Aphrodite Date

"The reason, huh…?"

Her usual playful and seductive expression slowly faded, replaced by a seriousness Allen rarely saw. Her gaze locked onto him, as if the next words she spoke weren't something to take lightly.

"As you can see, we're goddesses… Created by humans, worshipped by them. Our existence was born from their prayers and offerings. We were made to guide them, to lead them."

She took a soft breath, her voice lowering into something almost like a whisper.

"But, Allen… the truth is, we've never really understood them. Humans always feel distant and alien to us. There's this wall—an invisible one—that we just can't cross."

Her eyes dimmed slightly, a rare honesty shining through.

"We know they can admire, fear, love, hate… but all of that feels like something we can only watch from afar. We never really feel it ourselves."

She paused for a moment, then looked at Allen again. This time, her eyes held something different—something that made it clear she wanted to stay by his side.

"That's why I… and my sisters… want to become human. We want to experience a world without that distance. We want to know what it's like to truly live—not just exist as symbols or myths."

"Are you sure about this?" Allen asked, his tone laced with concern. "You know if I really do this, you'll lose your authority as a goddess. And this world… isn't exactly safe for normal humans."

Aphrodite just let out a soft laugh. She shifted closer, resting her body against Allen's shoulder, her eyes meeting his from up close with a confident smile.

"I'm sure you wouldn't let me—or my sisters—be in danger, right?"

Allen raised an eyebrow. "Ohhh? And why are you saying it like that's already decided?" His tone hinted at confusion. After all, they had only known each other for a few weeks.

Aphrodite smiled slyly, her eyes narrowing in playful mischief.

"Well, I just trust you, that's all. You're not the kind of person who would leave someone behind… Besides, aren't you kinda into me?"

Allen nodded casually, unfazed by the direct statement.

"Yeah. I guess I am."

Aphrodite grinned wider, pleased with his answer.

"Oh? So you admit it. I thought you'd pretend not to like me, or at least deny it a little."

She gently took his hand, her fingers soft but deliberate.

"So… how about it? Will you grant my request?"

Allen let out a small sigh, though his lips still curved into a smile.

"Didn't I already say yes? It's just… complicated. The hard part is explaining it later."

His gaze lingered on Aphrodite's face—beautiful, inviting, but not because she was trying to seduce him. That was just who she was. And for a moment, Allen considered kissing her right then and there. The temptation felt too natural to ignore.

"So then…" Allen leaned in, closing the space between them until only a breath remained between their lips.

"Do you want to become human now? Or would you rather wait, and do it together with your sisters?"

Aphrodite's lips curled into a soft smile, her eyes half-lidded as if savoring the closeness.

"I think they can wait," she whispered.

"Besides… right now we're on a date, aren't we? I want to know what a date feels like as a human."

Allen smirked, his voice low but teasing.

"In that case, I need physical contact with you."

Aphrodite raised an eyebrow, her smile widening as if she understood perfectly—but chose to play innocent.

"What kind of physical contact, hmm?"

"A kiss." Allen answered directly, no hesitation in his tone.

"Fufufu…"

Aphrodite let out a soft laugh, her eyes sparkling with interest.

"Allen… well, I don't mind a kiss. Besides, aren't we already on a date?"

"Well then…" Allen whispered, his voice deep, tempting.

He moved closer, and Aphrodite responded the same way—as if they were caught in each other's gravity. His hands circled her slim waist, pulling her gently into his arms. The touch made Aphrodite exhale softly, but her smile never faded.

Without another word, Allen pressed his lips to hers—a kiss both tender and full of genuine passion. It wasn't just a physical touch; it was a declaration.

Aphrodite closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the moment. For the first time, the kiss felt different… it felt real.

And then, her projected body began to glow. The divine aura she usually kept hidden now pulsed gently from her skin, like starlight shimmering at the edge of existence.

