The Harbinger's Children (Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles Vol. 2)

Chapter 25: The End Of A Beginning

Fun Fact: Deities are immensely powerful, and even the minor deities have enough power to destroy galaxies. The highest class of deities such as Lucifer, Odin, or Shiva, are able to destroy multiple universes if they so wished.

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Kleopatra was in the midst of her combat training when the sound of a tinkling doorbell caught her attention. She dematerialised her staff instantly and scurried over to the control panels, removing the holographic targets as quickly as she could. Although she was authorised personnel, she had not booked this room for practice this evening.

The girl's ears pricked as the footsteps got louder by the second. She cursed under her breath at whoever was crazy enough to use the gym at two in the morning. Kleopatra glanced at the loading bar of the simulation nervously.

"C'mon... c'mon..."

She smiled in relief as the monitor turned red and quickly grabbed her bag, darting for the exit-

"Hey Kleo, what's the rush?"

The girl gasped in shock, falling over her feet as she bumped into the figure entering her room. She hurriedly picked up her bag and apologised profusely, hoping for whichever Guardian it was to let her go.

Light flooded the room, and Kleopatra blinked in surprise.

"G-Gaius?" Her mouth hung open. "What are you doing here?"

It was Gaius' turn to look nervous.

"I... I actually came to look for you," he said sheepishly. "I'm no longer a Guardian, so technically I can't be here, but..."

He exhaled loudly, as though mustering strength for something.

"I really like you too!" He squeezed his eyes shut, shoving a hand-knitted jumper in her face. "W-will you be... be with me?"

Kleopatra stepped back, her face flushing a dark red. Her vision blurred and her heart hammered in her chest like a bird desperately trying to escape its cage. She breathed erratically, as though her lungs had suddenly grown a mind of their own.

"I... I..." she stammered as well, her throat twisting knots in her words as she looked at the trembling boy.

"I... I will!"

Gaius gasped at her outburst as Kleopatra practically snatched the jumper from him and pulled him into a tight hug.

"I can't believe it... Oh gods, finally..." The girl was sobbing hard now, burying her face in his shoulder. "You fool, of course I will. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day..."

The pair let go after a good five minutes, and Kleopatra wiped her tears while an awkward grin hung on Gaius' face.

"When did you learn how to knit?" she asked, looking at the jumper. It was plain and the workmanship was amateurish, but at least it was not shoddy.

"R-recently. I noticed how terrible your school jumper looked, so I thought to make you one myself." Gaius put his hand on his head, smiling wryly. "Forgive me if it isn't the best; I was a little too eager to finish it."

Kleopatra stared at him as though she was offended, but a cheeky grin was quickly spreading across her face.

And then she crashed her lips into his without warning.

"I love it, Gaius," she said in a breathless voice as her cheeks flushed red again. Gaius broke into a love smitten smile as well, but it quickly dropped from his face.

"I've been thinking about what I want to do with my life," he began, and Kleopatra's face darkened. "Grimoria College has closed down due to the crisis, and I'm out of a job now."