Wind's Serenade (風のセレナーデ)

ACT III: Awakening (覚醒)

Asbel couldn't resist turning his gaze away from Nausicaa. She looked so serene and calm, so at peace. The sight of her stirred something deep inside him, something he kept on holding back for a while.

He knelt down beside Nausicaa quietly, his movements delicate and gentle. For a brief moment, he hesitated. His cheeks grew warm and pink. Asbel took a deep breath, before he leaned over her ear and began to speak.

"Nausicaa..." he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "Spending time with you... feels like finding peace in the wind. You've brought light into my life... I have realized, my heart truly belongs to you..."

Nausicaa opened her eyes, hearing Asbel's words. She was speechless at first, her mind raced as she shifted her sight towards Asbel. "You... you love me?" Nausicaa stammered in disbelief. "Asbel... I... I didn't know..."

Before Nausicaa could gather her emotions, a low rumble filled her ears. A large, green insect with multiple, glowing blue eyes emerged out of the blue. Its enormous body moved with a quiet grace, the golden grass parting beneath as it slowly approached them. It was an ohm!

Nausicaa turned to the ohm. "Asbel..." Nausicaa gasped softly in awe. "Could that be... the baby ohm I saved?" She gazed at the creature as her mind struggled to reconcile with the small living being she had once saved. Teto awoke, and sensed the creature's presence. He let out a chitter, twitching his ears. Nausicaa glanced at Teto for a moment, and stroked his head gently. "Don't worry, Teto," Nausicaa spoke softly. "It's probably a friend." Nausicaa approached the ohm, her footsteps light and dainty as a feather.

"Hello, young ohm," Nausicaa spoke sweetly. Out of the blue, the young ohm's tentacles unfurl from its body. Nausicaa let out a breath of surprise, she never expected to see the ohm's tentacles emerge. As they extended outward, one of the tentacles wrapped around her finger gently. At that moment, a flash of clarity enveloped her. She realized it was the baby ohm she had saved. Except, it has grown since she saved it. "It... it is you..." Nausicaa spoke, smiling sweetly. "You've grown quite a bit since I saved you over a year ago."

The ohm's tentacles began to caress Nausicaa ever so slightly, glowing beautifully. A mysterious, strange sensation began to wash over her. "What's going on?" She thought to herself. She was clueless of what was about to happen to her.

Teto, who is sensing the shift in the air, quickly scampered onto Nausicaa's shoulder, making it through the ohm's tentacles. He gripped his paws tightly onto Nausicaa's shoulder like little grappling hooks, and twitched his nose and ears, chittering in an alarmed manner.

"It's alright, Teto..." Nausicaa whispered, trying to soothe him. "I think... something wonderful... might be happening..." She felt the warmth of his fur on her neck as she closed her eyes, feeling the comforting sensations from the ohm's tentacles.

Suddenly, Nausicaa was lifted off the ground. Her feet were no longer touching the Earth's surface. It wasn't long until a strangely warm sensation enveloped her, starting from the tips of her fingers, expanding to her entire body.

Asbel stood in front of Nausicaa and the Ohm, frozen in place. He was speechless, his eyes wide open in surprise. All he could do at the moment was to watch whatever was happening to Nausicaa in silence.

She began to change, starting with her dress. The color of her dress, which was a deep shade of blue, began to brighten up until it was the shade matching the color of the blue sky. The skirt of her dress enlarged, growing longer and puffy, until her feet were nearly hidden. Her dress became nothing more than a beautiful gown. The Pejite symbol on her chest vanished out of sight and was replaced by beautiful, shimmering golden designs, as if the sun rays decorated her new gown.