Their intimate kiss lasted for longer than they even expected. The whistles and sounds of the forest were nothing but background music, and the big stage was held for Ray and Flora, who didn't even bother to check their surroundings.
Losing their breaths eventually, both of them reluctantly ended their kiss. Flora looked dazedly at Ray as if she was still in her dreamland. As for Ray, he was having his own train of thoughts. 'I did it...I did it!' he thought with deep happiness in his heart. He gave his first kiss to the one he loved. What's better than that? Although the situation wasn't the best and he was still wrong, the moment he felt Flora's soft and delicious lips, all of his pain vanished like a mist that accumulated on the surface of a lake and was pushed by the passing wind.
Such an outcome was going to happen at some point, but Ray didn't think he would have to do it when Flora was at her lowest point emotionally.
Sanguis, still floating behind them, whistled and said with an imaginary smirk and a sarcastic voice, 'Good job, Ray. You're one bold motherfucker. Go get a bed.'
The rude book didn't even understand the vibe and just ruined the mood with his jokes.
This made the couple blush and glare at him with a 'Why are you still here?' stare. After that, Ray ignored his grimoire and looked at Flora again, who was way calmer now if you ignored the many blush on her face. He whispered gently, "Are you still angry?" His anxious yet loving voice made her feel bad.
'Maybe I overreacted? After all, everyone should have a secret or two, right?' Her mind tried to find plausible excuses for Ray. That's how much she loved him. Then she started questioning herself, why did she react like that? Being angry was fine, but she also felt frustrated and...scared of losing Ray?
Shaking away those thoughts, she took a deep breath and faced the anxious Ray. "I'm still a little angry...but I forgive you. Also-"
She touched her lips with a dreamy look basking in the weird yet addicting sensation again, then continued, "I loved...the kiss."
"Is...that...so." A small smile appeared on Ray's face, and he scratched the back of his head like a small kid who was complimented. He genuinely understood his mistake, and he resolved himself to trust his loved ones and never let them feel like they were strangers to him. He knew more than anyone else the gravity of creating a shell around oneself.
Then, Ray stood up and tried to stretch his limbs. The pain from his broken ribs was still there, which made him groan slightly. He estimated it would take him a few days to heal fully. He then gave a hand to Flora, who was still sitting. "Can you stand up?".
Flora's eyes were still red from crying, and her face lacked its usual light and brilliant look, but that didn't diminish her angelic beauty. She smiled slightly and took his hand.
'Now that our love birds are done with their animalistic lovemaking. I'm here to answer your questions, little girl.' The floating book with engravings in an unknown language covering its cover was a sight to behold.
" Don't call it lovemaking, you perverted book!" Shouted Ray while pointing at Sanguis.
"Like I give a fuck about it. I'm a grimoire of magic, not some fucking evolved monkey!" He retorted, closing up on Ray.
Flora watched their interactions with a confused look before chuckling slightly and then saying, " Are you always like this? You seem to get along pretty well."
They both looked at her and then pointed at each other and said at the same time, "Like hell, I get along with this idiot!" their voices were synchronised like they agreed to say it at the same time, and that generated another hearty laugh from Flora.
"Yes, yes. You don't get along." She waved with her hand while still trying to silence her laughs.
Seeing his lover like that, Ray coughed up awkwardly and then said, " Anyway, now that you got to know each other. Flora, you can ask any question."
"Hmm, So what are you?" She asked after thinking.
"Let's see. I think I'm a dog...Hey, Ray, don't I look like a dog to you...Sigh, Why did I have to get stuck with two idiots? One was already enough. Didn't I say that I'm a grimoire of magic like two minutes ago?" If Sanguis had a hand, he would've probably struck his forehead in exasperation.
"Is he always this rude?" Asked Flora without minding his insults.
"You didn't see anything, Flora. I had to bear with this stupid book for two years." Answered Ray while sighing as if he was tired and fed up.
" Blah, blah, blah, whatever you say...Ask another question... but please, just don't ask the obvious."
"Why did you make Ray your host?" She asked another question.
"If you think I chose him because he's someone in a billion-year prodigy or something, then sorry to disappoint you... It's nothing of that sort...It happened that our goals aligned, and so he would help me, and I would help him. A contract of benefit for both of us."
"And why did that guy say you were cursed?"
"Bullshit...He's lying, yet he believes his own lie. If someone died, it's because they didn't deserve to live in this world anymore, and I don't have a hand in that. As simple as that.". Sanguis dismissed Marilas's words as if they were nothing. Yet, neither Ray nor Flora did the same thing.
At least they didn't want to erase that idea from their minds. It's better to be safe than sorry, as they said.