Chapter 173: Should We Press Our Lips Together?

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Should We Press Our Lips Together?

Lance pulled out a chair across from her and sat down, his gaze soft as he watched her.

"In my hometown, we have a very important custom."

The man’s voice flowed gently through the quiet room.

"We believe that the day any person is born into this world is a day worthy of celebration and gratitude from everyone."

"We call this day a birthday."

"Birthday..."

Cecilia softly repeated the novel word.

"Yes. And this, in front of you, is a birthday cake."

Lance pointed to the flickering candle on the table.

"According to the custom, the person whose birthday it is must close their eyes before the candle and silently make a wish in their heart—the one they want most to come true."

"If you can blow out the candle in one breath, that wish will one day become a reality."

She listened as her senior described the unique custom.

For some reason, Cecilia felt her heart skip a beat.

’Grateful for my birth?’

Because she was of Half-Elf heritage,

the words she had heard most often from her family growing up were "trouble" and "regret."

Even her doting aunt and father always had a look of wanting to make up for some failing when they looked at her.

In all her years,

never before had anyone looked her in the eye and sincerely told her

that her birth itself was a wonderful thing, purely worthy of celebration.

A sharp, stinging sensation rushed to her nose, and a film of mist quickly welled up in her eyes.

But Cecilia sniffled hard, forcing the tears back.

She looked at Lance, and a brilliant, moving smile blossomed on her lips.

"Thank you, Senior."

"Hurry and make a wish. The candle’s about to burn out."

Lance urged with a smile.

Cecilia obediently closed her eyes.

’If birthday wishes really can come true...’

The young woman prayed devoutly in her heart.

’I wish... that the partner my soul recognizes will always look at me just like this.’

’I also wish that I can stay by his side forever.’

After making her wish,

she opened her eyes, took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks, and with a WHOOSH, blew out the candle.

The entire room was instantly plunged into complete darkness.

"Happy birthday, Cecilia."

As Lance’s sincere blessing rang out in the darkness,

Cecilia saw a small box suddenly open on the pitch-black tabletop.

A Hand Pendant, glowing faintly, appeared before her.

It was a piece of resin amber, polished until it was crystal clear.

But at the center of the amber, a living stalk of Moonlight Moss rested peacefully.

In the dim surroundings, the Moonlight Moss emitted a cool, soft, silver-blue fluorescence through the transparent material.

"Is this... Moonlight Moss?"

"That’s right."

Lance’s voice, tinged with a smile, came from the darkness.

"Remember the day we went to the forest for that quest? It was the first gathering commission we completed together."

"I kept the most pristine stalk from that time."

"Then I found an Alchemist in the Artisan District and had them use Tree Spirit Gel as an encapsulating material to make this Moonlight Moss Amber Hand Pendant."

"It doesn’t require you to infuse any extra Magic Power. As soon as night falls, it will automatically emit a soft glow."

"And that Alchemist also guaranteed that wearing it can improve your quality of sleep."

As Lance spoke, he fumbled around on the tabletop.

"Here, hold out your hand. I’ll help you put it on."

Under the cover of darkness,

Cecilia could clearly feel Lance’s warm breath as he drew near.

She obediently extended her slender wrist in the direction of his voice.

Although she didn’t know how her senior managed to find her so accurately with his vision obscured,

she could vividly feel his broad fingers gently supporting the base of her wrist.

The finely woven cord wrapped around her skin and was then carefully fastened.

The rough pads of Lance’s fingers inadvertently brushed against the skin of her inner wrist as he worked.

It was the instinctual "skin-hunger" brought on by her Flowering Stage.

Cecilia immediately felt an intense, tingling sensation shoot from her wrist straight up her spine.

Her breathing involuntarily grew ragged.

A shimmering layer of moisture glossed over her red eyes.

In this small, dark room,

the romantic tension was now like over-fermented mead, so thick it was almost palpable.

Just as Lance finished fastening the clasp and was about to withdraw his hand,

Cecilia suddenly turned her hand and seized his fingertips, holding them tight.

She kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the cool moonlight emanating from her wrist.

Her voice was soft, but it held a note of stubbornness.

"Senior, did you know?"

"An Elf’s life is very long, but their inner world is often very small."

"For them... once they grasp a beam of light in the endless darkness, they will never let go."

At that moment, the amber Hand Pendant was emitting a faint glow.

It was as if that very beam of light was being held tightly in Cecilia’s palm.

"A Half-Elf... is still an Elf."

The young woman lifted her head. Though her expression was hidden in the darkness, her voice reached Lance’s ears with perfect clarity.

"Senior, I think I’ve found the light that belongs to me."

’That’s playing dirty.’

Although Lance was in the dark, he could rely on the night vision granted by his Talent.

He could clearly see the girl’s eyes, shimmering with moisture, and the unreserved adoration within them.

Even after watching so many saccharine-sweet anime series in the modern world,

when faced with such a direct confession in person, Lance couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat.

’That was a direct hit.’

Just as Lance’s Adam’s apple bobbed and he was about to say something,

he saw Cecilia suddenly let go of his hand.

Her small hands clenched the fabric of her dress at her chest, as if she were trying to steel her nerves for one last push.

Then,

Lance heard Cecilia speak in a voice as light as a feather.

"Senior, can I relight the candle?"

"No need, I’ll just turn on the overhead light."

Lance was about to get up but was immediately stopped by Cecilia grabbing his sleeve.

"Don’t..."

"Senior, what I want to light... is the candle."

To Cecilia,

the room’s lights were far too bright.

Under such bright light, she might be too shy to say the words hidden in her heart.

Lance gave a helpless smile, struck another match, and relit the short candle on the table.

The faint candlelight flickered to life once more.

Its warm yellow glow fell softly upon Cecilia’s exquisitely delicate face.

Her gaze was somewhat hazy as it slowly drifted from the dancing flame to Lance’s face.

Finally, her eyes came to rest on his lips.

"Senior..."

Cecilia’s voice was impossibly soft and sweet.

It carried a youthful, innocent curiosity, as well as a charming naivete that was impossible to refuse.

"Is there... another special custom for birthdays...?"

She leaned forward slightly, her hands braced on the tabletop.

"Where you have to press your lips together..."

"...to fully convey your gratitude to the other person?"