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Fifteen minutes had passed since she and Yuno had taken to the skies. Areum used her MMC while Yuno used his own magic broom.
She tilted her head and watched Yuno's back who is swiftly controlling his broom while standing.
"Are you planning to run away with me? You could've told me in advance. I could've prepared some stuff," Areum said, a hint of playful accusation in her voice. Yuno momentarily looked back and shook his head afterward.
"No. I am not planning to run away with you," he replied, rolling his eyes before he looked away.
"Hmm. I highly doubt that," Areum retorted, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Did the wind pressure take a toll on your smart ass brain, Flyspeck?" Yuno shot back. Areum chuckled at his response.
"Ey. That's mean," Areum protested, but she couldn't help but laugh once more at the image of Yuno rolling his eyes, even though he was facing the opposite direction.
After a while of flying, Yuno finally landed. Areum quietly followed, lowering her MMC following Yuno's lead.
She pursed her lips as a dark, pitch-black field greeted them, dominated by a creepy, large tree. She skeptically looked at Yuno, who only had an indifferent expression plastered on his face.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"My favorite place," Yuno replied.
"...Really?" Areum looked around again, trying to find or even see something that could be called 'favorite' by a normal being.
Yuno started walking towards the large tree, and Areum followed behind him. The tree looked as if it housed an unknown creature.
Yuno sat down on one of the roots, which looked like benches. He suddenly turned to Areum and instructed her to sit down as well. Areum sat besides Yuno as she offered a small smile, still wondering why he had bought her to this place.
"It's any second now," Yuno muttered, his gaze fixed on the tree. She creased her forehead.
'Any second?'
Areum was about to question him when the field erupted in a symphony of light. The scene was transformed as the air shimmered with an ethereal glow, revealing a hidden world of vibrant color.
Flowers, previously concealed in the shadows, bloomed with an otherworldly brilliance, their petals radiating hues of crimson, sapphire, and emerald.
Insects, their bodies adorned with neon green, yellow, pink, and blue lights, buzzed and flitted through the air, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. But it was the tree that truly captivated Areum's attention.
It had undergone a dramatic metamorphosis, transforming into a beacon of golden light. Its branches reached towards the heavens like the arms of a celestial being, drawing Areum's gaze upwards and filling her with awe.
Areum had never witnessed anything so breathtaking.
Her jaw dropped, and a sense of awe washed over her.
"Woah, Yuno. It's so... eye-catching," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. Yuno, for the first time that night, offered a small smile.
"Us in the church used to come here once a month," he said softly. "This place became a comfort place for me."
Areum was taken aback.
This was the first time Yuno had ever opened up to her about his past.
"Are you with Asta since you guys were young?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Asta had never mentioned this detail, and she was eager to learn more.
Yuno nodded slightly. "Yes. We were found outside of the church on the same day."
"What a coincidence..." Areum murmured, her mind racing with possibilities.
"Yes, it is," Yuno agreed, leaning back against the tree root. Areum mirrored his position, her hands resting on her knees.
