Chapter 40 - Eirlys Llywelyn P2
*****
Maya helped me get ready for the date. She chose a gaudy dress for me, but I couldn't bring myself to say no. It was a over the top, but I still liked it. The sparkly purple and black dress hugged and accentuated every curve.
I looked amazing.
The only thing I wasn't as excited about was my underwear. Maya all but forced me to wear raunchy lingerie.
"Why do I have to wear this? It's not like I'm going to be seen in it."
"Oh you will."
"HUH? But this is Elven dating. We're getting to know each other."
My pink-haired girlfriend smirked at me. "You never know. You might hook up after the date!"
"I don't know, and even if I do-"
"You'll be prepared for a hot night!"
"Mayaaaaaaa..."
She just shrugged. "I mean, let's think about it. If you hook up, and both of you want to get down and dirty, she's gonna see all you have to offer! And if you don't get down and dirty... I get to take it off you later!"
I sighed, but smiled. "You horny cat." I pulled her close and shared a long, lustful kiss while getting a handful of booty. As I pulled back, though staying close enough to still taste her breath, I added, "I'll have you tonight either way."
"What are you gonna do?"
I leaned into her ear and whispered, "I'm gonna make you a mom." Her ear twitched as I teased it with my breath.
Her hands began to wonder, but she held herself back. "You'd better go on your date before I get in heat."
I giggled and backed up, saying, "I love you!" before teleporting away.
*****
I arrived at our meeting point in town about five minutes before we were planning to meet up. Despite me being from Gallia, Aira knew the capital better than me. The date plans were all up to her. I just needed to meet up with her.
We were meeting up at the large evergreen tree in the town square that was always decorated during Christmastime. That was still a few months away, so the tree wasn't decorated.
She was already there, dressed in a backless dark blue dress. The moment I laid eyes on her, I felt heat flood my face. Rarely did I see beauty like that. Only my partners came to mind.
Objectively speaking, there were many beautiful women like that, but in my eyes... only my partners were that special.
But there she was. A beautiful elf girl smiling at me in a dress that hugged and accentuated every curve. She colored her nails to be the same shade of dark blue as her dress, which already matched her eyes.
"Tell me I look good without telling me I look good," she said as she took my hand and grinned.
"Sometimes words don't cut it."
"I would still like a few of them. Three will do. I wonder if you'll choose the same words for me as I've chosen for you. It took all I had to keep my composure."
I smiled and lightly gripped her soft hand as I choose my words. "Stunning, beautiful, and divine."
"Two for three." She giggled. "I also chose stunning and beautiful, but rather than divine... I chose 'alluring'."
"'Alluring' you say." I smirked hearing that. "Are you trying to claim me already?"
She giggled back at me and answered, "Aren't you?"
A soft smile crept across my lips as I imagined asking her to be my girlfriend. "Guilty as charged."
"Rhia said something interesting before I left our villa."
"Oh?"
"I think she's as mad for you as I am."
"'Mad' for me, eh?"
"Mhm. She normally is one to have trouble discerning this sort of thing, but she said it with complete confidence. 'Our dates with her feel like nothing more than a formality.' It was refreshing hearing her say that, to be honest."
"A formality. Hmm. Maybe."
She smiled at me again and said, "Let's go prove her right, hmm?"
"You sound just as confident."
"Aren't you?"
"Perhaps."
*****
Our first destination was a fine restaurant, the finest in the capital, The Noble Tide. It's a sea themed establishment available only via reservations. Dimly lit with well-dressed staff, it was clear that nobility owned an operated the place.
The Noble Tide was also situated on top of a tall hill on the west side of the city, and itself had two floors and open-air tables on the roof.
Our table was on the roof. Being this high up, it was expected that there would be a breeze at the least or just outright windy. But the open air section was protected by a barrier that slowed air to the point where it would not be a bother to anyone, and outright blocked rain.
"This is quite nice," I said with a smile as I held out the chair for Aira.
"Pfft. You're doing that?" She giggled as she took her seat. "Usually I'm the one doing that."
I took my seat and smiled, letting only that portray my intention.
"Thank you, Eli."
We shared a long silent smile until the waiter came to our table.
"Eli, are you familiar with this place?"
I shook my head.
"We order drinks, an appetizer, and meal. They're brought out in that order. Alcohol is available, and believe me they have everything."
"Everything, hmm..."
