Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 867: Confession

"It’s a beautiful night." Commented Frost as he stood side by side with Khione against the deck’s railings.

They had 360 degree views of the open ocean, endless blue and silver, cascading in waves as far as the eye could see. Above was clear skies, pitch black with nary a cloud, illuminated by shining dots reminiscent of stars and of course Shivali’s depiction of Nova’s three moons.

Enhancing these majestic sights was an orchestral band playing a soft, enchanting melody to help get couples in the mood for romance and bring peace to those that were here for the thrills.

A perfect evening that was only made grander by the presence of the woman standing by his side. Despite their hustle and bustle throughout the day Khione’s hairstyle hadn’t come undone nor had the strength of her intoxicating perfume diminished. Her clothes hugged tightly against her figure yet at the same time appearing a little loose and dishevelled around the more enticing areas of her body.

Her lips twitched nervously, her cheeks painted bright red by a mixture of her blush and the effects of the Andurial red wine that she had been drinking in excess. Even now she stubbornly refused to dissolve the effects of the alcohol leaving her in a state of heavy intoxication.

Her mind sluggish and filled with a dense fog, repeatedly conjuring up provocative images involving herself and Frost barely capable of holding a proper conversation.

"Umm." Khione cooed in response, her gaze wandering all over the place as if trying to find her bearings.

’This...isn’t a cabin’ Her internal affirmation sounding disappointed yet at the same type bearing a subtle relief.

She wasn’t sure she could actually cross the final threshold even with her intoxication, the idea of suddenly leaving behind her childhood and becoming a woman was daunting to say the least. Her reservations were still very much present and thus she felt grateful in the end....her mood calming somewhat as she glanced at the moon and listened to the soft music.

She only turned around to look at Frost after he squeezed her hand and whispered her name in her ear making her slightly jump and regain a degree of clarity.

"Fr...." She attempted to call his name but was silenced by his finger on her lips.

"Just listen to me for a minute." Frost’s smile was warm and affectionate, his eyes filled with adoration and a fierce possessiveness, a trait that many would be put off by, but Khione instead felt giddy, feeling nothing but love and desire from him.

Frost then took a deep breath and placed Khione’s left hand against his chest, letting her feel his heartbeat.

"I have only lived in this world for 18 months, seen but a fraction of its endless beauty and its myriad fauna and flora but despite that I have managed to understand friendship, joy, adventure, pain, excitement, responsibility and last but certainly not least....love." Memories invoking nostalgia swam in the depths of his eyes, images of his experiences flashing by.

The first time he learned how to harness his strength and potential, the sight of his first monsters running up to him and leaping into his chest. The first rush from devouring prey that foolishly entered his Dungeon. Fighting alongside his friends Leo and Luna as they took down Leo’s traitorous uncle. Rescuing Nanna and Loki from his clutches and ensuring they were safe and protected.

So much happened in such a short time, letting him mature at a rapid rate, his mind quickly catching up with his fully grown body.

These varied experiences helped Frost develop a vision for his future, what he wanted and needed for his life to be complete. The first being Maya, the woman that had been by his side from the beginning. A woman who was his teacher, his protector, his elder and at the time a temporary companion.

But he wanted more, to have her by his side in a more permanent and more intimate role. A daunting challenge but one he was determined to achieve.

It started off small, little smiles with hidden meanings, innuendos, the occasional brush of physical contact, lingering and sometimes searching gazes that revealed his hidden desires, allowing him to test the waters and gauge her reactions.

But it wasn’t until he met Daki, that embodiment of primal allure that he finally decided to go all in. She stoked a fire in him, bringing all his deepest desires to the surface.

His relationship with Maya coalesced the day he returned from his first solo foray and the days that followed he grew bolder, his desires manifesting from a small fire to a raging volcano. His appetite unable to be sated even with both Maya and Daki working in tandem yet despite his ever growing hunger his heart remained stalwart in the face of temptation. Women and men swooned at the sight of him, some even boldly teasing him, making physical contact and inviting him to their chambers (General Jessica). Then there was Princess Avira a young woman who fawned on him for days and even went as far as to steal a kiss from him when his guard was down. She was sincere and determined in her chase but still he did not succumb, seeing her more as a friend as opposed to a romantic interest -at least at the current juncture.

But that changed when he met Khione, this dynamite, fireball of a woman held little to no interest in him as a member of the opposite sex when they first crossed paths. In fact a fight nearly broke out, one that would have seen him lying six feet under.

Their entanglement was a surprise, a circumstance forced upon them by their parents and a situation they were both strongly opposed to at least in the beginning.

Soon however they discovered how much they had in common, a shared passion for battle alongside unwavering determination in the face of obstacles and a respect for martial talent. It was upon these traits that a foundation started to build, they looked at one another through different eyes and liked what they saw.

For Frost it was akin to an intense craving, an obsession to have her by his side, a need he had only felt twice before, the first with Maya and the second when he laid eyes on Daki. It was primal, an instinctual roar from the depths of his soul that promised a despairing loss if he failed to acquire her, a part of him that would be torn out and forever lost.

Whereas for Khione it was subtle and slow, gradually building up step by step until it reached a fervour. Her thoughts consumed by his very presence.

Frost’s life passed through his mind in an instant, his eyes glassy and looking beyond Khione for a brief moment before he continued his speech.

"Khione when I look at you I struggle to control myself, I want to hold you, to feel you, to kiss you and yes make sweet, sweet love to you." Khione felt her blood jump over ten degrees when Frost talked about making love, but she didn’t interrupt, letting him finish what he started.

"I have seen myriad beauties and felt flareups of desire and lust as I wandered across Nova but there has only ever been two other people I have ever felt this mind consuming desire for.... Maya and Daki." Not exactly a bright decision to bring up other women during a confession but Frost wasn’t as skilled when it came to this part. He simply spoke from the heart, doing his best to explain the depths of his desire towards this young woman who had imperceptibly scrunched her nose in response to hearing the names Maya and Daki.

To comfort her sudden displeasure he caressed her cheek. "What I’m saying Khione is that I can’t live without you.... I need you by my side. During these past couple days I can’t even count how many times you’ve made me smile and wish that I could simply pick you up in my arms, hold you close and kiss those plump lips of yours. You’ve entered the depths of my heart and there’s no way in hell I’m letting you leave." He then stared deep into her eyes as his heart started thump a mile a minute and even occasionally skip a beat.

"Khione, I love you....do you feel the same?" Now was the hard part, the terrifying silence as he waited for her to respond to his confession.

Boom! As soon at the word love slipped past Frost’s lips Khione’s mind exploded, steam threatening to spew from her ears as the ball finally dropped.

The moment she had been eagerly waiting for and at the same time dreading had come and she was far from ready.

Instead of bawling her eyes out in glee or letting out a successful high pitch banshee scream or immediately attacking him then and there Khione froze in place, every inch of her exposed chocolate skin turning dark crimson.

Her lips opened and closed as her words failed to escape, her eyes dancing between Frost’s enchanting face and the distant ocean waves, clearly displaying an intense struggle.

A reaction that caused a pit to form in Frost’s stomach.