The streets of Bonta were empty except for the few people who braved the pouring rain to either seek shelter, do their jobs or need to arrive at a certain destination, no matter how terrible the weather appeared to be. With so few out on the streets and the day drawing to a close, the flickering of Zaaps up a long and steep stairway leading to the higher levels of the city went by unnoticed, a lone woman making her way upwards until she reached the final step.

The female Eliatrope didn't stop moving after her feet touched the cobblestones and the last Zaap closed behind her, glancing to the peculiar building across the street as she hurried towards it. It was a place she had visited for different kind of reasons before and this day's visit wasn't any different. She shivered after she took cover from the heavy rain underneath the front awning of the green and white painted shop with a hurry in her step, seeing the eye above the door was closed when she collected the loose hanging fabric of her veil to wring the water out of it. She was drenched, to say the least, the rain having caught her by surprise after she traveled through the stationary Zaap of Amakna to Bonta.

The sky had grown dark with the thickly packed clouds, giving a gloom to the early evening. A few lanterns were already lit from what she could see after she turned around to admire the view, the long downwards stairway across the street granting her a good look at the many blue and orange tiled rooftops of the city. Most of the vibrant colors were dulled by the wet and dark weather. The weather had been indecisive and sporadic since Ogrest's defeat, every region having suffered from some abrupt changes throughout the days, though it wasn't as bad as it appeared to be for some.

Alys ran a hand across her face to wipe away any rain drops which clung to her skin before she brought her attention back to the closed door. She saw a light upstairs behind one of the windows, though if it was a sign of someone being home was still a guess. "Luis?" she asked a little reluctant and quietly after she brought herself closer to the door, flinching in her step when thunder cracked through the air and lit up the street and surroundings with a white light. It appeared she arrived on time with such bad weather rolling in. She shook her head while looking down the street through the curtain of rain, feeling another chill run along her spine. At least she was dry for the time being.

A startled gasp escaped her when something warm wrapped around her left hand, her head snapping around to find the front door was open, if only but a little. The hooded master of Bonta stood in the crack of the door, lightly holding Alys' fingers in one of his small hands while he peered at her from the hood's darkness with a piercing gaze. He didn't say a word when he took a step back and opened the door further to guide her inside, soon enough having her enter the front of the small shop.

There was a tension in the air when the door closed behind her with a soft click and the sound of the lock falling in place. She could feel it weighing down on her while she stood in the gloom of the bazaar; something was wrong.

After Joris let go of her hand and straightened in his pose while standing before her, he glanced upwards to the open eye above the doorway for a form of confirmation before holding his hands behind his back, the look his eyes held pondering at best. "Our time in Ecaflipus, do you remember?" he suddenly asked, seeing her puzzled expression clear up to be replaced by a look of uncertainty, the peachy blush which usually adorned her cheeks deepening in color when she recalled the time spent in the divine dimension. It was a strange question to ask all of a sudden without a single greeting, but the tone he asked in made clear that it was important she would answer. His shoulders rose a little with the deep breath he took when she nodded," did I give you two Dofus during that time?"

"For a moment, yes," she answered, the clattering sound of the Dofus hitting the ground resonating in the back of her head. It was when he lured her close by offering the bag with the Dofus to her after they won Ush' game, except... she didn't exactly get the chance to hold onto the bag for all too long. "You… you took them back, however." The rumble of thunder accompanied her words, muffled as they were safely indoors from the bad weather. She couldn't get herself to say out loud what exactly had occurred after she took the bag from Joris and what caused it to slip from her grasp to land on the ground, though the blush on her cheeks gave her thoughts away.

Luis' upper eyelid somewhat rose while he stared down at the two standing before him as he was present in his usual spot above the front door, saying after he quietly observed the situation," sounds and looks like her to me."

Alys turned her upper body to look up to Luis, blinking slowly in confusion until it began to fall in place. Were they making certain she wasn't an imposter? It appeared so.

"Indeed," Joris said with a nod, sounding pleased before he reached up to take Alys' hands into his own; they felt cold, knowing the rain was to blame for it," let us get you upstairs so you can get dry and warm up." He kept the Eliatrope in the dark for a while longer when he released her and made his way over towards the stairs to head for the familiar and more welcoming lounge, making certain Alys would follow him. "Pardon the unusual welcome. Luis won't answer the door for the time being," Joris explained while climbing the steps," a precaution after what happened here. He will inform anyone who is home, however."

