After she left, I was left with nothing to do.
It was really boring... Just laying in bed...
I thought back to the issue that occurred yesterday... Perhaps it would be a good idea to check up on my farms in the suburbs of Axel.
I stood up from the bed, and walked on the balcony, where I summoned my drone. It shimmered back into the physical realm, right on the railway, balancing on the flat part. I activated it and sent it toward Axel.
After this I returned to the bed, where I sat, looking through the lenses of my creation.
It flew high in the sky, just under the clouds that were forming. It was lovely, from the occasional beam of light that broke through the clouds, to the leaves that moved with the wind.
I wish I was there to feel it.
But whatever... As I approached my plots of land, I could tell everything running, either through sight or sound.
The three-basis farm(the cabbage/potato/carrot farm) was working perfectly, the contraptions going back and forth... Though to prevent future problems, it would be good if I found a new source of energy, not just farms... Perhaps the core of the destroyer, it was infinite afterall...
Eh... Whatever...
Satisfied with what I saw, I recalled the drone, breaking the link. My vision shifted back to my own...
"You just can't help yourself, can you?"
Her voice was soft, sweet, yet laced with resignation. I turned turned my head slightly towards her as I sat up. She was perched delicately at my left.
I smiled faintly. "I didn't get out of bed. That has to count for something."
She sighed gently. "At least you are still in bed, yes... You should really learn to rest sometimes."
I shifted onto my sigh and gave a charming look. "With you by my side, I'm always at rest."
Her expression immediately softened at that, her gaze almost dreamy. It was hypnotic, my eyes locking onto hers.
But then she snapped out of it. "I will get going... I was just checking up on you."
"Then let me send you out with a little gift." I said, giving her a gentle kiss. "See you later, my darling."
She blushed slightly, before moving out of the room reluctantly.
After a few minutes I decided to go for a walk, no work, just enjoying the fruits of my labour.
The wind played with my oversized shirt. The clouds above - dark.
Perhaps it would rain, but I am not quite sure, given that it's desert here...
I at one of the benches with tables in front of them and decided to try something. I walked to the nearby water spout, cleaning avocados under its ever flowing water, before filling a metal container with it. I went back home and boiled the eggs, mashing the avocado into a paste adding salt and spices, then after a while, the eggs were ready. I took them off the flameless stove, pilled them perfectly and mashed them in with the avocado paste.
With the spread, I walked back outside. I placed a wooden board on the table and cut bread on it, before spreading the paste on it. It was lovely.
By sunset, after some physical trainingm, I stepped back into the castle-home. There, I found Eris, who was preparing ingredients.
I snuck up behind her. "Hey, love..." I muttered. "Care for a walk?"
She didn't flinch, as if she already knew I was coming. "Yes... I'd like that." She took my reached out hand.
The walk was pretty nice, the atmosphere was lovely. My mind drifted off to back home, particularly, old traditional clothes. And the to her in one: her long hair tied into one big tail.
"Eris?"
"Yes, my love?" She replied gently, looking at me.
"You haven't seen or heard of the traditional clothes from my nation, but I think you'd look lovely in one of them."
Her expression softened. Then she stumbled, her legs trembling. I caught her instantly. "Are you alright?" I asked as I led her to a nearby bench.
"Yes... yes. Just tired." She replied, though this clearly wasn't the case.
My expression darkened a bit, but it still held that gentleness. "How am I supposed to take care of you if you only give me half truth?"
She hesitated for a moment. "I... I blessed the whole world with luck..." She confessed. "So fewer would die... But it drained me... I just... I just want to spend more time with you."
I exhaled. "Oh... darling." I sat down beside her, before pulling out a brass cube from it. I quickly began to shape a good chunk of it into a fine, elegant ring. And in it I engraved a gear shape, so it is clear from who it came.
Her breath caught. "My love..." she whispered.
I took her hand gently and slid it on her ring finger. Then made a second ring - for consistency, symbolism, and devotion - it was engraved with the shape of a four-leaf clover. Before I could slide it on, she stopped me and did it herself.
She threw herself at me, already feeling better.
"Thank you..." she whispered, her praise tasted divine in that moment.
After this whole thing, we went home and cooked together, during which I showed her what I made today. She tasted the avocado spread with delight.
And so after dinner, I excused myself to bathe.
The warm water wrapped around me as I plunged. But before I could settle fully, I heard the door creack behind me. Her head poked in timidly. "Do you mind if I joined?"
"Not at all."
She entered, hair let loose, her bare body shimmering with nervousness. Something in me nearly snapped as I laid gaze upon her. She was too beautiful.
I quickly turned my gaze, placing a hand over my mouth as if to control myself.
She came to sit beside me, her hair pooling around her like roots.
