206 Chapter 45.3 – Preparations for the Hunt
“Let’s talk in private. Is it okay if we use your room?” The moment those words left Astron’s, Sylvie’s mind immediately wandered off around everywhere, and she couldn’t think for a second.
‘He wants to use my room? What is he planning to do?’
She asked herself. But as she looked at the emotions he had, she noticed there was nothing impure.
Thus, she accepted it. Even if she knew that there weren’t any impure thoughts in his head, the events of the previous night were affecting her, so she felt a little fear as the bloody scene appeared in front of her.
But contrary to what she thought, what he said was too different.
“Sylvie, do you know how to use your powers?”
‘My powers?’
As Astron asked it, she looked at him surprised.
‘Does he know?’
Her newly awakened trait, [First Lord’s Authority]. She knew it was very important.
“W-what do you mean?”
Astron noticed Sylvie’s surprise but continued, “Sylvie, I noticed something different about you during the fight. Your healing ability is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s powerful, almost miraculous.”
Sylvie’s eyes widened slightly as she understood how calm Astron was, and there were no impurities in his feelings once again. “R-really?”
Not many people knew that, but she was weak to praise, especially from people whose feelings were important to her.
“Really.” Astron nodded his head, his eyes resolute.
“T-thank you.”
“But.” Astron didn’t stop. “Most healers don’t have only healing abilities,” Astron explained gently. “Their powers are often diverse, and they are considered supports. You must know it very well.”
He said, his purple eyes boring through Sylvie’s shining green eyes. “That’s right,” Sylvie replied, as this was her own profession.
“Besides healing, they may possess the ability to enchant weapons, strengthen allies, or provide various buffs. It’s a wide range of skills that complement and enhance their team.” Astron approached Sylvie while talking.
Sylvie flinched a little but didn’t back down, as she didn’t sense any threat from him.
“So far, you have used your healing and buff skills on me. But there is something else I need you to do right now.” Grabbing her cold, tender hand with his right hand, he had put it on his left hand, where five purple rings were being worn.
‘Hick.’
Sylvie flinched a little at his touch, goosebumps appearing on her skin. But it wasn’t because she felt bad. Her heart started beating faster than it had ever been with his touch.
As the tip of her fingers touched the rings, Astron continued. “Sylvie, I need you to enchant these rings with your mana,” Astron said, his voice a soft whisper that echoed in the quiet room.
Sylvie’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She understood the task, but the proximity and the intensity of the moment left her momentarily breathless.
She could feel the warmth of Astron’s hand, and her own mana responded to the unspoken connection.
And the word ‘need’ especially awoke something inside her, as she felt one of the same emotions last time.
‘If I can be any help to him…..’
“I-I can do that,” she stammered, her cheeks slightly flushed. With a deep breath, she focused on the rings, channeling her mana into them. The rings glowed with a soft, holy light as her enchantment took effect.
She had never done enchantment before, and neither did she know how to do so. But she only followed her instincts and poured her all into doing what she was asked.
As her mana intertwined with the rings, Sylvie felt an unexpected weight being lifted from her shoulders. The realization that she could contribute more than she thought filled her with a sense of accomplishment.
‘I’m not just a healer. I can do more.’
Slowly, as she continued working and putting all her concentration into what she was doing, she felt like the world around her stopped moving. At that moment, only she and Astron remained.
All her worries, the memories that had been haunting her, slowly disappeared. The events of yesterday, the cold-blooded murderer filled with hatred, the bloody scene, Mason’s screams, Astron’s tattered body filled with wounds…Everything slowly became a background detail as she simply focused on using her powers.
She felt like she was born to do this.
The idea of being a valuable asset to the people, especially to him, made her heart swell with newfound confidence.
For the first time, she felt a sense of empowerment, and the fear that had lingered from the previous night began to dissipate.
As the enchantment neared completion, Sylvie felt a surge of energy, and the black rings began to emit a warm, golden glow—the holy light intertwined with her mana, creating a mesmerizing display of magical prowess.
Reality slowly seeped back in, and Sylvie blinked, realizing that the once-stopped world was now in motion again. The rings, now transformed, emitted a gentle radiance that reflected in Astron’s eyes.
‘I did it. I actually did it.’
In that intimate moment, Sylvie became aware that she was still holding Astron’s hand with her two hands. A faint blush tinted her cheeks as embarrassment washed over her. ʀᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛʀs ᴀᴛ ovl_Fir.et
‘Oh no, I should let go.’
The desire to withdraw her hands rose quickly, but a lingering desire to hold him a little longer lingered in her heart.
‘Why do I want to hold on? This wasn’t part of the enchantment process.’
Unsure of her own feelings, she hesitated for a moment. Yet, an unexpected sense of comfort and relaxation had settled over her when she held Astron’s hand.
