Ebony failed to buy all the sandwiches as the stall owner has quite a few regulars that he wanted to sell to. If kept dry in a container, they were a good snack to many miners.
The stall owner’s business was not very consistent as miners don’t come in and out of town daily. Depending on the individual miner’s personal schedule, they could stay there anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. Maybe more if they go deep.
It had taken a long time to build up the number of regulars he had so that he had a constant flow of customers. He would not exchange the little bit of dissatisfaction from his regulars just for a little bit of Blacks and Greys.
Ebony also wasn’t so patient to wait for after he prepared the portion for his regulars. He made do with ten sandwiches. Five spicy and five salty.
As he waited for the sandwiches, the blood that was falling off dramatically slowly already reached the puddle that was starting to close up and disappear.
Scarlet was clearly awake earlier and saw him but she closed her eyes right after he wrapped her up. She was asleep.
Her clothes were in tatters and she was barefooted. Her already waterfall-like hair was even longer and was touching the ground already. There was muck, grime and mostly dried blood all over her body.
No one stopped Ebony from carrying her away with a bag of sandwiches. He was hardly bothered by the dirt when he was covered in dirt too. Though the smell was much stronger, for some reason, it smelt almost sweet.
She was lighter than he remembered.
Ebony asked the stall owner for the location of the largest or most luxurious inn. They were a prince and princess, the most luxurious inn of a small town should be barely acceptable right?
Paying a Green was already overpaying by a lot but he had too few Blacks or Greys. Mostly Blues. It was also thanks to the stall owner he summoned Scarlet so he had no problem overpaying.
There were not many inns around.
He was lucky enough that they really were in the largest inn. The receptionist somehow recognised him and passed him the key to a room that was already paid for.
He asked the brown-haired human lady for another room to place Scarlet in.
Her breathing, heart rate and body temperature seemed pretty normal and Ebony didn’t think she was harmed in any way.
“Your room is the last one available.”
“...Which is the room of the lady that booked my room?”
“Beside yours or two rooms away depending on how the two of them picked.”
“Thanks.”
It was too coincidental that there were no rooms available left.
Ebony went to knock on the room beside his own on the third and highest floor. His room was at the very corner so there was no getting the wrong door.
No one answered.
The door was locked.
He tried the next door on the right.
Same results.
Ebony gave up very easily.
Unlocking his room’s door and gently placing Scarlet down on the bed. Covering her with their blanket before sliding his heavy and suffocating robe out.
The third floor had the best rooms, it was spacious enough for his own bed. He took it out before getting all the stuff, mostly ragged clothes, he needed to wash and went to find the bath.
Thoroughly scrubbing all those still in good condition together with his coat as well. Letting them soak in soapy water while he went to wash himself.
The bath was partitioned so it was somewhat private. It was pretty spacious. It was luxury for most people in these parts, fortunately, the inn here was pretty good. At least it was clean and spacious.
Scrubbing himself down was almost as hard. Especially his messy hair. Snow easily melted off but the gunk and oil hardened. It took hours of personal hygiene and a lot of water to get spotlessly clean again.
He really lost quite a bit of weight. He’ll have to get his muscle mass back.
Ebony was severely constipated. Almost spending just as much time on their, pretty similar toilet bowl. Their drainage system had to be pretty good.
There were just so many similarities that it was almost hard for him to believe he was not on Earth. Just the design of the architect seemed a little old.
He rinsed off all his clothes and brought them all back to his room. They usually had a rope tied from one corner to the other where one could hang their laundry.
He hung what he could in the limited space, minus his heavy robe.
Taking out a few pieces of paper and moulding runes on. With just a bit of his mana. He made wind blow out of paper until the mana ran dry. It was an uncomplicated one that doesn’t have any on/off function or adjustment of the strength of the wind and all that.
The simplicity made it very easy for him. Placing them on the floor and blowing upwards to dry his clothes. He made a stand out of compressed ice that can hold his robe and Icicle. The weapon was dangerous if it fell on anyone's foot so he made sure to place it properly.
Leaving the stand close to his bed so that it could still attach the link to his myriad bracelet. He didn’t really have any empty mana ores left.
Scarlet was sound asleep and he couldn’t wait to just fall asleep as well.
He was dazed for 1 full second before pushing his bed beside Scarlet’s, getting under the covers and falling asleep the instant he shut his eyelid.
A wonderful birthday present.
❅❅❅
‘Nngh… soft. Bed? Where…’ Scarlet blinked furiously to adjust to the warm sunlight shining in.
She hasn’t been exposed to sunlight for a very long time.
Her adventure had been…fruitful to say the least.
Honestly, she didn’t want to go back there despite what she gained.
Scarlet had sorely underestimated the creatures of blood. She understood she wasn’t nearly the strongest at her level at that time but she didn’t think she was that far.
