Time passed, and Linsley arrived at a moderately expensive café where the appointment was scheduled to take place.
Moonbucks was a popular high-end establishment, primarily used by the Outer God Association to arrange blind dates for engaged couples.
The café was known for its exclusivity; only those sponsored by the Outer God Association or those with considerable wealth could afford to enter.
Any act of crime within Moonbucks was considered a severe offense, as it would disrupt the interests of the Outer God Association.
This was a place where carefully arranged unions took place, unions that were part of a grander design dictated by the Outer God himself.
The Outer God, intent on devouring the world and ruling over it, was meticulous about the rules he imposed on his slaves, ensuring the world would develop exactly as he desired.
Terra was to be the Outer God's playground, and he would not tolerate anything that threatened his plans. The Outer God Association was established to enforce his will, shaping the world according to his whims and punishing those who dared to step out of line.
When Linsley arrived at Moonbucks, he stepped inside, taking in the lavish surroundings. The atmosphere was one of calm luxury, with soft music playing in the background and well-dressed patrons quietly conversing at their tables.
The air was thick with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and the warm lighting gave the café a welcoming yet controlled ambiance.
As he scanned the room, his eyes fell upon a reserved table in the corner, marked with a discreet sign indicating it was for the Outer God Association.
His heart pounded slightly as he made his way over, aware that this meeting could set the course for his future, at least in the eyes of those who sought to control him.
Linsley reached the table and sat down, waiting for his fiancée to arrive.
He couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions—annoyance at the situation he was forced into, curiosity about the person he was about to meet, and a simmering determination to play along, at least for now, until he could gain enough power to break free from the chains that bound him.
'Ah, damn it. Just play along for now. When I become powerful enough, the Outer God Association won't be able to decide my marriage,' Linsley thought as he absently touched the nametag collar around his neck.
The cold metal was a constant reminder of the control the Outer God held over his life, fueling his resolve to grow stronger and overthrow the oppressive force that ruled his world.
As he sat there, his thoughts drifted back to the recent battle with Magia Fleur. The memory of her strength, grace, and the brief connection they shared lingered in his mind.
He couldn't shake the image of her, nor the feeling that there was something more to her than met the eye. It was as if some invisible thread connected them, though he couldn't quite grasp it.
Just as he was lost in thought, the door to the café swung open. Linsley looked up instinctively, and his breath caught in his throat.
A young woman entered, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
She was stunning, with long, flowing pink hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of cherry blossoms. Her eyes, a soft sakura pink, shimmered with quiet strength and intelligence.
There was an ethereal quality to her, a beauty that seemed almost otherworldly. She wore a simple yet elegant dress that accentuated her natural grace, and her movements were fluid and poised, each step she took seeming to draw the light toward her.
Linsley found himself captivated, unable to look away as she approached his table.
There was something hauntingly familiar about her, something that tugged at the edge of his memory, but he couldn't quite place it.
It was as if an unknown force was keeping him from making the connection, leaving the familiarity just out of reach.
As she reached the table, their eyes met, and Linsley felt a jolt of recognition, though he couldn't explain why.
The same feeling he had when he first encountered Magia Fleur washed over him—a sense of connection, as if fate had somehow intertwined their paths.
Yet, he couldn't quite link the woman before him with the magical girl from the battlefield. It was as if his mind refused to make the leap, keeping the two identities separate.
She smiled softly, a gesture that only added to her allure. "Are you Linsley Sinclair?" she asked, her voice as gentle as the breeze.
"Yes," he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "And you must be Seraphina Florentine."
Seraphina nodded, her eyes never leaving his. For a moment, they simply stood there, gazing at each other as if trying to uncover the secrets hidden behind their facades.
An inexplicable pull drew them together, yet some unseen force kept them from recognizing the deeper connection they shared. Neither of them knew the truth—that they had already met, that they had already fought side by side in different guises.
As they sat down together, Linsley couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Seraphina than met the eye.
And yet, the idea that this beautiful, poised young woman could be Magia Fleur, the magical girl who had captured his attention on the battlefield, seemed impossible. It was as if a barrier, beyond their understanding, kept the truth hidden from him.
Likewise, Seraphina felt an inexplicable pull toward Linsley, but she dismissed it as nerves, unaware that the man sitting across from her was none other than the Phantom Reaper who had saved her life just a day before.
The same mysterious force that clouded Linsley's thoughts worked on her as well, preventing her from making the connection between Linsley and the mysterious figure who had come to her aid.
As Linsley found himself captivated by Seraphina's beauty, a warm sensation spread through him, softening the guarded walls he had carefully constructed.
But just as quickly as the feeling took hold, he forcefully "killed" the thoughts within him, regaining his composure with a sharp mental jolt. 'Damn it! How dare I let down my guard in this world?' he thought, his expression growing solemn.
'Who knew if under the guise of Seraphina's beauty and gentleness, she's a spy sent by the Outer God Association to monitor me. And who knows if she's as pure and chaste as she appears to be,' Linsley mused, his mind hardening as memories of bitter experiences from his past life on Earth resurfaced.