Chapter 47: Strange Artifacts

[Third Person's PoV] 

In the quiet stillness of the ancient library, Stephen's arm wrapped around Secre's waist as she perched on the edge of a grand oak table. Her hands gently cupped his cheeks, their faces mere inches apart. The only sound that filled the vast, magical chamber was the soft, rhythmic smacking of their lips as they lost themselves in each other's kiss.

As they broke apart to catch their breath, a faint smile touched both their lips. Their faces remained close, each breath mingling, the intimacy of the moment hanging heavily between them. 

Secre was the first to break the silence, her voice soft yet tinged with a bashful note. "This… wasn't quite how I pictured my day turning out," she admitted, her cheeks a delicate shade of pink.

Stephen smirked, his tone teasing. "Want to know something interesting? Right now, it's not just us—it's our souls touching, practically kissing each other. Makes this moment all the more intimate, don't you think?"

Secre's eyes widened, a hint of surprise flashing through her expression. "I… never thought of it that way." Her gaze softened, her fingers lightly tracing his cheek before drifting over his lips. Slowly, she pulled him closer, whispering, "You're right… This is much more intimate."

Their lips met again, the kiss deepening as they surrendered to the unspoken pull between them. When they finally broke apart, Stephen slumped back into the chair, catching his breath. Secre remained on the table, swinging her legs with a contented expression.

Noticing Stephen's pensive look, her playful smile faded, replaced by concern. "Are you thinking about Mimosa?" she asked softly, reading the trace of guilt that marred his expression.

Stephen sighed, unable to hide his thoughts. "Is it that obvious?" he grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

Secre raised an eyebrow, a gentle but knowing smile tugging at her lips. "It's written all over your face."

Stephen's shoulders slumped. "I can't help feeling guilty. After telling her I wouldn't annul the engagement, here I am, making out with you. It feels wrong, like I'm a scumbag. We even said if either of us fell for someone else, we'd call it off. And that was… just a few minutes ago."

"You're right," Secre replied bluntly, her expression unreadable. "You *are* a scumbag."

Stephen groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Ugh…"

But then Secre's face softened, and a small smile appeared. "Still… Just because we have this," she gestured between them, "doesn't mean you have to end the engagement. At least, I don't want you to."

Stephen's eyes widened in surprise. "Excuse me? A minute ago, you were practically glaring at the thought of me with someone else."

Secre shook her head, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "I wasn't jealous that you were with someone else. Back in my time, mistresses and concubines were common. I wasn't expecting anything… formal. I just envied that others could be with you openly, while I had to settle for being by your side as a bird." Her gaze dropped momentarily. "That's what bothered me."

To punctuate her words, she pressed her foot playfully against his chest, pushing him back. "Besides, I want you to keep your options open. Just in case… well, in case I stay stuck in this form. Imagine telling people you're in love with a bird. They'd think you'd lost it!" She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head at the absurdity.

Stephen caught her foot, playfully swatting it aside. He leaned in, placing his hands on either side of her, effectively caging her in. "Didn't I say I'd find a way to fix this?"

Secre rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her soft smile as she brushed a stray strand of his white hair back. "Consider it insurance."

Stephen sighed, shaking his head. "Some insurance. I doubt Mimosa would appreciate being thought of that way."

Secre's smile turned mischievous as she wrapped her legs around his waist, mirroring his previous motion. "Hmm… sounds like you're already attached to her. Seems like Mimosa's more than just insurance."

Stephen gave a reluctant nod. "She's my fiancée; it would be wrong not to care. And she's… genuinely nice. I don't want to hurt her."

Secre's hands slid up to his neck, her touch soft, her eyes gleaming with warmth. "You're adorable." Without waiting, she pulled him into another kiss, letting herself enjoy the moment. 

When they finally separated, both of them were left with messy hair and the faint remnants of shared warmth. Secre adjusted her spaghetti strap, letting out a satisfied sigh as Stephen ran a hand through his tousled hair. He leaned back into his chair, pulling out a spellbook he had been studying—an ancient, thick tome marked with symbols from the Crimson Dimension.

