บท 35: A God? A Fallen Angel? An Elf? (2)

Previously

"I'm standing?" Willow said, confused. "I apologize but I don't understand your question."

Ivanka just stared at him in silence and the mood quickly became awkward. He looked up and saw that it was peak noon which meant Ivanka was in her day form right now, the quiet kuudere who practiced her swordsmanship at the training grounds.

He changed the subject quickly. "So, is this your place?" Willow took a good look at the new location he had unlocked. Ivanka's Home or otherwise known as the Witch Of The Wood's Hut. Her home had definitely been built in the 'cabin in the woods' theme, with a sprinkle of action-fantasy on top like how this entire place was actually inside Ivanka's personal space-time domain.

There were three major spots in this domain of hers, her home, the training grounds with magical, living dummies which was the cause of the noise before, and finally the little vegetable farm she was growing in front of the cabin. Of course, he knew from his experience within the game that Ivanka could modify this place and expand it however she wished, so he wasn't too confused as to the modest size of a former goddess's home. In fact, he quite liked the small size –it reminded him of his little, gaming haven down his mother's basement.

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"Indeed," Ivanka nodded.

Willow spotted the sheen of sweat on Ivanka's body. Since she was a goddess, the smell of it was conveniently non-existent. "Were you in the middle of your training?"

Ivanka nodded again. Then, it was awkward silence again. Ivanka miraculously decided to be the one to break the ice. ". . .How are you feeling?"

There it was, the question he was dreading. From a simple look, it would appear as if Ivanka was just concerned with his well-being but he knew that she was a sister of the Demon God, which soon answered his question as to why he was here. They made a deal. And it must have been something that involved him being looked after by Ivanka while the Demon God went and did something else.

It was quite easy to deduce once you understood Ivanka's nature along with her relationship with the Demon God. He had been worried he had strayed from the main plot of the game but fortunately, this was something that happened in the game. . .albeit a few differences. For one, in the main plot, Willow had been founded by Ivanka in the middle of the woods after the blazing of his hometown, nearly raped by goblins. But in this reality, the Demon God was the reason as to why he was meeting Ivanka, seeing as how he was in her arms as they portaled away.

So, what did it all mean?

Well, Ivanka was poking at his memories, basically trying to see his reaction to then plan her next course of action. Of course, he planned to act like the tragic maiden who had just escaped the burning of her town since if he acted like anything else, there was a high chance Ivanka would report it to her sister which was the last thing he wanted.

The silver lining about him being in this stage of the plot –in one piece no less– was that there was a chance to escape, a chance to escape both the Demon God and Ivanka just like in the game. . .which was what he would do if his main plan hadn't already gone to shit.

Since the world had screwed him over, he'd screw it back twice over. And as if God had heard his cry of outrage, he had been presented with such a good opportunity to start his revenge too.

He always did wonder who would win in a fight between Ivanka and the Demon God.

He forced himself to cry, sending out submissive, sad pheromones as he buried his face in his hands. "I. . *Hic*. .Mom. .Da-Dad!" He was doing a pretty good job, if he said so himself. But Ivanka didn't look so persuaded. She must still be suspecting him from the moment he called out her true name. Well, time to turn it up a notch. "I-I can't. . .I n-need to go back!" One of his eyes peeked out from within his finger-gaps and saw the slightest shift in expression from the stoic fallen goddess.

Ivanka raised her hand sideways and then pushed it forward as space warped like a black hole before closing when her hand came out with a wet wipe. "Here."

Willow took the towel that had been made out of animal-skin and wiped his face with it. He reduced his distress pheromones and asked, "Can you take me back home?" It hurt him mentally to act like a child despite being a combined age of 46 years old but he had to do it.

Just as he suspected, she shook her head and he was quick to act dejected. He asked, "Wh-Why?"

". . .I found you fainted in the middle of my woods," Ivanka said. "I. .took you in here. A pack of wolves would have devoured you if I hadn't."

Willow acted crestfallen. "So I can't go back?" He added a hopeful undertone in his question just to be more persuasive in his acting.

