Chapter 80 - He Might Die

When Esme felt a ticklish sensation on her palms, she froze and looked at Aleister in disbelief. He... He licked her palm. 

His eyes sparkled as he glanced at her with a teasing glint. 

Esme was quick to retract her hand. She glanced at her trembling palm and tried to calm down, ''You...'' Her cheeks turned red and she turned to the side, refusing to talk to him. 

Aleister leaned closer to her, ''You said someone was here?" He whispered beside her ear.. 

Esme rubbed her ear as she turned to look at him quietly before she nodded, ''I heard it,'' She mouthed. 

And soon after she said that, they could hear the sound of approaching footsteps accompanied by a drawled out cracked voice, ''These inhumane things... How many years had it been yet they have not changed their ways....'' 

Esme pressed Aleister back to the tree as she slowly peeked her head out. 

Aleister happily wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him such that their bodies were entirely pressed against each other. 

Esme glared at him. 

''I am helping you,'' He mouthed. 

She could feel the ridges of his upper body against hers and her face flushed again, going all red within an instant. 

He raised one of his hands and tucked a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear, ''Helping you again,'' He spoke inside her ear and his hot breath against her skin left her breathless. 

Esme did clenched his clothes in her hand as she looked outside the tree. 

The glow of the moonlight was forbidden because of the dense trees and Esme could barely see anything other than the person's silhouette as he was walking in the dark. 

When Aleister moved, she glanced at him questioningly. He winked at her and raised his hand, a small golden fire like glow started on his palm once again lightening up the place. 

Her eyes widened, knowing that he had not intention to hide. Esme quickly glanced at the person's face who had paused the moment the forest was illuminated. 

With one of his fingers digging inside his nose, the old man had stopped in shock the moment he saw the golden glow around. 

As Aleister's grip on her waist had loosened earlier, Esme stepped out of the tree and looked at the man in disbelief, ''Aren't you...'' It was the same old man whom she had seen in the fair. He was the shop owner of the shop from where she bought a painting. 

The old man looked at her in disbelief as well, especially her face. He could not take his eyes off her. That night, she was still dressed as a man but today...

Esme blinked as she touched her face. Why was everyone looking at her face today?

At this moment, Aleister stepped out from behind the tree.

The old man glanced at him before looking at the golden glow on his hand. His eyes widened further.

The atmosphere was tense. 

Aleister tilted his head to the side. 

Esme turned to look at Aleister, ''I saw him that day in the fair. I bought a painting from his shop.''

''Did you want to buy anything else? I left in a hurry and forgot to ask you,'' Aleister looked apologetic. 

Esme: "_"

The old man: "_"

That's not what we are talking about, are we? 

While Esme and Aleister were looking at each other, the old man slowly took his finger out of his nose and turned around as he walked on his tiptoes. 

''Ahh...'' A golden ray shot at him, turning in a rope which tied his ankles and he fell on his face near the well. 

Esme snapped out of her daze as she looked at him, ''He was escaping...?" 

''Yes,'' Aleister walked towards the old man, ''You said 'These inhumane things... How many years had it been yet they have not changed their ways'. What did you mean by that?" His tone was calm and lazy as if he was talking about the weather. 

The old man laughed awkwardly, ''I am getting old. I forget things...''

Before he could finish speaking, a knife was pressed against his neck, ''What did you mean by that?" Aleister asked, his tone was casual as before. 

The old man glanced at Esme pitifully. 

Esme pitied him a little in her heart and she conscientiously said, ''You are getting old like you said. You should live the rest of your life peacefully after telling the truth...'' She was certain that he might not survive past this day. 

The old man's lips twitched. Was she sympathizing with him or warning him? 

Aleister was not as patient and he pressed the knife harder on his skin. 

''Witch...'' The old man shouted, ''It's a witch's doing.'' 

Esme was stunned. So, what they were thinking was true? A gasp escaped her mouth when something fell on her back. 

Aleister turned to look at her, ''Are you alright?" He asked. 

Esme nodded as she glanced at the branch. She massaged her shoulder, ''I am fine,'' A small frown remained on her face and her eyes widened all of a sudden when she glanced at the old man. 

''Al, see there,'' As soon as she said that, the the old man jumped inside the well and a loud splashing sound of the water was heard. 

Aleister nodded, ''This sounds nice from your mouth.''

''That's is not what you should say now. He jumped inside the well. You scared him so much and I think we should save him. He might die...'' Esme said in one breath. 

Aleister walked towards the well and she followed after him, ''You need to calm down,'' He raised his hand letting towards the wall and both of them caught sight of something shocking. 

''F-Fins...'' Esme's jaws dropped open and she leaned closer inside the well making sure she did not see wrong. She had only caught a glimpse of those lustrous fins in dark water.