Chapter 39 - Thirty-Seven

When I woke up early them the rest I used the extra time to try and settle my mind because, mind you, I didn't need much to overthink; my thoughts alone were enough; and now with all the information that Leo gave me and the possibility of him being a reincarnated, well … let just say that distracted would be an underestimated for my state right now.

Once the sun was up, however, we cleaned up the place and ate breakfast as Leo started:

"You want to keep this one then?"

He said, pointing at Shrum as he nimble one of the coconuts in my bowl. I nod, filling up my own cheek with a full spoon.

"So we will need to make a contract."

I perched my ears, not liking the sound of that.

"What type of contract?" I cross my arms over my chest, looking at him across the campfire.

"Partnership. We will exchange experience and energy, the only downside being that we must stay together."

"Is that really necessary?"

"He needs exp. to maintain his humanoid form, and as he is unable to fight on his own, so yes."

"We could feed him the crystals."

"Indeed we could, but not all creatures have them, and it wouldn't be easy to maintain him like that."

Still I didn't like the idea but the benefits seemed to surpass the detriments, even more if he needed the exp. so much as to maintain his form… I look at Shrum then, who was filling his cheeks like a hamster, and ask:

"Would you like to stay and make a contract with Leo?"

He looks at me, then to Leonel, and when his mouth is free he says:

"Papa!"

Leo nods. "Great. Once we get out of here I will bring him with me them."

A little sad I enjoy the moment I have with the little one and play with him on my palm until we head on our way.

We had a very calm walk, side by side as we watched the island from high up. Some leaves were falling, the stone path becoming more sparse and difficult to walk in, becoming more and more uncared and wild.

I walked a little slower than Leonel because I was still getting used to walking in two legs and there were a lot of holes and uneven stones around, that's why I had a great view of his back.

He was tall for a human, a little higher than an elf from his age, and if I remember correctly elves, on contrary of their a.d.u.l.thood, aged pretty quickly on childhood, making them grownups at the age of 15.

He was 13 then… which meant he was 2 years from being an a.d.u.l.t, been so close that his body was already very well formed beyond his childish face.

But mostly his eyes, they already held something… different. More mature, more… aware.

Maybe the possibility of been a Reincarnated made me more attentive of him, more alert, made me…envision him more as an a.d.u.l.t than the child he still is.

Leo stops then and turns towards me, suddenly reaching out and pushing my hair off of my face as the tip of his fingers brush against my cheeks, making my face heat up as his palm brings forth strands of my hair, letting a leave fall down as he says:

"It was stuck in your hair for a while now."

His voice sounded normal but I could see some mischievous glint in his eyes and a small smirk curving his lips as he turns and start to walk away slowly.

Wait… his surprise attack stunned me, oi! That should be illegal…

Did I blush? Did I? Yeah, yeah, definitely blushed...

That requires a revenge.

With a smirk of my own I trot forward, passing him while my arms were on my back, and slap his butt with my whiptail.

I see him jump, as stunned as I had been, and I give back the same cheeky remark:

"There was a bug on your butt for quite some time now, it was starting to bother me…"

Before, however, I could walk away victorious, he seems to recover rather fast and makes my own smirk die out when one of his own grow on his face:

"Then you should just have stopped starting at it …"

"Wh-! I wasn't checking it out!"

He crooks his head a little, raising both eyebrows questionably. He walks a little close, for some reason making my heart race, never taking off his eyes from mine, but when I was expecting something to happen, been so close to him, he passes me with a smile on his eyes.

You cheeky bastard…

Wait! What was I expecting to happen?! Yo-you stupid, shitty stupid mutt! Get a hold of yourself Thilgon for God's sake!

I clean my throat before fixing my hair and following him up the path. Walking until we reached the end of the energy river that lead us to be standing on top of the highest hill overlooking the entire island.

The place didn't look any different from the rest of the island until we reached its center. Inside there was a circle of water hidden by rocks on the sides and a single pillar appearing from the middle.

I looked inside the crystal clear water and almost thought to be at the end of a cliff; I could see how deep it was, possibly reaching until the end of the mountain and connecting into the sea.

I won't even question that.