". .It is not impossible," Ivanka replied. "Here is my domain, my personal space. The door to the outside world will open once a month. I will take you out when it opens."

Willow's smile was a beam of sunshine after hearing that. He even went for a hug to which Ivanka simply accepted without reciprocating of course. In her bosom, Willow cried, "Mom, Dad, Elm . .I'm coming back soon. Please wait for me." At that moment, Willow didn't know if he was acting or not. He did wonder however, what he would do for a week in this place.

****

The following week turned out to be pretty monochromatic. Everyday, Willow would wake up to the sound of steel clashing or monsters roaring before their eventual demise. Something that he had found out after living with Ivanka for the past days was that she was a horrible, horrible cook. It didn't make sense that a thousand year old being wouldn't know the basics of brewing, boiling or frying but well, that was what happened when your constitution as a god takes away your humane need to eat. . .or drink. She could choose to learn and she did after Willow attempted to teach her but whatever came out the stove. . .had to go back in.

So, he was now the designated cook of the house. He didn't want to admit it but his constitution as the Maiden gifted him with god-like talent in all that was inherently feminine. Especially cooking. One more thing he found out was the similarities between Ivanka and Elm when it came to his cooking —they'd both have this huge satisfied smile on their face as they ate away until their 10th servings. Well, their huge appetite might be another similarity.

So, that was all that he'd done for the week. Other than the occasional talk over dinner or requests for something, they hadn't really conversed that much but he could tell that Ivanka was somewhat warming up to him even if only an inch. His maidenly acting was winning Ivanka over and soon enough, he'd dare say he'd have her eating out of his hands.

CLANG!

Willow's eyes sparkled when he watched the intense fight in the training grounds from behind a window he had Ivanka make. His body trembled with glee on the bed as he watched Ivanka train. It was currently around early evening as the sun drowsily set in the sky, casting it's final dusk over the glistening figure of Ivanka who was engaged in an intense fight against some sort of earthen drake nearly six times the size of himself. He knew it was just an illusion caused by the mystical effects of Ivanka's training grounds, from game knowledge but it was still pretty awesome seeing a fantastical fight happening before his eyes.

Just like in the game, Ivanka's fighting style leaned towards the assassin archetype, never even once using a flashy skill that would attract attention. Other than a couple dark-type movement skills, she was fighting against the earthen drake with nothing more than her chalikar and body. Throughout the entire fight, she learned her opponent's weaknesses, adapted to it's battle style before swooping in to slice it.

The earthen drake lashed out at Ivanka with it's tail, attempting to capture and crush the annoying fly but Ivanka easily dodged without even using her movement skills. She side-stepped casually, dodging the incoming spikes of wood flying towards her, not even letting a splinter touch her body. Her movements were akin to an experienced dance, graceful and mastered after a thousand years of repetition.

She threw one of her chalikar at the earthen drake's neck which missed the target as the drake grinned mockingly. Ivanka's expression never changed as she dashed forward, parrying the swipe from the drake's right claw before gracefully rotating away from the other claw, only to find that she was right in front of a charged up breath from the earthen drake.

Yet, she didn't panic. In a split second, her eyes gleamed silver, and the chalikar she had thrown boomerang-ed around, falling directly down the drake's snout, keeping it's maws shut, disabling it's breath. The last thing the drake saw was the cold flash of silver before it's head disconnected from its long neck, ending it's illusory life as it's body turned to ash.

It was now night and the fake moon above shone upon her victorious visage, enhancing the glow of her silver eyes and hair, making her appear even more of an ephemeral beauty until Willow spotted the roots of her silver hair turning, no, glowing white.

He quickly ducked from the window, just avoiding the sharp head-turn from Ivanka into his direction as he hastily hid inside his blanket. Crap, did she see him? It was currently the fourth day of the promised week and a few rules had been established between the both of them.

The most important one being that; Willow had to be in bed before evening or more specifically, before the moon arose, even if the moon was a fake one. Ivanka didn't tell him why but she always made sure to cast a sleeping spell on him to make sure he was asleep. Today was a rare evening when she had forgotten to do so.

She may not tell him but he knew exactly why he couldn't see her after the moon took it's place.