☀️ Arselia and Akonia

The first thing Giyyon saw when he opened his eyes in the morning was Beata's face.
- Wake up and sing, you pest, - she sighed.
- Are you still angry?
- He still asks... To be honest, not really. It was quite in character for you. And, to be completely honest—in character for the boss. Yes, it hurts that I'm once again the last to find out everything; yes, I'm scared of what would have happened if your stupid plan hadn't worked and the Hopelessness had awakened in me... But you tried for my sake. I can't help but appreciate that. For once, someone actually gives a damn about me.
- And I was worried you'd decide the opposite... - Giyyon grew somber.
- Because you're a piece of an idiot, - the former bandit brushed him off. - After that business with Rinze, I'm finally convinced that you're ready for any madness for my sake—planting a worm in my brain, hiding that I'm a freaking apostle, not telling me that you were actually completely at my disposal... I'm not that stupid, Giyosh. I know you're bending over backwards to do what's best for me. And I understand that sometimes I can be too... emotional. But still, I'm no idiot. And I would really appreciate it if you'd start, damn it, using your words with me about problems instead of hiding everything. Yes, this case is more of an exception, but it's not like I've known you for just one day. You even managed to wiggle out of things while under a freaking curse.
- I just...
- Just, it's complicated. You want what's best for me. I want what's best for you. Because, suddenly, I give a damn about you too. And with some things, I can help or at least sympathize, share your worries. Or am I that bad?
- No, it's not that... It's just hard for me to get rid of the habit of keeping everything inside. You're the first person I can open up to. The first person who doesn't just not care.
- Yeah. And I show my "caring" by beating you and screaming about what a cretin you are.
- Everyone has their flaws, - Giyyon smiled. - And you don't beat me that often. And after my adventures in Lower Lunaria, your thumps are such a trifle.
- By the way, about Lunaria... Giyosha, I still haven't told you what happened... Anyway, I walk in, and there—Her Highness! Well, you've probably seen her, she walked right past you...
When Beata finished her story, Giyyon scratched the back of his head meaningfully.
- That explains a lot, - he noted philosophically.
- Yeah. I don't know... I felt so sorry for Her Highness. It's not like she became the enemy of all humanity on purpose.
- And I wonder how much of Akonia is actually in Her Highness. Where one personality ends and another begins. But you're right... a lot of shit happened.
- I think she's trying to fix everything. I just don't know how.
- You know... it reminds me of you, - Giyyon smiled. - Made a huge mess, did plenty of stupid things... But in reality—a good person who doesn't wish anyone ill, for the most part. It just happened that way...
- Happened... Yeah. Holy singularities and celestials are people just like us. They are prone to making mistakes, being misled... Only, if I killed how many people? Definitely fewer than a hundred, a dozen, two, three? Even if it was fifty. Then on her account, there are thousands and millions of corpses...
- Great power, great responsibility, - shrugged the former slave of cosmic spawn.
- D-don't think that I'm judging her! - Beata brushed it off. - Just... just saying. It's hard for me to blame her for anything at all. I think she's suffered enough for her sins.
- Yeah... No one would wish that horrific being eaten alive on anyone.
- Exactly. And with the Lunarians, of course, it turned out funny...
- Hilarious. But now it's clear why they all know how to cast spells... Better if they didn't, - Giyyon shuddered.
- I want to know what you remembered?
- No.
- Some more twisted weirdness, right?
- Something like that. One of my mistresses specialized in summoning various monsters, of any shape and size, completely under her control... Yes, you understood correctly where I'm going with this, - Giyyon chuckled, looking at Beata's curious face.
- Ew. You're right, I don't want to know, - she made a face of disgust.
- I told you.
- Well, now you'll be more at ease knowing that it's not so much the children of Anuzish as it is the spawn of Risha.
- Don't be a racist. I once heard that Risha had a hand in everyone who isn't human or Lunarian... Hm, irrelevant... What now, hate everyone?
- No, of course not. I'm joking... Perhaps not very successfully. By that logic, we'd have to hate the boss and half the squad... I still think it's Alaria and Garrett. Klin from Kridear, Kilika from Heles, Astellia is a Laurian, and as for you and me, we already know.
- Yes, logical. Exactly half, not counting the secretary and the maid.
Beata giggled at a thought that came to mind.
- We're quite a pair, aren't we? Sloth and Hopelessness, love us and don't complain.
- Yeah... When I found out that Hopelessness had settled in you, a part of me wanted to laugh at the irony. We're simply made for each other.
- Yeah. Two idiots are a force.
Having finished laughing, Giyyon prepared to get out of bed.
- And where are you going? - Beata asked sternly.
- To breakfast? The day is already in full swing, - he nodded toward the window.
- Did you forget something? - the adventurer pulled fluffy pink handcuffs from under the pillow and pointedly twirled them on her finger.
- Ah, yes... Well, my mistress, I humbly await how you wish to punish me this time, - Giyyon played the part of submission with his whole being, but his eyes gleamed cunningly.

***

The couple didn't come down for breakfast for a while, having properly tidied themselves up after the session of execution. Fortunately, due to the autumn weather, Giyyon wore closed clothing, and the details of the punishment remained hidden from the curious.