- It's not really that," he refuted in a vaguely embarrassed tone, almost fleeing the inquisitive glance of the young woman. This last one considered him, surprised, then understood and spontaneously raised a light malicious but tender smile at the same time.
- Oh, I see! So it was only a preference. You really can't stand the light.
- Again, you found it.
- Even with all your tricks?
- Of course I can. I am the ruler of Vaegos. And that was enough to explain everything, it seemed.
- But I always refrain from it. he continued gravely. The sun is already almost down at 4pm so I'll come and get you. Be ready.
- Agreed, she nodded with a loving submission.
She accompanied him until the French window. He fragmented again the wall, exchanging a last kiss, he disappeared at a hallucinating speed, without forgetting to put back all the pieces to their place.
The next day, the young student was so delighted and radiant that she only noticed a most intriguing absence at the end of class. So, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Ivy approached her rival's favorite flunky, the blonde who always accompanied her, and mockingly asked.
- Blondie, but what incredible event, your mistress did not come to the horn today? While it is the only person that I know ready to sell father and mother for a good note! And to steal the others'!
The blond girl gave him sly but frightened looks. The typical nature of all stooges. Ivy thought, almost sympathetic. Unable to stand on her own two feet.
- Mind your own business, redhead. Besides, I bet it's your fault Amis has been missing since yesterday.
Ivy laughed briefly in surprise.
- Disappeared? My fault? Can you explain yourself?
- Well, that's more like it. Shortly after you gave her that look yesterday...
- Ah, you want the heavy look we exchanged after she totally tore my work apart! she cut off with a vengeance.
- Oh please, like you can't get your project back on track in a hurry.
- So you admit that it is indeed your mistress who destroyed it! When she finds out about this!
- What? Panicked the blond girl backing away by reflex. No, I'm not admitting anything! I was just saying...Oh, and besides, that's not what we're talking about," she resumed fiercely, giving Ivy a look full of hatred. I was saying that right after you walked through the door last night, Amis suddenly disappeared. She didn't move, she didn't say anything, it was like... magic!
Ivy couldn't help but laugh wryly at these last, dramatic, most comical words.
- You don't say!
Unable to take the maid's ravings seriously any longer, Ivy turned away and walked nonchalantly away, all filled with the joy of finding her love.
- Tell me baby.
- Yes?
- Why did these people look at you with such wide eyes when I came to pick you up and you ran to me, laughing your head off!
Ivy bit her lip, and looked away a little, embarrassed. She knew that Zion would inevitably ask her that question, as the looks of the students and some of the professors seeing her join a man was too conspicuous not to wonder about their meaning.
- Well...uh...
- Yes? I'm listening!
He looked at her intently. And Ivy could not repress the shivers of desires and infinite tenderness which animated her under this burning and so deep glance. He had decided that they would spend the evening alone under the stars, in the warm waters of Orgyl. These were waters that flowed naturally from an inexhaustible spring, which were one of the most famous in Alkalos, created by the ancient magic of a great nature witch named Clarine – a witch of the nature, really extraordinary, but especially famous for having taken in her house the heir of the mythical dynasty of the Jeegal, when this last one believed himself still an orphan, and lost in the lies of a black wizard.
With a big picnic, they chose a secluded spot, partially surrounded by a soothing forest, where no one would dare to come and disturb them, thanks to the omnious magic of Zion. They put on their bathing suits and dived into the wonderfully warm waters of the pool, swimming and playing like children, then hugging and kissing each other breathlessly, ever deeper, ever more passionately. Then, as usual, Zion would end their embrace by pulling them apart so they could get their minds right. Ivy felt her heart beating painfully, and put her hand on it to slow down its rhythm a little. She closed her eyes for a moment to try to forget or at least appease the devouring hunger she had for this ruthless yet adoring ruler to the limit. Moreover, as soon as her eyes reopened, what she saw, did nothing to calm her, because she received with full force his incendiary and terrible glance fixed on her, and which revealed to her the most unavowable desires which could exist. Ivy felt herself fainting and sinking, so in a last effort, she turned away, biting her finger until it bled.
- I'm hungry," Ivy finally exclaimed with a pout, which lightened the mood slightly.
Zion laughed, and reached over to kiss her shoulders. Then, reaching the edge of the natural pool, they took out the victuals and ate casually, all the while contemplating the grandiose view of the city all in light under the starry night that stretched out before them.
- Well," said Ivy, answering his awkward question, " As you may have already noticed, Zion, I'm not really the kind of person who lives intensely. I've become infamous for being a young woman who has nothing in her life but academics, and naturally I'm at the top of my class. And that didn't affect me at all," she said to make the situation clear. But I started to change a while ago, nothing remarkable that would have alerted these others, she continued with a grimace, but you are the first man who ever came to take me, the most clingy student on campus. So...she finished with an eloquent hand gesture and a sheepish smile.
- You, a student with a reputation for being a good, straightforward girl who borders on boring. Then you should hear the names I'm called, which of course no one except some chosen ones dare repeat in front of me.
"On this point I never doubted! " thought Ivy not surprised, and came to embrace her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. They plunged back into the warm water, entwined.
- And could you please name some of those infamous names," she whispered against his mouth.
- No, you won't. You'll find out soon enough.