Everyone dreamed at some point. And some dreams, unlike most were realistic to the point they were hard to distinguish from reality.

Like all dreams, we woke up from them.

But there were some dreams…dreams that tugged at your heart strings that made you wish you never woke up.

Sarah was in the same situation.

When she suddenly found herself in a hug, she naturally struggled. She couldn't see who the person was and after hugging her, he stopped talking.

As she was about to use her ice mana, she halted.

…this smell. This warmth. This feeling.

Sarah closed her eyes and hugged him tightly, as if she didn't want to lose him again. Her heart raced, and she felt a burst of emotions well in her heart.

Even though she knew she was dreaming…she held him tighter. She could feel his breath on her hair, his hands on her waist and she could hear his heartbeat.

Everything was so real.

Before she knew it, her tears were wetting his shirt.

"Aye~ Aye~" He patted her back like he was consoling a kid. His voice was gentle and soothing.

"Y-You! B-Bastard!" Sarah bit him lightly and said in annoyance.

You died! Do you know how sad I was?

And you came to my dreams repeatedly! I even had illusions because of you!

And in this dream-like illusion, you are treating her like a kid! I won't fall for this trick!

Or so she thought, but as he kept stroking her back and whispered. "It's alright. It's alright…"

Sarah found herself unable to curse him as she broke down into even more tears.

With her tears, the weight on her heart fell. The grief was replaced by a sense of peace.

Now, she just wanted to focus on her goals and by giving her best, she wanted to make him proud.

Even if she woke up from this dream, she won't be as depressed.

"I didn't think you were a crybaby. My shirt is completely wet." His breath tickled her ears and Sarah lightly shivered.

She was feeling something different…something warm.

But—

"Crybaby?" Sarah's eyes were still closed and she was still leaning on his chest, but her grip increased as she asked in a menacing voice.

"Who are you calling a crybaby?"

"Hahaha." He laughed out loud and even though she knew this was a dream, Sarah couldn't help but smile.

I want to stay like this forever…but he wouldn't want to me do that, would he?

Varian would want me to pursue my goal…he was the one who said not to believe that Dual Awakeners can't be Sovereigns.

When I meet him in the afterlife one day…I should be able to tell him proudly. 'I lived my best. I gave it my all. You can be proud of me. And thank you, it's because of you that I was able to do it.'

So, Sarah gently freed herself from his hug.

"Thank you for this…dream, but now I need to do what I must do." Sarah wiped her tears and said with a strong smile.

She was still looking at his chest, she was afraid to raise her head and see that familiar face again, but—

Just once.

Sarah raised her head and saw Varian looking at her in confusion. "Dream? What dream?"

"Huh?" Sarah opened her mouth in shock. "You're not my illusion?"

Varian pinched her cheeks. "Feel your cheeks?"

"Ywesh." Sarah answered.

"Am I still an illusion now?" He asked with a teasing smile.

"I-I…" Sarah's eyes widened and she couldn't utter a word.

Wait, wait…did she do all that with the real Varian?

Argh! I want to hide somewhere.

"Tsk. You look cute when you blush." Varian lightly tapped her nose and said.

"Argh!" Sarah swatted his hand away and ran into her room, closing it shut.

Bang!

"…?!" Varian stood dumbfounded.

"Wait, this isn't how it is supposed to be." He said to no one in particular.

He knocked on the door and said. "Sarah? Are you mad? Ok, I'm sorry I couldn't contact you."

'Master, you said you were master at understanding women's emotions.' Boo gloated at his plight.

'Shut up! T-This is normal! She must be shocked or something.' Varian desperately defended his image.

It was his black history, but for better or worse, Sia did drag him to watch some dramas with her.

Varian hated them all of course. But he 'learned' things—or at least he thought he did on how to deal with women.

Sia didn't correct him for some reason and he thus thought himself to be a 'Master at reading women'.

"Logically, I should wait outside the door for an hour or something. Then she'll open the door and I'll have to apologize for another hour…then there will be some misunderstanding which will prolong the drama for another month." Varian muttered.

But breaking his expectations, the door opened and Sarah came out.

She changed into a white shirt and blue shorts. Hm…except for her puffed up red eyes, she looked nothing like the crying mess she was a few minutes ago.

"You were looking fin—" Before he could finish, Varian was pulled into a hug.

This time, Sarah didn't cry. She just held him tightly.

"Haa~" Varian sighed and just patted her lightly.

"Varian."

"Un."

"I have something to tell you."

"Hm."

"Something very important."

"Okay."

"…why don't you guess it?"

"Um…"

According to the dramas I watched, I mean, Sia made me watch, when the heroine is not depressed, something to make her depressed must happen.

"You are getting married?"

"NO!"

"Master found you a fiancee?"

"NO!"

"Ah! I get it! You must stay away from me for a year for reasons you cannot reveal to me. And I can't even meet you once during the year or contact you." Varian smirked at Sarah who widened her eyes.

See, I got you.

Sarah looked at his smirk with an incredulous expression and sighed in pity. "Don't watch too many dramas."

"Dramas? What are they?" Varian feigned ignorance.

Sarah rolled her eyes and asked. "Do you know why I'm hugging you?"

"Because you missed me."

"And?"

"You thought I was dead. But I'm not. So you're happy."

"AnD?"

"You're worried all of this might be a dream and I would just disappear."

"AND?" Sarah was losing patience already.

"And what? I listed all reasons already." Varian said in confusion.

"Why are you so clever in many things, but so dumb, no, so dense in others?" Sarah sighed with a defeated expression.

"Dumb? Me? Who are you kidding?" Varian snorted.

"…Never mind." Sarah shook her head and then her blue eyes locked with his. They shone brightly as she asked word by word.

"Give me a good reason you didn't contact me or forget about leaving this place."

"Gulp." Varian gulped.

He explained what happened completely, and naturally brought up Sia. The dumb mistake Eric made caused an assassination.

Varian expected Sarah to be surprised about Sia and question him about her identity.

But she covered her mouth and sat in silence as blankly stared into the distance.

Varian's thoughts spun fast and he held her hand anxiously. "Do you know Sia?"

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