Not far from where they stood—hidden in the ancient temple—Aphrodite's true body, the machine form that had lain dormant, also started to radiate the same light. It turned out this place wasn't chosen randomly for a date. This was where her core body rested.

Her main body slowly dimmed, releasing something long kept sealed. The divine energy flowed toward her projection, merging, rewriting her very being.

In Allen's embrace, she felt the change. The light morphed into something tangible—bone, flesh, blood—a transition that should've been impossible, but it was happening.

And when the transformation ended—

"Aah…" Aphrodite let out a soft moan, her eyes half-open. Her hand unconsciously gripped Allen's shoulder.

Her body… was different now. She could feel her own heartbeat inside her chest. She felt the weight of gravity in a way she never had before—the full, human experience of it.

"Now… I can feel it," she whispered into Allen's ear, her voice trembling slightly from emotion and new sensations.

"My heartbeat… my breath… this warmth…"

She looked down at her hands, her fingertips shaking just a little.

"So this is what it feels like… to be human."

Allen gently rubbed her back, giving her time to adjust.

"Well, you said you wanted a more real date, right? Welcome to the human world."

Aphrodite let out a small laugh, though her breath was still uneven.

"If this is how it starts, now I'm even more curious… just how far can the human experience go?"

Her eyes met Allen's again—not as a goddess looking down on a mortal, but as a woman who wanted to explore a world that had always been out of reach.

"Alright… how about we go out and enjoy the outside world for a bit? I'm sure you'll experience something different," Allen suggested casually, a playful smile on his face.

He added with a hint of mischief, "Oh, and don't worry—you can still control your Machine God body remotely. Just think of this current body as your main body for now, and the other one can stay disguised as your usual goddess form. Honestly, I'd rather not attract too much attention from the other gods."

Aphrodite smiled, nodding in agreement. "Don't worry about that, I understand. I can keep this a secret."

Then, tilting her head curiously, she asked, "By the way, Allen… how come I can still use my Divine Power and Magecraft like normal?"

"Well, that's because your soul was originally shaped and born from Gaia itself," Allen explained, his tone calm but hiding the complexity behind the answer. "So, I created a vessel that could properly contain it, using the First and Third Magic together. In short, you're kind of like… half-Servant now."

Aphrodite blinked, then laughed softly. "This feels like a paradox."

Allen chuckled too, rubbing the back of his neck. Yeah… it's hard to explain. True Magic always leads to weird things like this, he thought.

"But you know," Aphrodite said with a gentle smile, "I trust you. I know you wouldn't make me powerless or do something reckless to me. So… thank you for this."

Allen responded with a soft smile. "You're welcome. So… how about we enjoy our time together outside? But first, we need to disguise ourselves so no one recognizes us."

With a small wave of his hand, Allen conjured two bracelets. Each was enchanted with concealment wards—powerful enough to blur their presence, distort recognition, and make others unconsciously ignore them.

"Here, wear this," Allen said, gently placing the bracelet around Aphrodite's wrist.

"Thank you…" she whispered, her voice unusually soft.

Even though, deep down, she knew she didn't really need the bracelet—she could've just used Magecraft herself to stay hidden. But the fact that Allen went out of his way to think about it, to protect their moment together… that made her heart feel warm.

...

"Alright, let's go," said Allen as he confidently reached for Aphrodite's hand. She let him hold it, walking side by side with him as they left their hidden spot.

Once they crossed the temple's boundary, the bright blue sky of Atlantis greeted them, shining as if welcoming their presence. A gentle sea breeze brushed past, carrying the familiar salty scent of the coast.

"So, where are we going first?" Aphrodite asked, glancing at Allen with a half-teasing tone.

Allen raised an eyebrow, a wide grin appearing on his face. "We're in disguise, right? So obviously—we're gonna stroll around like normal people. How about we grab something to eat, watch a show at the colosseum, and catch a theater performance?"

Aphrodite smiled, nodding without hesitation. "Alright, I'll leave it to you."

