Kate was sitting beside Ramza, he was holding the rope guiding the horses not to stray outside the path.

"You're unusually quiet today. Why?" she asked him.

Ramza shrugged. "I'm trying to concentrate on my driving..." he joked and smiled at her. "I'm savoring your wonderful presence beside me," he winked at her.

Kate giggled. "Really-?"

She bit her lip.

Ramza kept to himself. This is the last day he would be able to enjoy her presence. A few hours from now... the castle on the hill will be visible after they passed through that mountain in the distance.

He was just delaying the inevitable. He just wanted to spend another night with her by his side. If they would travel straight without stopping they would arrive on the foot of the hill where the castle was located before the night ends, and he was dreading it.

Losing her forever... looks real now.

"Are we near to the castle on the hill?" she asked.

"We need to pass two more mountains before we can reach the hill. We will arrive there tomorrow morning," he lied.

"Ah okay, I don't mind a little bit of delay, as long we arrive on the hill and see with my own two eyes that my sister is doing well—then this whole journey is worth it," she said excitedly.

Ramza glanced at the excited girl beside him with tears in his eyes. Oh man, this is getting painful!

He was already suffering inside due to their impending parting, he finds it so hard letting her go. Dammit, he's getting crazy inside!

Kate looked at him and noticed the sadness in his eyes. "Why are you looking sad?" she inquired puzzled by his downcast expression.

Ramza looked at her and smiled quickly. "Nah. I just remembered something..."

He patted her head affectionately.

She likes it when he goes physical with her, it made her feel wanted and love, make her want to snuggle closer to his body. Dang! There's something so nice and wonderful about him that makes her heart beat faster every time she saw his face and hear his voice.

Dang! She's taking a liking on him and he was not aware of her feelings for him yet.

Kate sighed and kept to herself.

Ramza also retreated into silence mode.

Three hours later.

They arrived at the 5th river and made a camp there.

The night was unfolding fast around them...

Soon, the darkness takes over the surrounding areas.

Ramza swiftly made a bonfire near the river bank.

He and Kate prepared the food and start eating their meals.

They were silent the whole time, but the tension between them was rising to a fever pitch.

Thirty minutes later.

Finished eating, they cleaned up their mess and looked at each other.

Ramza looked heavenward. "Look up, Kate! The stars are out in the sky in full force tonight," he observed.

Kate raised her head, indeed, she saw stars shining brightly in the sky above. The sky looks beautiful tonight but it's not something she wanted to happen tonight.

"I don't like watching the stars tonight," she pouted.

Ramza's brows furrowed. "Huh? Why?" he asked. He was confused with her reaction. The other night she gives him the impression that she like stargazing but now—?

She saw the confusion in his eyes. "I like rain this time..." she gave him a mysterious smile and left the bonfire wanting to rest inside the wagon.

Ramza was let alone in the clearing, debating why would Kate wants rain when the heaven above is at it's most beautiful tonight sparkling with millions of stars.

Then...after a few minutes of trying to decipher her strange behavior...he grinned after he finally understood what she meant of wanting the rain.

He smiled broadly.

He was in that condition when Zemeth appeared in the clearing and saw the silly smile on his friend's face.

"Having fun, eh?" Zemeth teased him.

"Bro, why you suddenly appeared in front of me? Kate is still wide awake, she might accidentally see you," he reminded him.

"No, she won't. Don't worry, I freeze everything within twenty meters radius," Zemeth answered.

"Good," Ramza muttered to himself.

Zemeth looked at him. "You're supposed to arrive at the castle on the hill before nightfall. Why did you intentionally delay your arrival?"

Ramza released a deep sigh. "I still want to spend another night with her," he said in a wistful tone.

Zemeth took a deep breath and was shaking his head while looking at his friend. "Oh man, you're whipped!"

Ramza can only scratch his head, he was whipped, indeed. His heart was bursting with feelings and emotion for the girl waiting inside the wagon.

He cleared his throat. "I have a favor to ask you, bro," he said. "Can you make the rain... fall tonight?"

"What for—?" Zemeth's eyes widened. "Why do you ask for rain when the night is beautiful above." He looked up at the stars above.

Then suddenly...he understood why.

"A-are you planning to make love to Kate tonight? Are you crazy?" Zemeth throws him a death glare.

Ramza didn't reply.

"I have to remind you, bro! Tainted girls will suffer a cruel death inside the castle. If you want Kate not to suffer much, then refrain from taking her," Zemeth reminded him.

"Yeah, I know. I just want to spend some private moments with her on our last night together," he explained.

Zemeth looked at his friend's face, he was bold enough to take the plunge and he had to give him credit for that. He never goes all the way with Ivy. It's one regret he will keep hidden in his heart.

"Alright, I'll give you three hours of rain. Just control yourself!" Zemeth said and unfreeze everything around him. He zoomed into the sky above and spread his arms wide summoning the rain to fall only in the area where the wagon was on standby.

Soon enough, droplets of rain start to fall into the ground.

Kate called Ramza from the wagon. "Come here inside the wagon, you're going to get soak in the rain, hurry up!" she shouted at him.

Ramza smiled and leaped inside the wagon excitedly.

A few minutes later.

Ramza and Kate were lying side by side on the wooden floor as the rain continues to fall outside.

They stared at each other's face, their eyes speak volumes and restrained emotion.

Ramza's hand moved and landed on her cheeks, he starts tracing her lips with his fingers for a few minutes, then he replaced his fingers with his lips, she responded to his kiss fervently and they shared a passionate kiss and cuddle all night long.

No words needed, their eyes, lips and hands did most of the talking.