The centaur laughed a little as he looked behind him where May was hiding. "Looks like she's a little woozy from the spell's effects." After a second May stood up and shook her head as she rubbed it with her palm. "Ugh, what happened?" She saw me again and smiled. "Dedrin, you did it! What did you do to break the spell?!"
I didn't really want to answer her question but unfortunately, the centaur did. "Prince charming over here gave you a smooch." May's face turned red and her happiness became embarrassment. "What?!" I blushed a little as well as I avoided eye contact with her. "It wasn't a smooch, it was a peck!! I just did what I had to do, okay?!"
May's attention became confused as it found the centaur. "Wait, who are you?" The centaur held his smile as he enjoyed the awkwardness between us. "It's about time someone asked. I'm Ivy, Dedrin asked for my advice on how to lift your spell." May's bush went away as she turned to me, shocked. "You asked for help?! Oh my gosh, I'm so proud of you!!"
She rushed in to hug me and I tried to push her away as she continued to reach for me happily. "Stop it! How many times do I have to tell you to stop touching me?!" She pulled away, continuing to smile. "I can't believe you listened to my lessons! You're showing so much improvement! Now, how about you say thank you to Ivy?" I sighed with irritation. "Fine. Screw you. Now let's-" She then raised her hand to stop me. "No no, it's not screw, it's thank. We've gone over this, now try again."
Ivy spoke to May before I could. "Wow, you really have to deal with this guy all the time?" May laughed a little as she turned to him. "It's okay, he's just a big teddy bear. A teddy bear with spikes all over it, but still a teddy bear." I crossed my arms. "I already regret waking you up."
Once May forced me to thank Ivy properly, we said goodbye and May and I headed back to Saniel. He had been asleep while everything went on, and he awoke to the sound of us approaching. I stopped next to Saniel and started to climb onto his back. "I guess Theodius isn't going to pop in this time." May flew onto him after me and shrugged. "He doesn't have to, I suppose."
I raised my leg over his spine in front of her and found a grip on his scales. "Then let's go ahead. What's the next test?" May pulled the map from her satchel and ran her finger along the paper as she read it. "It looks like we have to go to the secret garden and pick a unicorn horn. Pick? that's odd phrasing."
Saniel raised his wings again and took us into the sky. "Secret garden?" May answered me with enthusiasm. "Yes! It's said to be the most magical place in the world and it's where the only unicorns in existence live! I've always wanted to see one! I've only heard tales of the garden and never knew where it was before now!" I rolled my eyes. "Great. More girly things to do. We are eating before we go in there."
We flew over the trees for a couple of hours before landing within walking distance of the said 'secret garden'. We stopped to eat lunch and Saniel ran off to find food for himself as well. Once May and I finished, I started to walk ahead as May followed me with the map in her hands. The forest was thicker in this area, and the trees were closer together than what I was used to seeing. It only became thicker from there and I had to slice off branches with my sword in order to get through.
May barely slipped through each gap as she held her eyes on the map. "We should be almost there." I chopped more of the vegetation around us until it ended. We were suddenly out of the hassle and my feet touched stones as I stepped on the other side. I was surprised to see that there was a perfect circle cut out of the land, and the tees stopped around a large dome that was hidden by the tallest trees. The wall that surrounded the garden had a big wooden door that was designed with gold, and the brick on the ground in front of it was placed intricately in another circle.
I started to walk towards it as I sheathed my sword, and May followed me, excitedly. "I can't believe we're here! I can't wait to see what's inside!" I stopped in front of the door and realized that there was no handle and no other way of entering. I tried pushing on the door but it didn't budge and the wood was too thick to break through. "How are we supposed to get in?" May looked around and landed on her feet next to me. "Hey, there's some writing under this ivy!" She moved the leaves next to the doorway to reveal a bunch of symbols.
"Oh, this is written in fairy! It says, to those who wish to enter, an act of love must be performed at the center." A look of disgust crossed my face and I folded my arms. "Did this rock just ask us to screw in front of it? What a pervert." May suddenly blushed. "Uhhh..." I groaned and started to undo my belt. "Let's get this over with." May then immediately turned and grabbed my arms to stop me. "W-Wait! You hear an act of love and you immediately think of that?! W-We should try something else before resorting to that!"
I shrugged. "What else could we do?" She hesitated, nervously. "Well, let's start small. Like a hug!" I glared at her as she started to smile again. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you?" She then walked to the area of the stone floor designed like a circle in front of the door. "Come on Dedrin! It says at the center, it must mean this!" I sighed and followed her. I stood in front of her and she spread her arms excitedly. "Remember, you have to hug back!"
I clenched my jaw as I spread my arms as well, and she hugged me tightly. I forced myself to do the same and we waited for a moment. She nuzzled her cheek into my chestplate as she squeezed me. "I finally got you!" She squished me again and I turned my head away as I blushed a little. 'What is the point of this? And why am I embarrassed again?! This better not become a thing!' After a few seconds of the hug, my stiffness started to go away and it almost felt nice.
As soon as I realized this I pushed her away out of response. "Okay! That's enough! It didn't work! The door is still closed!" May hesitated again as she looked at the sealed door. "Hmm... I suppose we could try kissing next." Her face started to turn pink again and I dropped my arms to my sides. "Of course I have to kiss you twice in one day. Because why not?!"