It explained a few things... They were assaulted in their home not that long ago; it was only natural for everyone involved to be more careful and cautious. "What makes you so certain I am not an imposter?" Alys asked with a slight tilt of her head, asking more out of curiosity than anything else. He did ask her a question which only she could answer but, in hindsight, they weren't completely alone after their victory in Ecaflipus. Ush, Fayme and the four pawns Percimol, Maskemane, Remington and Grany were still present somewhere amidst the mist and floating cat statues. They could have seen what happened between her and the small master… She rather not think of the possibility someone saw them.

Joris paused in his climb to glance back to the Eliatrope who was close behind him, his eyes fluttering over her appearance before he said with what sounded like an inward chuckle," there are ways of telling."

She caught his smile before he looked back ahead to scale the rest of the stairs, lingering a little when the blush returned to her face. She huffed at herself for being so easily flustered as of late and hurried up the steps to go down the long corridor and enter the well-lit space which was the lounge, seeing Joris motion with a hand towards the stove as he made his way over towards the kitchen.

"Dry yourself or have a seat," he said before he disappeared from sight as he rounded the corner, his voice sounding while he continued talking," I didn't expect you to come here so soon after our last meeting in Sadida. Did anything happen?"

Alys took off her drenched shoes while she walked before placing them in front of the stove and rose her hands to warm them by the heat of the stoked fire. "I am sorry for arriving unannounced. I wanted to write you a letter beforehand but I was afraid it would get intercepted," she answered with a slight raising of her voice while pulling off her damp gloves to leave them to dry," things haven't been safe…" She held back on a sigh after she seated herself by the low table standing in the middle of the lounge once her shoes and gloves were undone. "I wished to check on you, Luis, Kerubim and Atcham," she honestly admitted, the long periods of silence having her worried. The last letter she received was the apology Joris wrote her before he set out to collect the Eliatrope Dofus with the two Ecaflips, followed by several months of no contact whatsoever," times have been troubling, no matter that certain things have come to an end."

"Trouble in Emelka?" Joris asked when he left the kitchen and walked over towards Alys, holding a thick towel out to her. He hadn't heard much from the Amaknian king and his council since Zinit's appearance in the sky and the meteor shower which followed soon after, but reports had begun to trickle in from different kind of locations across the globe.

Alys accepted the towel from him with a grateful smile before she began to undo the pin which kept her veil together. "No true trouble but things have changed," she said with a soft tone to her voice, laying the oval pin upon the table. She caressed the cyan tinted glass the silver setting held while she thought about the place she had called home for the last few years. The loss of Adamaï still weighed heavy on everyone," aside from Emelka, things have been calm in Amakna after the recent events."

Joris seated himself on the table next to her after the Eliatrope took the towel he offered, watching her unwrap the damp scarf from around her head after she undid the pin he had given her. He saw her hesitate as the reveal of her hidden wings was still something to get used to before she lifted the veil and let it hang down her shoulders while shaking her head to let her hair fall free. The wing shaped Wakfu spread the moment they were granted the freedom, their cyan glow shining onto the top of her head when she began to dry her hair. It was so very casual in doing and yet he found himself captivated while observing her do something which most would find completely normal.

"I received reports that the casualty rate in Amakna was very low to almost nonexistent," Alys said running the curly ends of her hair through the towel," the damage, however… the planned harvest has taken a few hits with the meteor shower though Sadida and Cania really took most of it."

Joris nodded after he caught himself staring, taking his eyes away from Alys for but a few seconds to glance over towards Luis, knowing the Shushu would keep her secret. Though, judging by the look the eye in the wall held, Luis seemed fairly unfazed by the Wakfu which flowed freely from the sides of Alys' head. He had seen it before during Alys' recovery here, it was nothing new. "I have yet to hear back from Justice about any more damage reports from the plains, but we lost the stationary Zaap nearby Morbleu Hills. Brakmar hasn't given us any reports so far, however, we received word from our intel that most of the shower was out of Brakmar's reach. I am certain they'll fabricate something to gain some retribution out of this... New Sufokia refused to share anything with us, as expected."

A grimace appeared across Alys' face when Joris mentioned Brakmar and New Sufokia, two nations which were still so far out of anyone's reach when allegiances were concerned. "I wish the nations were more united…" she sighed while dabbing her cheeks dry with the towel, not wishing to think about her last few experiences with Brakmar.

"Perhaps one day."

Alys looked up from the table to lift her gaze to Joris, smiling at him. It was strange, the way they were acting towards each other. So much had happened and yet they sat there like nothing had happened at all. There was doubt, doubt that they made a mistake or that the other was regretting the actions taken. She didn't regret anything. Did he...? She lowered the towel to let it rest in her lap, asking with a whisper-like voice while she kept her eyes on him," have you fully recovered from what happened?"

