It happened then—her hand reached out and grabbed his.
Ries, who had been standing a step behind, quietly observing, snapped his head up in surprise.
— Come on, Ries, you too. It’s late. Let’s all sleep together.
“W-What? Wait a second—”
The atmosphere that had delicately balanced between sorrow and normalcy shattered in an instant.
By the time he came to his senses, he’d already been dragged up onto the bed. Lying side by side with Justyn, now in his human form, Ries instinctively curled up.
It wasn’t that the bed was small. Even as a cat, he’d been able to roll around 360 degrees with room to spare.
They’d shared a bed plenty of times before. Just not while he was in this form.
Before realizing his feelings, he wouldn’t have dared. And after realizing them… He glanced at Hillein.
With his mother right here, watching us—that’d be… no.
So in a way, this was their first time. Ries didn’t want to assign meaning to the situation, considering the circumstances. But his body betrayed his reason, reacting in strange and inconvenient ways.
His heart thudded faster. His palms started to sweat. Hillein, smiling so brightly in front of them, only made it worse. The awkwardness ballooned rapidly inside him.
Poof!
“Mnya!”
— Oh dear.
In the end, Ries couldn’t hold it in any longer and reflexively shifted back into his cat form. Convincing himself it was more convenient for joining the conversation in this form anyway.
And when Hillein saw that—
— Rieees…
She openly made a teary face. As if that weren’t enough, her voice stretched with overflowing regret. Her reaction was so dramatic that Ries fidgeted, curling his toes in embarrassment.
“…Please don’t tease me.”
— Ah… you noticed?
“You do enjoy being a little mischievous from time to time, don’t you?”
— It’s because you’re just too cute. I can’t help it.
Justyn, who had been quietly observing until then, added a comment in his usual calm tone. As Ries listened to the few words exchanged after that, a realization smacked him across the mind.
…Wait. She was teasing me?
Unbelievable. How could someone shift expressions that quickly, and with such clarity?
— I’m sorry. You’re just as cute in your human form as you are as a cat, so I keep… Did I make you sulk?
“…Mrow. Meow.”
But oddly enough, he didn’t feel like sulking.
The soft voice trying to coax him. Justyn’s gentle hand brushing over his furrowed forehead. The calm, peaceful mood that didn’t feel like a night of goodbyes—all of it made Ries feel at ease.
Rather than cry and blame Hillein, he lowered his body and curled up on the bed. He didn’t forget to hook one paw onto the hem of her dress.
— Hehe, I believe in Justyn. I’ll let it slide this time, but if the opportunity comes again, you’d better snatch him up and never let go, alright, my son?
The last part was… a little strange, but still.
— Okay, that’s enough chatter. Time to sleep now, my little ones.
Night had truly fallen now. As if urging them to close their eyes, Hillein raised both hands and gently patted her son and the cat curled up beside him.
Ries obeyed and closed his eyelids. With his sight gone, other small sounds he hadn’t noticed began to filter in.
The wind tapping on the windows. The faint chirping of night insects. Justyn’s steady breathing… and the slightly quicker rhythm of a beating heart.
And then, at last, a soft hum began to rise. Without meaning to, Ries perked his ears and focused on the sound.
Tap, tap. The rhythm of gentle pats on their backs gradually found a steady beat. Using that tiny sound as accompaniment, Hillein began to sing.
The sea sings you a lullaby
The moon tucks you under a warm blanket
My baby, my baby, my sweet little one
Don’t be afraid—sleep peacefully now
Don’t be sad—dream only sweet dreams
A voice tender and delicate. The words that slipped from her lips seeped into every corner of the room, warming the air.
The wind, the chirping insects outside the window, the rustling blanket, the soft patting against their backs—everything became part of her melody.
The waves will chase your nightmares away
The stars hanging in the sky
Will help you find your way if you’re lost
My baby, my baby, my sweet little one
Don’t you worry—just sleep soundly
Don’t be afraid—call out to the morning
…I shouldn’t fall asleep.
He was sure he wouldn’t.
But despite that belief, his mind began to drift, almost laughably fast. Even as he furrowed his brow to stay awake, her voice continued to wrap around him.
Mmm, mmm-mmm, mm-mm.
A cat curled up beside your pillow
A mischievous breeze knocking at your window
The scent of sweet pie clinging to my sleeves
I’m right here, I’m right here—Mama is right here
Sleep well, sleep well, my precious baby
The sound grew fainter.
