The gate that refused to be breached.

The gate that had survived a thousand rams must be the gate of legends. It was the guardian, the bastion protector, and the defender of all Centauri.

So why was it so special? It was rather simple: two things. First, it was made by magnificent spiders. Second, it was made out of unbeatable IronOak and unyielding Glem.

The Spider King looked at the gate. He knew that even he would struggle to defeat it. Now, he needed it open, and opened quickly. Shouting and knocking was one way to do it. But there was another way.

Whoever installed the gate made a slight mistake. You see, the Oni, with their Torii machine, had rammed and slammed at the gate in feral abandon. Meanwhile, the true solution was simple. Instead of a PUSH, it was a PULL.

The Spider King grasped the large handle and then gave it a firm tug. The gate strained, something creaked and something broke. And then, rather obediently, it opened. Ah, it seemed it was latched by a broom from inside. This was the thing that broke. Either way, the gate was open.

The Spider King rushed inside, seeking survivors. He didn't need to rush far. Girls clad in dented armour met him, their faces hostile. A series of lances were pointed at him. They were Centauri, but they weren't the girls he recognised.

"Be careful! He doesn't look like Oni!" they warned each other.

"Monster, you shall not pass!" a lance was struck at his neck.

This wasn't the warm welcome he expected, but that didn't matter. In the corner of his eye, he spied her, his Centauri Champion.

"[ShadowWalk]," he walked past the hostile strikes, reappearing right in front of her. "Centauri," the word got stuck in his throat, "Centauri Champion, what happened? Quickly take a potion!"

Her form was battered and bruised. Her lance was the only thing that kept her still standing.

"Spider King?!" she looked at him as if she saw an illusion, unable to believe her own eyes. "Is it really you?"

The Centauri defenders rushed to apprehend him.

"Lower your lances!" the Centauri Champion commanded with all the authority she could still muster. "Don't you recognise who he is?"

With those words, spiders spilled out of the gate, dragging the Oni captives behind. They were bound in webs, their expressions traumatised.

"Is he... Is he... The Spider King?" a nearby Centauri stuttered in realisation.

The King in question pressed the healing potion into the Centauri Champion's hands.

"No... The potion, I can't take it. It won't help..." she said so, the relief obvious on her face, like a wave it washed down her body, making her collapse on her knees.

The Spider King caught her in his hands. "But your injuries, they look dire. And what do you mean it won't help?"

"It won't. The Oni, they..." she stopped abruptly, a star in her eye twinkled for a brief second, her expression changing. "I'm too weak to... to drink the potion..." she slumped into his hands.

The Centauri Champion closed her eyes, her lips parted ever so slightly. She looked so weak and so helpless, a real damsel in distress.

"Say no more!" He uncorked the potion and quaffed half of it.

He knew exactly what he needed to do. Their lips connected in a life-saving kiss, the potion being passed into her mouth. She drank it like her life depended on it, with greedy gulps.

He broke the kiss, checking on her condition. There was no improvement. Actually, she was now entirely limp in his hands, her body heavy and hot. Oh right! He had administered only half of the potion. With urgency, he forced the rest of it. Alas, her wounds still refused to heal.

She opened her eyes ever so slightly. She looked sleepy, she looked like a maiden recently woken from a deep and vivid dream.

"More... I need more..." she spoke in a weak whisper. "Cough, cough..."

No! He won't lose her! Not here! Not in his hands! He retrieved another potion, more potent this time.

"Centauri Champion, stay with me!" He pressed his lips to hers again, passing the sweet-tasting potion.

Again, she drank it like her life depended on it.

"!!!" There was no improvement.

Actually, it seemed her condition was growing only worse. Her face was flushed, and her breathing hot and ragged. Her legs were trembling, and her arms were wrapped super tightly around his neck.

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"Centauri Champion!!!" He administered yet another potion.

She drank it like her life depended on it.

"...more..." she begged as soon as he broke the kiss.

Someone tapped the Spider King's shoulder. He turned to look at the interloper. It was a Centauri knight, her cheeks hot and purple for some reason, her breaths hot. Her condition was similar to the Centauri Champion's but perhaps not as severe. He looked around noticing that other knights had similar expressions, their faces flushed red.

Were they affected too? Was there a curse ravaging the castle? Some incurable sickness? It would make sense, after all, the castle was under siege for some time.

Shyly, the Centauri knight spoke. "Oni, they use Curse Katanas. Wounds inflicted by them can't be healed by scrolls or potions," she said matter-of-factly.

"???" he was confused.

"Potions can't heal her," she reiterated.

Suddenly, the strength returned to the Centauri Champion. He could feel the might of her grip on his neck and shoulders. It felt angry. Surprised, he turned to look at her. She was glaring murderously at the Centauri knight.

"You are demoted!" she roared, the previous vocal weakness all but gone.

"But... But I... I understand," the knight bowed in apology.

The Spider King was still confused. "Centauri Champion, will you be alright? I thought you were dying!"

She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm hurt but I'm not dying. And yes, the potions are ineffective."

