Éa was busy building a fire when we got back to camp, scantily clad in a button-up shirt that sometimes rose up to reveal glimpses of her black spandex shorts.
“Welcome home, Yaya, Lanceil.”
“Good to be back, Sis.”
“It’s wonderful to be back, dearest Sister.”
“Wait, why are you calling me that, too, Lanceil?”
“Well, now that I am Souya’s consort, I am also your elder sister.”
“Huh? Is that how it works?”
“Wait, seriously?”
Éa and I both asked, taken aback.
“It is never too late to begin. You may call me Big Sis……… No, that will never suit me. Dear Sister will do. Come, try it.”
“Ew, no.”
“I am sorry to hear it. Well then, if my services are no longer required, I shall repose for the evening. Can I offer you anything, my lord?”
“No, thank you. Sorry to make you take me to the castle on such short notice.”
“It was my pleasure. I should thank you for all your hard work today.” Lanceil bowed and slipped into her tent.
“Welcome hooome, Mr. Souya!”
“Thanks, we’re all set for today. You should turn in for the night, too,” I ordered Machina, who had rolled over to greet me.
“Activating the radar sensor for approaching objects and entering standby mode. Good work out there today. Night night.” “Hotaru no Hikari,” the song stores put on over the PA systems at closing time, played through her speakers, and the AI bot switched to standby.
I grabbed my toothbrush from its spot by the washbasin filled with potable water, then did a final sweep of the campsite to make sure all was in order while I brushed my teeth. In the kitchen garden, I saw our little golem half buried in the soil, asleep. A fluffy mound of slumbering rabbits huddled together at the edge of our tents. Wrath relentlessly tossed out all those that intruded in the garden, but they’d grown fond of what they took to be a game and always went back to nuzzle up against him.
Once I finished washing up and smothered the fire, a wave of exhaustion hit me like a truck. I’d reached my limit. Battery dead. Clutching to my consciousness, afraid I’d collapse on the spot if I let go, I made for my tent—then remembered Lana would be inside. My heart sank.
I can’t go in there now. How could I even face her?
“Yaya.”
“Hmm?”
My younger sister took me by the hand, leading the way. “Come sleep in my tent with me tonight, okay?”
“S-sure.” I was too spent to think. Éa’s face blurred into the darkness. Following her like a docile lamb, I ducked into her tent. A citrus scent permeated the space, which was dimly lit by an emiluminite lantern. Made for four people, the tent had room to spare, but—
“Ah, I thought we’d been going through these kinda quickly.” By Éa’s personal belonging was a huge pile of instant foodstuffs.
“Whatever’s yours is mine.”
“Yeah, right,” I let it slide, too tired to think of a comeback. I removed my gear and set it in a corner. “Yukikaze, go on standby. Good work.”
“To you, a good night.”
I took the mini kettle off from around my waist, bunched up my poncho, and—
“Here, you can use this. Whatever’s mine is yours.”
—took a spare set of clothes from my sister. The T-shirt and spandex shorts smelled of her. Shit, I’m half asleep and dead tired. This is gonna drive me crazy.
“C’mon, don’t just stand there like a wishy-washy willow,” Éa chided, then pulled off my dirty clothes and forced me into the clean ones. “You’re hopeless without me, you know.”
“Tell me about it.” The shirt was inside out, but I couldn’t care less.
“All right, time to sleep.”
We both lay our heads down on the single pillow. Close. She’s so close. But I didn’t even have the energy to worry about dirty thoughts. I threw a large comforter over us both, then turned off the lantern. Silent darkness descended upon us. I felt the warmth of her body through the sheets.
As if it was natural, my elven sister hugged me tight, a habit she had when trying to sleep. Was she anxious about something? Or did she just like to cuddle?
“Hey,” she whispered.
“Hmm?”
“You’re not gonna ask me? About the war.”
Éa was a victim, not an active participant. She hadn’t even been close enough to see what had happened. Plus–
“I didn’t want to bring up those painful memories. That gunshot almost killed you.”
“That’s true. You’re so kind to think of me like that.” No, I just sucked at getting into deep conversations with people. She crinkled her eyes up happily when I gently placed my hand over her cheek. “Sorry, Yaya. Even if you did ask, I can’t tell you anything helpful. I passed out, and by the time I came to, the forest was already burning, and there was a bullet in my stomach. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. This isn’t your burden to bear.”
“Okay.” She snuggled closer, her cheek resting on my chest. I slid my arm under her neck to cushion her ear so it wouldn’t hurt. “Hee-hee,” she giggled softly. “This is kinda nice.”
She seemed content. If this was all it took to make her happy, I’d do it again any day, any time. She felt wonderful, warm against me. A luxurious reward for a hard day’s work.
Sleep. If I just close my eyes, I’ll fall right to sleep.
“Éa, are you awake? I worried you might not be able to sleep on your own, so I thought we could—”
As long as no one bothers me, that is.
“Oh my,” I heard Lanceil murmur. A shadow stole into the tent together with a brief slice of moonlight. Her voice now very close, she said, “Souya, it is most improper for you to share a bed with anyone other than your wife or your consort. That way lies infidelity.”
“Shh, Lanceil. You’re gonna wake her up.” Éa looked perfectly angelic, nestled fast asleep in the crook of my arm.
“Very well, then I shall join you.” Lanceil lifted the covers and tucked herself in, then big-spooned me once again. She stroked my hair. For some reason, she loved doing that. Too tired to fight back, I let her touch away.
“Wait, Lanceil, are you—?”
“Yes?” Something pressing against my back felt different.
Was she—? “Are you naked?”
“I did wear a towel on my way here, of course. I am a lady, after all.”
“So you are naked?”
“I always remove my clothes before bed. Is that an issue?”
You think I can fall asleep like this? I thought, but then I was out like a light in about five seconds. Pretty sure my brain short-circuited trying to process that outrageous discovery.