It was late at night.
Washington.
Far from the bustling downtown area, in the relatively quiet Riverside Park.
Only some streetlights next to the sidewalks emitted a gentle White glow; many other places, such as the groves located away from the public recreational facilities, were already completely enveloped in the dark, pitch-black night... It was so quiet here that one could faintly hear the sounds of river frogs and insects, and the moon in the city sky silently cast its pure silver light.
A man and a woman, hand in hand, slipped into the grove.
"Vincent, why did you bring me here...?"
The black-haired woman's usually calm and composed beautiful face finally showed a hint of something unusual at this moment, her beautiful eyes looking at the young man beside her with suspicion.
This child, he wouldn't be so audacious, would he?
It's only been a few days since she wasn't paying attention... Has he already gone astray so quickly?
"Why do you think I brought you here? Of course, it's to do what we love to do." Vincent chuckled, "Aren't we a couple?"
Diana frowned slightly, her tone a little colder: "I told you, we can't do anything too excessive. Also, it's ultimately not good for your body..."
"We're here!"
Vincent suddenly exclaimed, then let go of Diana's hand and walked forward.
Diana was slightly stunned, but then she saw Vincent lead her through the park's woods to a giant tree in the middle.
The tree looked to be nearly a hundred years old; its thick trunk was wide enough for three people to embrace, and its lush branches grew upwards like an umbrella, while its roots intertwined and deeply penetrated the earth below.
"This is something I saw online yesterday."
Vincent turned his head, blinked, and said, "Couples can find an old tree, bury a secret they want to tell each other at its base, and then, ten years later, come back together to retrieve it."
As he spoke, Vincent took out a small glass bottle, a piece of paper, and a pen from his pants pocket.
"So, you brought me here for this..." Diana's cheeks flushed slightly, fortunately, it wasn't very clear under the night sky and the shade of the trees.
"What did you think... I was going to do just now?" Vincent asked curiously.
"Nothing, let's write quickly!"
Diana unnaturally changed the subject, taking the paper and pen from Vincent's hand.
"Neither of us is allowed to peek at what the other is writing." Vincent whispered a reminder, placing the paper on his palm, and, illuminated by the moon's silver glow, he rustled down a few lines of English.
The cool night breeze by the river swept by, and the grove was quiet and beautiful.
"I'm done writing," Diana suddenly said.
"I'm done writing too."
Vincent put the pen away, folded the paper in his hand, and placed it into the glass bottle first, gesturing to Diana.
Diana folded her paper and also placed it into the glass bottle, stacking it with Vincent's paper.
"Next. We just need to bury it."
Vincent rolled up his sleeves, immediately intending to find a spot to dig a hole.
But before he could act.
He heard a "whoosh"!
Accompanied by the crisp and clear metallic clang of a sword, a vintage and sharp holy longsword plunged into the base of the tree. The blade was almost entirely submerged in the earth, with only the patterned hilt slightly exposed, much like the Sword in the Stone from Western legends!
"This..." Vincent paused.
"I think we should bury it deeper."
Diana, with a serious expression as if facing Doomsday, stepped forward and easily pulled out the Sword of Vulcan. The silver artifact vanished behind her in a flash.
"Alright."
Vincent looked at the deep pit left on the ground, his eyes twitching slightly, but he still placed the glass bottle inside and covered it back up with soil.
After all this was done.
Vincent and Diana stood side by side in front of the tree.
"Is that all?" Diana asked softly.
"Yes." Vincent nodded.
"Then, ten years from now, let's come back together," Diana looked at Vincent with her beautiful eyes.
Vincent, however, shook his head and said inexplicably, "Not ten years from now."
"What?" Diana was surprised.
"It's a hundred years." The young man, beaming with a brilliant smile, casually said, "A hundred years from now, let's come back here together."
Diana's body and mind trembled suddenly.
Yes.
The difference between the two had never been about physical size.
It was about age!
Let alone a hundred years. Even after a thousand, or ten thousand years, Diana, as a demigoddess, would still retain her youthful and beautiful appearance.
Vincent, after all, was just a human.
His years, even his entire life, might only be a very brief moment for Diana.
"Diana. A hundred years from now, no matter what, I will come here!" Vincent firmly grasped Diana's hand, addressing his Aunt directly by her name for the first time.
"Okay, I'll remember that."
Diana squeezed the young man's hand back, meeting his gaze, and responded with utmost seriousness.
This was a century-long promise between an immortal demigoddess and an ordinary human... Vincent had never, like at this moment, wanted to become stronger, to acquire more extraordinary abilities!
Especially extraordinary abilities that could extend his lifespan!
Not for himself, but to be able to accompany the woman beside him for a longer time!
However, extending one's lifespan was by no means a simple matter.
So Vincent left behind a future note, like a time capsule; if he failed later, at least Aunt Diana could hold on until a hundred years later.
Of course.
If there was still a glimmer of hope by then, Vincent would crawl out of hell, even as a ghost, to keep the appointment!
This was his resolve and his backup plan!
...Diana quietly glanced sideways, looking at the young man who was holding her hand tightly.
Having lived together for seventeen years, even without using the Lasso of Truth, Diana could vaguely guess Vincent's intentions in doing this.
This child, he really was... as strong-willed as she was.
Diana gently shook her head, but a smile curved on her lips, her heart having already made a decision.
If she lost him in this World, let alone a hundred years from now, she wouldn't be able to bear it for even a day.
Without you, this World would be meaningless!
...Walking out of the grove and onto the gravel path.
Vincent looked at Aunt Diana beside him; the moonlight was like a thin, silver veil, draped over the woman's flowing black hair.
Especially her rosy, alluring lips, which seemed to be coated with a luminous moon glow.
"Tonight, the moonlight is really beautiful," Vincent praised.
Diana, hearing this, did not hesitate for a moment. She elegantly bent down, bringing with her a faint violet fragrance, and her soft, rosy lips landed on the corner of the young man's mouth.
"Is that enough? Any more, and you'll transform..." Diana's kiss was quick, and she withdrew her lips without changing her expression.
"I didn't even say anything yet," Vincent mumbled, reaching up to touch the corner of his mouth, but then felt it wasn't a loss.
The two continued to walk out along the park's gravel path.
Just then.
A woman's cry for help faintly came from a grove in the park, mixed with a man's angry, cursing voice.
Vincent frowned; he found the woman's voice very familiar!
It was someone he knew!
Before Vincent could think further.
Aunt Diana's figure flashed beside him, her black hair wildly dancing in the wind, as she rushed towards the sound at a speed far exceeding that of a human!
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