Alex studied the tablet with interest, analyzing the data that looked peculiar: the readings seemed to overlap, shifting chaotically like waves on a stormy sea. When he had designed the search module, the display was clear and stable, providing precise readings of the external gods' energy present in a world. But now, the data appeared distorted, as though the system had encountered something it couldn't properly process.
Two possible explanations formed in Alex's mind. First: the module wasn't functioning correctly in this world, as its performance depended on the characteristics and quality of the world itself. Second: this world contained two types of external god energy, and their differences were interfering with accurate analysis. The more Alex thought about it, the more plausible the second explanation seemed. He recalled how Heimdall knew details about fighters who didn't belong to this world, hinting at something unusual.
«How are you going to recalibrate the search module?» Rebecca asked lazily, chewing on a lollipop.
«I'll have to simplify the algorithm. I'll adjust it to detect the presence of external gods in the world without pinpointing their exact location,» Alex replied thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
«Maybe there's no need for that? If those creatures are here, they'll expose themselves eventually,» Rebecca noted, tossing away the lollipop stick.
«You might be right,» Alex nodded, though the issue of recalibration still occupied his thoughts.
When they entered the waiting room, they were greeted by the usual chaos: leftover food scattered on the table, and the fight's broadcast still running on the screen. Two Valkyries, Hrist and Hlökk, were engrossed in a TV show, paying no attention to anyone else. Alex glanced at the screen, where Might Guy was already fighting using the Seventh Gate. However, it didn't hold his attention—he had more pressing matters to attend to.
Taking a black cube from his inventory, Alex began searching for a suitable place to set it up. Finding a free corner, he tossed the cube there. It started glowing, catching the Valkyries' attention.
«What are you doing?» Hrist asked in surprise, tearing her gaze from the screen.
«I need my workstation to check something,» Alex replied without looking up.
While the Valkyries watched curiously, Rebecca regaled them with stories of how they had annoyed the gods and gathered information. Meanwhile, Alex set GIR on the table and connected him to the system to investigate the module's malfunction. Delving into the code, Alex realized he had overlooked an important parameter: the energy of a world affects the module's accuracy, and this factor hadn't been accounted for during the device's creation.
«Hey, MIMI, what do you think? Should I reduce the search range or completely drop detailed information, leaving only a general indicator?» he asked his pink robo-dog.
MIMI jumped onto the table, her eyes glowing as she analyzed the data. After a few minutes, she nodded affirmatively: it was better to keep a general indicator and sacrifice precise tracking. Alex agreed with the decision. The changes to the program required processing time, so he decided to take a walk in the meantime.
Disconnecting GIR, Alex leaned back in his chair, pondering the upcoming battle. If Buddha truly sided with humanity, he would face seven gods. Alex knew Buddha was strong enough to win, making intervention unlikely.
«MIMI, keep an eye on the program. GIR and I will take a short walk,» Alex said, patting the dog on the head before heading into the corridors.
MIMI carefully monitored the program's progress, occasionally nodding as if confirming everything was on track. Alex shook his head and heard Heimdall announce the end of the fight. Slightly surprised, he turned to the screen showing the broadcast. It seemed he had gotten so absorbed in his work that he hadn't noticed the battle's conclusion.
Rebecca, with a satisfied expression on her face, finished the chips that, judging by the look of things, she had «borrowed» from Hestia's cupboard before they left the other world. Alex quickly estimated that the original Hestia was most likely accompanying Brunhilde, heading to the hall to choose new candidates. This meant there was some time for a stroll.
«Becca, I'm going for a walk with GIR. You watch over MIMI and Stitch in the meantime,» Alex said, heading toward the door.
«Okay,» Rebecca responded lazily, waving her hand without looking away from the screen.
Alex nodded, picked up GIR by the head, and placed him on his shoulder. Once in the corridor, he looked around, thinking about which way to go. The Colosseum seemed to be circular from the outside, but inside it was a real maze with countless rooms and passages. One wrong turn, and you could end up in a place even demons wouldn't dare enter.
To choose his direction, Alex decided to use an ancient method—throwing a stick to point the way. Tossing the stick into the air, he watched as it fell, spinning on the floor and pointing to the right. Satisfied, Alex picked up the stick and proceeded in that direction.
As he walked past noisy rooms, he occasionally peeked inside. In one room, he found a group of samurais. Without lingering, Alex exited, sensing a familiar tension. Among them was Okita, a guy whose presence gave off unpleasant vibes. Alex immediately recognized that this young man was a walking problem, and their paths were better left uncrossed.
