Kokabiel's POV

  I walked toward the Tingen City train station slowly, in no particular hurry despite knowing Klein was probably waiting. The afternoon sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets.

  Despite my general desire to avoid drawing attention, the people around us were staring. Their emotions were painfully obvious to my senses—envy, jealousy, greed, and various other spectrums of negative human feelings radiating from the men we passed.

  The women had different reactions. Some looked dreamy and wistful, others jealous , a few whispering to their companions about what a beautiful couple we made.

  I sighed helplessly as I looked at the reason for all this attention beside me.

  Katie was skipping happily while holding onto my arm, her entire demeanor that of a young woman on her first real date. Her golden eyes sparkled with joy, and she kept looking around at everything with genuine curiosity and delight.

  It was hard to believe this cheerful girl was actually the Evernight Goddess, one of the most powerful and mysterious deities in this entire world.

  "Hey Arthur," she asked excitedly, practically bouncing as we walked. "Have you tried the food here? The street vendors look interesting! Everything smells so good!"

  She gestured at the various food stalls we were passing—vendors selling roasted chestnuts, meat pies, candied fruits, and other simple fare.

  "I've been stuck so long in my castle that I almost forgot human cuisine has improved so much compared to the Third Epoch," she continued wistfully. "Back then it was mostly basic grains and whatever meat you could hunt. Very boring. But this!" She inhaled deeply. "This smells amazing!"

  I smiled wryly at her enthusiasm. "I don't actually need to consume food for sustenance. And my perception of taste is... unusual. I can taste things, but it mostly comes to me as separate data about the individual ingredients used, not the combination itself as a unified flavor."

  Katie looked curious, her head tilting slightly. "So if you ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you would taste the bread, the peanut butter, and the jelly all separately? Not the way they blend together?"

  I chuckled at her oddly specific question and nodded. "Yes, something like that. Each component registers distinctly rather than as a cohesive whole. It's one of the drawbacks of perceiving reality at a more fundamental level."

  Katie's eyes lit up with determination. "Well, we need to test that theory properly! Let's go check out that restaurant over there." She pointed at a modest establishment with a painted sign reading "Gustav's Kitchen" hanging above the door.

  "Maybe you'll find it different since it's a completely different world with different ingredients and preparation methods!"

  I wanted to explain that it doesn't actually work like that, that my nature as an Outer God wouldn't change just because I was in a different reality. But the hopeful look on her face made me feel bad about refusing.

  It would be like kicking a puppy. An extremely powerful divine puppy who could reshape reality, but still.

  So I slumped slightly in resignation. "Sure, why not."

  Katie's face brightened immediately and she dragged me toward the restaurant entrance with surprising strength for someone who looked so delicate. Much to the visible despair of the nearby male population, who all looked like they'd just watched their dreams die.

  The restaurant owner—a middle-aged man with a friendly face and an impressive mustache—grinned like he'd just been given a ton of gold when Katie pulled me inside. His eyes widened as he took in her appearance, and he immediately straightened up and smoothed down his apron.

  "Come in, come in please, beautiful miss!" He gestured enthusiastically. "Are you looking to dine in or take out?"

  He didn't even greet me. Some might even consider that rude. Well, any other human male would have probably reacted the same way if I was being fair.

  Katie beamed at him happily. "We're looking to dine in! Can you recommend something good? We're not from around here. My boyfriend and I came to experience the culture of Tingen and local cuisine."

  I gave her stare which meant, 'Really?' But she chose to ignore that.

  The shop owner patted his chest proudly, his expression becoming one of professional pride. "I sell the best meat pies in all of Tingen! My family recipe, passed down three generations! How about a couple of pies with some oyster soup? It's fresh, just made a couple hours ago.

  As for dessert, you can have some lemon cakes my wife makes. They're absolutely delicious." He paused, then added honestly, "Not quite as good as Granny Wendy's—she's the local legend—but my wife comes pretty close!"

  Katie looked at me expectantly, her golden eyes shining. "What do you think, Arthur?"

  I shrugged casually. "Might as well. I'm curious to see if your theory holds any merit."

  The shop owner beamed and ushered us toward a corner table near the window. "Right this way, honored guests! Best seat in the house!"

