~Recap~

Just as Theo said, she punished an innocent creature for one's fault.

“I am– I don't know… I did something extremely unforgivable. My anger ate me up. I lost my mind. I deserve punishment for this. Should I hurt myself or something–”

“Azura, hush…” Theo calms the lady's anxiety and sets her at ease. “You don't need to do any of that. You don't need a punishment. You realised your mistake and this is enough for the soul of that being to rest in peace. It knows that you're not a bad person. I know that you're not a bad person.”

Azura looks at Theo for a fine couple of minutes with teary eyes. Theo expected her to say something but he didn't expect her to hover onto him and hug tightly as if there was no tomorrow.

______

“It's been so late. It's almost night time and Azura still hasn't come back home yet. I wonder where she could get stuck.” Whispers the manly voice in a concerned manner as the owner of it looks through the clock on the wall. “I just hope my baby will be fine. Otherwise, Vivian would kill me.”

Just as the man jokes to himself and got into his reverie, his phone binged as he checked on the text message he received.

“Huhh… Look, Vivian. Our daughter is probably gonna live for thousands of years. Just as I thought of her, she assured me that she's fine and will be a little late at home tonight. However, she still didn't tell me if where she is stuck. This girl I swear.” Frederick mumbles to himself while chuckling and getting back to his business.

Well, yeah. Although he was assured by Azura, he wasn't going to just rest until she's back. Safe and sound.

______

“Good that you reminded me of texting my Dad otherwise he might have already been looking through the woods for me, thinking that some wolf had eaten me up.”

Chuckling at the lady's statement, Theo jolts, “Well, after all that happened today, you can assure your Dad about this as well that not all of them are human hungry.”

And then the duo proceeds to laugh in unison as they both set themselves to relaxation.

Yes, after their little affectionate moment which was caused by Azura's sudden action just a while ago, they didn't react to it much and just acted as if nothing that much happened. Because probably it was what it was.

They've gotten close to an extent that these displays of affection weren't that big of a deal.

It would be a big deal only when things cross through their hearts and maybe their lips?

“Hey, Theo.”

“Yes, Azura?”

Both Azura and Theo kept looking at each in silence for a couple of moments before Azura decided to break it. “I… I was… Gosh.”

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down. Let me know what is it?”

And so the lady nods while exhaling, settling herself. “I was actually thinking about the body of that, you know. It must be laying around in the snow still. I think we should go and like, bury it respectively.”

“You mean like, a funeral?”

Azura nods once again. “Yeah, that.”

A smile appears on Theo's lips and he perks. “I'm so happy to know that you thought of this, Azura. We should definitely go and do this. Who knows, maybe you'd get blessings from that poor soul.” He ends up mischievously and receives a smack from the latter for the same.

“Alright then, let's go!”

______

It took around an hour for the duo to finish the burial. Azura even intended to light up candles and surface flowers as a sign of respect which makes Theo awe at her in lavish.

The lady for real felt bad and wanted to pay for her wrongdoings. This indeed proves the development of her heart, brain and personality as a mature and responsible person.

“Feeling better now?”

Azura grins at the question as an answer. Theo forwards his hand to her which she softly holds and stands on the spot. She then looks around before looking back at the man. “Thank you so much, Theo. For being here for me. For being my friend.”

“Well, pleasure is all mine but why would you thank me out of nowhere?” Asks the man in a thoughtful manner.

“Why would you say it nowhere? I can tell you this a million times. Anytime, anywhere. I mean, ever since our first interaction, the excessively unfair treatment, insults and what not that I caused to you, you always stick and stand for me. Made me realise about my acts. Helped me act like a fair person unlike the feared person I was before.”

Theo then holds both of Azura's palms after she is done with her statement. “I'm so glad for you and the way you feel about yourself now, Azura. It's also great that changed yourself for the good but you know what? It's not actually that you changed. It's actually knowing that who you truly are.”

This sparks Azura's eyes as she blinks in surprise and perks in excite. “And what am I?”

“A good person.” Theo chirps and pokes Azura's nose as she pouts in dissatisfaction. Yeah, she was dissatisfied because she expected something more affectionate as an answer but okay.

“Anyway, let's get you home now, shall we?” Theo breaks in with the suggestion.

And only now Azura realises that she was supposed to be at home even. “Oh man… Right. It's almost getting night. Dad must be getting all concerned about me. He might have already been out, looking for me.”

Chuckling on Azura's statement, Theo suggests once again, “I can understand him. Which is why I'll drop you to your home.”

“Oh, no, no.” Exclaims Azura quickly and the latter was confused.

“And why not?"

Well, Azura herself didn't know as to why she didn't want to take Theo home. Or could say just home yet. She just felt like there was something not right about taking the latter there and making him meet her father. Something felt to be hindering inside her heart which she didn't even know.

But, all she knew for now, it was not the time for now.

“Oh, it's nothing serious. I will be just fine by myself. Maybe I can invite you some other day?” She suggests and Theo begins crackling.

“Seriously? I wasn't even thinking of getting inside your house. Never knew you didn't want me this much.” Theo jokes and Azura chuckles in embarrassment. “No worries, I'll just leave by the doorstep, fine?”

“Not really the doorstep but a few meters away from it I guess?” Azura implies and another giggles comes from the man.

“Few meters away it is then.”