Era of Players: Death God

"Ah, young love," she teased. "Well, come on in, come on in! Let Mama Akua take care of you."

They followed her deeper into the restaurant.

They followed Mama Akua deeper into the restaurant, the air thick with the aroma of simmering spices and sizzling meats. The clatter of dishes and the murmur of conversation created a warm, inviting hum.

A mismatched table in a corner caught Noah's eye. It was tucked under a window, offering a glimpse of the bustling city street outside. He gestured towards it, and Mama Akua beamed.

"Perfect for a romantic rendezvous, wouldn't you say?" she winked, her voice a conspiratorial whisper.

Lilith's cheeks flushed a rosy pink, but she couldn't help but smile.

"Maybe not quite romantic," she countered playfully, "but definitely hungry."

Mama Akua chuckled, her laugh lines deepening.

"Of course, of course," she agreed, seating them with a flourish.

"Now, let's see what Mama Akua can whip up for two lovebirds…"

She launched into a colorful description of the day's specials, her voice dripping with passion for each dish. Lilith and Noah exchanged amused glances, captivated by Mama Akua's infectious enthusiasm.

By the time they finished ordering, a comfortable silence had settled between them. It wasn't the awkward silence of strangers, but a comfortable silence that spoke volumes about the day's shared experiences. The stolen glances, the electric kiss under the starlight – it all hung in the air, a secret language only they understood.

As they waited for their food, Noah found himself captivated by a framed photograph hanging on the wall. It depicted a younger Mama Akua, her arm linked with a man who wore a mischievous grin. Lilith noticed his gaze and followed it.

"That's Mama Akua and Papa Kofi," she explained softly. "They met right here in this restaurant, years ago."

A pang of something bittersweet tugged at Noah's heart he recalled how his parents met after hearing Lilith share Mama Akua's past she heard the first time she came to this place.

''Love can bloom in unexpected places.'' Noah said with Lilith nodding, the two continued to exchange words.

The arrival of their food – a steaming platter of jerk chicken and vibrantly colored vegetables – momentarily paused the conversation.

As they savored the delicious meal, laughter and conversation flowed freely. They talked about everything and nothing, their voices weaving a tapestry of shared stories and secret dreams just like when they were young.

Leaving the restaurant, the city lights seemed to twinkle with a newfound meaning. They walked hand in hand in a silence.

And as they reached Arion's villa, a shared glance and a lingering touch spoke volumes. The weight of their unspoken feelings hung heavy in the air, a vibrant counterpoint to the cool night breeze.

"I'm grateful for today," Lilith finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

"It was... unexpected, but wonderful."

Noah's heart soared.

"For me too," he replied, his voice husky with emotion.

"More than wonderful."

A beat of comfortable silence stretched between them, charged with unspoken possibilities. Lilith, her gaze flickering over his face, reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. Her touch, light as a feather, sent shivers down his spine.

"Let's do it more often," she continued, her voice barely a murmur.

"Spend more time together. Training, stargazing… whatever it takes."

A slow smile spread across Noah's face. He knew she wasn't just talking about training. They were both tiptoeing around the burgeoning feelings that had bloomed between them, hesitant to name them but unable to ignore them.

"I'd like that very much," he replied, his voice warm and sincere.

"Let's train together tomorrow. And maybe…" he trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Lilith, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of hope and trepidation, leaned in closer. The space between them seemed to vanish, their breaths mingling in the cool night air.

"Maybe what?" she whispered, a playful challenge in her voice.

Noah chuckled, a low rumble that sent a thrill through her. He leaned in even closer, his lips hovering a hair's breadth from hers.

"Maybe," he murmured, his voice husky with desire,

"we can explore this… connection. See where it leads."

Lilith's heart hammered against her ribs. This was the moment she'd been both dreading and yearning for. The line between duty and desire had blurred, and she couldn't deny the pull she felt towards him.

Before she could respond, a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes.

"Alright, partner," she teased, leaning back slightly. "But remember, you're still on probation."

Noah threw his head back and laughed, the sound genuine and carefree. The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by a comfortable atmosphere laced with a newfound warmth just like before she disappeared.

