"Carl, stay here."
She urged and Carl nodded in response.
Alia abruptly rushed towards Brandon who leaned on the wall, unconscious.. His mana lashed out like whips.
Rumble… Rumble…
The cave shook intensely. The whip—like mana violently lashed towards Alia.
"Ahk…!"
The mana struck Alia—who raised her arms to guard herself. A sharp pang rang in her body, and a burn—like mark etched on her arms.
All of a sudden, Brandon's mouth twitched while his eyes were closed.
"Motherfucker."
Oh, my.
"….?"
Alia was stupefied.
Was he unconscious or not?
"Ahkk!"
The mana attacked her arm once again. Gritting her teeth, Alia pressed forward, keeping her guard up.
Rumble… Rumble…
"Kuhh!"
Her clothes started tear. The fur coat flew back as the fabric attaching it around her neck was cut loose.
"Go fucking—Khhh… Kill yourself you extra bastard!"
Oh, no.
Extra what now?
Brandon had quite the sharp vocabulary.
Alia persevered. Visible burn marks appeared on her cheeks, arms, waist, thigh.
All over her body.
Finally, she had neared the unconscious Brandon.
Alia had no idea how Ciel was able to do this everyday for nine months.
The thought seed absurd.
"Fucking bi—Nghh…"
Before he could finish, Alia covered his mouth.
"…."
But his mouth continued moving and she felt a wet sensation on her hand.
"…."
"Mnghhh."
He continued.
"Stop talking!"
Alia urged.
By now, her hand was wet from Brandon's saliva.
Alia shook her head. She could clean her hands later.
Extending her palms forward, magic power began to seep, crawling from her arms towards her hand.
Her hand emitted a bright glow and she pressed her palm against Brandon's chest.
The mana started pouring inside Brandon. She could trace where the mana was going.
The mana lood inside him. Closing her eyes, she focused on its directions.
"Nmfff…."
"Shut up."
According to Ciel, she had to pour her mana all the way inside his core to purify it.
Rumble… Rumble…
The cave continued shaking. Debris started falling from the ceiling and cracks started form on the walls.
Alia gritted her teeth. She started losing strength in each passing second of the purifying process.
She felt her mana drain at a rapid pace and her complexions were starting to pale.
But this was for Brandon.
"Ahhk…!"
She clenched her hand, tightly gripping Brandon's shirt. She gritted her teeth.
"….How long is this gonna take!"
She scread. In a few more seconds, she knew her mana would be drained to the core.
In the first place, she never had much to give. She used too much of it during the fight.
This was all to stabilize Brandon, and for Carl to safely enter the cave.
Gradually, the whip—like mana began to stabilize as it started seeping back inside Brandon. The cave stopped shaking along the process.
"Akhhh….!"
For what felt like a century, it seed like she had finally stabilized Brandon. But for Alia, her mana core was drained to the brim.
With pale complexions and almost no strength, she slumped down on the unconscious Brandon's legs.
It was quite uncomfortable with the way his knees were positioned.
With such thoughts, Alia crawled upwards and laid her head on Brandon's chest.
"Haa…. H-haaa…."
She took deep heavy breaths. Her chest heaved up and down as she closed her eyes.
"Haa…. Carl…."
Carl imdiately turned back around. His expressions seed to say 'Yes?'
"Haa…. You can go…. inside."
At her instructions, Carl hurriedly entered the cave and leaned back on the wall.
"Haaa…."
Taking more heavy breaths, Alia lightly bumped Brandon's chest.
She pursed her lips.
"Idiot."
He was an idiot for fighting in such conditions. If he wasn't fine, he should've urged the group to go and rest up sowhere instead of focusing on his quest.
Was he a masochist…?
Alia was genuinely concerned.
***
It was dark.
All he could see was darkness.
Sharp pangs rang inside his body, tornting him. But regardless, he was well used to the pain.
"Khh….!"
He wasn't.
All sorts of pain rang inside his body. But Brandon couldn't do a single thing to help himself.
He couldn't feel his arms or legs. He knew he was unconscious.
It was the sa feeling back when he was comatosed.
It was then.
[Integration Process: 11%]
"….!"
And it was the sa as back then.
The integration process only increased when Alia was the one purifying his mana core.
"Once again…."
She was saving him.
He truly felt greatf—
"Akh!"
The after—effects of [Mana Burst], and his mana core's instability gripped him yet again.
"Fatherless fu—"
***
Two days had passed since then.
Alia had fully recovered her mana.
But Brandon….
He was still in deep slumber.
It was a good thing that she had stocked up on her own food supplies as well. Since she didn't have the ans to start a fire like Brandon, she bought food supplies that were readily edible.
In the first place, she had no survival skills.
For two days, she offered her food to feed Carl. At the sa ti, she fed the sleeping Brandon with food that was easily digestible and didn't require any chewing.
Unlike back then, it was quite lonely.
Carl would only speak if he was spoken to. But he wouldn't start any conversations.
But regardless, Alia tried to liven up the mood.
It was really… lonely.
The goblins were gone.
Brandon was unconscious.
She had nothing else to do but entertain Carl and wait for Brandon to wake up.
As if her thoughts were seemingly read… It was then.
"Hua…."
Brandon's mouth moved and a strange sound reached her ears.
Alia imdiately turned around and scanned.
She pursed her lips.
"Brandon?"
His eyes began to twitch.
"Uhmil…. Alia?"
"Yes, it's . How are you feeling?"
A smile escaped her lips. Finally, good news after two days.
She rushed towards him and leaned close.
"….I think I'm fi—Khhh…"
It seed like he tried to move as his legs twitched. But seeing the expression he was making spoke enough.
His body must've been aching all over. Brandon had told her back then about his skills.
The one with the most severe after—effects was his skill called [Mana Burst], which would decline his body after overexertion.
The thought was crazy. Unlike him, she didn't have much skills.
In the first place, her skills didn't place such a burden on her.
"I'm fine. Just need rest."
Brandon clenched his face and assured her.
Alia's expressions contorted into genuine concern.
***
Next day.
His body was still fatigued. But he could finally move around normally.
[Integration Process: 20%]
For each integration process with Alia, it would shoot up by ten percent.
"So I have to do this eight more tis…."
The thought sent chills down his spine.
But the good news was….
[DEF: C ]
His defense stat had increased.
Looking up, the towering figure of the crystal tree registered in his peripheral vision.
He had co to realize that there was no way for them to break the tree no matter what they did.
They would have to return in another ti.
It was too risky with Carl being here.
With such thoughts, Brandon decided.
"Let's go."
The two nodded at his words and Brandon led the way.
It was ti to leave the forest and escort Carl back to his village.
If….
….There was even still a village to return to.
Reviews
All reviews (0)