After this I got to work. What exactly? Bio-diesel factory, how else am I supposed to play with my lighter if not unnecessary wasting fuel that I won't use anyways? This factory doesn't deserve that much attention, so I simply put the algorithm like conveyor, all the basins, the input and output points, and every other thing imaginable that I might need.
Then as I watched olive oil and ethanol mix - I realized... I could make conbustion engines with this bio-fuel... Which also means I can give Acat an actual car engine.
YIPPEE!
This also means that I can make engines that run on bio-diesel for my other factories, instead of using mana-kinetic engines or steam engines.
YIPPEE!
I suddenly got the urge to fidget with my lighter, then I realized something - I can make it into a butterfly knife, would be real fun to wallrun while doing sick tricks with it.
I laughed to myself, remembering the videos I used to watch, those with some slide? parkour? course where the one with the POV is playing with the knife.
I began brainstorming random ideas, one of them being the knife having three modes: knife, lighter, nothing. Would be really trick to learn how not to burn, but it would be hella cool looking. Just for style points.
I imagines myself defeating some foe, them on the ground barely alive, I just stand over them, very menacingly, and randomly pull the knife out and start doing tricks.
I watched the bio-diesel pour into bottles, I should label them so I don't accidentally drink it... Oh shit, the slime thing... Alright, fine, I'm turning it off for today, let's not get overloaded with bio-diesel.
And so the evening came. Eris sat beside the window of out bedroom, brushing her hair, I got in and then to the bedroom. "I finished the fuel factory." I said from the doorway, unbuttoning my shirt with a hand.
She turned, smiling. "You never stop, do you?"
"Not until I run out of ideas." I smirked confidently.
She approached slowly, her long silver hair cascading down her back and even nearly touching her ankles. Her eyes were calm but glimmering with that familiar warmth - the kind that was between admiration and longing. "And when you do?"
"Then I rest," I said, stepping closer, meeting her half-way, "with you."
We stayed there for a moment, the space left between us small. My hand brushed her face gently as I leaned in to give her a quick kiss.
After this came the dinner she had prepared, and finally shower time; as I prepared to go and bathe she looked at me, her eyes trusting. "I was thinking... maybe we could finally shower together... again."
I blinked. "Are you sure?"
She smiled nervously, scratching her cheek. "We've come a long way."
And so we did.
For a while it was silent as we carefully attended to one another's body, there were a few times I saw her do it with admiration, which of course, earned even more of my own.
Later, when we stepped into thr bedroom, everything felt... like new. Both of us felt that pull.
"Didn't we agree to control ourselves?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, stepping close, my hand brushing gently against her cheek. "We might had agreed to control outselves, but we never agreed to deprive outselves. I was thinking, perhaps we can... So how about we learn to do it right?"
Her breath cautht, but she smiled - the kind of smile that said yes before words ever could.
When I whispered, "I want to share my body with you," it wasn't as much desire as it was devotion. And this time, we didn't lose ourselves to passion, we resisted this more animalistic part of ourselves. And for it, we found outselves in the act.
The next morning came, sunlight filtering through the curtains, painting the room with serenity. This made me realize, It's getting quite dusty. I will deal with it... Oh, nevermind, the dust just vanished.
Eris was curcled up against me, peaceful, truly peaceful. The tension was tone - no more haze, no more guilt.
She opened an eye and smiled. "So... We learned?" She seemed softer than before, perhaps because we are not actively depraving ourselves from showing affection through intimate contact.
"Graduated with hinors." I gave a relaxed sigh, laying on my back.
She laughed sitting up, the blanket pooling at her waist. "Go deliver the billions before you get lazy."
I chuckled, and so I was off, of course, after proper preparation.
Straight to the guild, where I went to Luna. "Morning." I said.
"Morning. I suppose you came for the money, just wait an hour or so, the carriage should be here by then." She said with her usual politeness.
I gave a thumbs up and went to sit at the bench, so much so, I even managed to fall asleep, dreaming of the style point farming knife.
Then I was pushed away by Luna who was struggling to carry the bag. "Here's your foooour-" she huffed a bit, "billion."