«The last thing I need is for this battle-obsessed freak to start following me,» Alex muttered as he closed the door behind him.
Continuing along, he kept using the stick to choose his path until he found himself in strange corridors where finding the exit wasn't so easy.
«Looks like we're lost. Guess relying on luck, especially a stick, isn't the best idea,» Alex said irritably, glancing at the object in his hand.
GIR placed his paw on Alex's head and gently petted him, trying to calm him down.
«I'm not upset, just not going to listen to any more nonsense about a stick pointing the way,» Alex grumbled, rolling his eyes.
GIR shrugged and went back to eating candy, carelessly dropping wrappers on the floor as if leaving «route markers.» Looking back, Alex remembered the tale of Hansel and Gretel, only instead of breadcrumbs, there were candy wrappers.
Soon, Alex heard voices coming from an open door. Approaching, he saw the seven gods of fortune surrounding Göll, who was trembling in fear. Quickly assessing the situation, Alex spoke loudly:
«Oh, what familiar faces! The 'seven losers.' Couldn't do anything to Buddha, so you decided to take it out on a poor young Valkyrie?»
All heads turned toward him. Ebisu, still furious with Alex from their last encounter, practically boiled over with rage.
Göll, as if she had found salvation, immediately ran to Alex and hid behind him.
«YOU BASTARD!» Ebisu roared, pointing a finger at Alex.
«Hey, mustache, you want another candy to the face?» Alex asked lazily, holding a caramel in his hand and deliberately aiming it at the god.
The seven gods of fortune flared up with anger at Alex's words, ready to attack. However, their leader, Bishamonten, raised his hand, blocking their path.
«I will not tolerate pointless killings. We're leaving,» he said coldly, casting a glance at his companions.
Despite this, Ebisu tried to object, but all it took was one stern look from Bishamonten for him to reluctantly fall silent. Though he complied, the malicious glares directed at Alex still flickered. Bishamonten passed by Alex, throwing him a brief, tense glance before heading toward the exit. The rest of the gods of fortune followed him, leaving only Ebisu behind.
He stopped at the door, glaring at Alex like a typical stubborn Japanese delinquent.
«Just get out already. I'm tired of looking at your face,» Alex said, giving Ebisu a light shove and literally ushering him out the door.
Ebisu, exploding with indignation, tried to break free, but was immediately intercepted by the other members of the group, who dragged him away. He continued shouting threats and curses at Alex until he disappeared around the corner.
Alex merely rolled his eyes and turned to Göll, who let out a sigh of relief, realizing she had been saved. However, a strange suspicion suddenly crossed her mind.
«Brother Alex, thank you! I thought I was done for. But… how can you be here? You should be with sister Brunhilde,» she asked thoughtfully, studying him with interest.
«It's all ninja techniques. I'm Alex's clone. The original is with your sister right now,» Alex replied nonchalantly, shrugging.
Göll's eyes immediately lit up with curiosity. She studied him closely, trying to find any differences. After several seconds of careful inspection, she gave up.
«I don't see any difference. You look exactly like the real one,» she admitted, blinking in surprise.
«That's how it's supposed to be. Clones are made to be indistinguishable from the original,» Alex responded, rolling his eyes.
Göll gave him a sheepish smile and looked away, but quickly changed the subject.
«So, what are you doing here? Do you have business?»
«Just got lost,» Alex answered honestly, shrugging again.
Göll looked at him in surprise, not believing that someone like Alex, even if he was his clone, could get lost. To her, he seemed like someone who always had everything under control.
Alex briefly explained that he had decided to take a walk, using the stick to choose his path, and by chance, had stumbled upon her. His face then took on a more serious expression.
«And what would have happened if I hadn't shown up? Did you even think with your head, wandering around alone? Especially now, with Valkyries practically being enemies of the gods. You little brat,» Alex said, beginning to pat Göll's head, but gradually his hand began to tighten around her head.
At first, Göll enjoyed the warmth of his palm, but soon she felt pain as his grip tightened.
«Ow! That hurts, brother Alex! I won't do it again, I promise! Just let go!» she pleaded, trying to break free.
«We'll see. If I catch you spying alone again, you'll get a spanking like a naughty child,» Alex threatened, furrowing his brow.
