The Inner Odyssey

Chapter 15 Delicious Cooking

Celeste frowned, hearing the sound of the door to the entrance opening.

She was in the living room, trying to distract her mind from thinking about Alden.

The noise of the egress had broken her out of her daze.

'Who could that be?'

She pondered the identity of the new arrival.

Both her parents were already home. Perhaps one of the Guild members had requested an audience and wanted to speak with her father privately.

But then, if that was the case, Celeste knew they would have knocked first, instead of casually strolling in.

Her frown deepened.

Just as she was about to alert one of the guards - it was strange how they hadn't intercepted the threat already -, she paused.

Her eyes slowly widened as she heard the echo of a familiar set of footsteps.

Those calm footfalls...

Celeste knew them off by heart.

She had burned their cadence into her memory, hoping to hear them again one day.

Her face lit up with pure joy.

Jumping to her feet, Celeste dashed towards the entrance.

However, she bumped into another figure before she left the living room and entered the corridor.

Celeste groaned and instinctively closed her eyes as she swayed.

Two strong arms wrapped around her frame, steadying her.

She unconsciously relaxed.

This warm touch...

Her eyes snapped open.

Celeste shifted her gaze, staring at the young man opposite her.

His deep, captivating, crimson eyes had a magnetic allure that drew her in.

White hair framed a pale face brimming with life.

A radiant smile gave his features a sparkling glow.

Celeste felt like she had butterflies in her stomach.

This young man gazing at her with tender affection... was none other than her beloved childhood friend.

"Al!"

Celeste jumped into Alden's arms, her profound relief overpowering any shame she might have felt at hugging him so tightly. She pressed her face against his chest, breathing in his scent and listening to his strong, steady and vigorous heartbeat.

The sound both calmed her and sent an excited shiver down her spine.

It was a strange, but not entirely unpleasant feeling.

Gripping him tightly, as if he was about to disappear, Celeste sobbed in her love's arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She repeated those words, hoping Alden would forgive her.

After all, she was the reason he had embarked on the expedition.

"It's okay."

Celeste felt Alden gently rub circles on her back, and soon, under his soothing touch, she calmed down.

Wiping her eyes, she extricated herself from his arms.

Her cheeks flushed, recalling the embarrassing way she had leapt into his arms.

...It was then she noticed the pitch-black little bird hovering slightly above Alden's left shoulder.

Celeste felt her heart melt at its adorable appearance.

Then, her eyes widened, realising she was looking at a phoenix.

She sent a quizzical glance towards Alden.

"I found it on the verge of being devoured by one of the Defiled. I saved it and nursed it back to health, and now she's my familiar."

Alden sighed a little wistfully.

Time sure passed by in a flash.

'A little too fast for my liking, actually.'

However, even if an aeon passed, one immutable truth would always remain.

It was... his love for Celeste.

No matter what happened, she would hold the key to his heart.

She was the only one there was, and the only one that ever would be.

Alden itched to tell her how he felt.

'Tonight.'

He decided.

Alden was intent on confessing to her tonight.

Unfortunately, any future relationship they could have was now complicated by the vision he had seen.

Every time he recalled her lifeless corpse sprawled on the ground, his blood would run cold.

It was as if someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water on him.

Gritting his teeth, Alden shook off the maddening sensation.

He would raise the issue with Celeste at a later date.

Hopefully, by then, they'd be stronger and possess more information as well.

And hopefully, he could also gather some evidence to support his claims.

Alden swallowed and inwardly shook his head to get rid of his nerves.

He remembered how frail Celeste seemed as she sobbed in his arms.

He resolved never to make her worry like that ever again.

A second later, Alden grimaced, knowing that was a tough promise to keep in an Apocalypse.

'Oh well, I'll try to do the next best thing. Come back home in one piece.'

"Is the soup too spicy?"

Alden broke out of his musing and shifted his gaze towards Celeste.

She had an anxious look plastered on his face

"No, it's perfect."

Alden smiled.

"I saw you grimace and thought I had over-seasoned the broth. That's relieving!"

He saw Celeste show a relieved expression, pushing her bowl away.

'Typical...'

Alden's eyes danced with mirth.

"Ah, is the reason you winced because you're hurt?! Do you need me to heal you??"

He saw her scan his figure, noticing the cuts, bandages and scrapes.

He inwardly chuckled at her frantic tone.

"Cece..."

Alden whispered the nickname warmly.

Celeste blushed.

"I told you not to use that embarrassing nickname! We're no longer kids, Al."

Alden cracked up, which made her flush even more.

Flashing a teasing grin, he answered her question more seriously, staring into her emerald orbs.

"I'm okay. Actually, I'm better than okay! Anyone would be after getting a taste of your delicious cooking."

As he watched her beam at the praise, Alden inwardly smirked.

'Looks like some things never change...'