A few minutes earlier,
“Does your heart race?” Aether asked cautiously, his voice a gentle whisper as he stood close to Helena… his breath warm against her skin.
[+400 AP]
Helena swallowed hard, feeling her throat tighten. “Y-Yes,” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest that it felt like it might burst. The sound of it echoed in her ears, amplifying her anxiety. She glanced at Aether, worried that he might hear it, that he might sense the turmoil within her.
Aether’s eyes softened, and he leaned in just a fraction closer, “So does mine,” he confessed, his voice trembling, “M-My heart is racing faster than ever.”
Helena’s eyes widened in surprise, her thoughts swirling. ‘So, he feels it too,’ she thought, her mind racing. The realization that Aether was experiencing the same intense sensations filled her with a strange mix of pity and empathy.
How had he managed to bear this overwhelming sensation?
Aether’s gaze held hers, a soft intensity in his eyes, “I think if we touch,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky tone, “we might be able to find the reason.”
“T-Touch?” Helena echoed, her voice quivering with a mixture of fear and…. anticipation?
She instinctively stepped back, her heart already pounding erratically. The idea of physical contact, of feeling his touch, sent a thrill through her that she couldn’t quite explain.
What would happen if he touched her? The uncertainty sent a shiver down her spine.
Aether noticed her hesitation and smiled reassuringly. He didn’t press her, but his voice held a gentle persuasion, “Yes, touch,” he repeated, his tone soothing yet insistent.
“Maybe we’ll understand why our hearts race like this. Perhaps it’s because we got sick at the same time…” His gaze wandered over her face, noting the flush creeping up her cheeks. Aether’s eyes sparkled as he added, “And who knows, you might even get praised by the Archpriestess for uncovering the truth… Don’t you want to see how proud she would be of you?”
His words were like honey, sweet and tempting, drawing her in with their allure.
Helena hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She finally nodded, her heart racing even faster. Slowly, she stepped forward, raising her hand toward him…
Aether mirrored her movements, his eyes never leaving hers. As he raised his hand, the space between them seemed to shrink. He moved towards her… slowly, deliberately, each movement filled with purpose.
Just as their hands were about to touch, Helena’s cheeks flamed with a deep blush. “G-Gently, please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Aether’s smile widened, warm and reassuring, “I will be really gentle, Helena~” he promised, his voice soft and tender.
The way he said her name, with such intimacy and affection, sent a shiver through her.
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[+500 AP]
Their fingers met, skin brushing against skin, and a spark seemed to ignite between them….. A shiver ran down Helena’s spine, a sensation like electricity coursing through her veins. It was as if they were connected by an invisible thread, an unknown force that drew them closer.
‘Ba-Dump’
Helena’s heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching as the touch sent waves of sensation coursing through her. Her cheeks flushed even more, a deep red that spread down her neck. She shyly lowered her head, overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotions.
Aether watched her, his own heart racing. Inwardly, he marvelled at her innocence and the way she reacted to his touch. ‘She’s really cute,’ he thought, a tender smile playing on his lips as he stared at their joined hands and….
“!!!!!” Helena flinched when she felt Aether’s fingers intertwine with hers.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear. Aether, noticing her reaction, quickly reassured her, though there was an awkwardness to his voice. “I thought this might help us understand even more… Why don’t you try it too?”
Helena hesitated, her mind a storm of conflicting emotions. She stared into Aether’s eyes, seeing the curiosity and genuine concern there.
Slowly, hesitantly, she entwined her fingers with his, the sensation both thrilling and terrifying. Now, their hands were completely intertwined, and both Aether and Helena found themselves lost in each other’s eyes.
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…
Helena’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it might leap out of her chest. Her face felt like it was on fire, the blush spreading to the tips of her ears. The intensity of Aether’s gaze was almost too much to bear, and she found herself wanting to look away, to escape the overwhelming emotions that were flooding her senses.
“It’s a crucial experiment; we need to look at each other, Helena,” Aether’s voice broke through the haze of her thoughts, firm and serious.
Helena gulped, her throat dry. ‘C-Come on, Helena!! You need to cooperate!!’ she chided herself inwardly. ‘Look at him, he’s doing everything he can to find a cure for this sickness, and yet…’ She mentally scolded herself for her hesitation. Summoning all her courage, she met his gaze once more, her eyes locking onto his ice-blue ones…..
