Agartha's POV
When I woke up, I found my head resting warmly on Damian's lap.
I looked up at him, his face softened by sleep, so serene, almost fragile in the way the morning light danced across his features.
I smiled, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead, careful not to wake him.
He was as beautiful as his mother, Susanna. And yet, something in him was different—stronger, more resilient.
The thought of Susanna brought a pang of emotion to my chest, memories swirling inside me. How we had escaped our village only to be captured and taken into captivity for many years, often out living our master. So when Susanna had narrowly escaped from her bondage, I felt alone and abandoned.
But looking down at Damian, even after all these many years, Susanna had sent help to me in her own way.
His voice broke through my thoughts.
"You're awake?" Damian asked, his brow creasing with concern as his eyes fluttered open.
I nodded, though words seemed stuck in my throat.
I was met with a flood of emotions—gratitude, relief, and something deeper—coursed through me as he leaned down, wrapping his arms around me.
His embrace was firm but gentle, and my breath caught as the icy walls around my heart began to melt, piece by piece, under the warmth of his touch.
"Uhn," I muttered, still too overwhelmed to form a complete sentence.
He held me close, his voice tender.
"If using your magic makes you suffer like this, then stop," he whispered. "Don't use it anymore."
His words struck me to my core. "Stop using magic?" I repeated, my voice trembling. "But… What about the beast?"
Damian's lips curled into a playful smile, his eyes softening.
"Alright, maybe you can use it one last time, just to kill the beast," he teased lightly. "But after that, no more magic. You'll live a normal, peaceful life."
"A normal life," I murmured, the idea foreign and almost unimaginable to me. I hadn't lived a normal life in over a century. What did that even mean for someone like me?
As if that wasn't enough, he kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering for a moment, sending a soothing warmth through me.
"Like my mother wanted," he said quietly. "She wanted freedom for herself, and I know she wanted it for you too. You deserve to be free, Agartha."
And in that moment, for the first time in over a century, I felt something I hadn't thought possible: safety.
♤♤♤
Damian stood up, stretching his arms as the early morning sun filtered through the trees.
"I'll go find us something to eat," he said, strapping his sword to his back.
"Uhn hun"
A short while later, he returned triumphantly, a rabbit hanging from his hand by its feet.
"Look! I got us a rabbit," he grinned, clearly proud of himself.
I smiled at his enthusiasm.
"Well done, but…"
His face faltered slightly, and he scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish.
"Hun… I… I don't know how to cook."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"You caught it, so I guess it's only fair that I cook it."
"Are you sure? I can… figure something out," he said, though his uncertainty was written all over his face.
I laughed again and shook my head.
"No, Damian. I'll take care of it. We don't have pots or pans, so it's going to be a simple roast over the fire."
He nodded, handing over the rabbit, and I set to work, skinning and preparing it for roasting.
Domain set up the fire. Then I placed the meat over the fire. The smell of cooking meat filled the air.
After a while, the rabbit was ready.
"Mmmmmm" Damian groaned as he bit into the meat. Maybe it was hunger, but the simple meal tasted like a feast.
I chuckled at his boyish demeanor.
But just as I took another bite, I suddenly started choking, coughing violently.
Damian leapt to his feet in a panic.
"Agartha!" he rushed over, gently patting my back, his hand lingering longer than necessary.
"Are you okay?"
I managed to catch my breath, nodding and waving him off.
"I'm fine," I said between coughs, smiling at the concern in his eyes.
"How are you a sorceress? I can't even leave you by yourself…You might not survive" He scolded
"Uhn!...At least I do not run out of rivers naked" I teased knowing it would trigger him.
"Aishhh. You would never let me get past that one. Would you?"
We both laughed, and as the moment eased, Damian's expression softened.
Maybe it was the rising sun, or the way the golden light kissed his skin, but Damian looked absolutely ethereal. His long, damp hair from sweating clung to his forehead, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing the strong lines of his forearms. The string at his neck was undone, leaving his shirt slightly loose, and the way he sat so recklessly and free on the rock—it was impossible to deny that he looked… hot.
I caught myself staring, my eyes trailing over the muscles of his arms, the defined curve of his collarbone. It wasn't intentional, but when he glanced up and caught me in the act, my heart froze.
Immediately, he wrapped his arms across his chest.
"Lady, you are about to undress me with your eyes!"
"Huh?" I tried to feign surprise, my face heating up.
"I saw you," he teased, pointing accusingly. "Ripping my clothes off with your eyes just now."
"Wh-What?!" I stammered, my voice an octave higher. "It's all in your head! Why… Why would I want to do that?!"
Without missing a beat, he grinned mischievously and, in one swift motion, slipped off his shirt.
My breath caught in my throat as his bare chest was revealed—his skin glistening slightly, his small circular brown nipples stood perky, his whole build was lean but muscled, toned and defined.
He stepped closer, closing the distance between us. His eyes locked onto mine, their intensity making my heart pound even harder. I could feel my face warming under his gaze.
Then, his hand gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing lightly across my cheek. The touch sent a shiver down my spine. Time seemed to slow down, and my breath hitched as he leaned in, his breath warm against my lips. My eyelids fluttered shut, anticipation building.
But just as quickly as he leaned in, he withdrew, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"So you were thinking about it," he teased, his voice low and teasing.
"...." I couldn't even form a coherent sentence, let alone a lie.
My mind was racing too fast, my face betraying every emotion I was trying to hide.
He reached out again, this time his fingers lightly brushing against my heated face. Instinctively, I slapped his hand away, my pride taking over.
"You're crazy!" I muttered, feeling a mix of embarrassment and confusion. "I'm too old for you," I added, more to convince myself than him.
He just chuckled, completely unfazed. "Like how old?"
I hesitated. "A couple hundred years, I guess."
"That doesn't count," he said with a grin, "and in fact, the older the wine, the better."
"I'm no wine!" I shot back, my voice a little too defensive.
"Sure," he said, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "which makes it even sweeter."
The wink he gave me sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Get a hold of yourself, woman! I mentally scolded. This was ridiculous.
Damian turned his back to pick up his discarded shirt, the muscles of his back flexing as he moved. My eyes betrayed me again, and I caught myself staring.
"You're crazy," I muttered again under my breath, thinking he wouldn't hear me.
But he did. In a flash, he spun around, grabbed my face in his hands, and pressed his lips firmly against mine. The kiss was quick, bold, and left me utterly breathless.
As he wanted to pull away, I pressed his head forward, deepening the kiss.