Martial Arts Worlds

The morning came, even though it didn't seem like that because of the eternal night.

Everyone went to the dining hall for breakfast, where there was a plentiful spread of food waiting for everyone.

Because of the wedding, there were many guests that stayed for the night, and thus, the servants had to prepare food more than usual.

"How was your talk with the new daughter-in-law of yours, sis?"

Nevaeh asked with a smile.

"…Good."

Bella said and enjoyed the breakfast—she got some toast, fruits, eggs, and a cup of coffee.

"…There is something different about you today."

Nevaeh said while looking at her sister, as she could tell that her skin seemed to be glowing.

"R-Really?"

Bella stuttered with a look of surprise.

She looked at Nevaeh, thinking, "Does she know?" but realized that Nevaeh's comment was just a coincidence.

"Did something happen?"

Nevaeh asked with a smile.

"…Nope."

Bella said with a wry smile.

In that moment, the dinner hall's doors opened, and Karma entered with a refreshed look on his face.

He and Bella met each other's gaze. Both hearts skipped a beat. They averted their gazes, and Karma sat down far away from her.

It felt awkward, and neither of them knew how to act after last night's… activities. Neither of them slept at all.

Nevaeh happened to see that, and her womanly instincts kicked in, and she thought about something that caused her lips to curl up into a smile.

'Could it be? There is no way… But could it be?'

In that moment, the newlyweds—Aoi and Kiernan—entered the dining hall and greeted everybody.

They sat together at the head of the table and started eating the breakfast.

Lastly, Karl-Michael entered the dining hall and saw everyone chatting and laughing. It was unexpected.

He rarely saw his daughter, Bella, smiling and laughing as she was now, and it made him quite emotional.

It looked like she had shed off her icy shell.

Karl-Michael sat down at the other head of the table, greeted everybody, and also started eating.

The silverware clinked, the glasses clinked, and the chatter around the table was lively as everyone shared stories and caught up with each other.

Servants were busy at work to keep bringing food, and the kitchen was at full swing with the head chef orchestrating every dish with precision and expertise.

Abracadabra Castle had never been as lively as it was now.

…

"The Game? Whoah."

Aoi stood at the entrance of the cave and smiled at the sight of the leaderboard stone tablet, where Kiernan's name stood at the top.

"A cave that can completely nullify one's martial rank. I have never heard about anything like this."

She said with a smile.

"…Yeah, I have quite fond memories of this place."

Kiernan touched the stone tablet, feeling the rough surface beneath his fingers, and then he sat down with Aoi on a fallen tree trunk.

They listened to the chirping of the birds, floating leaves, and the distant sound of a babbling brook.

"…You promise to hurry back?"

Aoi turned at him, grabbed his hand softly, and asked.

They knew that this was the last moment that they were going to be together, as Kiernan had to leave in an hour.

"I will do everything in my power to be back as soon as possible. Nothing can stop me from doing so."

Kiernan kissed her on the forehead and made a promise.

"…Mmh."

Aoi smiled, but she felt tightness in her chest, as she feared the worst and that their reunion was further away than both of them had anticipated.

That feeling was correct.

This was a moment that, for many years to come, she would have nightmares about, as she had wished that she could come back to this moment and stop Kiernan from ever leaving.

This was the moment she regretted the most.

…

"…"

Karma sat on the courtyard bench and looked at the moving grass blades, feeling a deep sense of peace.

He loved coming here ever since yesterday because he could feel at peace here, and now he needed peace.

The last night really confused him.

He just didn't know what Bella wanted and why she did that with him. They weren't supposed to be anything more than just a one-night stand.

She never showed any desire to be anything more.

'…I am just so confused, and I'd like answers.'

Karma sighed.

In that moment, someone came behind him and sat beside him. A sweet smell of woman tickled his nose.

It made his heart beat.

With the corner of his eyes, he saw Bella sitting beside him, staring ahead at the sight of the moon.

She was donning a beautiful silver dress. It was tight-fitting, accentuating her curves perfectly, and she had tied her hair into a topknot bun.

Karma's gaze lingered at her neck, where he noticed a delicate silver necklace, and then looked further down at her cleavage.

It made him gulp, and he quickly looked away.

They didn't speak a word and just sat still, but each could hear the sound of their own hearts beating.

They were both afraid that their heartbeating was so loud that they would be heard by each other.

'Stop being a coward, Karma. You would regret it for the rest of your life, like you regret ever leaving Nightingale back then.'

Karma took a deep breath, turned to look at the side of her beautiful face, and saw her cheeks hued in pink.

It made her look very innocent and gentle.

"…About last night… What was it?"

Karma asked.

"…I don't know myself. It just happened."

Bella lowered her head and answered shyly.

Karma hadn't been used to seeing her act like this ever, and even twenty years ago, she seemed very distant, like an ice princess.

This new her made him feel deep in love.

"…Do you regret it? Like you are regretting our first time?"

"I am not regretting our one-night stand back then. After all, Kiernan was born out of that, and I would never regret having him born.

"…And last night, I did it out of my own free will, and I regret nothing. I liked it, and I know you liked it as well from the way you were shaking your hips last night."

Bella said with a smile and looked at him.

Karma's face had turned red in embarrassment, as he didn't expect her to talk so boldly about last night.