NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: Falna Awakened
Upon entering, Dante and Aphrodite found themselves in a simple yet surprisingly clean room. The wooden walls had a warm, aged tone, bearing subtle marks of time. In the center, pushed up against the wall, was a modest bed covered with perfectly stretched white sheets. To the right stood a small writing desk accompanied by a slightly worn wooden chair, its edges rounded from years of use.
Dante held tightly to the clothes Linda had given him. The fabric was plain but new, a sharp contrast to his current "attire" made of improvised leaves. He took a deep breath, preparing to put them on.
However, when he turned his head, he noticed that Aphrodite was still holding his arm firmly, as if she had no intention of letting go. He let out a small sigh.
"You're really not going to give me a little space to get dressed, are you?"
The goddess gave a graceful, almost mischievous smile at the slightly exasperated, resigned tone in his voice. Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
With a slow, natural gesture, she released his arm, as though granting him a favor. She then walked to the bed in the center of the room, her hips swaying with an effortless sensuality. It was as natural as the flicker of a flame.
Dante's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the sway of her hips and the perfect curve of her waist. He held his breath for a moment, hypnotized. His heart began to beat faster than he cared to admit.
Aphrodite, sensing the weight of his stare, smiled with satisfaction. She sat on the edge of the bed with an elegant motion, testing the softness of the mattress with the palm of her hand. She nodded slightly, crossing her legs with grace before turning to face him.
"All right, now you can put your clothes on~," she said in a teasing tone, like a spectator waiting for a performance.
Dante only shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh. He tried to steady his nerves and his quickening heartbeat.
'Hmph, if she thinks she's going to make me embarrassed just by watching, she's very mistaken!' he thought, feeling his masculine pride flare.
He lifted his gaze and met her eyes with determination. He would not back down. Not this time. Not in front of this mature and irresistibly provocative goddess.
Aphrodite only smiled more sweetly, as if savoring every second of this small, silent standoff.
With a calm movement, Dante removed the makeshift leaf loincloth. For a moment, he felt a quiet satisfaction with his own body.
'Well… guess it'll be without underwear,' he decided, pulling on the simple black pants, which, fortunately, fit him perfectly. The fabric, though modest, was comfortable. He then slipped on the brown boots, noticing that inside them was a pair of clean socks—a detail that pleased him. At least he wouldn't have to walk around with dirty feet or foul-smelling shoes.
Just as he was about to put on the shirt, Aphrodite's voice stopped him.
"Don't put it on yet. Let's activate your Falna first."
He looked at her, a little surprised that he had forgotten about it. To be honest, though, he wasn't overly concerned. After all, he had the cheat that Amor had given him.
"All right, let's do it now."
Dante approached the bed and lay down on his stomach, resting his face on his crossed arms. He glanced sideways at Aphrodite, signaling with his eyes that she could begin.
She smiled serenely and stood up. Approaching him, she moved onto the bed and straddled the lower part of his back. Her weight wasn't uncomfortable; on the contrary, the sensation was strangely soothing. But what really sent a shiver down his spine were the goddess's soft hands gliding gently over his back.
'This woman knows exactly what she's doing…' he thought, feeling his muscles tense involuntarily.
She leaned in slightly, bringing her lips near his ear. Without saying a word, she let the tip of her finger glide from the base of his neck down to the middle of his back, tracing a slow, provocative line. Dante's skin visibly shivered.
"S-stop that… and just awaken my Falna already!" he said through gritted teeth, realizing she was just having fun at his expense.
"Hehe~ all right~," she replied, clearly amused by his irritation.
Aphrodite picked up the needle Linda had given her earlier and held it delicately between her fingers. With a precise motion, she pricked the tip of her index finger. A drop of blood welled up—a deep, intense red with subtle golden and pink undertones that seemed to glow faintly. It was the blood of a goddess.
With the same calm with which she had drawn it, she let the drop fall onto the center of Dante's back.
As soon as the blood touched his skin, it was immediately absorbed. A sacred symbol began to form, delicate lines appearing as if written by an invisible hand. A soft light started to pulse, bathing the room in shades of pink and red.
Dante felt warmth spread across his back. It wasn't uncomfortable—in fact, it was as though a comforting energy coursed through his entire body, awakening something dormant.
Seconds later, the symbol was complete. The glow began to fade slowly until it vanished entirely, leaving only the sacred mark of the Falna.
Aphrodite remained silent, her delicate fingers tracing the lines of the symbol, reading the information only she could understand. Her eyes followed each detail with focus, though her expression stayed calm and unreadable.
She then leaned slightly to the side, picked up the paper and pencil she had left on the bed, and, using Dante's back as a desk, began to write. The soft sound of graphite against paper filled the quiet room.
Dante, still lying down, wondered if she would show any reaction. Would his status be that of just an ordinary adventurer? Or would she see something that surprised her? Something that even he, with all his secrets, didn't expect?
'Let's see how long that calm face of hers lasts…' he thought, a half-smile forming on his lips as he waited.