"No, I don't want that! Her life in exchange for the death of the rest of the world… it's cruel!"
Slam! The door to Dignitas' bedroom was opened abruptly, and the face of the Author's most loved one came into view. Only the top half of her face could be seen, but based on the way her eyes were lined, she didn't seem too happy.
Dignitas removed his gaze from the television screen and watched as Lorelai gave him the most blank stare she had ever given.
For the next ten seconds, neither one of them uttered a word, only continuing to share a silent stare.
Dignitas was the first to break the silence. "What is it, Lorelai? You've been poking holes through the moment you got here."
Lorelai's eyes only narrowed at this. She pouted for a few seconds, then finally answered. "You didn't tell me It was your birthday, Diggy. I could've planned a date for us!"
"Oh, that?" He replied, seeming clueless at the fact that today was the day of his birth. "I've never been the type to celebrate it. A day where everyone showers you with wishes of wellbeing can get annoying."
"What are you saying?!" She replied, not content with his reason. "Get up, we're going to have a special spontaneous date!"
Lorelai approached Dignitas and dragged him out of bed. Her strength, which had grown exponentially ever since she focused on swordsmanship more, found no issue in maneuvering a lazy Dignitas.
Finding it hard to refuse Lorelai but still wanting to be lazy, the author continued dragging his feet as the girl continued to haul him around the dorm room.
The two eventually stopped, with Lorelai propping up Dignitas on his seat.
"First stop, the dining room table!"
In front of Dignitas was the most extravagant feast he had ever witnessed. Plates upon plates of food were piled up in every corner of the small table, somehow managing to look polished.
The author counted at least three different types of pasta dishes neatly spread out on one side, and three different sides on the other. And that wasn't even mentioning the sheer number of desserts that were lined up around the edges.
Finally, in the very middle, a towering cake of monstrous height stood elegantly, its edges smothered with frosting and its outer layer colored a chocolate brown. Multiple cherries topped every would-be slice, while beside those cherries were multiple generously cut pieces of chocolate, modeled in the shape of flowers. The cake was what residents of Earth would refer to as a "Black Forest" cake, and coincidentally, it was Dignitas' favorite type of cake, just slightly above a cheesecake.
There was absolutely no shortage of food, and Dignitas surmised that the amount of it that was currently resting on their dinner table was enough to feed the entire Global Studies club.
"Come on, dig in! I didn't make all this food just for you to look at, Diggy."
He didn't even need her confirmation. Reaching for his fork, he began scooping up a sizable helping of pasta.
***
"That was delicious, wasn't it?"
Half an hour later, and the current sight was entirely different. Perhaps through some manner of magic, Dignitas and Lorelai had managed to finish the food the latter had prepared.
"No… question."
Lorelai eagerly stood up, looking energized as she always did. "Come then! We still have a lot of time."
Indeed, there was still plenty of time. The hour hand of the clock was only nearing three o'clock, and that was only in the afternoon.
Without letting Dignitas refuse, Lorelai brought him into their room and urged the author to start changing. She even took it upon herself to strip him of his more… private clothing, only turning around just before things reached the next level.
"Is all of this necessary…? You're making me wear a suit that's been gathering dust since school started."
Dignitas' wardrobe was organized, but it didn't have much of a selection. Almost every single one of his shirts were dark colors, and the only ones that weren't were the tank tops that he had received from Wang Jin. The musclehead had continued sending him more even as he refused.
The outfit in question that Lorelai was making him wear was a suit he had found in his old apartment, where the original holder of his body lived. It was somewhat similar to the suit he wore at the Mountain God's funeral, only less formal.
"Absolutely! It's one of the very few times I get to see Diggy wearing formal clothing. In a way, this is my birthday present!"
"Well, whatever you say. Here, how do I look?"
Giving Lorelai the green light, the girl turned around, finally setting sight on the man she deemed the most handsome.
Dignitas was wearing a full on casual suit–a modification Lorelai had assigned at the last minute to make the suit look more "casual." The black clothes were worn over his undershirt, a white color that contrasted his dark image. The chest area of the suit seemed to have been sewed a bit farther away, thus leaving a small "cleavage."
In a way, it was like a jacket.
Dignitas' lower half wasn't too shabby, either. Just like his second layer, his pants were in a particularly dark shade of black, outlined with small patterns. Finally, his shoes were leather–another one of the old Dignitas' clothes.
And to finish it all off, his hair, the normally messy cut, has been combed to the side, emphasizing his face that had no blemishes or imperfections. His left eye, the one he had lost, remained permanently closed, but it wasn't something that attention would be drawn to.
The result was a completely different Dignitas. The messy author had turned into perhaps the most dashing student in the Hero Academy. Not a single trace of laziness could be seen, all of it hidden by the sheer beauty he radiated.
