Part Two - New World - Chapter [042]

We made sure to take a look at how the village was doing, and it seemed some elves were waiting patiently in hiding for us to defeat the miasma. So once the miasma cleared with the wind, they were able to come out and see the light of day. 

As we made our way back to the bike, some of them thanked us by giving us food and supplies others shook my hand. 

Whenever a villager took too long to thank me. Arslan would give them the side eye. 

The villagers would notice and take a step back, apologizing if they had overstepped their boundaries.

I'm not very good at this kind of social interaction - but I had to perceive it anyway. 

Thankfully when we left the village, we found a good spot for camping near where we had parked the Skybreaker. 

We decided to spend the night out here in the woods to rest. Even though I had managed to close the wound with healing magic. Arslan was still sore from all that fighting and deserved a much-needed break. Besides we had a lot of food from the villagers and it would be a shame if it went to waste. Including meats. So we had a little barbecue picking out here. 

We found a nice spot near a river, perfect for a cookout. 

The river had an incline upstream, and the water was flowing even more crystal clear than before. 

Arslan got comfy right away, making way with his shirt, I bandaged his shoulder up just to keep the wound from opening up again. The summer heat was a little unbearable as we were reaching midday. I too took off my robes and only and left myself with a sleeveless t-shirt and shorts. Perfect for going into the water. 

The river was calm enough that we could dip into it like a pool. 

When I made a cannonball Arslan started shouting. 

"THE WATER HAS MIASMA-" I shouted, and he stopped himself. 

"Sorry - force of habit," he explained, I only shrugged my shoulders. And he followed suit and washed his body. The bandages did little to stay on him, but I only noticed a scar now, so I guess it was okay. I would bandage him up later and use some cream for the scar later tonight. He seemed fine though, like his usual happy-go-lucky self.

We ate and hung out for a while until night came along. 

From the trunk of the skybreaker Arslan pulled out a small bag that inflated into a tent with the push of a button. We had to get away from mosquitos after all. Inside he hung an ice spell in the middle and the tent suddenly felt colder. In the summer heat, this was such a blessing. 

The night was falling and we made marshmallows with a bonfire. The cold summer night air was enough to keep us warm and cozy. 

"So what's next?" I asked over a momentary silence. 

"Hold your horses love, there's still some time before we need to head to the next dungeon," he commented.

The fire crackled over the night air. 

"We'll need to head east - our next mountain to climb is called Saddle Hill." He continued, taking a marshmallow from the fire, blowing on it, and eating it whole. 

"This dungeon needed to be clear ASAP because Summer is about to end - if we didn't clear it in time and the season changed, miasma would have taken over this place." He finished explaining, swallowing his marshmallow. He instantly went to toast another one.

"So there's some time to relax -" I said. 

He was about to eat the other marshmallow, but I intercepted it with two cookies in between a chocolate. 

"I was gonna eat that!" He said childlike. 

"Here this is better," I said cracking the s'more in two. Handing him over the bigger peace. 

"Where do you get chocolate?!" He questioned. 

"From the villagers, they gave it to me in one of those care bags," 

He looked at me like I was crazy. 

"All right -" he trusted. And took a bite of the s'more. His eyes filled with glee. 

This reminded me of the first time we met. 

He put his arms around me rubbing my shoulder. Mind you he was half naked, and I was in a sleeveless t-shirt. 

Our skin was touching. 

"You're not cold love?" He blurted out of the blue. 

"I'm all right - I'm a little shaken - adrenaline still pumping," I said still shaken from the boss battle. 

"Ah– You'll get used to it, we still got 3 more dungeons to clear." 

He said lovingly squishing me against him. 

Then he winced again. As my skinny shoulder bumped against his. He had forgotten his left shoulder was currently in need of some healing.

"Does it still hurt?" I asked. 

"A little bit," he said with puppy eyes. 

"Come on turn around-" I ordered him, and he did as I said. 

I took out a natural healing gel I had picked up somewhere, took a swoop, and applied it all around his scar. 

"Ooooh, that's cold!" He said as shimmied. 

"Sorry - " I said and started fanning it with my hand so it would dry faster. 

He suddenly looked down to the floor. 

There was a beat.

He looked defeated and sad. 

"What's wrong?" I asked gently. 

He looked at me and then back at the floor. Like he had done something. 

"Tiger - talk to me, where does it hurt?" I continued.

Then he started. 

"Does it bother you?" He asked. 

"What - what do you mean?" I wasn't sure where this was coming from. 

"When I touch you or cuddle you," he blurted out. 

I was completely taken aback, not sure where this was coming from, or what had prompted this.

"I noticed you were shaking as we walked wrapped in the purification circle," he explained. 

I hugged him from behind, it seemed to make him a little better. My face against his massive back. I couldn't help but open my legs and wrap them around his waist. 

It seemed to have done the trick.

It was comical, my tiny body against his massive back.

"I was scared - and nervous - all at the same time," I mentioned. 

"You were shaking -" he said rubbing my hand. 

"I'm not used to physical touch like the one you give me, you're so natural, and I'm madly in love with it, I can never get enough. I'm nervous because I never want it to end!"

A beat 

"You sure?" He asked. 

"Of course, you're my tiger and I don't want it any other way," I said. 

"And you're my shorty," he whispered. We laughed at the nicknames we had given each other.

I let go of him and started bandaging his shoulder. 

When I was done he turned around to meet my gaze. 

His hand met my cheek and I leaned into it. 

"Besides the monsters scare me to death," I continued.

We laughed it off for a moment, not before he met my lips with his. 

We kissed for a moment, it was sweet and tender. 

"I'm so glad you're my inamorato," he softly caressed me. 

"Don't you mean husband?" I corrected him. 

"Yes - that too," 

After a beat…

We promptly went back to the tent and spent the rest of the night laughing and cuddling.

Until we fell asleep. His arms around me. His head above mine. I made little scoop, he was my big cuddle bug.