The portal shimmered to life in the corner of Evan’s living room, casting its now-familiar glow over the space. Evan, who had been halfway through reheating dinner in the microwave, froze mid-step. He hadn’t expected another visit so soon, and his mind immediately leapt to Lyrin. Was she in trouble again? Did she need help? He was already setting his plate down when a figure stepped through—one that was decidedly not Lyrin.

  “Seralith?” Evan said, his voice tinged with both surprise and unease. The goddess’s presence was nothing short of awe-inspiring. She radiated an ethereal glow, her flowing silver and gold robes shimmering as if woven from starlight itself. Her hair cascaded down her back like liquid moonlight, and her violet eyes locked onto his with a calm but piercing intensity.

  “Evan,” she greeted him, her voice like the soft chime of a distant bell—melodic yet commanding. She stepped fully into his living room, the portal behind her closing with a whisper of energy. “I trust I’m not intruding?”

  Evan blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer presence of her. He gestured vaguely at the room around them. “Uh, no. Not at all. Though I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting... well, you.”

  A faint smile touched Seralith’s lips as she inclined her head. “I thought it prudent to address your concerns directly. You’ve made repeated sacrifices of your time and energy to assist me, and yet I have not always been considerate of the impact it has on your life here.” She gestured to the modest furniture and the faintly humming microwave in the background, as though acknowledging the balance he was trying to maintain.

  Evan relaxed slightly, though he still felt like a fish out of water with a literal goddess standing in his living room. “I mean, yeah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s been a little... chaotic. I’m happy to help, but I’ve got responsibilities here too. My son, my job—it’s not exactly easy to drop everything on a moment’s notice.”

  Seralith stepped closer, her expression softening. “And that is precisely why I’m here. I’ve come to assure you that going forward, I will take greater care in my requests. I will deliver them myself, in advance, and I will ensure that they do not interfere with the days when your son is present. You have my word.”

  Evan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Thanks. That... means a lot, actually.”

  “I am not blind to the difficulties my timing could have caused,” Seralith continued, her tone growing thoughtful. “Had circumstances been different, I might have inadvertently put you in an untenable position. That was careless of me, and I will not let it happen again.”

  For a moment, Evan was struck by how strange it was to hear a goddess—someone so far removed from the mortal concerns of schedules and responsibilities—acknowledge his struggles in such a direct and sincere way. It was oddly comforting.

  “And,” Seralith went on, her gaze softening further, “I have been watching you, Evan. Your actions, your choices—they speak to a strength of character that I did not anticipate. I am impressed with what you’ve accomplished thus far. But more than that, I am pleased with the care and kindness you’ve shown Lyrin.”

  Evan felt his face heat slightly as her words sank in. “Uh, well, she’s been through a lot. She deserves someone who’s got her back.”

  “That she does,” Seralith agreed, her smile turning faintly knowing. “And it seems that someone is you. I can see the bond growing between you, and I find it... promising. You have my blessing, should you choose to pursue it.”

  Evan blinked, caught completely off guard by her statement. “Wait, are you—are you giving me relationship advice right now? From a literal goddess?”

  Seralith chuckled lightly, the sound like the wind through a grove of trees. “Consider it a blessing, not advice. Though I will say, Lyrin is dear to me. Treat her well.”

  “I’ll... keep that in mind,” Evan said, still trying to process the surreal nature of the conversation.

  Seralith’s demeanor shifted slightly, becoming more formal as she straightened and reached out a hand. “Before I leave, there is the matter of your payment. You have served me well, and it is only right that you be compensated.”

  Evan watched as her hand glowed faintly, the air shimmering as she summoned what he assumed would be the usual small bar of gold. But instead of the satisfying clink of metal, there was... nothing. Seralith frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion.

  “That’s odd,” she murmured, trying again. Her hand glowed brighter, the energy crackling faintly in the air—and still, nothing. No gold, no treasure. Nothing materialized. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her composure faltering for the first time. “This... has never happened before.”

