Chapter 59

"Stella? Are you angry?" Aether's brows furrowed with concern as he observed her deliberate avoidance of walking near him.

"No," Stella responded almost reflexively, though her demeanour betrayed a lingering sense of agitation.

"Hmm?" Aether, sensing there was more beneath the surface, simply shrugged, deciding to take her word for it.

Despite her insistence, Stella remained ensconced in a grumpy disposition, her irritation evident in her every movement. She couldn't quite wrap her head around the fact that this boy had gone to such lengths as crafting a smoke weapon, solely as a precaution against any potential threat she might pose.

While she comprehended the necessity of such defensive measures, akin to her own.... still the notion that the slightest misstep on her part could result in inhaling the noxious materials he had ground left her feeling disconcerted.

She found herself idly pondering how he had come to possess such intricate knowledge about plants... but swiftly dismissed the thought as irrelevant.

After all, they needed to get out of this forest first and she had already imparted the destination to him, leaving him in charge of leading the way.

Noticing her lingering anger, Aether made a conscious decision to shift the conversation. "So, may I ask why you often refer to yourself as a 'useless Healer'?"

At his query, Stella's complexion paled, and she instinctively averted her gaze, a subtle sign of discomfort.

Recognizing the impact of his words, Aether inwardly cursed himself for broaching such a sensitive topic. "If you prefer not to—"

"Unlike many other Healers... My healing skills are really bad" Stella interjected, her hand emanating a gentle, ethereal warmth as she spoke, underscoring her point.

"Bad means?" Aether's brow furrowed in confusion as he recalled the countless times he had witnessed Stella selflessly aiding others without hesitation.

"That time required to regrow an entire arm is about 2 minutes generally, but for me, it's almost 8-10 minutes... It's not just double, or triple, it's quadruple the time required for me to heal compared to others... It's truly useless," Stella muttered her expression one of defeat and frustration.

Aether was at a loss for words, unsure of how to assuage her concerns. While he possessed wisdom from his own realm, he couldn't help but feel inadequate in offering solace in a world teeming with monsters and magic.

Stella noticed his struggle and offered a small smile, deciding to change the topic. "Are you... by any chance related to the Elves?"

"Elves?" Aether's eyes widened with childlike wonder at the mention of the mythical beings.

"Indeed," Stella replied, her head tilted in confusion at his reaction.

"You mean there are actually living Elves here?" Aether's excitement was palpable as he eagerly grabbed her shoulder and leaned in close, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Stella's face flushed bright red at his sudden proximity, nearly biting her tongue in surprise. "Y-Yeshh!-ack!!" she stammered out, flustered by his unexpected enthusiasm.

"Hahahaha..." Aether couldn't contain his laughter at her adorable reaction, his affection for her growing with each passing moment.

+100 Affection

Attempting to regain her composure, Stella turned away, intending to shoo him away playfully, when suddenly...

"BOOM!!!"

A loud, thunderous blast reverberated through the air, causing Stella and Aether to exchange a glance before nodding in unspoken agreement. Stella made a move towards the source of the explosion, but before she could take another step...

'Thud'

"H-hey, W-What are you doing?!!" Stella's voice rose in protest as she found herself hoisted up by Aether, who had scooped her up like a sack and began running in the opposite direction.

"Ka-- I mean Aether, Where are you going?" Stella demanded, her voice laced with urgency.

"Of course, we're going to where we might have a chance to save our lives!" Aether replied, his pace unrelenting as he raced forward, hoping fervently to encounter no obstacles along the way.

"Ouch!!"

Aether let out a yelp of pain as he felt a sharp pinch on his back. "What are you doing, Stella?"

"What are you doing, you idiot? Let me down, I need to help... there could be someone injured. It's my duty," Stella screamed with unwavering determination, delivering another pinch to his back for emphasis.

"Ouch!!"

Aether's lips twitched in frustration. Here he was, trying to ensure both their safety, and yet Stella was adamant about rushing towards danger without a second thought.... who knew there might be another weird guy who would kill him without even questioning them.

'Sighing heavily' to express his internal conflict, Aether hesitated momentarily before finally speaking up, "W-What kind of assistance do they require from the u-useless Healer?"

The weight of his words caused Stella to flinch, her fingers releasing their hold as she withdrew into a silence that spoke volumes.

Witnessing her reaction, a pang of guilt tugged at Aether's conscience, yet he knew that with someone as headstrong as Stella, sometimes unconventional measures were necessary.

However...

"OUCH!!"

A sharp cry of pain escaped Aether's lips as he stumbled, his balance momentarily lost.

"That really hurt, you idiot!!" Aether's frustration reverberated in his voice as he cast a reproachful glare at Stella.

With a petulant pout, Stella muttered grumpily, "Do you truly believe I am oblivious to your tactics... Hmph!!!"

Aether couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at her response before resuming their brisk pace, though the tension between them lingered.

Still harbouring the urge to retaliate, Stella was poised to deliver another pinch when...

'SLAP!'

"HHHHIIKKKKKKK!!!"

Stella let out a shrill cry of pain as a searing sensation erupted across her backside.

"The next time you decide to pinch me... You won't have a soft butt to sit on, Little girl," Aether warned with a steely resolve that brooked no argument.

Stella's eyes welled up with tears as she still felt the lingering sensation of five fingers on her backside.

Observing her silent distress, Aether couldn't help but stifle a chuckle internally as he redirected his focus to their escape plan.

"I hate you, jerk!" Stella muttered through tearful eyes, her words tinged with both frustration and vulnerability.

+100 Affection

"Oh, is that so?" Aether replied casually, inwardly amused by her reaction.

"I truly hate you, jerk!!" Stella reiterated, her tone filled with genuine disdain.

+100 Affection

"Oh, Well Thank you then," Aether responded with mock sincerity, his amusement growing with each exchange.

"Tsk, I HATE YOU, PERVERT!!!"

+500 Affection

Aether couldn't help but smirk at her escalating points...

"Oh my... Really? Well, thank you for your honesty then," Aether chuckled softly to himself, thoroughly entertained by Stella's outburst.

Their brief moment of banter was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected intrusion.

"Here you are... Stray Slave," a voice pierced through the air, startling both Aether and Stella.

"Sssiiinnnggg"

'Thud'

Before Aether could react, he stumbled and tumbled down a few meters before crashing into a nearby tree. Meanwhile, Stella had already been jostled off Aether's shoulder, falling to the ground with a startled cry.

"A-Aether!!" Stella called out, her concern evident as she moved to rush to his aid.

But before she could take a single step, she felt a firm grip on her hip. Slowly looking down, her eyes widened in surprise as she realized it was none other than...

.... Aether's hand.