Forbidden Love

Magic

I burst out of Folkvangr, my feet barely touching the ground as I ran. The morning air felt electric against my skin, or maybe that was just my excitement about the magic coursing through my veins. Magic. I actually had magic now!

My first stop was the Hostess of Fertility. I needed to make things right before anything else. As soon as I walked in, Mama Mia's imposing figure loomed over me, her arms crossed and her expression thunderous.

"Well, well. Look who decided to show their face again," she growled, making me shrink back instinctively. "Got a habit of running out without paying, do we?"

"I-I'm so sorry!" I bowed deeply, my face burning with shame. "I can pay right now, and extra for the trouble!"

Before Mama Mia could respond, a familiar voice cut in. "He's not a bad person, Mama Mia." One of the waitresses – the one I'd abandoned yesterday – stepped forward. "He was clearly going through something."

Mama Mia's stern expression didn't waver, but she held out her hand for the payment. I quickly counted out extra valis, hoping it would help make up for my behavior.

As I turned to leave, a soft voice stopped me. "Bell-kun?"

Syr Flova stood there, her gray hair framing her gentle face. There was something in her eyes that made me nervous.

"Where are you headed?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Oh, just... wandering around the city," I lied, avoiding her perceptive gaze. "Getting some fresh air."

Syr's expression told me she saw right through my excuse, but she just smiled. "I see." She raised her hand in a wave as I headed for the door. "Be careful, Bell-kun."

Her words followed me as I made my way to Babel Tower and down into the dungeon. This time, I was being smarter – only going to the third floor. I needed to test my magic somewhere relatively safe.

My heart pounded as I encountered my first group of goblins. This was it. I took a deep breath, feeling something spark inside me, like a storm waiting to break loose.

"Firebolt!"

The word burst from my lips, and with it came power – raw and wild. A streak of flames wreathed in lightning shot from my hand, striking the nearest goblin. The monster disappeared in a flash of light, leaving only a crystal behind.

My eyes widened. That was... incredible!

"Firebolt!" I called again, taking down another monster. And another. And another. Each spell felt like pure energy flowing through me, addictive and exhilarating.

I lost track of time, lost in the thrill of my new power. Firebolt after Firebolt, monster after monster. My bag grew heavy with crystals, but I barely noticed. I just wanted to cast one more spell, test my limits one more time...

The edges of my vision started to blur. My legs felt wobbly, and my mind fuzzy. But I raised my hand one more time.

"Fire... bolt..."

The last thing I saw was the ceiling of the dungeon spinning above me as everything went black.

My eyes fluttered open to the rough stone ceiling of the dungeon. Something soft cushioned my head – definitely not the hard dungeon floor I remembered falling on. As I tried to shift, something tickled my face... long strands of golden hair?

I froze. Slowly, I lifted my gaze and found myself staring directly into the most beautiful face I'd ever seen. The same face that had saved me from the Minotaur. The Sword Princess herself was giving me a lap pillow.