I reached for the soap but she took it. "Let me," she whispered. I agreed, a bit on instinct though. Her hands trembled as she began to wash my back, I could hear her heartbeat in the quiet of this moment, it was fast, too fast. She nudged me to turn around, then began to clean my chest, once I turned to face her.
Her hands stopped just before she even began. "I just can't anymore!" she snapped.
"What's wrong?"
"I want to spend more time with you... I want to be free so I can show you my love without restraint. But I can't... These duties..." She turned away, frustrated.
"I reached for her, but she suddenly turned back. "Take me. Make love to me."
I was shocked by this sudden request. "But wasn't if forbidden."
"Is is... I will lose my powers. But that's what I desire. To be with you, always." She admitted. Her eyes pleading despite that fact.
Conflict burned in my chest. This was everything I wanted - but also everything I promised to give her - her freedom.
The dilemma at hand had me arguing with myself about it all...
She dropped the soap, cupping my face with gentle eyes. Her voice was grounding. "No matteer what you choose now, I already made my choice... You gave me a choice back then. Now I give you one."
I took a deep breath, controlling my own lust just a little while longer for the sake of something sacred.
I gently cleaned her, my mind now pured of everything that clouded my judgement. Her expression seemed happy, anticipating.
After this we dried up and went to the bedroom. She was the first to lay down. I on the other hand went to the window, closing it and pulling the curtain.
I turned to her, my expression serene. "Are you sure?"
"I have never been more sure... This is my gift to you..." She said, her eyes full with adoration and love.
As if gravity pulled me, I made my way onto the bed and next to her. "Then this is my gift to you... My guarantee to you... My love, loyalty, desire, care." I replied.
With our vows set in place, before us, before something beyond, the night began. It was tame, from a gentle kiss, to a pained gasped as our first official intimate contact happened. Then it grew into something more passionate, her sweet moans were intoxicating, her whispers hipnotic, I couldn't hold it in anymore, everything about her allured me. Every part of her merged with every part of me.
This whole ritual was a declaration of unity, a sacred thing which brough us closer, splitting us, just to rebuild us with parts that were split off. It was both harming and healing. My mind was blank, but my will remained, and it prolonged this encounter, treating her gently and with care.
The end felt divine.
And so we were spent, cuddled up close as we exchanged our last, for tonight, whispers. Then sleep consumed us whole.
---
The morning that came after was quiet, both of us slept in late, not like we get to sleep the whole night together often.
I was the first to wake up, though I still remained half-asleep, blinking.
She shifted against me, cuddling her face on my chest. This brought me a sence of fulfillment. Then I felt something... Her presence, It felt warmer... More lively.
"Morning..." I said gently, in hopes that she is awake - she wasn't.
She mumbled a bit opening her sleepy eyes. "Morning..." She replied, her voice laced with sleep.
"You feel a bit different?"
"Like gone?" She asked.
"No, you are stronger."
She looked at me confused.
"Yes, your aura is stronger." I repeated.
"Can you check your luck stat?" She asked skeptically, or perhaps she was trying to cope.
I went to the chair at my desk, where I laid my clothing, from the pocket of my pants I pulled my card and saw that my luck was glitching.
"Yep, it's bugging out."
Her mind raced. "No… this shouldn't be possible… If my powers aren't gone… then my duties…"
I blinked, more concerned about a different issue. "Love…"
"Yes?" She looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
"I need to… you know… remove some stuff from you."
"You're right. I can't be a good mother if I'm away most of the time…" she sighed.
After agreeing, she laid on her back, her silver hair spilling around her.
"It's really not a good idea... To bring life to this world... Just to abandon it... I can't be cruel... To our poor little baby." She said, almost to herself.
I placed my hand exactly where her womb was, since I already kind of felt where it was. "Right now neither of us are ready... So of course I'm protecting you from this possibility."
Her fingers slid over mine, holding my hand there. "You are always thinking ahead... shielding me, even from thing I wouldn't notice until it's too late."
I smiled faintly, leaning down to plant a soft kiss to her forehead. "That's because I love you. It's my duty, and I take it with honour."
Her eyes softened, a single tear escaped her eyes as i finished transforming the essence i have left inside her.
For a moment, silence filled the space - but not empty silence. It was full, alive, glowing. Her breathing calmed, her body relaxing completely under my hand.
Then she teased softly. "So... does that meanyou'll keep placing your hand there every time you get carried away?"
I chuckled, kissing her lips briefly. "If it keeps you safe, then yes. A thousand times, yes."
She laughed lightly, leaning into me, her forehead pressing to mine. "My foolish, protective man… I think I love you even more now."
"And I you," I whispered back, pulling her into my arms.