Yet, to think her Physique would mutate and change so quickly.
The scent of fish wafting into her nostrils woke her up. She had gotten really bored of eating bloody spiders and moss. Magical moss.
Her grumbling stomach woke her up.
The shining sunlight woke her up.
The sound of footsteps woke her up.
The sweaty smell of humans, beastmen and dwarfs alike woke her up.
Something cooling in her arms woke her up.
It wasn’t her chilled bolster that kept her body temperature low and made it easier for her to sleep. It was too stiff to be her bolster. Her bolster was a little cooler too.
Gripping around to feel what it was as her foggy sight slowly returned.
Her face heated up along with her body.
Pushing herself away and touching her face to feel her mask before checking herself.
Realising the state of her clothes, the awful stench like she bathed in the trash pile at a city’s incineration works for months, the dirt, mud, blood and guts. And her hand had a fresher fishy smell that was still a little oily.
Scarlet was at a loss at how to react or what she should do first. Shyly looking back at her ‘bolster’, confirming that he was really asleep and not acting.
The room was a little familiar. It was the inn she stayed at before. She silently charged to the bath.
She was barely satisfied after spending half the day, enough water for hundreds of thirsting children for weeks, a lot of scented soap. Her hair took a large part of her efforts. Constantly rechecking them for any gunk.
It wasn’t enough and she wasn’t done. She checked herself over and over again. Making sure her nails were short and neat. Her impossibly, even more fair skin was spotless. And smelling herself to make sure she really washed off well.
She was drying herself with a ‘clean’ towel the inn provided. Only because she didn’t have any clean ones left. She wouldn’t trust some random inn that ‘clean’ was ‘clean’ if she wasn’t forced to.
‘...’ Scarlet stopped and paced around the small and squeezy bath.
She didn’t have any clean clothes to wear. All her casual wear and pyjamas were already mostly ruined. Except for the new battle wear that she was supposed to change to after her evolution. To begin with, she left her bag in the room!
Walking back to the room with a towel wrapped around her was not going to cut it.
She might be fast. The inn might be small but she could only move so fast in this small inn. The chances of bumping into people were much higher than not.
Scarlet didn’t ponder for long before someone knocked on the door.
“Miss, you have been in there the whole day. There are only so many in this musty inn. Care to vacate it soon?” A woman’s voice muffled through the walls and door.
Scarlet was a little embarrassed about her silly predicament but she had no choice but to rely on another person now. She explained her circumstances to the stranger who stayed silent while she talked.
“I see. It’s not much but why don’t you take this set for now. A lady should not be that careless.” The woman offered her own set of clothes. Already aware that Scarlet didn’t have any clean clothes even if she were to go to Scarlet’s room to get it for her.
Scarlet felt like the woman beyond the doors talked a little weird.
“...Thank you. I will wash it clean and return it to you as soon as possible.” Scarlet extended her hand through a small gap she opened and received the lady’s kindness.
Stolen story; please report.
“Unnecessary. Keep it.”
‘This…’ Scarlet was too busy looking at the dress she was handed to care about the remark.
It was short, probably only reaching her knees if she wore it. Frills decorated the end of the sleeves and dress itself. Limish green in colour.
Scarlet doesn’t wear dresses. It was impractical.
“What’s wrong with the dress?” The lady was at the limit of her patience. It was too quiet past the doors.
It was clear to her that Scarlet didn’t even attempt to put on her dress. After another moment of short silence, she barged her way into the bath.
Scarlet had been figuring out how to wear the dress and didn’t think to hold the lousy door. Fortunately, she had her mask back on as a habit.
The lady with bright pink hair stared at her towel-wrapped body for a long second.
“I never wore a dress before,” Scarlet stated. She didn’t think someone would barge in. The lady wasn’t even surprised or shocked at her mask so that was one good thing.
The pink haired lady grabbed the dress and helped her put it on.
“You can burn the dress after you’re done with it. This bath smells like death. I’m going to another one.” The lady seemed a little angry and stomped out after helping Scarlet.
It was one of Scarlet’s weirdest and most embarrassing moments. She gathered all the crap that she washed off herself and got rid of it.
It was hard to move and breathe. The lady was shorter than her by a fair bit and smaller in frame too. The dress was too tight on her chest and hip area.
‘I…Should I lose some weight?’
The dress was too showy and the lime green just doesn’t fit well.
Back outside the room, her Heat Perception told her that Ebony didn’t move at all. It was weird since many hours had passed.
She silently got her bag and ran out. She held the dress down and was forced to slow down. It was too breezy. The pink haired lady was crazy to wear such a dress in winter. Then again, the dress would reach the lady’s calves at least while it barely covered Scarlet’s knees.
‘Shameless.’
Her speed was greatly limited by shame and she had a gruesome journey to a tailor.
