"I finally found you!"
Alex turned around and let his emotions flood out all at once, embracing Mira in a tight hug like he had never felt the touch of another human before.
Nicholas was only a side mission, Mira was his real reason for being there!
Mira naturally returned the hug, tears slowly falling from her eyes as she realised there really was someone out there who cared about her enough to go to the ends of the world to find her.
***
"So what do we do now...?"
When the two were finished with their reunion, they were both a little confused.
He had found her, so... what now?
They were still in the Primordial Expanse, with only one way to make it out.
It’s just that neither of them were alone now, which was infinitely better than the previous situations they were in.
"We get out of this shit hole of course!"
Mira enthusiastically spoke as she oddly felt relieved.
She was relieved at the fact that they were able to make it out, even though they hadn’t even met the requirements yet...
’Women...’
Alex wasn’t able to understand, and perhaps never would.
He was happy enough seeing her do her little dances of joy.
If she was happy, then he was happy.
"Ahem... Don’t you think we should get out of this cramped place now?"
But eventually someone had to speak up.
Alex gestured to the cave around them, as well as the fact that they themselves were covered in dirt and sweat.
"You have a good point, hehe."
Mira chuckled as she realised they had yet to even leave this place.
Considering her requirements to level up required her to kill another 3 Variant class beasts, or 2 Variant beasts of a higher rank than her, it was doubtful they’d be able to achieve this without exiting the small cave.
***
’Phew, it feels good to finally smell some fresh air again!’
Mira took in a deep breath as soon as she reached the surface of the floating island again.
Although she was only awake in the cave for a few hours, it felt like days since she last saw sunlight and smelled the fresh air.
Mira lifted her hands up to Alex’s chest, and her fingers slowly moved to his top button.
Unhook.
Unhook.
She undid all of the buttons on Alex’s shirt until his bare chest was on show, and she removed his shirt entirely.
Her hands slowly caressed his chest, moving down his body until...
They reached his pants!
’What is happening...’
Alex had finally snapped back to reality at this moment, but when he saw what Mira was doing, his mind ran wild.
After only a few moments passed, they were both naked — Mira having undressed Alex herself.
"Kiss me."
Mira commanded Alex again.
This time he listened.
But things quickly derailed from just a kiss...
***
The gentle sound of a river’s flow filled the air, a calming backdrop to the warmth and comfort Mira felt as she lay in Alex’s arms.
The water had washed away the dirt and grime from their bodies, which was especially needed after the first experience the two of them had just shared with each other...
Mira rested her head on Alex’s chest, her damp hair splayed out.
For a long time, neither of them spoke, both just taking in the beautiful scenery.
"You know, when you take out all the death, danger and misery of this place, the Primordial Expanse really is breathtakingly beautiful sometimes."
Alex was the first to break the silence.
"But we should get back to that death, danger and misery part now. Unfortunately we can’t stay in this place forever."
He wished just as much as Mira did that the two of them could stay there without worrying about time passing, but he knew they couldn’t.
When he stood up, his face was beet red as he looked at Mira’s bare body, reminding himself of the last few hours.
Mira chuckled when she saw his red face.
"This is only the start, there’s more where that came from."
Alex’s face turned even more red from her statement.
After an hour of freshening up though, the two of them were back on the move.