Fear

-----Kaede's POV

Mell: "I still think it would've been better to just kill him."

Kaede: "Who, Leon?"

We're now making our way back to our house as Mell finally speaks up, clearly frustrated with what has taken place. I don't blame her though considering what Leon tried to pull.

Mell: "All he's done is cause trouble for us. He's just as bad as those goblins."

Neda: "Hehehe. Might not be a bad idea."

Kaede: "Hey, don't go and accept her idea like that, Neda."

Neda: "Kidding~"

I guess in Mell's eyes, she has never met Leon before and probably doesn't even know who he is. Sure he might not be a prince no more as his whole kingdom has fallen, but he's still a friend of Yui's. So I can't just outright kill him just because of a mistake.

Kaede: "Anyways, Mell. Leon is a friend."

Mell: "What? Then why was he attacking you? What kind of friend just goes and does that?"

Kaede: "We can ask him about that when he's back to normal. We just have to wait on Mai."

Mell: "...Fine. But if he still tries to attack you after that, then I won't hesitate."

Kaede: "Hehe. Alright."

I'm unsure if I should be proud or concerned with Mell right now. I do like that she's taking my side and trying to protect me, but at the same time, she's also quite hot-blooded. I'm sure becoming a vampire has changed a lot about her, and not just her sudden change physically. But it could also be my fault... I have dragged her around for a long time now, so she's probably picking up some of my habits.

Erytheia: "Hmm? Oh! What's this smell?"

Kaede: "Huh?"

Looking back, I notice all three of them were taking in air, breathing quite deeply as they do.

Melanthos: "I thought I smelled something coming here, I thought it was just me."

Neda: "Ah!"

Suddenly, Neda begins running off on her own as her newly made dress flows through the wind as she runs. The other two quickly follow her as Mell and I quickly give chase. We caught up quite quick, but I soon realize where they're heading.

Kaede: "The beach?"

Neda: "Yes! We have these in my world! I've always wanted to try it out."

Erytheia: "Same!"

Melanthos: "Mine doesn't have anything like this, so I'm quite curious."

In no time at all, we find ourselves at the beach as we reach the sand, however all three of them continues to run towards the water.

Kaede: "Hahh~ Right when they got their new clothes as well..."

Mell: "Hehe. They look like children."

Kaede: "Hey, you're still a child in my eyes."

Mell: "Really? Even though I look like this now?"

Kaede: "Of course. You're always gonna be my child. That's never gonna change."

Mell: "Hehe."

She huddles up closer against me as I end up wrapping an arm around her side as she leans against me. We both watch as the three of them finally reach the water. Both Neda and Erytheia pause right at the water's edge, but Melanthos, seeming to have not noticed his companions stopping, continues forth. It didn't take long for his momentum to quickly slow as he enters the water as he ends up falling face first into the shallow water.

Kaede/Mell: "Pfft."

Neda and Erytheia quickly goes to help him up as they move slower through the shallow waters. And now, both Neda's dress is wet and Erytheia's pants are wet.

Melanthos: "C-cold!"

Of course it's not surprising that Melanthos is soaked from head to toe as we hear him yell out in the distance.

Erytheia: "Y-yeah. I never thought an ocean would be this cold... Kind of killed my excitement."

Neda: "Really?! I think this is lovely-"

Oh no...

Neda: "Hup!"

Just then, Neda dives into the water, completely submerging herself in the water. I guess whatever world Neda manages is a world with a lot of water. Earth had a lot of water too, but humans there much preferred living on land.

.....

Wait... Neda still hasn't came up yet. I was a bit lost in thought, but now that I'm focusing back to the ocean, Neda still hasn't popped back up. In a panic, I rush over to the water as Mell quickly follows me.

Kaede: "Get out of the water!"

Melanthos/Erytheia: "Huh?"

Entering the water, I try to focus in with mana-sense to try and locate Neda, but just like Erytheia and Melanthos, she barely has any mana at all. But I do sense something. I quickly move through the water as I dive down to wear the mana reading is, but what I find isn't Neda, but what looks to be a giant fish with a massive mouth. Imagining that Neda could've seriously been eaten, I quickly sink my nails into the fish's flesh before dragging it out of the water before it could have the chance to escape. The size of the fish is bigger than me, but it still weighs nothing to me as I easily get it out onto the sand, despite it trying the thrash around, trying to get away.

Mell: "Mom!"

I quickly begin slicing into the fish's belly, killing it instantly as a bright white piece of clothing comes into view.

Kaede: "...God damnit."

I cut more of the fish open to reveal more of the white dress as I soon find Neda's face.

Erytheia: "I-is she?"

Kaede: "No."

I can sense that there's still some life coming from Neda, but I have to say... If you were aware of what an ocean is, then surely Neda understood that things could be inside it... Stupid.

