Chapter 186: Capture the Heart: Part-2
“Let’s stay here for the time being,” Aether said, his breaths coming out in ragged gasps. He had been running non-stop for almost an hour, desperately searching for a place to hide until he finally stumbled upon a cave nestled near the roaring waterfalls.
Aira, leaning wearily against the cave wall, couldn’t help but voice her concern, “I-I must be heavy…” she stammered, her voice tinged with worry.
“Yeah– I mean, no!” Aether almost blurted out the truth, catching himself just in time. Even a feather can start to feel heavy after being held for a long period, so he wasn’t entirely wrong.
Aira puffed her cheeks in mock indignation at his hurtful truth, but then she smiled softly and said, “Thank you.”
Aether merely nodded, his eyes scanning her wounded body with growing panic, “W-We need to heal your injuries… Did you bring any healing potions?”
Aira gave him an awkward smile and shook her head. Aether’s lips twitched in frustration as he glanced at his backpack. He did have a high-grade healing potion, one that he had bought using Delphine’s money. He had intended to save it for himself in case his plan failed, but looking at Aira’s wound…
‘It looks severe… Wait a minute!’
“Why haven’t you teleported back to the healing department?” Aether asked, frowning as he examined her crystal badge.
The crystal looked dull and lifeless, unlike the others that were still shining brightly.
‘Don’t tell me Kaelen used some kind of artifact?’ Aether thought, suspicion creeping into his mind.
“I don’t know. After eliminating my teammates, he used some crystal ball and shattered it, and instantly my crystal badge died,” Aira explained, trying to move her body but wincing in pain.
Seeing her pained expression, Aether quickly took out the medicines he had created using his knowledge. As a penniless boy, he had learned to use anything necessary for his survival.
“Show me the wounds,” Aether demanded, his tone serious and urgent.
Aira flinched as she looked at the green mixture in his hand. Just by looking at it, she knew it was medicine, ‘He must have learned this from Aqualina…’ she thought as she extended her wounded hands towards him.
Aether slowly and gently applied the mixture to her hand, then asked if there were any other injuries. Aira hesitated before removing her boots and showing her slender legs. Aether carefully applied the medicine to the big bite marks on her legs.
Aira stared at him, her mind racing with confusion. Even now, she couldn’t understand why this boy always had a concerned look on his face whenever he looked at her.
“Anywhere else?” Aether asked, his voice gentle.
“No,” Aira replied. However, when Aether’s eyes fell on the wall where she had been leaning, he noticed a blood mark. His eyes widened, and he asked with a stern face, “Are you sure?”
Aira realized his gaze was on her back. Blushing slightly, she said, “I-It’s fine.” She couldn’t possibly remove her armour and show her back to a boy.
“Aria,” Aether said softly, his tone filled with genuine concern.
Feeling the sincerity in his voice, Aira’s heart melted. She then said, “Turn around.”
Aether nodded and obediently turned around.
“Don’t you dare turn back!” Aira warned, her voice serious.
“Of course not!” Aether replied, his tone earnest.
Aira smiled to herself and slowly removed her black armour. As she slid off her black inner cloth, her face turned bright red. She couldn’t believe she was showing her body to a boy that not even her rightful husband had seen.
He controlled his every hormone until the rustling sound died.
“N-Now…” Aira mumbled, her voice barely audible.
Aether turned around, though loved to see her sexy curvy back, His eyes fell on the deep, three nail-carved marks on her back.
‘A-Aria…’ He mumbled inwardly feeling a clench in his heart.
His hands trembled as he gently touched her wounds, unable to comprehend how she had managed to fight through such severe injuries. His heart almost tempted him to use the healing potion he had, but his rational mind reminded him that he might need it later.
Aira glanced back, her face flushed with embarrassment. Her heart was beating wildly, but when she saw the pained look on Aether’s face, she felt an inexplicable emotion. She wondered why this boy cared so deeply about her.
It had only been a week since she became friends with Aether, and yet, why did he care so much for her?
She couldn’t help but wonder.
[+600 Affection]
When Aether’s medicine-covered hand touched her wound, she suddenly felt a cooling sensation and hissed softly.
“I-Is it painful?” Aether asked hesitantly. He now felt a little guilty for waiting instead of helping her sooner.
“I-I am fine…” Aira answered.
“…. I am sorry,” Aether mumbled. As much as he knew he was trying to seduce her over, there was a part of him that felt genuine guilt for seeing her in pain like this.
“… Why?”
“I don’t know… I just felt like I had to say it,” Aether replied, his voice filled with sincerity.
Aira didn’t fully understand. She thought he was worried about her wounds, which was entirely wrong, she called this upon herself. More importantly, he was the one who had helped her in the first place, so she wondered why he was even apologizing.
After applying the medicine and wrapping her wounds with a bandage, Aira put her dress back on and looked at Aether, who was now asking for answers about why Kaelen was after her.
Aira sighed and sat beside him, their shoulders almost touching.
“There are two prominent tribes in this Empire. One is the High Elf tribe, and the other is the Werewolf tribe called Darkfang. They have been constantly fighting for control over the Empire.
Of course, there is nothing unusual about lusting for power… It’s a common thing for anyone.
Ever since Alaric married me, the princess of the High Elf tribe, we gained the upper hand. But now, things have changed. The Darkfang tribe has a chance to rise again in the Empire, and the only obstacle standing in their way is me… another Chosen One,” Aira finished with an awkward smile.
Aether nodded in understanding. ‘So, the person helping Kaelen must want the Darkfang tribe to rise,’ he thought.
“And then?” he asked.
“Hmm?”
“I mean, what are you going to do about them?” he clarified.
Aira pondered for a second before her head slowly leaned on his shoulder. Though Aether was surprised, he didn’t move away.
“I…. I really don’t know,” Aira mumbled, her voice filled with hesitation and…. fear.
Aether stared at her expression and finally pieced together the remaining parts of the puzzle that had been bugging him for a long time.
To put it simply, she was traumatized!
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