Göll lowered her head, feeling embarrassed, just like when Brunhilde scolded her. Noticing this, Alex softened and patted her head again.
«Alright, let's go. We'll find Brunhilde and the original me,» he suggested, extending his hand.
Göll, feeling encouraged, took his hand. Along the way, she eagerly asked about ninja techniques, particularly impressed after watching the battle of Might Guy. Alex, smiling, willingly explained the art of shinobi, trying to ease her fears and lift her spirits.
As the clone of Alex led Göll in search of Brunhilde and the original Alex, the latter were just leaving the room of the candidates. Their attention was drawn by a familiar voice. Alex turned his head and saw Buddha, who was already happily munching popcorn from a large box.
«Oh, my buddy Alex and Bru-chan! What a coincidence, huh?» Buddha said, grinning and walking toward them.
Alex raised an eyebrow, looking at the god, who was always surrounded by sweets, and couldn't help but think that he wouldn't mind trying that popcorn. Brunhilde, on the other hand, looked completely confused.
«Is this your buddy?» she asked, shifting her gaze from Alex to Buddha.
«Yeah,» Alex replied casually, raising his hand in greeting. «Buddha, I see you've stocked up on sweets again.»
«Of course! Want to try some?» Buddha asked with a smile, offering the box.
Without a second thought, Alex plunged his hand into the popcorn as if it were the most natural thing in the world. While he enjoyed the snack, Brunhilde watched them, astonished at how the two of them seemed to have already become friends, as if they'd known each other for years.
«Wait, when did you two meet?» she finally asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
«About an hour ago,» both Alex and Buddha answered simultaneously, exchanging a glance and laughing.
Brunhilde furrowed her brow even deeper. After all, Alex had been right next to her the entire time, never leaving her side. She had even had him under her arm! How could he have met someone else if he'd been with her all this time?
«This is impossible. You were with me. How did this even happen?» she said reproachfully, pointing at Alex.
Buddha looked at both of them with interest, but instead of taking it seriously, he added his signature joke:
«Oh, Bru-chan, have you found yourself a new love? How cute!»
«Shut up,» she replied dryly, shooting him a deadly glare.
Realizing that Brunhilde wouldn't let the situation go, Alex decided to explain everything as simply as possible, without revealing too much of his abilities.
«It's all about shinobi techniques,» he said calmly, shrugging.
«Ohho! Tell me more!» Buddha perked up, crunching another handful of popcorn.
Alex crossed his fingers in a sign of a cross, and with a puff of smoke, his clone appeared next to him. Alex hadn't actually wanted to do it this way, but to hide his powers, he decided to just use his ability to spout nonsense and let his first thoughts spill out.
«Like this. My clones are special. We share the same vision, so I can be in two places at once. That's how Buddha and I met — we even exchanged candies,» Alex explained with such casualness as if it were an everyday occurrence.
Buddha extended his hand to touch the clone, but it had already dissipated in a puff of smoke.
«So, Buddha, what brings you here?» Brunhilde abruptly changed the subject, steering the conversation back to business.
Buddha seemed to have just realized her question, but instead of answering, he took another bite of popcorn, dragging out the pause.
Buddha and Alex, chewing the popcorn eagerly, exchanged fleeting glances at Brunhilde, who had just asked the question. However, the sight of the two of them with their cheeks full of popcorn, completely absorbed in the process, made her right eye twitch nervously. They looked as if nothing around them mattered except the popcorn.
Unable to stand the absurdity, Brunhilde sighed heavily and stepped forward, preparing to bring them back to reality herself.
«Ah, yes, right,» Buddha finally said, finishing the last few pieces of popcorn and dumping the remainder into his mouth.
«Hey! I was eating too!» Alex protested, looking at the empty box that Buddha had casually tossed aside.
«Buy your own,» Buddha replied nonchalantly, chewing as if nothing unusual had happened.
Now Alex's eye twitched with irritation. He seriously wanted to grab a stick and hit the god with it. But Buddha seemed completely oblivious to the growing anger, trying to finish his popcorn faster so he could finally answer Brunhilde's question. Once Alex didn't get another serving of popcorn, he started trying to recall if this moment was part of the original plot.
Alex began rubbing his chin, trying to remember this moment. Slamming his fist into his palm, Alex suddenly recalled: Buddha had come to see Brunhilde after she had set him up, coming to him either before the start of Ragnarok or after. Alex couldn't remember exactly, but the outcome of that visit was that Buddha began to be considered a traitor.
