Alnea sighed. Sometimes, he missed the cute and innocent—

No. Not innocent. Cute for sure. And charming. Mesmerising, even. But Yuri was never innocent. At least not when she was alone with him. Not that he did not like her naughty self…

Alnea tore himself away from Yuri’s charming smile, seemingly teasing him, while pouting at him at the same time, turning towards Aren and then rest, trying his best hide the flush on his cheeks. As for his Aspects… He did not have the luxury of wasting what little Spirit Power he had recovered on hiding his embarrassment. Especially considering the injuries of the men lying in front of him.

“Hiding in the breath of all things alive…”

Though Vestia had already sprinkled some trauma medicine on their bodies, it was not enough to deal with their heavier wounds. Like the wound just below Aren’s left shoulder.

“Seeking the warmth of her evergreen shine…”

The wound itself was nasty to begin with. Being bombarded with thunder had only made it worse. Not to mention all the other wounds on his body.

“I beseech the seeds hidden in the Origin…”

And it was not just Aren. Others had also experienced something similar, if to varying degrees. The only good news was that while the thunder had made their wounds worse, it had also stopped their bleeding. Still, Alnea could not leave them as they were.

“To bequeath unto my hands the Green Touch of Life.”

Squatting down next to Aren, Alnea pressed his hand, glowing in the green glow of life, onto the latter’s wound, the one just below his shoulders, and urged the Mysteries of Life to breathe some vitality into the incapacitated man’s body. In vain. As his only Arcana which had yet to be raised to the Intermediate Stage, the most that the Green Touch could do was treat the most superficial wound. Like soothing the burns along the surface of their skin. Or barely close the hideous wounds spread all over their bodies…

It took Alnea around a tenth of an hour, and a tenth of what Spirit Power he had recovered to deal with the wounds on Aren’s body. Others were slightly less wounded, requiring both, less time and Spirit Power from his part. Still, by the time he was done with all five of them, roughly a third of an hour had passed away. Along with a third of the Spirit Power he had recovered.

“Are you alright?” Yuri asked, when she saw him faltering in his steps a little.

“…I am fine,” Alnea said, waving his hands to dismiss her concerns, while making his way back to her side. “It’s just that I used up too much Spirit Power at once…”

“…Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“I was not—

“Sometimes, you should listen to your own words.”

“…They deserved it. Especially since all of this… all of their wounds, could have been avoided. Even if I cannot cure them completely, I should do what I can…”

“…Just don’t blame yourself.”

“I know… Given our circumstances, choosing other ways to deal with those Wanderers would have only made things worse in the long run. Still…”

“Do not worry so much. I am sure they will not blame you either.”

“I hope so,” Alnea mumbled, as he plopped down on the scorching hot sand. Unaffected by the heat, of course. Ruthless as the desert might be, its indirect wrath was still no match against the thorns his master had personally sewn into his robe.

“Should we wake them up?”

“…There is still some time before your half an hour is up. But if you do not like spending time alone with me anymore then—

“That’s not true,” Alnea said, hurriedly shaking his head. “I like spending time with you the most.”

“Even more so than with big sis Nyssa?”

“…That’s different—

“See, I knew it. You do not like me anymore…”

“…I like you still,” Alnea mumbled. More so than he could ever describe. Even more than—

“You have Vestia now.”

“But I still like you more…”

“So, you do like her?”

“…Let’s go out for a day. When we return to the city… Just the two of us.”

“Like how you will go out with Vestia?”

“…Can you not say it as if I am playing with your emotions?”

“But you are.”

“I will be going out with Vestia only because she forced it on me. But in your case, I am asking you to go out with me…”

“Like how you will be asking Cecilia later?”

“…You know everything, don’t you?”

“Not everything… Just you.”

“…Fine. You win.”

“I always do,” Yuri said, with a radiant smile on her face. “When are we going out then?”

“…What?”

“After we go back… When will be going out?”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“But weren’t you against it just now?”

“I was never against the idea. On the contrary, I quite like the notion of just the two of us spending some time by ourselves. Roaming around the city… Even if it is the Lost City, with the smell of blood pervading every corner of the streets… As long as we are together… Unless, of course, you are against it. If so—

“I was the one who brought up the idea—

“Stole the idea.”

“…Regardless, why would I ever be against being alone with you?”

“So, when will be going out then?”

“How does tomorrow sound?”

“Then when will go out with Vestia?”

“…The day after tomorrow?”

“And Cecilia?”

“…The day after that?”

“…You sure are a busy man.”

“…Not for you—

“Then you would not mind spending another day with me, right?”

“…No.”

“That no was suspiciously slow…”

“I would never mind spending time with you… Especially with you…”

“It is decided then. Tomorrow, and the third day after, you will be spending your time with me.”

“…Just keep it a secret from Lia. And Vestia.”

“So, keep it a secret from everyone in general?”

“Well, if you insist.”