"Violet Blood?" I asked, looking at the waiter.
"Yes, Lady Aindrea."
Oh. He knows who I am.
I smiled and waited for Aira to order, but she was looking at me with wide eyes. "You know about that drink?"
"Lord Velarus recommended it to me just yesterday."
"I see... you met the Demon Lord?"
"Long story short, I met all the Arcadian Sovereigns yesterday after the battle."
"Oh." She smirked for a moment, then turned to the waiter. "I'll have Violet Blood as well. Eli, is shrimp okay for an appetizer?"
"Sure."
"Okay. And I'll have the finest cut steak the Noble Tide offers cooked with Serendell Cordial."
"Oh, that sounds delicious. How much does that-"
"Don't worry about money tonight. I'm covering everything with my family name."
"I see. I'd like the same thing."
"That'll be everything
"At once," the waiter said.
He left to fill the order and I eyed my beautiful date. "Your eyes are sparkling like your dress. It's quite lovely."
She blushed and turned her face away slightly, but didn't break eye contact. I gave her my warmest smile and gazed at her silently. I took in her beauty one bit at a time.
Unpierced Elven ears that I wanted to trace with my fingers. That might give her goosebumps. Slender arms with a silver bracelet on each arm. No rings. Nails the same color as her eyes and dress. Two thin straps holding the front of her dress in place that formed a cross on her otherwise backless dress.
And a silver chain neckless with a pendant.
She knew exactly what I was doing, and was doing the same thing.
"Eli?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you mind if I ask a little bit about your life?"
"I don't mind."
"If I ask anything uncomfortable, please let me know and I'll skip to something else."
"Sure."
"I'm very curious. Have you dated before? Prior to attending the academy, I mean."
"No. Until coming here, I hadn't met anyone that I developed romantic feelings for."
Although, there is something I'm unsure about, but I don't know if that's romantic love or not. They haven't given me a single hint at a romantic interest, though, or maybe I'd have questioned things sooner.
"May I ask for your answers to your own questions?"
"Yes, of course. Aira was my only romantic interest before the academy."
Before the next question, the waiter delivered our drinks and appetizer. After he left again, we continued.
"What are you thoughts on the morals of polyamory?"
I took a sip of my wine before answering. "I understand that most people feel that love is something strictly meant between two people, but I don't agree. I think there's nothing wrong with love staying between two people, but love can be shared with many in many different ways. Without polyamory acceptance, this date would not be possible. Without it, the feelings I carry toward you, toward Lena, and toward Rhia would be forever unrequited. Maya would feel guilty for monopolizing me, and vice versa. We would be happy with each other, but with a hole in our lives that can't be filled."
"That's quite the answer."
"The fact that both you and Rhia have acted on your interest in me tells me that you feel at least similarly."
She chuckled lightly as she picked up her glass. "It's exactly like that for me, and for Rhia."
I smiled at her response. "That gives me hope."
"Hope?"
"Hope that tonight is only the first of many."
She took a sip and smiled, looking down at her glass. "I'd be lying if I said I feel otherwise myself."
Maybe this is just a formality. I get the sense that she doesn't actually want to adhere to the Elven dating customs, but does so anyway either in respect to her heritage or to appease those that would judge her otherwise.
Pointing a finger at one of the shrimp, I levitated it and brought it to my mouth, telekinetically peeling it along the way.
"Mmm. Delicious."
I heard a giggle from my date and gave her a cheesy grin.
"You really are something."
"I just didn't want to get my fingers dirty."
"Can't you clean your fingers magically?"
"Sure. I also wanted to show off to you a little."
She smirked then repeated the same thing. "Mmm, it is delicious."
"I suppose it wasn't as impressive."
"Telekinesis is my specialty, but coming from you, this really isn't impressive, considering what I've seen you do."
I laughed dryly and averted my eyes. "You have a point."
"That said, impressive or not isn't what matters to me. It's that you wanted to do something neat for me. I find that very endearing." Her warm smile after telling me that was all I needed to.
Everyone says I'm love dumb, but even I understand how genuine this girl is. She definitely has feelings for me. And I for her. I'd already decided to tell her about me regardless of if we become girlfriends, but my feelings are growing stronger.
I returned her smile and asked if she had more questions.
"A few, though one might not be suitable for dinner conversation."
