"Elias… can you stop moving? I want to sleep more…" I mumbled, still half-asleep.
Elias's thoughts: Heat was pooling on my cheeks, and I was pretty sure I was red as a tomato.
"Elias… do you have a fever? You're getting really warm." I tightened my hold around him, feeling his warmth seep through. "Are you catching a cold?"
"What are you doing?" Elias asked, his voice tense.
"Checking if you actually have a fever." I buried myself closer against him, trying to be certain.
"Stop it! I'll tell you if I have one!"
"No. Can I see your face to be sure?" I insisted.
Elias's thoughts: Oh my gosh, he wants to see my face to check if I have a fever! I'm screaming in my head so hard! What do I do? Do I roll over and let him see my face?
"Can I see your face or not?" I murmured, but my voice was muffled against his clothes.
"Huh? What did you say?" Elias sounded confused.
I leaned back a bit, clearing my voice. "I said, can I see your face or not?"
There was a pause. I felt him shift slightly in my arms.
"Y-Yeah, sure… you can…" His voice was low, almost like he was facing me directly.
"That was a really delayed answer." I opened my eyes, focusing on him.
It didn't take long to notice—he wasn't feverish, but his cheeks were burning bright red, his skin almost glowing. Just embarrassment, not a fever.
I sighed, closing my eyes again. "Seems like your temperature is fine. I'm glad you're okay because… I don't know how to take care of someone with a fever." I tightened my hold around him without thinking.
"C-Caster… can you wake up? Please?" His voice was nervous.
"You can get up if you want. I'm gonna sleep a bit more." I mumbled, already feeling sleep dragging me back.
"Oh, okay. Thanks." Elias's voice sounded awkward, but I felt him carefully slip out of my arms.
A moment later, he spoke again. "Hey, Caster… do you want a garden?"
"Sure, I don't mind…" I answered, my voice barely awake.
He sounded happy for sure. I could hear him humming.
"Caster! Help!" Elias's shout jolted me awake.
"What? What happened?!" I asked, my heart racing.
"I'm covered by the garden! There are just too many flowers and pollen!" he shouted, clearly frustrated.
Laughter bubbled out of me. "Okay, fine. When did you even have time to make this garden of flowers?"
"Uh… when you were sleeping?" He answered, sounding a little embarrassed.
I giggled, carefully pulling him free. "Sounds reasonable enough." After a bit of effort, I finally got him out of the tangled garden.
"Who would've thought the mighty being has such a cute and funny side?" I teased, reaching out and gently pinching his cheeks, grinning.
"Stop! My face is starting to hurt! And stop teasing me!" he huffed, throwing soft punches at me, which barely even landed.
"No way, José." I chuckled.
"I said stop teasing me!" Elias was getting seriously annoyed.
"Okay, okay… Let's change the topic to-ma-to," I teased, and he groaned.
"When did you even put on the bunny ears again?" I asked, leaning in closer.
"Why would I even tell you that?!" Elias grumbled, face redder than ever.
My gaze drifted to the garden, now overflowing with flowers. "What kind of flowers are these anyway?"
"Just ones I remembered from a book…" Elias murmured, his voice softening, almost awed as he looked at the colorful field.
"Whoa! A tiny hill with a fir tree!" I grabbed his hand without thinking, pulling him along as we ran through the flowers.
Petals brushed against us, some catching the wind, swirling around like living confetti.
"Why does it feel like each flower shows different seasons?" Elias asked, his gaze jumping from one bloom to another.
"Because this is your garden. It's filled with everything you love," I replied, laughing.
We reached the tiny hill, the fir tree standing tall. I paused, an idea sparking in my mind. "Elias, sit here for a moment."
He did, his gaze following me as I dashed back into the flowers, picking a handful.
The wind blew softly, sending petals dancing through the air. Elias's gaze followed the floating petals, his expression softened with wonder.
I returned, sitting next to him, fingers weaving flowers together. "Stay still," I whispered, gently placing the flower crown on his head.
Elias blinked, then looked up. "Wait… Is that… an Aurora?"
I looked up too, watching as the mixed colors of the flowers shimmered in the soft light like a gentle aurora. "Yeah… Isn't it beautiful?"
But as I turned to look at him, I couldn't help but think—he looked more radiant than the garden itself..