I smiled and took it with ease. "Thank you very much." I replied, before waving. "Have a great one!"
"You too..." She said.
And so I was off to the Dustiness' estate. I walked straight in and when I entered through the big doors.
Darkness was heading down the stairs.
"Hey, Darkness, I got the money." I said, lifting the bad.
"That's great... But there is another issue - my father, he has fallen ill again." She said, a bit worried.
"Cursed... Again?" I sighed, tired of this. "And when I thought things were going better..."
With that she lead me to her father.
As we were walking she explained. "The priests we called were unable to break the curse."
"Figured... Must be a strong one then. Guess we need Aqua again. Honestly at this point it would be smart if we position Aqua here."
"Absolutely not! Did you see what she did to Alderp's mansion, I wouldn't let this happen to ours."
"I will give you a bunch of bottles from my wine and cider factory, it should keep her busy." I said with a snort at the end.
Darkness's brows furrowed as she gave me a weird and judging look.
Then we got to Ignis's room. Darkness knocked before entering. "Svetislav... My boy-"
"Yeah, yeah, no need to be sentimental, I will go get Aqua and plan on positioning her here, so she can keep you safe from this pesky curse." I said.
Lalatina's father nodded and smiled weakly.
And so I was off to the mansion.
"Aqua! I need you o cure Ignis again!" I shouted straight from the entrance.
From far in the corner I could hear. "What?"
"You. Come. Cure. Ignis. Yes?" I said in a flat tone, probably sounding like a cave man.
"Ohhh! Why didn't you just say so?" she said brightly, coming from the living room with an egg on a pillow. "But I have to give Emperor Zel to someone to take care of."
"...Who?" I looked her weird.
She held up the egg. "Him!"
I blinked a few times, wondering if she's serious. "That's an egg."
"A dragon egg at that!" she said defensively. "And Vanir too care of him before, soooo-"
I sighed. "Alright, let's go."
And so we got in Acat and rolled in town, she continued using magic on the egg.
I didn't feel particularly happy about going inside, I mean... If he sees anything of what I have done. So I look at Aqua and tell her. "Go and give Zel to him so we can go cure Ignis."
I sat idly in the car, but then. "Well, well, it's been a while." Vanir said, standing on the platform and leaning down. "How has it bee...n." His grin faded. "How curious... Your mind is off limits..." He then chuckled and leaned closer, whispering. "A goddess's spark."
"Yup, how's business, I suppose you have set up the logistics?"
"Indeed, and the sales have been only going up since then, though I think your factory is a bit over-efficient, you are making so much that I'm barely even able to sell them all."
"Oh well, I'm as pragmatic as you are." I joked.
"Indeed you are," and suddenly a new customer arrived at the shop. "Ah, my apologies, but I must go, since the poor shopkeep is in the backroom resting I have taken the responsibility for everything."
"It's alright man, want a cider during your work shift." I asked, pulling a bottle from my astral storage.
"Alcoholic?" He asked, inspecting the drink.
"Nope, though I do have options. Wine, rakia, rum."
"I suppose you have also set up the secret bio-diesel factory?" He asked.
"Yeah, though it isn't really a secret, it's just deep in my oasis amidst the desert." I said with a shrug.
"Wonderful." He said with an almost proud smile. "Now I need to go... Actually, do you... how do humans call it - ah, hang out. Do you want to hang out with me after the work day is over?"
"Sure."
In the meantime, Aqua sat in the passenger seat, still holding that egg.
"What are we going to do? He is too busy to take care of Zel."
"You could bring Zel with you, I was planning on stationing you there so you can keep watch of Ignis."
Her eyes immediately shined, brighter than stars. "Does that mean free bubbly?" Then she snapped herself out of it. "No, I must resist and take care of Zel..."
"So... yeah, you will be chilling there - Ignis approves."
And so I drove off, dropping Aqua off at the Darkness's home.
Darkness looked at her, confused by the egg. "Is this a gift?" she asked.
"No, that's my own dragon egg!" Aqua shot back.
Darkness's gaze moved to me, I just shrugged and shook my head, not knowing what is going inside Aqua's head.