He cocked his head a little in mild surprise at her question before he nodded once in answer, asking as he placed a hand on top of the table to lean on it and bring himself a little closer to express his concern," have you?"

"It has been difficult with Adamaï having gone missing, but… yes," she said quietly, stopping herself from talking in depth about what was on her mind," I have been thinking a lot since then. Not a day has gone by without reminding me…" She averted her gaze from him, a thoughtful expression resting on her face. The problems which arose after the events in Sadida, Ecaflip and Frigost came first and above everything else. She found herself being back on square one with trying to bring the Eliatropes to a trustworthy position among the other nations and Disciples after how the rulers of the World had treated her people and the Eliatrope Dofus. She wasn't going to give up though. She would try to regain everything which had been lost in this mess. What was currently on her mind weren't politics, however…

Joris shifted a little in his sitting, knowing full well what Alys was talking about though there were many things on the Eliatrope's mind he had no grasp on. He had a feeling they were dancing around the subject, though, like they had done so many times before. "Some things shouldn't be forgotten," he said while he remained leaning on his hand, trying to look her in the eye but she kept her gaze deliberately elsewhere.

"I don't want to forget," she admitted, the smile she had fading," not again… not ever." Even the things which still kept her up at night were memories she didn't wish to lose. She woke up with absolutely nothing almost seven years ago... She didn't want to experience that dreadful feeling of being void again. "I still remember the smells and sounds from that day, the warmth of the sunlight… the sound of your voice," she said, the brooding look she held letting up a little," you were the first person I saw, the first person to talk to me, the first person to show care. I never thought…" She stopped herself when she felt her cheeks growing warmer and let out a weak huff, saying before she finally looked back at Joris," I never thought we would come this far."

A smile was visible in the shadow of his hood when she brought them back to the day she awoke from her years long slumber in captivity. When she appeared on the balcony and was in awe by the view, he had observed her from the shadows before he made his way down to greet her. He had been watching most of the time, making certain nobody unauthorized would enter her chambers. Nobody asked him to take on the task of looking over her; he was but a mere guest of Sadida at the time, there to discuss some political matters in the name of his own king rather than be deemed important enough to get involved with Eliatrope matters. He was left out of most of it in the beginning, understandably so. But when she lay there on the bed in the guard quarters, he couldn't help but have his interest piqued… even though he took a true interest in her after he was permitted to go through Nox's research notes and found out more about her. There was a sense of duty which overtook him after he learned about the mysterious captive and it only became stronger when he found out she couldn't even remember her own name.

"Neither did I," he said when the memories overwhelmed him, growing silent as he found himself unable to look away from her while she continued to gaze up to him. The interest he had developed in her had never died or dwindled, not even when she was a bride to Brakmar or when she appeared broken and bleeding downstairs. It only grew.

Luis' eye flickered in between the two when he found them staring at one and another, their conversation having drawn to an inconclusive close. He was about to make a sound as if clearing his throat to have them snap out of it as he was well aware that they had forgotten about him, until he could see them move. The eye in the wall grew larger as he watched the two inch towards each other, picking up on what was unfolding right before him. He kept quiet to watch, not daring to even blink so he wouldn't accidentally break the fragile moment.

They didn't say a word when they instinctively grew closer, their eyes lulling to a close and their heads tilting before their lips met and brushed against each other. It was a careful and tender kiss at first, both testing the waters to not scare each other off until they opened their eyes ever so slightly to look at each other. Time stood still, the longing they felt present in the looks they exchanged before Alys' fingers brushed over Joris' chin, a silent sign. They found each other swiftly, one leaning down while the other sat up so they could embrace each other while they shared a deep kiss, one they had been wanting to share during the several weeks they were apart.

Joris slipped off the table when Alys pulled at the pelt he wore, following her as she lowered herself back onto the carpet while keeping him as close as possible. He pushed his hands into her thick hair when he leaned over her once she laid down and caught his lips with her own, surrendering to the moment. They hadn't been able to give in to each other back in Ecaflipus or when they once more said their goodbye in Sadida, the situations not having been in their favor. Now it was difficult to hold back.

The embrace they held each other in was tight as passion welled up between them with hot breaths and tender caresses, any doubt they once had discarded. They were eager while they drowned in the intimacy they shared; too long had they denied themselves from what they wanted, what was right in front of them. Duty, compassion, responsibilities, the fear of losing the other… they were all excuses which they pushed far back, replaced with a longing and a burning desire. For once the world was forgotten about… until it found them like it always did.