Getting some pants adjusted to her size. There were no red clothes she liked but they would have to do. She paid more to get the old lady tailor to do an urgent resizing for her.
Asking for anywhere that sold shoes and boots. It wasn’t far and she got a random pair that fit for now.
She felt so much more at ease after outfitting herself somewhat decently.
Nervously walking back to the inn and standing outside the door of Ebony’s room again.
She gathered her courage and entered.
Unsure what to do. She first wiped the dirt and oil she smudged onto him. Brought the dirty sheets for a change. Folded the dry clothes he hung. Cleaned the room. Ate all the sandwiches.
Ebony slept through all of it.
Sitting on the bed in what he would recognise as the seiza position for hours. Just silently staring at Ebony.
She saw one of his hands facing up. Slowly moving her own towards it. Touching fingertips before she pushed more and more and their palms touched. She quickly pulled back, afraid she got caught. Hiding under the blanket before peeking out again to see that he was still asleep.
Day was turning into night.
One thought was in Scarlet’s head throughout the night. Why does he smell so delicious? At first, she thought that she was imagining things due to hunger and it was the smell of the sandwiches but now she was sure it was Ebony.
Her body was still aching all over and she was still very tired.
She lay on the bed facing Ebony.
Exhausted.
Scarlet didn’t sleep a wink that night.
❅❅❅
Ebony roused from his deep sleep.
Having never felt so refreshed before.
The room smelled nice. His fish sandwiches were gone. His summon must have eaten it all and ran away. Scarlet was no longer in the room.
The bed beside his was left neat. He could still feel some warmth on it. His head was still attached. That was a good sign.
His clothes were taken down and placed in the chest in the room.
It was morning. Perhaps late morning.
“Heeey! Ebony, are you up?” Hector hammered on the door.
“Anyone would be woken up when you’re so noisy.” Ebony opened the door to let Hector enter.
“Not true, you were out cold yesterday. I thought you were evolving with how long you were out.”
“I was asleep 2 nights straight?” Ebony didn’t think he would sleep for so long.
It was reasonable with how tired he was.
“I guess I also only woke up in the middle of the day yesterday. I came to check on you but you were asleep. You bring a bed along with you?” Hector explained.
“...yeah.” Ebony was wondering if Scarlet was gone by that time or if Hector just didn’t mention.
“Wanna get a bite downstairs?” Hector proposed.
“Mmm.” Ebony got his ores and wore his worn-out boots.
They were about to leave the room when Hector stopped all of a sudden.
With the door open, Ebony already knew what was up.
Scarlet was there with a covered tray.
“You.” Hector was excited to see them all gathered but the gears in his head were turning slowly.
“I didn’t make anything for you.” Scarlet pushed past Hector, put the tray on the table and then pushed Hector out before politely closing the door on him.
There was silence in the room before Scarlet asked him to ‘hang on’ and then ran out of the room for another 15 minutes of silence with Ebony alone.
She came back with another tray of food.
“Ehm…let’s eat before it gets cold.” Scarlet broke the silence, uncovering both trays to reveal the steaming hot food.
They sat facing each other. As hungry as both of them were, Ebony was staring at her while she was staring at the table.
Her eyes changed.
They were of a slightly darker shade of red now.
Her stomach grumbling broke the silence.
“Do..don’t stare so much,” Scarlet whispered as the lower portion of her mask disappeared.
Like Sister Jing’s.
‘So that was a function all along.’ Ebony was just ignoring what she said and was busy staring at her lips, jaws and skin. Blush-coloured or light pinkish lips. Reddish flush instead of her milky white skin.
She pursed her already thin lips not unlike Sister Jing’s, inwards. Nervous. Anxious. Shy.
“Stop staring…I’ll take the food away and eat alone if you continue staring.” Scarlet threatened with a glare but then her glare faltered and fell back to the food after meeting his eyes.
“Thanks for the food, let’s eat.” Ebony replied.
He picked up cubed meat with the chopsticks he was given onto her bowl of rice. She then did the same.
They started eating in silence.
Loud silence.
Both of them seemed deaf to Scarlet’s loud beating heart.
Ebony was too busy calming himself down to notice.
Scarlet ate slowly, in small bites. Looking up every few seconds.
Ebony ate as per usual. Outwardly unperturbed.
‘It’s just a meal. Why does it feel so…fresh.’ Ebony thought that the meal was a fresh experience to him. Odd.
‘Hmm? It tastes good.’ Ebony started to realise that he could taste the food in his mouth. Just a little. Yet, that was a big improvement.
He also noticed Scarlet eating faster and faster. She didn’t forget to attempt not to get any sauce on her. But the allure of food won over her non-existent habit of eating all girly and lady-like.
He liked to see her have fun eating more than when she was all reserved and nervous.
The two sticks in their hand landed on empty plates within minutes.
