"So... I did die, huh..."
"Indeed so..."
Noah, with Evangeline floating beside him, now ventured through the bustling metropolis sidewalk toward his campus...
However, he wasn't in a hurry anymore.
Earlier, he'd been so determined to make it to his first day of college, but now the thought of college was second only to the current matter at hand—
The event last night.
He slowly touched his chest—the same spot that had once been pierced by the silver sword of that lunatic priest, now completely mended without a single trace of scar.
Yet... that wasn't the only thing that felt surreal to him.
Remembering the lesson Evangeline had taught him from the same last night, he focused slightly—channeling a bit of his spiritual energy into his chest—
And then, a faint, glowing chain of spiritual energy materialized...!
Its end was embedded deep into his chest—passing through his shirt no less—while the other extended outward, shimmering faintly as it reached further, connecting its other end...
To Evangeline's own chest.
Noah could feel the chain pulsating... as if his own heart—nay, his soul even—was connected with Evangeline's...
"...And in order to revive me, you..." Noah muttered, glancing at her in disbelief, "...you chained and connected our souls together, allowing your spiritual energy to flow into me...?"
She turned aside with a faint pout, "...it was the only way."
"Huh..."
Noah was at a loss for words.
Having not only learned a fragment of what truly happened last night, but also... realizing how the 'ghost' woman he'd met just last night...
Had bound herself to him—practically tying her very existence to his.
It was quite the shock for him... yet, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel... strangely calm, almost... connected.
...However, a slight doubt crossed his thought.
"...Are you sure about this?"
"...Pardon?"
"...Are you sure about, like, getting stuck with me—a mortal...?" He voiced his concern softly, his brows furrowing slightly—his worry evident. "I imagine you don't find this whole thing pleasant... right?"
He then tried to tug the chain on his chest, wondering if it could be untethered from him, but... it was embedded quite firmly, refusing to budge. He could only sigh in resignation.
"Welp... could you at least break off from this chain yourself then?"
But instead of responding calmly as he thought she would, Evangeline's melancholic expression... slowly turned into a scowl!
"...Are you trying to get rid of me, mortal?" she hissed, a hint of venom lacing her tone.
"H-huh? N-no, I didn't mean it like that—"
Her eyes narrowed sharply, lips curling into a pouty glare.
"H-hmph! How typical of mortals! Always so ungrateful!"
"U-ungrateful...? Hey, weren't you the one who said you don't like mortals in the first place...?"
"T-that's—!"
Evangeline stopped mid-sentence... as realization and memory of last night quickly flooded back to her.
Her mouth opened and closed, trying her hardest to piece together a rebuttal...!
"T-that was before! I—I've had a change of heart!" she declared hastily. "Y-yes—! That's right! You've proven to me that you're different from other mortals, mortal!"
She puffed her cheeks before quickly turning away, her translucent form flickering faintly.
"A-and you should feel honored, you know?! To be bound with me, the Great Spirit Evangeline...!"
Her voice cracked slightly at the end... a soft blush tinting her pale cheeks, much to Noah's confusion as he couldn't quite see her expression.
Even so... he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Ahaha~! Is that so, huh?"
"...W-what are you laughing at...?!"
"Haha, sorry, sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, alright?" He quickly assured her with a genuine smile. "I just couldn't help myself—it's just... this whole thing feels really, really surreal."
"W-wha...? What does that even mean...?"
"It's nothing, alright?"
"Ugh...! You...!" She huffed in annoyance—accusatory finger thrown at him! "How dare you dodge my question?! Again!"
Noah let out another hearty laugh as he released his focus on the spiritual chain connecting him and Evangeline—
It slowly dematerialized before his eyes, and yet... he could still feel the faint connection between himself and her.
"Well, either way... thanks for saving me, Evangeline."
"Wha—?!"
Her eyes widened—his words caught her completely off guard! She hadn't expected gratitude of all things...!
"H-hmph! Y-you'd better be grateful, m-mortal...!" she blurted out, puffing her chest in mock pride, but...
Her lips softened into a smile of quiet relief... accompanied by a faint, rosy blush.
"Heh, well... since you're basically stuck with me," he offered his hand to her, "wanna tag along and see my campus? 'Cause you're probably gonna see it every day too~."
"H-huh?"
She stared at his offered hand, somewhat flustered and unsure. But...
"...Okay," Evangeline murmured softly, slowly reaching out before pausing midway... before realization hit her, "w-wait, mortal—"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"Uhm... your name..."
"Hmmm?"
"I-I said, what's your name, mortal!" She blurted out, cheeks puffed in mild frustration. "You have not yet told me your name...!"
Noah blinked—then let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah... right. Guess I forgot that part, huh?"
Straightening his posture, he placed a hand on his chest and gave a mock bow.
"Noah Winters, at your service, milady~."
"...Pfft—!"
Evangeline couldn't help but let out a small, amused giggle at his antics—her faint blush deepening just a little, before then she accepted his hand.
"Great Spirit, Evangeline..." she replied with a playful, regal tone before hesitating. "...But, you could call me Eva for short."
"Eva, huh? Cute nickname~."
"W-wha—?! C-c-cute...?!?" she stammered once again, her entire face turning a deeper shade of red.
"Ahaha~ come on then, Eva! Let's go~!"
"H-huh—?! W-wait, N-Noah—?!"
But it was too late—Noah had already taken her hand, dragging the flustered spirit along as they dashed through the bustling sidewalk of the city once again!
...But...
What he—nor especially Eva—had yet to realize...
"...What the hell was that?"
"Did that guy... just talk to himself?"
"C-creepy..."
...Was that the people around them had just witnessed Noah's entire conversation with his ghostly companion—
Whom they could not perceive.
And thus... a rumor—no, a legend—was born that day...
Of the strange young man who heartily laughed to himself.
...However, of course...
Not everyone thought he was crazy.
"...Interesting..." murmured one of the onlookers—
A white-haired woman holding an umbrella, shielding herself from the bright morning sunlight...
Before her figure quietly disappeared within the crowd of bustling pedestrians.