Celesta ran toward her, giggling, and they grasped hands as they danced through the grass.
Aizel rushed out of the bushes, feigning shock. “Oh, no!” she cried. “Whatever happened to my dear Erich?” She rushed to his side, but her hands were moving through the air, translating her words to Celesta. Dropping down on one knee, she briefly examined Erich’s face. “Only the greatest warrior could have felled such a knight so strong as this.”
Erich tried to remain playfully dead, but Meena didn’t miss the grin that flickered across his face.
Watching their lighthearted interaction brought an intense joy to Meena’s chest. Outside the castle’s walls, her world might be falling apart, but inside, her family was still the most important thing she had ever known. Between Celesta’s still gleeful dancing and the adoring look that Aizel and Erich openly shared, Meena thought she might burst with joy. She could face anything because she would always have this to return home to.
Celesta clapped sharply, bringing all eyes back to her as she spoke with her hands to Aizel.
“True love’s kiss?” Aizel responded, both vocally and non-vocally. “You want me to try true love’s kiss on this brave knight and see if he comes back to us?”
Celesta nodded eagerly.
“How do you even know about true love’s kiss?” Aizel asked, eyes narrowing. “Never mind,” she quickly followed up, turning back to Erich. “Only one thing is more powerful than the strength of a knight,” Aizel said, somehow both dramatically and softly at the same time. “And that is me!”
Meena knew the entire thing was a jest, but she found herself watching the playful exchange with as much rapture and attention as Celesta.
“Come back to me, brave warrior!” Aizel leaned down and placed a light kiss on Erich’s nose.
Celesta stilled.
Nothing happened.
Aizel tapped her chin. “I thought that would work.” She leaned down and placed another kiss on his forehead. This time, she held the kiss for a few seconds. “That one ought to be powerful enough.”
Celesta narrowed her eyes, and Meena found herself doing the same.
Nothing happened.
Clapping again to gain Aizel’s attention, Celesta shook her head. She pointed to her own mouth.
“I do not think that will work,” Aizel responded, placing her hands on her hips.
Celesta copied her actions, placing her hands on her hips and stomping her foot in addition.
“Very well. I’ll try it. But don’t blame me if it fails. You were the one to attack him after all.” Leaning down, Aizel gently brought her lips to touch Erich’s.
For a moment, Meena felt as though the play acting were real. These two were only a few seasons older than she, but they seemed to have found a solid rock in each other despite the storms they had already endured.
Then, just as Aizel started to stiffen so she could sit back up, Erich suddenly threw his arms around her, pulling her on top of himself.
“I’m cured!” He cried, tickling her as he rolled her onto the grass so he could stand up. “I found the one more powerful than I!”
Aizel was naturally translating his words with her hands.
Celesta jumped up and down again, pointing to herself.
“Exactly.” Erich replied, leaning forward and scooping her off the ground. “You are the strongest of them all.” He spun Celesta through the air.
Meena felt her chest fill with happiness. Her brother had always been her most mischievous friend, and she loved to see him so happy.
When he dropped Celesta safely back onto the mossy grass, the young girl reached down into the moss at her feet and grabbed something secretly into her hand. Placing her hand behind her back, she tiptoed back to Meena with a grin on her face.
She didn’t need to be secretive because Erich had turned his focus back to Aizel, but Meena didn’t need to point that out to her fellow conspirator.
Angling her body away from the kissing couple, Celesta slowly opened her tight fist, holding out its contents to Meena. It was a tiny acorn, likely the same one they had bounced off the tree moments before.
Meena crouched so her face was level with the shorter girl’s, and took Celesta’s outstretched hand in her own. With a grin of her own, she wrapped Celesta’s fingers back around the acorn and guided her hand to place the small kernel in the pocket of her dress.