  As we walked through the dining area, the other patrons all stopped eating. Conversations died mid-sentence. Forks paused halfway to mouths. Everyone just stared.

  It was to be expected, I suppose. We looked completely out of place among the working-class folks who usually dined here. Our clothes were clearly expensive and well-made, far beyond what anyone here could afford. Katie's beauty was striking enough to draw attention anywhere, and her genuine smile made her practically glow.

  And then there was me, standing beside her looking like I'd rather be literally anywhere else.

  The men's expressions shifted from admiration of Katie to anger directed at me. How dare this bored-looking bastard not appreciate the beautiful goddess on his arm? Their glares were nearly physical in their intensity.

  The shop owner pulled out Katie's chair for her with a flourish, then shot me a pointed look as I sat down across from her.

  After taking our order, he leaned in close and whispered to me with the earnestness of a concerned grandfather. "You better treat her well, young man. A girl like that doesn't come around twice in a lifetime. You mess this up and you'll end up alone forever, mark my words."

  Katie, who had definitely heard every word despite the whisper, grinned mischievously after he left. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "Sooo, are you going to treat me well, Arthur?"

  I raised an eyebrow. "Define 'well' in specific terms."

  She scooted her chair closer, deliberately leaning against my shoulder. The contact was warm and somehow comforting despite my general detachment from physical sensations.

  "You know," she said softly, her voice taking on a dreamy quality. "Taking me out to nice places like this. Treating me with love and affection. Being there for me when I need you. Listening when I want to talk. And eventually..." Her voice dropped to a whisper, and I noticed her cheeks turning pink. "M-marriage and k-kids maybe?"

  If looks could kill, I would probably have died several times over from the collective glares of every man in the restaurant. They were looking at me with pure hatred, as if I'd personally insulted their mothers.

  The women, on the other hand, looked dreamy and wistful. Some were openly sighing, probably thinking about what a beautiful, loving couple we made. A few were actually drooling at me slightly, which made their partners' glares somewhat more justified.

  I sighed deeply. "I don't know how marriage would even be possible between us. Outer Gods don't typically engage in such human customs. No church can consumate this. As for children..." I paused, trying to think of how to explain this. "It's not like human reproduction at all. I think the closest biological comparison would be mitosis? A division of essence rather than combination. Not recommended, highly unstable, could accidentally create reality-threatening entities."

  Katie shook her head with exasperated fondness. "We really need to work on your romantic communication skills, Arthur. You're extremely lucky I love you so much. Any other girl would have smacked you upside the head after that explanation."

  She continued, ticking points off on her fingers. "You need to be more sweet and affectionate. Use words that convey emotion, not scientific accuracy. Make me feel special, not like a biology experiment."

  "I thought we were just friends?" I pointed out.

  Katie pouted adorably, her lower lip jutting out. "For you, maybe. I consider you more like my fiancé already. We've already exchanged vows—you made me your Queen piece with that whole 'till death do us part' thing. That's basically a proposal."

  "Katie..."

  "What?" She stubbornly crossed her arms. "I'm not saying you have to feel the same way I do right now. But I'm free to express my own feelings however I want. And I'm saying clearly: you are MINE and ONLY mine."

  Was it just me, or did her tone shift strangely at the end? Like multiple voices speaking in unison, layered and distorted in a way that made reality ripple slightly? Come to think of it, I kinda speak like that in my real form.

  Eh, Probably just some emotional expression manifesting divine authority. Nothing to worry about.

  I decided not to argue, recognizing a losing battle when I saw one. "If you say so. I will try to be more... humanlike in my interactions, although I still fundamentally lack the depth and nuanced understanding of complex emotions that you're looking for."

  Katie's expression immediately brightened. She leaned over and gave me a light peck on the cheek. "That's more like it! See? You can be sweet when you try! Now loosen up a bit! We're on a date!"

  "I thought we were here to scientifically test my taste perception?"

  Katie smirked knowingly. "You really bought that excuse?"

  Oh. Right. This was what humans called "harmless deception"—doing something with good intentions while using slightly dishonest methods to achieve it. Creating a pretext for spending time together rather than asking directly.

  I could still be manipulated like that, apparently. My emotional intelligence still had significant gaps.

