After the festival in Nahelan ends, you head to the palace but can't find Xavier. You were told he returned to your residence. As dusk settles, you make your way to your residence's rooftop garden.

Searching for any signs of Xavier, you wander down a path lined with flowers and plants. It's quiet. You trace the lights through the garden. Enveloped in the hot spring's steam, you see Xavier's figure between two glowing clay lanterns.

Xavier turns toward you. He's wearing the mask you found at the pottery shop. You realize what's going on. You walk over, pick up the other mask beside him, and put it on. "I thought we were going to visit the city's central area? But I found someone who turned Nahelan's Light Confluence Ceremony into a privat hot spring party for two."

"Nahelan celebrates the desert preserving its garden. Likewise, lovers find each other by letting their lantern wicks intertwine. For a moment like this, you're the only one I want beside me. And here you are. You're even wearing a mask. Doesn't that mean, we're on the same page?"

Instead of answering, you lift one of the glowing clay lanterns and take a step toward him. Steam curls up from the hot spring as the wicks twist. The flames' soft crackling stretches without end. The mask hides Xavier's expression, which makes you focus more on his eyes.

When the wicks become one, you catch a glimpse of the emotions he's trying to hold back. You blush, and the heat you feel rises with the hot spring's steam. "Xavier, it's time to take off the masks."

"Won't you help me take it off?" you take off his mask, and he removes yours. "Don't forget to recite the "spells" on the mask." His warm fingers trail up from your wrist to reach your clenched fist. He gently intertwines his fingers with yours.

"For the last part of the Light Confluence Ceremony, the couple whose wicks have become one mark each other with paint from the bonfire while reciting the "spells" on their masks."

After you're done his warm arms wrap themselves around your waist, your breaths tangling up in the  rising steam." Xavier, you're burning up" his fingertips graze your back, subtle but enough to make you shiver.

"I want to experience every season with you. And I'll root myself in the depths of your heart. Our desires and convictions will be intertwined like our lanterns' wicks. I want your everything, and there will never be a moment when you can think about leaving me." he pulls you into a more passionate kiss.

"Even if possessiveness becomes conviction, It's just another form of longing." he pushes you back gently against a wall, kneeling down as he kisses your exposed stomach. "Sometimes, I want you to see me unguarded, and exposed." he looks up at you.

He picks up one of your legs, kissing his way up before he settles between your legs, his free hand wrapping around your lower back to pull you closer, which made you freeze.

And when he catches on he pulls back, looking like some guilty puppy, staying at a respectful distance, not sure if he should touch you at the moment, if not, not wanting to make it worse.