It was a few days after their battle with the Dryad that Ivan and Yue settled down after taking down a few more floors. It wasn't long for them to reach the floor that stood before the next hundredth Ivan had reached since entering the labyrinth.
Today they would prepare for the hopefully last battle. This time Ivan knew better than to let his expectations go wild. He hardened his heart at the possibility that behind those doors would be another set of stairs.
But his tensions were relieved as Yue made sure to keep the hope alive in his heart. To her it wasn't wrong to go forth believing that the next battle would be a means to reach their first goal.
If Ivan held any complaints about his new companion then it'd be that she tended to be a bit clingy. He thought it might be because she spent 300 years consciously living alone in a chamber with no light that her desire for affection was so abnormally high.
Most of the time he wouldn't mind it but there were times where he felt she got a bit in his way. He held the frustrations in his heart as he attempted to empathize with her emotions. The more he thought about it– Wait, no their situations were quite different.
Yue had her trust abused, Ivan on the other hand refused to trust anyone. She was the princess of a whole civilization while he was the king of his lab. Their strengths also differed as Yue's proficiency with magic far surpassed his. If that was the case then what did they have in common?
Well, they were both working together to get out of this hell. Both Yue and Ivan craved interaction as the situations they were in almost completely defeated them. Judging from Yue's personality that he had seen so far he imagined she didn't have many friends, something they both shared.
Other than that there wasn't much.
Ivan continued to fiddle around with the minerals in his hands as he ignored the figure that had straddled him from the front. Not even flinching as he felt something dig into the skin at his neck.
Yue sighed in satisfaction before closing her eyes and nuzzling against Ivan's chest. Ivan's face twitched a bit looking at her too lax figure. Here they were in what people on the surface called hell and yet one wouldn't be able to tell the dangers with the level of slothfulness she displayed.
And while he was a bit ticked off with her attitude it'd be a lie if he said he wasn't a bit happy with the comfort she displayed around him.
Chuckling softly, Ivan moved a hand away from his work and stroked the blonde headed figure sleeping on his chest. Smiling wryly as the figure snuggled up even closer and released the closest thing to a purr as far as he could tell.
But if he had to point out a time in which he was particularly frustrated with her affection, then it would be while they're sleeping. As the pain he felt in his arm when waking up far surmounted the kindness he held for her.
And it became sort of a routine that they began their days with Ivan flinging Yue off his arm as she fell off the bed. Burying the guilt he felt in his heart by reminding himself that the figure he was feeling pity for was in fact a 300+ year old vampire queen.
He truly wondered how a nation could run with a person as slothful as her at its helm. Then again the vampire race was only wiped out when she was taken out of the equation so it was likely that Yue was the glue that held the nation together.
The purring went quiet as Ivan confirmed that the princess in his arms was fully asleep. He continued his work, this time at a slower and more quiet pace.
In any case they would be facing a grand battle tomorrow, he wanted to make sure Yue gets as much rest as possible for the ensuing battle. Assuming there is one at least.
And though if things go well this should be their final fight in the dungeon, Ivan was currently dissatisfied by the output of his water based transmutation. If he couldn't reach his enemies or if he didn't have any water nearby then his abilities would essentially be useless. He thought of the possibility of using something more destructive, a style that held both power and range.
It was a little motivation of his that arose from watching Yue fight. As the sight of her clearing waves of monsters with the wave of her hands lit a specific flame in his heart. That being the style he presented in combat.
The desire to look cool was something most men were born with, and while it wasn't prevalent in everyone to Ivan it was an important part of his style to keep a presentable image. As he believed one of the most important things was to leave an impression on both enemy and ally alike.
Whether it be by capabilities or appearance.
"~Mmmm~Mmmmm~" Ivan hummed softly to himself as his hands moved swiftly. Right now he was just working on producing some healing potions that might come in handy should they receive any injuries.
Though Yue should be mostly fine as long as she had mana left in her, meaning all he had to do before the battle tomorrow was present to her even more of his blood.