  Mwah!

  I snapped back to reality as Katie took advantage of my distracted state to plant a quick kiss directly on my lips.

  I blinked in surprise. Had the temperature in the restaurant suddenly dropped? Several candles had gone out simultaneously, and I could see frost forming on some of the windows.

  I sighed. "Katie..."

  "What?" She grinned unrepentantly. "Your clueless expression when you have sudden epiphanies looks so cute I couldn't help myself! And you should be happy to be kissed by a pretty girl anyway!" She waved her arms dramatically. "Gosh, it's exactly like our first date all over again! You being adorably confused while I try to flirt with you!"

  I paused for a moment, considering how to respond. "I do appreciate the gesture and the affection you're showing, although I'm currently unable to return the same level of passion and emotional investment. So... thank you, I think?"

  Katie stared at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

  Then she burst out laughing, the sound bright and genuine and completely carefree. "You are SO funny, Arthur! You don't even realize it!"

  She wiped tears from her eyes. "You're more like your old self than you know. The awkward sincerity, the complete inability to read social cues, the accidental humor. It makes me so happy to see glimpses of the boy I loved."

  She closed her eyes and snuggled contentedly against my shoulder, apparently not caring that everyone in the restaurant was still staring.

  The owner returned carrying several plates, his smile even wider than before. "Thanks for waiting, honored guests! Here's your meat pies and oyster soup. And..." He set down a larger plate with a flourish. "I made the couple's special for you two lovebirds!"

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  He gave me another pointed look that clearly said 'you better appreciate this.'

  The "couple's special" was apparently a heart-shaped meat pie with extra toppings and garnish arranged decoratively. Steam rose from it appetizingly.

  I still didn't understand why humans consistently related the heart shape to symbolism for love and romance. Actual human hearts looked nothing like that stylized form. And love itself was primarily a neurochemical reaction involving oxytocin, dopamine, and other hormones affecting brain chemistry, not a cardiac function.

  But I had learned through many awkward interactions that pointing this out was generally not appreciated.

  Katie squealed beside me with delight. "It looks so good! And it's shaped like a heart! How sweet!" She beamed at the owner. "Thank you so much, kind sir!"

  The old man was... actually blushing? His weathered face turned slightly pink. "Hehehe, I'm just happy you like it, young miss. Makes an old man's day to see young love."

  He paused, then waved dismissively. "And don't worry about the bill at all. This one's on me."

  Katie's smile widened. "Are you sure? We have plenty of money. My boyfriend would be happy to pay for our meal, wouldn't you, Arthur?"

  I scratched my head, confused. "I am?"

  After receiving a sharp glare from Katie, I quickly corrected myself. "Ahem... yes. Yes, I absolutely would. Happy to pay."

  The owner chuckled and waved his hand. "No need, no need! You two look like nobility with those fine clothes. I'm sure you can afford it easily. Consider this a gift from an old romantic who likes seeing young couples happy together."

  Katie clasped her hands together gratefully. "Then we'll gratefully accept your kindness, sir. Thank you so much."

  The man smiled warmly and walked away to attend to other customers.

  I noticed Katie chanting something under her breath, divine words in a language that predated modern speech. A small wisp of light, invisible to normal human perception, floated from her hand toward the shopkeeper.

  Through my enhanced senses, I could see what others couldn't.

  That wisp of light was a concentrated divine blessing, far more potent than what most gods would casually give. It sank into the man's body, immediately curing all his hidden ailments, the bad knee that ached in cold weather, the lung damage from years of working near cooking fires, the early signs of heart disease that would have killed him within a year.

  The blessing also boosted his overall life force and vitality, probably adding a good twenty or thirty years to his natural lifespan.

  I spoke lightly, "I thought you didn't care much about individual humans anymore? That you'd become too detached from mortality after thousands of years as a goddess?"

  Katie ignored my question. Instead, she picked up a knife and cut off a small slice of the heart-shaped pie with precise movements. She stabbed it with her fork and brought it toward my mouth.

  I looked at her questioningly. "What are you—mmph!"

  She just shoved the food into my mouth before I could finish asking.

  Katie smiled sweetly. "I'm feeding you, silly! Isn't it obvious? Now you do it for me too."

