Chapter 269: Personal Warmth

Chapter 269: Personal Warmth

Theres so much that can go wrong here

With darkness falling and the lights casting long shadows across this massive road, despite the sizable number of spirit beasts around, I can feel my mood dropping as well.

My eyes remain fixated on the mountaintop.

The rest of the group circles the carriages for the night, with the spirit beasts settling into a defensive position. Some ones flying are circling around the encampment in the air and the grounded ones are just outside the wagon line.Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

I am standing outside of it, but I soon hear footsteps approaching from behind. A warm hand touches my arm with some affection.

Ai.

Her long, tangled silvery hair blows slightly in the wind. Despite my scan picking up her and Lins movement toward me, I hadnt expected the reassuring feeling that would come from her touch.

I almost subconsciously turn towards her and meet her grey eyes, nestled on her freckled face.

Lin isnt far behind and stands beside her, though she hasnt moved to do anything.

The air between us differs from when we were at the tower.

There, it seemed like we were in work mode. Planning what to do and working with our new allies, Shi and Mei Lin, to do things right.

Now? Even though I could feel immense amounts of apprehension towards whats coming next, they seemed to dissipate that with their mere presence.

Just by looking at them like this, my mind drifts back to them as we were first starting out.

Two struggling, awkward, and mistrustful sisters who had just gone through an immensely harrowing experience. And coming from a traumatic childhood, all the way to adulthood.

Being thrust into situation after situation, while figuring out the relationship between us.

But its not even just about me and them.

With Ai having had her Myriad Slime condition healed and improved to a beneficial constitution, the relationship between even them had to change. With the traumas and habits from that clashing as well.

All leading to now.

Where I see two strong looking women, one silver haired that still holds the air of a noble elder sister, and the other, black-haired with a strong, confident air about her.

Theyve certainly grown fast in the short time weve been away from each other.

It is amongst these thoughts that I hear Ais voice ring out.

Looks like were coming close, arent we? To actually doing this.

I feel comfort from the hand that remains on my shoulder. It makes want to be better. To be stronger for them and the others behind us and waiting for us back in Monchon City.

Yeah. Therell be a lot to do there. And people we know will want to see us.

I turn a newly confident grin toward her and Lin.

They probably already knew my response would be yes, but it has been a while since we talked on a more personal level. The times we spent on the bed in Gongs caves werent that long ago but seem like it, with all thats happened.

Things can change so quickly.

Re-acknowledging the connections you have and vocalizing it is truly important for relationships.

As I well know from my time back on Earth.

God, I miss them.

Im definitely not going to mess this up.

After hearing my words, she gives my hand another squeeze before running off with a reddened face.

Now it is Ai that moves closer.

So, you know, Ive been telling her to talk more about how she feels about you. We werent really able to do that back in the alleyways but we needed to change now.

She looks away for a moment, not meeting my eyes.

There were a few things we had to talk about.

Like about dad.

She goes silent.

I say nothing as well. Giving her the space to come up with words. Or even none at all.

Not everything has to be explained.

It seems she opts for the latter.

But like Lin said, Im glad we are back together. I missed you.

And thats when I feel her face buried in my chest. The soft scent of her hair fills my nose.

Im kind of glad that shes been doing well enough to take care of herself and things like that.

She doesnt say anything, but nuzzles into my chest a bit further.

My hand lifts in the air to do something, but Im not sure if I should. I end up going for it, anyway.

I slowly place my hand on her head, slowly rubbing it affectionately. Trying to show care.

She freezes, but then nuzzles a little more and I feel some wetness on my chest. Of course, I ignore it.

Im glad Im here.

I will make sure things go right. I promise it.