Chapter 32: Are you afraid of something?

Strax barely felt his body, and Samira's magic was slowly fading. Unfortunately, they hadn't managed to find anything to make a fire, and Samira, being a body cultivator, had a really small Mana stock. Maybe she could last a few more hours with her flame, and that was alarming.

A shitty situation that Strax never thought he would encounter after just one day of travel. It's idiotic to think about it, but he had traveled for only one day, and he was already in a surreal and difficult situation.

"I don't know what to do," he thought. Of course, besides the negative thoughts, he saw those messages in the system, and it seemed like... the System wanted him to do something... Something he wanted to avoid now, but he went ahead.

[The Hidden Mission is at its Apex]

By changing his thoughts, the notification changed, proving that what he was thinking was right... "Damn," he thought.

"How's your arm?" Strax asked, breaking the silence. Samira gave a crooked smile. "Wish it wasn't like this," she said and added, "But thanks for the bandaging... no one ever did this for me." She replied, that astute and wild woman had slightly dimmed.

"You look different," Strax commented with a smile. The woman gradually... was catching a glimpse of a future that for her would be impossible.

"I... I'm not good at dealing with these things," Samira commented. Not even Strax knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Hm... I don't understand, but I can comprehend if you tell me, how about that?" Strax commented.

To improve the atmosphere of the place and at least reduce the emotional burden of the imminent end, it was the best solution now: to talk. That would calm both Strax and Samira, and maybe their thoughts would become clearer... Of course, that's what Strax was thinking... As for Samira...

'He's so... handsome,' Samira thought, seeing his flame illuminating Strax's determined face as they talked. She hadn't noticed before, but... this man... was special in a way.

They were very close, basically leaning on each other's bodies while sharing the cloak as a blanket... Silence enveloped them, only the soft sounds of shared breathing breaking the stillness of the night.

Samira looked into Strax's eyes. She was thinking of various things, but something had slightly changed. Strax was the same, he felt... attraction. Their hearts beat in unison as they both shared the complicated situation they found themselves in.

Without saying a word, seeing Samira staring at him, Strax slowly leaned in, his warm and familiar breath caressing Samira's face. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, as the warmth of his body mingled with hers in a cold and uncertain atmosphere.

Their lips met in a gentle touch, as if confirming something they both already knew. It was a soft and delicate kiss.

Time seemed to disappear around them, leaving only the comforting sensation of each other's presence. The warmth of their bodies seemed to dissipate the snowstorm and the cold weather. No intrusive thoughts disturbed that moment of pure intimacy, only the certainty that they were exactly where they should be.

When they finally parted, a tender smile played on both their lips, illuminating their faces with a unique glow.

Strax ignored the system messages for a few minutes as he tried to understand what had just happened between him and this beautiful woman... In fact, he didn't even know why he did that. He just... felt it was his destiny.

It wasn't something the System programmed. He had ignored the system and followed his heart in a complicated moment, and that had brought him a reward.

[You received a reward for the surprising advancement - You obtained the Skill (SSS) from the Harem System - Love Copy]