After finishing his popcorn, Buddha suddenly became more serious. His gaze narrowed, and his voice became colder.
«Anyway, Zeus asked me to participate in the sixth battle,» he said, not taking his eyes off Brunhilde.
A tense silence hung between them. Their eyes met, and it seemed as though lightning was about to strike the air. Alex watched from the side, arms crossed, lazily scratching his chin.
Buddha and Brunhilde stared at each other with serious expressions. But to Alex, it looked as though Buddha was trying to provoke a reaction from Brunhilde. However, the Valkyrie's face remained like a stone.
Alex even became curious to see how Brunhilde would respond, as he couldn't just grab the manga to check the whole dialogue or skip it like in a game, so he had to wait for them to finish speaking.
«I see, thanks for the warning,» Brunhilde said in a monotone voice.
Alex and Buddha exchanged a glance, noticing that Brunhilde's face was like stone and her response was as if she were a programmed robot. Alex wasn't used to seeing Brunhilde like this; he preferred it when she expressed emotions instead of behaving like a robot. Buddha leaned back irritably, clearly not expecting such a reaction from the Valkyrie.
«Listen, Bru-chan, do you even realize you might be considered a machine? Where are your emotions?» he said with mock indignation, leaning back.
«Yeah, Bri, what's going on?» Alex chimed in with a wide grin. «Where's the Valkyrie who expresses her emotions more than any pirate and curses like a seasoned sailor?»
They exchanged glances and burst into laughter, high-fiving each other like a well-coordinated team. Meanwhile, Brunhilde looked at them with an expression of clear exhaustion, clearly doing her best to hold back the urge to blow something up.
Once their laughter subsided, Buddha switched back to a serious tone.
«This was all part of your plan, wasn't it, Bru-chan?» he asked, tilting his head slightly, though his gaze remained sharp.
Alex, realizing the conversation had taken a more serious turn, crossed his arms and interjected:
«You mean the time when she showed up before the gods' meeting and made everyone think you had switched sides to the humans?»
Alex's words sparked a flare of emotion in Brunhilde's eyes. She sharply turned her head towards him, clearly not expecting him to know about such a delicate situation.
«Oh, you know about that?» Buddha asked with interest, looking at Alex. «Did Bru-chan slip up?»
«No, not at all,» Alex replied with a light smirk. «I just don't interfere in other people's business unless it concerns me. But, you know, walls have ears. Drop a few rumors, and voilà, everything becomes clear.»
Buddha hummed in surprise, crossing his arms and leaning closer to Alex.
«Well then, my new friend, surprise me with your conclusions,» he said with a challenge in his tone.
Alex didn't rush to respond, savoring the moment and preparing to put everything in its place.
Brunhilde watched Alex, still surprised by how he had figured out her plan involving Buddha. Deep down, she felt a growing unease. She feared that Alex might be disappointed in her for using such a cunning method to win Buddha over to her side.
«Actually, Bri's plan is quite simple,» Alex began, thoughtfully stroking his chin. «As a Valkyrie, she knows the gods' personalities better than anyone, including you, Buddha. Your character is both simple and complex. You're a free-spirited god, and that's easy to take advantage of. Bri did exactly that. She came to you under the guise of wanting to discuss your philosophical views.»
Buddha listened intently, holding a lollipop in his hand.
«One visit was all it took for the rumors to start. Especially since she showed up just before the meeting. Naturally, the gods had questions: Why did she come? What was her purpose? These doubts made them start suspecting you as a potential traitor. Brunhilde knew very well that if someone forced you to act, you'd just tell them to get lost. But in this case, she created a situation where you ended up playing the game yourself.»
Buddha smirked, offering Alex the lollipop:
«Well, in that case, here's a candy for your detailed analysis.»
Alex rolled his eyes but still took the lollipop, unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth. Brunhilde tried to regain her composure, returning her face to its usual seriousness, though she was still stunned by Alex's perceptiveness.
Buddha laughed loudly, throwing his head back. Meanwhile, Alex continued:
«Actually, she's understandable. When you don't have strength but have a goal, you use every available means to succeed. I don't think she should be blamed for that.»
Alex's words made Brunhilde's eyes widen. She tried to find lies or judgment in his gaze, but instead, she only saw kindness.
«Why?» Buddha asked, stroking his chin.
