After I had told the girls what had happened in the School District, they remained silent. Asfi adjusted her glasses once and spoke.
"So you are saying that they requested you to look after the students during their practical exams?"
"Usually, they have several of their teachers stationed on the dungeon floors, so why did they ask you to do that as well?" Ryuu asked curiously.
"You are right. During the practical session, the teachers don't contact students or help them unless the situation worsens. But my role will be slightly different. I will be accompanying the students during the whole trip, guiding and teaching them about the dungeon, and all in all, looking after them."
Ais ate the last of the snacks as she spoke. "What did you…decide?"
I rubbed my chin as I thought back on the proposition. "I am thinking positively of it. But what do you girls think?"
"I don't think it's that big of a problem," Ryuu answered. "We also don't have any plans to go on any expeditions anytime soon. So if you wanted to do that, then please feel free to do that."
"I agree with Ryuu." Riviera spoke next, "It will also be a good experience for you." Riveria put her teacup on the table and continued, "Now putting that aside…how was your combat experience with the Knight of Knights?"
I mused for a moment, remembering the short exchange of moves we had, "He is strong." I said, "Extremely so. If I had to compare, then if Ottarl feels like a mountain I can climb… then Leon Vardenburg is a peak hidden beyond the clouds."
The girls listened to my words in silence.
"Granted, I wasn't using my magic or skills, but so was he. …No, considering he was only using a standard sword, he still overwhelmed me in pure skills. So, yup, I was no match."
"I knew and heard of his feats, but you describing him like that really paints a clear picture," Asfi spoke. "...Though I don't believe you would be defeated so easily in a real fight."
Riveria hummed in agreement. "I agree. You tend to become strong when cornered."
Ryuu spoke next, "Yes, I can't imagine you losing."
Ais stared in my eyes and simply said, "You won't lose."
My eyes went wide in surprise at their belief in me, only to soften at the fuzzy feeling building in my heart. "Thank you," I said with a smile.
For a brief moment, no one said anything. Then Ryuu averted her gaze, bringing her teacup to her lips. "…There is no need to thank us," she said quietly, a faint tint of red creeping up to the tips of her ears betraying her composure.
Ais blinked once, as if confused by my reaction, before turning her face slightly to the side. "…I just said the truth," she muttered, her grip on my shirt sleeve tightened ever so slightly.
Asfi gave a light cough, looking out from the big window. "Well, it's only natural to evaluate things correctly," she said.
Riveria let out a small sigh, bringing her tea to her lips to hide the faint smile forming there.
…Did I say something weird?
I tilted my head slightly, looking at all of them acting strangely.
The warm feeling in my chest only grew stronger.
Asfi coughed once again, regaining her composure. "And when did you say we would start working on the ship repairs?"
"Ah, Balder said they will formally reach out to us in a few days."
Ryuu gave a nod of understanding, "Right, everyone from the guild is busy with all these things happening suddenly."
"They sure are," Riveria spoke as I sipped the tea, the soothing taste and smell calming me down. "You both sure created a big ruckus." She looked at Asfi and continued, "…Or should I say three?"
Asfi shook her head, "Please don't involve me in the crazy things they did."
A small giggle spread throughout the table at Asfi's adamant refusal, and the topic shifted to more light-hearted things. We kept chatting till late at night, then retired to our respective rooms.
Reaching my room, I collapsed on the bed and slept with a small smile on my face.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
But it seems the world didn't like me being so happy-go-lucky, as the next day, when I woke up, my whole body felt extremely heavy and weak.
My limbs refused to move the way I wanted them to, as if an invisible weight had been draped over me during the night. Even lifting my hand felt like a chore. My head throbbed faintly, a dull ache pulsing behind my eyes, while my throat felt dry and rough, like I hadn't had a drop of water in days.
A strange chill clung to my skin despite the warmth of the blankets, sending occasional shivers down my spine. At the same time, my body felt uncomfortably warm, heat building under my skin in a way that made me restless.
And I knew that feeling of weakness very well. It was the same feeling I had felt countless times in my previous life.
I am sick…
The realization settled in slowly, like an unwelcome guest I couldn't ignore.
The feeling of sickness.
I tilted my head to see that the time was well past morning. "...Why now of all time…"
Just as I was wallowing in my misfortune, a soft knock resounded from beyond the door. "...Come in," I spoke with difficulty, and the heavy wooden door opened.
"Arin, you didn't come for breakfast, so we came to wake you—What happened?"
"Are you okay, Arin?"
"You are sweating so much."
"Are you hurt?"
Asfi entered the room, followed by Ryuu, Riveria, and Ais. Seeing my weary state, Riveria called for a healer in the Loki familia, and after the examination, it was confirmed that I was, in fact, sick.
