(''Wakey wakey, dear, we are nearing the entry to the jungle. You might want to witness it as it looks quite amazing.'')
Her warm voice tore me away from my slumber, leaving the black void behind, I was brought into a world of colour. The same sea of golden dunes spread farther than the eye could see, this time though there was one place you could make out something new. Trees, taller than anything I had seen before, had towered in the distance, creating a large gate. We have nearly finished our in this blazing desert filled with serpents the size of large buildings.
Beside me was Lucet, jotting down notes as usual in her unusual notebook that I never really paid much attention to. Upon further inspection I could make out two unmoving eyes with an eerie smile spread across from edge to edge. What a creepy thing for a goddess to own, though after last night there shouldn't be much else that should surprise me.
Athenais clearly detests me, to the point of threatening my friend's lives, thankfully Lucet was here to defuse the situation. Without her it would've ended a lot differently, in a way that makes me shake uncontrollably.
(''What's wrong Abby, you are shaking a lot. Can I do anything to make you feel better?'') She sounded genuinely concerned, but at this point I didn't know who to trust now. Zeraf and Ghost are passed out, Void is missing somewhere, and Lucet is an unknown variable. Though she had saved me many times, even nudging me to grow, without her I never would've defeated Void.
(''Would you mind giving me a hug?'') Her face instantly lit up with joy as she jumped at the opportunity to hold me close. By accident she had knocked us both over, above me she looked directly into my eyes. Lucet's blush directly reflected by my own, I asked for a hug not for my heart to pound god dammit.
Slowly she lifted herself up, grabbing my arm along until eventually I had my back against her. Two slender arms wrapped around my collar, hugging me close while leaving room to breathe. That wasn't the issue, a hug is comforting and relaxing, which is what I need after last night. But…no one could relax with those meat bags pressing against my back like warm pillows. My body had the natural reaction of…
(''My my Abby, I never expected you to ask me for a hug. I am delighted to hold you close to me, and as you can guess I've grown a fondness for you.'')
For some reason it felt like she was being a lot more open than before, though what else would there be to hide after last night. Athenais made sure to clear things up on how she felt about me being part of the situation. These are two sides of the coin, hate me for being the person who gods must rely on to win the looming battle, or care for me and nurture me into someone capable of winning.
(''I know you do, it's not like you ever hid that fact from me. I appreciate the feelings but surely you much rather someone richer, better looking, stronger. There are many suitors that would fit your class better.'')
I couldn't make out her facial expression but I felt her chin lightly tap against the top of my head, meaning that I might've annoyed her.
(''Tsk. If I wanted someone like that then I would've gone for them already, but I choose you. No, better said that my heart chose you. Your display in battle to protect your friends was one that few have across the world. On top of that you are quite cute, pretty well built, and don't think I didn't see your toned body yesterday.'')
Surely she knows how her comments affect me, making me blush and warming my chest, creating a beating drum inside. Her soft voice wrapping itself around my ears, digging their way into my brain and flowing down to my heart. This must be the effect of her Charm aura, eating out my rationality and replacing it with her love and affection. Slowly though, I could feel myself losing a grip on my morals and integrity, like being reprogrammed by this temptress.
(''Surely you know how your kind words affect me. But I won't try to argue, I accept your words of praise with joy. But what is your end goal with me.'')
There, I popped the question, when posing the question like that there it should trick her into revealing the truth to me. Surely its something malicious-
(''-A family.'')
Huh, what? (''A…family? Like with children and a house?'')
I turned my head to see her smiling down on me, her eyes were closed but her expression conveyed her determination.
(''Yes you are correct Abby. I want us to start a family together, to move away from this whole world and live together till the bitter end.'')
Hot. My cheeks were hotter than the very sands surrounding us, redder than any apple and more delirious than a drugged homeless person. I have never felt this way before…not with Zeraf, just with Lucet. Surely she must be joking, pulling my leg, there is no way she would want to settle down with me.
(''Enough with the jokes Lucet, it's not funny to toy with a boy's feelings. You know I love Zeraf so need to joke about starting a family with me-'')
(''I'm not kidding Abby. I love you. I love you more than you can imagine, ever since I found out about you. I can make you happy, happier than she could ever hope to. I can bring you riches you've never even seen, power that you've never hoped to experience.-'')
(''-I know you don't love me right now. It hurts but I know it and understand it. But with time you will come to love me more, only me and we can live out our lives together.'')
That…
(''How can you just say that? You think just because you love me I will come to love you too? Are you delusional? So p-please stop saying that, don't toy with my heart. I want to choose who I love!'')
We were in the blazing hot desert, devoid of water. But it was
raining, it was pouring down harder than any storm that has ever existed in Kine. A single tear rolled down the side of her voice, sliding down to her chin eventually dripping onto my head as she pulled me back towards her chest. The sensation from before was no longer a bother, but something new lingered in my heart. An emptiness I have never felt before, a pain from a non existent wound.
==================================================
She did nothing else for a while, just hug me and quietly sob on my head, which was getting annoying but she has since stopped. In the time that passed we have gotten a lot closer to the entrance, not even a hundred metres were between us and the tall tree-like gates. I wasn't close enough to see the minute details, though even from here I could sense the huge amount of nature frin.
I am starting to feel worse and worse about what I said to Lucet, though its the truth I should've delivered it better, in a way that wouldn't have hurt her. She emitted no malice but sorrow, like something inside her was crushed, did she care for me to this extent?
The cart shook with the same rhythmas my soul, never have I seen a person this distraught in my life, let alone someone that was in love with me. Should I just succumb to her whims and become her's? But what about Zeraf and the village, they would be disappointed if I broke their gem's heart.
For now it would be best to do what everyone asks without properly committing to anyone so that no one gets hurt in the process. When I say no one I mean no one aside from me, this will be torture having to obey whatever they ask me.
(''Are the master and goddess prepared? We are about to enter the Greenwyrm Jungle, be prepared for the influx of frin Abby, you may be overwhelmed at first.'') He spoke without turning around as usual, though nothing seemed different about him despite what I said to Lucet.
In my hand I clutched Void's core, draining as much before the 'influx' Alia mentioned, if I expand my vein's capacity then I should be able to handle the flow.
Up above light beamed down from the lamperts growing onto the long branches, glowing with a soft green hue strong enough to illuminate the path ahead.
(''Ghh'') What the hell?! It felt like I was being filled up with water like a ballon, inching closer to my limit to pop. Is this what Alia meant by the influx? Surely no one could survive this without proper training, which means that I….can die.
Wait. Frin was being sucked out of my core, faster than what was flooding in, it gathered up and flowed towards my head where it dissipated. No. It was robbed out into her. Lucet was absorbing the overflowing frin from my body, which also was expanding my vein capacity.
(''Thank you Lucet. I appreciate this a lot.'')
(''No problem Abaddon.'')
That stung. Her tone was much different than before, it was full of pain, not even calling me by my nickname anymore. She has saved me three times now, from void, Athenais and now with the influx. I need to make it up to her somehow…
(''L-Lucet.'')
(''What is it dear child.'') Her eyes were as cold as the frozen tundras in the North.
(''Let's try…dating.'')
(''What?!?!'')