45 The Secret of the Saké of Courage (2/2)

Luke sighed as he looked at the drunk woman in his arms. Her fair face was flushed red because of the alcohol. Her eyelids drooped seductively contrasting with the goofy smile in her lips.

Surprisingly, Chalice took Luke's face in her palms and held it dangerously near hers. Luke could only stare dumbly at her.

”Hikariii, say, hic, what was I thinking in the past? My head, hic, must have been filled with water. Hic. My Luke is obviously, hic, a thousand times more dashing than that, hic, pimp of a prince. Hic. This is a man worthy, hic, of this lady chasing after him.”

Hikari chuckled jubilantly at Chalice's slurring words. She surmised Luke must be in a very uncomfortable situation right now. And Hikari would gladly help Chalice put him in an even more precarious situation.

”You should take her to bed. Both of you needs the rest. Aside from the fact, that you can't possibly travel out with her like that.”

Luke breathed out and took Chalice's hands from where it is holding. He then carried her princess style.

”Where can she rest and sleep?” Luke asked the priestess. Hikari motioned to him the guest room. Luke unhesistatingly walked to the direction Hikari pointed at. Chalice was his first priority. Halfway there, however, he paused and turned to the priestess.

”Thank you for finding and keeping her here. I owe you one.” The priestess smiled her mysterious smile at his thanks before she answered.

”There's no need for thanks. She was meant to come here. Just as you were meant to stumble into this place back then. Just as you were meant to find her here today. It is all predestined, my friend.”

Luke shook his head as he tried to settle down the squirming woman in his arms.

”Even if that's the case. You still have my thanks.” He insisted.

Hikari turned her head to the man as she heaved a helpless sigh.

”Alright then. If you truly want to thank me, take good care of her. She's now my friend as well.” Hikari directed her blank, silver eyes to Luke's icy blue ones and spoke again.

”Luke, your light has more to her than meets the eye. She flickered, ceased to be, and came back engulfed in a darkness rooted deeply in her soul. She's strong and she's fully capable of saving herself from it. But she doesn't have a reason to. Save her, Luke. Save her from herself. Be that reason.”

Luke was rigid at Hikari's words. But he didn't reply to it and merely nodded once. He then walked towards the room without looking back to the priestess again.

Hikari savored the sweet wine in her mouth. A naughty smile suddenly slipping out of her lips. All that she said to Luke has their purpose of course. They were matter of facts. She was serious about that. However, the tense statement was all but forgotten when she remembered the drunken girl in the man's arms.