Numen

“Plup”, went the cork as Genis opened the bottle of Hevel syrup, a rare delicacy. She poured two cups, handed one to Umon, and settled back against the fluffy moss.

They both gazed up into the reaches of the tree, in comfortable silence. The last of the sunlight picked out the topmost leaves, and distant hamlet illuminations started to appear, painting scattered pockets of warm radiance in the darkening greenery. Numen lay below them, lightly sprinkled with lanterns.

“You were right, this is quite the spot”, remarked Umon, “I’m glad you made me climb here.”

Genis smiled into her cup. More lights appeared, moving in random patterns, winking in and out of existence.

“Oh look!” exclaimed Umon, “Fireflies!”

“Ah yes, I see”, Genis could barely contain her eagerness at his remark, and had difficulty keeping her tone nonchalant. She hid her grin with another sip of syrup.

“Isn’t that your flock? They seem to be coming from your pasture…”

“Are they? Huh!”

The lights began coalescing, their rhythms gradually syncing into one.

“Hold up, it actually looks like they’re forming a pattern. Is that normal?” asked Umon, turning towards her.

“Oh I’m sure Elfran and Shults have it all under control, it’s their shift tonight.” She had spent a significant amount of time with her apprentices, planning the whole thing.

“OK, they’re definitely shaping something. I think I can make out letters”

Umon then remained silent for a few moments as the fireflies slowed, letters and words emerging.

“Oh my”, was all he breathed then, as they shared a look in the near darkness. He slid closer to her, rested his head on hers, and they needed no words in that instant.

After a while his gaze flickered back to the spectacle. “Hey, it looks like those two fireflies are-“

Genis had to cut him off with a kiss.