Chapter 188 - Jelly-Like Blob and The Savoury Tea

After seeing the blob, Aile got a sense of familiarity and using his enhanced sense of smell, he found out that the odour was familiar. Aile quickly remembered the fragrance because he had ingested such a scent not long ago. It came from the pill he took to fight the hallucination and misdirection of the forest's miasma.

Aile noticed that this was a smart ploy of alchemy union. They found out this spring and just used a very diluted version of the water to reduce the effect of miasma on everyone. They simply mixed it with cheap herbs to make it seem like they developed a pill. The blob being the raw ingredient to create the pill to traverse the forest. What better way to hide the secret ingredient but in plain sight.

Not only that, but it will also create the save zone in the forest, allowing more people to pass it, resulting in more sales. Possibly the fee's of this enclosure is also taken by them. Even though Aile figured out their ploy, he had no interest to interfere right now. He simply remembered the details that could possibly be used later. For now, he was not going to let go of such a treasure in front of him. Aile took the blob from the formation, it was meant to be taken out, so it was not heavily secured.

Then Aile covered his tracks by missing with the formation, making it seem less effective and increasing the range of dispersion of the water-like substance.

With his knowledge on runes, such minor change in the formation was possible. This would give the collector a reason for the lack of the blob when they come for its collection. Then he recreated the top dome with the previous material. Storing the concentrated blob of that semi-liquid (Jelly-like) in his storage ring and then Aile left to see how the food and tea are coming along.

Arriving back with a smile for his successful endeavour, Aile was greeted by the smell of tasty meat stew with vegetables and mildly spicy sauce. The seasonings covered the meat and vegetables in the sauce, which made it glisten and its aroma making one's mouth water. With bread and a spoon, the next minutes passed in gluttonous devouring of food and a unique carnal pleasure that only people that could appreciate food experience.

The three of them let out a sigh of satisfaction after the meal. While the tea was boiling slowly in the teapot placed over the fire. Guang left to get it, she looked at Aile and Xue sighing in relief that none of them followed her. She stirred the tea leaves that were boiling in the water to extract and move their flavours. Then she poured the first cup, and after it was done, she took out a small bottle and used a drop of liquid from it to mix with the tea.

On the next one, she pricked her finger, and a drop of her blood was mixed with it. She then chanted on top of the glass with her blood. After she was done with her short chant, the blood dropped moved in a unique pattern before mixing with the tea. A small glowing red light came out of the tea, the size of a small firefly, and entered Guang's hand. Unknown to her, a small rune on her back lit-up. Had Aile seen it, he would have recognized it to be an alert ruin. She was out of breath after that task and drained of energy. She then pours the last glass and left in there for herself, while caring the glass with the liquid and blood to Aile and Xue.

Guang gave the tea with the liquid to Xue. Aile was given the glass of tea with her blood. As Aile and Xue were talking, they took it from her without any concern. Aile had placed the fate seal to not bring harm to him or the people around him. So he did not think she would harm him. After all, she would be hated and cursed with a miserable fate by the world, if she breaks her vow. Her life and the things dear to her, she will lose. So no one would be brave enough to go against it.

She took her tea and came to them. She raised her glass to prompt everyone to drink, and just like that everyone took a sip from their tea. After the first sip, which brought the somewhat unique and savoury flavour that, they had not had before, they took the second and third. Smiling back at Guang for delivering on the promise of a good tea.

A few minutes passed when Xue's eyes became heavy. Each blink, her eyelid remained closed for a fraction longer. Scooching a bit closer to Aile she rested her head against him before drifting to dreamland. Aile's body started to feel weird before he exhibited a similar feel to when he was guided by his lust and greed seeds. However, this time it was just directed at Guang. Aile realized something was wrong and immediately tried to suppress it. However, he failed to do anything about it. Opening his eye, he looked at Guang for an explanation as she was the only one not affected by anything. Aile only asked one word, "Why?"

Guang was ashamed and did not know what to say and eventually came with the response, "For you to enter the moon pond, this is a requirement that needed to happen. I am sorry I did not tell you about this before."

Aile looked at her confusedly, and she continued, "There is one more thing, after completing this final step as I gave you my chance to get stronger. You will have to give something in return in the form of a promise. I get a request from you, with the same consequences as that seal you put on me. Do not worry, my demand is not extreme, it is to make sure my sister remains happy, and I hope you find my Aunt Mei and help her... I will not force you to help her as I do not want my sister to remain without your protection, I hope.. only if you are certain, then you help her."

Aile's eyes became hazier, and he was holding himself back from pouncing at her.

"I am sorry. I think you are not that bad, I hope you take care of my sister, and I apologize I will be taking one of the mounts with me out of here... No. Need. To. Hold. Back..." Said Guang with clear apprehension, as she raised both her hand in submission. Guang had multiple conflicting thoughts in her mind, wishing her to stop, continue with her plan or be aggrieved. The one that resonated with her the most was, 'You can not take him from Heian too, just give your first time to him. With the medallion, you would have offered him everything now. Who knows what you will face without backing from now on. Leave with a good memory with him and give yourself willingly now. You are not stealing him as you will not see him again, and he would not even want you then, and you do not deserve Heian's happiness.' Guang was going to give up much more than she let on.

Aile's patience and resistance were getting lower and lower, and all he wanted to do was ravage her. However, he stopped himself, he saw the shaking Guang not moving away from him. Aile was worried if she will indeed ask for such a simple request or change it later on. He also felt a bit guilty he had pushed her into a situation where she had to give up something so precious just so he can protect her. Although Aile knew that had she asked these requests, he would have helped her.

After all, Aile had agreed to keep Heian happy. Finding information about her Aunt and saving her if possible comes under keeping Heian happy, so there was no need for all of this. This was definitely not the place where he wanted to end up. If only she communicated better and he listened.

Unaware that he could get the medallion of the dark elves with other methods, that would not force them to mate. However, those methods would not bind him to a promise as Guang wanted, or allow him the full benefits of the Dark Elve's moon pond.

However, her blood technique had sealed the deal, continuously making Aile think about her. His desire kept on increasing to get her. This technique was more potent against him, as soon the dark side of his soul also encouraged him to tread on this path. Just when he could no longer hold back, a smooth finger touched his forehead, removing all of his energy and the feeling of the lustful desire retreated. His energy level was no longer allowing him to move. His passion slowly decreased for Guang, it would be a while until his lustfully subsides. However, this left him weak and defenceless.