บท 77: Of Love & Gods (4)

Ivanka's expression remained still, but I had known her enough to instead look into her eyes, where emotions flashed. Some that I managed to read were surprise, shock, endearment and love. Looks like she liked the gift.

Without a word, she wore the amulet and it was a perfect fit. It even went along with her assassin outfit as the crescent moon twinkled whenever the moon's light shone.

She waved her hands, and suddenly, a hand mirror appeared in front of her. God, I wanted my own [Storage] too. Imagine being able to store and carry whatever you want, wherever you go in a constant frozen temperature. No spoilt food, damaged clothes, smelly underwear.

Ivanka played with the little amulet, moving it around and watching it's reflection from the mirror. She seemed to be satisfied with my gift, when she turned to me and gave me the rarest, most beautiful smile.

"Thank you."

I was stunned. I couldn't speak, my heart skipped a beat, everything romantic and pink happened to me. Ivanka's smile was so rare that in the game, if you managed to get it, you got a freaking achievement and now I was seeing it in real life, with my own two eyes.

The pegasi beside me must have been stunned as well, since it dropped the flowers it was eating. I couldn't just stand still like a dumbass, so I did what I wanted to do at that moment.

I gave her a big hug. Due to our height difference, I had to tip-toe just to be able to reach her shoulders for a hug. Her arms found their way on the curve of my hips, before carrying me for a quick kiss.

I blushed but enjoyed the chaste kiss, before pressing our foreheads together. For a moment, we enjoyed each other's company in the garden of flowers in a silent embrace.

Then, she put me back down.

"Oh, I almost forgot," I wore my amulet too, and it was perfect on me as well. "Now, everyone can see that I belong to you."

I felt a wave of possessiveness from her through our link, so I decided to tease her. A smirk on my lips, I asked her, "You liked that, didn't you?"

She only rolled her eyes at that. "Don't ruin the moment with your jest."

"You love me," I poked my tongue at her.

BOOM!

Space-time warped in front of us. Lightning sparked and arched in the shape of a circle before opening up into a red portal. From where I stood, I couldn't see anything on the other side of the portal, since only a fluid-like material could be seen, like wet cement.

"The portal's opened," Ivanka said calmly but my heart dropped. ". . .It's time to go."

I took a look at Ivanka, the portal, then back at Ivanka. Emotions welled up inside me, emotions Ivanka must surely have sensed through our connection and my reluctance to leave was only second to her reluctance of letting me go but we both knew that this was where our paths separate, never knowing if our paths would merge again.

No, surely it must. We are bonded through the Maiden's Pact. She is the one who took my virginity and I was the one who willingly offered it to her. We would meet again, the only question really was; when?

Oh, how the memories rushed into my head. The first time I found myself in her bed, only fear and curiosity filling my being as I wondered where I was. I remembered the shock I felt when I first saw Ivanka in the flesh, and the terror Nightmare brought when she nearly had me. The hope I felt when I learned that I could practice martial arts, when the first wave of chi kissed my skin.

The way my world changed when I first started to look at Ivanka differently, morphing from a simple hot teacher to a hot, lovable oaf of a woman. A woman I wouldn't mind being the one to take my first time.

Oh, the pleasure I felt when her passionate touch first fell on my skin. We had changed from a simple student and teacher to lovers bound by something much greater.

I would always feel her wherever she went, and vice versa so can you imagine the torture it'd be when I felt her presence only to find that she was never there beside me.

I jumped into her embrace, and wasn't surprised to find that her arms were already open. With all the passion I could muster, I kissed her on the lips to tell her words I wouldn't be able to convey otherwise.

For a good minute, we did nothing but eat each other's faces, a desperate but otherwise futile attempt to prolong the inevitable farewell.

I was the first to break the kiss. With bated breaths, I looked into her ashy gray eyes and told her, "I'm going to miss you."

"I as well, little one," She replied. I didn't need our connection to feel her loneliness as well.

"Go," Ivanka said, before shaking her head. "No, that's not what I wanted to tell you."

She looked me straight in the eyes and with as much emotion she could muster out, she whispered to me.

"I love you."

Suddenly, there was nothing but the two of us. Everything was just right, just perfect and nothing could stand in my way. What perfect three words.

I kissed her three times, one on her forehead, the next on her cheeks and finally, the last one on her lips.

"I love you too." Then, I parted from her strong, warm arms and hopped onto the pegasi who let out a whinny. I patted its soft wings, whispering 'good boy' to him over and over again.

"I'm going to name him 'Aegis'," I told Ivanka. "A shield my lovely goddess gave me."

I turned to Ivanka one last time, as Aegis unfurled his wings before preparing for takeoff. "Goodbye." Then, Aegis flew forward into the portal, and I blacked out, leaving behind my lover and temporary home of one month.