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**Leticia's Elentals Affinity:
Water: C
Fire: E
Lighting: E
Earth: E
Wind: E
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A/N: I can't add the status window atm, sorry.
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—Boom!
A deafening explosion reverberated throughout the space and the ground began to shake violently.
"W-what is happening?"
Leticia tightly grasped Adrian's arm.
"I don't—"
Unexpectedly, the floor beneath them cracked and they plumted downward, Leticia's voice echoed in the darkness.
"Kyaaa!!"
Noticing the Mana swirling around the area, Adrian swiftly caught the girl with one hand.
He then created several earth plates imitating a zigzag stairway leading downward and conjured a wisp of fire to light their way.
—Splash!
Water jumped around as he landed, soaking his shoes and Adrian could feel the dampness seeping into his socks.
"Haa… haa…"
Leticia gasped uncontrollably as adrenaline surged through her body.
Adrian set her down, and as a sudden realization struck her, Leticia faced him and urgently bellow.
"We shouldn't be here!"
Adrian furrowed his brows, confused by her sudden outburst.
Before he could ask for an explanation, Adrian turned sideways upon sensing nurous presences coming at them at rapid speed.
—Splash! —Splash! —Splash!
Imdiately, he seized Leticia's hand and took off running.
Nevertheless, Adrian couldn't help but feel relief.
Thanks to the Elixir she had given him; the pain in his body had subsided slightly.
"Kiiieeekkk!!"
"Kiieeekkk!!"
The mont the Chiras' screeching echoed throughout the space, Adrian understood what Leticia ant.
"They dumped the monster here!"
She explained as they ran.
Well, Adrian was so focused on the man he was about to fight that he didn't pay much attention to what was truly happening in the room.
Peeking over his shoulder, he saw nurous children chasing them.
Black veins protruded from their skin, their sclerae were dyed black, their irises had turned red and so of their limbs had transford into Chiras.
"Kkieekkk!!"
"Kkiieekk!!"
Their screeches grew louder and more nacing with each passing mont.
Knowing that they couldn't outrun the Chiras forever, Adrian let go of her hand and pushed her forward.
"Keep running."
Leticia stumbled but quickly regained her footing and faced him.
"N–no! I don't want to!"
She vehently protested, but Adrian had no ti to respond to her nagging.
Ignoring her, Adrian pivoted to face the Chiras and unleashed a powerful gust of wind to create so distance between them.
"Kkkieekk!!"
"Kiiieekkk!!"
The creatures screeched in frustration as they stumbled backward, colliding with each other before falling to the ground.
—Splash! —Splash! —Sash!
But their montary setback didn't last long.
A hoard of Chiras from behind jumped in and sprinted toward them, stepping on their own kind in haste to catch their prey.
Since they were incomplete Chiras, their hearts shouldn't crystallize yet.
Soon, two magic circles appeared on either side of the boy and released volleys of wind bullets aid directly at their hearts.
—Bang! —Bang! —Bang!
Black blood sprayed into the air like a macabre display of fireworks as the bullets ripped through their chests, shattering their crystallized hearts.
"Kkkieekk!!"
"Kiiieekkk!!"
The putrid sll of blood perated the air, the Chiras writhing in agony on the ground before eventually turning motionless.
—Splash! —Splash! —Splash!
One by one, they fell into the water, but there seed to be no end to their numbers.
"Tsk."
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Adrian cast another powerful gust of wind.
"Kkkieekk!!"
"Kiiieekkk!!"
With a deafening wail, the Chiras hurled backward, crashing into their comrades like a tidal wave before slamming into the ground.
—Splash! —Splash! —Splash!
Wasting no more ti, Adrian swiftly turned around and grabbed Leticia's hand, and started to sprint.
Nonetheless, attempting to outrun the Chira was futile given their remarkable speed.
And just like Adrian had anticipated, the creatures began to close in on them after just a few minutes of sprinting.
"Kkiieekk!!"I think you should take a look at
Sensing sothing hurtled at him, Adrian looked up and a Chira was seen hovering.
Lifting his hand, Adrian shot up a wind bullet.
—Splash!
Sensing another one approaching at his left flank, Adrian shoved Leticia away and swung his sword.
—Splat!
Adrian could feel the cold blood splatter on his face as he delivered a blow to the chira.
The creature stumbled backward, its chest ripped open, revealing a crimson, glowing heart.
Covering his blade with Fire Elental, Adrian took a step forward and plunged his fiery sword directly into its heart.
"Kkiieekk!!"
As another creature ran toward him from his right side, Adrian kicked the Chira's abdon to retrieve his weapon, then spun his body to the right along with his sword.
The boy thrust his weapon into the monster's heart, sending its body plumting below.
—Splash!
"Kkiieekk!!"
Adrian summoned a powerful gust of wind in an attempt to create so distance.
Nevertheless, the chiras on the backline persisted, leaping and rushing towards him with ferocity.
Adrian spotted three Chiras charging toward him.
Without delay, he fired three wind bullets aid straight at their hearts.