"Oh... But we must do something about your wounds!"

"Time will heal them. I'm mostly just exhausted... But... I feel like I would heal in your hands quicker. Please don't let me go," her eyes met his, there was an unspoken desire within them.

"I guess I don't mind," he held her tightly.

"It has been a long time, Spider King."

"Too long..." he felt his eyes begin to moisten.

"Are you crying?"

"No, my eyes just got sweaty all of a sudden."

"Oh you..."

...

Some wounds could heal only with the warmth of the bed and good rest. Following her suggestion, the Spider King escorted the Centauri Champion to her room. The room was spacious but barren of furniture. Instead of a window, there was a hole of crumbled stone, the morning sun shining through it. Through it, he could see the inside of the Centauri Castle, most of it in ruins. Also, there was no bed in this room.

"Would you kindly help me with my armour?" she asked him, her legs and arms stretched wide.

That's right, she had quite a few pieces on, and you can't rest with something heavy like that. It was up to him to make her comfortable.

He unclasped the clasps on the equine half of her back. Heavy plates dropped on the stone floor, threatening to crack it.

"This one too, please," she knocked at her chest plate.

Admittedly, dressing and undressing armour wasn't his forte, hence why he reached for the clasps from her front.

"..." he couldn't quite reach it. He would need to get rather close.

"I don't mind, go ahead."

Well, if she didn't mind, neither did he. He ended up giving her an awkward hug, her plate pressing against his chest. He didn't fiddle with the clasps for too long. The chest piece was freed. Unwilling to make the previous mistake and let it drop, he grabbed it by the sides. Something formidable threatened to spill from behind it.

"Go ahead," she encouraged.

Feeling like a kid unboxing a gift, he pried the plate away. A bundle of joy jumped at him with gratitude, puffing up happily at their freedom. And yet, the gift he was looking forward to was under another wrapper, the armour padding.

"Go ahead," she urged.

Belts and more clasps awaited. But those weren't a challenge either. Soon, the padding, two pieces, one for the top and the other for the lower half, were removed.

"Go ahead," she demanded.

"???"

All she had now was a thin cloth, much like a tight gown covering her skin. It barely kept her modest. Where was there nowhere to go ahead! If he removed that...

"Go ahead," she insisted, puffing out her chest.

Weapons of mass destruction bobbed at her vigorous insistence, so tight was that cloth that it threatened to rip at any moment. She shouldn't be so careless with her movements!

"..." And no, he couldn't go ahead. If he did, there would be no turning back.

But also, this was the time he noticed many wounds across her body. They were fresh battle scars, some still red with blood.

"It must have been hard for you. Fighting so fiercely for your people." He spoke those lines with admiration.

Realising that the Spider King wouldn't go ahead, her shoulders slumped ever so slightly, but her lips were smiling.

"It was... I thought I was done for, but my King Charming came just in the nick of time and saved all of us."

He folded her armour padding and set it aside. "But Centauri Champion, what were you thinking? Why didn't you ask the spiders for help?"

"This was my Quest, and my people. I wanted to save them with my own power. That's why I insisted that the spiders don't interfere."

"But..." he didn't get to finish.

"But, I know now that it was a mistake. I knew it for quite a while yet insisted on doing this on my own. And then... I almost got everyone killed. I feel ashamed," she wrapped her hands around herself.

He took her shaking hands into his palms. "Don't feel ashamed. Mistakes are there to learn from them. But you should have called the spiders if you were struggling."

"Yes, I'm sorry. Pride stood in my way. I won't make this mistake ever again."

"Just remember, you can always rely on me and my spiders. Just give a word, any time. Don't struggle on your Quest alone!"

"Yes... In the end, it was you who saved me and my people again. For a second, or was this a third time already?"

"Think nothing of it. I guess it's my duty after all."

"No, we'll be forever grateful. I'll be forever grateful... I would like to repay you in some way," she fluttered her eyelashes. "You know... here we are...the two of us... Do you have anything in mind?"

"No... not really. A simple thanks is enough."

"You say that, but I see your eyes and where they're looking. I see your thirst, and I understand your desire. All you need to do is but ask," the deadly weapons bobbed in temptation.

The Spider King cupped his chin, his expression thoughtful. "You drive a hard bargain, Centauri Champion, so I find myself unable to refuse. But I am a King, and for appearances sake, I must remain modest. Then, all I ask is a small glass. One glass no more."

She beamed him a perfect smile. "Go ahead, it's self-service."

...

There was nothing better than a fresh glass of milk in the morning. It was creamy, warm, and invigorating. The Centauri Champion was left to rest in her room, on her face a smile full of satisfaction and gratitude.

By a knock of a spider, the Spider King was invited to the courtyard. Once there, he was taken by surprise.

"Hail, the Spider King!" the Centauri thumped their hooves in unison.

There was a whole herd of them, a thousand maybe more, all standing in a neat formation. These were fresh faces he hadn't seen before. And yet again, fortunately or not, they were mostly women, girls equipped with formidable weapons.

If he played his cards well, the Centauri Cheese shortage could be resolved within days.