“Bull, stop lying.” 

“I’m telling you the truth!” 

“As the proverb goes, ‘Lies have short legs’. Like you do- Oww!” 

Maya punched Austin, her best friend, against his side. He yelped; his shaggy, red-brown hair fell over his tawny face.

“What was that for?” Austin flinched, rubbing his hip.

“I am being serious here; She’s real!” 

“Sure she is.” Austin made a face. “You’re telling me that a demigod woman lives with you and that she fought off a series of undead warriors? And above all, that she’s extremely hot?”

“A bombshell.” Maya could still not get Val’s face out of her mind. How her blond hair billowed past her shoulders or how her fit body looked in Maya’s borrowed clothes.

Maya waved her hand over her heated face.

Val’s rich brown skin and shining golden amber eyes were unforgettable. Ask Maya; her mind still could not process it and she needed a drink to cool off.

“She’s not from this realm,” she whipped away the droplets that fell on her chin, “literally.”

“Did I understand you correctly?” Austin took a deep breath. “You want to tell me you got an attractive demigod girlfriend during the holiday week when the university was closed?” 

“Yes!” Maya replied enthusiastically before catching herself. “I mean, she’s not my girlfriend (yet). We’ve only just met, and I am helping her out by having her stay at home until she gets better. Not that I am not interested. I just never was in any sort of relationship. You know what I mean?” 

Austin pursed his lips and squinted dubiously at Maya.

“Listen, she’s unbelievably attractive, but as much as I wish there was something between us, there isn’t (yet). I’m just helping her out. Really.”

“Riiiiiight,” drawled Austin. He steepled his fingers before his mouth and took a breath. “You sound insane— OW!” 

Maya kicked him against the shin. Austin let out his characteristic loud yowl that echoed through the spacious halls. 

“Mean, you’re a mean woman!” complained Austin, jumping up and down, holding his leg. “Fine, I’ll believe you got a hot demigod girlfriend who had fallen from the sky and fought undead warriors!” 

“Thank you.” Maya nodded with a sly smile. “Wasn’t so hard, was it?” 

“Noooo, it wasn’t,” grumbled Austin, glaring at Maya with his green eyes. “So, where is she right now? What were you doing the whole week?”

“Oh, nothing much.” Maya fumbled with her thumbs. “We talked, ate together, and went shopping for a pair of new clothes for her. I tell you, I spent too much money on her wardrobe, but I wouldn’t have been satisfied not buying them. She looked so good at them. I’m so jealous of her body. Wish I had one like hers.”

Austin narrowed his eyes at her. 

“What? You asked.” Maya put her hands on her hips. “I could talk for hours about her; tempt me.” 

“I meant more like what you two were doing outside of being an annoying couple, although you claim you’re not one.” 

Maya fiddled with her thumbs nervously. “We were looking for clues to restore her strength.” 

Austin put a hand on his chin and leaned against the stairs’ railing, pondering. “Did you find any?”

“No.” Maya shook her head. “Other than the shield? Nothing,” she sighed. “Right now, Val is trying to recover her strength, but she gets winded a lot. It’s like watching someone going through rehab. I wish I could help her.” 

Austin raised a brow when she looked at him expectantly. “What?” he asked.

“I mean, you’re the expert in Norse stuff. Most of the things I know come from you. Do you have any suggestions? I don’t have anyone else to turn to for this.” 

Austin shrugged. “Nope, no clue.” 

“You’re no help.” 

“Hey, what did you expect? It’s all unique and unheard of.” Austin put a hand on Maya’s shoulder. “All you can do right now is to help recover her strength. Be there for her.” 

Maya dipped her head to the side and clicked her tongue. “You’re just too lazy to help me.”

Austin spread his arms. “Guilty as charged,” he laughed. “Also, I’ve got a lecture. Smell you later, Maya.” 

“Wha– hey, that’s not what friends should do! And I hate it when you make that kind of goodbye!” 

“I know, and I love it!” cackled Austin and disappeared through another hallway and outside the building, his snarky laugh still echoing. “Good luck with your girlfriend!” 

“Pah,” Maya scoffed and turned red. “She’s not my- ahhh… time to go home, anyway.”