Transcendence?

***Sphere of Sous***

***Ascathon***

“This is a really big party!” I wave my glass with wine at the huge open air stage and the dancing area the size of a football field.

Jazira and Celestial are filling their plates at the buffet, while Lidith is with me at our table. She is grinning and looks a little drunk. A huge trophy is in front of her.

She gestures with her glass at the party around us and spills half of the content. “Isn't it great? I managed to secure us the first place! Even Gemesh has to acknowledge my strength now.”

“Though you probably earned another reputation by doing so. I heard that it was the first time that someone was drowned in a puddle of mud.” I point out while I refill my glass with wine.

Lidith's expression turns gloomy and she holds her glass out for more wine. Then she looks at the dancing people without paying any more attention to me.

I watch the people around us until Celestial returns with Jazira. Both of them have more food on their plates than they can probably eat.

Celestial takes a seat beside me and Jazira snuggles closer to Lidith. A strange glitter is in her eyes and she offers Lidith a piece of fish.

“Hey! I am not some kind of pet!” Lidith snarls at Jazira.

Jazira doesn't retreat and edges closer. “But you are so cute. Let me feed you! Just once.”

Lidith sighs. “Please give me the antidote now. I can't deal with the advances of this creep.” She points at Jazira.

Celestial sighs and places a potion on the table.

Jazira's expression turns desperate. “Are you really sure that you want to turn back?”

Lidith snorts. “I am really sure.”

Jazira draws a small circle on the table. “But Gemesh said that your new look suits you.”

Lidith freezes with the opened bottle at her lips. “He really said that?”

Celestial nods. “Now that you mention it, I remember his words too.”

I frown. “I don't...” Someone steps on my foot! I have to clench my teeth together to endure the pain! The pinky toe might be broken! I felt the high heels. It was Jazira for sure! Celestial doesn't wear shoes like that.

Lidith starts to fiddle with the potion. Then she puts it down. “I have to go somewhere. Don't search for me.”

She dashes off and Celestial winks at Jazira, who pulls another potion from a pocket and follows Lidith.

I frown. “What was that about?”

“~Nothing.~ Jazira is just trying to help Lidith with her confession.” Celestial smiles and takes her potion back which was left on the table.

“If I remember correctly, Lidith already confessed to Gemesh.” I sigh.

Celestial arches an eyebrow. “That was during the last tournament. So it was a hundred years ago! Who says that you can't try it again after such a long time?”

I take a sip from my wine. “I guess there is no harm in trying.”

Celestial's expression turns into a grin. “That's what the potion is for. ~Just in case.~”

So they are going to poison him? Then the honey trap follows. It's always like that. I sigh again and down my wine.

Celestial looks at the empty bottle beside me. “Are you trying to get drunk?”

“I am drunk. I am not trying.” It's a heavy wine with much alcohol. “And then I'll sleep.”

“You can't. I wanted to dance!” Celestial grabs my hand and pulls me up, taking the glass away from me.

I purse my lips and try to stand straight. But it's actually not that easy to do so. “Nope. Might not be possible. Unless you want me to trip over you.”

That's the moment when I see the bunny girl in the crowd of people. “Ah! Look. Maybe I should go and apologize!” I take a step, but the world suddenly starts spinning.

Strange. I am drunk, but I am not that drunk?

***Sphere of Sous***

***Celestial***

I shoulder my husband and smile at the people around us. There is nothing to see. Just a woman who takes care of her ~belongings~.

There is no more time to lose. Maybe dancing isn't possible today, but I want at least some romantic memories. I use a pathway to take us onto a nearby empty hill. The location is perfect if you want to be alone.

Ascathon isn't the romantic type at all, so I have to arrange for almost everything myself. I place him on the prepared blanket and lean him with his back against a tree. Then I sit down between his legs and take a bottle with ice cream from the basket which I brought here earlier.

“Isn't this place wonderful? The starry night sky, the nature around us?” No answer. I sigh and start eating. Can't let the ice go to waste. Actually I wonder how there can be night inside a Dyson sphere? Did Sous switch off the sun? And why are there stars? Some kind of ambience lighting?

Hooh... maybe there are party cities all around the sphere?

Several minutes pass while I watch the lights from the nearby festivities. Actually I am going on dates like this often. Most of the time while he is asleep at night.

He is much easier to handle while he is asleep. Just dressing him up with neat clothes is a little troublesome. So much time lost because of that.

The fireworks starts and I take his hand to point with it at one of the bigger explosions.

“Look! Isn't that beautiful? It took me two hours to find this spot. Just for the two of us. I love you.”

Haaah. Imitating his voice isn't the same. I place his hands around me and continue to eat my ice cream.

Somehow I feel a little pathetic right now. Are my actions insane? Dragging him around while he is unconscious to have a little romantic time together... I feel like scum. Isn't this really childish? It feels like playing with a doll.

All this started only because he would get nightmares as soon as I am a few feet away from him. So I simply took him with me when I couldn't sleep and wanted to do some work.

Yes! I am actually really nice by always taking him with me to prevent his nightmares. I still feel bad.

No. This might be what's called a mid-life crisis. I select a syringe from my thigh strap and inject myself with it. Being a woman sure is hard. All these hormones and pheromones swirling around inside of me. Then that time of the month...

I wonder how all the other goddesses are dealing with this shit? Geez, now there are even tears in my eyes. Maybe I should do a complete overhaul of this body at home?

A low growl escapes my lips and I select yet another syringe to yank it into his forearm. He always wastes so much time with sleeping.

He starts to move, but I lean back to prevent him from falling.

“Mmhhh... What's... what happened?”

“Hug me!”

“Why are you crying?”

“None of your business!”

“The colours of that explosion are a little bleak. They should have used more copper.”

“Ascathon?”

“Yes?”

“Shut up and be glad that at least one woman is willing to deal with you like you are now. And tomorrow you prepare a romantic date or I'll use your staff to do something unsightly to you.”

“...”

“And prepare a present for me.”

“...”

“And regarding the bedtime activities...”

“Tools?”

“No!”

“A costume?”

“Only if you manage to get me into a better mood.”

“...”

.