"Will you give a chance?"
"Eh?"
Alia found herself perplexed. She was already used to Brandon teasing her.
But this…
This took the cake.
Several thoughts erged within her thoughts. Before she realized it, she felt her face starting to heat up.
He was close.
Too close.
She could hear the sound of his breathing right close to her ear.
Chance.
What kind of chance?
Was he talking about—
"A chance to repay you."
Oh.
So that's what he ant.
"...I told you."
She shook her head.
"Just sit back and relax."
"Heh. It was worth a try."
Brandon pulled away and shrugged.
He laid down on the grass with his hands behind his head.
Alia turned back around and fixed her attention towards the stew.
"Haaa…"
She breathed out a sigh.
'Why does he keep teasing …'
She found herself rubbing her right ear.
***
The stew finished and the group enjoyed the al.
"Thanks, Alia. Food's good as always."
"Thank you, Alia."
"Thank you."
Brandon, Carl, and Aurelia gave their thanks.
Alia nodded in appreciation with a smile plastered on her face.
"Mhm. You're welco."
They sat together, enjoying each other's company, faces illuminated by the flickering campfire.
The night was serene, with the moon hanging high and the stars twinkling brightly in the clear sky.
Right in the middle of their al, Aurelia suddenly stopped and placed her al down.
Noticing her sudden deanor, Brandon asked.
"What's wrong, Aurelia?"
"...Soone."
They imdiately understood what Aurelia ant.
She sensed soone's presence.
Rustle… Rustle…
Just at the right ti, the bushes suddenly rustled.
"....!"
They imdiately settled the bowls down and stood up. Brandon and Alia positioned themselves in front of Carl and Aurelia.
Aurelia clung tightly to Brandon's pant leg.
Brandon gazed down and flashed her a warm smile, ruffling her lilac hair to ease her tension.
Aurelia closed her eyes and pressed her head on the cloth of his pants, bracing for the worse to co.
The little elven girl was clearly shaken.
All of a sudden…
"Hua… help."
A man erged from the bushes, crawling down on the cold hard ground.
"...."
"...."
"...."
They were speechless.
But regardless, Aurelia was still alard.
There was clearly sothing off about the man.
Brandon kept his guard up.
Mana coalesced in his palms.
"...Wa–ter."
The man suddenly stamred.
"...."
Should he help out?
Brandon turned his head slightly and looked at Aurelia. She looked back at him and shook her head.
He then turned towards Alia who gave him a conflicted look. Eventually, she nodded her head.
They collectively agreed to leave the man alone.
They turned around, but soon halted as the man called out to them.
"...Wa–it."
Brandon looked at Alia and nudged his chin, signaling for them to go ahead.
He could at least hear out the man before abandoning him.
At that mont, Carl, Aurelia, and Alia went ahead.
Staring at their departing backs, Brandon turned back around and looked at the man who was reaching his hand out to him.
"Haaa…."
He breathed out a sigh.
He approached the man.
"Yes?"
"Please… give… wa–tah."
"What do I get in return?"
Brandon narrowed his eyes.
Whatever plagued Aurelia earlier, Brandon had to at least listen to her.
"Th–is."
Clink—
"...."
The man suddenly let down a sack in front of Brandon, making a clink sound.
Most probably coins.
"Alright."
He could only agree.
A sack of coins for water?
Why wouldn't he?
"Open your mouth."
"Aaa—"
"...."
Brandon sighed.
Extending his hand close to his mouth, mana started to gather in his palms and water started dripping down, entering the man's mouth.
"...."
Brandon averted his gaze during the entire process.
"Mmh."
A strange noise escaped the man's mouth.
"Nngh."
What the fuck.
"Mmhh."
Holy shit.
"Okay, that's enough."
"Th–anks."
The man wiped his mouth with his hand.
The man slowly got up, supporting his body with his hands.
Brushing off the dirt and dust from his shirt, the man looked at Brandon and flashed a wide grin.
"I'm a man of my words. Take the coins."
"...Okay."
He didn't seem like a bad guy at all.
Brandon scanned his features. Navy blue hair and red eyes. But the most noticeable feature was the scar on his brow.
Kind of badass.
Brandon approached the sack of coins and clutched it.
"I'm going now."
Brandon turned around.
"Wait, wait."
"Hm?"
He stopped in his steps again and turned around slightly.
"As my savior, you must tell your na. If you ever need help, I'm one call away."
"...."
One call away?
He didn't plan on giving the man his number in the first place…
Guess an alias would do.
"It's Cid."
"Hm… Cid, okay. I'm Lumian, nice to et you."
He gestured his hand for a handshake and Brandon accepted it.
"Is that all? I'll be going now."
"Wait…"
Again?
"What?"
"Uh, I'm actually quite lost. Are you guys planning on leaving the forest?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, great. Can I join you guys, just until we exit the forest?"
"Uh…."
Brandon pondered for a while.
He rembered Aurelia's expressions earlier. It seed like she didn't want the man around.
"Actually, we'll be camping here for months before we leave."
"Oh. I'm actually in a hurry… thanks anyways."
The man turned around and waved his hand.
He started walking back and Brandon walked ahead as well.
"Ah, wait. Your number?"
"Uh…."
He gave a fake number.
"Saved. Alright, see you around, Cid."
"Sure, you too, Lumian."
"Brandon?"
Alia's voice suddenly reached his ears from behind.
"Ah, Alia. What are you doing here?"
"I ca to check up on you."
She leaned her head and looked at Lumian who was about to leave.
"Everything settled?"
"Yep."
"Okay, let's go."
"Alia… hmm…"
But yet again, they halted in their steps as Lumian suddenly spoke.
"Yes?"
Alia asked.
"Do you know ?"
"...."
It was then.
The atmosphere suddenly changed around Lumian.
Brandon and Alia's alarm bells rang.
"Alia Constantine, huh?"
"Yes, that's . Do you know ?"
"Blonde hair and blue eyes. Imperial Army. General Alia Constantine."
All of a sudden, blazing dark–purple embers appeared around the Lumian's hand and a sword materialized shortly after.
"....!"
"....!"
Brandon realized.
This man was trouble.
He didn't notice it earlier, but the mana around Lumian suddenly shot up.
Swoosh—!
Lumian instantly appeared before them and Brandon had no ti to react. All he could do was leap backwards.
Lumian was fast.
Extrely fast.
His eyes weren't able to keep up at all.
Lumian's sword swung vertically, aiming for his arm.
"Shit."
Again.
He couldn't react.
The swing was way too fast.
His arm.
It was about to be severed.
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