12 「Journey」 (1/2)

Their moment interrupted.

The smell of iron blood, the sound of crushing bone. Ogres and Goblins crying out for war.

Cipher and Ninya rushed and made their way up to the wagon, only to catch the glimpses of Momon slaying the monsters single handedly. A single strike took down an ogre and another strike took out several goblins.

The Swords of Darkness were only seeing a mere fraction of Momonga's powers, but this was his prowess with a sword as a perfect warrior.

Still flushed in the face, she stood there breathing heavily, letting her shoulders move up and down as she took in the scene. While her friends had taken up defensive positions, they were hardly required.

They had found themselves two new powerful comrades next to having Cipher on their side.

”He must have the power of an Adamantite adventurer!” Peter exclaimed seeing this massacre of monstrous creatures who had originally planned to prey on them.

Cipher just stood there with Ninya, watching as the plains of green grass were painted with scent of fresh blood and death.

Reaching over, he gently grasped onto Ninya's wrist, 「revitalize」, was the only spell he cast. Immediately she was relieved of the fatigue of the sudden rush to get close to her friends. Yet her face flushed a deep red feeling his hand entangled in her own.

He was being bold as he toyed with her fingers.

Her heart was thumping through her veins and he could feel it, it was as if he was holding it in his hands. Cipher licked his lips slightly to the feeling.

Her hand was so warm and it was becoming sweaty and clammy. It was just like he imagined it just moments ago. She was becoming so nervous, he could only chuckle quietly.

Peter could see this from the corner of his eye and he raised a brow slightly. He wasn't sure what he was seeing. Was this guy into men or something? Why was Ninya blushing so much? They looked nervous... Was he hurting Ninya? Questions were going through his mind, only for his thoughts to return to the action. He rested his eyes on the retreating monsters and Momon going off to chase them down. ”Head them off!” Peter'd shout as he, Dyne and Lukrut went to rush after them.

”Cipher, Ninya, you guard the wagon and Mister Nphirea!”

He nodded slightly as he casually hid their hands in her cloak, behind her back until they were gone.

With a shaky breath, she slowly removed her hand from his grasp and stared up at him. ”Why?”

”Why?” Cipher blinked several times when she asked this question. He was familiar with it and it bothered him. This question was impossible. Why would one love or feel attraction for another?

”Why... Why do you like me?”

Nphirea turned his head to look at the two and raised a brow. ”Huh?”

”Pay attention to the Wagon,” Cipher ordered the young man, pointing at him without even giving him a glance. He then let his hand drop to his side. Smiling at her, seeing her meek and confused expression.

”I like you because of your bravery. How you carry yourself. The pale complexion of your skin. The shortness of your hair. Every bit of you, is why I like you. Especially for the kindness of which is your heart.” Cipher said with a voice as smooth as he could possibly make, he could have sworn his voice faded in and out or even cracked from the emotional pressure.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

It didn't bother him though. He wanted to just let her understand. Even though he had only known her for just about ten days now.

Ninya gulped hearing him. This was a confession and he was making it. Her heart was drumming so hard now that her chest and shoulders quaked. Her vision was even throbbing at this point.

He wanted to pull her in, reel her in like the catch of the day. Take her by the waist and just hold her. To feet her head against his chest. To run his hand through her hair. So many things, so many thoughts.

While she could only imagine him doing those things, her eyes bobbed about his facial features. Thinking about what a kiss would feel like. How would his lips feel? Warm? Hot? Soft? Chapped?

She poked the tip of her tongue out briefly before swallowing hard.

Nphirea who was watching this whole thing go on was blushing himself. He was imagining himself saying the same thing to Enri. Oh how he wanted to be able to protect his crush off in the Carne Village. Though at the same time he himself was confused, was Ninya a male or female? Was Cipher into men? He was getting the same thoughts a Peter in that relation.

Without a second thought, Cipher lightly grasped the back of her head and brought her closer to himself. It was a brief embrace as he lightly pressed his lips against the top of her head. He couldn't help but smile as he subtly took in her scent.

She smelled like the hand soap from the Inn, and her hair smelled like the bedsheets she laid in.

With his chest virtually in her face, she could take in his musky scent that had a hint of citric to it. He smelled of a lemon-flower mixture. Part of her wanted to bury her face into the metal armor, to feel how cold it was compared to the air that surrounded them.

Would she stick to him like a tongue on ice?

”What are you guys doing?” Peter asked with a slight chuckle as their attentions immediately snapped to him. He was holding his arm, rubbing it slightly as if caressing a bruise.

The two bounced apart, about a complete foot.

”N-n-nothing!” Squeaked Ninya, almost flailing her arms about urgently.

Cipher on the other hand was wide eyed, ”Nothing at all. Ninya was just feeling a bit off, so I was checking his temperature. All's normal.”

Peter blinked a few times, not trusting either explanation, but simply shrugged it off with his iconic brand of smile. Bright and charismatic. ”Whatever,” he dismissed it and turned his head to watch the others returning. ”Lets set up camp here tonight.”

”Sounds like a good idea.” Dyne said as he was cleaning his mace with a piece of scrapped rag.

”I haven't slept a night under the stars in a long while,” Cipher commented as he looked to the sky. It was still daylight out, but he thought it'd be nice to learn more about the constellations. Or at least imagine them.

”Oh?” Momon was interested in the idea.

”Lets get a camp fire ready and going!” Lukrut cheered, ”I'm pretty sure Cipher brought some good stuff in that basket for a night like this.”

Cipher just looked over at him when he said this and tilted his head to the side.

”What'd you bring?” Ninya blinked a few times looking at him.

”Preserves made from tart berries and various fruits, some bagels, along with some rice and exotic seasoned fish sandwiches with tomato and lettuce.” It was clear that he had originally brought the food as a picnic for just him and Ninya. Though there was plenty enough to go around.

Nabe blinked a few times hearing about the food. Her eyes were centered on him for a few moments before looking to the basket. Momon wasn't going to eat, so she didn't think she would.

”And we brought soup as well, so we'll have plenty to eat tonight.” Dyne assured everyone.

…

Later that night, they were all situated around the camp fire a few meters from a tall tree, a tree which Cipher was seated upon and watching them. His eyelids were closed so much that it looked as if he was sleeping combined with the shallow breaths he took through his nose.

However he wasn't sleeping at all. Instead, he was watching the backs of their heads as the flames flickered. He could hear them talking, they were having a good time.

This alone made him smile in his supposed sleep.