Secre cleared her throat, a playful spark in her eyes. "So… you managed to trick a Dimensional Lord?"

Stephen smirked, flipping through the pages. "Yeah, I convinced him to break Wanda free from her crystal, plus let me draw from his dimension's power. Downside is, I need to invoke his name to use the spells, or he won't lend me his strength."

Secre leaned forward, intrigued. "How did you manage that?"

"I appealed to his nature, both godly and demonic," Stephen said with a hint of pride. "They're both drawn to attention and praise."

Secre hummed, impressed. "Smart. Do you have to use any hand signs?"

"Nope. Just his name and the spell name. Easier and quicker in combat."

A grin spread across his face as he continued, clearly excited. "The spells from his dimension are unique, indestructible when cast correctly. Take the Bands of Cyttorak, for example. They produce these unbreakable bonds that could restrain even the strongest of foes. I was thinking… if I could wrap those bands around my arms, they'd serve as both armor and a way to amplify my strikes."

Secre tapped her chin thoughtfully, impressed. "That's clever… I wouldn't have thought of using it that way."

With a shared smile, Stephen opened the book on the table, settling beside Secre as they both delved back into their studies. The vast library returned to its quiet, magical stillness.

…

After an hour in the real world, Stephen and Nero both opened their eyes. Nero nuzzled his face against Stephen's cheek before fluttering up to perch on the bed's headboard. Stretching his arms, Stephen gently set his grimoire down at the foot of the bed.

"Alright," he murmured, "time to organize everything I retrieved from the dungeon."

Stephen approached a shelf he had recently set up specifically for magical artifacts, grabbing Dragonfang, his newly acquired sword. He carefully placed it across two custom holders, one gripping the hilt and the other cradling the blade.

"Dragonfang," he explained to Nero, who was watching with curious eyes. "A magical sword with the abilities of indestructibility, magic absorption, barrier negation, weapon skill enhancement, recall, and, believe it or not, the power to command winged horses."

Nero tilted his head, clearly intrigued.

Next, Stephen opened a portal to the Mirror Dimension and returned moments later, holding a large, ancient-looking orb. He set it down in the center of his shelves. "This is the Orb of Agamotto, also known as the Earthly Scanner. It's used for scrying, detecting danger, sending telepathic messages, and even peering into other dimensions."

Going back into the Mirror Dimension, he reappeared with a heavy, intricately adorned cauldron. "And this is the Cauldron of the Cosmos. It lets me dwell on the mysteries of the universe—it's mainly for consultation and scrying."

Lastly, he gestured to a long yellow-orange sash that was wrapped around his waist. "This sash can extend up to ten times its length. It could come in handy for binding or as an extension of my own reach."

"These are the essentials," he continued, nodding at Nero, "though there are a few other items, they aren't as important as the one I retrieved. There's a wine glass that magically refills itself every time you take a drink. I'll put those away for now."

As Stephen finished reorganizing his room, a soft knock interrupted his focus. He flicked his wrist, causing the door to open magically, and found Wanda standing there. She wore a light nightgown, clutching a pillow and a blanket to her chest.

Stephen couldn't help but smirk. "Did you… perhaps have a nightmare?" he teased, clearly amused.

Wanda flushed, casting her eyes downward. "I… I didn't want to sleep alone," she admitted in a small voice. "It's just… the idea of being in a room by myself feels too strange."

Seeing her vulnerability, Stephen's expression softened, and he opened the door wider. "Come on in," he said gently.

Wanda entered, and the door closed quietly behind her. The room, with its glow of ancient artifacts and the faint scent of parchment and magic, felt cozy and inviting. Wanda set her pillow and blanket on a nearby chair, looking slightly embarrassed but visibly more at ease.

Stephen took a moment to adjust the settings on a small candle-like orb by his bed, filling the room with a warm, comforting light. "Feel free to make yourself comfortable," he offered, gesturing to the spare blankets on his bed.

She gave him a small smile, settling onto the edge of the bed. "Thank you, Stephen."

*******************************************

+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3