#friemmel

That was when a familiar voice spoke from behind her, one that she knew far too well, maybe even better than her own voice because of the way it had remained intact in her memory. 

“You look great as always with this magic,” the voice said.

Frieren immediately turned around to see Himmel standing behind her with a smile she had seen so often during her journey with the Hero's party to defeat the Demon king. 

Frieren stared at him and blinked, mildly surprised though it wasn't too visible on her face. “Himmel.” A beat passed, then she asked. “What're you doing here?” She must be dreaming. Himmel couldn't be standing before her.

A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the tall trees over their head that blew wisps of their hairs and brushed the strands off their faces. Himmel smiled and stepped behind her before he began to move around back and forth as he shrugged. “Well, I'm a hero and I know you must have missed me, right?”

He crouched low to pick up some of the flowers. “Besides, it's been a while since I have seen this magic. It's my favorite magic, Frieren.” He said softly. 

Frieren stood there, without making any movement and kept on staring at Himmel. She didn't so much as blink now, as if she had forgotten how to blink. 

A few seconds later, Himmel stood and turned back to Frieren with a flower crown in his hand. He stepped forward and put the crown gently on her head as he had done before in the past, then smiled. “Now you look perfect.”

He cupped her face in his hands as delicately as holding a teacup and leaned in closer. Frieren was sure they were about to kiss. 

“Frieren-sama.” Frieren opened her eyes at that moment and turned to Fern and Stark waving their hands at her beside a fire they had built up to camp. It was Fern,her apprentice who had called her.

“Food is ready. It's delicious too thanks to the spell that flips pancakes perfectly!!” Stark shouted with excitement.

Frieren turned back as if she expected to find Himmel but as it was, Himmel had disappeared. It seemed all of that was an illusion, which should have been obvious as there was no way Himmel could have come here. Frieren's expression changed a little to that of sadness. If only the dream could have gone on and on…

Frieren shook her head. She shouldn't be sad that it wasn't real. If anything, her magic had let her see Himmel again. And she would meet Himmel again, once they were in Aureole. That was why she was on this journey. The thought gave her a new hope, hope to see again the person she had loved without ever realizing. 

Finally, she smiled and walked over to Fern and Stark. It was no use regretting what she had lost in the past. Frieren wanted to live in the moment, cherishing every new memory she made with her new party, just how Himmel did. And when the time comes, she knew she would meet him again.