Somewhere…
Far from the academy.
Where there are no monsters.
No blood.
No battles.
There is only the city.
An ordinary one.
Noisy.
Lively.
---
— Mariaaa…
A drawn-out voice echoed from the kitchen.
— I'm dying.
---
— You're immortal.
A calm reply from the other room.
---
— Then I'm dying emotionally.
---
Silence.
---
— Breakfast's on the table.
---
— Oh, I wish I'd known sooner!
---
Alikantios appeared at the table… literally.
He didn't walk in.
He didn't walk over.
He just… was there.
---
— Mmm…
He picked up a piece of bread.
He sniffed it.
— Is this made with love?
---
Maria, without looking up from her book:
— No. It's so you stop whinging.
---
— That's cruel.
He sat down.
He looked at her for a second.
And suddenly—
— By the way, you look particularly beautiful today.
---
…
Maria turned the page.
— I'm always like this.
---
— Yes, but today…
He leaned closer.
— Especially so.
---
SMACK.
---
— Ouch!
Alikantios clutched his head.
— What for?!
---
— For your tone.
---
— But I was being sincere!
---
— You were flirting.
---
— I'm always flirting!
---
— Exactly.
---
…
He pouted.
---
— What a cruel world…
---
---
Later.
The street.
People were hurrying about their business.
No one paid any attention.
No one…
except for one child.
---
The boy stopped.
And looked straight at Alikantios.
---
— Uncle…
— Hmm?
---
— You're glowing.
---
…
Maria slowly turned her head.
---
Alikantios smiled.
— Shhh. It's a secret.
---
— Are you a wizard?
---
— Worse.
Pause.
— I'm a husband.
---
…
The boy didn't understand a thing.
But he nodded.
---
Maria came over.
— Stop scaring the children.
---
— I'm not scaring them!
— You're glowing.
---
— It's charisma.
---
— It's a problem.
---
BAM.
---
— Ouch!
---
---
They walked on.
Amongst people.
Amidst ordinary life.
---
— You know… — Alikantios said suddenly.
— Mmm?
---
— I can stop time right now.
---
— You can't.
---
— Why?
---
— Because I said 'don't'.
---
…
He stopped.
He thought.
---
— All right.
---
Maria looked at him.
---
"Thank you."
---
"I'm actually very obedient."
---
"No."
---
"Sometimes."
---
"No."
---
"Only with you."
---
…
Silence.
---
She didn't reply.
But…
she slowed her pace slightly.
---
He noticed.
And smiled.
But…
this time — quietly.
No jokes.
---
---
Evening.
The roof of the house.
---
They sat side by side.
Looking at the city.
At the lights.
At the people who knew nothing.
---
— They're fragile, — Alikantios said quietly.
---
— Yes.
---
— But they're alive.
---
'Yes.'
---
'Strange.'
---
'You're alive too.'
---
'I exist.'
---
…
He looked at her.
---
'And with you…'
Pause.
'I'm alive.'
---
Silence.
---
Maria looked ahead.
---
— Don't say things like that.
---
— Why?
---
— Because then you'll start acting like an idiot again.
---
…
He smiled.
---
— Perhaps.
---
And…
he slowly rested his head on her shoulder.
---
— Hey.
---
— Mmm?
---
— What's that?
---
— Rest.
---
…
She sighed.
---
— Just don't fall asleep.
---
— I'm not asleep.
Pause.
— I'm enjoying this.
---
…
Maria said nothing.
---
But…
she didn't pull away.
---
And somewhere far away…
the world was beginning to crumble again.
---
But here…
right now…
it was quiet.
---
And even God…
could allow himself
simply to be there.
---
End of the extra chapter