Joris' head snapped up when something in another part of the bazaar suddenly caught his attention, a sound which he knew all too well; the front door. He pushed himself up onto his hands while remaining hunched over Alys, peering over the edge of the table towards the open doorway with narrowed eyes as he listened intently. He looked back down at Alys after his suspicions were confirmed when muffled voices sounded from the store downstairs, seeing her gaze up to him with flustered cheeks and a bewildered look in her eyes as she wasn't certain of what was happening. It wasn't until a sudden loud crack and snap followed by a pained yelp could be heard that Alys' hold around Joris' neck tightened. They weren't alone anymore.

"Luis! What are you playing at?" Kerubim's aggravated voice sounded from downstairs, the eye which had dreamily watched the intimate scene now closed. Luis had shifted himself to a different part of the house the moment someone entered the bazaar and, by the sounds of it, had created a small diversion to buy the couple in the lounge some time to compose themselves.

Alys was on the verge of panicking when she rose her gaze upwards, realizing her wings were visible and that she and Joris were so very close to each other. What if anyone saw them like this? She grabbed for her veil to cover herself, feeling Joris try and help her get decent while Atcham's laughter could be heard, the bickering between Luis and Kerubim continuing on downstairs.

Joris softly hushed when he saw her biting her lip while helplessly fiddling with her pin after they sat up, the deep color of her cheeks not fading. He took the silver brooch from her hands to pin it and her veil in place for her, she herself unable to do so properly without a mirror. He looked up from the pin when he saw the eye in the wall behind Alys open once more, saying with an appreciative nod and a small grin while he rested a hand against the Eliatrope's blushing cheek," thank you, Luis." He was aware the Shushu was watching and that he immediately jumped into action the moment the two Ecaflips came home.

"It was a pleasure," the Shushu said with a mischievous tone in his voice, having enjoyed the chance to give Kerubim a whack with one of the floorboards like he had done several times before in the past. He focused on the doorway of the lounge while Joris leaned close to Alys to have one last kiss before pulling away to lower any suspicion once Atcham appeared on the threshold.

"Some welcome," the furless Ecaflip snickered after entering the lounge before he nodded to Alys when he saw her sitting by the low table, not seeming surprised to see her," Princess." He began to undo his sleeveless trench coat as he walked further into the lounge before letting out an audible shiver. "Weather's gone to the dogs, I tell you. At least it stopped pouring when we arrived in Bonta."

"Hello Atcham," Alys smiled at him when he sat himself down next to her, feeling the edge of his long ear brush past her shoulder and the side of her head when he tilted himself towards her in greeting. She was fidgeting with the hair which fell outside of her veil, feeling like she was still blushing even though there was no teasing on Atcham's part. Apparently, she was in the clear. Luis' fast acting had prevented some embarrassment; she better thank him for that later.

Joris picked up the towel from the floor while standing behind Alys, seemingly very calm compared to the Eliatrope though he had the concealment of his face in his favor. He looked past Alys and Atcham when Kerubim finally made his way upstairs, seeing the short Ecaflip rub his behind while looking like the weather outside, brewing and stormy. "You alright, Keke?" he asked while folding the towel before he laid it beside the drying pair of shoes and gloves by the stove, easily pretending he was unaware of what had happened downstairs.

"I will be once that wretched demon apologizes," Kerubim grumbled before his small ears perked up when he noticed Alys was present when he moved his gaze to glare at Luis. The rubbing of his sore behind ceased as he smiled to the Eliatrope, saying a little more polite and friendly while he steered himself towards her," you truly appear at the most surprising times, my dear. How are you?" He threw Luis a foul look from over Alys' shoulder when she hugged him in greeting, the Shushu looking rather smug and amused in return. If only the old feline knew what was happening in this lounge mere moments ago…

Alys brushed some of her hair aside when the elderly Ecaflip seated himself after hugging her, her eyes flickering over towards Joris when he sat down across of her before needing to fight back the blush she could feel welling up. How was she...? Better than before, that was certain. "I am just fine," she said after letting let her hair be, her veil still damp from the rain she had traversed through, but she was no longer as soaked as when she arrived at the bazaar. It felt rather warm inside the lounge, though she could guess why.

"I see you have healed properly," Kerubim said while looking at the Eliatrope's bare arms, the markings which burned into her skin during her attempt to shield the Tree from the meteor shower had completely faded away thanks to the good and repeated care from Emelka's local Eniripsa. He looked away from her after she nodded and ran a hand down her arm, focusing on Joris when the small master spoke up.

"What did you find in Ecaflipus?"