  Evan raised an eyebrow, just as an unfamiliar ding echoed from his phone on the coffee table. He frowned, picking it up and noticing a notification he didn’t recognize. It was from an app he didn’t remember installing, and the message read:

  “Transaction Complete: 30 Shares DUN EFT purchased. Balance Updated.”

  Evan blinked, staring at the screen. “Uh, Seralith? I think I just got paid... digitally?”

  Seralith’s eyes widened slightly as she stepped closer, peering at the phone with a curiosity that seemed almost childlike. “What is this device? And what do you mean, ‘digitally’?”

  “It’s my phone,” Evan said, still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. “It’s like... a communication and information tool. And apparently, your payment system somehow figured out how to convert gold into Earth money and deposit it into an app I didn’t even know I had.”

  Seralith tilted her head, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smiled faintly. “It seems the magic that binds our worlds together is... more adaptable than even I realized. Perhaps it is for the best. Carrying gold would draw unnecessary attention here, would it not?”

  “Yeah, no kidding,” Evan muttered, still staring at the notification. He couldn’t help but laugh softly at the absurdity of it all. “Well, I guess this solves the problem of hauling sacks of gold around.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Seralith nodded, her composure fully restored. “Then I will leave you to your evening, Evan. Thank you for your continued service—and your patience.”

  With that, she turned and stepped back toward the corner of the room. The portal shimmered to life once more, and with a final graceful nod, Seralith disappeared, leaving Evan alone in his now-quiet apartment.

  He sat there for a moment, staring at his phone and then at the spot where the portal had been. The surreal nature of his life seemed to hit him all at once, and he let out a long, exasperated sigh.

  “Yeah,” he muttered to himself, setting the phone down. “This is totally normal. Just another day in the life of Evan.”

  —-------------------------

  The clink of weights and the rhythmic hum of treadmills filled the gym as Evan adjusted the barbell on the rack in front of him. Elena stood nearby, arms crossed, her sharp eyes watching him with the focus of someone who took her craft seriously. She was dressed in her usual gym gear—a fitted tank top and leggings that showed off her athletic build—and her hair was tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail. Despite her professional demeanor, there was a playful spark in her expression that seemed to crop up whenever she was around him.

  “Alright, big guy,” Elena said, stepping closer and tapping the barbell. “We’re upping the weight today. You’re stronger than you think—time to prove it. Let’s see if you can handle three sets at this weight.”

  Evan let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “I’m pretty sure you’re trying to kill me.”

  “Please,” she shot back with a smirk. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d make you do burpees until you passed out. This is me being kind.”

  “Kind, huh?” He raised an eyebrow, gripping the barbell and settling onto the bench. “Remind me to stay on your good side.”

  “Smart man,” she said, her voice teasing but warm. “Alright, get in position. I’ll spot you.”

  As Evan began his first set, Elena watched him closely, her hands hovering near the bar just in case. He gritted his teeth, focusing on his form and the controlled rhythm of each press. She nodded approvingly, stepping back slightly to give him space as he finished the set and racked the barbell with a satisfying clank.

  “Nice work,” Elena said, handing him a towel. “You’ve come a long way since we started these sessions. I’m impressed.”

  “Thanks,” Evan said, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Though I think I’ve got a long way to go before I catch up to you.”

  She laughed, the sound light and easy. “Oh, don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got potential, Evan. Plus, I’m starting to think you’ve got some secret motivation driving you. Most guys don’t push themselves this hard unless they’ve got a big goal in mind.”

  Evan hesitated, the towel still in his hands. “Well, I guess you could say I’m trying to... reinvent myself. Get my head on straight.”

  Elena tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. “Reinvent yourself? Sounds like there’s a story there.”