They were mesmerizing, like a deep, endless ocean that she could drown in–
‘W-What am I thinking!!’ She screamed inwardly, her thoughts spiralling as her cheeks burned even brighter. Her toes curled against the floor, her shyness was evident and the intense emotions roiled within her.
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!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 37%↑]
Aether grinned inwardly, unable to suppress the joy he felt at her reaction.
To be honest, There was a part of him that wanted to tease her more, to see her blush and squirm under his gaze. However, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside, reminding himself of the importance of their task, ‘Begone dark thoughts!!’ he mentally chided himself, focusing his mind on the seriousness of their situation… He didn’t want his efforts to go to waste!
“W-What do you feel now?” Aether asked, his voice a soft whisper, his cheeks flushing a deep red.
Helena felt a wave of panic wash over her.
It was always Aether who first described the side effects, but now he was asking her to go first. Her heart raced even faster, and she bit her lip, uncertain. “Y-You can go first…” she murmured, her voice trembling.
There was a part of her that feared sharing her feelings as if revealing them would strip her of something precious, though she couldn’t quite name what it was.
Aether didn’t push her. He nodded, his own cheeks tinged with a soft blush, “M-My heart is racing, my body trembling… My entire focus is on your hand and your hand alone!” His voice was filled with a raw, honest vulnerability, “It’s as if I want more, but I’m not sure what I want.”
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Helena’s eyes widened in surprise. “M-Me too!!” she exclaimed, genuinely shocked to hear that their experiences were so similar. The realization struck her with a strange, almost ominous clarity, ‘This must be some kind of dangerous sickness,’ she thought, the idea unsettling.
“I see…” Aether nodded, his expression thoughtful. He seemed to be grappling with the same concerns. His face suddenly grew more serious, and he looked directly into her eyes. “I think… we should have more contact.”
“M-More contact? Even more than this?” Helena’s voice was filled with shock and a hint of fear. Her heart was already on the verge of bursting just from this simple hand contact, and now Aether was suggesting even more.
The idea was almost too much to bear.
She would definitely not allow that!!
Just as she was about to reject the idea, Aether interjected, his voice gentle, “The Archpriestess would be happy to see the results of your examination about this new sickness… Do you not want that?”
Hearing ‘Archpriestess’ again made Helena hesitate. She desperately wanted to make the Archpriestess proud of her efforts; that was the whole reason she was even cooperating with Aether in the first place.
Helena hesitantly nodded, her decision made.
Aether smiled weakly, “If you feel uncomfortable, you can stop, and we can just tell the Archpriestess what we found. She might be able to find the answer… though you might lose the chance to gain her praises,” he said, his expression turning pitiful, as if the idea of her missing out on such recognition saddened him deeply.
[+700 AP] ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Helena felt a small smile tug at her lips. Seeing Aether worry about her comfort touched her heart. She gently replied, “It’s fine. We will do this together!” Her voice was filled with newfound resolve, a determination to see this through.
Aether let out a small. Slowly, he raised his hand…. Helena gulped, trying to calm her racing heart. ‘Calm down, calm down, calm down…’ she repeated to herself, closing her eyes in preparation for his touch.
But the touch never came….. Helena opened her eyes, only to find Aether’s face inches from hers, his eyes shut tightly. Her face turned beet red as she looked down, realizing he was hugging her without actually touching her.
The gesture was so tender, so considerate, that it made her heart melt.
‘He’s really worried about my discomfort… Ah, he truly is a gentleman!’ she thought, a small smile spreading across her lips. Aether’s actions spoke volumes about his character, his gentleness, and his genuine concern for her well-being.
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Helena steeled herself, her resolve solidifying. She couldn’t let this man, who was so dedicated to helping her find the cause of their sickness, bear the burden alone.
She needed to cooperate, to be brave!
Taking a deep breath, Helena moved her trembling hands to rest on Aether’s back. With a face flushed deep red, she hugged him tightly, her body pressing against his…. A shiver ran down her spine as their bodies touched, the sensation electrifying and overwhelming.
Her heart skipped a beat, her legs trembled, and her face, neck, and ears burned with a fierce blush…. There was a tingling sensation in her stomach, an unfamiliar but not entirely unpleasant feeling.
‘M-My sickness is getting worse,’ she thought, though she didn’t pull away. Instead, she held on, clinging to him as if he were her anchor in a stormy sea.
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…..
…
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 38%↑]
Aether’s lips curled up like a… Devil!