I shook my head and reassured her. "So long as you are comfortable asking such a question, it doesn't matter to me if it's over dinner or otherwise."
She smiled dryly, seemingly weighing whether she should or shouldn't ask.
"If you feel guilty wanting to ask something, I want you to ask it anyway."
Her hand quickly raised to cover her mouth and a light gasp escaped her lips. "Wh-what do you m-mean?"
"If you feel guilty, I want you to confront that guilt so that I can show you that there's no need to feel guilty with me. It's a poisonous emotion that can warp one's true feelings. So please, ask the question."
"You realized that?"
I leaned forward a bit and met her eyes with a smile.
She returned the smile and asked her question, "How do you do it? Go to the frontlines and come back as if everything is okay."
I hesitated at first. That was not a question I expected to hear. Going to war and shouldering the weight of your actions is not an easy thing to do. But she doesn't know how much I've done that in my long life.
Yet I have never taken it for granted nor have I grown numb to it.
"Do you know what the phantom beasts are?"
She shook her head and waited intently.
"They're people. Every single one of them. They're the people of Yamato warped into the monsters that mean to ravage the world. I've destroyed thousands of them, and carry the weight of those deaths. But it's the only way to free them from their suffering. If you hold on to the good, you can get through the bad."
The look in her eyes told me that she wasn't shocked or surprised. No, she was wearing a different emotion.
Wonder.
"How in the world can an eighteen-year-old experience what you've experienced and think like that?"
"It has something to do with the thing I mentioned."
"Oh."
"I've been thinking about it since the night you confronted me, and I've decided to tell you about it. Regardless of how our relationship turns out." I sipped my wine again and gazed into her eyes. "I actually told Maya before I asked her to become my partner."
"Are you certain it's okay to tell me?"
I only smiled to answer her.
"I very much want to know." Her eyes shifted slightly, her sight aimed behind me. "Main course."
The lovely aroma came not a moment later, and then a plate was placed in front of me.
"If you require anything, you need only ring the bell and I will attend you," the waiter said after placing Aira's plate, then left silently.
I had already subtly checked the entire building for mana poison, so I didn't wait to take my first bite. My lovely date did the same. I'm sure she enjoyed the exuberance on my face as much as I did hers.
"Next question, what do you think about Lena?"
My hand stopped moving my knife the moment she spoke that name.
She picked up on that immediately. "I'm sorry, I'll skip that one."
I looked her in the eyes and shook my head. "I'll answer that one later with my secret."
"I'm sorry, Eli. I didn't-"
"No. With somebody I have a romantic interest in, I won't give the flat answer. The truth is more involved than that."
"I see. Then I will listen even more intently than I already meant to."
I giggled at her answer. "I only ask that you have an open mind. It's going to be difficult to-"
"Princess, there's an emergency," Stella said as she appeared next to our table.
"HUH?" Aira almost jumped out of her seat. "Where did-"
"Hold on, Aira. Stella, what is the emergency?"
"Five SSS rank beasts and dozens of SS ranks have appeared in the frontlines of the Credent Empire."
What? That many?
"How long?"
"Goddess Elysia, please help! These monsters are going to destroy everything."
"Never mind. I can see it." I stood up and snapped my finger, instantly switching out my date attire for my school uniform. "I'm not wearing the cloak there anymore. My fight yesterday is trending worldwide. No point. Aira, I have to go. This-"
She was already standing up with her arms out. "Me, too!"
"What?"
"Switch my clothes, too."
I glanced at her plate, and her steak was gone. Her wine glass next to it was empty. I smirked and snapped my finger again, switching her clothes out as well. Then, I chugged my wine, inhaled my steak, and rang the bell. The waiter was out here in less than ten seconds.
"Apologies for the sudden departure," I said. "There's an emergency on the frontlines."
"Send the bill to my family," Aira added.
"Alright. Stay safe ladies." Even the waiter spoke normally in the situation.
"Okay, here we go." I snapped my finger again and transported us to the frontlines of the Credent Empire.
*****
The first thing I saw was a barrage of fireballs raining down toward the empire's forces. I acted quickly, raising a large barrier to shield them
I narrowed my eyes as I examined the five most powerful mana signatures. I pointed at each one. "That one is S2, that one is S3, S1, S1, S4."
"Who are you?" came the empire's general as he ran up to us.
"The Rogue."
"What? Without your disguise?"