"Ugh…I am dying…I am sorry…I couldn't be with you any longer…"
Riviera sighed, "It's just a common fever, stop overreacting," she said.
Ryuu adjusted the cloth on my forehead. "Weren't you the one who kept fighting that dragon in the Dragon Valley even after being half-burnt? Don't worry, you will recover in a day or two."
"This and that are different," I tried to argue… but got shot down by Asfi, her blue eyes staring me down.
"Yes, they are different. That was a life-threatening situation, while this is just inconvenient."
"You girls are so heartless."
Ais leaned closer, her hand resting lightly against my forehead. "…You're suffering."
I felt the side of my eyes water at her gestures as I wrapped my hands around Ais and hugged her close, using her as a body pillow. "I knew it, Ais is the only kind one."
"...isn't he being more childish than usual?" Asfi muttered.
"The fever must be making him a bit delirious," Ryuu whispered back.
"Oh… it seems he has fallen asleep."I heard Riveria's voice through my hazy consciousness as I fell asleep.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I woke up after a few hours and felt a soft presence beside me. I opened my eyes to see Ais lying on the bed with me, my arms wrapped around the small of her back, and her body leaning on me. Our faces were inches apart, our breath mixing. Both our bodies provided warmth against the cold winds of early winter.
She was awake, her golden honey eyes meeting mine, her long blonde hair spilled on the bed like a curtain, only rustling slightly from the strong winds entering through the room window. The late noon sunlight fell on her face, highlighting the features that made her appear otherworldly.
She looks like an angel.
No, calling her an angel was an understatement; her beauty was enough to make even the most beautiful goddesses jealous.
I could feel my body lighten the more I looked at her. Her sweet, innocent eyes were strong enough to pull me in, and the strangest part was that I didn't mind being pulled into them.
It feels so calming with her by my side.
The feeling of affection that warmed my heart made me want to just close my eyes and fall asleep again, knowing that she would be with me.
Ais kept staring, as if contemplating something, before asking, "How do you feel…?" she questioned, bringing me out of my stupor.
"...Better… but still a little weak," I replied after a pause, trying to get my bearings.
She remained silent, her eyes traveling to my lips before she looked up again. "...You kissed Ryuu?"
I blinked, caught off guard, but was relieved to feel no accusation in her voice, but simple curiosity and a tinge of jealousy.
"How did you know?"
"...Ryuu…blurted it out…When Asfi asked."
Classic Ryuu, I guess. I thought with a strained smile.
"You kissed Ryuu," she said again, continuing after a slight pause and a saddened expression. "...I haven't." Her golden eyes went back to my lips, and her gaze didn't waver. "...you are still sick…This might help."
Before I could react, Ais leaned forward, closing the distance between us, and our lips met softly.
The moment I felt her soft, warm lips against mine, my mind went blank.
My heart slammed violently against my chest with blood surging through my veins, my arms tightening around her instinctively as she pressed closer, as if she had no intention of pulling away.
There was no hesitation in her movements.
I shifted slightly as the kiss deepened further, my breath catching as warmth spread through my body. My left hand rested against the back of her head, finger sliding through her silky hair while the other rested on her lower back.
The bed creaked under the sudden shifting of our weight.
Her lips were soft, yet there was something intense behind them. The intensity wasn't overwhelming but a welcoming one, as if the wind itself was rushing through my body. The fever seemed to have faded into the background.
I only felt her and nothing else. Her warmth. Her presence.
Only her.
Our lips refused to part, as if they had found something that had always been missing.
I shifted once more, pressing Ais gently onto the bed as I hovered over her.
Even then—
She didn't pull away; her palm tightened its hold on the back of my shirt, pulling even closer. I could feel her struggling to breathe, but Ais refused to part and instead pulled me deeper into the kiss. We were so close I could feel her own heartbeat struggling to maintain its rhythm. But as if it didn't even matter, Ais ignored it, completely lost in the feeling of love just as I was.
And after what felt like forever, our lips parted. Ais and I both breathed deeply, staring into each other's eyes, and only now was I able to see her red face, filled with embarrassment; her body felt just as warm as mine.
And the strong winter winds cooled our bodies comfortably.
After we had both calmed down slightly, I asked with a smile, "Are you satisfied?"
Ais looked down, her hands still holding onto my shirt, and shook her head. Her face was completely red from shyness and embarrassment.
I smiled even wider at her innocent gesture, completely different from her earlier act, and spoke, "Me neither." I bent down till our noses almost touched, "Shall we kiss some more?"
Ais gave a soft nod, and so we started kissing again for who knows how long and only stopped when the healer came to check up on me again.