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The night was quiet, only the gentle rustle of leaves breaking its calm. The forest seemed almost alive, yet dark and mysterious—only the moonlight pierced through the canopy, like a silver path. Lauma walked ahead, stepping carefully along the narrow trail. Flins walked beside her, slightly behind, attentively watching every step. He held a lantern in his hands, even though the moonlight was enough; he just wanted to give Lauma an extra sense of safety.
“It's… a little dark here,” the priestess said softly, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.
“Don’t be afraid,” he replied quietly, leaning slightly toward her so that their shoulders nearly touched. “I’m right here.”
The girl smiled. Her smile was light, like a breeze, but he felt his heart quicken slightly. He said nothing, only lightly touched her hand as she turned to look at something.
“Look, there!” she said, pointing to a small stream, silver in the moonlight. Flins approached her, and they both leaned over to watch the water flow gently between the stones.
“Beautiful,” Flins said quietly.
“Yes…” Lauma nodded, then lightly touched his fingers to show that she felt safe beside him.
And in that silence, under the silver moonlight, the forest didn’t seem so frightening. It was simply a place where two people could be together, without words and without fear, enjoying the simple moment. She leaned over the water, her eyes shining in the reflection of the moon.
“Look, Flins…” she said, pointing at the stars reflected in the stream. “See? That’s the constellation of the Silver Deer.”
He crouched down beside her to see it more clearly. The Silver Deer seemed to come alive in the water, its antlers glinting softly in the moonlight.
“Wow…” Flins whispered, amazed by the beauty. “It even looks alive in the water.”
She smiled and lightly touched his hand.
“And here, next to the deer…” she pointed to a small light softly illuminating the forest path. “This is the Night Lantern. It always lights the deer’s way so that no one gets lost.”
Flins leaned closer to look at the lantern. Its warm glow reflected in the water, making the forest around them feel slightly gentler, slightly safer.
“You mean… even the stars take care of travelers?” he asked softly, a slight smile in his voice.
“Exactly,” Lauma replied, lightly touching his fingers. “Even in the dark, you can find light if you walk together.”
He gently tugged her hand, and they rose together, following the soft glow of the Night Lantern. The trail seemed magical, and the forest—not frightening, but full of wonders. In that moment, among the reflections of stars and moonlight, they both realized: the brightest moments are the ones shared together.
Walking further along the forest path, they reached a narrow wooden bridge spanning a quiet stream. The moon reflected in the water, making it almost silver, while the lantern near the Silver Deer softly lit the way.
“The bridge looks a little rickety…” the priestess remarked, looking down.
“Don’t worry,” said the lightbearer confidently, though he was slightly tense himself. “I’ll go first.”
He stepped onto the bridge, and the wood quietly creaked. Lauma flinched slightly.
“Careful…” she whispered, reaching out her hand to him.
“Hold onto me, and we’ll cross safely,” he said, leaning toward her. Their fingers accidentally brushed. He blushed slightly but smiled modestly.
She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, and he carefully guided her, almost comically balancing on the bridge. Several times they stumbled on the planks simultaneously, quietly laughing at each other.
“You seem to take everything too seriously,” the girl whispered, laughing lightly, as he awkwardly pulled her closer to pass a particularly shaky section.
“And you’re far too agile,” he replied with a smile, almost losing his balance himself. “We make the perfect balance.”
When they finally crossed the bridge, Lauma rested her hand lightly on his shoulder and looked at him.
“Thank you for being here, Flins,” her voice was soft and calm, yet a quiet joy lingered within.
“Always, Lauma,” he replied, smiling gently, and they continued walking, under the silver moonlight and the soft glow of the Night Lantern, feeling that together, neither darkness nor the forest was frightening.