Episode 11 – Setting Off (1/2)

”Does the bond influence feelings?” Kiel dreaded the answer

Elaru smirked ”Don't worry Your adoration and love for me are all your own”

He gave her an icy glare, but she just smiled innocently

Kiel exhaled slowly His anger had et used to her antics and learn to deal with the He had no choice

She see that he was used to, however, he was very much prepared to handle it He was Kiel Rroda! Quick as his middle name If he couldn't handle it, who could?

His eyes narrowed slightly as a battle plan flashed inside his head Two can play that game!

”Adoration and love? You see your own hidden desires onto me Could it be that you findsmile

It was i So he already knew the answer to that question And he had prepared an appropriate response regardless of what she said

If she said 'no', he would tell her that she can't lie to hi her asking ”Why lie? Are you embarrassed?”

If she said 'yes', he would continue to tease her with: ”I see So you show your affection by teasing the people you like I had no idea you liked me that much”

If she refused to respond, he would tease her with ”Why are you silent? Can't admit your attraction to me?”

Ideally, she would blush, which would give him more ammunition In any case, in future conversations, he could use her attraction to him as ammo

However, her reaction was, again, not so that he predicted

At first, she was surprised at his question Then she looked at hi him head to toe Then she walked up to hi, and exa that question, and his regret only deepened when she smiled and bluntly stated:

”Yeah You're really pretty! You have a face that would irls feel jealous!” Her response devoid of any intentional teasing stabbed Kiel right where it hurt

If she weren't sincere, it wouldn't have been an insult but rather just her teasing him

But since her words were earnest, it turned into an insult by truth! Critical hit!

Kiel had an undoubtedly ure ell-definedHis body was toned just the right araceful body of a feline (male feline!) rather than a body of a warrior

The problem was his face Kiel had one of those rare faces with refined and beautiful facial features, even more pronounced by his thick black eyelashes, full lips, and shi+ny, silky hair It was very popular with feive him a title of ”pretty boy”

While his face couldn't be irl's at this point, back when he was little, adults oftentheir ownhe was too pretty for a boy Which is why this unexpected hit hurt even s, he buried and ignored it

”Are you trying to pick a fight!?” And just like that, his mask evaporated without a trace It was harder and harder to act in front of her Harder and harder to keep calm She knew exactly how to push his buttons

”No, no! It was a compliment!” She defended herself, confused at his fiery reaction She really did mean it as a compliment

”In which world is that a co down at her ferociously

”All worlds! It is the highest kind of compliment! You have one of those rare pretty faces that could even pass off as a girl's with a bit of ht and attempted to correct herself ”Not that I think that you look like a female! You are undoubtedly male! It's just that you have that prettiness about you You knohat I mean?”

”Stop Talking” Kiel's eyebroitched in annoyance Elaru opened heroff

”Don't be ! Wonet, aren't you?”

She was about to continue talking before Kiel clasped his hand over her ot that he disliked physical contact with others

”Just… for the love of Origin… stop talking… before I end up killing you… ”

Elaru stopped talking and a few seconds of silence passed Kiel watched Elaru closely, trying to determine if it was safe to remove his hand

”You're pretty sensitive about your face, huh?” Kiel could hear Elaru's voice clearly, but he didn't feel her mouth move under his hand

Telepathy

That's right… he had no way to shut her up… he was doomed

Kiel frowned and removed his hand It was pointless, even if she didn't voice her thoughts out loud, she would just enter his head

Elaru chuckled at the doom written all over his face

”Personally, I don't care how you look Physical appearance is a fickle illusion that can easily be changed by ic”

That isn't a bad idea Kiel thought He should learn Light ic, which would allow hireat if he didn't attract so much unwanted attention

”But if it makes you feel better, yes, I think you are very attractive So don't be so sensitive about it If you hate people being attracted to you or jealous of you because of your appearance, just give them a taste of your cold and scary personality! Throw one of your signature icy glares and no one will bother you, male or female!”

Kiel threw her his signature icy glare as a response ”Cold and scary personality, eh? Are you inco them?”

”That's the one! Perfect! Just like that!” She gave his glare a thumbs up

”Doesn't seerowled

Elaru chuckled h at thatto listen

Kiel sighed in resignation, his initial intent long forgotten How troubling This woman is too difficult to deal with

◈ Meanwhile in the Purge Headquarters ◈

Nelaira got up frole pillow, a blanket, and a futon She stretched her lih her whole body She briefly looked at her own reflection on the cold metal floor She looked just as bad as she felt

She didn't feel like doing anything She felt too weak to do anything besides sleep And yet,no matter how much she slept, she never felt rested

But she couldn't just sleep She had a mission that she had to accomplish no matter what

Nelaira sloalked up to the locked metal doors, which were the only way in and out of the metal box Every step was harder than the last

When she reached the door she coughed painfully a few tirater She felt lucky that her blood no longer flowed, otherwise she would have spewed it all over herself

She raised her hand and knocked on the door as hard as she could Her fists felt numb, and she didn't knohether it was because she knocked hard, or because she was too weak Dull thuds resonated in the air They weren't as loud as she intended them to be

There was no response

Nelaira rolled her eyes and then winced, regretting the movement

She ic, but her presence sensing capabilities were just fine ”I know you are out there” She was surprised by the raspiness of her own voice Her long ears twitched painfully because of the unpleasant sound She licked her cracked lips, hoping thaton the ears

She didn't need to wait for long before an exasperated, deep voice responded: ”What do you want?”

