Slady's body felt like it was on fire after the intimate encounter. As a virgin, he didn't know how pleasurable lovemaking was.
He didn't feel any pleasure in the act itself, but Slady felt a... pleasant sensation. He liked it; it felt good for both the man and Ferinish.
After the intimate moment, Slady found himself in bed, naked, with only the covers covering him. Ferinish, now his partner, slept in the man's arms, equally naked.
He remembered the last times he had slept with Ferinish before he lost consciousness. He remembered the tension in the woman's muscles, as if even allowing her to touch him was still uncomfortable.
But now, she seemed completely relaxed. The Destroyer slept with her face in Slady's neck, her chest pressed against his, and their legs intertwined.
The man observed the situation calmly, having a short interval of time to understand the situation and his own physical condition.
Without his mechanical eye and arm, and without the claws on his back, he had lost everything. But if that was a price to pay to know love...
He would pay that price without hesitation.
***
Dressed in his usual clothes, Slady walked through IceStorm, which was still in a difficult situation, especially with so many deaths from freezing.
His gaze fell on Carolina's house, he walked up to it and knocked gently on the door. The door opened, and it was Carolina, surprised to see him.
"Slady..."
She hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for everything, for helping me and Ferinish in that fight."
"Don't thank me, Ferinish, you did it all alone."
He ran his hand through Carolina's hair, giving it a brief caress. The woman stepped away, placing her hands behind her back.
"I really should have, but apparently, she didn't come with you. Why?"
"She's... resting."
Noticing the hesitation, Carolina chuckled softly.
"I think something happened between you two. But I won't bother you."
Slady sighed gratefully, placing her hand on her chin.
"I heard about your friend, I'm sorry."
Carolina felt a pang in her heart, becoming more serious and melancholic.
"I miss him, but in the end, he didn't die for nothing, did he?"
"Apparently, yes."
***
At the house, Slady met Carolina's younger brother, who, out of curiosity, sat on his lap.
"Are you my sister's friend?"
"Yes, I am."
"Do you want to be my friend?"
"I don't mind."
Carolina laughed at the innocent interaction between the two, pouring Slady a coffee and sitting beside him. The man thanked her silently, taking a sip of the hot liquid.
"What will the future of IceStorm be like after Fraizen's fall?"
Slady asked suddenly. Carolina was surprised, but the little boy didn't care, continuing to play with the man's hair.
"I'll be the queen."
Slady tilted her head, and the little boy grew excited at his older sister's words.
"Are you going to be like those queens who protect people with a legendary sword?!"
Carolina laughed softly, nodding.
"Exactly, I'll be the queen who protects everyone..."
The former soldier picked the boy up, stroking his hair.
"Will you help your sister become a great queen?"
"Of course! I'll be very strong to protect you, sister!"
Slady watched their interaction in silence. Carolina placed the boy on the floor and patted him lightly on the buttocks.
"Now go to your room, your sister and her friend will have grown-up conversations, okay?"
The little boy waved to them both and went to his room. Carolina sighed, wanting to change the subject.
"Did you just come here to visit me, Slady? Or was it something more?"
"I came here to visit her, but my intention in the kingdom is to find clothes for Ferinish."
Carolina was curious.
"Clothes?"
"When she transformed into a Destroyer, she ended up losing her clothes."
"Oh yes, a Destroyer..."
Carolina thought for a moment, asking honestly,
"Won't Ferinish end up lost with the Renkai Energy in her body?"
"I hope not, but I will help her blend in with society. No one wants to see a Destroyer roaming free, do they?
"You must be good at this..."
Carolina murmured, and Slady heard, nodding.
"Of course I'm good."
***
The feeling of not being in her beloved's arms was disconcerting, waking Ferinish. She looked around, finding a letter.
☆☆☆
"I'm going to buy clothes."
It was straightforward and written in depressing handwriting, but after a few minutes of trying, Ferinish understood.
☆☆☆
A short time later, Slady returned to the cabin. Ferinish looked at the man, the blanket covering his chest.
"Good morning..."
"It's still the same day, Ferinish."
Slady laid out the clothes on the bed: a black and blue kinomo and underwear.
Ferinish held the fabric in her hands, inhaling the pleasant scent of something new.
"Hmmm..."
Without hesitation, Ferinish stood up. Slady looked away to respect her privacy...
"Slady, I don't mind you looking."
Ferinish commented. Slady sighed and looked at her body casually.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"I trust you with this, Slady. You can look all you want."
Ferinish said, wrapping a black ribbon around her breasts, unashamed of the man seeing her intimately. She put on her kinomo, caressing the long skirt of the garment.