"Anyways, I'm leaving her to you, see ya!" And so I left, time to go home and chill, oh wait, I agreed to chill with Vanir for a bit... Honestly, knowing him, he probably suggested that because he wants to figure out what is happening with me.
I look up at the sun to make sure there is enough time and so there is, so now I'm sitting with Vanir at Wiz's shop drinking a cold one.
We sat from one another. "So," he said at last. "What do you want to discuss?"
I leaned back. "Nothing deep. Just... cathching up."
"You say that, yet your aura hums like a freshly forged sword. There's light in it now. Not the holy kind - not exactly - but it feels divine."
"Guess I've been hanging around my dear for too long," I said with a smirk.
Vanir grinned sharply. "Ah, yes. Hanging around indeed. I notice your mind is... different. It used to be a delightful buffet of chaos and inventions - now it's like trying to chew sunlight."
I chuckled. "Maybe I've been eating cleaner."
He ignored the joke. "No, this is odd. I can't see into you anymore. I only get flashed - surface images, thoughts about... her..." His grin twitched as something flashed in his mind. "Ah. Never mind. I see enough to know I should look no further."
"Appreciate the restraint."
He leaned further on the table. "Still this is no ordinary barrier. You've shared something with her, haven't you? Some exchange deeper than flesh."
"Yup," I said, my tone softening. "Let's call it a soul pact."
Vanir tilted his head. "A human and a goddess sharing their souls equally. You do realize how paradoxical that is, yes? She should have lost her divinity."
"But she didn't," I said flatly.
"Fascinating" He tapped his chin. "So you've achieved equilibrium. Half of you divine, half of her human. No wonder your aura feels... confused. You're walking the line between two worlds, my friend."
I shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."
And from there we talked on for a while, about random stuff, though his curiosity on this whole situation kept surfacing again and again.
Then he paused mid-sentence, looking out through the window. "Ah. The day is dying, it seems."
I followed his gaze. The sky outside had turned orange-crimson. My stomach dropped. "Oh shit."
Vanir smirked. "Ah, a promise. I see it written across your thoughts - she does not like when you arrive after sunset, does she?"
"Not particularly." I was already halfway to the door.
He raised a hand in farewell. "Run along then. The heavens are far less forgiving than hell when it comes to broken vows."
"Alright, see you, Vanir."
And so I was off.
The scenery changed quickly as I rode twice as fast as before, this allowed me to reach home in thirty minutes, but that doesn't mean I reached before the sun has set completely.
As the gates opened and I parked, I saw Eris sitting at the same bench as the last time I was late.
I got out and hurried to her.
"You're late again..." she said softly, but there was disappointment under the calm. This fucking tore me apart.
"Yeah... The talk with Vanir ran longer than I thought."
She puffed her cheeks a little - adorably pouty, but still trying to look stern, turning her look away. "You promised you'd be here for sunset."
"I know, and I'm sorry." I rubbed the back of my neck, thinking. An Idea popped up, I have seen people use teleport. "I have an idea. Love, how does the teleport spell work?"
She blinked, confused but she said anyways. "You can choose three locations at a time to which you can teleport to."
"Perfect, if they can do that, so can I, but better. The locations are no longer magical, but physical. This item is an anchor. And my version of teleport, unbalanced or not, gives me infinite options as long as I have anchors set."
She then realized what I was doing.
"If I'm ever going to be late, I will just teleport and let Acat drive herself." I said.
She looked at me, her pout melting into a small disbelieving laugh. "You made an entire spell just for me?"
I grinned. "Yes."
She sighed, but there was no anger left - oly that familiar warmth in her eyes. She leaned up to kiss my cheek. "I love you."
And so that night, dinner was simple but perfect - roasted veggies, soft bread and wine. We didn't talk about anything from outside; just the small things - the beauty of the stars outsidee, the taste of the food, the comfort of beign together.
Later, we bathed together, quietly, no teasing.
When we finally got into bed, she curled up against me, her breath warm against my chest.
"Nothing tonight," she whispered, half-asleep already. "Just this."
"Yeah," I murmured, holding her closed.
And so the peace of the night enveloped us, putting an end to this day.