Alex paused for a moment before responding:
«Honestly, I don't approve of such methods. But Bri could have done the same to me. When I first arrived at the Coliseum and saw my brother killed by Zeus, she could have used my anger against the gods, turning it to her own advantage. But she didn't. She loves humanity as much as you do. Her position forces her to make sacrifices, becoming an enemy to the gods for a chance at victory.»
Alex looked directly at Buddha.
«For us, this is just a battle. For her, it's an endless series of tragedies. Her brother Heracles died, her sisters are sent to their deaths, becoming weapons for the fighters. She watches those she chose die, and feels that pain deeper than anyone else here.»
At Alex's words, tears of sorrow began to fall from Brunhilde's eyes. She couldn't hold back the grief weighing down her heart. Buddha looked into Alex's eyes, then turned his gaze to Brunhilde, who was mourning. That day, she had already lost two sisters and a brother. Buddha was most struck by Alex's words, calmly explaining Brunhilde's actions, what she had to endure, and the heavy burden this Valkyrie carried.
Buddha watched the scene with interest before sighing:
«Honestly, after hearing you, I feel like the worst of assholes.»
Alex said nothing and walked over to Brunhilde to comfort her. In truth, Alex hadn't wanted to reopen old wounds for Brunhilde, but the situation unfolded differently. Alex embraced Brunhilde, who immediately clung to him and began crying mournfully. Buddha watched Alex helping Brunhilde calm down. A sigh escaped from Buddha's mouth.
«You know, it feels like you're doing this on purpose, trying to tug at the heartstrings.» Buddha said, looking at Alex.
«Maybe. Or maybe I just don't want to watch my new friend die. We haven't even tried many sweets yet.» Alex replied with a light smile.
Buddha laughed and nodded.
«You're right, my friend. It would be a shame to miss out on all those pleasures.»
A slight smile appeared on Buddha's face, and a warmth filled his heart that he hadn't felt in a long time.
Alex and Buddha exchanged friendly smiles. Alex thought to himself: would Buddha follow the original plot, or had his appearance changed everything? Too many factors could influence the outcome of this event. Even a random word or glance could turn everything upside down. Alex wanted to avoid a tragedy—he had no intention of killing Buddha. He liked him, found him amusing, and he had already become a friend.
«Alright,» Buddha said, patting Alex on the shoulder. «I'll follow your Valkyrie's plan. But you owe me, my friend.»
«If you want your payment in sweets, come to my waiting room. I'll treat you,» Alex replied with a smile.
As Buddha left, he gave a thumbs-up. Alex watched his retreating figure before lowering his gaze. Brunhilde was still quietly crying, though her sobs had softened. Alex sighed and looked up at the ceiling, reflecting on a strange pattern: why was he always encountering women whose fates were filled with pain?
He thought of the women he had saved in Orario, the girls from Night City who lived in the darkness of that cruel world. And now, once again, the same story—this time with Brunhilde. Alex even started to think about getting a degree in psychology, so he could charge people for helping to heal their broken hearts.
He continued gently stroking Brunhilde's back, comforting her.
«Bri, how are you? Feeling better? Or should I hold you a little longer?» Alex asked, tilting his head slightly.
Brunhilde pressed herself tighter against him, unable to hold back her tears. Today, she had lost so much. No matter how hard she tried to stay strong, the pain of loss overwhelmed her. Her two younger sisters were already dead, her brother Heracles had fallen as a hero. If it hadn't been for Alex's intervention and help, she might have lost even more.
Bearing a burden heavier than she could have ever imagined, Brunhilde continued to fight. Her soul was torn by memories of fallen warriors, her sisters who became weapons for humanity. Even humanity's ancestor, Adam, had fallen because of her decisions.
Her heart ached more than anyone else's.
Finally, Brunhilde stopped crying and pulled back slightly, looking at Alex.
«Thank you...» she whispered. «You were here again when I needed it.»
Tears still streamed down her cheeks, and Alex gently cupped her face in his hands, wiping them away.
«Ugh, I feel like crap. I think I need a vacation,» he muttered, distracted by his own thoughts.
The warmth of Alex's hands touched her cold cheeks, and Brunhilde, unconsciously pressing closer to them, felt the heat. She raised her hands and covered his palms with hers, soft and gentle.
«Why do you say that?» she asked, embarrassed, lowering her gaze.
Alex sighed heavily. He gazed into her emerald eyes, full of sorrow, and honestly answered,
«Because I made you cry. And because I opened wounds that should've healed.»
