The chokingly tense atmosphere was abruptly cut apart with Luther rising to his feet. Everyone's attention in the cabin was automatically pulled toward his large, dark figure moving forward. "Enough, Lilith," he sighed heavily. "If you apply too much pressure, she'll break."
Immediately, Lilith bowed deeply and turned an apologetic look to Lucia's haggardly pale face.
"Mistress, I must apologize from the bottom of my heart. It appears I was too forceful in my eagerness to welcome your return." Ebony hair swaying gently, Lilith slowly lowered herself down to her knees on the carpeted floor, bending her spine forward in a kowtow.
Unnerved by the excessive show of subservience, Lucia quickly shook her head, trying to calm her agitated heart and mind. "N, no, it...it's fine. P, please rise."
The amount of information she'd just had dumped on top of her head was truly too much for Lucia to comprehend at this moment.
'I am the soulmate of 'God'?
'Truly?!
'How is that even possible?
'The Goddess in my world was known to be a spiritual mother to all of Her children, having nothing to do with the flesh.'
Seeing that Lucia's pale blue eyes were starting to glaze over as she grew further lost in her speculations, Lucifer waved his hand wearily. "Lilith, leave us. Phalaliah, you may stay, but hurry along with your task."
"Yes, my lord!" the two replied in sync. Lilith had already been halfway to her feet, so she merely threw a quick glance toward the young woman before turning on her heel and leaving the cabin.
Stepping to Lucia's side, Luther held out his hand calmly. Glancing up into his bright golden eyes, Lucia's cheeks flushed lightly. Lilith's words were still rattling around in her skull, so it felt even more awkward than before to look the giant god in the eyes.
Still, for now, Luther was Lucia's lifeline and she had given her word. She was not one to break promises once giving them, so she didn't feel comfortable with attempting to run away.
Even with this promise in her heart, Lucia did have to admit to herself that if Luther treated her horribly, she'd high-tail it out of this situation as swiftly as she was able.
Knowledge, though, was power after all.
Settling the hectic chaos in her mind, Lucia determined her best option was to go to this mandatory schooling Luther had mentioned and learn all that she could about this new world.
Only after she had enough information and experience would she feel comfortable to break her promise and leave Luther if it became necessary.
'Especially if I am with child, it would be best to know how to fight my battles before setting out for the warzone.'
With this goal set in mind, the vast majority of panic and unease inside her heart lifted. She even managed to summon a small smile as she placed her pale hand in Luther's, her fingers and palm quickly warming up from his body heat alone.
Fighting down the urge to gaze into Lucia's mind, since his fear of rejection was still very real, Luther tried not to cry from anxiety.
'Is that a smile of happiness because she's happy to see me? Or is she only pretending to smile and in her heart is shrinking away in disgust?
'Creation help me, but I want to know so badly!!'
"Yes, Luther?" Lucia pressed for a response, a bit confused as to why Luther's expression was gradually darkening and he looked close to tears.
"Ugkh! …L, Lucia, uuumm, uh, ahem! Do you need to relieve yourself?"
Her entire face blew up in surprised shock, but she mutely shook her head firmly.
"Alright. Sorry to embarrass you, I just needed to make sure."
Using his hold at her hand, Luther carefully tugged Lucia to her feet and pulled her over to the large bed. "Please, you really need to take a nap, okay? Remember, I mentioned it earlier?"
Nodding her head slowly, Lucia glanced around a bit helplessly. "Um, alright, but how am I supposed to sleep like this? Can you call Lilith to assist me in undressing?"
Frowning darkly, Luther shook his head in suppressed annoyance. "No, it'll be fine, I swear. Just lie down under the blanket and I'll set up a barrier so that none of the light or sounds will bother you."
Biting the bottom of her lip, Lucia threw a cautious glance toward Phalaliah.
Following her line of sight, Luther quickly shook his head. "No, you don't have to worry about him, I promise. Phalaliah, if you dare try to watch Lucia sleep, I'll rip out your eyes!"
Flinching in fright, Phalaliah started to turn his head to stare at Luther in aggrieved shock but quickly realized that would be a mistake. "R, right! Understood, my lord! Mistress, I will pretend you do not exist for the entirety of your nap!" he yelped in compliance, gulping audibly.
Feeling a bit guilty, Lucia glowered up at Luther. "Is there really a need to be so violent with everyone?"
Finding his effort to be gallant and guard his love being rejected and himself admonished, Luther silently shared in helpless aggrievance with his lackey.
Sighing at Luther's lack of a response, Lucia climbed into the bed, pausing for a moment.
'W...why is everything here so soft?! Truly, this must be the Heavenly Realm. Everything seems to be made out of clouds!'
Struggling to hide the waves of delight washing over her at realizing how squishy and soft the bed was, Lucia quickly slid under the crimson blanket. With her head turned away from Luther, she released the delighted and girlish smile that she'd been trying to hide, her entire face lighting up as a result.
"I'll wake you up in a couple of hours," Luther murmured, smiling softly.
'Lucia is truly the cutest little thing in Creation,' he sang in a lovey-dovey voice inside his heart. 'Look at her! She's trying so hard not to squirm in excitement! Soo cute! *(^o^)*'
Adjusting the equally delightful pillows until she felt comfortable, Lucia let out a low noise of agreement. Mostly though, she was trying not to look Luther in the eye, worried he'd see the excitement she was feeling about sleeping on a cloud-bed.
After making sure Lucia was settled and comfortable, Luther raised his index finger, twirling it lazily. A transparent shield surrounded the perimeter of the large bed and immediately Lucia's awareness of the world was shrouded in shadow.
Startled, she jerked up in bed, only to find that the outside world looked vaguely hazy.
It was only after she squinted and concentrated deeply that she could make out the bright lights and details of the room she'd seen earlier.
Luther was still standing beside the bed, a smug smile on his face as he slowly waved a hand. Lucia responded with a wave herself. "This is quite a strange spell you've cast," she murmured.
When there was no response, Lucia glanced at his lips, seeing he was in fact speaking. But, amazingly, none of his words were getting through.
'I wonder if he can hear me at all?'
"...I will rest then. Good night, Luther," she mumbled awkwardly, slowly slinking back down to the soft mattress and pillows.
Luther's lips moved some more, but nothing he said made it through the misty barrier.
Frowning, Lucia decided to forget about things she had no control over and focus on catching up on some of the sleep she'd lost after being dragged out of bed.
Unsurprisingly, once Lucia gave in to the siren's call of the soft bed, her body fell asleep quite fast.