Alys looked in between the two felines after Joris asked them about where they had been, seeing their ears flatten slightly while Kerubim brought a paw up to scratch the back of his head with a grumbling hum and Atcham scoffed softly. They obviously didn't find much good during their visit. "Things are somewhat back in order," Kerubim started slowly, his hoarse voice sounding uncertain yet he spoke confidently," the entrance is back in its place, the platform Ush had created is disposed of and we found no traces of any lingering intruders. Fayme however…"

The furless Ecaflip drummed with his claws on the top of the table in an annoyed manner, as if whatever Fayme had said or done was truly bothering him. "She avoided us like the plague. When we finally caught up with her, she was very clear on the matter; she doesn't wish to speak with any of us. For now at least…" Atcham said to fill Joris in on the female demigod and the current state of the Divine dimension.

Kerubim suppressed a yawn while he held the paw he scratched his head with before his snout, saying with a tired groan," she still watches over the place, which means that she is on our side rather than Ush's. We'll continue to try and talk with her. She's family, in a certain way."

"We'll let her cool off before we approach her again. She was a little aggressive today," Atcham grumbled while glancing to his tired brother, the frustrated expression he held softening a little after he picked up on the fact that Kerubim was sleepy. The old cat was already falling behind while they made their way through Bonta and the light rain to return home, the chase they were forced to go through to keep up with Fayme having exhausted him. "I think someone needs a little cat nap," he said with a smirk before he rolled his shoulders," me too in fact. A warm blanket to chase the chill of the rain away would be nice."

"Mmh, you have been out for two days," Joris said with an acknowledging nod, knowing how time went by much slower in the Divine dimension than it did in this world," why don't you both go and rest, kids? We can discuss this further at a later time."

Kerubim smiled a little, having to admit he was almost walking on the bags underneath his eyes, so to speak; he was indeed very tired. He inhaled deeply before he reached over and gave Alys a little pat on her wrist, saying to her while he shuffled to his feet," sorry for rushing in and off like this, my dear. Do you think you'll be staying?"

Alys laid her hand over Kerubim's paw, not certain what to answer him though she could see Joris give her a small nod from the corner of her eyes after he noticed her hesitation. She could stay the night if she wished for it. It was already late. "We'll see each other in the morning," she smiled before glancing up when Atcham rose to a standing and ruffled with a claw between the stitched ears of her veil before he brushed past Joris to gently clap him on the shoulder.

"Make that the afternoon," Atcham snickered as he began to make his way towards the open landing, raising a claw to wave over his shoulder towards the two he would leave behind in the lounge," have a pleasant night, you two." There was a mischievous tone in his voice when he wished everyone a pleasant night. Was he hinting at something? The wonder alone had Joris softly clear his throat while Alys hugged Kerubim once more to wish him a good night's rest before he followed his brother to retreat to his room. Fayme had really given them a run for their money…

"Rest well," Joris said as he looked after the two Ecaflips he considered his sons, waiting for a bit before he deeply sighed and ran a hand across his hidden face while leaning on the table, speaking up a little as he peered past parted fingers towards the eye in the wall," that was a close call, Luis."

"Not the smartest move to start making out on the very floor of the lounge. You should have taken it somewhere more private," the Shushu said in a straightforward manner, seeing the Eliatrope sit up a little before she hid a flaring blush behind a hand and caused the demon to smirk," but yes… close. Nevertheless, I'll leave you be for now. I have had my entertainment of the week and I am certain you two have certain things to talk about."

Joris lowered his hand and turned his gaze away while he listened to Luis, saying as he placed the gloved hand on the table to push himself up," that won't be necessary." He could see the Shushu deform a little as if raising a non-existent eyebrow before the master walked around the table to pick up the shoes and gloves Alys had left to dry by the stove. He leaned over towards the Eliatrope when he placed her shoes down before holding out her gloves to her, saying quietly," I know it is late, but there is something I wish to show you."

She was still blushing when she took the gloves from him, the blue cloth feeling warm to the touch as the heat of the stove had done a decent job with drying them. She was a little embarrassed after Luis spoke so casually of what he had witnessed, not having thought about the fact he was right there when she and Joris got lost in each other's embrace. She slipped on the gloves before stepping into her shoes, seeing Joris was patient while he waited for her. She wasn't certain what it could be he wanted to show her, especially at this hour.

"If either of them ask, could you tell Atcham or Kerubim that we have headed out, Luis?" Joris asked when he focused back on the Shushu, seeing the eye squint a little in thought.

