If he fell asleep first, he wouldn't wake up until the next morning, increasing the risks of a breakthrough. Both of them remained silent for a while until Lith found his answer.
"Why don't you come closer? Back at the mining town, you had no problem sleeping beside me. Or was I just some kind of teddy bear to you?" He said with his best smile. Lith knew from experience that Phloria was weak to cuddles.
They made her sleep like a baby.
Phloria swallowed a lump of saliva, taking only her shoes off before going under the blankets with him. She wrapped her arms around Lith, making him flinch.
The unexpected warm embrace soothed his restless spirit for the first time since he had regained his senses. Lith couldn't stop looking at her while she rubbed her body against his, making him feel pleasure and embarrassment at the same time.
"To think that you mocked me so badly for using my uniform as pajamas and now you do the same." He tried to stop her by caressing her hair and kissing her gently, but it only made things worse.
He heard her emit a soft moan while she shivered under his touch.
"You are right. It's a little hypocritical of me." Phloria's head disappeared under the sheets. Lith heard a rustling sound before seeing her naked arm throwing away the shirt first and the pants later.
"Is it better now?" She asked pressing her body against his again. Lith only wore light pajamas, there was little he couldn't feel through the fabric and the same could be said for her..
"I should have done this much earlier." She said giving him a gentle kiss, unsure how much he could take. In her eyes, Lith was like a cracked vase. Also, she had no idea what she was doing.
"I was so scared. I thought I had lost you for good." She started sobbing, clinging to him for comfort. Lith was moved by her boldness and at the same time frozen in surprise.
No matter how long he looked at her, nothing happened. Lith could see Phloria's body only down to her shoulders, the rest was covered by the sheets, but she was the picture of health and stayed that way.
He was so relieved that his hands wrapped her back, caressing it along the spine and enjoying her soft skin. He sensed her shivering again, but this time he was able to notice that it wasn't because of pleasure, she was wound up like a drum.
"Lith, I have to tell you before it's too late: I l¡" Lith placed his hand on her lips, stopping her before it really was too late.
"No, you don't." He said as he never stopped caressing her head.
"It's a little too early for you to use that word. We met months ago, but we have only really known each other for barely a month. You are not ready for this and neither am I. You are just scared of the future, so you are rushing blindly to escape from your fears."
Lith didn't know whether he was talking to her or himself.
"I care too much about you to let you make this mistake. It would scar both of us and likely put an end to our relationship. Never make important decisions when you are angry or afraid.
"Those are not the kind of emotions you want to let cloud your judgment. They will always make you pick the wrong path. You deserve someone better than me, especially now that I look like your grandpa."
Phloria managed to chuckle even if she was still sobbing a little.
"The Phloria I know is bold, but not reckless. I'm not going to die anytime soon, so there's no reason to force yourself." He kissed her back gently, needing his sheer willpower to keep his hands on her head.
"All I want is for you to be happy. When you have calmed down, if you still think I can make you happy, we'll resume this conversation. I beg of you, remember that I am a broken person and that I have been broken once again.
You deserve someone normal and sane, while I could shatter anytime and hurt you."
Phloria never stopped sobbing, but he could sense her relaxing under his touch.
"There is only one thing that I must ask of you before the night ends." He said, wiping away her tears with his hands.
"Anything." She replied blushing violently.
"Please, put your clothes on, or when our mothers will enter this room tomorrow morning, they'll start arranging our wedding."
'Also, even in this debilitated state, I don't know how much longer I can hold myself back.'
Lith inwardly added. He knew that, between being emotionally vulnerable and the self-inflicted prolonged isolation from all kinds of human contact, he was really susceptible to temptations from the only girl that he had allowed to become close to him, both physically and emotionally.
There was only so much he could take before his pubescent body took the wheel. Phloria was well aware of this since she could feel something hard pressing against her abdomen from the moment she had taken off her clothes.
She turned off the lights before getting out of the bed. Luckily, she hadn't thrown her uniform far and it was designed to easily come on and off. Lith instantly started regretting what he had done and the fact that none of his abilities allowed him to see in the dark.Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
Chapter 229 Moving On 2
As soon as Phloria fell asleep, Lith got out of the bed and used Accumulation. This was the second time that a battle to the death had pushed him on the verge of a breakthrough. If not for his debilitated state, it would have already happened.
The process was even more painful than the last time. Not only his bones, but also his flesh kept being destroyed and regenerated almost at the same time to force the impurities out of his body.
Lith had enveloped himself inside the Hush spell, to prevent anyone from hearing his screams, but not before checking the room for listening or recording magical devices.
He had the feeling that there was very little Jirni Ernas wouldn't do to reach her goals. After finding none, Lith could afford to relax. He tasked Solus to get rid of the impurities as soon as they appeared, in case he didn't make it back to bed.
Leaving any kind of proof behind wasn't an option.