After dragging Neda free from the fish's insides, I do my best to wipe away whatever this gooey, bile-like liquid that's all over her face. It has quite a foul stench to it that even I can smell it, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest, as once I finish wiping her face somewhat clean, I tilt her head back, opening her airway. And after looking into her mouth, making sure it's all clear, I begin performing CPR.

I can still taste whatever that bile was, but thankfully it's quite mild. I can only imagine what this would be like if I was human. And so, after closing her nose and breathing air into her lungs, I begin doing compressions. I can't believe it hasn't been a day and I have to save one of these guys.

After doing thirty or so compressions, I quickly seal her lips once more with my own before breathing more air into her lungs. And just as I was starting the next set of compressions, Neda coughs up a large amount of water, as it ends up covering her face as she desperately searches for air, panting heavily.

Erytheia: "Neda!"

Kaede: "Hahh~"

I breathe a sigh of relief before leaning back on my arms. I can't believe I succeeded in this twice now. I did it once back when Yui fell unconscious, but this is the first time where water was involved. I was unsure whether I'd succeed or not, but I'm thankful I did.

Neda: "W...What?"

Melanthos: "You had us going there, Neda."

Erytheia: "Are you fucking serious? You could've died! You couldn't survive just one day?"

But despite Neda's state, her companions scold her, not giving any comfort at all. But hearing Erytheia yelling out Neda's name from before did make it sound like she genuinely does care. Maybe after seeing that Neda is okay, she can finally let her anger out.

Neda: "I..."

Kaede: "You drowned. Here, stay still."

I know I should let Neda rest and lay down where she is, but I don't want Neda to see the now deformed fish that had eaten her. And so, I gently pick her up, carrying her in a bridal carry as Neda ends up leaning into me, as I feel her grip onto my arm weakly.

Neda: "S-s-s-s-"

I feel her trembling in my arms, probably due to her body having gone through all of that, but I can imagine the cold isn't helping either.

Kaede: "It's okay. You're okay. You two, we're leaving."

Melanthos/Erytheia: "Y-yes!"

We slowly make our way out of the beach and begin heading back towards the house, where we were supposed to go. I hold Neda closer, trying to provide as much comfort and warmth to her as I can; even though I'm also soaked from fishing out that damn fish.

...

After entering through the door, everyone inside took notice of us as all their eyes landed on Neda and I.

Fleur: "I-I'll run a bath!"

Faye: "Towels!"

Lillian: "On it!"

Sicily: "W-what the hell happened?!"

I guess a bath would be best. I for one can manage, but Neda is still trembling in my arms as I feel her grip on my arm punching my skin through my clothes.

Faye and Lillian quickly come back with towels, covering both Neda and myself up as they try to dry us off as best as they can.

Kaede: "We were at the ocean and Neda drowned."

Sicily/Lillian/Faye: "What?"

Erytheia: "She also got eaten by something! It was massive!"

Sicily/Lillian/Faye: "Eaten?!"

Neda: "..."

Suddenly, I feel Neda tightening her grasp around my arm, sending a bolt of pain up my arm as she begins to tremble even more.

Kaede: "Save the questions for later. I need to get her in that bath."

...

With Fleur having already started prepping the bath, I slowly take off Neda's dress before placing her into the bathtub that's still filling with water.

Neda: "NO!"

But almost instantly upon her toes touching the water, she clings onto me, pressing her body against me as she wraps her arms around my neck, almost suffocating me with how tight she's holding.

Fleur: "It's okay~ It's just a bath."

Neda: "..."

But despite Fleur's encouraging words, Neda remains glued to me. I honestly feel a bit weird having a naked woman cling to me like this, but considering what had just happened to her, I cannot blame her. Her first time entering water turned out like this. Of course she'd be frightened.

Kaede: "Nevermind the bath."

Fleur: "Eh?"

Kaede: "Let's just get her dry and get her warmed up."

It was easier said than done however, as Neda refused to let go of me, clinging onto me as if her life depended on it. I really would prefer to have her let go, considering my clothes are still wet, but in the end, I let her do as she pleases. Fleur and Faye put some towels down on the couch for me and Neda to sit down on as Lillian and Sicily toss a blanket over us. 

After some time, Neda finally looses up around me, giving me a bit more wiggle room, but I continue to let her indulge herself in my warmth. I even begin to start stroking her head, trying my best to calm her down as she remains firmly against me, not saying anything.

Kaede: "Hah~"

Mell: "Mom?"

Kaede: "I'm okay, honey."

Initially, I was annoyed, but I've quickly grown to accept this. I guess when Neda has fully calmed down I can use the bath instead. I don't want it to go to waste. But I hope that Neda will be open to having one later... If she ever does.