"I guess I could…"

It wasn't very convincing but it was the best he could expect from Luis. He wouldn't ask for more. "Thank you," he nodded in appreciation before he motioned towards the hallway with a tilt of his head while adjusting the thick pelt he wore, saying to Alys as he smiled at her," come… we have a long walk ahead of us." He kept the destination shrouded in mystery when he began to make his way downstairs to leave the bazaar, hearing the Eliatrope utter a soft 'thank you' to Luis before she went after Joris to follow him to wherever he was planning on taking her.

The streets were riddled with puddles which reflected the starry but cloudy sky above, a silence having fallen over the city. Most people were soundly asleep or indoors after the heavy rain had cleared the streets, only but a few people taking note of the odd pair which made their way around. Joris led Alys to the other side of the city while going through the more calmer parts to avoid trouble, at times taking her hand while ascending a stairway. It wasn't before long the main street loomed up before them, the many banners welcoming them as they stood perfectly aligned like a row of guards standing at attention. The palace of the king lay further ahead, its golden and blue colors dulled by the night.

Joris left the main street with its many banners after following it for a short while before making his way up a stairway which led up to the back of a tall building, glancing back for a moment to see if Alys was still with him after he ascended the stone steps. He took a ring of keys from his belt after the stairs led them to the only door present at the back of the building, searching for the right key to use before he said as he unlocked the door," mind your step when you head inside." He pushed the door open after he tucked the keys away and stepped inside, greeted by darkness and the musky smell of dust. He took a few steps forward before he turned around and held a hand out to Alys, the hallway dark and narrow.

She peered in with apparent curiosity before she followed him inside, closing the door behind her before blindly searching for his hand as the only source of light disappeared with the closing of the entrance. The hallway was filled with all sorts of items, forcing the Eliatrope to watch where she placed her feet while Joris nimbly made his way through it all as he guided her along. "Where are we?" she asked, continuing to hold his hand while her eyes tried to adjust to the dark and she stepped over what she guessed was a basket filled with balls of yarn.

"This is one of our storehouses," Joris said after he rounded a corner and made his way over to a closed door before waiting for Alys to join him after he released her hand," we have three in total, Luis included." He reached for a lantern standing on the floor to light the candle within, soon enough bringing some light in the dark hallway and giving shape and depth to everything. "Pardon the dust," he said apologetically when he pushed open door he stood before, revealing a narrow but tall room with three windows which nearly reached the high ceiling. The room was filled with bookcases, crates and barrels, piles of books, several pieces of furniture hidden under white sheets and plenty of candle holders which held the stumpy remainders of candles.

"I wasn't aware you had more than Luis," Alys said while stepping inside, keeping her hands to herself to let her eyes wander.

Joris nodded when he took the lit candle from the lantern to light a few of the present candles, saying as she walked over towards one of the windows which looked upon the main street below," Luis cannot hold everything Kerubim has collected over the years, not with the limited space he has in such a crowded city as Bonta. Downstairs is where we keep most of it. This location is unknown to most, a mere precaution in case of an emergency."

Alys slightly frowned while she listened to Joris, asking a little uncertain when she took her eyes away from the dark street below," why did you take me here?" Was there an emergency or a reason for her to know about the location of a safe house?

The small master paused in lighting the available candles he could reach as he mulled over her question before turning to face her and said," I wish to offer you this place as a work space… It makes for a decent office." He let his eyes wander for a moment to take in the layout of the room before he focused back on the Eliatrope, seeing her stare as if he had taken her by surprise.

"An office...?" she asked, sounding baffled.

He nodded in response as he placed the burning candle back into its respective lantern and onto the corner of a crate, leaving it there before he stepped over towards Alys to join her by the window. "I do not know what your plans for the future are… but if you were to ever decide on living in this city for any reason, you'll have somewhere to start, at least for work." He looked up to her, his eyes almost hidden within the darkness of his hood, though the reflection of the small candle flames was visible in his eyes. "I am not going to pressure you to decide now, tomorrow or the next month. If you rather remain in Emelka then I'll respect your choice full-heartedly. Just know this is here for you..."

Alys lowered herself down to her knees before him, taken back by his generous offer. She had thought about moving to Bonta but she didn't manage to come to a true decision, too tied up in all that was happening while her attention was pulled in various directions. Emelka was that place of serenity, of family but the inn was no place for her to take her tasks seriously. She wouldn't be able to spread her wings if she were to remain in the Crunchy Gobball.

"It isn't much but-" Joris stopped talking when Alys laid a finger against his lips, causing him to blink rapidly with his eyes while staring down to her delicate finger before his gaze snapped back to her face.

"Hush…" was all she whispered before her finger slipped away from him and was replaced with her lips, her arms wrapping around him as she silenced him with a kiss. He didn't even try to finish his humble sentence, allowing her to pull him close and drown him in her loving touch.