—Splash! —Splash! —Splash!
As a shadow lood over him, Adrian sprang into action, swiftly evading it.
He deftly drove his sword into the creature's heart just as it landed, causing it to collapse to the ground.
—Splash!
Sensing sothing hurtling towards him from his left side, Adrian quickly fired a wind bullet at its chest before it could land.
Black blood spurted out and showered him as the creature fell.
Leticia bit her lower lip upon watching Adrian swing his sword, cutting down every Chira that crossed his path.
Exhaustion was evident on his face, even his breaths beco more haggard with each passing second.
'There must be sothing—'
Leticia's gaze fixated on her palms, studying every line and crevice.
After a mont of deep contemplation, she clenched her fists tightly.
Despite her lack of confidence in her magic, she resolved to try anyway.
—Splash!
The chira in front of the white-haired boy slumped down to the ground.
"Haa… haa…"
Adrian's chest heaved with each labored breath; his stamina waned, his clothes drenched in a mixture of sweat and black blood.
It seed like this underground had been built over the years because the monsters kept coming to him as if there was no end to them.
"Kiieekkk!!"
A Chira was spotted leaping toward him, Adrian lifted his hand, however—
—Boom!
"Kkiieekkk!!"
A fireball struck the beast before it could reach him, sending it flying away.
Adrian darted over his shoulder and saw Leticia extending her hand and a sharp surge of pain shot through his head, causing him to bellow out in rage.
"Stop—"
Nevertheless, Adrian's attention snapped back to the front as Chiras charged toward him, prompting him to swing his sword once more.
Even though Adrian's repeated shouting for her to stop, Leticia persisted in casting fireballs.
And within less than an hour, they exterminated the Chiras in the area.
"Haa… haa…"
As he caught his breath, Adrian swept his eyes to the surroundings and saw a sea of corpses strewn below.
Turning around, Adrian felt a surge of anger coursed through his veins upon seeing the girl who stood in the distance.
Wasting no more ti, Adrian approached her.
"Ah…"
Leticia's heart raced with fear and trepidation as she watched him approach her.
Although his seemingly indifferent expression, Adrian's blue eyes glinted with anger, a sight Leticia had never seen before.
Arriving in front of her, Adrian spat out his grievances.
"Lady Leticia, do you even comprehend the gravity of your actions?"
Wrath dripped from his voice.
Adrian knew she ant well, but this VERY young lady just jumped straight into danger not only once, but thrice!
Leticia's head hung low, her eyes fixed on the ground.
A sharp pang of emotion pierced her heart, her chest constricted with a painful squeeze.
"...I'm sorry."
Leticia's voice ca out in a choked whisper, barely audible.
"Show your hands."
"!"
Leticia's head snapped up with a gasp, her eyes widening in disbelief.
'He knows!'
As the girl in front of him remained silent, Adrian repeated.
"Show your hands."
"Your Highness—"
"Don't make repeat myself for a third ti."
Adrian interrupted sternly.
"Your Highness no need to fret, I have an Elixir."
Leticia reached into her pocket and winced in pain.
"Ugh…"
Soon, she forced a smile and held out her trembling hand, revealing an Elixir resting in her palm.
Adrian threw his face sideways the mont he caught the sight of her palms.
His heart sank and Adrian felt so frustrated.
Shifting his gaze back to Leticia's palms, Adrian noticed that they were covered in severe, burning wounds.
Feeling his frustration build up, Adrian let out a deep sigh before taking the Elixir from her outstretched trembling palms.
With a serious expression, he opened the lid and warned.
"Just so you know, this might hurt."
Adrian locked eyes with Leticia and she nodded in acknowledgent.
With that, Adrian began to pour the elixir onto her palms, causing the girl to grimace and wail in agony.
"Ugh…"
Adrian let out a tired sigh as he tended to Leticia's wound.
"I know you ant well and wanted to help, but that doesn't justify putting yourself in danger."
Leticia hung her head low, feeling guilty before muttering under her breath.
"I just… don't want to be a burden—"
"Do you even know what burden is?"
Leticia shook her head in slow motion and Adrian explained.
"A burden is sothing that soone is not willing to carry. On the other hand, you—"
Adrian lifted his head, and their eyes t briefly before he returned his attention to tending her wound.
"—I'm willing to carry you."
Leticia felt a warm sensation spread through her heart, and in a gesture of gratitude, she leaned forward to kiss Adrian's cheek.
But before she could make contact, Adrian turned his head, causing their lips to accidentally brush against each other.
"Ah!"
Leticia gasped, pulling away in embarrassnt.
Adrian's expression was a mixture of shock and confusion.
"What are you doing?!"
He exclaid, clearly taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.
Leticia's face flushed, realizing her mistake.
"I'm sorry, I didn't an to—"
—Clang!
A loud tallic clang echoed through the air, forcing them to turn to the noise.
There, they saw a figure with black hair standing a few ters away, his sword lying on the ground beside him.
Nathaniel's eyes widened in surprise.
"What the hell! Did you two just kiss?!!"
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