  I chewed and swallowed the bite, analyzing the taste. Meat, seasonings, pastry dough—all registered as distinct components rather than a unified flavor profile. Just as I'd expected.

  I looked at the remaining pie dubiously. "Is this really necessary? We could just eat normally and more efficiently."

  Katie's face fell dramatically. She looked up at me with the saddest expression, batting her eyelashes in exaggerated misery. "Why? You don't want to feed me? You don't want to share this intimate couple's activity with me?"

  The entire restaurant's atmosphere shifted immediately. Every single person was now looking at me like I was the worst kind of human scum. The disappointment and judgment were palpable.

  One old woman actually tutted loudly and shook her head.

  A young man whispered to his companion, "What an asshole. I'd kill to have a girl like that want me to feed her."

  This whole situation was extremely confusing to navigate socially. The expectations and unspoken rules were overwhelming.

  So I just sighed and repeated Katie's actions—cutting off a small piece of pie and holding it up to her mouth.

  Her expression transformed instantly from sad to delighted. The smile on her face was radiant, a stark contrast to her wounded puppy look from just seconds ago.

  She ate the offered bite with obvious enjoyment, making happy humming sounds.

  Then Katie took a spoonful of the oyster soup, blew on it gently to cool it down, and brought it carefully to my mouth. I accepted it, recognizing this was apparently some kind of important bonding ritual for her.

  We continued this pattern throughout the meal—taking turns feeding each other, her looking blissfully happy while I tried to understand the social significance of it all.

  The meal took considerably longer to finish than it would have if we'd just eaten normally, thanks to Katie's insistence on these "couple activities."

  But I had to admit, watching her face light up with joy every time I fed her a bite made the inefficiency somewhat worthwhile.

  When we finally finished, we thanked the shop owner profusely. He waved us off with a grandfatherly smile, clearly delighted by the entire interaction.

  We walked out into the early evening. The sun had set while we were eating, and the street lamps were being lit one by one. The temperature had dropped noticeably.

  Katie walked beside me quietly for a few moments, her earlier cheerfulness fading slightly.

  Then she asked softly, not meeting my eyes, "You have to go now, right? Back to your own world?"

  I nodded. "Yes. I have responsibilities there. People waiting for my return. I promised Gabriel I'd be back within a year, and I've already been gone longer than intended."

  "Are there any pretty girls there?" The question came out carefully neutral, but I sensed deeper meaning behind it.

  I answered honestly, not understanding the implications of the question. "Yes. All female angels are quite beautiful by design, it's part of their nature. Especially my sister Gabriel, who is known throughout creation as 'Heaven's Grace.' She's considered one of the most beautiful beings in existence."

  I continued, still not recognizing the danger. "My former secretary Penemue is also quite beautiful according to supernatural standards, though her personality is somewhat... forward. She has certain habits that—"

  I stopped abruptly as I noticed Katie's expression.

  "Why are you looking at me like that?"

  Katie had moved closer, her face now mere inches from mine. Her eyes were covered by her hair due to the angle, creating an ominous shadow. When she spoke, her voice was sweet—too sweet, like poisoned honey.

  "I hope you're not doing anything INAPPROPRIATE with other girls, Arthur." Each word was carefully enunciated. "I would be very, VERY disappointed if you did. DISAPPOINTED enough to maybe KILL some HUSSY trying to STEAL MY MAN!"

  The temperature around us dropped by at least twenty degrees. Frost began forming on nearby windows and lampposts. Several people walking past us shivered and hurried away without knowing why.

  Where did THAT come from?!

  I winced internally, recognizing I'd stumbled into dangerous territory. It seemed the years of isolation and loneliness had altered Katie's psyche in ways I hadn't fully appreciated. There were definitely some possessive tendencies developing.

  I made a mental note: absolutely do NOT mention Penemue's... enthusiastic attempts at seduction. Or Athena's interest. Or any of the other situations that could be misinterpreted. That would end very, very badly for them.

  I coughed and deliberately redirected the conversation to safer ground. "So, what will you do now? While waiting for the decade to pass before you can leave this world?"

  Katie's personality switched instantly back to cheerful, the temperature returning to normal just as quickly. It was honestly a bit unsettling how fast the transition happened.

