I looked at her, or to be more specific at her ocean eyes.
And there I saw it. Behind the oceanic depth and the divine shimmer, I saw a reflection of something that I knew all too well.
It was the quiet, hollow ache of loneliness and longing.
Longing for what ? I don't know.
I guess even a queen is not so free from such mundane feelings, huh.
"So," I asked, my voice barely a whisper in the dark room, "should I keep the name, or should I not?"
"....I will allow it. Since you are my contractor, a certain level of... familiarity... is acceptable." she said turning her head towards me.
I do want to argue with her on that but...
"Great. I am honoured. And You better get used to that name. Since You're stuck with me for the foreseeable future."
This current mood doesn't really seem to be a proper one for it.
The tiny Queen hovered over the bed for a moment before settling onto the corner of my silk duvet.
"As for what you asked me about before," she said, her voice regaining its calm, bell-like clarity. "I do plan on sleeping with you, here tonight."
Did that phrasing sound weird or has my brain just been corrupted by twenty-first-century internet culture ?
Or was it intentional ? I looked at her tiny, doll-like form. Don't think so.
"Again," I muttered, rolling my eyes, "do whatever you want."
I had lost the count of just how many times I'd used that phrase in just this one single night, Just for this one hotshot woman. It seem like I am starting to sound like a defeated husband in a sitcom.
"By the way," Aqua said, her tone shifting into something more clinical, "did you say your mother is the Third Queen?"
"...Yes. what about it ?" I asked. The change in her energy was palpable.
Why the sudden interest ?
"Oh... nothing. I am just a little surprised."
"Surprised ? About what ?"
"About the fact that how a woman like that ended up as the third queen." She said.
I looked at her, "..what do you mean ?" I asked seriously.
I know. I know she didn't mean anything negative or offensive by saying what she just said. But that phrasing, the way she said it pisses me off a little.
Maybe this is a weakness of her.
She looked at me, "Forget it, if you don't understand what I mean."
Don't just keep the topic hanging! Woman! Clarify!
Huuu... Maybe she just saw something that I haven't.
Speaking of which...
"Hey" I called her out.
"What ?"
"What's this Mark which You had asked me about ? The one that practically forced you to come to me ?"
I asked her the question which has been kinda plaguing my mind, ever since our pact was made.
"There's no need for you to know." She said in a flat tone.
"You said it yourself, did you not ? I have this Mark. So why should I not know about it ? And whether or not you admit it or not, this Mark is important enough for a high and mighty spirit queen, such as yourself, to make a contract with a kid."
"So, I need to know. What is it ?" I asked her with as much pressure as I could.
"It seems like you are misunderstanding something. what I actually meant was, you don't need to know, for now." she said, her tiny voice echoing with a weight that seemed to vibrate in the very marrow of my bones.
"Why not?" I pushed, my eyes narrowing. "Give me one good reason as to why I should remain blind to something that seem to be stuck to my own soul."
"Haa.. have you never heard of the saying 'knowledge is a curse' ? kid ?" she asked, looking at me with a pitying tilt of her head.
"I've heard it. But on that note, I've also heard that 'Knowledge is power.' So, what?"
"Maybe. But it all depend on the nature of the knowledge itself and in this very case ?" she countered, her eyes seem to be flickering with slight irritation. "Knowing information that is of no use to you, is of no value to you, either. It won't make you faster, it won't make your mana deeper, and it certainly won't help you survive the monsters and beasts that are roaming around the world. Knowing it or rather the story behind it won't give you anything. absolutely nothing."
"Yes, that is not wrong. But That reason could only be applied if the topic is truly unrelated but this topic is directly related to me, is it not ?" I kept being stubborn.
Aqua stared at me for a long, quiet minute. She looked at the amethyst glow of my eyes and gave an exhausted, weary sigh, the kind of sound that perhaps a teacher makes when dealing with a particularly persistent student.
"Fine. Then, How about this ? I will make you a promise, Boy," she said, her voice turning slightly mischievous. "I will tell you everything the day I deem you 'worthy'. How about that?"
I could tell pushing any further won't bear me any fruit.
Let's give up. Since she has put up a challenge, I just have to win it. even if it's just a trick to stop me from asking.
"... Alright" I muttered as i reluctantly gave up "I'll hold you to that promise, then. Aqua"
"Good. Now," she said, her tiny form beginning to shimmer with an intense, blue radiance of mana.
"It seems my presence is far too stimulating for your baby brain to handle. And If I stay, you won't be able to get even an ounce of sleep tonight, and you look like you're about to collapse. So, being the generous partner I am, I shall take my leave."
"Wait, I—"
Before I could even finish my sentence, she snapped her tiny fingers. Her body dissolved instantly, scattering into a hundred of glowing sapphire orbs that vanished into the air just like embers in a draft.
She didn't even let me say my farewell or good night.
Worthy, huh? I guess that's another reason added to the list of why must I train more.