CHAPTER 20: DATE NIGHT P3

~20.3~

*****

An hour later, Alethea stepped out of her private room in their residence wearing a beautiful, long white dress that conformed to her figure well. Kye whistled and eyed her partner up and down. “When did you get that dress? You look great!”

She giggled. “I thought you’d be wearing a dress, too.”

Kye was wearing a tailored suit with a black shirt, black pants, white jacket, and a black ribbon for her ponytail. “Lookin’ sharp, eh?” She grinned. “We make a good match!”

“Let’s go show everyone!”

Kye nodded and held out her arm, intending to escort Alethea like the princess she was. Adele, Michelle, and the kids were all waiting in the common room. They were greeted by a slew of compliments.

“Lookin’ good!” Michelle cheered.

Adele whistled. “Hot!”

“Mommy is pretty!” Rei added.

“Which one?” Adriel asked.

“Both!”

“Well, I’m partial to the one in the dress,” Kaede said with a shrug.

“You’re just playing favorites!” Joey argued.

“I like both moms,” Anna said.

“Mhm, same!” Ariel agreed.

Kye smiled at Adele and Michelle apologetically. “Are you two sure you’ll be fine with all nine of them?”

Adele laughed. “Yeah, we’ll be fine! We’re gonna play some games. It’ll be great. You two go have a good time.” She eyed Liliana. “Make sure they don’t get into too much trouble.”

“Of course.”

“Yeah, have fun!” Anna cheered.

“Mhm, yeah!” Ariel added.

“I’ll keep my siblings in check,” Adriel said with his arms crossed.

Kye smiled. Oh my goddess, these kids are so cute!

“See? We’ll be fiiiiine,” Michelle exaggerated with a giggle.

“Go, momma!” Joey said as she ran over and hugged both of her date-bound parents.

“I’ll allow it just this once!” Kaede said, folding her arms and glaring at Kye. “You better show her a good time! Or you’ll answer to me!”

Kye smiled at the kids. “I promise!”

After a lengthy goodbye, Kye, Alethea, and Liliana headed for the door to the Void Palace. They met Aliana on the other said. Kye quickly explained her plan for the date and started toward the door to Realm 7. Before she could open the door, Rei popped out of the door to Realm 2.

“Mommy!” She ran over to Kye and jumped into her arms.

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“Yes, sweetie?”

“I want to talk when you get back. Just the three of us.”

“The three of us?” Kye raised an eyebrow. “Which three?”

She pointed at Alethea. “Us and her.”

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?”

Rei shook her head. “After your date!”

Kye smile warmly and patted the girl’s head. “Okay, sweetie. Anything you want. Just us three when we get back, I promise.”

“I promise, too!” Alethea added. She bent down and held her arms out for Rei, who quickly switched parents. “I love you, sweetie. I love you so much.” Kye hugged them from behind Rei, and the three shared a long, loving embrace.

When they finally let her down, Rei grabbed Kye’s left hand and Alethea’s right hand. “Thank you for saving me! I feel so lucky to have parents like you!”

Alethea and Kye took turns patting her head.

“Be good for Adele and Michelle, okay?”

Rei nodded. “Yeah! Okay, go have a good time! And will you bring me a takeout box?”

Alethea giggled and Kye held back a chuckle and said, “Okay, sweetie, but we’ll have to bring back something for everyone, okay? It won’t be fair if we only bring some for you.”

“That’s okay! I want to eat with everyone, too!”

Kye and Alethea exchanged smiles and stood up. “Okay, sweetie, we’re off! Love you!”

“Love you!” Alethea echoed.

“Bye-bye!” Rei waved with both hands. She went back through the door to Realm 2 first, knowing they didn’t want her to be left alone in the Void Palace. Liliana and Aliana were accompanying the couple, so nobody was staying in the Void Palace.

“That girl is so sweet,” Alethea said, trying but failing to suppress her fangirl face. “I love her so much!”

Kye smirked. “Your fangirl is showing, heh.”

“Oh hush, don’t even try to pretend you don’t fangirl over our kids. You’re just better at hiding it than me.”

Kye shrugged. “Guilty as charged.”

*****

When they entered Kye’s residence in the church through the Void door, they were greeted by a housekeeper. They exchanged quick hellos and Kye asked where Luma was. The housekeeper directed them to the training grounds behind the cathedral.

“Hey, Luma!” Kye hollered when they arrived. She was busy sparring with one of the knights, one Kye recognized.

“Oh, Kye. Hey! One sec!”

The knight she was sparring with was the one Kye roughed up that night she saved Aisha. Kye smirked as she watched Luma beat him.

“Logan, keep up your training. You have a lot of mana, but your technique needs work if you’re aiming to become a saint.”

“Thank you, Sword Saint. I shall train harder.”

“Good!” Luma left the knights to their training and greeted Kye and company. “What’s up? You two are dressed nice. Going out?”

“Yeah, my lovely Shi-chan wanted to take me out to eat!” Alethea answered. She held onto Kye’s arm and smiled.

“I see. Where’re ya going?”

“The Tall Tree,” Kye said.

“Oh, that’s a great place! Good choice. The food is to die for!” Luma smiled. “But don’t die for it!”

“Heh. Alright, we’re heading out. See you later.”

“Bye!”

“<>.” And they disappeared.

“Sword Saint, is that woman really the goddess?” Logan asked.

“Are you perhaps recalling the night you met her and she flung you down the street?” He nodded and Luma answered, “Yes. She is the creator of Elysium.”

“The scriptures state that the true Sword Saint served as the creator’s guard knight. Not the Sword Saint by title in this church, but the original Sword Saint depicted in the texts.”

“That’s correct. It was long ago, but I did indeed serve as guard knight of Elysia Athas. She is my liege and I am her blade.” Luma looked him in the eyes and smirked. “What’s with that stupefied look?”

“You are claiming to be the original Sword Saint?”

“Oh. You didn’t know?” She glanced around at Saint Collbrande, who only shook his head. “I see. Well, it’s true. I am from the same place as Elysia. In her prime, she is far more powerful than I, or any other. But now, I can truly fulfill my role.”

“Will you be leaving the church?” asked Saint Collbrande.

Luma shook her head. “No. There’s no need for that. Elysia taught me how to cross the boundary, so I can visit the other realms whenever I want. In times of need, I can be there for her.”

“Sword Saint, do you think Lady Elysia would allow me to apologize?” asked Logan.

Luma raised an eyebrow.

“I should have handled the situation differently when she first appeared. The divine light is not something just anyone can wield, yet she wielded it. She wielded it, but I immediately discounted the idea of her being the creator. You said before that it was possible for her to visit us, but I discounted the possibility when it actually happened.”

“I had a hard time believing it at first as well. But Logan, you don’t need to worry about that. If you truly are apologetic, simply pray. She will hear you. Eli has a big heart and loves her people.”

*****

Revision: 2024-7-26