[Memory] You roll a 19 (required 10). Success!

With the night fallen, the foliage's shadows grow dim, and reveal small amber lights fluttering over the water just a few steps away. You grab your old lantern and walk closer to the river, where you catch a few luminescent bugs within.

You return to your campsite shortly after, and set your now brightly lit lantern down. Then, you pull out your spellbook, and sit next to Honourshine. Somehow, you remark, her company makes you feel more studious.

Honourshine: "Is that so? The only time I've seen you this invested in a book was during that one chapter in biology."

In your defence, that knowledge served you well over the years — but she rolls her eyes with a smirk at your retort. In any case, you flip your book open, and pick up where you left off.

You use Blend of Flowery Speech.

While studying, you decide to heat up a minty cup of tea with your magic. You offer one to Honourshine as well, but she declines with a shake of her head. Still, you let her have a sip or two from yours — if only to have a taste.

You find that going over the Silence spell feels much easier this time around, as though all you needed was to let enough time pass by to clear your head...

You learn Silence!

Before long, you grow confident that you've successfully memorized the spell. But rather than move on to the next one, your attention begins to diverge.

Honourshine: "Had enough of reading for the night?"

You grin, and admit that now that you are alone with Honourshine, you can't help but wonder if there are any thoughts she has been keeping to herself.

Honourshine: "Hm? Well, if I said everything that comes to mind, then your ears would be likely to fall off."

You nod, and your mind turns to yesterday, when Lexicon Anathema shared the vision of your encounter with Empyrius with the party. Honourshine passed on the hug then, so you figure that you should ask if she would like one now. At that, she leans against you, and you wrap a leg around her.

Honourshine: "Perhaps. To put yourself in such a perilous situation... you hadn't forgotten about our promise, had you?"

You assure Honourshine that it never so much as slipped your mind.

Honourshine: "Honestly... had it been as bad as it looked, I would've dragged you back from the stars myself if only to reprimand you. Or at least, that's what I'd like to believe."

Those words can't help but put a smile on your face. With that said, you suggest making each other a new promise: to always stay together from now on.

As expected, your foalhood friend takes some time to process your words. She looks away, then back at you, and after a few seconds of consideration, she nods timidly.

Honourshine: "... It's a promise."

You nod. Then, a pause. You playfully add that you were hoping to kiss again like you did the first time. This gets a chuckle out of her, but shortly after, her muzzle meets yours.

As a soft breeze lightly rustles the leaves above, and beams of moonlight flicker through the canopy, you share a long, tender kiss with Honourshine. And in this rare fleeting moment, everything feels right.