TF Chapter 74 An Impulse

The forest was teeming with life, with most of them being critters or small animals that were weaker than us.

It was beautifully dark, the sparse light painting a gloomy picture, not to mention the silent eerieness, only broken by the ocassional sway of the foliage.

We didn't particularly try to stay silent, as we had already learned that sound wasn't something the creatures here had a sensory organ for.

Danny was yapping away, complaining about the mud, the undergrowth that was trying to eat us, and the tree roots that snaked every which way, requiring us to either crouch, or jump over to move on.

But I was in my very own world at this moment, enjoying this time while serendipitously stealing glances at Bora. Her movements were smooth, probably having adapted to the ecology of this planet smoothly. And she also had some knowledge that was useful to us, like how to spot those carnivorous plants that liked to hide, though, that was apparently useless to Danny as the guy avoided the areas as if he had already known about them in advance!

A critter, centipede-looking in design tried to get the jump on me from atop the trees only to be burnt into a crisp the moment I flared my spiritual domain, having activated my powers to a great extent in an instant. At first I had thought that control had been beyond me, yet now I was surprised to see that I could even keep the temperature constant, without elevating or lowering it, a happy discovery!

It had also allowed me to pick up the other traits of my intent that I had failed to register the first time, like the faint gravitational pull that appeared from the atoms in the presence of my spiritual powers.

"Halt! There is a carnivorous tuber some meters in front of us. You see that dark thorn-like spike? Let's take the long way around."

"Why? Can't we kill it?" Danny's voice contained a hint of taunting.

"I managed to get a glimpse of its full form during one of those times it rained...and trust me on this, you wouldn't want to get entangled with it." She answered with seriousness.

"Let's take to the trees for now."

I took the lead and scaled a nearby tree until I found a suitable branch that could hold my weight.

Many organisms made the forest their home, but plants were the ones that were on top of the food chain here. Even without intelligence, they were a force to be reckoned with. Underestimating any would only lead to death.

"I know that it has been late of me but...thank you for taking care of me before."

Taking the chance that Bora had followed me up this tree, I spoke.

"Its what anyone would have done, there is no need to thank me."

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She was mostly right, but I was simply in the mood for a chat with her. To get to know her better.

During my youth, I would have probably been overwhelmed trying to speak to a beautiful girl like Bora. That wasn't anyone's fault though. It was what youth did to nerds like us. The handsome and outgoing guys didn't even need to do anything for beauties to throw themselves at them.

It was lamentable, yet the truth. Anyway, now I was past those years, now in the prime of my life. Even though I had never had a girlfriend, I wasn't at that age where I had to fumble around and act all weak-kneed.

This was either going to be the beginning of my love story, or the crashing of my hopes, but it was far better than sitting on the sidelines and watching her being taken by the next charmer that comes along.

"Bora, I would love to know more about you."

I spoke while leaping from this branch to the one on the next tree.

"What brought this on?" She threw me a guarded look.

"Huh? Nothing in particular, just trying to get to know you a bit better." Now, flustered was the closest description to that which was raging within me, but I made very very sure to keep my expression almost neutral!

"Why?"

"...Bora, due to certain circumstances that befell me, I now find you attractive and would love to try dating...with your agreement of course."

What did I just say? Did I just let my thoughts spew out of my mouth? Now this was heading in the wrong direction!

I panicked, with my body threatening to escape my control, almost slipping from the branches, or leaping with too much energy.

Seconds passed as we moved, with me in the middle, while Danny had a sizable lead over us. I was sure though that he had at least heard our conversation.

"Dating...I have never thought of having any sort of romantic relation with a guy."

"Really now! But do I have a chance of any sort with this, or should I just drop it?" My hopes had sunk to the pit of my stomach with her words, so this question was just me trying to grasp a chance.

But with the way those words had been uttered, it seemed like romance had never been on her table.

"I object! Senior Nat! There is no way I will allow something like romance to get in the way of your ascension!"

Danny shouted, slowing down enough to match our pace. He was the very picture of agitation, with eyes glaring into Bora with the intent to sear her to death.

"Danny...!" Her teeth audibly grinded with anger taking over her very features.

"What the hell are you talking about? This isn't related in any way to you! This is between the two of us!"

"Bora, I don't really give a damn whether you like him or not. Or whether he likes you or not! That can happen after he achieves greatness!"

"Danny! Do you want me to kill you? No, I am going to start dating Nathaniel! What are you going to do about it?!"

Even with her agreeing to it, I didn't feel happy in any way. This was simply because she had been coerced into agreeing. I didn't like that...at all.

"I refuse. A relationship shouldn't be started just because of some rage-fuelled words."

I glared at Danny when saying that. Seriously, the guy was simply racking up points of dislike from me.

"No, Nathaniel. You have to agree. If you don't...you will forever lose the chance of ever courting me."

Those purple eyes of hers locked with mine, a challenge within, plus the confidence that there was no way that I would choose otherwise.

This woman! She was taunting me! Danny had just triggered her competitive and unyielding side! I was just the collateral damage, the chess piece on the board while the two were the players.

"Little girl! Are you really going to enter a relationship with me? Do know that I want to do all the intimate things couples do. Are you up for the challenge?"

My voice became deep. She had just provoked me. Plus that cocky expression on her face had just raised her attractiveness to a whole nother level.

I stopped on a branch and pulled her into my embrace, our eyes meeting, metaphorical sparks clashing between us with intensity. No one was willing to back down!

"Heh!" I scoffed at her, wondering how long it was going to take before she wanted out of my arms.

Though, there was a bit of a problem that was cropping up as her bouncy body was within my embrace, I was getting aroused!