She went straight to the point ”I want to talk to your er”

”What gives you the qualifications to talk to the er? Should I bother him every ti tone

Nelaira turned her back to the door and rested against it

”What gives me the qualifications is the fact that I auard Noould a dying person need a bodyguard?”

The person snorted ”I auard”

Nelaira smiled ”I know exactly who you are and why you are stationed here My point is, if I didn't hold soned you to keep watch over me Would he?”

The man didn't respond

Nelaira waited a while before continuing ”Hey, it is your loss I wanted to propose a tireat benefit to hiet word of it sooner or later But if he hears of it too late, will you be able to take the responsibility for not notifying him of it?” She did her best to sound persuasive

”Shut up” The rowled

Nelaira didn't speak anymore A small smirk sneaked onto her face

He would definitely come to see her soon

◈ Beyd◈

If Kiel was going to go to Ashar, he needed to pack Not just for his trip to the exa that he would need for his stay in the Ashar university dorms He had no doubt that he would pass the exah mana at his disposal

Kiel decided to not waste any more time and took Elaru with him to his mansion He initially wanted to leave her in the forest to wait for him, but he didn't know the distance limit that their bond could currently handle And he didn't think that he had enough time to test it The exams were of utmost priority

Kiel and Elaru approached the ate That way no one would have seen theether except the servants

Rrodae canyon rock as the rest of the houses in the upper Beyd

Mana Wyrms in all kind of poses were carved out in the fraular shape The rock the house wasvariation in color, which were ic to create beautiful shapes that truly resembled real Mana Wyrms Everywhere on the walls, hundreds of wyr in perfect harrew froe contrast e wyrms stand out even more

Mana Wyrlowed in the dark They came in soft pastel colors, usually shades of blue and purple Mana Wyrms had son, and long tails that looked like they were made out of silken sheets or drapes Not only did it resemble silk in appearance and behavior, it was also silky to the touch They slithered through the air, drawn to places or creatures with abundant mana

Because of their ethereal nature, they could not be da ic around the the spells

Mana Wyr the Rroda fao, when they were first established, choosing a Mana Wyrrace, and refines them above all rest However, currently, Kiel found it quite ironic that his fanature animal was a mana leech because that is precisely what he was noyr on Elaru's mana

The mansion was undoubtedly beautiful, and it was clear that the fah their veins Elaru examined it with interest, but her face contained no ahich most commoners would have expressed had they seen the exquisite mansion

Dneth was born and raised in Beyd as a servant in the Rroda mansion She had never left Beyd in all 63 years of her life

She had been in charge of house chores even before master Kiel first arrived at the o And in all of those years, e surprise as the one he gave her this day

She didn't expect ular working day, so he was supposed to be out questing until the evening

If he caiven her such a shock It wasn't hard to accept, it happened from time to time

What she did have trouble accepting was that he didn't return home alone

Though he had ht a friend hoht of this mansion as his home in the first place

Dneth wasn't sure if nize the fact, but she always thought that he was very lonely The fact that he didn't want to have an emotional connection to this place, didn't mean he didn't need one

It was because she knehi, that she was so shocked to see uest And what shocked her even uest

Although master Kiel was very popular with the ladies, there had never been a lady that caught his eye So naturally, he had never brought a lady home before

Until now

The fourth surprise that made Dneth al next to, was the appearance of the girl She was an elibu! Dneth had only ever seen pictures of elibu in books She had never seen one in person, or from this close up

Dneth had to urge herself, repeatedly, to look away froirl It was iirl was an exotic beauty with lush curves, s on the left side of her body

Several noble ladies had visited thisthe sae

Was this girl a noble? Dneth's eyes narrowed into a scrutinizing gaze

The girl looked to be in a good racefully Her movements had a certain refine fro to the mansion It was different There was a certain air about it that Dneth couldn't quite define The air carried power, but not frightening or cold power, it was soely warm and alive

Dneth could understand why e person Men liked exotic and unique things, not to avelook and she noticed he looked messier than usual

Strangely, even though ruffled, he see than usual It was as if he returned

Realization dawned on her

Both master Kiel and his lady friend looked a bit ruffled As if they had been rolling on the forest floor

Dneth bit her lip to suppress her surprised gasp