“I insist nothing.”

“…Otherwise, they might start asking me to spend another day with them too…”

“…But I can keep a secret or two.”

“Just like the old times?”

“…Just like the old times.”

“I still miss those days sometimes… back when everyone used to be together…”

“…Are you thinking about Aunt Ciena?”

“…A little.”

“Don’t worry. I am sure that she will be safe with the Serpia clan.”

“I know. It’s just that she that she should be worried sick about me. She never handled pressure well…”

“…I heard about what happened on the day of your Spirit Awakening Ritual. But like I said, don’t worry. Aunt Ironia will take good care of her.”

“…I hope so…”

“…Are you not worried about big sis Serena?”

“Worried? About big sis Serena? If anyone, it should be the Thralls who should be worried about her. Or have you forgotten how she took on tens of Enthralled Wanderers all by herself?”

“…From their description, it may sound like Enthralled Wanderers and Thralls are a little similar, but there is still a fundamental difference between their essence. And their strength. Besides, as a Thrall Domain, the Grand Chasm itself is a very dangerous place. Much more so than any Forbidden Area. Just the chaotic mix of Mysteries lingering in the air… In short, no matter how strong she is, even big sis Serena should be having a hard time in the Grand Chasm.”

“…Maybe,” Alnea said, staring into the distance. “But I trust her.”

“That is—

“I trust her, just as how she trusts me to keep Lia safe. Although we did not make a promise, we have an agreement. And no matter what happens, we are going to keep that agreement.”

“…You can be so stubborn at times,” Yuri said, shaking her head, before losing all the solemnity from her face for a wide smile. “But that is also your charming point.”

“…I would rather have my face be my charming point.”

“…You are not so handsome yet.”

“…I still have room to grow.”

“…That reminds me. How long has it been since I last gave you a haircut?”

“…Not long enough,” Alnea said, backing away before Yuri could get a hold of his hair.

“Really?” Yuri said, chuckling at how he hurried away from her, while following him step for step, dancing around the rest of the Star Seekers. “I think they have grown long—

“And I think it is time to wake everyone up.”

“…If nothing else, you sure have learned how to deal with other Wanderers in the past month.”

“…I am still not as good as you though,” Alnea said, ensuring to keep a hand’s distance from the girl planning the murder of his hair, while trying to keep his voice as low as he could. “And you do not count among other Wanderers anyway.”

“…Are you trying to deflect the topic by making me happy?”

“I am just stating the truth.”

“Then why are you running away from me?”

“…I am just trying to keep a watch on all sides.”

Yuri slowed down, before stopping altogether, and muffling her giggles. She could do nothing about the loneliness in her eyes though, or the relief on her face.

“…Are you alright?” Alnea said, walking back to her side, and holding her hands. “Is something—

“I am glad that you are growing up, Alnea.”

“Wha—

“A little sad that I am losing the naive little boy I once used to know.”

“I don’t—

“But relieved that you are finally growing into someone who can share my burdens.”

“…I still don’t understand what you are talking about…”

“Do you remember the Oath you took for me in the Night Canyons?”

“…There are so many Oaths that I took for you—

“Are you trying to show off?”

“…But I can guess which Oath you are talking about.”

“…I think it is time.”

“…Don’t make it sound so ominous.”

“Do you remember what I once told you about the burdens that I have to carry?”

“…Trusting the people—

“Not that part.”

“Leading armies—

“Do you see any armies here?”

“Dealing with Orthodoxies?”

“…I once thought that I would have to wait until you reach the True Rank, before… But the way you are now, I think you are ready to know a few more things about me.”

“But I already know everything about you.”

“Not everything…”

“But I have already seen your memories…”

“Which I let you see…. I am sorry… And trust me when I say that it hurst me too to keep some secrets from you. But there are some things about me which you are not yet ready to know.”

“…It doesn’t matter. Like I said, as long as it is something that bothers you, I will share it with you. And if you don’t share it with me, then you already know what might happen to me. You don’t want the Origin Sea to devour me, right?”

“…Threatening me with your own Roots… I have seen shameless people, but none as shameless as you.”

“Thank you for the complement.”

“…It was not a compliment.”

“I will take it anyway.”

“…Thank you.”

“…I don’t understand what you are talking about.”

“…Just, thank you,” Yuri said, quickly pulling him into a hug, and whispering into his ears, before pushing him away and turning towards the rest of the Star Seekers. “Let’s continue this conversation later. On our day out. For now, it would be best if you wake them up. I do not think that letting our injured teammates bake in the scorching heat of the black desert is a good idea.”

“…Fine. But this time, I want to know everything… At least everything that you can tell me, and no more philosophical answers.”

“…I may not be able to tell you everything, but I promise to tell you everything I can.”

“…That is all I need,” Alnea said, before following Yuri, and turning back towards his meditating teammates. “Now, let’s get back to the city, and complete this Black Desert Trial.”