We continued traveling for four days.
Sometimes we slept in abandoned cottages.
Other nights, we camped beside a fire in the forest.
Whenever there was a stream nearby, I used it to wash up.
One morning, while taking a wash at the stream I looked into the clear water, and finally got a proper look at my reflection.
I froze.
"...Whoa."
I touched my face.
My eyes were a bright blue, almost sparkling whenever sunlight touched them.
My long golden curls framed my face beautifully.
Even my features looked completely different from the person I remembered being.
I stared at my reflection for a long time.
So this is what I look like now...
I finally understood why everyone kept staring.
No wonder.
I sighed.
"Okay..."
"I'll admit it."
"I'm actually really gorgeous."
A smug smile appeared on my face.
Then I remembered Skull.
"...But that idiot still called me ugly."
I narrowed my eyes.
"I'll get you one day."
Every morning, I tried to catch Skull without his helmet.
It never worked.
I would pretend to be asleep and secretly watch him.
He never fell for it.
I'd wake up...
And he'd already be awake.
His armor would already be on.
His sword would already be cleaned.
And somehow, he'd already eaten and washed up.
I narrowed my eyes at him one morning.
"You're definitely hiding something."
He ignored me.
"I'm going to see your face eventually."
"Keep dreaming."
I smiled.
"I will."
Several days later, the heat became almost unbearable.
We walked beneath the blazing sun, following a dusty road that seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.
I was exhausted.
My clothes clung uncomfortably to me from the heat, and I felt like I was sweating from every possible place.
I finally groaned.
"How many more days until we get to wherever your destination is?"
"Five."
I nearly collapsed.
"FIVE?!"
"Yes."
"You're joking."
"No."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"How are you still walking like nothing is happening?"
He simply continued forward.
A ditch appeared across the road.
Without warning, Skull reached down and helped me over it.
I stumbled onto the other side.
"Thanks."
Then I looked at him again then at his silver armor which the hot sunlight glisten on.
"Wait..."
"Aren't you hot?"
He stopped.
I pointed at his armor.
"You're wearing a full suit of metal!"
"How are you not melting inside that thing?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached for my hand.
I blinked.
"What are you—?"
He placed my palm against his chest plate.
I froze.
The armor was cold.
Not slightly cool.
Actually cold.
It felt as though he'd been standing inside a snowstorm instead of under the blazing sun.
My eyes widened.
"How..."
I looked at him.
"How is your armor this cold?"
He tilted his helmet slightly.
"Now does it feel like I'm hot?"
I shook my head.
"No..."
Then an idea came to me.
Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him.
He immediately stiffened.
"...What are you doing?"
I hugged his armor tighter.
"Can't you tell?"
"I'm stealing some of your cold."
"It's so hot!"
He sighed.
"Get off."
"No."
I refused to let go.
"Just give me a minute."
"You weigh more than you look."
"Hey!"
I tightened my arms around him.
"You're basically a walking refrigerator."
"What even is a refrigerator?"
Another sigh escaped him.
For once...
He didn't immediately force me away.
He simply stood there, letting me cling to his cold armor while the sun continued blazing overhead.
And somehow...
Despite the exhausting journey ahead...
I couldn't help smiling.
Two more days passed.
We spent our days walking and our nights resting beneath the trees, sometimes beside a small stream, sometimes around a crackling campfire.
By the third night, I found myself lying on the grass beside Skull, staring quietly into the flames.
The forest was unusually peaceful.
Above us, the night sky stretched endlessly between the branches.
I turned my head toward him.
"Hmm..."
"Skull?"
He glanced at me.
"I think I'm going to give myself a name."
He was quiet for a moment.
"You still can't remember your name?"
I shook my head.
"No."
My voice came out quieter than I intended.
He looked at me for a moment before returning his attention to the fire.
"You might end up choosing something terrible."
I frowned.
"Hey."
"If you're going to pick one, make it a nickname."
"That way, it won't replace your real name when you eventually remember it."
I stared at him.
For once, I didn't argue.
He was right.
I didn't remember my name from my previous life or even this life.
I don't even know if I have a name in this life.
I looked up at the sky.
A faint smile appeared on my lips.
"You're actually right."
"I'm terrible at naming things."
"I'd probably give myself some ridiculous name."
Skull turned his helmet toward me.
He studied me silently for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"How about I give you one?"
I blinked.
"What?"
"I'll give you a nickname."
"Something you can use until you remember your real name."
My eyes immediately brightened.
"Really?"
He looked away.
"Don't get too excited."
"I might give you something ridiculous."
My cheeks puffed up angrily.
He rose to his feet, picking up his sword and drove it firmly into the soil beside the fire.
THUD.
The blade sank deep into the earth.
Then he stretched one hand toward me.
I stared at it.
And suddenly...
The clouds above us began to drift apart.
Moonlight spilled through the opening.
It washed over Skull's silver armor, turning him into something that didn't quite look human.
The polished metal reflected the moonlight like a mirror.
Tiny stars shimmered across his armor.
For a moment, it felt as though the night sky itself had descended around us.
The fire crackled softly beside us.
The trees stood perfectly still.
Even the wind seemed to have quieted.
I stared at him.
Skull's deep voice finally broke the silence.
"From today onward..."
He paused.
His hand remained extended toward me.
"...you shall be known as Celestial."
My eyes widened.
Celestial.
The word seemed to echo somewhere deep inside me.
I didn't know why.
I didn't know what it meant.
I slowly reached for his hand.
His armored fingers closed around mine.
Then he gently pulled me to my feet.
I looked up at him.
A huge smile spread across my face.
"Celestial..."
I repeated the name softly.
Then I smiled even wider.
"Celestial it is."
What a beautiful name.
I don't even know what it means.
For all I know, it could mean something completely ridiculous.
But somehow...
It feels right.
It feels like mine.
I looked toward the moon.
Maybe this was silly.
Maybe it meant nothing.
But tonight...
I finally had something that belonged to me.
A name.
Celestial.
I suddenly gathered the sides of my dress.
Without even thinking about it, I stepped back slightly, crossed one foot behind the other, bent my knee gracefully, and lowered my head.
A perfect little curtsy.
"Thank you, my beloved knight."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I froze.
...What did I just say?
I slowly lifted my head.
Beloved knight?!
Where did that even come from?!
I stared at my own hands.
Who taught me how to do that?
I couldn't remember ever learning how to curtsy like that.
Not in my previous life.
Not anywhere.
I looked back at Skull.
He was simply standing there, staring at me.
Of course, I couldn't see his expression through that helmet.
Then—
He cleared his throat.
"This is the first time you've actually behaved like a proper lady."
"I was beginning to think your memory loss took your manners along with it."
My smile disappeared.
"Hey!"
I straightened up.
"Do you have to insult me every chance you get?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because the truth hurts."
I stared at him.
Then I lightly smacked his armored arm.
"You're such a jerk!"
He suddenly recoiled.
"Ouch."
I froze.
Then narrowed my eyes.
"...Did you seriously just pretend that hurt?"
He remained completely still.
"Yes."
I burst out laughing.
"You're wearing armor, dummy!"
His helmet tilted slightly toward me.
I couldn't see his face...
But somehow, I could almost imagine the smug smile underneath it.
And for the first time since I had awakened in this strange world...
I didn't feel like a girl without a past.
I was Celestial.
And somehow...
That felt enough.
