Sigi woke up next to Lucy, he looked at her for a few minutes; he felt at home, outside of time, at that moment his world was limited to that room, the connection he had with Lucy seemed unreal.
_You may not be waiting for me, but I love you like I don't love anyone else who isn't family.
And I love you like I've never loved before.
He said nothing at the time, he lay back down, wrapping Lucy in his arms, and she too snuggled back to him.
I wanted to get up early to prepare something for you.
We're in a hotel room, you know.
Yeah, but I want to please you
_Then hold me tighter and make me feel like the center of your universe, Sigi
I was counting on it, Lucy; after all, we're in a hotel.
They had been there for a while, snuggled up together, they felt good;
a good that is not caused by an event or action but a calm and carefree good, filled with peace.
We were supposed to visit the city today, that's why we came.
No, my dear, we came for ourselves, to spend time with just the two of us.
_ And that means staying in the room all morning?
Why not, we could get an apartment and settle here, just the two of us.
_ You're forgetting that we're students and we don't have jobs, how do you expect us to pay for the apartment?
Honey, don't forget that you're a Rank C and when you've really mastered your abilities you can be promoted to Rank B+ or even A and I'm a Rank S with the same potential for growth, we can manage on our own.
Lucy hesitated; that one day had shown her how immense the world had become and it frightened her, but she had also understood that Sigi was there; for her; for them; she wanted it, she had already accepted it.
_First, we'll try it out for two to three weeks. Let's see if we can find work. I advise you to apply for the guard position. I'm going to look towards hospital centers since I also have a gift from Rand A healer.
Okay… Wait, what do you mean?
_ I know that basically if you and Ivar decided to come here it's because you were already thinking about settling here.
_You're very strong, you know that?
_Yeah, you say that often.
_And you're right, Ivar and I had to settle somewhere other than Yggdrasil, we had already talked about it once or twice but now I want to stay here; this city is peacefully calm and with a freedom that we don't feel in Yggdrasil.
_ I understand you perfectly, well it's time to get ready if we want to find a house today.
Waiting for a house?
Yeah, a house. If we're going to live together, especially in Vyrheim, I want a house.
Okay, ma'am.
Outside there was a grey atmosphere, as if it was going to rain, Sigi and Lucy headed towards the outskirts of the city, they felt closer to the inhabitants, Lucy even bought a lollipop from a little girl who was passing by on her way home from school;
Sigi would occasionally stop to inquire about unoccupied plots of land and how to acquire them.
Honey, do you really want us to buy a house?
_ Yes Sigi, why are you asking?
Because with our budget, I'd prefer we save money. What do you think about that?
Sigi explained to him that if they just bought the plot and built the house themselves, they would save a considerable amount of money and, in addition, the house would be to their liking.
Wait, you never told me how you got that money, now that I think about it.
_ Oh yeah? Okay, first let's go somewhere where we can sit down
There's an Italian restaurant over there, and besides, I'm starting to get hungry.
_ Okay, let's go; I'm a little hungry too.
After placing the order, Sigi began to tell the version that he and his brother had told their parents, he told him about Heric and how they had pacified the city of Arenna, he told him about the discussion that he and his brother had had with the Norns and how their true Rank is Disaster Rank.
He wanted to tell her about the three days he and Ivar had suppressed their powers, to tell her that he was the creator of Yggdrasil, but he couldn't. Certainly, Sigi loved Lucy with all his heart, but that was nothing compared to the loyalty he felt for his brother, and he knew it was the same for Ivar.
_So the 20,000 points should have gone to Ivar because he was the one who sorted everything out in Arena, but he shared them with you.
_Yeah, even though he gives the impression of being an arrogant guy and a real asshole, he is actually very caring and loving, he's the one who told me to invite you here.
_ Firstly, your brother is really too arrogant, that's a fact, and secondly, I'm starting to believe that he's not totally a bastard.
_ And if we continue our search, if we delay too long it will get dark and it will be too late for the plot.
_ Do you really want to build our house yourself?
Of course, I want to build something that will be a part of us
_ So let's go find that plot
They ventured deeper and deeper into the city before arriving at the agricultural lands, where there were fields that stretched all along one root and others along certain roots;
Sigi took Lucy's hand and gently began to take flight; Lucy used her telekinesis to rise into the air; they reached a height sufficient to have both a plunging view of all of Vyrheim and also a magnificent view of the sunset; they snuggled up to each other and raised it just enough to reach a small branch of Yggdrasil, just long and thick enough to be able to settle on and observe both the sunset and the city below them.
It's so beautiful
_I know this is going to sound a bit cliché, but I wish this moment could last forever.
_ And it will be eternally in our memories; it is impossible for me to forget anything about you.
_ Then you will be my memory, the one who will remind me who I am and for whom I am.
They stayed there throughout the sunset and after the sun had given way to an orange tint behind it, Sigi and Lucy began to watch the city light up, telling each other scenarios about what their lives would be like in this city.
Maybe… Maybe we should get married
Sigi said hesitantly, his face turned not towards Lucy but rather towards the horizon,
Lucy could feel how embarrassed he was by what he had just said; she knew he was serious, that he really meant it, and at that precise moment she knew with all her heart that she could be with this young man all her life and it would not be enough;
She noticed that being by his side was no longer special, that the anxiety about conversations, the fear of saying the wrong thing, the excitement of first dates… All things that certainly made their relationship more exciting, but she was mature enough to know that this tranquility was proof that they were meant for each other. She could no longer imagine a future without him, she could no longer exclude him from everything she undertook. His presence beside her had become its ANCHORINGThe feeling he had for her wasA CONSTANTin this new world filled with change.
"Perhaps so," she finally replied.
Sigi suddenly looked at her and saw a smile that confirmed he had made the right choice.
He returned her smile, taking her in his arms before launching himself into the air once more.
Let's wait until we're both 18.
Yeah, I can wait a few months, and since your birthday is in September, we'll get married in December.
I had almost forgotten that yours is in April…
He said this before letting himself fall; during their fall, Sigi and Lucy kissed tenderly while Lucy slowed their descent.
The next day, they got up early to search for the place that would be their home. They had spotted a plot of land of more than 160 square meters and were determined to get it. They realized that the city was much more lively; they discovered cinemas, shopping centers, a large vegetable market, adventurer guilds. Sigi felt like he was in an Isekai, and Lucy was fascinated by everything around her.
Towards the end of the day, they already had the deed of ownership and all the building permits; so on their way home, even though it was pitch black in that region, they went to see their land, that piece of land that belonged only to them.