  "Oh! I'm going to visit all my churches and order my followers to build statues of you beside mine in every single branch!" She said this like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  "That way no asshole will try to hit on me thinking I'm available. Everyone will know I'm taken and completely off the market!"

  I blinked. "Isn't that a little too... excessive? And possibly theologically problematic?"

  Katie shrugged cheerfully. "Think of it like wedding announcements that humans do! Publishing in newspapers, sending invitations, making sure everyone knows about the marriage. I told you already—you're mine and I'm yours. It's better if people know that clearly from the start to avoid any misunderstandings."

  She paused, then added thoughtfully, "Plus, it'll really piss off the other gods who've been trying to arrange political tie with me thorugh marriage for centuries. Win-win!"

  I decided not to argue against her logic. I desperately needed to go home and process everything that had happened in the last few hours. The emotional complexity was giving me a headache despite my general immunity to such things.

  So we just continued walking toward the train station in comfortable silence.

  I had tried earlier to explain that I was simply saying farewell to Klein and then leaving immediately, but Katie had insisted on spending every possible moment with me while I was still in her world.

  Which is how we ended up in this somewhat awkward situation.

  Klein was standing on the platform near the tracks, a worn suitcase beside him. When he saw us approaching, his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open in a perfect expression of shock.

  Katie cheerfully waved and introduced herself before I could say anything. "Hello Klein Moretti! It's so nice to finally meet you properly!"

  She performed a little curtsy that seemed oddly formal. "I am the Evernight Goddess, your patron deity. But more importantly—" Her smile widened. "I'm Arthur's... um, Kokabiel's girlfriend! Very pleased to meet you!"

  Klein looked at me with an utterly incredulous expression. Then back at Katie. Then at me again. His eyes kept darting between us like he was watching a tennis match.

  I shrugged helplessly. "We're... working on defining the relationship."

  Klein muttered under his breath, though I could hear him perfectly. "So it really was like that? I thought I was just messing with him in the chat. Did he actually hook up with THE Evernight Goddess? My patron deity? The one I pray to?"

  Katie stood proudly beside me, clearly having heard every word with her divine senses. She looked extremely pleased with herself.

  I tried to change the awkward atmosphere. "So, you're heading to Backlund now to hunt Ince Zangwill?"

  Klein snapped out of his stupor and nodded jerkily. "Uh... yeah. Backlund. Ince is there according to my Almighty visions. Revenge. Justice. Yes." He seemed to be having trouble forming complete sentences.

  I gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Good luck with that. Remember, don't hesitate to contact us through the chat group if things go wrong or you need assistance. We're here to help."

  Katie chimed in enthusiastically. "Since you're Arthur's friend, I'll help you too! Just visit any of my churches and request to contact me directly. I'll make sure my bishops know to treat you as a VIP."

  Klein nodded with a weird, strained smile. "Yes... of course. I appreciate the generous gesture, my lady Evernight."

  Katie waved dismissively. "Oh, don't be so formal! You can call me Amanises, or just Katie if you prefer. We're practically friends now that you're friends with Arthur!"

  Klein nodded again, clearly having no idea how to process this information. "Uh... yes, sure. I understand, Lady... Katie."

  I rubbed my forehead, feeling the beginnings of what might be frustration. "Right. Well, I won't keep you waiting any longer. Take care on your journey, Klein. Stay safe and don't do anything too reckless."

  Klein smiled more genuinely, some of his usual personality returning. "Thank you for everything, Kokabiel. I mean it. You saved my life and gave me hope when I had none. I owe you a debt I can never fully repay."

  "Friends don't keep score of debts," I said simply.

  We exchanged a firm handshake, and Klein picked up his suitcase, preparing to board.

  I turned to Katie. "Take care of yourself while I'm gone. Don't overwork yourself with church duties, and make sure to actually rest occasionally instead of painting portraits of me all day."

  Katie's eyes were already getting teary. "You promise to call every day? Through our connection?"

  I scratched my head. "Time flows differently between our worlds, so the concept of 'every day' is somewhat relative. But I'll make contact regularly since you're part of my peerage now. And you can also initiate contact with me whenever you want through the Queen piece."