‘I’ll just keep it for a little longer.’
Despite it not being part of the enchantment, Sylvie gently retained her grip on Astron’s hand. She couldn’t ignore the warmth and solace she felt, and, for now, that seemed more important than the protocol.
‘For some reason, if I let him go right now, I feel like he will do something dangerous.’
From the moment [First Lord’s Authority] appeared, her instinct never disappointed her, and now it was screaming at her to hold him. She inwardly knew why he sought this enchantment. She wasn’t dumb, though she might be naïve.
‘He is going for Senior Maya.’
She knew where he was going to go.
“Sylvie.”
The sound of her name rolling off Astron’s lips resonated in the room, and Sylvie couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth at the way he said it.
‘Why does hearing my name from him feel so… comforting?’
“Yes?” she responded, looking up at him with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
“You should let it go,” Astron said, pointing at his hand with his burrows.
“Ah….” Realizing she had been holding his hand for too long for him to notice, she became embarrassed. But she also didn’t want to let go.
“No.”
For the first time, she refused to do something.
“What?”
And the expression on his face was worthy of note. As if he was not expecting her actually to refuse….For the first time in a while, she saw him getting surprised.
Sylvie hesitated for a moment but found the courage to speak her mind. “Are you going to do something dangerous?” she asked, her eyes searching his for answers.
Astron didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he met her gaze with an intensity that spoke volumes. The silence lingered, and in that unspoken moment, Sylvie found her answer.
‘He is.’
The realization settled in, and a mixture of concern and determination welled up within her. Sylvie tightened her grip on Astron’s hand as if conveying a silent promise that she would stand by him.
“I won’t let go,” she declared, her voice firm.
“Really?”
Astron’s voice held a complex blend of surprise, gratitude, and something else Sylvie couldn’t quite place. But she knew one thing: she wasn’t going to be able to keep him here.
“….Wait….”
Just as he was about to take his hand back, she mumbled as she channeled her mana, this time directly to him.
‘Before, I was always useless.’
Just as Astron was about to retract his hand, Sylvie mumbled, her eyes focused on his.
‘This time, I will put everything.’
In that moment, she felt a surge of determination, and without fully understanding how to channel her powers, she let her mana flow directly into him.
A soft, warm light enveloped Astron, emanating from Sylvie’s unintentional but heartfelt act. It was an instinctual response, a blessing that came from the depths of her being.
Astron’s eyes widened in surprise, both at the unexpected enchantment and at the genuine care and goodwill he sensed in Sylvie’s touch.
“Y-you…..” He even stuttered, caught off-guard by the strength coursing through his veins.
She couldn’t help but smile at his flustered state.
“Giggle….”
And she giggled, feeling like she had seen a lot of firsts today coming from him. His flustered face and surprised eyes were a strange combination, and she made sure to engrave it into her head.
Though that feeling faded immediately since swiftly regaining his composure, Astron stood up.
“Ah….”
A slight emptiness filled both her hand and her heart. His warm hand was gone.
PAT! ‘Hmm?’
But at that moment, she felt something warm on her head.
09:08
‘What?’
Turning her eyes, she saw Astron.
He put his hand on Sylvie’s head, a gesture both comforting and approving. “You did well,” he said, a rare warmth in his eyes.
After that, without lingering, Astron made his way to the door, leaving Sylvie alone with her thoughts.
As Astron left, Sylvie couldn’t help but feel a sudden rush of embarrassment. The warmth of his approval still lingered in her thoughts, and her face flushed with the realization of what had transpired.
‘What just happened? Did I really do that?’ she questioned herself, her thoughts racing.
Her fingers tentatively touched her cheeks, now tinged with a rosy hue. ‘I’ve never felt this way before.’
Quickly, as if seeking refuge, she buried her face in the softness of her pillow, muffling a surprised giggle. ‘This is so strange, but…nice.’
The events of the day played like a vivid reel in her mind—the unexpected intimacy, the enchantment, and the newfound connection with Astron. ‘Is this how it feels to be close to someone?’
‘It was a lot to process,’ she acknowledged. The pillow became a comforting shield against the whirlwind of emotions she was experiencing. ‘I never thought today would turn out like this.’
Deep within her, there was a subtle joy, a feeling that she couldn’t entirely comprehend.
‘Something has changed, and I’m not sure what it is. But, it wasn’t bad.’
KNOCK!
At that moment, she felt someone knocking on her door. She made her way to the door, as she already knew who it was.
“Sylvie.”
Opening the door, she faced Senior Amelia.
“Senior Amelia.”
“Have you seen Astron?” Amelia asked. But she knew Astron didn’t want others to know where he went, so she decided to lie.
“No. I haven’t, after he left the room.”
It was an innocent lie.