The aftermath of their success at the Celestial Nexus brought a brief yet welcome period of calm to the God Realm. The rift had been stabilized, and while the threat was not entirely gone, the gods felt a sense of relief. For Sara and Ignatius, however, the mission had left more than just a sense of accomplishment—it had left a lingering tension that neither could ignore.
---
A few days later, Sara found herself wandering through the Celestial Gardens, a tranquil sanctuary filled with ethereal flowers that glowed faintly in the twilight. The scent of the blossoms was soothing, and the gentle hum of divine energy in the air helped calm her mind. Yet, her thoughts kept drifting to Ignatius—the way he had steadied her during their mission, the warmth of his touch, and the kiss they had shared.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the delicate petals of a golden blossom she was holding. "Get a grip, Sara," she muttered to herself. "You have bigger things to worry about."
"Talking to yourself again?" came a familiar voice.
Sara turned sharply, dropping the flower in surprise. Ignatius stood a few feet away, his arms crossed and a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"Ignatius," she said, her voice betraying her flustered state. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, stepping closer. "But I suppose even the Chief God needs a moment of peace."
Sara sighed, trying to mask her nervousness. "I just needed some time to think."
"About what?" he asked, his tone genuinely curious.
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "Everything. The rift, my responsibilities... us."
The last word slipped out before she could stop herself. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned away, pretending to admire another flower.
Ignatius raised an eyebrow, his smirk softening into a gentle smile. "Us, huh?"
Sara groaned inwardly, cursing herself for her lack of composure. "I didn't mean—well, I did, but... you know what I mean."
He chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "Relax, Sara. I was only teasing."
She shot him a half-hearted glare, but the corners of her lips twitched upward despite herself. Ignatius had a way of disarming her, even when she didn't want him to.
As they walked through the garden, the awkwardness between them gradually eased. They fell into a comfortable rhythm, chatting about lighter topics—the quirks of the other gods, amusing stories from past centuries, and even a few lighthearted jabs at each other's shortcomings.
But beneath the surface, there was an undercurrent of something deeper, something unspoken yet undeniable.
At one point, they stopped by a small, glowing fountain. The water shimmered like liquid starlight, casting soft reflections on their faces. Sara knelt beside it, running her fingers through the cool liquid.
"It's beautiful," she murmured.
Ignatius crouched beside her, his gaze fixed not on the fountain but on her. "It is," he said, his voice softer than usual.
Sara glanced at him, catching the intensity of his gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away.
"Ignatius..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Sara, you don't have to say anything."
She swallowed hard, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and emotion. But before she could respond, a sudden breeze rustled the leaves around them, breaking the spell.
Ignatius stood, offering her his hand. "Come on, Chief God. We still have duties to attend to."
Sara took his hand, her pulse racing as his fingers closed around hers. As they walked back toward the palace, she couldn't help but steal glances at him, wondering if he felt the same spark that she did.
---
Later that evening, as Sara sat alone in her chambers, she replayed the moments in the garden over and over in her mind. There was no denying it now—there was something between them, something that went beyond camaraderie or friendship.
But whether that something would lead to joy or heartache was a question she wasn't ready to face. For now, she could only hope that, whatever the future held, Ignatius would be by her side.