  He sighed, setting the towel down and taking a sip from his water bottle. “It’s nothing too dramatic. Just... went through a divorce recently. The whole thing made me realize I wasn’t taking care of myself the way I should’ve been. And, you know, I’ve got a son. I want to be someone he can look up to.”

  Her expression softened, the playful edge giving way to something gentler. “That’s a good reason. And honestly? A lot of people wouldn’t have the guts to make those changes. It’s not easy.”

  “No, it’s not,” Evan admitted, his voice quieter. “But it’s worth it.”

  She leaned against the rack, her arms still crossed as she studied him. “So, what do you do when you’re not here torturing yourself with weights and cardio?”

  Evan chuckled, grateful for the shift in tone. “I’m a senior product development engineer. I design and test parts for, uh, machines and equipment. Not exactly glamorous, but it pays the bills.”

  “Engineer, huh?” Elena said, raising an eyebrow. “I pegged you for more of a... I don’t know, action-hero type.”

  He laughed again, shaking his head. “Oh, yeah. That’s me. Just your average boring engineer by day, action hero by—” He stopped himself before he could finish the sentence, realizing the truth behind the joke. “—uh, you know, gym rat by night.”

  She didn’t miss the brief pause, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Hmm. That hesitation makes me think there’s more to the story.”

  “It’s nothing,” Evan said quickly, though his tone wasn’t entirely convincing. “Just... work gets stressful sometimes. This is how I blow off steam.”

  Elena didn’t push, though the curiosity in her expression didn’t fade. Instead, she let the moment hang for a beat before flashing him a grin. “Fair enough. Everyone’s got their reasons. But I’ll bet you’re holding out on me.”

  Evan smirked, leaning back against the bench. “You’re awfully nosy for a trainer.”

  “Hey, it’s my job to know what motivates my clients,” she said, her grin widening. “Besides, you’re an interesting guy. Most people just tell me they want to lose weight or get ripped for summer. You’ve got layers.”

  “Like an onion?” he quipped, raising an eyebrow.

  “More like a parfait,” she shot back, her tone playful. “And everybody loves parfaits.”

  Evan laughed, shaking his head. “Alright, alright. What about you, then? Why’d you get into this? MMA, personal training—all of it.”

  “Oh, turning the tables on me now?” she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Fine. I got into MMA when I was a teenager. I was... kind of a scrappy kid, always getting into fights. My parents thought it would be a good way to channel my energy into something productive.”

  “And did it work?”

  “Eventually,” she said with a shrug. “Took me a while to figure out that punching people in a ring was a lot more satisfying—and legal—than doing it in the schoolyard. Plus, it turns out I’m pretty good at it.”

  “I’ll bet,” Evan said, his tone warm. “You’ve got that whole ‘unstoppable force’ vibe going on.”

  Elena laughed, her cheeks flushing faintly. “Careful, Evan. You keep flattering me, and I might start thinking you’re trying to impress me.”

  “Maybe I am,” he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He met her gaze, his heart skipping a beat at the way her expression softened.

  “Well,” she said after a moment, her voice quieter but still teasing, “you’re doing a pretty good job.”

  The air between them shifted, the playful banter giving way to something more charged. Evan felt his chest tighten, a mix of attraction and uncertainty swirling inside him. He liked Elena—there was no denying that—but the thought of what that might mean for his budding relationship with Lyrin, and the implications of crossing someone as powerful as Seralith, weighed heavily on his mind.

  Elena seemed to sense the shift and stepped back, breaking the tension with a grin. “Alright, enough chit-chat. Back to work. You’ve got two more sets on that bench, and I’m not letting you off the hook.”

  Evan chuckled, grateful for the reprieve. “Yes, ma’am.”

  As he settled back onto the bench and prepared for the next set, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Elena. The mutual attraction was undeniable, but for now, he pushed it aside, focusing instead on the steady rhythm of the weights and the sound of her voice guiding him through the exercises. Whatever came next, he’d deal with it when the time was right.