It was dark and the only source of light was the moonlight. Trees swayed ever so slightly but the coldness it brings actually makes one shiver.

However, there was heat in the middle of the woods. The heat from bodies blooming from romance? Yes but not too much. Instead, the heat mainly came from a man's face.

"A-a-ahh..." Catherine could only mutter in response while Mike felt his soul had already left his body.

Her eyes then pointed from Teren to Iesa, who was just standing from her original spot. This girl's reaction confused Catherine.

Instead of an embarrassed look like what Teren was showing, Iesa showed a rather peculiar expression.

'They saw us...'

She thought and froze.

'They saw us!'

Iesa internally celebrated and laughed out loud if she was the only person there.

'Yes! What you saw is real! He's mine! Tell the others and the whole world!'

She trembled from excitement.

Thinking that Iesa should not be a problem, Catherine turned her eyes back to Teren who seemed to be calming himself.

"I didn't see you two there. Have you been there from the start?"

He asked with his usual cold gaze.

Catherine finally panicked again and glanced at Mike for help. However, life was already gone from Mike's eyes as if he had accepted death.

'Damn it!'

She cursed him. Thinking that only she could salvage the situation, she answered after swallowing her fear.

"We... umm... s-sorry." she let down her head in apology.

Making an excuse or lying will just make the situation much worse, she concluded.

'There's no way he will accept such an apology!!!'

She finally cried.

"..."

Teren stayed silent, making Catherine perspire. But soon, he turned around and told Iesa to go back now. She nodded but before she left, she leaned and whispered to his ear.

"It would've been fine for me if... we did it."

Teren stayed cold, somehow unable to process what his ears picked up. Meanwhile, Iesa stood straight and with a bashful expression, she twirled her hair as if she's innocent and haven't said anything.

"Huh?"

"..."

Because of Teren's silence, Iesa began to cool down and eventually, realized what she just whispered.

"If we did it? What it?"

Teren asked.

In Iesa's head, Teren was teasing her because of her boldness.

"N-nothing...!"

"???"

Teren was unable to comprehend Iesa's actions but the more he stared, the more the latter wants to bury herself or just disappear completely.

"I'm going back first!"

"Ah... o-okay..."

This time, Iesa slowly walked backward with her head cast down. Once she's a few feet away, she turned around, and at max speed, she ran away.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Teren's face paled upon thinking that but soon, dispelled his worries. His mood was just too good to be spoiled by little things. Unless something inconceivable happened, his smile wouldn't fade away that fast.

Looking over to the eavesdroppers, Teren was still lenient and called.

"Come here."

Since the area where he and Iesa talk was an open spot and have flat ground, it's better to talk there.

Catherine was afraid of disobeying Teren so she pulled Mike from his sorry state.

"Hurry up...!"

She urged, waking Mike up.

"R-right..."

Soon, they stood in front of Teren. Their heads were lowered as they were guilty of something.

"About sneaking around... how long have you been there?"

Teren domineeringly asked. He had already predicted that the two of them have remembered what they have forgotten. Their worried glances immediately heightened the moment they saw the footprints. He didn't have to use any kind of Spirits to know these things as the pair was very obvious.

That is why he had retained his domineering attitude since he knew this would be the best attitude for those who are scared of him. If he showed weakness, that fear will turn into hate. He learned this kind of reaction from trial and error using his Spirit of Sensitivity.

"How long...?"

Catherine looked at Mike to get some help but seeing that he's shivering from fright, she regretted hoping for an answer from him.

'Why did I even expect anything?'

She bitterly thought. Under oppression, humans will usually blame those who didn't help them instead of those who oppress them.

Mike was not to be blamed but he just happen to be the target of Catherine's frustration.

"I... I forgot... we're not really looking at the time back then."

Catherine dryly laughed to try and make light of the situation.

"I see, lucky for you, I'm in a good mood."

Teren smiled and casually said, lifting the pair's spirits.

"So I won't kill you or hurt you. I'll just invalidate the deal you're about to make."

"E-eh...? You know...?"

"If that's not it, what else is there? So is sneaking and eavesdropping your original intentions?"

Teren intentionally made his voice heavier at the end, letting the pair perspire and made their spines shiver.

"No! You're c-correct! We're here to use that deal but...!"

Catherine revealed a depressed expression.

"Or maybe, you're willing to use that deal and I will use a different method of punishment for your actions?"

"Eek!"

Catherine was unable to respond. Teren didn't enjoy making them fear him, it was just necessary. However, it seemed that this fear was not enough for the other.

"I...! I will take it!"

Mike abruptly exclaimed and continued when he caught their attention.

"Punish me and we'll have the deal, please!"

"Mike!"

Catherine shouted in surprise.

"Eh? If it's only you, it will be death. If it's you two, it's just a bit of pain."

"...!"

Mike shuddered from hearing the word 'death'

He then looked at Catherine, wanting to see her reaction. However, she could only cry. She didn't have the guts to say that she will take the punishment too.

"I'm... sorry... Mike, I'm so sorry....! I'm the coward... I'm the useless one..."

She dropped to her knees and cried, lamenting her own thoughts and actions.

Mike doesn't understand most of her apologies but he didn't blame her. He knew that it really hard to say that they will accept the 'pain' for their friends. They don't even know what Teren planned for their friends. They just know that it's not going to be good.

But the light of hope appeared when they heard.

"There's another way to both save your friends and yourselves from both pain and death though. Want to hear it?"