When Seraphina finally finished all her duties as a High Priestess, the day came to an end beneath a magnificent, bright blue moon, taking over the skies and marking the end of this eventful thirteenth birthday.
The gift the two nobles had left her had already been opened. Inside were lots of clothes sewn by a skilled artisan. This included casual wear as well as more formal pieces, like those Claire had been wearing today, though it consisted mainly of white or black stuff.
Since the silver-haired girl was rarely seen wearing anything other than her robe, it must have been why she had received such a gift from her friend.
Once everything was packed in her own [Miniature Box], Seraphina left her room without so much as a glance back. The night's cool greeted her as she stepped outside, turning her ears slightly red.
She pulled her robe's hood over herself to keep them warm before she broke into a jog across the road, with her long robe fluttering in the wind.
Nights in Alequessa were rarely silent. Since it was a city based around alcohol, drunkards in the middle of the night were a common sight.
"Hwewe~ man...You look hella fuc*able."
"What are you talking about, you dumb@ss."
The High Priestess ignored the two 'flirting' men and continued on her way back home.
...
Finally, the little girl stopped in front of a modest house. It and the neighborhood had all shut off every source of light, likely having already drifted to the Dream World.
Quietly taking out a key from her leather pouch, Sera stealthily made her way inside.
She might have looked like a burglar, but it was not her intention; all she wished for was not to wake up the owner in case they were sleeping— something a robber also wants.
After very carefully closing the door behind her, Seraphina silently tiptoed throughout the corridor towards her destination. There was no light anywhere, so she accidentally bumped her toes into the foot of a table...
"Ouch..." the child let out a muted cry of pain.
This did not actually hurt her as she was strong now; however, it did bring back the painful memories of her younger days, causing her to react out of habit.
Soon enough, the small girl reached the second door from the left, the bedroom. Gently turning the handle, Seraphina stealthily entered, with a sneaky score near that of a golem.
Compared to her room at the church, this one was far smaller and humbler. But it did not stop her from loving it, much more than she could ever like the High Priestess' quarters.
And this was for a reason.
The chamber had basic utilities such as a double bed and lots of unremarkable things, yet among these, one thing stood out like a jewel among a pile of stones:
A beautiful hazel-haired woman lay below the blankets like a sleeping beauty.
The sight looked like it had been taken straight out of a painting; moonlight lit her face, giving her an ethereal appearance. The girl's golden eye fluttered in delight the moment she saw her.
Seraphina quickly undressed herself, putting on the black nightgown she had received from the Arests. She neatly folded her clothes and stored them inside her [Miniature Box] before making her way towards the bed.
Carefully lifting the blankets, the silver-haired girl slipped into her sister's bed, ready to sleep.
Under this familiar environment, as well as her sister's scent, the High Priestess's lips curved upward in a blissful smile.
'My Heaven...' she thought, feeling all giddy inside.
This situation was, as it stood, incredibly comfortable for the girl. However, something was still missing for a perfect note, and this missing thing was right beside her!
The young girl shifted slightly, inching ever so closer to Coralie until she was close enough to feel her favorite scent directly from its source.
*Haa...haa*
The little girl drew in two deep breaths, letting the sweet scent of vanilla and honey fill her lungs to the brim. Her cheeks flushed a faint red from intoxication, and her mouth sallivated, telling her she craved more.
Even with those feelings, the young girl still maintained a safe distance from her sister because she did not want to bother her rest. Keeping her limbs to herself, Seraphina rubbed her bare legs together and hugged herself.
*Yawn~*
She yawned, already preparing her voyage to Dream World.
However, the moment she closed her eyes, the bed rustled, and the silver-haired girl was pulled into a warm embrace that dissipated any chill she could have felt.
"You were awake, sister..?" Seraphina whispered without opening her eyes to check.
"Hm."
The pillow above her trembled a bit. From that, she could guess that the hazel-haired girl had nodded at her.
"I was waiting for you..." Coralie muttered in a tired tone.
This little sister was someone very punctual and always came at the same time every night. So it was not far-fetched for Coralie to stay up a little later than usual for her.
*Mwah!*
The older girl planted a soft kiss on the little one's forehead. Seraphina felt her face growing hot, and out of instinct, she leaned in until her face was buried against Coralie's shoulders.
Feeling the softness of the fabric covering the silver-haired girl in her arms, Coralie was puzzled and asked:
"Are your new clothes a gift from your friend...Claire, was it...?"
Her little sister was not the type to buy expensive things for herself; moreover, a nightgown was clearly not her style.
"Yes, it was from her," silently replied Seraphina as she opened her eyes to look at the woman who shared her bed.
Their middle-of-the-night conversation flowed as naturally as it could get, since similar occurrences had happened many times before. It had almost become a ritual for the two sisters to talk about random matters before drifting off to sleep.
"I don't think you've ever worn black before..." Coralie paused to search through her memory. "...Either way, it looks very cute on you."
Seraphina smiled.
Beneath the blanket, the golden-eyed girl began softly kicking her legs like a puppy wagging its tail, unable to contain her joy from being complimented by Coralie.
If this was what her sister thought, she should try to wear more black in the future...
Her feelings seemed to have been noticed by the woman in front of her, as Coralie's hold on her tightened.
From her angle, the taller hazel-haired girl had access to a clear view of her little sister's small back. There, something unusual had recently appeared which Coralie was still not accustomed to.
A large White Star had formed and was now covering over half her back!
Coralie's fingers gently traced circles over Seraphina's Star before pausing, and with a quiet voice, she asked:
"Speaking of which, when are you planning to get your promotion, now that you have your Fourth Star...?"