Chapter 352 - Heading To The Great Elenahiers Dungeon III

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~~~(POV: Helda Vora)~~~

~~~(Location: Traveling with the group)~~~

~~~(Time: 5:29 PM)~~~

We're getting closer to our destination, but we've still got plenty of ground to cover. All this time in my head with my thoughts has made me realize something. Melimora and I aren't as close as I'd like us to be. This has come to my attention thanks to the many things I've seen with Hailey and Cera. The sibling relationship they have is something I want for Meli and me.

Meli has become distant these last few days, hardly even talking to me anymore. It's natural for people to drift apart, but I didn't think this would happen with Meli and me. "Have you been well since the last time we talked?" Speaking of Melimora, she's having a conversation with Ashburn. He's a good man, and he likes Meli. It's not hard to see he's interested in her.

She's a big girl that can observe things for what they are. She doesn't need my help or input. I'm leading the group alone by about 10 feet. "Depends on what your definition for well is, Ash. To me, things have been at a far lower standard than I'd like them at, but I can't complain due to what we're doing right now." Yes, who would've thought we'd end up going after the royal family.

Ashburn stays silent, and there is tension between the two. Mostly from Meli's response. When a person that's interested in you asks you how you're doing, it's a question to see if now is a good time to talk about something more. People think that asking the ones they like personal questions in a hard time is a bad thing.

I couldn't really tell you if they are or not, those are things that I've observed over my life from the interactions of those around me. "I'll be honest, Melimora. I wasn't expecting that answer. You normally have the same two answers. One answer is fine, and the second answer is slow. This is the first time I've heard you talk like this before." He listens to her... That's sweet...

Rare to find in a man these days... Elven men especially. He passes the bar that's been set all these years, and he could fetch any girl he wanted due to these traits. He's got his heart and eyes firmly set on Meli, though. "There is something I can say that's insensitive in response to that, but I'm not going to say it." A single chuckle comes from my lips at Meli's response.

She's been like this for as long as I can remember, and it's one of the qualities that Ashburn likes. If he didn't, he would've stopped trying 55 years ago. "I'm glad you didn't, then. You're words cut deeper than you think, Melimora. You know that, right?" She doesn't respond, and the quiet tension between the two gets worse as time goes on.

~~~(POV: Saliandra Orvello)~~~

~~~(Location: Traveling with the group)~~~

~~~(Time: 5:50 PM)~~~

It's strange seeing someone as stiff and rigid as Melimora having someone interested in her... It goes to show that someone is out there for everyone. Poor Ashburn... He's trying his best, but he's not getting much from her. She either doesn't know or is so uninterested in Ashburn that she'd rather drive him off with the cold shoulder.

Cera is walking next to me and is watching with an amused look on his face. He moves closer to me and lowers his head to whisper. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" No, I know that I'm not. He's probably scheming something that will cause some sort of conflict. He rolls his eyes as I turn my head away from him and let out a huff.

I'll not participate in childish behavior. I'm over 100 years old, and I'll not be involved in whatever he's planning. "Just enjoy the show then, cause this is going to be fun." He starts to walk forward, but I grab his hand and try to drag him back away from the two ahead of us. He stops and looks back at me, seeing the drag marks from my boots in the dirt.

~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Traveling with the group)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:02 PM)~~~

She's being a spoilsport with the way she's trying to prevent me from speeding Ashburn's and Melimora's awkward and cringy conversation. "You're not going over there if it means I have to make you..." She tries talking in an angry whisper, and she's not wrong in this situation. I'm not doing this to be mean. I'm doing this to help both of them.

Sometimes an uncomfortable topic or conversation needs a little push. Melimora either doesn't know or refuses to acknowledge Ashburn's feelings. What I'm doing is opening the door and bringing it out in the open. While it is fun to do this. Ashburn could end up wasting his time in the end. This will give him the answer he needs.

Meilmora is someone who prefers direct confrontation, the quickest path. He'll waste too many years on Melimora if he continues trying to do it this way. "Sally... What would you do?" My low whispered question causes her to raise her eyebrows in shock. Assuming that I would already know the answer to that. Which I do.

She'll say that it's none of her business and we should stay out of it, and she's right. When something is right, it doesn't always mean it's the thing you need to do. Doing the wrong thing at the right time can be far more useful than doing the right thing at the right time. "Of course I wouldn't interfere, you idiot!?" She lets out a yelling whisper.

~~~(POV: Hailey Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Traveling with the group)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:07 PM)~~~

Cera starts walking again, and I watch Sally struggle to stop him with all her might. It's like watching someone try and stop a car. Her legs are slowly sinking into the ground the closer Cera gets to Ashburn and Melimora. He makes it to them, and they both look at him in confusion. They look over his shoulder and see Sally trying her hardest.

His eyes meet Melimora's, and he looks at Ashburn. Ashburn realizes what's about to happen and slowly starts to panic. "You know that Ashburn likes you, right?" His question hits the ears of everyone present, and I soon hear stifled laughter from the girl I'm walking next to. I softly elbow Jasmine's shoulder to get her to stop talking.

Ashburn has a look of horror on his face, like doom as befallen him. It's a hilarious expression! I have to try my hardest from seeing the expression. It's one of the funniest I've ever seen. Melimora raises an eyebrow and looks at Ashburn. "You like me?" So she didn't know, that's a good thing and a bad thing. Mostly good, though.

Ashburn looks like a deer caught in the headlights, he's at a loss for words. He does his best to straighten up and compose himself from his flustered state. Melimora is waiting for an answer with a genuinely curious look on her face. "Yeah... I've liked you for a long time... Is that weird for you?" His nervous voice levels out after getting over the worst of it.

The entire group has stopped now that this is happening, she looks him in the eyes and she takes a small breath. "It's not weird, in my opinion. That explains why you're always nervous around me, I thought you hated me or something." He has a dumbfounded expression on his face, that's not a rejection, but it's not a reciprocation either. He turns his head towards Cera, with dead eyes. 

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.193]

[Exp: 3/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 30] [Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [Hardened Tree sap Armor (Very Rare)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Sally's Dresses 5x] [Camping gear] [Food Rations 4x] [Dried meat 4x] [Fishing poles 2x] [Fish 8x] [Festival Garbs 2x]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.59 325/5900] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.59 225/5900] [Slash Lvl..77 4600/130000] [Parry Lvl.53 80/5300] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controled Fun]