
Ronald:
"Why do you care about me? I'm just a stranger…"
Aona (smiling lightly):
"Because I see something in your eyes that no one else has seen… I see the child who was afraid to grow up."
Ronald (setting his plate aside):
"I'm scared, Aona. Scared of turning into Jiria…"
Aona (moving to sit beside him):
"Fear is proof that you're not like him. Jiria no longer fears anything."
Ronald:
"Sometimes I wonder… what if my destiny is to become a villain?"
Aona (taking his hand in hers):
"Destiny isn't a single path, Ronald. It's an ocean of choices. You decide which waves to ride.
Hours Later
Ronald finally lay down, his breathing steady for the first time in months. Aona sat watching him, her eyes never leaving his relaxed face.
Aona (whispering):
"You're stronger than you think…"
In his sleep, she saw the innocence of a child, far removed from the cursed warrior the world believed him to be.
Suddenly…In a moment of clarity, the death bells abruptly fell silent. The stillness that followed felt like a shock.
Aona (looking around in surprise):
"What…?"
But the real shock was in Ronald's mind. For the first time in years… the demon was silent.
It wasn't just a temporary pause—it was an overwhelming silence, as if something had been severed. In his sleep, Ronald smiled, as if sensing his liberation.
Aona (placing a hand on her chest):
"Could it be…?"
She didn't finish her sentence, but her eyes filled with hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a chance to break the curse.
Yet deep down, she wondered: Was this the calm before the storm? Or was the demon planning something even more terrifying?
The silence was beautiful… and frightening at the same time.
Ronald (suddenly waking):
"Aona… something is changing."
Aona:
"I know… but is it a good change or a bad one?"
Ronald:
"For the first time in years, I can think clearly. It's as if a fog has lifted."
Aona (gazing at the stars):
"Perhaps this is your final gift before the coming storm."
And in that moment, they both felt a strange pulse in the air… as if the entire world had held its breath for a moment.