The rest of the night was spent within the narrow room of the storehouse without any disturbances until morning came and life returned to the streets of Bonta. The tall windows let in the sunlight, particles of dust dancing in the warm looking rays of light when someone stirred underneath a white sheet which lay draped over the ones who had fallen asleep in each other's arms.

Joris was the first to wake by nothing in particular, feeling a weight on his chest and shoulder. He tilted his head a little to look at the one laying against him, her head resting under his chin and her arms were wrapped around him, the sheet covering her bare features. He couldn't help but smile when he lay his head back down and took a deep breath, Alys' warmth and presence bringing back the very fresh memories of what had occurred during the night. He didn't think this was to happen when he took her here… In fact, he never thought it would happen at all. He never dared to hope for such, his thoughts and focus on completely different things and aspects of life. He stroked the top of her head, feeling her hair had been warmed by the sun which shone down upon them and highlighted her skin and the pale golden color of her hair.

She moved a little when he petted her between the glowing wings, the hold she had around him tightening for a mere moment until her eyes fluttered open and she softly sighed when sleep began to leave her. It wasn't the first time he witnessed her waking up, but this truly was different from all the times before. He lowered his hand to caress her cheek with the back of his fingers to draw her to the land of the awakened, watching her become aware of her surroundings before a smile appeared, her hair somewhat messy while it hung before her face.

"Hey…" Her voice was soft while she lovingly looked at him before raising up a little and brushed some of her hair over a shoulder. She was radiating as she smiled, asking quietly to not disturb the peace while tenderly stroking his side," how are you feeling?" She had been peacefully asleep after a night of intense emotions and moments between herself and the Bontarian master, though waking up with him caused her heart to be all aflutter. That he was here with her meant the world to her, the fear it had all been a dream and she would wake in her own bed in Emelka having prodded her in her sleep.

She felt his small chest rise underneath her when he sighed softly before his arms crept around her to hold her against him, caressing her soft skin. "Difficult to describe," he said thoughtfully in answer while his eyes moved over her visage to memorize how she looked and what she smelled like, looking like a dream even though she was real," but better than before, better than ever. You… you have no idea how beautiful you are…"

She blinked at the sudden compliment before her blush deepened in color and her embrace of him tightened, holding back on the urge to hide her face away from him. The night was overwhelming for all their senses but no matter how many times they complimented each other or kept proving their deep affection, they were still able to catch the other off guard. Her turquoise eyes remained on him before they closed and she brought herself closer to him to nuzzle his chin, whispering," I could forever stay like this with you…"

"You have no idea," he whispered in return while stroking her bare back," however, we have to be cautious and keep this a secret… like we have done before. There is too much at stake… We both have enemies and responsibilities which would not take kindly to what we have." He couldn't bear the thought of anyone who held a grudge against him finding out Alys was his weak link and put it to their advantage. It was one of the reasons Atcham and Kerubim were getting more and more involved in Joris' and Bontarian affairs, but his connection with them was so very different from what he had with Alys. They needed to proceed carefully; he didn't want to put her in jeopardy, neither lose her.

Alys nodded, agreeing with his reasoning. There was a time and place for everything and their time together without any veils or lies would come eventually. There was still so much which needed to be dealt with. It would be difficult to be separated from him, however, especially after they had given themselves completely to one and another, but at least they belonged to each other and they knew it would remain so for a long time to come. "I'll keep it safe," she said when she cupped his hidden face and gazed longingly into his eyes. It wouldn't be any different than before, other than that any moment spent together in the future would be honest, truthful and more intimate.

Joris could be seen smiling when he returned to brushing her hair, letting the long strands slip through his fingers. "The wedding of Percedal is in a few weeks. It will be another opportunity to see each other again. In the mean time, I will convince the king to prepare for offering his apology to your people and have him allow an audience with you after the wedding ceremony. I do not think he'll object; he values our allegiance, Alys, no matter the actions taken. It were desperate times and he knew it to be a mistake. Believe me… I will make this right."

"I know you will..." she smiled to him, always having admired his sense of duty. His loyalty and compassion made him unique. She leaned forward to kiss him, letting her lips brush lightly against his before trailing down to affectionately kiss his neck and collarbone, feeling him shudder every so slightly before he pushed his hand into her thick hair to caress the nape of her neck.

