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-No need to explore the Simulated Universe today
-Just come to the Master room
This series of text sent Caelus’s mind into a frenzy. Firstly, Herta rarely texted him to begin with so seeing her at the top of his list was a surprise for sure, but not alarming. What was shocking though, was her saying he didn’t need to explore the Simulated Universe. It was as if he heard that Nanook had turned over a new leaf.
After departing from the Astral Express, he quickly made his way towards her specified location. Whatever was going on with Herta, he’d better get to the bottom of it as soon as possible. Whenever a Genius was acting strange, it was always cause for caution.
Stepping into the room, he was greeted by the sight of Herta sitting in her puppet form. A her on her face as she sat. Seeing him arrive, she looked up at him, saying “Finally here huh? Come with me.”
She then led him to a meeting room. No one else there other than the two of them. Now Caelus was starting to fear for his life. The last time he was alone with a Genius, he got drugged then sent to fight an (almost) Emanator. Whatever Herta was going to do to him, it would undoubtedly be worse.
The two of them sat down face to face. Herta’s frown coupled with his shaky and unsure expression made for an oppressive atmosphere, at least for him. After what felt like hours in silence, Herta finally spoke up.
“So, I heard you’ve been poached by those two Stonehearts?”
As soon as he heard her voice, he shivered. For some reason, even though her question seemed innocent, her tone and voice were clearly anything but. Neither was her face as she glared at him.
“Uh yes? I declined them though…” He said, wondering why she would bring up something like that. He then paled, questioning how she could have possibly known about it. Fortunately, his response seemed to appease whatever complaint she may have had as her mood immediately lightened up upon hearing his answer, a smirk appearing on her face as he said so.
“Well if that’s the case then I suppose that’s fine. Good work, those pigs on the IPC don’t deserve you anyway.”
Now Caelus was confused. An honest compliment? From Herta of all people? Something was clearly going on here. But while Caelus was caught up in his thoughts, Herta continued on.
“Well, I suppose I should give you something to reward you for all the work you’ve done.” Herta said as she hopped out of her chair and slowly walked towards him. He could only watch as she approached him step by step until she was finally right in front of him.
“Now then, I’m only going to give you one chance to say no ok? If I hear silence then I will take it as your explicit approval to proceed, do you understand me?” Herta said firmly, looking him right in the eyes as she did.
Caelus gulped. He had no idea why Herta was acting like this nor what she wanted to do to him. Yet something in him made him nod anyway, as if he knew whatever she did, it wouldn’t cause him harm.
Seeing him nod, Herta smiled. A gentle one rather than her usual smug smirk. She leaned in until slowly their lips met before they separated shortly after. It took a bit after that for Caelus to remember how to breathe again, his eyes wide as he stared at the Genius that just took his first (?) kiss.
“What?” He asked, incredibly confused over what had just happened. Herta kissed him? Why? Did she like him? When? How? So many questions passed through his mind as he stared at her. From how close they were, he could even spy a bit of a blush on her cheeks.
‘Didn’t know her puppets could do that…’ He thought absentmindedly.
“It’s been quite a while since we first met, hasn’t it?” She said, her usual haughtiness gone, replaced by a gentle tone. One he had never heard from her ever before.
“It’s been… Quite a long time since I’ve conversed so much with someone who wasn’t either a researcher here or a Genius like myself. The former here can barely think for themselves while the latter can barely be trusted.” Disdain in her voice as she said so.
Caelus remained silent while she spoke, for as air-headed as he was, he knew it was not his place to speak right now.
“At first, I only thought of you as an object of research. A stable, living vessel of a Stellaron. Truthfully, I was only a bit disappointed when you chose to board the Astral Express but now, I’m glad. It’s clear that you’ve become far more interesting than you would’ve been under my care.”
She then hesitated, looking away for a moment before forcing herself to face him once more, clearly having come to a decision.
“You’ve been a great help to me and I… I would not want to lose that. It’s clear that you will continue to be a great asset to me. That’s why… I would like to form an exclusive collaboration with you, now and forever. ” Even with her choice of words, the meaning behind them was obvious.
Caelus’s eyes widened even further when he heard Herta’s question. He took a moment to consider her question. It was clear that it took her quite a bit to even ask him this and he wanted to answer her seriously.
“I accept.”
Her eyes lit up as she heard his answer. Stepping back and raising her arm in some sort of celebratory dance. He smiled, thinking that it was rather cute to see this side of Herta, before she unexpectedly collapsed to the floor.
‘Did she lose her strings?’ He thought offhandedly before he rushed to the collapsed puppet.
“Herta? Herta?! Umm… Uh, Asta! Arlan! Can anyone get in he-”
His panicking was stopped by a hand coming from behind, suddenly covering his mouth. He looked back to see the culprit only for his eyes to widen as he saw Herta, in her true form rather than her usual puppet body.
“While it is cute to see you so panicked, I’d rather we not get interrupted right now. Especially after we just signed such an agreement after all.” She said, playfulness plain in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Caelus stood mouth agape, speechless as he saw Herta’s true form for the first time. Seeing his reaction, Herta giggled.
“Ah yes, I forgot that this is the first time you’ve seen me in this form.” She said, spinning around for him to see her in all her glory. She then leaned in close to his still-awestruck self and whispered in his ear.
“No matter who you were with the Stellaron Hunters nor who you will become in the future. The you right now began here, on the space station, on my domain.”
Her voice then took on a far more serious tone. A shiver ran down his spine as he felt her breath on his ear.
“Now that you’ve signed an exclusive contract with me. You are mine, now and forever more. Regardless of your status as a Trailblazer or your history as a Stellaron Hunter, you are mine. No turning back now ok?”
He slowly nodded his hand, taking her hand as she pulled him up before they walked towards the control room. While he may have signed a contract with a devil, he had no regrets about the situation.