Chapter 26: The Night and The Dealt Cards

Alexander passed through the largely emptied training field. Although some stranglers were still swinging their hands, the majority of the skeletons had already left.

'Hmm, it was already that late, huh!'

He thought he just saw the sun a while back, overlooking the ravine. However, the sky was already encrusted with millions of beautiful stars.

The abundance of bioluminescent vegetation really messed with his sense of time.

His journey through the fortress was more eventful. A few legions of skeleton soldiers were still stationing and patrolling the surrounding areas. Yet, some, believed to be off duty soldiers, were returning to their barracks.

Tired, Alexander decided to follow them since he was technically their junior and a new recruit.

Navigating through the damaged roads of the once-might fortress, Alexander arrived at the barracks. Although he didn't expect much in the first place, the sight in front made him believe that his aspiration was too high.

Skeleton soldiers lay on the ground amongst the collapsed walls and ruined barracks. Since the place was never maintained, the soldiers only followed what they remembered when they were alive. Hence, they instinctively returned here to sleep on the ground.

Well, he wasn't going to sleep lumped together on the ground with a tonne of skeletons. Hence, Alexander made the wise decision of moving elsewhere.

Alexander continued in his sleeping-place seeking adventure. By the outskirt of the fortress, on a lonely hill, a giant tree swayed gently in the night breeze. Its pink petals danced to the soft moonlight tunes.

Tried and exhausted, he didn't care anymore and collapsed on a good spot by its shades. Not knowing that, he just intruded on someone's sleep.

Underneath the tranquil symphony of the blue moonlight, Alexander lay. His head rested comfortably on the soft fur of a Panthershutt.

The sleepy creature woke up. It purred, trying to tell Alexander to sod off. It even tried using its tail to wiggle at Alexander's face. It backfired spectacularly. Alexander ended up hugging the creature's tail instinctively.

It purred softly in annoyance. Panthershutt decided to let Alexander sleep there for the night in consideration of their camaraderie.

Nah. It was just too lazy to pry the pink unicorn off its back.

Hence, a beautiful mixture of pink and vantablack was created underneath the blue moonlight.

***

*Pur* The Panthershutt tiredly lifted its head for the second time that night.

A beautiful lady in a creamy gown sat near its body. Her features were illusionary yet strangely alluring, like a mirage created by the mystic starlight.

She carefully stroked Alexander's gorgeous blond hair like a mother caring for her children.

Her misty eyes focused only on her child. She looked as he suffered more accursed nightmares.

Her face moved close to his as her lips whispered softly, rendering the lullabies of old.

In the soft motherly tune, Alexander's sleepy face finally relaxed. The worries, the pain, and the loneliness were gently swept away.

***

Listening to her lullaby was also Chibi Cillian as he managed a multitude of screens and options.

Soon, amidst the tranquil lake of eternity, another entity appeared. Crimson eyes, fiery-red eyes, and dressed in a conservative dress. She was the epiphany of beauty.

Yet, tired and haggard, she sat down on Chibi Cillian's couch.

Finishing his work, he asked.

"Long day, honey."

She nodded with her head leaning against his shoulder. Chibi Cillian pushed the screens away and summoned a bar nearby.

He intended to move to make her a drink, yet her hands held onto him, requesting that he stay. Of course, the gentleman relented.

He unsummoned the bar and summoned a small mini bar in front of him instead.

As the sound of liquid and ice smashed together echoed across the quiet place, Chibi Cillian asked, "Did you finish everything?"

She nodded before saying.

"All the preparations for the private beta are complete."

"And you're tired because?"

"Game journalist" "Game journalist, isn't it?" They both spoke at the same time.

"By the main body! Those people barely know how to play games, and they expected us to make an easy mode for them."

Chibi Cillian let his wife vent whilst continuing to prepare the drink.

***

"Here's your favourite, Siracha Scotsman Royale."

Chibi Cillian presented her with a crystal cocktail glass. Blue and red liquid, wrapped around each other, yet never intermixed, surrounded by a sea of rectangular ice. That was Cillian's special drink, the Siracha Scotsman Royale.

Yet the venting wife cared nought for its beautiful representation. She downed the drink in one go before giving Chibi Cillian the puppy eyes, asking for more.

Chibi Cillian gave a wryly smile before complying. However, he decided to change the topic, not wanting to hear her rant about games journalists anymore.

"How is your main body?"

"She's fine for the most part," she thought for a while before replying.

"When will she be back?"

"Although the event was unfortunate, it yielded an enormous batch. The main body wants to personally retrieve it. However, the Mediterranean is swarming with international ships right now. So, my rough estimate would be a few days," she replied whilst chewing on ice.

"So I assume we can reduce our presence in the Sahara and speed up the body construction."

He handed her another drink before changing the tone of his voice to serious.

"Do you think the body can support it?"

She stopped the drink as it reached her mouth and sighed.

"There are very few things that can support it, as you should already know. So I'm just hoping that this body will last until we find a more permanent solution."

She resumed her drink with a heavy heart. Chibi Cillian wrapped his hand around her. He lovingly combed her hair and kissed her on the head.

As they hugged each other, Chibi Cillian asked,

"And how is it faring?"

"The main body managed to calm it down after the abrupt separation."

"That's good then," he smiled, knowing that the aftereffect was not that devastating.

She tilted her head upward, asking for a kiss, and Chibi Cillian complied. Their kiss was passionate and filled with devotion.

"I am a good wife, aren't I?" A cheeky smile appeared on her face

"Yes, you are, love," he teasingly traced his hand on her back.

"Don't that tickles! HAHAHA!" She tried running away like a panicky little rabbit.

"Come back here!" Yet the big bad wolf immediately caught her. Her punishment was, of course, countless kisses.

"WEHHH, That's not fair!"

***

After playing around for a while, the tired couple resumed their position on the couch. With her head returned on Chibi Cillian's shoulder, she asked.

"How's the kid faring?"

"He's doing better than I have expected," he paused before continuing. "Although we have unlimited time, he was certainly ahead of schedule."

"Interesting!" She stroked his chin, making a thinking face. She then pointed toward the illusionary lady on the screen. "I didn't expect it to manifest so early."

"Let's hope he knows how to play with the card he is dealt."

***

As the night progressed, her image thinned and fluctuated. Her last gift to Alexander was a light peck on the head.

*Pur* The Panthershutt snored as the illusionary lady disappeared.