Wasn't the worst thing I saw around here for sure.

The only problem was that, of course, the door wasn't on land but deep inside that circular whole filled with water for who knows how long and deep.

Just great.

"Great, now what do we do… Leo, the door is aght-!"

I turn to talk to him but I'm surprised by him lifting me off the ground and carrying me in a princess-carry, as I immediately get fl.u.s.tered and start yelling:

"Leonel! What the hell are you doing! Let-me-down-now!

He doesn't listen to me and walks closer to the water, simply jumping off the edge into the circular hole filled with water.

I close my eyes and harden my grip of his neck, waiting for the cold and choking sensation, but after some time without any of those I risk half opening one of my eyes.

There… there was a bubble of air around us, keeping the water off and the air in.

Then Leo… starts laughing at me.

Angry I hit him on the shoulder, making him let go of me while I give another punch just to make sure.

"You could have warned me Goddamnit!"

"Ouch, I could, ouch, but wouldn't be as nearly as fun."

Trying to push my upkeep hair off my face I huffed at him, crossing my arms and turning my back at him, my tail high while I tried not to blush by pouting.

Not a good improvement I may add.

"Don't be mad Thil, it was only a joke…"

Happy that I was bothering by ignoring him and giving my back, I stood my ground as we descend into the water.

Then, of course, he makes me taste my own venom by coming closer and hugging my shoulders from behind, making even more clear our height difference, as he rests his head on the curve of my neck and with a warm breath tickles my skin saying:

"Please don't be mad at me…"

"Ok! Fine! Now back off!" I say a little too quick and high, blushing at the weird sensation of his body pressing against my back, his warmth passing beyond my clothes…

"Only if you said you are not mad at me." He says, a little higher, making his breath tickle my ears, instantaneously flatting then on top of my head.

Body…don't you dare shiver!

"Fine! I don't hate you! Now let me go!" Before I start hating you!

He did, making me take two steps back and look at his smug face as he crossed his arms and rested his back on the edge of the spell.

I was thinking a way to retort when he finally reach the end, our feet touching the sandy raspy ground. Been surrounded by darkness, the pressure of tons of water over our heads is a dangerous presence that makes me gulp anxiously.

Just because I liked swimming doesn't mean I enjoy diving this deep.

Ding – Ineptitudes acquired – Fear of the deeps

My, thank you mister ding dong, you have been gone for a very long time and comes back only to give the bad news now?!

Ding:… -that's unfair buhu

But really, this place gave me the creeps, we couldn't see anything, the sound was too stuffy to make sense of anything, and this was the perfect setting to be sneaked by something, even worst was that most of my attacks didn't work underwater.

As I was looking out some sand drifted of in the water, as if… something had moved not too far away.

Once I look up, however, my fears come true as I encounter a pair of yellow-green eyes staring me down, the rest of the creature obscured by the darkness, only the pair of orbs shining menacing.

Well shit.

~~~~

MC.Vamp.: Well, look at that, finally taking the initiative I see…

ML:… What are you doing here? What do you want? Invading other's people stories…

MC.Vamp.: What, me?! Nothing really, just having some fun… and passing to say that I already had a taste of my…companions.

ML: *Death stare at him, fist his hands hard*

MC.Vamp.: And in, what, five, six chapters? What about you? Oh, yeah, thirty-seven for a… hug? Pff…

ML: YOU SHIT! COME HERE!

*fight breaks in the studio*

Author: Hey guys, wait! Stop fighting!

ML: *Stops, turns slowly in author direction, and narrow his eyes* Author… Darling… We need to talk…

Author: Oh no, we do-

ML: NOW.

(ʘᗩʘ')

MC.Vamp.: *Alone now, comes closer to the readers, grabbing your hand and stroking your palm with his long fingers* So… do you enjoy some fun between s.e.xy, hot and steamy man I assume… then I would love your presence in my book… *bend down and kisses the top of your knuckles, looking up and smirking mischievously, showing the tip of his incisors* I'll be waiting…

Author: *coming out of the private room* Don't flirt with the readers! Bad vamp! Bad!

MC: And they are not even YOUR readers!

*Fights break out again while you could still hear a laughing vamp over the chaos*