Brunhilde shook her head.
«You're not to blame,» she replied softly. «I needed this. Sooner or later, it would have happened, and I'm glad you were here to support me.»
Her eyes sparkled with a moist gleam, but there was no reproach in them. Alex felt her sincerity and knew he had made the right choice.
Alex and Brunhilde stared into each other's eyes, as if trying to read each other's thoughts. Strange yet surprisingly familiar emotions flared between them. It could have been the feeling of loss that united them, or something deeper—a soul connection. These feelings slowly, but surely, brought them closer.
Their faces began to inch closer. Alex felt her warm breath and heard the gentle beat of her heart. When their lips were almost touching, their moment was interrupted by a distant cry:
«SISTER! I FINALLY FOUND YOU! LOOK, I MET ANOTHER BROTHER ALEX!» The voice of Göll echoed as she rushed toward them at full speed.
The romantic atmosphere vanished as if it had never existed. Alex and Brunhilde simultaneously turned their heads toward the source of the noise. Brunhilde felt a flash of irritation—her younger sister had ruined the moment she had decided to give Alex.
Alex, too, felt indignation, but for an entirely different reason. His gaze landed on his own clone, who appeared to be the one causing the situation. The clone grinned slyly, seemingly enjoying the moment.
«Oh, how I hate myself!» thought Alex, fully aware that his clone had done exactly what he would have done in the past: ruined the romantic moment just on principle.
Brunhilde glared at Göll, who began to sweat nervously under her piercing gaze. The girl felt that, under such pressure, even steel might melt. Meanwhile, Alex glared furiously at his clone, who responded with a mock grin.
«Sister, look, I found another brother of Alex!» Göll exclaimed cheerfully, trying to divert attention.
«I already saw,» Brunhilde replied coldly, not breaking her scorching gaze from her sister.
Göll froze, realizing that her innocent interruption had been the worst decision of the day.
Meanwhile, Alex, unable to bear it any longer, dispelled the clone. Before disappearing, of course, the clone managed to flash a victorious expression, as though he had won some kind of battle. Alex gritted his teeth in anger but held himself back.
«Damn double, how I hate you!» he thought, letting out a heavy sigh.
GIR, who had been watching, wisely jumped off the clone's shoulder to avoid a possible slap. Alex tousled Göll's hair, which made her look embarrassed.
«You little brat, how poorly timed you are,» he sighed, barely concealing his disappointment.
The romantic moment was hopelessly lost, but Alex understood that he and Brunhilde would still have another chance. For now, the main thing was not to let his sister see how much her scream had ruined what could have been a kiss.
Alex continued messing with Göll's hair, almost as if expressing his frustration. She tried to pull away, but his hand was relentless.
«Brother Alex, stop messing with my hair!» Göll protested, dodging. «If you keep doing this, I'll be bald!»
Alex laughed, finally letting go of her head.
«Alright, I won't. Let's head to the arena, the fight will start soon,» he said, giving her a gentle nudge forward.
Göll nodded, eager to escape the intense gaze of Brunhilde, which continued to occasionally pierce through her. Quickly scooping up GIR in her arms, she dashed ahead, as if running away from the potential wrath of her older sister.
Brunhilde watched Göll flee with a heavy gaze, but instead of anger, she only sighed. However, her thoughts were suddenly interrupted. She felt something warm on her lips. Her eyes widened in surprise as Alex leaned in and softly kissed her.
«If we were interrupted earlier, it doesn't mean I'll leave you without a kiss,» Alex said with a slight smile, pulling away.
Brunhilde froze for a moment, processing what had just happened. Her face reddened slightly, but seeing Alex's genuine smile, she couldn't help but smile back.
«You're hopeless,» she said quietly, taking his arm.
Together, they headed toward the stands, where Buddha's fight was already beginning. Alex looked pleased, but deep inside, he felt a slight unease. Now he had to explain to Brunhilde about... the other fiancées.
His thoughts involuntarily took a darker turn. He imagined Brunhilde's icy gaze, the cold fury in her eyes, and... the sudden desire to cut off something very important.
I hope she doesn't take this as a personal insult... and doesn't grab a knife, Alex thought, feeling a cold shiver in his lower stomach.
He shook his head, trying to push away the grim thoughts. Now was the time to enjoy the moment, and he'd deal with the problems later.
To be continued...