He gazed upwards to the high ceiling after he laid his head down, swallowing as something dark was pressing on his mind. It didn't feel right to keep secrets even though the one to keep their love hidden from everyone else was for their own safety. Other secrets, however… "There is something-" His voice trailed off when he couldn't get himself to talk about it, feeling the Eliatrope pause in the affection she was giving him to look at his face with a sudden concern after she felt the shift in the pleasant atmosphere which lay over them like a warm blanket.

"What is it…?"

"That time in Sadida… I mean, when you thought someone else was me... We haven't talked about then," Joris admitted, a troubled look in his eyes when he reluctantly brought up the subject while stroking the back of her neck thoughtfully," I don't know what happened, but when Ush spoke of you and Sipho after we won the game…" He fell silent, the bitter taste he had then returning like a foul memory. He wasn't one to become jealous. H didn't think he had such an emotion left after he grew older, but when the demigod so mockingly spoke about what Sipho had done and Alys reacted so shocked by it, he felt it clamping his stomach. His chest rose with the deep breath he took, seeing Alys had the familiar look of shame in her blue eyes. "You know I trust you," he said and brushed some of her hair aside in an attempt to tuck it behind her ear," and I also know Ush would say anything to-"

"-He wasn't lying..." Alys cut in and tilted her head to press her cheek against the palm of his hand when it hovered next to her. She sighed while closing her eyes before placing a kiss against his fingers, the dread she felt then returning like a haunting spirit. "I was so confused… He was you and…" She lowered herself down to hug him, hold him close while she forced herself to go through the memories," you were acting so distant, as if whatever had befallen the Eliatropes didn't matter. Distant and cold… It scared me. When I tried to have a word with you in private and ask you why you hadn't told me about taking the Dofus, you gave me the cold shoulder. You know I don't pry, Joris… but I knew something was wrong. Something felt off. I urged… I pleaded and then…" She felt her heart skip a beat before feeling the queasiness of her stomach turning as the kiss, the very first kiss she could remember, replayed in her head. It wasn't him, she knew that, but at the time she wasn't able to tell the difference. "He managed to add things up and took advantage of it to silence my questioning. It tore my whole world apart, had my feelings in complete disarray… I thought that we finally..." her voice had become nothing but a whisper, trailing off as she no longer hid what had truly happened, what she had experienced, what she had been thinking," I thought we were done pretending."

Joris remained silent when he let everything sink in and observed her, having wrapped his arms around her to hold her in the hug she wished to be in. He suspected something like this had happened between her and Sipho. His disguises were flawless, other than having limited information on the one he would take an appearance from. With how well Joris and Alys had hidden their affections from each other and the rest of the world, Sipho was unaware of their unspoken feelings until Alys acted like she usually would when alone in the master's presence. It did explain her behavior in Frigost after Joris was freed from his icy prison and the truth about Sipho came to light.

"I am so sorry," she whispered with a shame he could almost taste, causing his heart to clench in sympathy.

He shook his head before he pressed his lips against her temple and cupped her chin to have her look at him," don't apologize… You are not the one to blame here. Sipho had us all fooled, but he did make me regret I did not act sooner. All those times I had to witness you almost being taken away, be it by death or other people… and yet I waited, feeling unworthy to be loved by you. I knew that I couldn't stand afar and watch you forever but I was willing to try. Keeping you safe was more important to me than placing you in a position you may not have wanted to be in. When I witnessed your reaction to Ush speaking of Sipho, I understood what had happened and why you were acting like you did. I saw how you were betrayed by your feelings, that you had been toyed with. It was then I realized I was keeping you at a distance for reasons which have absolutely no meaning… I could no longer continue with it; I had to be honest to us both. I do not regret what I did then, just like I do not regret this night with you."

Alys looked at him, his reassurances pushing back the shame she felt. There had been no doubts about what had unfolded between them ever since their visit to the Ecaflip dimension, but it did feel more secure than before. They confessed their love to each other so many times during this night and morning, that it felt like they were trying to make up for those seven years they had denied each other in one single day. She rose up to cradle on top of Joris, the sheet slipping down to around her hips before she hunched forward to bring her face close to his. Her hair fell around them like a wavy cascade of pale gold, hiding them from the world though no one knew they were within the storage house. They had all the privacy they desired for. "I love you, Joris. I love you so much…" she whispers while she hung over him," I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," he spoke softly while his small hands wandered over her body," I won't allow it." He brought himself up to wrap his arms around her waist and bury his face away against her to hold her tight, planting a few kisses upon her skin before guiding her onto her back to remain intimate with her. The day had only just begun, along with what had developed and grown between the two over the night and the last seven years. He wouldn't allow her to return home just yet, feeling like there was still too much lost time he had to make up for. He was hers, completely, as she was his.

Fin