A Sunless Dream

The morning light flickered through Revel's tall kitchen windows, casting soft golden rays across the polished wooden counters. A small smile graced her features as she saw a pale dark haired man make his way into the kitchen before placing a light kiss on her forehead.

Orion had promised to cook for her today.

Orion stood in the centre of the kitchen; his black hair fell into his eyes as he tied the strings of a pitch-black apron around his waist. Turning back to the room Revel was in, Orion allowed a warm smile to grace his features as he prepared the ingredients.

His pale skin contrasted sharply with the dark granite countertops and the vibrant colourful ingredients laid before him. Although it was hard to grow crops in the dream realm, his will alone managed to motivate the crops to grow despite their environmental hardship.

The air was crisp with the aroma of herbs, garlic, and freshly washed vegetables. Orion's dark eyes flickered with focus as he carefully arranged the ingredients in neat rows, his movements remained as deliberate and precise as he was in battle.

Reaching for a deep emerald cutting board, the soft whisper of the knife gliding through fresh basil, rosemary and thyme filled the otherwise quiet home he and Revel lived in. Each cut was even, his movements of the blade put even the greatest chefs to shame, the herbs fell into delicate piles of fragrance and green vibrancy under his steady hands.

Pans simmered on the stove, thanks to the flames of Changing Star, Orion had become his own natural lighter as he heated the pot without a moment of hesitation. The sizzling of the pan released a symphony of aromas that mingled with the faint spice of fresh herbs on the cutting board.

Steam rose from the pans lazily, curling into the air. Orion wiped his hands on a towel tucked into the waistband of his apron before reaching for a bottle of olive oil. The light caught a faint sheen of his forearm as he poured a thin stream into the pan.

He paused, glancing over his shoulder to where Revel sat. Everything about the woman was perfect in his eyes, although not one to stress over appearances, Revel ticked every box he could potentially look for.

She laid in her casual clothing, a wearing a pair of Orion's shirts over her body while lazily scrolling through her communicator. Orion enjoyed the view of Revel for a brief moment before turning his attention back to his cooking.

Sprigs of thyme and rosemary were added with care, their earthy fragrance deepening the dish. He stirred slowly, his dark eyes remaining fixed on the contents of the pan, the white flame providing the necessary energy for the cooking remained at the perfect heat in the hands of a master.

Despite his speed, his movements were calm, deliberate and thoughtful. Each one dedicated to maximising the amount of pleasure his spouse may feel from consuming this delicacy, he had turned what he initially thought would be a mundane act into a ritual that commanded his attention.

The table was already set, a single candle waiting to be lit. Plates and glasses were arranged neatly, waiting to hold the meal he had prepared with divine care. In a moment, the entire house was enveloped in shadows as Orion lit the candle providing his spouse with a faint level of light.

Although she could see through true darkness, shadows were another matter. However, the form of Orion carefully placing the meal upon the plates without breaking eye contact with her brought her immense comfort as her mouth watered at the prospect of the meal.

A light breeze moved through her opened windows, the aroma of the meal assaulted her senses with deadly accuracy, calling her towards the table without words needing to be spoken. In a moment, Orion pulled out a chair for her, allowing her to take a seat as he placed himself opposite to her.

Orion watched Revel begin eating with well contained greed. She ate slowly, the elegance of her movements awed him in a manner that he had never experienced before. No words needed to be spoken, sharing each others company was enough for them.

Suddenly, Revel broke the silence, slowly wiping her lips with a napkin as she stared at Orion with a pleased expression. "When did you become such a cook?" her tone was light and jovial as Orion mirrored her smile.

"I had Sunless teach me, then I improved on my own. I needed to make the meal special for you, no?" Revel nodded in agreeance as she continued her meal. Orion stared at her with a pleased expression, only then did Revel realise his empty plate.

"Aren't you going to eat, this tastes heavenly" her praises caused Orion's face to heat up slightly as he looked away "I don't need to eat, and I can't taste food either. Seeing you happy is all the joy I need" Revel was slightly shocked at the revelation however pushed no further, instead, a blush appeared on her face at Orion's words.

'When did he become such a smooth talker' she thought to herself, her influence had really rubbed off on him. Orion spoke once more, his tone laced with excitement "I've been thinking, maybe there is a way for one to ascend to the rank of a sovereign without the nightmare spell."

The statement caught Revel off guard, she paused from her food regretfully and raised an eyebrow out of curiosity. "The key distinction between you and my mother-in-law is merely how the two of you interact with the world. Whereas you interact with the world by passively bending it to your will, she has much stronger effects on the world as her essence isn't merely produced by her soul."

Revel's eyes widened once more, "Not only produced from her soul? What do you mean?" Orion smiled at her curiosity before creating a miniature field made from shadows, with a replica of Ki Song standing in the middle. Her presence bent the shadows around her, and with a swing of her arm, space coiled and bent towards her very will.

"Sovereigns derive their essence not only from themselves, but also from the world around them. What inhibits them from becoming Sacred is merely a difference in refining that essence and channelling it for specific aspects. The dead gods provide a truly infinite pool they can draw from. But lack of control stops them from becoming truly omnipotent."

Revel nodded in understanding; however, the sudden revelation led her to ask one more question. Orion as if reading her thoughts spoke first "I intend to learn how to cut time itself with my blade, it seems foolish but it's a passing passion project of mine. If everything is imperfect in the world that should include things like time, no? All that's left is a matter of cutting it."

A humorous laugh came from Revel as she made her way towards Orion, with a light kiss on his lips she pulled back and asked "And what could possibly place this idea in your head, cutting time? Nobody's ever done it before, but if it's you..." Revel outstretched her hands, taking Orions hands in her own and staring him in the eye.

The joy that she felt from staring into those eyes was incomprehensible, she struggled not to lose herself in them and continued. "There is no limit to how far you can go my love." Orion's face turned red, he attempted to look away however Revel placed her hand on his chin, turning his head to face her.

Enjoying the flustered expression on his face, Revel kissed him once more before kissing all over his face leaving faint traces of her lipstick plastered across his cheek. Orion smiled at her, before picking her up and taking to the skies.

What better way to enjoy your time than with the person you love.