After that whole fiasco, I went to take a shower. Praxis offered to let me go first very flamboyantly, his reasoning being that he needed to 'properly absorb his meal.' Still, in reality, I think he just needed time to relish the feeling of no longer being a virgin.
"I'm done now, you can go ahead and go in, I'm going to head back to my room and rest for a bit," I announced, walking out of the bathroom and over to the bedroom door.
"Um, excuse me, don't think you can just pump-and-dump!" Praxis whined, jumping up and grabbing my wrist to stop me from leaving, "And I'll have you know that this will happen more than once or twice, so get used to the aftercare while you can!"
"Excuse me? Excuse you! I'll have you know that I am anything BUT a pump-and-dump! And who said anything about this being more than a one-time thing? I'm going to find a new solution to your whole 'energy thing' before you can run out of the current supply!" I claimed, turning towards him with a twitching eyebrow.
"Find a new solution!? As my master, you are the solution! You signed up for this when you signed the papers of my purchase, and when you started spoiling me so much," Praxis scoffed, rolling his eyes and pulling me back towards the bed.
"Ugh, you-! Haaa, fine," I pouted, putting my legs on the bed in front of me and resting my back on the headboard, "Just know it's because I need you for something, not because it's special treatment!"
"Yeah, yeah. Say what you want, but when I come back, you better still be on that bed," Praxis ordered, shutting the bathroom door behind him.
Honestly, this was the most emotion I'd ever seen from him, especially in one night. It was a nice change, but I didn't like that it came from sex. Admittedly, though, I realized that it may have been because of his culture or just how incubi and sucubi naturally were.
'Fake it till you make it, I guess…Haaa, I really hope I didn't make a giant mistake by giving in.'
Partly through the deed, I did notice that I felt quite different from when I had felt aroused before. I chalked it up to just being aroused differently, but thinking about it now, it was more than likely something more.
'Ugh, whatever. No use in trying to figure it now, it was the first time I'd led like that before, so it was probably just that.'
Shoving the thought aside, as per usual, I decided it was best to clear my mind for now. It was pretty late, and I had work to do tomorrow, so I planned to think more on the Sephtis and Praxis ordeal later.
"Well, if he wants aftercare, I suppose I can at least do that for him…it is what a good sex partner does," I spoke to myself, getting up from the bed in just my robe and going to open the window, lighting a cigarette for myself as my usual so-called before-bed 'ritual.'
Opening the curtains and the window, I turned around and picked up the discarded clothes around the bed, my cigarette dangling from my mouth. I removed it from my mouth for a moment, expelling the smoke, then went up to the bed's edge and started folding the clothes.
I got puzzled on how to fold up Praxis' sleeve top, but I figured it out, then got to work on the rest. Placing the clothes on the tea table by the window, I replaced the sheets with the extra ones Sephtis placed in the closet, making sure Praxis had a separate pair if he didn't like the other one.
'There really wasn't any point in doing that if both look the same…eh, I guess the materials are somewhat different tho. And thinking now, why are all of the things Praxis owns so complex?!'
There was a saying in this world, "If an item is complex, so is its owner." I suppose that was the world telling me not to try and bother to read Praxis too much, another bothersome thing I didn't exactly want to worry about.
Done with what I could see or remember to clean up, I brought my ashtray out of the spacial broach I was wearing earlier and placed it on the table with the clothes, extinguishing it before taking the book I'd been reading out of the same broach.
Moments later, Praxis emerged from his shower, wearing the same robe and a towel over his head, "Huh? Were you smoking in here?" He asked, sniffing the air.
"Oh, yes, I was. I opened the window to try and air it out, as I did, and it's still airing out. I hope you don't mind," I answered shamelessly, closing my book and looking at him.
"Eh, it's fine. A lot of people smoked back at Kal Natronas slave shop, so I've gotten used to the smell," Praxis commented, walking over and closing the window.
"Haaa, Praxis, come here, I'll dry your hair for you," I offered, gesturing for him to come over. Hearing my sigh, he obediently came over and sat on the floor in front of me, his tail swaying behind him.
"Alright, Master. Thank you for your kindness," He chimed, smiling in his words. He acted like he didn't demand after-care from me, but I let it slide. I could tell he was in a good mood, and it wouldn't benefit either of us if he wasn't
"Um…Just so you know, I'm going back to my room after this," I added, drying his hair with vigor, wanting to leave as soon as I could.
"Hm? So soon? Alright, it's probably best you do, I don't want Sephtis noticing you, and I did that," Praxis agreed, surprising me for a moment. I thought he'd try to keep me here, but I was sorely mistaken.
"So you just wanted me to clean, huh? I see how it is…" I gave him a side eye, but he glared back, making me chuckle, "Yeah, yeah. Not like we are in any sort of relationship, so it's best I do."
"Hmph, good. I'm glad you remember," Praxis stuck his chin up slightly, clearly making a jest of the action, which I didn't mind.
***
I woke up rather late the next day. The sun was in the middle of the sky, and light was just barely pouring through my windows, but it was still enough to light up the room.