"Oh… my! Diggy, you look perfect! How… Can I take a picture? Please…?"
"Whoa, alright. You didn't need to ask."
***
"We're finally here! Keep your eyes closed!"
Lorelai eagerly announced their arrival at the building in front of them. It hadn't occurred to Dignitas that they were actually going to spend the day outside, but they did.
It was a ballroom, and not the cheap kind either. In fact, it was the only one of its kind in the Academy district.
Lorelai didn't even waste time before pulling Dignitas inside.
Surprisingly, the inside of the ballroom was quiet. There weren't any lights, nor was there sound. The two of them continued on through the darkness, guided only by Lorelai's eyes.
Miraculously, they did not bump into anything. They spent half a minute walking through the darkness until they finally made it into an isolated hall that seemed to be larger than a football field.
This whole time, Dignitas was blindfolded, and so he had not been able to see what they were doing, where they were going, nor what Lorelai was wearing. But that would all be revealed to him now.
Slowly, Lorelai reached over Dignitas' neck and untied the blindfold, letting it fall to the floor.
The moment the author regained his vision, she flashed the brightest smile he had ever seen her do, clearly happy at what she had done.
She had decided to don a special dress for the occasion. The vision that materialized was Lorelai, dressed in a gown that seemed to accentuate every enchanting aspect of her appearance.
Her chestnut-colored hair cascaded down her shoulders in gentle waves, catching the light and shimmering like a rich tapestry. Adorned with a delicate tiara, a few loose tendrils framed her face, adding a touch of ethereal charm to her already captivating presence.
Her emerald green eyes sparkled with a depth that seemed to hold the secrets of a hidden forest, reflecting the grandeur of the ballroom around them. They were eyes that spoke of curiosity, kindness, and wisdom, drawing Dignitas into their allure like a moth to a flame.
The gown she wore hugged her modest figure gracefully, accentuating her elegance while maintaining an air of simplicity that made her all the more captivating. The dress itself was a work of art, crafted with intricate lace patterns that cascaded down from the bodice to the floor, reminiscent of delicate vines winding through a magical garden.
Soft pastel hues of green and gold adorned the gown, complementing the mesmerizing emerald of her eyes. As she moved, the fabric seemed to flow like a gentle stream, swaying with the music and casting an aura of enchantment around her.
Dignitas didn't say anything for a while, simply allowing himself to look around the room they were currently in.
He stood there, taking in the sights. The room was resplendent, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the spacious dance floor. The walls were adorned with ornate tapestries and gilded mirrors, reflecting the shimmering light and creating an atmosphere of opulence. Soft music played in the background, its haunting melody echoing through the vast chamber.
There were intricately designed marble columns, exquisitely carved with vines and flowers, supporting the arched ceiling. The floor beneath his feet was a masterpiece in itself, a mosaic of swirling patterns and colors that seemed to tell a story.
His gaze then shifted to the person who had brought him here. "Lorelai, what is this?"
"Can't you tell, Diggy? It's a ballroom! Reserved for only the two of us."
Unlike the original, bustling hours of the night, there were no people here. There was no one to disturb the serenity the two shared. They could rest easy, confident this moment was theirs, and truly theirs.
Dignitas did not waste time once he got used to the sight. His head turned to look at his hand. It was, as expected, calloused as a result of all the training he had done.
Then he looked at Lorelai's hand. Compared to his, it wasn't as tainted, still retaining the softness of a maiden's skin.
He took one deep breath, before bowing. Hand outstretched, he offered his palm.
"My lady. Would you be so kind as to share a dance with me?"
Lorelai smiled, her eyes bursting with excitement. She placed her hand on his, replying, "Why, of course. Let us dance."
Before they knew it, they had begun. They moved together in perfect harmony, their steps guided by an unspoken understanding. The grand ballroom seemed to shrink in size, leaving only a space for them to waltz as if they were the only two souls in the universe. Their bodies flowed with effortless elegance, as if they had been dancing together for a lifetime.
As they glided across the floor, Dignitas couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of freedom. It was as if the weight of the world had lifted off his shoulders, and all that remained was the beauty of the present moment. The worries and uncertainties that had plagued him earlier seemed to vanish, replaced by a newfound sense of peace.
As the pair danced, Lorelai whispered. "Do you know what the ballroom is named, Diggy?"
"No, not really. What is it called?"
"Reverie. It means being lost in one's thoughts, dreams, or fantasies. But as far as I'm concerned, this is a dream. For the one I am losing myself in is you."
Dignitas found it difficult to even reply. His brain worked to form a single coherent thought, but was unable to. In the end, he managed to squeeze out one statement.
"Birthdays aren't so bad after all."