POV Markus
"A dinner!? What's gotten into you?" Amber exclaimed, pushing my hand away with a visibly embarrassed look.
"This moment with you reminded me of old memories. I'd like to…" I started, my words faltering.
"Markus, please, no," she cut in, holding my hand with a palpable softness.
"I know we've known each other for a long time, but we've never really had a chance to hang out as friends," I continued, hoping she would understand my proposal.
"But I have duties as an Outrider. I'd really like to spend more time with you, but I have a responsibility to Favonius and Mondstadt," she replied, her voice marked by responsibility and loyalty.
"You never know when people like you or the Traveler might find themselves lost or in danger," she added, gradually releasing my hand.
Amber was known for her loyalty to Favonius and her deep love for Mondstadt. From Markus's memories, she had always had a big heart, inspired by her grandfather to help others.
"Markus… I think I should go," she said, standing up.
"It was a wonderful afternoon! I'm looking forward to doing it again," I replied with a genuine smile, trying to hide my disappointment.
She turned around, gave me a final wave, and was carried away by the wind.
"Take care!" I shouted, still hoping for one last glance that would let me see her smile.
"Damn! She's gone, and I didn't even get a kiss!" I thought to myself, with a tearful face.
[Keywords acquired]
[The target has been affected by the keyword; Nourrice's effects are beginning to take place.]
[Error! Level still too low to fully exploit Nourrice's effects.]
[Internal repair.]
[Effects applied, evolving stage.]
"Huh! All these notifications, what's happening?" I exclaimed as an avalanche of flashing messages obscured my view.
"It looks like Amber has been affected by Nourrice. Well, that's very interesting," I said in a teasing tone while manipulating the interface to clear the notifications.
I managed to identify the keyword used. "Take care? That's quite peculiar. I wonder how the system judged that."
I didn't know who had sent me here, but I wasn't planning to spend time searching for answers. This world, this landscape, this new life was a luxury compared to my old existence.
"Well, that's enough of that, it's time to head home! Right, Markus?…" I said to myself before realizing I was talking to myself.
Without delay, I headed toward my house, still disappointed by the parting with Amber. Her smile, her face, her eyes, her lips. Just thinking about it excited me, but I had to stay focused. I didn't want to waste the effort Markus had put into creating this environment.
…
After a few minutes of walking, night had fallen, and the sky had darkened, giving way to relentless rain.
"I got home before it even rained. Usually, in anime, that's often a sign of bad omen," I said, laughing while watching the rain.
Markus's house was small, like most houses in this game, but it was quite luxurious. Whether it was the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom, or the bathroom, everything was neatly arranged and clean.
"It's so different from my old apartment, dirty and grimy."
I stopped in the bathroom, intrigued by the otherworldly toilet.
"It's not as catastrophic as I thought; it's quite modern after all," I said while examining the facilities.
"Whoa! Is this what I look like now? I've really become a handsome man compared to before… I've always been handsome, haven't I? Why is this surprising me?"
I hadn't really noticed it at first; everything seemed so obvious and natural that I didn't pay attention. As time went on, Fred's personality was taking over, replacing Markus's.
Some things were becoming less familiar, and words no longer came out thoughtlessly.
Yet, I didn't feel like I was losing memories, just the habits and manners that were gradually fading away.
"I'm afraid of disappearing…"
"Huh? What am I talking about again? It must be the effect of fatigue," I said nonchalantly.
It was a shame I hadn't been able to test my other abilities, but maybe that was too much to ask.
…
"Huh? The rain still hasn't stopped? I went to take a shower; it's been a good fifteen minutes."
"Hehe, the showers here are quite pleasant. Markus had a really good life!"
"Though it's also my life," I said to myself before lying down on the bed and looking at the ceiling.
The bed was oddly comfortable. It should have put me to sleep, but I was still troubled.
"And what if I…"
Knock knock knock
"Someone's knocking at my door in the middle of the night?"
I got up, wearing only my bathrobe, strangely stressed by the situation. Alone in a small house with heavy rain, everything was set for a horror scene.
I opened the door gently.
"Mar… Markus…"
Amber stood before me, her little red ribbon falling over her face, her wet clothes clinging to her form.
"Amber! What are you doing here?"
I didn't know what surprised me more: her being here in front of me or the way her form was accentuated by the water on her white clothes.
"Wait, I'll get you a towel!" I said, rushing to my room.
…
"So, during your patrol, you got caught in the rain and couldn't get home? Since my house was the closest, you came here to take refuge?"
"Yes…" she replied, embarrassed, blushing under a bathrobe much too large for her.
She was sitting in my room next to me, her hair wet and without underwear. Her shy face made her look adorable.
"Damn, I'm excited; I won't be able to hold back much longer," I thought, though my face remained neutral.
I could hear her breathing, smell her hair, and see the tiny droplets of water on her cheeks.
"Amber, you…"
She caught me off guard by pushing me onto the bed, holding my wrist, her leg sliding between mine.
"What! This position doesn't bode well."
"Nourrice! It's taking effect! But it's strange, it doesn't usually cause this kind of reaction."
"Don't tell me Amber still had feelings for Markus! Nourrice's effect has amplified those feelings."
A smile spread across my face despite myself.
Amber, standing in front of me, with her pink lips, her hair falling over my face, her eyes showing her excitement, and her cheeks flushed, faced me. She grabbed me fiercely by the chest before kissing me.
_ _ _