"Mmm... don't go, leg of lamb..."
The girl's murmuring came from beside him. Sovell glanced over and nearly fell to the floor in fright.
Well... he couldn't actually get out of bed just yet, either.
Artoria lay curled up on the side of the bed nearest the wall, talking in her sleep as her arms slowly wrapped around Sovell's right arm.
She must have found something delicious to eat in her dreams.
As Sovell thought this, his Dragon Kind heart kept pumping out mana, which he converted into life force by reversing the process.
Although the conversion rate was extremely low, it was enough to nourish his exhausted body.
He directed the life force into his right arm, then his left.
Gradually, their basic functions were restored. In other words:
"Huh? I can move?"
Sovell raised his free left arm, straightened it, bent it, and turned his wrist. Everything worked normally.
Looking at Artoria fast asleep beside him, Sovell unconsciously raised his hand and drew the girl into his arms.
Her right hand also crept up onto Sovell's chest, and the two nestled against each other.
Artoria's body was very soft. He felt his face begin to heat up.
Sovell closed his eyes and suppressed those thoughts. The girl's scent drifted into his nose with the air. It smelled lovely.
"If it is possible, God, could you let time stay in this moment forever..."
Murmuring his prayer, Sovell gradually drifted off amid that faint fragrance. He held no hope that it would come true.
He knew that this greedy wish of his was nothing more than an impossible luxury for both him and Artoria.
The next morning, a few birdsongs drifted into the room.
Sovell woke first and slowly slipped out of Artoria's embrace. After straightening the bedding, he