"Phew, all done." Ivan wiped away the sweat from his brows as he looked at the stack of items that laid before him. It was too much to carry or even stuff into his satchel but hey it was good just to have them. For now he'd just keep them in his backpack tomorrow and hope he doesn't fall over or drop the bag as the last thing he wanted was for them to shatter into pools of liquid and glass.
Ivan peered over at the figure that had snuggled deep into his chest before propping her up from the bottom as he stood up slowly. Then, with careful and quiet steps, he made his way to the bed on the other corner of the room.
He gently bent forward to lay Yue onto the bed, smiling wryly as her firm lock around his neck took a moment of prodding before she finally let go. Sighing a bit, Ivan walked away from the bed before taking another look over the room.
His eyes darted frantically as he felt the air become harder to breathe.
DOKI DOKI DOKI
The beating in his heart became louder. This loud thumping of his became somewhat nostalgic to him as he remembered the last time he felt it.
He patted the area around his chest before closing his eyes and taking deep breaths. The only audible noises that remained in his ears were the sound of his own breathing and Yue's peaceful snores.
The sound of his heart beating became quieter as the tension in his body slowly released itself. That painful feeling disappeared before Ivan felt a tinge of loneliness in his heart.
It had been a while since Yue destroyed the amulet that corrupted his mind, and while the existence of it was indeed a danger to him the fact that it was the only thing to keep him company in his descent was the truth.
But in the end he decided to place his trust in Yue, despite the uneasiness he felt when he remembered the disappearance of his amulet. He looked over at the figure sleeping in the corner of the room as he felt his emotions calm down.
The anxiety in his heart cleared just from the sight of her content face. Ivan wasn't sure why, but just looking at her was enough to bring serenity to him. It was something he was quite afraid of as he was worried he'd become too reliant on her.
A sentiment he shared with her before. Ivan chuckled dryly to himself as he remembered her declaration back then.
How she patted her chest with absolute confidence as she declared herself becoming elated if he wore to rely on her more often.
'My assistant huh...' Though he was the one who invited her to the team he just couldn't believe that she went ahead with his delusions. Instead thinking she'd wander off when they got out of here and doing her own thing.
But as his assistant he decided he'll place his complete trust in her.
Ivan made careful footsteps to her bedside as he rested his head there for a moment, staring at her peaceful slumber. He held his hand above her nose before tickling it a bit with his finger. He snickered quietly to himself looking at her scrunch up her nose and turn to face the other way.
Yup, she was totally relaxed even in a situation like this.
'What a slovenly princess.' Ivan thought teasingly.
Ivan stopped toying a bit with Yue before moving in to lie in the bed with her. Pulling the sheets over the both of them as he blew out the candle lit aside their bed.
And as if acting like a heat seeking missile the previous dormant Yue automatically turned to face Ivan before colliding with his chest again. This time wrapping her arms around his body as if to not let him escape.
Ivan only smiled softly at the sight, stroking her hair softly as he hummed another tune. The grip around him lightened as Yue seemingly fell into a deeper slumber.
No matter what happens tomorrow, what Ivan wanted the most in this world was to keep his promise and make sure she made it out of the dungeon. By any means necessary.
Ivan returned the hug with his arms, feeling drowsy as the warmth of her body only heightened his tiredness.
'Tomorrow….' He thought to himself. Those doors would either lead to their doom or their dreams. If it was the former then Ivan would swear in his heart to beat the living hell out of the maverick who designed this place.
'Then again the maverick would already be dead, hahaha!'
Ivan finally succumbed to his heavy eyes as he drifted away in his dreams, dreaming of a life outside of the labyrinth. One filled with discovery and adventure. A life with the person he trusted the most in the world.
The sound of his thoughts went completely silent as the sound of two people breathing resounded throughout the room. The breathing becoming synchronized as if there was only one breath to be heard.
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If you couldn't tell, I was extremely sleepy writing this! I felt like I was gonna fall out of my chair at any time. It was quite a horrifying feeling y'know.
I've been wanting anime merch for quite a while now but I'm quite embarrassed at the thought that my family would see it. I don't think they would shame me much, other than my father who has no other hobbies besides working.
Anyways how would your family feel about stuff like that and are you ashamed if you do hold such a hobby?
Thank you all for reading again, see you soon and may you have a great day/night!
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