I turned around toward him and shrugged. "Cat's out of the bag, general. I launched a beast into orbit yesterday in the middle of Arcadia."
His dry laugh said a thousand words. "The Rogue and Lady Elise Aindrea are one in the same. I should've seen that coming. No matter. Are you able to help us?"
"This is child's play compared to that monster I killed yesterday. Rest assured, general. I'm going to cleanse this frontline." I jumped up on the railing and held my hand out, forming a golden magic rune.
"Cleanse?"
"That's right." I turned around again and smiled, though everyone could tell it was a fake smile. "I'm a little angry that my date got interrupted." I released the magic rune toward the sky, and it expanded until it eclipsed the very sky.
"What in the world?" Aira was watching with her mouth open. "I know you're special, but..."
Thousands of golden swords made purely out of mana appeared beneath the room.
"I don't care if they're S, if they're SS, if they're SSS, or if they're S10. They're disappearing."
"What about the allies?"
I shook my head. "This has the holy attribute. It will destroy the beasts and heal people." I raised my hand into the air, toward the gigantic rune above. "<
All at once, every single golden blade fell from the sky. There were a few thousand soldiers and hundreds of phantom beasts. By the time my I finished creating blades, there were over a hundred thousand of them.
A dozen for every person and beast on the battlefield.
Each blade carried enough power to destroy the strongest beast down there several times over, and in mere moments, the blades were impaling the entirety of the battlefield.
"Lady Aindrea, that was..." the general didn't finish his sentence. He was completely stupefied.
Can't say I'm surprised at that reaction. I put considerably more power into the job than usual.
"Anyway, general, we're leaving. Have your forces take a well deserved break. This frontline will be safe for the day."
"Thank you, Lady Aindrea."
I teleported us back to Aristide, but not to anywhere on the ground. We were floating in the sky above the city. "Stella, I'll contact you when we return. I'm taking Aira to my island."
"You have an island?" she asked.
I held my hand out to her and smiled. "Shall we?"
*****
She took my hand with zero hesitation, and I warped us there. She immediately noticed the gigantic tower in front of us.
"Wait, is this the World Tower? We're in the central region?"
I nodded. "Yes."
"How did you teleport straight here? The barrier around the central region blocks all magic."
I shrugged. "My barrier doesn't block my magic." I gave her a smile then led her inside. We sat on the couch and I told her everything. My identity, my station, my power, my role in the world, my relationships in Eden, and about Luma.
"I don't think I ever would have guessed any of that." She suddenly held her hand up to her mouth. "I can't believe I dared to have a romantic interest-"
I put my finger over her mouth and shook my head. "Mortals were made in our image. There is no real difference between us."
"No, you're right. I apologize. I allowed this to shake me."
"That's plenty understandable."
"A lot of things make so much more sense. Your power, your indifference toward nobility ranks, your hard stance against slavery, your skill, your knowledge..." she trailed off, but held her hands together against her chest. "But, am I truly allowed to fall in love with the King of the World Tree?"
A chuckle escaped my lips. "King of the World Tree, huh? Haven't been called that in a long time. Most don't understand the importance of Yggdrasil these days. It gladdens me that such traditions are still passed down among elves. Almost makes me want to be biased."
I smiled as I reached for her hands and cupped them with mine. "Aira, not even I can tell you who you are allowed to fall in love with. Nobody controls that, not me, not Lady Luna, not my queens, not yourself, nobody. You can only control how you act on it."
"Then, am I allowed to act on it?" She shook her head as she said that. "No, that's a silly question. I know you well enough now to know you wouldn't allow that freedom to be infringed."
"That's right. More than being a Transcendent, more than being a noble, more than any of those labels... we are girls. Right now, I am a girl who has fallen in love with you."
She smiled softly. Despite being love dumb, even I saw the longing in her eyes. "Why does my heart yearn for you so much? I..." She closed her eyes, her face contorting into a strange mix of emotions. Tears fell from her eyes, brows furrowed, a mouth struggling to decide between a frown and a smile.
I pulled her closer where I could rub her back more easily. "The heart wants what the heart wants."
She leaned against me and rested her head on my shoulder. "Eli, it really seems that this date is just a formality..." She lightly tightened her grip on my hand as I rested my other hand that was rubbing her back on her waist.
Not only did she not stop me, but with her other hand, she held mine in place.
"Will you accept me?" she asked, her voice quiet.