"It's very comfortable for me to fight in, thank you..."
Ferinish placed her hand on Slady's face and thanked her with a gentle kiss on her lips.
"I'm going to eat that cake."
Ferinish took Slady's hand, leading him to the kitchen, where the brownie was still covered by the cloth.
They both sat in the chair and picked at the pieces of cake, beginning to eat. The atmosphere was cozy, Ferinish caressed Slady's only hand, intertwining their fingers with his.
Slady couldn't help but look at Ferinish and see that she was more beautiful than before. Maybe it was her new appearance or something else he couldn't quite identify.
Now that he was at peace in that moment, Slady could think of only one thing.
'Shaphira... Elisa... I want to see them. Be well, for us.'
***
A few months later, the kingdom of IceStorm recovered from everything it had been through, Carolina became queen, and the people paid tribute to those who had died.
Slady and Ferinish didn't receive any encouragement, as neither wanted any attention.
***
Now queen, Carolina finds herself at the door of the hut of the pair who had done so much for her. Not only when Fraizen ruled the kingdom, but also after Carolina took the throne. Whether with Ferinish helping her with combat training, or with Slady helping her with political and economic knowledge.
She knocked on the door, and soon Slady opened it, letting out a yawn.
"Oh, Carolina, what are you doing here?"
She asked in a toneless tone, tilting her head. Carolina swallowed nervously.
"You're leaving IceStorm, aren't you?"
"Yes, why?..."
Ferinish appeared at the door too, carrying his sword at his waist. Carolina pressed her lips together and hugged them both.
"I want to thank you for everything you did; you were incredible people."
Slady remained impassive, placing her hand in Carolina's hair and caressing it. Ferinish felt uncomfortable with the hug, but she knew it was a gesture of gratitude from her friend.
"We didn't do anything wrong."
"Especially me."
Carolina shook her head, pulling away from them both.
"Don't be humble. If it weren't for Slady, Fraizen wouldn't have lost his strength, and I wouldn't know how to command. If it weren't for Ferinish, we wouldn't have been able to defeat the former queen, and I wouldn't have gained training to protect my people, and the people I love..."
Carolina cried a little, wiping her eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to get so emotional."
They both understood, letting her release her feelings.
"If I can, I'll try to bring Shaphira and Elisa to IceStorm,"
Slady commented, placing her hand on her hip. Carolina nodded.
"I would be very grateful to receive you in the future..."
Pounding her arm against her chest, Carolina kneels before them both.
"I wouldn't be the queen I am because of you, Slady and Ferinish. You owe me and my people an eternal debt."
They both nodded. Slady placed his hands on the girl's shoulders, lifting her up.
"Don't kneel, you're a queen."
He patted Carolina on the head, and she giggled.
"Right, Mr. Slady."
Ferinish sighed, commenting.
"I'm grateful to have you by my side, Carolina. You were an essential friend to me."
Carolina nodded.
"You were too, Ferinish. You all were..."
Breaking out a sigh, Carolina stood at attention and bowed.
"I'll be taking my leave, thank you for everything."
Carolina left, walking toward IceStorm. Ferinish and Slady gazed at the blue skies, feeling the pleasant chill brush against their faces.
"This will be our last day in IceStorm. How are you feeling?"
Slady asked. Ferinish took a deep breath and replied.
"This place still feels familiar. I was raised by those scientists in IceStorm. Even though it was used as a weapon, I still feel a fondness for this place."
Slady stroked his beard, replying.
"Maybe I have the same feeling. But in the end, everything turned out okay, that's what matters."
"Yes, everything turned out okay..."
***
At night, Slady and Ferinish sat on the roof, watching the moonlight.
"Tomorrow morning, we will begin wandering the great path that will lead us to my library. You will meet my daughters."
Slady commented. Ferinish looked at her beloved, worried.
"Will they recognize me? After all, that time..."
Slady shook her head, replying.
"No. But if they do, I'll explain everything. I want you and my adopted daughters to understand each other."
"I'll try, Slady. I want to be a better person, for you, for us..."
Ferinish placed his hands on Slady's cheek, kissing her temple.
"But I'm excited, I want to be part of your family."
Slady closed her eyes and nodded.
"I'll be grateful to have you by my side."
The man replied. Ferinish snuggled into him, sitting on his lap and hugging him.
"..."
"..."
The two fell silent. Slady snuggled into the woman's chest, practically ready to fall asleep there.
And so it happened, Ferinish fell asleep in Slady's lap, just as he had fallen asleep on her chest.
The next day, early in the morning, Slady and Ferinish walked where the ice walls had been; now a snowy path had opened up, and it would take them a while to reach their destination...
Libretanhya.