Deep down, she was genuinely happy. Walking together like this—without formalities, without distance—made her feel like she'd found something precious in her life.

They wandered casually through the bustling streets of Atlantis. Thanks to the enchanted bracelets that masked their identities, no one noticed them. Even the minor gods passing by didn't give them a second glance.

"Look at that," Allen pointed toward a small street stall. "They're selling honey-grilled bread."

Aphrodite chuckled, giving Allen an amused smile. "Bread? I thought you were gonna take me to some fancy place."

"That's the point," Allen replied casually. "Sometimes simple things taste better. You never know until you try."

Aphrodite nodded, then tugged his hand. "Alright, let's try it then."

They sat on a simple wooden bench in front of the stall. The vendor greeted them warmly, completely unaware of who he was serving. Allen ordered two plates of grilled bread, the honey melting warmly on top.

"This is for you," Allen said as he handed a plate to Aphrodite. "Try it—I'm sure you'll like it."

Aphrodite took a bite, her eyes lighting up. "This is really good… warm and sweet."

"Well, yeah… warm and sweet," Allen smirked playfully, "but still not as sweet as you."

Aphrodite pretended to look away, her cheeks tinged slightly red. "Heh… you're ridiculous."

After finishing the food, they continued walking. They passed through a marketplace filled with merchants selling all sorts of goods, watched the colosseum where Atlantis' warriors showed off their battle skills, and finally headed to the theater.

There, they enjoyed a play about heroes' adventures, accompanied by music and captivating dances.

Once the show ended, they strolled toward the city center, soaking in the late afternoon atmosphere. Children ran around, their laughter echoing between Atlantis' grand buildings.

Aphrodite stopped near a large fountain at the plaza. She sat at the edge, playing with the clear water with her fingers.

"Allen…" she called softly.

"Hm?" Allen turned toward her.

Without warning, Aphrodite flicked water at him with her fingertips. "Got you! Hahaha!"

Allen laughed, then splashed some water back at her. They teased each other playfully, making the atmosphere light and filled with laughter.

After tiring themselves out, Aphrodite leaned against Allen's shoulder. Her eyes gazed at the sky, watching the sun slowly descend, painting Atlantis' horizon with golden-orange hues.

"Allen," she whispered, "I want to have more days like this."

Allen smiled lightly, stroking his chin as if there were a beard there—which there wasn't. "Anytime you want," he said casually but with real meaning behind his words.

Then he paused for a moment, reaching into his robe's pocket. "By the way, I have something for you."

From his pocket, Allen pulled out a heart-shaped pendant—the Lover Pendant—a gift Raviel had once given him. The pendant shimmered softly, reflecting the warm light of the setting sun.

Aphrodite's eyes sparkled as she touched the pendant gently, as if afraid to break it.

"This is such a beautiful necklace," she whispered, her voice soft but clear between the ocean breeze.

Then her gaze shifted to Allen. A pinkish blush appeared on her usually confident, teasing face.

"Could you… help me put it on?"

Allen smiled warmly. "Of course."

Carefully, he stood behind her. His fingers unclasped the necklace, and he gently placed it around her slender neck. When his fingers brushed her skin, Allen instinctively caressed the back of her neck lightly. Warm. Soft. The faint scent of roses lingered from her flowing hair.

"Done. How is it? Does it look good?" Aphrodite asked as she turned around, her hands touching the pendant resting on her chest. Her eyes met Allen's, filled with a look that was hard to describe—somewhere between happiness and something deeper.

"It looks perfect," Allen replied softly.

They stood facing each other for a moment, only the sound of the waves and the breeze accompanying them. Without knowing who started it first, their bodies leaned closer, naturally closing the distance between them.

Without words, they kissed.

The moment felt just right. The sun slowly sank behind the horizon, casting a golden hue across the sea. The air was warm, the atmosphere calm, as if the world itself had planned this time—just for the two of them.

Note: Hey don't forget to give me your power stone, and leave your review to motivate me.😉