True Magician

Chapter 44

Familiar's Forest

- "Master!!!"

- "You're finally here, you mongrel."

- "The Garden of Avalon would not have lasted much longer."

The collective cry of the Servants in my head was the first thing I heard upon returning here, and the feeling of reconnecting with them immediately followed. Looking around, my eyes recognized the familiar scenery of the Familiars' forest, causing me to breathe a sigh of relief.

- "Don't yell, I'm not deaf," I grinned, "I hope it wasn't anything serious."

- "Of course not. Unless you count the fact that Beast II went berserk when she sensed your disappearance and we contained her rampage in my Soul Mirror, of course. But that absolutely can't be considered anything 'serious', can it?" hissed Emiya in his usual sarcasm.

- "You have no idea how glad I am to hear from you again, Queen Shiro," I began, and then froze as I processed his words, "Wait. Did you say 'contained'?"

The next moment, the space in front of me exploded, forming a gap the size of a skyscraper. And out of it appeared the figure of Tiamat in her gigantic Beast form. Her aura was like a tsunami wave through the entire forest of familiars, causing the animals around me to run in all directions to get away from its owner.

Tiamat's four-pointed star pupils flickered until they stopped on me, and then her mouth, with its razor-sharp, shark-like teeth, opened wide, tears streaming from her eyes.

In a brief flash of light, her Beast form was replaced by the familiar form of a Servant. Then Tiamat threw herself on top of me and hugged me tightly, dipping her head on my chest and beginning to rub herself. Her embrace was so strong that if I hadn't used Strengthening, my body would have turned to mush.

After a second, I silently put my hand on her head and began to slowly stroke, making the strength of her hug even stronger, and my shirt had already turned into a wet rag.

She was really scared, huh? Beast II, the Evil of Humanity and the original Goddess, now looked so fragile and helpless. Her hands were trembling and unwilling to let go of me, causing a wave of warmth and guilt to run through my body.

That level of affection warmed my heart, but at the same time came the shame that I had made her so anxious. And honestly, I don't have a single thought to apologize to her. The feeling emanating from Tiamat was directly screaming in my mind. It wasn't the feeling of a worried mother, but...

- "Well, here's an idea." The demon Asmodeus remarked casually, having made certain conclusions. From which a tired expression appeared on my face, as I also came to them.

Previously, I had only considered her figure as a loving mother, but as a woman? This is... new... though not unexpected. Considering this particular point of view, a better woman doesn't exist in principle, huh?

The tired expression on my face was replaced by an awkward one.

Besides, on second thought, I'm in love with her.

My eyes closed for a few moments.

Well, as long as she's okay with it, why not?

My hand slowly and carefully reached for her, intending to lift her chin a little. Tiamat obediently lifted her head and looked up at me with tear-stained, reddened, worried eyes. I brought my face close to hers and kissed her gently. There was no passion or desire in it, as there had been with Death, but only love, affection, and... awkwardness.

Her eyes widened for a moment and then, how shall I put it, smiled happily? She responded to the kiss, and her concerned embrace was replaced with a loving and sensual one.