[Some pretty big spoilers for "I'm Hiding a Real Dragon Slayer!"]

The dragon was massive, larger than anything Madoka had ever seen before. However, this did not stop Akara who had already started to run to the dragon while Madoka was admiring it.

Madoka had to admit, Akara definitely knew what she was doing when it came down to fighting dragons however bad her cooking skills were, her fighting made up for it.

Madoka giggled to herself upon thinking of Akara’s failed attempt at a cake.

“Madoka,” Akara yelled, “If you could stop daydreaming and shoot some fireballs or something at this dragon, that would be most helpful”

“Ah, right, my bad!” Madoka said, “I’ve got you!”

With no hesitation, the dragon furiously slashed towards Akara. Akara side steps, but she is too slow and soon, she felt a burning sensation around her left arm, coming from her upper forearm, around the elbow.

Upon closer inspection, Akara’s heart sank to her stomach. She had realized that her arm, from her elbow to her hand, was missing. Her arm was in front of her, not even two feet away from her.

Akara stared at it for a moment before Madoka rushed over to support her, “Holy… Oh, my gods… Ah, that’s… A lot of blood…” Madoka hurriedly said, “I’m not sure if I can… Okay… Deep breaths… I’ll heal you…”

“Too late!” Akara shouted, pushing Madoka to the side as the dragon stomped down onto them.

“Holy… Oh my…” Madoka said.

The dragon immediately looked over to Madoka, “Hello hyumaen, it appears that we have met for the second time. I failed in killing you before, so I shall kill you this time.”

The dragon made a sort of laughing noise as it seemed to prepare itself to pounce on top of her.

Before the dragon could pounce, the dragon’s foot seemed to rise up little by little. There was a small light coming from underneath the dragon. However, the small light slowly became larger and larger, the larger it got, the warmer and calmer the air felt.

With sudden urgency, Akara emerged from under the dragon, “You. Cannot. Hurt. My. M-a-d-o-k-a!”

In a single burst of light, the dragon seemed to vanish. Its body disintegrated into nothingness.

Akara took slow, yet steady breaths. Akara’s breathing slowly became more and more shallow, her figure slowly shrunk.

“F-Fu…” Akara groaned, “Not… Feeling… Well…”

Akara collapsed to the ground, she sat on her legs, not able to move a muscle. Akara was exhausted.

“Holy crap Akara, are you okay?” Madoka asked.

Akara nodded, “I am fine…” She said.

“Your arm… That was your dominant hand, wasn’t it?”

Akara nodded once more, “It will be alright, I can use my right hand, it is no trouble for me at all.”

Madoka inhaled deeply and placed her hands over Akara’s amputated arm. Madoka muttered an incantation under her breath and released a green light from her palms, stopping Akara’s bleeding.

Akara inhaled sharply, “That stings a bit…”

“Just give me a moment…” Madoka responded, “I can fix this… No worries…”

Akara laughed. It did not appear to be a laugh of happiness or cheerfulness, instead, there seemed to be a sort of sadness behind it.

“Are… Are you okay, Akara?” Madoka asked.

Akara began to tear up, and soon, the wells of tears she had made burst and Akara hugged Madoka with her one good arm.

“I… I realized something… While I was fighting…” Akara said.

Madoka, clearly shocked, asked, “What did you realize? Was it something important?”

Akara nodded, “I realized the most important thing in my entire life…” Akara said, “I realized that… I really really really love you…”

Madoka was taken aback. She did love Akara, but to hear Akara say those words to her, Madoka thought she would cry.

“I, uh… Don’t know what to say…” Madoka said.

“You do not need to say anything… Just allow me to stay here… Just for a little while longer…” Akara said.

Madoka nodded, “Alright… But I have a question for you…”

Akara’s head perked up, “Hm?” Akara grumbled.

“Can I… Can I uhm… Maybe… Kiss you?” Madoka asked, her face becoming a bright red, “I mean, if it’s a no, then that’s fine too!”

Akara quickly interrupted Madoka’s embarrassing rant by almost forcefully mashing her face against Madoka’s.

After a moment, Akara pulled back, a sliver of saliva still connected their mouths together.

“That is what you wanted, right?” Akara asked, “You wanted a kiss… I gave you one…” Akara’s face had become a bright red, just as Madoka’s had done previously.

Madoka nodded furiously, “Yes, that’s what I wanted… But… I’m not satisfied…” Madoka said.

“Wh-What? Really?” Akara asked, taken aback.

Madoka nodded as she leaned forward to kiss Akara once more, “I want to taste you again…”

Akara nodded in a seemingly submissive manner and puckered her lips into a rose shape, “Please hurry…”

Madoka gently placed her lips onto Akara’s. Madoka slipped her tongue into Akara’s mouth and felt Akara instinctively begin to suck on it.

Madoka’s eyes bulged at this, but she soon wrapped her arms around Akara’s neck and pushed her onto the ground.

For the next few moments, Madoka and Akara only took breaks from kissing each other to take a breath of air.

Madoka finally broke the silence and the kiss, “Akara… I have been in love with you for… Too long… Every time I see you, my heart skips a beat… Maybe even two… And I can’t get you out of my mind for hours after seeing you…”

Akara nodded, “I feel the same way… As much as I find you absolutely annoying… I cannot get you out of my mind… I have wanted to kiss you for… For as long as I have known you…”

Madoka smiled and Akara returned the expression, “This means forever you know,” Madoka said, “That means you’ll have to accept responsibility and stay with me for all of eternity now…”

Akara nodded, “I am prepared…”