Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



The desire to become stronger, to protect the dungeon and those he cared about, and the authority to control his own fate fueled his determination, pushing Simon forward even when the road seemed arduous.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Simon noticed remarkable progress. His level continued to rise steadily, and with it, he felt his control over mana improving.

The mana seemed to flow more smoothly within him, responding to his will with greater precision. As a result, he can now cast spells with a consistent output and without expending too much mana unnecessarily.

That was not all, with him improving his mana control, Simon could distinctly feel that the wall that barred his progress in magic from advancing any further, loosened a little.

He could now cast more powerful advanced magic and spells, even his other attributes like the Gale and Lightning magic were swiftly being honed and pushed due to the result of his training.

As for the Amalgamation magic, it has reached a realm where Simon was able to merge three attributes together into one magic. Of course, it still remained to be seen whether it could be used in combat. After all, the current Amalgamation magic was just too…

"It looks like your training is progressing well"

As Simon was busy reflecting on his progress, he failed to notice the presence of Irene approaching him.

"Yeah, though there is still a lot of progress to be made" Simon smiled refreshingly as he gazed at the stunning woman who could effortlessly capture everyone's attention with her subtle movements.

Irene sat beside him and spoke as she gazed at the picturesque serenity pond in front of her.

"Ever since returning from the outside world this time, it seemed like you have changed even more".

"Oh?! How so?"…

"It's like you are more forward looking now, as if you found your goal or something. The fire inside you seemed to be blazing with even more intensity and fervour now" Irene explained.

When Simon heard her response and observed that aspect of her personality, a mischievous grin appeared on his face, and he couldn't resist teasing her a bit.

"You are right; however these changes aren't something that one can notice without paying much attention. It looks like you have been looking at me quite a lot lately. It couldn't be that you have fallen for…"

"What nonsense. I am going now" Irene retorted with an icy tone. Just as she turned around to walk away, she felt a firm grip on her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

That rough and solid hand that held her were full of callouses; it was a sign of how intensely he had been training these days. Irene couldn't help but notice how strong and dependable they felt.

And then the next moment before she could say anything, she found herself pulled into an embrace. Simon's arms wrapped around her in a warm and tender gesture, and she felt her heart skip a beat like a rabbit caught in the moment.

"What are you doing?" Irene asked, her voice slightly passive. This sudden closeness was unexpected and left her emotions in a state of turmoil.

"What am I doing you ask? I'm just testing a theory" Simon replied with a mischievous grin "I wanted to see if I could make your heart race as fast as mine does when I'm with you."

His warm breath sent a shiver down Irene's spine, and she couldn't help but feel herself blushing at the proximity. She tried to regain her composure, but Simon's embrace was both comforting and exhilarating.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Irene spoke, trying to maintain her composure. This icy queen can try and suppress her emotions all she wants; however, the truth was evident in her eyes.

Simon chuckled softly, his fingers gently brushing a lock of her hair away from her face "It's okay, you don't have to say anything, I feel like I can understand you without the need of words right now".

As they stood by the serenity pond, their bodies close, Irene could feel the heat radiating from Simon's skin. It was a reminder of the passionate moment that had ignited within him during their last training.

It wasn't just Simon's physical strength that drew her in; it was the intensity of his spirit and the way he faced challenges head-on that captured her heart. And now, in this tender moment, she felt a connection that went beyond words.

"You see Irene, I am not the only one who's changed, you've also changed a lot since then. You're not only more open to everyone, but you're also starting to smile more often these days."…

"What do you know?"…

"I know… Maybe it's because I've spent so much time with you. I've learned to read the subtle changes in your expressions and the emotions in your eyes. That is why, I know that this place is your favourite place in all of the dungeon and that you have been coming here every day to check on my progress".

"I also know that you are very worried about me so much so that tears accumulated in your eyes when you saw me lying in the bed in a comatose state all those months ago".

At that moment, Irene's body became stiff, and her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Simon to be aware of her emotions, especially during those vulnerable moments when she had let her guard down.

"I…" Her usual composed facade was slipping, and she struggled to find the right words to respond.

Seeing her like that, Simon's warm smile softened, and he gently cupped her cheek with his hand.

"It's okay. You don't have to hide it from me," he reassured her. "Your concern and care mean a lot to me. It's because of your support and encouragement that I've come this far. You're an incredible person, Irene, and I'm grateful to have you by my side".

"You have not only become an indispensable part of my dungeon, you're my confidant, my ally, my friend and my… woman".

In that moment, time seemed to stand still as they gazed into each other's eyes. The world around them faded away, and all that mattered was the warmth of their bodies pressed together, the softness of their breaths mingling, and the unspoken emotions that filled the air.

And then, in a tender moment, Simon leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Irene's lips. It was a gesture that spoke of his feelings, of the unspoken emotions that had been growing between them.

Irene did not reject his advance, it was as if all hesitation within her was washed away when she heard Simon's words.

She silently wrapped her hands around him, acknowledging her feelings. The serenity pond before them reflected the scene, adding a touch of magic to the atmosphere, as if the world itself was celebrating this newfound connection.

.

.

After a while, as they finally left each other's embrace, Irene glanced at the grinning Simon in front of her and questioned "There is something that I have been meaning to ask you, and I want you to promise me that you will answer truthfully".

Seeing Irene's expression turn serious, the mischievous glint in Simon's eyes disappeared, replaced by a deep sincerity.

"Alright, ask away. I swear that I will answer truthfully" he replied earnestly, his voice firm.

Irene's crystal blue eyes locked onto Simon's, as if seeking the truth in the depths of his soul.

"What I want to know is why you are being so intimate towards me. What is the reason for your affection? Why do you feel the way you feel towards me? Due to my special conditions, all my feelings are frozen. It is an unnecessary for my powers".

"However, whenever I'm with you, there is never a moment where I can keep these emotions in control. It is as if they have a mind of their own. Sometimes these emotions feel foreign, like some long forgotten sentiments that ache my heart. But they are far too genuine to call it false".

"That is why, I sometimes wonder if the emotions that I feel are truly my own or something that I have been made to believe. This is also the reason why I want to know if the feelings you have for me are truly yours, or if there's something affecting your emotions to be the way they are".

Listening to her, Simon understood the weight of her question. He had seen the walls she built around her heart, her ice-cold demeanour that she used as a shield. But he also saw the flickers of warmth and gentleness beneath the surface, glimpses of a person that was bound by her own powers.

Simon took her hands in his own, thought for a moment before looking at her with a gentle and reassuring smile.

"I can't explain exactly why I feel this way, but from the moment we met, there was something about you that drew me in. Perhaps you are right, the influence of some kind of force being in effect cannot be discounted".

There was something about Irene that drew Simon in from the moment he summoned her from that mysterious abyss. And as they slowly got closer, these feelings only just intensified further.

He did not even know if those feelings were love or not. However, if there was one thing he was certain, it was that...

"Irene I want you to know that the feelings I have for you right now, are entirely my own. There is no external influence or manipulation affecting my emotions. Everything I feel, every thought, every moment we've shared together—it's all genuine"...