"Of course I accept you."
She looked up with her teary blue eyes and met mine. "As your girlfriend." She was close enough that I could taste her breath.
I smiled and replied, "If you accept me as yours."
"Then... I can... your lips? I can claim them?"
"Mhm."
And she did, pushing me against the back of the couch, sitting up and resting her leg between mine. Her lips touched mine lightly at first, and quickly became ravenous, one hand on the back of the couch, the other on the cushion beneath us, and mine on either side of her waist.
The saltiness streaming into our mouths only reinforced the feelings I felt from her.
My beautiful Elven girlfriend, I will cherish you forever.
What felt like an eternity later, we pulled apart just enough to catch our breath. Her strength gave way, and she dropped onto me, settling down sideways next to me with her head nestled against my neck, one leg over mine, and an arm over my waist.
"Love really feels crazy sometimes."
I chuckled. "Yeah."
"Hey, Eli?"
"Hmm?"
"What was life like in Eden?"
"Do you have anything in mind?"
"Just in general. Like, with your friends, your family, and things like that."
"My life was filled with love and fun. I have three wives, eight daughters, and more family and friends, so I never had nothing to do in all my eons of life."
"It's a little hard to wrap my head around the shear span of time you've lived. Here I am, just some eighteen-year-old elf making out with the most powerful and most important person in all creation."
"Mm-mm. That's who I am to the world. That's not who I am to my loved ones. Remember, there's no real difference between us. We bleed the same, we love the same, we spend time together... we just live a long time."
"But..."
"Mm-mm. You and Maya are no less important to me than my loved ones in Eden. And as angry as I am with Lena, I love her the same."
"I'm sorry you're going through that, Eli. I can't imagine holding in my feelings, much less for as long as she has. She's hurting herself so much, and she's hurting you and everyone else. You said she doesn't allow Lux to call her 'mom' in public?"
"Yeah. I've reprimanded her a lot for it, but Lux asked me to let it go."
I felt her hand clench. Was she getting upset about it?
"Eli?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"Oh? For what?"
"You said you would spend years if that's what it took, but you actually accomplished it in a matter of days. You convinced Rhia's father."
"I used my station and power to show him the truth."
"What do you mean?"
"I can show you, if you'd like."
"Okay."
I weaved my illusion magic and an image of Rhia appeared standing in front of us. "If Rhia was truly not a woman, you would see something like this if you looked at her through my eyes."
I waved my hand in front of us and form a thin film of mana between us and the image. Looking through it, a theoretical male version of Rhia covered her image.
"Gender identity is much more intricate than most understand. The soul shows ones true self. If she was male, her soul would reflect it like this. But she is very clearly female in her soul." I waved my hand again and the image changed.
"She's so pretty!" Aira smiled, and I felt the arm across my waist squeeze to pull us closer, if only a little bit. "She looks almost exactly like her real self."
"Yes. Rhia is remarkable." I snapped my finger and the illusion faded away. "You can't hide who you are from someone like me. I can see one's beauty both within and without. Your beauty is just as incredible."
She leaned up and kissed me again. "So much for the Elven customs."
"I sure am not complaining."
She smirked and whispered into my ear. "But you're holding yourself back."
"If I didn't hold myself back, we'd both be naked."
"Oh." She rose up a bit, and I saw two things written on her face. Her mouth hung open, and her eyes wide open.
But there was also a slight curl on the edge of her lips.
"You want to do that on the first date?"
I giggled. "And the first date isn't even over."
Then, a look in her eyes I hadn't seen yet. She pushed me over on my back and crawled over, only stopping when her face was directly above mine. And she leaned down to kiss me, leaving her face only an inch away from my face after.
"And if I don't want you to hold back?"
Between the kiss, being mounted like that, tasting her breath, and hearing those sweet words, it was too late to turn back. I jumped up, carrying her up with me, and took her to the bed with her legs wrapped around me the whole way.
"I love you, Eli."
"Give me your everything, Aira."
"And you give me your everything."
*****
*****
Eli was out on a date with Aira. I'd been silently watching her like her mortal bodyguards since she came home this morning.
Swing.
In the front courtyard, I had been swinging my sword for hours. I could feel Maya's gaze from the second floor. She'd watched me a lot today.
Swing.
