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Atlantis.

Far in the Western Seas.

A massive pillar of water spiraled upward into the clouds, creating a breathtaking phenomenon unique to this part of the world. Locals called it the "Azure Sky Bridge."

This magnificent natural wonder connected the oceans to the skies. Thousands of sea creatures swam through the sea of clouds, seeking distant oceans beyond. Only the largest, toughest, and most adapted beings dared take the risk. Giant sea serpents, krakens, and sea dragons could often be seen ascending into the heavens.

There, atop towering coral forests rising from the sea, two young gods watched the spectacle up close. The view was staggering, leaving them utterly awed by its beauty.

It was Celes and Nyx.

"The King of Atlantis said this would be a good place for a date, but I never imagined it would be this mesmerizing," Nyx whispered.

"Yeah…"

After nineteen years, they had grown tremendously. They had left childhood behind long ago and were now in their early twenties.

Nyx had blossomed beautifully, resembling her mother Maria before she had regained her living body. She had long, cascading silvery-white hair, gentle red eyes with a golden glow, and pale skin. Crystal-like black scales shimmered around her hands, feet, and neck. A pair of sleek black dragon wings, a long dragon tail, and elegant black horns above her forehead completed her striking appearance.

She wore a simple black dress and went barefoot, looking gorgeous in every sense of the word, a true beauty.

Celes was mesmerized every time he looked at her. Nyx had become so beautiful that it was often hard for him to speak. Her popularity only made it worse.

Yet he had grown just as well.

Nyx could see it clearly. He had become a strikingly handsome young man, tall, strong, and commanding. She had once imagined he would remain slender, but as he matured, Celes had developed powerful muscles.

His long green-blue hair cascaded down his back, and his handsome, youthful face gazed at Nyx with a gentle yet embarrassed smile. His clear brown skin, the sea-wave pattern tattoos across his body, and the sea-serpent tattoos coiled around his arms gave him the wild, captivating look of a young sea god.

It was almost unfair.

Nyx could hardly stop staring at him these days. She was completely mesmerized by how beautiful and handsome he had become. Because of it, she often grew shy around him, falling silent without warning and leaving Celes worried that something was wrong.

"So, um…" Nyx stared at her toes, trying to hide her sharp dragon claws from his sight, convinced they looked unsightly.

"Hm?" Celes turned to her. "What's wrong? I've noticed you've been hiding your hands and legs from me more often lately."

"A-Ahh? Eh…" Nyx glanced nervously at the sea. "It's… nothing…"

"Nothing?" Celes asked gently.

"It's just that… Um…" Nyx hesitated, clearly insecure about her appearance.

Celes noticed and decided to be bolder. He reached out and took her hand, then gently kissed it.

"C-Celes?!"

Nyx turned bright red, staring at him in disbelief.

"I've always thought the shimmering crystal scales on your body were truly beautiful," he said softly.

"…!"

Nyx gasped. Celes was being so bold today.

He had gathered every ounce of courage he possessed, because today…

"Your long nails, your claws… they're beautiful too," Celes continued, still holding her hand. "Please don't hide them from me. You're so beautiful exactly as you are, Nyx."

"…A-Ah," Nyx swallowed hard, her voice trembling with embarrassment. "Celes… I-I didn't know you felt that way! H-Heheh… Ahhh…"

"Were you perhaps a little insecure about them?" Celes asked. "May I ask why?"

Nyx stayed silent for a few seconds before answering. "I thought they were ugly… I mean, you're human and you don't have anything like them. I've always tried my hardest to look more human-like. It's not that I hate being a dragon, though."

"Nyx…" Celes sighed. "Dragon… human… does it really matter? Your mother and father are together, and they aren't exactly the same either, right?"

"A-Ah, hahaha… yeah," Nyx giggled softly. "I guess I was being dumb. I got insecure for no reason… Maybe because… because you weren't paying as much attention to me as we grew up. I've been trying so hard to look as pretty as possible for you…"

"…!" Celes widened his eyes. "Nyx? Ah… I'm sorry… I…"

"You don't have to apologize. I was overthinking everything," Nyx said, smiling as she held his hands tightly. "I was just misjudging things…"

"I overthink things a lot too," Celes admitted. "But I wanted to be honest today. I gathered all my courage because I was afraid of an answer that would break my heart. So much time has passed… That moment when you kissed me as a child never left me. But as we grew older, we made so many friends and grew a little distant. I started worrying that you might love someone else by now and…"

"Celes…!" Nyx furrowed her brows. "Just say it! Tell me… Please, just tell me! And I will give you my answer."

Celes looked at her and smiled softly. His long hair swayed in the wind as he admired the breathtaking Azure Sky Bridge behind her.

"Nyx… I love you," he said. "I've always loved you…"

"…!"

"Since the moment we met, I actually fell for you," Celes laughed, covering his face in embarrassment. "I never stopped liking you… Even now… You've become so beautiful… It's overwhelming…"

Nyx smiled gently and stepped closer.

Celes's heart raced with nervousness.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, making him flinch slightly. Then she looked straight into his eyes.

"I love you too, dummy. Heheh… I've always loved you!"

"Nyx…!"

Celes stared at her and suddenly tears began falling from his eyes.

"Y-You're crying?"

Nyx started crying as well.

The two embraced tightly, tears streaming down their faces. Not from sadness, but from overwhelming joy. Pure, heartfelt tears of happiness.

"I was so dumb. I'm sorry," Celes whispered. "I love you, Nyx…!"

"I love you too, Celes!" Nyx giggled through her tears, hugging him tighter.

Their faces drew closer.

Their lips met.

It was not a small kiss, but a deep, passionate one, filled with twenty years of longing and accumulated love.

Under the moonlight of Atlantis, with the Azure Sky Bridge shimmering behind them, the Dragon Princess of the Netherworld and the Divine Sea Spirit Prince finally confessed their love and let their hearts speak freely.

When their lips finally parted, they gazed into each other's eyes in silence for a long moment.

Then…

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you…" Celes said softly.

"Me… me too…!" Nyx smiled brightly.

"Nyx… this might be a little sudden, but…!" Celes quickly pulled out a small coral box and opened it, revealing a beautiful, colorful ring. "Would you… Would you marry me?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"…!" Nyx gasped. She had not expected it to happen so soon.

Yet she no longer wanted to hesitate.

"Yes! Yes, I would love to! Hahaha!"

Nyx laughed happily as Celes excitedly slipped the ring onto her finger.

Then he lifted her into his arms and kissed her again. Together they danced under the moonlight, celebrating their mutual love at last.

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