Note: Tq “@aaaninja” for massage chair. Enjoy the Bonus chapter.
Chapter Title: ‘Good Bye… Kent!’
–
War God Palace…
The grand entrance of the War God’s palace stood bathed in soft golden light.
The gathering was over, and the gods had dispersed to their realms, leaving behind an empty stillness that only magnified the significance of the moment.
As Kent stepped out of the palace, he was greeted by a lone figure waiting for him. The goddess of lust stood tall and regal, her radiance only adding to the surreal atmosphere.
Her face, as always, was stoic—unreadable, yet profoundly magnetic. The soft winds swirled her crimson gown like flickering flames, and her piercing gaze locked onto Kent as he approached her.
Kent stopped in his tracks, a warm smile spreading across his face. He bowed his head respectfully and said, “Greetings to the goddess of lust. It is my good karma to meet you.”
But she didn’t respond to his funny action. The smile on Kent’s face faltered slightly as she raised her hand, and out of thin air, a golden arrow with a crescent-shaped ending materialized, glowing faintly. It was the inheritance of Asthra of Lust goddess in pure physical form.
He tilted his head curiously. “So, is this our departing gift?” he asked, trying to inject some humor into the heavy silence.
The goddess remained expressionless. Her lips didn’t even twitch. Instead, she extended the arrow further toward him. Kent chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head before accepting the arrow with both hands.
“Aren’t you going to say anything to me?” Kent asked again, his voice lighthearted, yet tinged with a subtle edge of vulnerability.
She stared at him for a moment longer before speaking, her tone steady and firm. “Burn the golden feather [found in the palace of eternal sands] in the divine alchemy flames and feed the liquid to the baby dragon. It will evolve the baby dragon in 13 days.”
Kent blinked, momentarily stunned. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” His surprise was genuine, his voice rising slightly in disbelief.
“You didn’t ask me,” she replied, her tone unwavering, though there was a faint undercurrent of reproach. “You completely forgot me and didn’t even ask for my opinion on the use of that golden feather you found in the Hall of Eternal Sands. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
Kent threw his head back and laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that echoed in the empty courtyard. “Ha! You’re more petty than I thought, goddess. But thank you for revealing it now. It’ll be a great help.”
Her stoic expression remained unchanged, but something flickered in her eyes—something she quickly buried. “Let the baby dragon evolve in the spirit world itself,” she continued. “It will help absorb more natural essences here.”
Kent nodded, his tone softening. “Yeah, I’ll do that. Thank you for the heads up.”
A heavy silence descended between them, stretching into what felt like an eternity. They stood facing each other in the grand entrance, the golden light casting long shadows. Kent, always the one to break awkward silences, shifted on his feet, but the goddess of lust spoke first.
“So, is this how it ends?” Her voice was low but steady, her gaze piercing.
Kent met her eyes and nodded slowly. “It’s the best ending,” he said, his voice tinged with both resolve and regret. “I kept my promise, and you finally got what you desired. What better ending can I expect than this?”
She stared at him, her usual calm demeanor cracking ever so slightly. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came. Then, out of nowhere, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.
The world seemed to stop. Time itself felt like it had frozen in the moment. Kent, startled, stood motionless as the goddess of lust buried her face in his chest. Her hands clutched at his back, her nails digging into the fabric of his clothes. Her usually unshakable presence now felt fragile, vulnerable.
“I…” Her voice was muffled against him, but Kent could feel the weight of her emotions in every syllable. “Rather than this position as a goddess, I would have preferred to stay within your soul space. Thank you, Kent, for taking care of me all this time. This prideful goddess of lust devotes her heart to you… to you alone.”
Kent’s breath hitched. He slowly raised his arms, gently placing them around her as if she might shatter. He closed his eyes, feeling the depth of her emotions radiating through the embrace.
After a long moment, he pulled back slightly, placing a hand under her chin to lift her face toward him. His other hand gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the stoic mask she always wore had crumbled entirely.
“I’ll remember you all my life,” Kent said, his voice soft yet firm. “But I’ll be happier knowing that you’re out there, ruling over all the realms as the goddess of lust, as you were meant to. It’s better this way. If you ever feel lonely, my shoulder will always be there for you to rest your head.”
The goddess of lust blinked rapidly, her tears finally spilling over. “Why… why do you do this?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You could’ve been a god, Kent. You could’ve stayed with me forever. But instead, you chose to let me go.”
Kent smiled, a bittersweet smile that carried the weight of countless unsaid words. “Because letting go is sometimes the greatest act of love,” he replied. “Your place isn’t in my shadow. It’s up there, shining brighter than anyone else.”
Her lips quivered, but she managed a faint smile.
“Also you’re the most stubborn goddess I’ve ever met,” Kent shot back with a chuckle, wiping away a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “But that’s why we’ll always remember each other.”
As the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon, the goddess of lust stepped back, her arms falling to her sides. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Goodbye, Kent.”
Kent nodded, his smile never faltering. “Goodbye… my goddess.”
With one final look, she turned and walked away, her figure gradually fading into the golden light of the morning. Kent stood there, watching until she was gone, his heart heavy yet at peace.
He turned toward the floating musical hall, where the baby dragon and his companions waited for him. Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and began walking forward. The memory of her embrace, her words, and her tears would remain with him forever—a reminder of a bond that transcended time, space, and divinity.
–
Thank you ‘@aaaninja’