They locked eyes for a moment, and in that moment, Ellia felt a magnetic pull toward him. She barely managed to resist approaching him and throwing her arms around him. She looked away after a moment, sighing. “So, Nikodemus… why didn’t you tell me you had the ability to lift a robot that must weigh at least a ton into the air using nothing but your telekinesis?”

Nikodemus brightened a little at her change in subject. He coughed awkwardly. “I don’t know. I was afraid if I told you, you might try to dissect my brain or use me for nefarious purposes.”

Ellia tsked, but couldn’t help but smile. “Why in the world would I ever dissect you? You do remember that we’re all doomed without you, right?”

Nikodemus shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe your crazed obsession with science would have provoked you to.”

Ellia came and sat next to him, hanging her legs off his bedside. “I have no obsession with science. Don’t be ridiculous. Even if I could have done whatever I wanted with my life, I still wouldn’t have had any interest in science. It’s… dull. And boring. Takes the mystery and fun out of life.”

Nikodemus grabbed her hand, and she was stunned by how chilly it felt. She yanked her own hand away. “I don’t know. You seem like a pragmatic woman. Pragmatic women are always obsessed with the things they can only detect through their senses.”

Ellia made a face. “I may be pragmatic, but that doesn’t mean I’m duller than a cheese knife. I’m not so stupid as to believe that the only things that exist are the things I can detect with my senses. However, that doesn't mean I have to believe in whatever god you woship.”

“For a woman whose gods are visible to her senses, that is mighty big of you to admit.” Nikodemus chuckled.

She playfully pushed the side of his head. “Shush up, you.”

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Nikodemus smiled at her, seemingly glad that she had forgiven him. After a moment, he frowned. “Are you really going to venture out into the desert, Ellia?”

Ellia frowned, disheartened that he had turned the subject back to serious manners when she was on the verge of forgiving him. “Yes, Nikodemus. We will most likely be traveling to the Zironist Church within a month.”

Nikodemus swallowed. His eyes were shiny with tears, he looked away from her as if he were disgusted by her, and Ellia squeezed his hand all-the-harder, trying to earn his forgiveness despite pretending like his feelings toward her meant nothing.

“What if… what if you’re pregnant?” Nikodemus protested. “What if the child you give brith to will be a male? A real male that you can touch and smell—not one that could possibly not exist… one that the Zironists are using to lord over you to get you over to their church.”

Ellia was mentally exhausted. She rubbed her temples. “Let’s just stop talking about this for now. Now, why is it that you have telekinetic powers?”

Nikodemus stared at her for a moment, his lips compressing into a thin line as he resisted pursuing the same subject. Eventually, he shrugged. “It’s a gift from God, I suppose. I’ve always had telekinesis, but I wasn’t always able to read minds.”

Ellia shook her head, snorting in derision. “Your god gave you no such powers. Don’t be ridiculous. There must be another explanation. I suppose… you must have just evolved to have such a brain.”

Nikodemus grinned. “Darling, God caused me to evolve with such a brain. You think this giant cranium is just chance? You really think this is the type of environment that favors a big brain?”

Ellia was grinning, shaking her head. “I hate you so much, but you are funny. You have a point; I don’t see how this environment could ever favor a twig like yourself. It does, however, favor a very tall, strong woman such as myself.”

Nikodemus looked at her with passionate eyes. He said with his voice dripping with infectious affection, “You are strong and tall. Come here, you.” Nikodemus tried to grab her by the hips to pull her toward him, to no avail. The much larger woman was unbudgeable.

Ellia was incredibly tempted to do as he said, but upon looking at his pale face, she found herself smiling incredulously at his attempts to get her into bed when he looked as pale and as sallow as a skeleton. Ellia kissed his forehead and then said, “Maybe later. Get some rest, idiot.”

She left the room, glancing back at him a few times—wishing that she could stay to… make him feel better, but she knew it was best to let him rest.

Besides, she had a fortress to run.