"Ugh," I groaned, rubbing my eyes and stretching, feeling the weight on me fall off, "Huh? What the…"
I mumbled, and looking next to me, I saw Sephtis lying there, sleeping like a baby. His arms were wrapped around my waist, and he snuggled closer to me as I sat up.
'The hell? Wasn't he asleep when I went to bed? How'd he get in without me waking up?... Not like I mind tho, his sleeping face is rather cute.'
Remembering the discussion I had with Sephtis the night before, and the events that followed after he cried himself to sleep, I decided to let him sleep there. Though it was mostly out of pity, seeing him lying there and his chest slowly rising and falling tugged at my heart a little.
'...I suppose I really do like him, huh? Haaa, if only it weren't for Llyr and Oryn, then maybe things could be a little different…Though I probably wouldn't have met him then either.'
I sat there for a bit, wondering what to do till Sephtis woke up. Eventually, I fell back asleep myself, opening my eyes to a dark, empty space. Turning around, the only thing of note in the space was a golden table, chair, and a familiar Ginger-Cream colored hair God.
"..." I stared at him for a bit. Hunapo took a sip of his tea, then smiled and waved at me, "You sure do like to show up in the least convenient times, huh?"
"Hehehe, you know I only appear when I can, and when it's a good time to!" Hunapo checkled, watching me walk over and take a seat in front of him.
"Yeah, a good time for you. So, what do you want?" I commented, crossing my arms and leaning back to prepare for whatever bullshit came out of Hunapo's mouth next.
"Heh, straight to the point as always! That's why I like you, you always know exactly what you want and how you are going to get it," Hunapo chuckled and looked at me, opening his closed eyes just a smidge and sending shivers that yelled 'danger!' down my spine.
"...You and both know that isn't always the case, especially with the current circumstances," I replied with caution, but still had the balls to glare at him, "You're the god of Fate, right? Why didn't you tell me about what was to come when I last saw you, even though you very clearly knew."
"Yes, and I do have to apologize for that. While I am the god of Fate, I can't directly interfere and change that; it's something you will have to learn yourself. I gave up that control when I brought you into this world. Llyr's obsession with you was a variable that you caused, not something I could control," Hunapo explained, surprising me with this newfound information.
I sat there in silence for a bit, the only sound in the space being the clinking of Hunapo's teacup as he took another sip of his tea. I tried to piece together what exactly he meant by 'I gave up control, but I couldn't figure out the most likely answer other than that fate could now only be changed due to my actions.
"Please, do not push the burden of changing fate onto me…" I mumbled, Hunapo pausing and putting his teacup down with a clack, "I just want to live a peaceful life, not have the weight of the world on my hands."
"Child, that was never my intention. While you are a potential 'back-up' for Atlas Clyyford, you are here for a much more important reason," Hunapo commented, resting his chin on his interlocked fingers.
"Then tell me. Be straight with me for once, tell me the real reason. The reason why I was chosen for this role, and not anyone else," I demanded, standing up and slamming my hands on the table.
"...Alright, I'll tell you. But in one condition," Hunapo replied, smiling as I pursed my lips and nodded, "Help me win a bet, won't you?"
"Huh?! Are you fucking kidding me right now?!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the never-ending dark space, "You want me to help you win a fucking bet in exchange for the truth? Do you think I'm an idiot?!"
"Now just hold on for a minute!" Hunapo shouted back, pounding his fists on the table, and used his abilities to force me to sit, "I wouldn't ask for your help with this if it wasn't of help to you. I know how you operate, Saito Anzhong. Do not forget that."
"Mmmm, fine. What are the conditions for the bet?" I grumbled, looking away, "It better not be something stupid."
"No need to worry, it is quite the opposite! In fact, you'll want to do it even more due to the rewards it'll give…in addition to the current conditions!" Hunapo smiled, ticking me off even more.
As Hunapo explained to me the conditions of the bet, it felt like I had wasted 100 years of my life listening to that bullshit. Especially considering the bet was with Thien, the literal god of Mischief and Trickery, meaning that he was likely using underhanded tactics himself.
"Hold on, hold on," I interjected, holding up a hand to get Hunapo to stop talking, "You are telling me that the whole reason you started this damned bet is that Cordelia couldn't stop talking about how excited she was that her son was going to get married?!"
"Precisely! But then Thien had to go and ruin her happiness by saying that he slept with you and told her that you were trying your best not to get married to Llyr, unfortunate on Cordelia's and Llyr's part, but also unfortunate on your part for not being able to end the engagement either way!" Hunapo exclaimed, leaning forward with the excitement of gossip filling his voice as he rambled on.
I stared at him with a blank expression for a second, processing what he just said, "...Hunapo, when did Thien say we had sex exactly?"
"Huh? Oh, you don't know, do you?!" Hunapo gave an exaggerated gasp as he covered his lips with his mouth and chuckled, "Dear, Octavius Ayrmyne is Thien's mortal alias."
"...HUH?!" I shouted, shooting up from my seat with an expression full of shock, "Are you saying I seduced and fucked a god?! I'M SO FUCKING STUPID!"