"Grave...?"

"Just built in our villa here, isn't it a bit eerie."

Turing played with the lace on her nightgown awkwardly, the uneasy expression giving away her true thoughts.

Merka knew Turing too well; she wasn't afraid of death, not afraid of hardship, her outlook on life and death long transcending the realm of ordinary people—how could she find it eerie?

She was only afraid of the power of remembrance.

For Turing, leaving things related to the past was like breaking a window in the radiant stream of time.

It would inevitably allow her to catch a glimpse of the people she had once missed;

Like the shepherd bleeding at the station entrance she had watched back then,

Like Elizabeth, whom she had taught magic to absentmindedly,

Like Mostima, whom she had killed with her own hands,

And Theresa, whom she hadn't had the chance to bid farewell to.

【And Theresa, sister.】

【I didn't even get to say I love her...】

【Does she know this?】

【Or did she ultimately die lonely?】

"It's okay, it won't be eerie."

"As long as it's cute when built."

"Follow me, I'll teach you step by step."

【Step by step...?】

Turing seemed to have heard the same words many times.

Among the shadows of the setting sun, in the twilight flower bushes, and in the sweat-soaked earth year after year—she couldn't forget the flower sea that had disappeared too early in her memory, each flower filled with the nectar of her laughter and joy.

From the rooftop, Merka jumped down and landed steadily on the lawn behind the villa, beginning to search for something intently.

Turing, lost in thought, quickly followed Merka and jumped down as well.

Watching Merka arch her body and search seriously from east to west, Turing couldn't help but feel anxious, wondering what she was up to.

"Mer...Merka, what are you doing?"

"If it's troublesome, forget it... I don't have to do anything."

Turing was actually more concerned about herself than Merka.

As their relationship grew closer and closer, their hearts unknowingly drew tighter together.

The little secret pulsating in the chamber of her heart could be clearly heard as Merka leaned in close.

There weren't just thousands or millions of "I love you's," but also hundreds of thousands of "I'm sorry's."

Turing's depraved male soul was like a scar from a kiss, and she would remember it while holding hands, while kissing, and probably even while making love in the future.

This memory would forever stab into Turing's heart, depositing in her soul as hidden layers of guilt and shame.

"No, it's not a bother..."

"Look, I found it."

After fumbling around in the bushes for a while, Merka finally found something.

Merka held up the cigar Turing had thrown away in the bushes, smiling at Turing. His beaming face would make anyone think he had found a treasure.

Upon looking intently at the thing in his hand, Turing realized that it was just the cigar he had just smoked. His face turned slightly red, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"What is this? Haha..."

Unlike Turing, Merka didn't laugh. Instead, she planted the cigar into the soil and patiently explained to Turing, "This is something with sentimental value."

"You see, it's the cigar you smoked, and this particular cigar was liked by Elizabeth."

"Even though Elizabeth is no longer with us, the connection between the two of you still exists."

"The connection between people is the source of human courage and endeavors."

Merka then squatted down, used the hands of a magician to excavate the cigar planted in the soil, and said, "Turing, is there anything Elizabeth liked?"

【Liked?】

"Um..."

Turing thought he could list many things.

But now, at this moment, he couldn't remember anything at all.

"Maybe... she liked magic."

【Actually, she probably liked to be acknowledged by others.】

【But she, sigh...】

"Then we'll put another pipe in when the time comes."

"I'll dig up the soil later and place it in a flowerpot at home."

Summoning two floating blue cat paws, Merka held the soil carefully and walked towards her house.

"Do you really have to keep it at home?"

Turing said with concern.

"Of course, it's made for you to look at."

Merka looked lovingly and patted Turing's head.

"Then, you can use my pipe for that."

Turing's tone carried a hint of bittersweetness.

"...Is that okay? Your pipe must be the formal one with wood and gold inlays, right?"

"That's what only the most noble can use, isn't it?"

"It must be quite valuable."

As they walked slowly back home, Merka and Turing expressed their concerns.

"It's okay... it doesn't matter anymore."

"After all, I won't be smoking anymore."