The process was slow and excruciating, but it brought him one step closer to the blue core. Lith didn't know if it was due to exhaustion or because of Phloria embracing him even in her sleep, however that night he finally felt at peace with himself.
***
The next morning, the awkward relationship Raaz and Orion had developed turned even more awkward. Unlike Jirni, who was able to talk about any topic, the two men had nothing in common outside of being both parents.
Yet their wives were spending a lot of time together and were pressing them to do the same. The only thing they could talk about was their children, their experiences in raising them, and their expectations about their future.
So, when they entered the room and found Lith and Phloria laying on the same bed, Raaz was really happy to see that she had slept above the sheets while Lith was under them. There was a throbbing vein on Orion's neck that didn't bode well.
"I swear to the gods, if it wasn't for the fact that he is my guest and he is already injured, I would be tempted to kill your son. How do you manage to be so calm despite having two daughters?" Orion asked.
"The gods seem to love me." Raaz scratched his head nervously.
"Rena didn't start dating until she became an adult while Tista doesn't seem interested in dating anyone. She has set her standards too high. She compares everyone to her brother. How can a country boy measure up to a magician?"
"Maybe I've failed as a father." Orion sighed. "She is still so young and yet so reckless. What did I do wrong?"
Raaz would have liked to reply that Phloria was already past fifteen years old. On Mogar, the new world, most girls that age would already be at their second or third relationship.
Being the father of the culprit and being Orion a head taller than him, Raaz preferred to remain silent. He knew what he would have done if their situations were reversed.
"Time to wake up, my little Flower. Breakfast is ready."
"
Thanks, dad." Phloria was a bit embarrassed, making her cheeks turn red. Not about her father finding her on the bed, but at the thought of what had almost happened.
"How do you feel, son?" Raaz caressed Lith's grey hair. The refining process had boosted Lith's magical and physical abilities, but it had left him even more exhausted than the day before.
"Much better, thanks." Raaz didn't believe him, Lith was barely able to remain conscious. Yet he wasn't lying, his mental condition had greatly improved.
'What almost happened last night made me understand that dad is right. Protector's death isn't anyone's fault. I would have done anything to save Carl's life, even if it meant losing my own. I can't stop others from fighting for those they love.
'It would be as cruel as hypocritical of me. He sacrificed himself doing what he believed right, just like I almost did. Protecting someone is much harder than killing, too many things can go wrong. That's why I need power, much more than I already have!'
Lith smiled softly to his father, his mind was at peace. His body was a mess though. Right after a breakthrough, until the body naturally recovered its strength, Invigoration was useless.
In another couple of days, Lith was able to walk without help. His hair was returning to its natural color and most of the wrinkles were gone.
"Remarkable, simply outstanding." Manohar was enthusiast of his progress.
"Your recovery speed is unheard of. I had patients in a condition far less severe than yours and it took them weeks to get where you are now." He had become Lith's personal healer since the first day he had been bedridden.Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
Manohar was very fond of Lith, considering him one of the few people with enough brain it was worth talking to. Also, he was too scared of Lady Ernas to refuse her request.
She had even befriended his mother, the second person Manohar feared the most in the three great countries, right after Queen Sylpha. Unless he decided to disappear again, Jirni would always know where to find him.
Yet if he did, the Queen had promised him that she would make sure it be the last. She had already prepared the official document ordering his execution, it would only take a signature to make it effective.
Lith and Jirni spent quite some time together. She would often accompany him during his walks, discussing with him about many different topics. Thanks to Soluspedia, he rarely found himself at loss for words.
'I don't know if by meeting her expectations I'm improving our relationship or I'm digging my own grave.' Lith thought.
He continued to experience visions of the death of whoever he watched for too long. It required a lot of willpower to stop the phenomenon, leading him to believe it was all in his head.
He couldn't care for maids or butlers, but every time he saw a member of his family or Phloria die horribly, his heart would cringe. Even if he knew it was just an illusion, it didn't make it any less painful.
It was a mild form of torture that put his mind under serious stress while his body kept getting better by the day. A few days after the breakthrough, Lith had regained his old appearance, even getting a little taller.
'There are only two possibilities. This Death Vision thingy is caused by my mental trauma or it's a consequence of my attempt to save Protector. Either way, I can't wait for it to be gone.'
Lith had just seen Jirni die by poison, her face was blue and swollen in his eyes, bleeding from all her orifices. Talking to living corpses was too much even for someone as cynical as him.
"I'm pleased to see how knowledgeable you are." Jirni sat down on a wicker chair near a small table, prompting him to do the same. They had been walking in the park surrounding the mansion until they found a dining area.
"That's not enough though. I'm sorry for being so blunt while you are still recovering, but I couldn't help but notice how much my daughter cares for you. I want only the best for her and I need to know that we are on the same page about it.
"What are your intentions towards her? I know you are still young, but she is not. I have no problem if what's going between you it's just a fling. Phloria is completely inexperience about love. She has to start somewhere and sooner is better than later.