  Katie smiled through her tears and threw her arms around me in a tight hug. "You better pick up when I call, or I'll find a way to track you down across dimensional barriers."

  After our embrace, she pulled back slightly but kept her hands on my shoulders. She looked expectant, waiting for something.

  "What?" I asked, confused.

  "Aren't you forgetting something important?"

  I thought for a moment, running through a mental checklist. "I don't think I brought anything with me that I need to retrieve."

  Klein, who was still lingering nearby for some reason instead of boarding the train, coughed pointedly. "Dude."

  "What?"

  Katie sighed with exasperated fondness and cupped my face with both hands. "You're supposed to give me a goodbye kiss, silly. It's what couples do when parting for a long time."

  I wanted to point out that we hadn't technically defined ourselves as a couple in explicit terms, when I noticed Klein had somehow produced a small recording device from his pocket. He was trying to hide it behind his suitcase, but his movements were extremely obvious.

  I looked at him emotionlessly. "What's that in your hand, Klein?"

  He immediately hid the device behind his back. "Uh, nothing! Nothing at all! Please carry on with your romantic moment. Pretend I'm not here."

  "You're being very obvious."

  "I have no idea what you're talking about," Klein said with completely unconvincing innocence.

  Before I could address the situation further, Katie apparently got impatient with waiting. She pulled me down forcefully and kissed me.

  This wasn't a quick peck like before. This was something else entirely—passionate and desperate, like she was trying to pour every emotion she felt, every ounce of longing and love and fear of loss, into that single act.

  Her hands moved to the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair. I could feel her trembling slightly, could sense the divine power she was unconsciously releasing in waves that made reality ripple around us.

  She held on for several long moments, and when we finally parted, I noticed her eyes were watery again.

  "That's something to remember me by," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll miss you more than you can possibly understand. Don't forget me, okay? Don't let the cosmic indifference of being an Outer God make you forget there's someone waiting for you."

  I nodded with a helpless smile, feeling something that might have been affection warming my chest. "You've made it very difficult to forget you, Katie. That was definitely your intention, I think."

  The train's whistle blew sharply, cutting through the moment.

  I looked at Klein, who was still hovering nearby. "Isn't that your train? You should probably board before it leaves without you."

  Klein snapped back to awareness. "Oh... yes! Right! Train!" He grabbed his suitcase and started heading toward the platform, then stopped and turned back. "Take care, Kokabiel! And Lady Amanises! I'll see you both soon hopefully!"

  He waved quickly and ran to catch the train, practically diving through the door just as it started moving.

  Katie giggled watching him. "He seems like a fun person. I can see why you're friends."

  I smiled slightly. "Yes, he is. Very determined despite appearing mild-mannered."

  She turned back to me and held both my hands in hers. "Come and visit me often, okay? Don't make me wait years between contacts. I'll be counting the days until the decade is up and I can finally leave this world."

  I nodded. "I will visit when I can. Take care of yourself, Katie. Don't let your duties as a goddess consume all your time."

  "You too, Arthur. Don't let being an Outer God make you forget what it's like to connect with people. You are still the sweet, gentle and kind boy I remember, never lose that."

  I gave her a light smile, then turned around. Reality began to fracture around me like glass developing cracks. A dark pathway opened in front of me, leading back to my home dimension.

  I walked forward into the tear in space, feeling the dimensional barriers part for my passage. The crack sizzled and closed behind me the moment I was through, sealing itself as if it had never existed.

  Katie stood there on the train platform, staring at the spot where I'd vanished for a long time. Even after all traces of my presence had faded, she remained, as if hoping I might suddenly reappear.

  Finally, she turned and vanished as well, likely returning to her divine kingdom.

  Time resumed its normal flow. Reality continued as usual on the train platform. Nobody had noticed the two people who'd been standing there moments ago suddenly disappearing—their perceptions had been subtly altered to skip over that moment entirely.

  Everything looked the same. The trains ran on schedule. People went about their business. The city of Tingen continued its daily routine without interruption.

  But unknown to the ordinary citizens going about their mundane lives, nothing would ever be quite the same again.

  The Evernight Goddess had fallen in love with an Outer God.

  And that would have consequences that would ripple across this entire world in the years to come.