Chapter 75 - Wolf Protection (5)

"You're fine now." Nida asked as she rushed towards Daniel, who was cooking something in his kitchen. 

"Aren't you supposed to knock before entering someone's house?" He coldly responded without turning towards Nida. He just continued to chop the radish. 

"Ah? Ahh! I thought you were still weak and couldn't get up. Sorry I came in. " She awkwardly replied, then she walked closer to him, trying to peek at his face. 

"Are you sure you're not sick anymore?" She placed her palm on his forehead, which made Daniel stab the chopping board with the knife he was using to chop the radish. 

"Opps, why am I always forgetting that you're a clean freak?" She said reluctantly, as if she intentionally did it even though she knew Daniel hated being touched.

His pale face turned red once he looked down at Nida. 

"I'm fine now. You may now leave. " 

Nida just smiled, and Daniel's grumpiness was ignored.

Nida filled the refrigerator with all the things he brought for him. 

"Are you upset that I didn't go back right away?" 

"No. It's far better that you haven't returned at all. "

Nida didn't reply, and just took the high chair and sat while silently staring at Daniel. 

"... " 

"..."

Daniel finished setting up the soup and waited for it to cook.

He sat across from Nida, and they just stared at each other, while Nida rested her head on her hand.

The sounds of boiling water and the gas stove are the only sounds in the kitchen.

"What is it?" Daniel finally asked after the long silence. 

"I am dating Randell again."

Daniel frowns at her random statement.

"And so?"

"Nothing. I just want to share it with you. "

Her straight, stern expression changed back to a bright smile after she got up and peeked at the soup that Daniel was cooking.

"This soup is good for two to three people. Are you making some for me too? "

"Bullshit. I am making that for me alone. " He denied it, even though he was expecting Nida's visit.

"Oh really? Is it rare for a sick person to eat a lot, though?

"I am fine, and I am going to work today too."

"What work? Office work or priest work? "

"Office."

"Oh, really?" She's back staring at him again, but this time with a smile.

"Seriously, what's wrong with you?"

"Why is there something wrong with me?" she innocently replied.

Daniel let out a long sigh as he got frustrated with Nida's behavior. She was acting like she knew something and was just playing around with him.

'Am I feeling guilty? that I am over-thinking? '

He thought that he was overthinking that Nida might have already known all the things he kept away from her.

"No, nothing. Aren't you going to work as well? " He tried to divert the topic, which Nida noticed, but let him off the hook.

"I will. I am in my office attire. Isn't that obvious? " She sighed.

Daniel stood up to release his embarrassment and took the bowl to serve the soup.

"Your words and actions don't match." 

"What do you mean it is not matching? I have been honest with you since the beginning." He said alarmingly. He feared that Nida had caught up with the things he did behind Nida's back.

"I'm referring to the soup. You said it was only for you, but you're serving me too. " Nida burst out laughing, amused by Daniel's reaction.

He bit his lips, thinking that he had said something wrong, but Nida didn't question him at all. It made him even more anxious.

She took the soup and ate it with Daniel silently. She then kindly waited for him to get changed into his office attire and volunteered to clean the kitchen.

She is not acting unusually, but he can't help but feel wary. It is like he is experiencing an unusual tranquility or stability that seems likely to presage difficult times.

"I'll be driving. You just recovered from a high fever. You can't push yourself. " She took his car keys and sat in the driver's seat.

Daniel blankly stares at her outside the car.

"What? You don't have the strength to open the door? Should I open it for you? "

She was about to get out of the car once again, but Daniel pushed her back.

"No, I'm fine. I was just in a daze. "

He hurriedly got inside the car and let her drive him to the office.

"You're strange," he commented.

"What of it?"

"You're suddenly acting kindly and caring."

"Oh? Was I not like that since the beginning? "

"Not entirely."

"Am I a bad friend?"

"Yes, you are."

"Haha, you're right. I only approached you when I needed something.

"It's good that you know." He's being curt, but deep down he's wondering what's wrong with her that she's making him feel so awkward talking to her.

He was about to turn on the radio to cut off their awkward atmosphere when Nida made a creepy short laugh. 

"What's funny?"

"Oh sorry, it's not you."

"Not me?" He looked at her strangely because there was no one else in the car except for them.

"It's my dust. Strangely, my dust has its own will. They can talk to me. "

"So you laugh because your dust is saying something to you?"

Nida nodded as her focus was still on the road.

Daniel looked at her solemnly, thinking about how strange her power was.

All the priests, including him, have elemental powers or have specific attributes only. They do not communicate with it, and they can control it by will. However, in Nida's case, her silver dust has its own will and can even whisper punch lines to her.

"What is it your dust is saying? Share it with me if the joke is too funny. " He got curious and partially doubted that Nida was talking about her dust will.

"I don't think you get the joke?" She said this with a smile, but her eyes were cold and serious. 

Daniel didn't notice it as he also focused his gaze outside the window.

"Try me."

"Ow? okay? My dust said..." Nida dryly laughed for a moment before continuing her swords. "They said Angel visited you last night."

Her smile disappeared while Daniel looked at her with surprise.

"Here's the joke..."

She slowed down the car and looked at Daniel with an upset expression.

"You and Radell have been doing something behind my back."

"N-Nida, it's not what you think!" He panicked and stammered.

Nida smiled once again while looking at him.

"See? You don't get the joke."

She said as she stepped on the gas pedal. She drove the car very fast, which made Daniel hold on to his seat belt.

"Nida." He softly called her name to see if he could explain himself.

"Don't worry, I didn't leave my dust to spy or check on whatever you're doing. I am a bad friend, but I trusted you, Daniel. I only left my dust for you last night to guard you in case something bad happened to you."

She held the steering wheel tightly as she exclaimed her outrage toward Daniel.

He opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to explain it to her. That is why he only stares at her while driving angrily.

"I was deceived by Angel, but it didn't surprise or hurt me at all. Everyone is deceiving me. Her addition to the list doesn't matter at all. "

The car zooms as if it is flying and ignoring the traffic rules.

"But I can't believe both of you are doing something behind my back!"

The moment she shouted her frustration, the car sped up even more, and was now literally flying upward into the sky.

Due to Nida's emotional breakdown, her dust reacted with it and held the car from flying to the destination she wanted.

"Nida! Calm down!" he shouted as he tried to touch Nida.

"Don't touch me! and shut up! I take you to Randell! Explain it to me at the same time! " She exclaimed as she let go of the steering wheel and let the dust fly the car into the sky.

Daniel bit his lip and the situation muted him.

He is worried and apologetic at the same time. He doesn't know how he will explain it to Nida and hopes she will understand, even though she is extremely angry and disappointed right now.

The two became silent again, and only Nida's sniffing could be heard.

Minutes later, Daniel could finally see the ground once the car landed in the middle of a forest.

"What in the world?" he subconsciously comments, blinking his eyes multiple times as he cannot believe what he is seeing.

"Aren't you going out?" Nida asked as she walked towards the largest tree in the forest.

Its roots are as big as a human body, and it is like a mountain as its crown (canopy) covers the sky above them.

"How did you find this place?" he asked, hurrying behind Nida, who was now walking around the gigantic tree.

"Randell, show me."

Daniel was about to ask more questions, but he halted walking and again exclaimed in shock.

"What's happening?" he said, eyes wide open.

"Why is Randell tied to the tree?"