The massive sun sank into the water, yet its afterglow became even more spectacular. The undulating surface of the water, coupled with the layers of cascading clouds, ignited in a blazing fire. Every inch of the world was enveloped in a luminous crimson light, painting the scene with an apocalyptic magnificence.
This was a masterpiece of nature—one that would immerse anyone in awe, forcing them to ponder their own insignificance while marveling at the craftsmanship of the universe itself.
And yet, on top of all this, what lingered more vividly in Moen's mind were Anna's words—a verbal blow that struck straight at his heart like a series of perfectly executed moves in military boxing. Even now, he couldn't shake the resulting tumultuous feelings.
But amidst this breathtaking scenery, Moen suddenly turned his head and looked at Anna beside him.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked, her tone laced with a trace of unease.
"Don't you like it?"
"No, it's stunning," Moen admitted sincerely. "It's just... I think I’ve found something even more beautiful than the sunset.”
His gaze locked intently onto Anna's delicate face, unwavering and fiery.
Anna froze momentarily at his words, then seemed to catch on. A faint blush quickly bloomed on her cheeks, radiant and captivating as if a field of flowers had blossomed in an instant.
Her lips trembled slightly, as though she wanted to say something, yet no words came out.
Moen’s eyes drifted to her lips. They glowed gently, like they were glossed with honey, glistening softly and exuding a sweetness that tugged at an irresistible impulse inside him.
His heartbeat hastened, and before he realized it, his hands had naturally come to rest on Anna’s shoulders.
In this moment, complete silence blanketed the world.
The sound of the wind had stilled. The waves had ceased their rhythm. Even the distant chorus of fishermen’s shouts had faded.
All that remained was the sound of their erratic, rapid heartbeats, slightly overlapping.
Moen waited anxiously, yet patiently, until Anna—overwhelmed by the fervor in his gaze—shyly broke eye contact.
Her peripheral vision wandered to the breathtaking sunset, her eyes momentarily sparkling before her gaze returned to him.
Timidly, she sneaked a glance at Moen, then shyly closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling in hesitation.
Caught between resistance and desire.
Moen hesitated no longer. He leaned in and captured her sweet lips with his own.
The contact between their pressed lips sent electric sensations surging through Moen’s body, making him shudder involuntarily. In his arms, the girl—offering her first kiss—also quivered slightly.
Her lips were softer and sweeter than Moen had imagined. A fragrant breath accompanied their breaths, filling his senses. His mind was momentarily adrift, as though submerged in a warm ocean, swaying with the currents.
But still, Moen wanted more. He gently pried open Anna’s lips, his tongue slipping past her teeth to find hers, shy and tentative. They intertwined, tangled, and caressed, greedily tasting the sweetness.
Moen, with far more experience in kissing than Anna, quickly took control of the whole thing. Anna's half-hearted attempts to regain the upper hand were easily countered, leaving her even more vulnerable to his skillful advances, which grew deeper and more audacious with every moment.
Anna’s eyes fluttered open slightly, glazed in a hazy trance.
Moen’s hands were not idle either. As their intimacy deepened, his wandering hands began exploring Anna's delicate figure. Finally, they slipped under the hem of her clothes, brushing against smooth skin… and something cold.
Cold?
Moen froze as an unexpected chill spread through his palm. He felt a slight sting on his arm.
Anna, at some point, had snapped out of her daze. She pressed her hands against Moen’s arm, gently pushing him away.
Their lips parted, a thin, suggestive thread of saliva lingering briefly in the air.
“That’s enough.”
Anna gasped lightly, pushing aside the disheveled strands of hair clinging to her sweat-dappled forehead. Her voice was soft yet firm.
“Now... isn’t the right time.”
“I’m sorry.”
Moen’s eyes caught a glimpse of Anna's disrupted clothing, where faint patches of dark scales peeked through. The fleeting joy in his heart was replaced by a sharp pang of guilt.
“I was too impatient.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Anna said suddenly, lifting herself to her full height. Her still-soft arms wrapped loosely around Moen’s neck as she smiled faintly.
“Tell me, Moen—does your heart race for me now?”
“For that,” Moen replied, gazing intently at her playful yet vulnerable expression. Without warning, he pressed another light kiss on her lips. Then, taking advantage of her startled and flustered reaction, he grabbed her small hand and placed it firmly against his chest.
“Feel it for yourself, Anna.”
“...Okay.”
Anna’s expression froze momentarily, then softened with a small nod.
The answer was clear. There was no need for further questions—she could feel the frantic pounding of his heart through the fabric of his clothing, a fervent thrum resonating loud and strong.
At that moment, Anna’s lips curved into a mischievous yet warm smile. She lightly caressed the corner of Moen's eye.
From her fingertip appeared a single, luminous teardrop.
“It’s funny,” she murmured, studying the glimmering droplet. “The books say that when kissing someone you love for the first time, you may involuntarily cry. I guess they were right, after all.”
“Is that so?” Moen pondered aloud, only now becoming aware that the corners of his own eyes felt damp.
But when he glanced furtively at Anna’s cheeks, he saw no such dew—not even the slightest hint beyond her subtle makeup and glowing joy.
He didn’t dwell on the thought. His attention quickly turned back to Anna’s hand.
“Let’s try it now,” he urged, recalling the true purpose of their outing.
“Okay.”
Anna nodded softly and retrieved a small vial of potion she had prepared in advance. Just as she was about to drop the tear inside, Moen stopped her.
“What’s this potion for?”
“It’s a universal efficacy amplifier. I figured one tear might not be enough, so...”
“Serpentification isn’t an ordinary sickness,” Moen interjected. “If one tear can’t cure it, amplifying the potion still might not work. Besides, if it fails, I’m right here, aren’t I?”
“Using magic potions haphazardly might get the opposite of what you want.”
“You’ve got a point.”
Anna hesitated briefly, then put the potion away.
She raised her finger again, staring at the crystalline droplet glinting in the sunlight. Still, she couldn’t help but ask in a faint voice: “Do you think... this will really work?”
“It has to,” Moen replied, his resolve unwavering.
“Alright.”
Light danced in Anna’s eyes as she smiled. “I trust you, Moen.”
With that, she hesitantly brought the tear to her lips.
To ensure the best result, Anna carefully **licked** her finger, an action so inadvertently seductive that Moen was momentarily lost in thought. He quickly snapped back to reality, refocusing on Anna’s expression, anxiously awaiting any sign of change.
Second by second, time dragged on.
The sun dipped lower, its final rays casting Anna’s eyes aglow with ever-brightening brilliance.
Just then, as though sensing something, Anna raised her sleeve, baring for the first time the unsightly black scales on her arm in front of Moen.
The pale, delicate surface was marred by jet-black scales, glaring and grotesque.
But soon, those scales began to fade.
Before their astonished and increasingly joyous eyes, the dark scales dulled, softened, and sank back into her flesh—the flawless, ivory-white skin resurfacing inch by inch.
“It’s—it's working!”
Moen cried out in pure elation, sweeping Anna into his embrace and spinning her around in several jubilant circles.
“Anna, we did it! It worked!”
“Mm!”
Anna allowed herself to rest against Moen's chest, surrendering to the shared moment of triumph.
All the burdens and anxieties that had plagued her entire life dissolved in an instant.
For the first time, her overwhelming emotions brought her to tears—or so she thought.
Wait.
Anna’s face stiffened slightly.
Tears?
What… are tears?