Was she softening her voice on purpose? Or was he losing the fight against sleep, his senses slipping away? Either way, one thing rang clear in his ears:
The sound of someone’s even breathing.
— Sleep well, Justyn.
The lullaby ended. A loving goodnight whispered into the dark… Even with his sleepy mind, he understood at once. Justyn had fallen asleep.
— …I love you, my son. May Thalassa bless your path.
Rustle, rustle—the sound of fabric brushing against fabric.
Hillein must have stood up from the bedside. The paw hooked on the hem of her dress swayed gently with her movement.
“Mnyaa… ngh… meow…”
— Hehe. So adorable.
A soft chuckle floated down in response to his half-asleep whimper. He felt her cool fingers, laced with a gentle warmth, stroke between his ears like a feather passing by.
— Sweet dreams, Ries. Take good care of my son.
The consciousness he had barely clung to suddenly gave out.
He couldn’t even remember what Hillein said at the very end. But whatever it was… it had left behind a beautiful resonance that would stay with him for a long, long time.
Hillein watched them both as they slept soundly.
Even breathing. Their bodies rising and falling in steady rhythm. Peaceful faces… She took it all in, every bit, filling her eyes with them over and over again.
Just a little longer.
Just a little more.
Just a moment more…
She hovered there, quietly lingering, as time slipped by unnoticed. Until the moon that had been hanging low in the sky now sat at its highest peak.
She held on, and held on. But by the time her instincts whispered that she could delay no longer, she gave a quiet sniff and gently shook off the lingering regrets that clung to her.
— I see. You put them to sleep on purpose. You’re leaving, aren’t you?
— Ancestor.
It was around that time that she sensed the familiar presence behind her. Hillein turned and looked at the small doll floating in midair.
She gave him a mischievous smile.
— I thought you were going to slip away without saying goodbye.
— As if. You were waiting the whole time and now you’re pretending to be surprised?
Sure enough, he grumbled in return. But Sefiut neither turned his back to leave, nor did he offer any more words. It was more accurate to say that he couldn’t.
His round eyes rolled downward. She knew exactly where he was looking, but Hillein didn’t glance there.
No one understood better than she did what she must look like now.
Softly, golden bubbles began to rise from the tips of her toes. Her already-light body felt even lighter now. As if the last fragile string that tethered her to this world had finally snapped.
But she wasn’t afraid. Nor was she sad. That was a promise she had made to herself.
She turned slightly, facing the bed once more.
Still so adorable. A smile curled naturally across her face, no effort needed. Knowing her son wouldn’t be alone anymore… that was enough.
— Are you here to see me off?
— They say it’s to avoid leaving behind sorrow… but the last journey shouldn’t be lonely either, right? Someone should be there to see it.
Sefiut gave a little flick near his gills, as if shrugging his non-existent shoulders. Despite his serious tone, his tiny, ridiculously cute appearance made Hillein laugh aloud before she could help herself.
— I’m sorry for blaming you before. You really are gentle… and kind.
— …That’s the first time anyone’s said that to me.
— Please look after Justyn and Ries. Make sure they find happiness.
— Hey—
That was the end.
As if to say she truly had no more regrets, her body began to dissipate faster.
The golden bubbles swelled and scattered into the air. Her feet, her legs, her fingertips—and even the smiling face that had lingered to the very last—all dissolved into the same glowing light.
And then, passing effortlessly through the sealed window, they soared into the dark sky. A cluster of stars, freed from their chains, rising toward the heavens… It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Sefiut quietly watched as one last bubble gently touched Justyn’s cheek.
It had no form, and yet—it looked like a mother placing a final kiss on her newborn’s forehead.
***
The next morning.
“…Nng?”
His eyes flew open without warning, his vision washed white. It was an unrelenting assault of sunlight, offering no mercy.
He groaned, covered his eyes with his paws, and rolled around until—thud. He bumped into something.
By then, his vision had mostly returned. It didn’t take long to figure out what it was.
“……”
He had bumped into Justyn’s back. Still sitting on the bed, staring blankly out the window.
His black hair was messy, his clothes disheveled… and the mask usually kept at his bedside sat untouched.
“…Ah. You’re awake.”
Only then did Justyn register Ries’s presence. His reaction was several beats slower than usual, and the white whiskers on Ries’s cheeks drooped.
She’s gone.
Ries turned and looked around the bedroom, but there was no sign of anyone else. She’d said she wanted to sing him a lullaby—but he hadn’t expected her to actually put them to sleep and then leave without a word.