It was easy to tell from Scarlet’s fidgeting. She didn’t have enough. Because Ebony himself was hungry for more.
‘Is she too shy to say she wants more?’ He wasn’t dumb enough not to know that women were embarrassed or maybe didn’t think it looked nice for them to be big eaters.
“I’m still hungry. Can I have more?”
“Yes!”
Ebony helped to place the dishes back on the tray and they brought it down together.
The staff was nice enough to strongly insist they would do the dishes.
The kitchen was well ventilated but he could spot a fly or two. It wasn’t the cleanest kitchen he had seen but it wasn’t that bad.
He wanted to stay and watch, maybe help with what he could but was pushed out of the kitchen by Scarlet. She was much stronger than he was when he didn’t use any enhancement.
He didn’t wear his robe or carry Icicle and didn’t need enhancement. If it was just a short period of time, his mana was spent through decreasing gravity in a very wide area.
Within almost 70 metres, he didn’t even have enough mana regeneration to cast one that wide of an area at full strength. His manipulation was good enough that he could lower the output such that it equaled his mana regeneration.
It was a nifty trick to waste mana without most people noticing. A tiny decrease in gravity wasn’t so easy to notice.
Then someone in the kitchen shouted. Complaints.
He was the chef in charge and wasn’t one bit happy that customers barged in again and again.
Surprisingly, he didn’t react much in fear of Scarlet’s mask. Perhaps, it was a chef’s pride.
Scarlet was challenged to a cooking show down. She couldn’t and wouldn’t back down.
She finished all her rice and ingredients and to make it fair, they used the same ingredients.
The helpers and kitchen assistants together with Ebony would be the judges.
He didn’t know what kind of ears or senses Hector had but he barged in at that moment and forcefully added himself to the judging table.
It was a nice change of pace.
The results were surprising too because it ended in a draw and Scarlet also seemed to recognise the man as a real chef.
"This kitchen is too small for you." was what she said to the chef and that was high praise coming from her.
Ebony obviously voted for Scarlet. He couldn’t even taste anything that the inn’s chef cooked.
Hector was a traitorous bastard.
The chef knew the palette of his assistants well but Scarlet won over some of them.
Ebony and Scarlet had a continuation of their meal before bothering to answer the traitorous one that kept asking for a spar.
That nuisance.
They had a massive amount of pan-fried dumplings of various flavours.
Ebony’s new favourite was the ones filled with minced meat, something like chives, a type of juicy nut and plenty of pepper.
Scarlet was clearly observing his reaction to every single dumpling he ate.
“Let’s go spar with Hector,” Ebony said after they finished their meal.
He felt like he plumped up pretty well in a single meal.
“...I’ll just watch.” Scarlet replied. Ebony was a little surprised.
“Why?”
“I’m just…tired. My body is still aching all over. I don’t have any proper battle or training wear left either. My swords, Ignite and Flare are on the verge of breaking as well.” Scarlet didn’t sleep a wink last night but the other reasons she stated were the better reason.
“I see. You can just rest for the day instead of coming to watch. Do you want a massage? I think I’m pretty good at relieving muscle and body aches.” Ebony had relied on massaging himself whenever he could. He was wondering when it would become a skill.
“Wha!? Ngh, no. no. That’s too fast. It…it's inappropriate. I…I think one of the rooms has been cleared. I’ll move now!” Scarlet dashed out and down the stairs.
‘...Is this called blowing it?’ Ebony was a little hurt by the quick rejection. In hindsight, perhaps asking to massage her was really too much.
❅❅❅
Ebony didn’t know due to Everlasting Tranquillity but, normal people don’t remain…normal if they were stuck in dim, squeezy places fighting for their lives every second of the day for months on end.
If he wasn’t the first person Scarlet saw after she climbed out, she might not have fainted as if all the stress left her body.
Although not having any battle or training wear was a very real reason.
What she was currently wearing would just burn to ashes if she really fought.
Ignite and Flare were really on the verge of breaking. All the blood they drank did improve them qualitatively but Scarlet had used them to guard against more than a few hard hits.
The metal she got from Ordina was left with her cousin who was too busy to check it out.
Scarlet already contacted Kong Jing who would be coming to Ailbury. She would get new clothes and get her equipment repaired at that time.
Her physical exhaustion and equipment weren’t really the biggest reason she didn’t want to spar.
She was honestly tired of fighting and the constant killings have gotten to her despite a Journeyman's mental state together with Wisdom stat strengthening her mind.
Most importantly, she was confident.
She was scared of beating Ebony too badly.
She still wanted to be with him.
Has he kept up?
He had to. Right?
Scarlet was aware of Ebony’s potential and strength. But, somewhere deep down, she didn’t think he had kept up. Pride.
She had gotten so much more powerful in a relatively short time.