"Lady Shamhat!"
Siduri pulled back the eager woman with a stern expression, inwardly exasperated.
Ever since drinking the Elixir of Life and returning from the dead, the sacred courtesan had grown increasingly reckless, acting as if she thrived on chaos. Judging by her behavior, she was simply bored.
Then, the usually cautious and even-tempered Head Priestess voiced her lingering doubt.
"Isn't it too risky to proceed with this plan immediately?"
The ancient serpent nodded slightly, pausing to think before speaking.
"Therefore, I will go ashore alone and leave Tina on Aeaea. Before the decisive battle begins, you'll have enough time to make your preparations."
Ere's brows furrowed slightly, her tone filled with concern.
"But Mother..."
"I... am fine... can... protect... myself... everyone... need not... worry..."
Her words came out slightly stilted but clear, echoing crisply in everyone's minds. A wave of relief passed through the group, and their hearts finally settled.
After a brief exchange of silent understanding, everyone nodded solemnly. The faint, intermittent communication then came to an end.
Within the cavern, the Magecraft array dimmed and vanished. Tina, who had served as the conduit sustaining the long-distance link between the two World Egg, felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. As she took a step forward, her body swayed slightly.
Just as the Goddess of Beginning groggily tried to make her way to bed, two arms wrapped around her, drawing her close before lifting her up.
Tina blinked her cross-shaped pupils, glanced at the gentle face before her, and quietly nestled against his chest, curling into a more comfortable position.
Moments later, Samael gently laid the Goddess of Beginning on the bed, pulling the blanket up with the care one would show a precious treasure.
Then, the ancient serpent dragged a wicker chair to the bedside, sat down, and instinctively prepared to lull Tina to sleep.
However, despite his gentle coaxing, the Goddess of Beginning still blinked her bright eyes, gazing at Samael by the bed.
"Not sleeping?"
"I'm not sleepy, Samael... you're leaving soon. I want... to look at you... a little longer."
Samael caught the faint trace of longing deep within Tina's eyes. He reached out to smooth her disheveled hair and murmured softly, his voice tinged with guilt.
"I'm sorry. I can't take you with me this time."
The reasons for this decision were many.
On one hand, the situation on land was uncertain. If he brought Tina—who lacked the ability to disguise herself—it would be far too dangerous.
On the other, through recent observation, the ancient serpent had realized that taking her ashore would actually hinder her intellectual awakening.
Tiamat was the goddess of saltwater. The ocean was where she truly belonged, the place most suited for her growth.
And then there was Pandora at the entrance—another troublesome factor.
Their recent encounters had revealed to Samael just how frightening Pandora's potential for growth truly was. After a series of confrontations, he could already sense the laws sealing Pandora's Box within him beginning to loosen.
To be safe, he needed to separate that menace from the Box itself as soon as possible—the farther apart, the better.
If he were to leave, the only one capable of overseeing the situation was Tina, the goddess's larval form immune to the corruption of evil desires.
If he left the two fools on the island unattended, Samael suspected that upon returning, he wouldn't even find their bones.
As a precaution, the ancient serpent had repeatedly baited Pandora recently, feigning defeat and retreat—deliberate acts to train Tina's crisis response instincts.
The results were satisfactory. For that immature Calamity Witch to slip free from the grasp of the Goddess of Beginning would now be almost impossible.
After all, a being so pure, unwavering, and steadfast in will was the very nemesis of Pandora's kind.
Finally, the plan mentioned earlier in his communication with the Underworld faction required Tina's direct participation.
He and Zeus had crossed paths and deceived each other several times.
Now, with the enemy exposed and himself still in the shadows, it was finally his turn to strike back.
"Hmm... I understand... I'll keep watch here..."
Tina nodded slightly, her eyes clear, her gaze gentle.
A wave of warmth rose in Samael's chest. He lowered his head and placed a light kiss on the goddess's forehead.
"Don't leave tonight... please? I want to watch Samael sleep…
I... love Samael the most..."
As night deepened and Samael rose to leave, Tina, thinking of their parting tomorrow, clung to his arm with reluctance.
Faced with the Goddess of Beginning's longing, the ancient serpent decisively... chose to refuse, turning away with resolve.
Tina bit her lower lip, her eyes flickering with disappointment.
There was no helping it—she was simply too big.
It was all that fairy outside the door's fault. Ever since swallowing Pandora's Box, Samael's negative emotions had become far too easy to stir up.
If he couldn't even indulge himself in peace anymore, how was a serpent supposed to live like this?
Damn it, this was inhumane!
Samael raged inwardly, shooting a dark glare at the piece of dried meat swaying in the cave entrance. Forced to endure, he resigned himself to sleeping apart from Tina, silently noting this grudge down in his mental ledger.
Just as the ancient serpent was about to reach his own bed, something struck him, and he turned around in surprise.
"You remembered what happened in Mesopotamia?"
Those were the final words spoken by the Mother Goddess Tiamat when she split off her divinity and returned to the Sea of Imaginary Numbers.
Tina nodded, her cross-shaped pupils gleaming with faint nostalgia.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Nothing. Go to sleep early."
Samael's eyes flickered as he smiled and approached the bedside.
A moment later—
Crack!
A sharp sound echoed through the cavern. The ancient serpent stared at the shattered stone slab beneath him, his expression awkward and pained.
"This bed... doesn't seem very sturdy..."
Without realizing it, Samael slid right up to where Tina lay and blinked.
"How about... we share?"
"Mm!"
The Goddess of Beginning happily made room, lifting the blanket to invite him in. Resting her head on her slender arm, her cross-shaped pupils shimmered as she gazed softly at his face.
One minute... two minutes... half an hour...
"Staring like that without blinking—don't your eyes hurt?"
Samael, who had unconsciously placed his clawed hand over the goddess's slender waist, quietly pulled it back and asked with an awkward chuckle.
Tina shook her head seriously, her eyes filled with quiet satisfaction.
An hour... two hours...
"Tina, you're not planning to stare at me like this until morning, are you?"
"Is that not allowed?"
Facing those pure, unguarded eyes, Samael was left speechless.
A hand that had been resting across her flat abdomen hesitated, then withdrew in frustration.
"Fine then... I'm going to sleep first."
As expected, still not beastly enough.
Just as the ancient serpent sighed and started to turn aside, a soft figure climbed onto his waist. Her hands cupped his cheeks, her starlit eyes shining with warmth.
"I just want to keep looking at Samael like this... forever and ever..."
Her lips brushed his, her tongue slipping past his teeth to chase his own. The taste of her filled his mouth as Samael's mind went blank.
A blazing fire surged from his abdomen, spreading through every limb and bone, burning away the last thread of reason.
Samael gripped the goddess's soft arm, answering her with fierce, burning passion. Their gazes met—desire and affection collided and intertwined, melting together in body and soul.
Outside the cave, the silver-haired elf, shivering in the cold wind, listened to the increasingly intense sounds echoing from within—the sharp impacts, the rising cries of pleasure. Whatever crossed her mind made a wicked smile slowly spread across her face.
...
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