Throughout the day, Eli avoided me, but Maya didn't. I'm almost positive that girl is our Maya, not simply her homonym. That mana she used to heal Eli was exactly the same. I'd never mistake their mana after being inundated with it so completely in my youth.
Swing.
Those old memories have lingered in my mind since last night. My heart yearns for them, but my oath demands abstinence. Love is not permitted. I must refrain and only watch over them.
Swing.
What if I hadn't recalled my memories? What if I had remained just Helena Rosenfeld. Eli did so much for me last night. I would have said yes. I wish I had said yes.
I still want to say yes.
Can the Oath truly not be amended? Is it not possible to fulfill my oath and be true to myself?
As I imagined a life ahead where I return Eli's feelings, my head began to hurt, and I keeled over in pain. Landing on my hands and forearms, the cold dampness of grass sent a shiver through my arms, legs, and even my tail. I instinctively wrapped it around my waist under my shirt.
And then I felt a hand on my back and warmth spreading throughout my body. I knew who it was from the pink hair hanging down out of the corner of my eye, but I looked up all the same.
"What's wrong?"
I grimaced and looked back at the ground. "I can't say."
"You're thinking about Eli."
"Such thoughts are not permitted of a royal guard night."
She pulled me to my feet and dragged me over to a bench, holding my hand along the way. Her mana continuously poured in through her touch.
"I don't mind sitting with you in silence like this," she said, "but I'd love to talk for a while, if you are willing."
"I would never say no to a request from my king's lover."
"I didn't mean it to be... never mind. If you won't say no to a request from me, then accept our love. Be my girlfriend! Be Eli's girlfriend!"
I wanted that so much. Eli and Maya have been trying to force me to break my oath since the day I took it. I've tried on occasion to accept them, but the same pain always stopped me.
"Except that. I can't grant something that my oath does not allow."
Then a frown.
And low-arched eyebrows.
And pure sincerity in her eyes.
Then a tear. But not in her eye.
"It's not fair, Lena... or should I call you Luma?"
"It doesn't matter. You could call me trash, as well."
She shook her head, her expression unchanging. "Don't deprecate yourself. You're in too much pain as it is."
"It doesn't hurt now, though."
She shook her head again and touched my chest with her free hand. "It's this pain that I'm worried about. I know your body isn't in pain now, I can feel it through my mana."
"There's no pain there."
"I'm an empath, Lena. I can feel your emotions all the time. I've felt your longing all day. And right now with my mana, I can feel your emotions so strongly that it hurts. You try so hard to keep it locked away, but you can't hide it from me. You love her so strongly... and you love me the same, even though you don't understand why you feel as strongly about me as you do about her."
She spoke the same words, almost word for word. It was when I was twenty-five. The girls were seven, and Maya sat on a bench with me in the courtyard one night, just like this.
"I'm an empath, Luma. I can feel your emotions all the time. Right now, I can feel your emotions so strongly that it hurts. You try so hard to keep it locked away, but I can see it. You long for her, you long for me, you want Leah, Kaede, and Lux to call you 'mom'."
The similarity was uncanny.
"Lena?"
Her voice pulled me back to reality.
"I'm sorry. You reminded me of my... my..."
"Of my homonym? I can feel your emotions."
"Yes." My eyes were filling with tears. I thought I had a lid on it. But my emotions were flooding throughout my being.
But there was no pain.
There was no pain, but I didn't dare act carelessly. "I'm also thinking of my daughters. Azalea, Kaede, and Lux. I miss them. I miss my queen." My tears flowed freely, and she held my head to her chest.
"Go on, let it out. Love is not something meant to be locked away."
Can I really? Her mana is inundating me just like that night with Eli and Maya. I feel her love overpowering me.
Maybe it was okay to push it? I wanted to so badly. There was no pain from the oath. But what if I said it out loud?
I swallowed hard and pooled my courage. "I love you, Maya."
"And I love you, Lena."
My heart was pounding. I took hold of her hand. "How is this possible? If I even think those words, the pain permeates my entire being. What is this power you have?"
She shook her head but kept smiling. "I don't understand it, either. Is it really that special?"
"It's doing something that not even my Transcendent friends could do. Not even my king could stop the pain. But your power does."
"I'm glad I can help. You deserve to love however you want."
I nodded and smiled as my tears rolled down my face.
"I love you. I love my queen. And I love Elysia. I love her so much. And I..."
And then nothing.
*****
Revision: 2025-6-14