She gave me a small smile. "You're welcome. Just remember – we are allies, and we want the same thing: to maintain balance and keep the chaos in check. Good luck on your mission, Halberd."
"I am just glad to be able to talk to you as a normal person," I said, and Helena gave me a knowing look.
With our discussion concluded, I took my leave, feeling as prepared as I could be for the challenge ahead. As I made my way through the Heavenly Realm toward Aquaria's office location, I couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed since my arrival.
The weight of the mission bore down on me as I walked through the Heavenly Realm, knowing that lives were at stake and success hinged on my actions. But in the back of my mind, I felt a small spark of hope – my bond with Aquaria had shown me that it was possible to forge connections even in this strange new world.
As I approached Aquaria's office, my thoughts shifted from the upcoming mission to our friendship. Despite our short time together, we had grown close, supporting each other in our struggles against divine hierarchy and chaos alike. Her unwavering belief in me provided a glimmer of optimism amidst the darkness, renewing my determination to succeed not just for myself but also for her sake.
Upon arriving at Aquaria's office, I found her hard at work, reviewing documents and arranging appointments. She looked up as I entered, greeting me with a smile that seemed to light up the room.
"Hey! How did your meeting with Helena go? Did you get any useful information?" she asked, genuine concern evident in her voice.
I nodded, describing the details of our conversation and the two potential approaches we had discussed. "She suggested either infiltrating Ace's compound or joining one of his hunting parties. Both options have their risks, but I think with some careful planning, I might be able to pull it off. I just wish you could be coming with me."
Aquaria's smile turned bittersweet at my words. "I wish I could be there too, Halberd. But we have our own missions to complete, and I know you'll do great on your own. Remember, you're strong and resourceful – plus, the Divine Growth will work in your favor."
Her encouragement bolstered my confidence once more. "Thank you, Aquaria. You always know how to keep me grounded and focused. Once I am done with my mission, I will be ready to help you with yours."
Aquaria closed what she was working on and then stood up. "Well, I don't think we really need to go over much more. Maybe we could spend the rest of today and tomorrow just relaxing? I know of some places that we can visit here in the Heavenly Realm, and after our mission, you will have at least three days without me, possibly more. Since that is the case, I would like to make sure that you don't forget about me."
"Forget you? I don't think that is likely," I said, and Aquaria smiled back sadly.
"This world is filled with beautiful women, Halberd, and I know I am never going to have all to myself," She said, but I just frowned at her.
"Seriously, you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever met, and you have done nothing but try to help me. It feels wrong even being away from you, if I am being truthful. I don't really think that I could ever even look at another person the same," I said, and that made Aquaria smile warmly and me, but then she shook her head, losing her smile.
"While I love that you feel that way about me, and I really do feel the same way about you. The thing is, I could be gone for a long time, and when I get back, I will only get a few days before I have to get sent out. It might be a long time before we see each other again. I don't want you to wait for me alone every time, and you can't go through the world alone. You are going to need other people to help you," Aquaria said as I just stood there, trying to process what she was saying.
"So you mean to say that you want me to look for other women?" I asked, but Aquaria took my hand and led me out of the building without saying a word since other people were starting to stare at us.
Once we were outside, Aquaria took my hand and started to walk without saying anything. I decided that I would just wait until she was ready to speak. If she meant what she said, this probably wasn't easy for her either, and she was probably trying to figure out what to say next.
I personally wasn't sure how to feel about this. On the one hand, she had a point about not knowing when she was going to return. I had gone this long without a woman, pretty fine, and if I knew she would be coming back to me, then I should be able to wait. On the other hand, I was going to have to do some pretty despicable things to my targets. That might involve stealing their girlfriends or getting close to a family member.
In the end, she might actually have a point, and it might be hard to keep me from having to cheat on her. If we had an understanding of something like what happens in the world stays in the world, then that might be fine.
As we walked through the streets of the Heavenly Realm, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions – confusion, sadness, and understanding all intertwined. Aquaria's words held true; my life as a divine assassin wasn't just dangerous but also uncertain, while hers was even more so. The time we would have together could be sparse and unpredictable.