"However, I want you to be completely honest with me and of course with her too. If you are not serious about this relationship, she has the right to know it." Lith recognized how Jirni was looking at him.
It was the same way he did at everyone he met. She was trying to determine if he was someone valuable or just a disposable tool. Despite her tone was calm and her manners impeccable, Lith had never felt so pressured before.
Not even when Marchioness Distar had taken him prisoner in her house until he had cured her daughter. Lith pinched his nose, he needed to think without being haunted by ghastly visions.
"I really like your daughter, Lady Ernas. Both as a friend and as an invaluable companion. Yet I can't promise you or her anything. I have planned my future way ahead of time and I can tell you that marriage it's not part of the plan.
"Once I become an adult, I'll join the army. It will only be the beginning of my journey. There are things that I must do before settling down and I have no idea how long it will take. I can't ask Phloria, or anyone for that matters, to wait for me."
Jirni nodded, pleased by his honesty.
'At his age, most teenagers confuse daydreaming with planning, but if he's like me, then he is dead serious. I can't force him into marriage, it would mean making an enemy out of him and most importantly, it would make Phloria miserable.
'However, it is not over yet. There's no telling how their feelings can evolve, especially since they have yet to experience real intimacy.'
"Just make sure she is well aware of your intentions. The rest is up to her, Phloria is her own woman. Here, this is a token of my goodwill, in case you should change your mind." Jirni took out of her dimensional amulet a white hardcovered book, handing it to Lith with both her hands.
There was no title nor illustration on the front cover, making Lith curious about its nature. He only needed to open it to a random page to realize it was the new world equivalent of the Kamasutra for beginners.
"Well, well, well." Lady Ernas said with a surprised tone.
"You didn't become beet red nor I can see any sign of arousal after you watched at those pictures. This means that you are not a virgin or at least you are devoid of emotions. Remember my words: if you make my little Flower suffer and I will return everything in kind."
'Now I'm sure of it. I'm definitely digging my own grave.' Lith thought.
***
Another week passed, Lith had completely recovered from his condition. The only traces left of his trauma were the grey streaks between his hair and the Death Vision still plaguing every moment of his life he shared with others.
He seemed to have finally hit his growth spurt. His hunger was through the roof and he could feel his muscles and joints aching.
The White Griffon academy had reopened, allowing the students to go back for the last month of the last trimester. It had been a long year, no one was really in the mood for more studying, not even Lith.
Yet he was happy to be finally out of house Ernas. Lith was tired of Phloria's parents constantly staring at him, even though with completely different mindsets. Jirni had worked hard to give them some alone time whenever it was possible, while Orion had put as much effort to foil his wife's plans.
Also, he was eager to go back to his all-nighters to work on the boxes remaining in his pocket dimension. There was something scratching at the back of his head, telling him that something was wrong. He hadn't experienced any more visions, but it meant nothing.
'It could mean that I have succeeded in avoiding that future or that it's still pending. Whatever it is, I need to find out the truth and fast!'
Since his recovery, Lith had used all the alone time he had, including the bathroom breaks, to study with Invigorati
on the shotel Orion had borrowed to him. His heart bled when he had been forced to separate himself from that masterpiece, but he had no choice.
The sword had been specifically designed to counter Balkor's undead and Orion had no reason to gift him something so precious. He had managed to gather enough data about the pseudo cores and the magic crystals embedded in an item to be confident about opening the sealed boxes.
The first person he met on the fourth year floor was Yurial. Lith was so shocked by his appearance that he had to blink several times to make sure Death Vision wasn't responsible for what he was seeing.
Yurial had lost several kilograms, his eyes were bloodshot and dilated.
"Yurial, what the heck happened to you?" Lith asked.
"Nice to meet you too, old friend." Yurial hugged him, leaving Lith flabbergasted.
"Are you high or something?"
"Or something. Please, come to my room. I really need someone to talk to."
Lith had recognized the symptoms of drug abuse, so he followed him without asking any more questions.
Yurial told to Lith everything that had happened to him since his return home, from his efforts to change his father's mind to his tranquilizer addiction. His story was highlighted by many attempts to take a sip from a vial which Lith foiled every time.
"This is different from the second exam. Back then, I just had to get over my trauma and I had my father by my side. You have no idea how much it meant to me that for once he took some time to take care of me instead of give me lectures.
"Not to mention I had the girls to keep me company, I was never alone." Yurial half laughed and half cried the whole time.
"I can't get over my future. I'm scared sh*tless of it, I feel trapped like a mouse. I'm so sorry for never visiting you, but I didn't know what to say. I was too afraid you would have blamed me for your friend's death."
"Sadly, I would have probably done it." Lith sighed.
"I spent my first day awake trying to find a scapegoat. I'm still having a hard time accepting what happened." Lith shared with him the details about his Death Vision and how it was driving him insane.
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