"Of course," he agreed, his voice laced with amusement.

"But I'm a fast learner."

They stood there for a moment longer, a silent understanding passing between them. The future was still uncertain, but tonight, they had each other. With a final lingering touch and a promise of more to come, Lilith turned and walked towards her room, a secret smile playing on her lips.

Noah watched her go, his heart filled with a newfound hope. He had a feeling this was just the beginning, the start of something real and beautiful. He finally understood his father's advice.

''I made the right decision, I need ally and how can't be more reliable than her.''

With a spring in his step, he headed towards his own room, the image of Lilith's smile burned into his memory.

The challenges ahead remained, but tonight, he slept soundly, the warmth of their connection a comforting shield against the whatever the future held. Even the cool tile beneath his bare feet as he entered his bathroom couldn't dampen the warmth that bloomed in his chest.

Noah took a long, relaxing bath, letting the hot water ease the tension from his muscles and the day's emotional rollercoaster. As he drifted off to sleep, a smile played on his lips. He dreamt of stolen kisses under a star-filled sky and shared laughter echoing in a quiet park.

The next morning, the sun peeked through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the room. Noah stirred, the memory of the previous night a pleasant haze. He stretched, a contented sigh escaping his lips.

Fueled by the previous night's events, Noah couldn't wait to start his day. He slipped into workout clothes, the familiar routine a grounding force amidst the whirlwind of emotions. For an hour, he pushed himself through his morning workout, the rhythmic thud of his shoes against the floor a counterpoint to the excited rhythm of his heart.

Each punch, each lunge, was imbued with a newfound energy, a reflection of the hope that bloomed within him. He had made a great ally in the quest for answers and potentially revenge.

Sweat slicked his brow as he finished the last set of exercises, a feeling of accomplishment washing over him. Stepping into the cool spray of the shower, he rinsed away the sweat, but the warmth in his chest lingered.

After leaving the bathroom, Noah decided to take a light breakfast before going down to join Lilith for training.

With a grin, he grabbed a handful of cookies from the jar on the counter.

[Ding! System's update completed]

Finally, the system had completed its update. Noah couldn't help but smile.

''Welcome back!''

Those few days without the system's presence felt boring boring because he couldn't earn gold coins of course.

The system's interface changed becoming more VIP like, Noah was certain that many new features must be added after this update as the system version previously 0.90 became V1.0.0.

Noah waited for the system to surprise him and indeed she did.

[Tabulating rewards from previous missions accomplished while the system was updating.....]

[Tabulating completed.

All stat+2 and 7.000 Gold]

''Not bad!" Noah wasn't dissatisfied with the rewards because he was certain it was not all, usually there is a reward after a system's update in games.

[System's update rewards:

5000 Gold and Epic Grade Skill: Unprecedented Sense.]

''Wow! I have a whooping 15k gold now and a new skill. Even without reading the skill's description I'm certain it is awesome.'' Noah smiled as if he had just won a lottery ticket, he was truly happy, he was growing slowly but steadily.

''Status window,'' he called out for his status window, eager to see the progress made.

''I should hurry and go join Lilith for training. Only few days are left before we depart for the academy.''

■Status Window

Name: Noah Adler

Rank: Expert

Level 44

Class: Angel of Death

Title: Goblin Slayer

◇◇◇◇◇

☆Stats☆

Mana: 106

Strength: 114

Intelligence: 96

Dexterity: 114

Luck: 89

Stat Points: 4

Coins: 15060G

◇◇◇◇◇

☆Skills☆

Common Skill: {Basic Swordsmanship},{Basic Close Combat} {Presence Detection} {Master of Weapons} {Mana's Armor Lvl 1} {Shadow Steps Level 1} {Blood Flowers} {Splitting Ripple Slash LVl 1} {Fangs of Insanity} {Flame Art} {Telekinesis Lv1} {Unprecedented Sense LV1}

Exclusive Skills: {Seal of Death} {Night of Death} {Lord of the Night}

◇◇◇◇◇

☆Runes ☆

{Basic Strength},{Basic Speed} {Angel of Death}

■