So, here's the question.
Where are Eris and the others now?
" Yanli," Rudeus called softly.
"Your subordinate is here."
"How are Eris and the others being settled?"
"Reporting to Master, everything has been properly arranged."
Yanli lowered her head slightly and continued:
"Lady Eris has been settled, but her magical energy is almost depleted, and she remains unconscious and has not yet awakened."
Upon hearing this, Rudeus's heart sank.
"Take me there."
"Yes!"
Yanli responded and gently placed her hand on Rudeus's body.
The next moment, a deep purple light bloomed from beneath her feet, like an eerie flower blooming in the night, enveloping them completely.
The scene before my eyes suddenly distorted, as if space was being folded and stretched by an invisible hand. In just an instant, the feeling of weightlessness quietly dissipated.
When they opened their eyes again, the two were already in a hotel room.
The room was completely silent.
Eris lay quietly on the bed, her eyes closed, her breathing barely perceptible.
Rujierd stood by, his expression grave, his brow furrowed with undisguised worry.
Without the slightest hesitation, Rudeus quickly went to the bedside and bent down to check on Eris's condition.
The scene that came into view made his heart clench.
Her once dazzling red hair, as vibrant as flames, now has several strands tinged with silver, losing its former luster, as if its vitality is slowly slipping away.
Her face grew paler and paler, and her breathing became weaker and weaker, like a candle flame flickering in the wind, as if it would go out at any moment.
He slowly took Eris's slightly cool hand in his, remained silent for a long time, and then whispered:
" Rujierd."
"Um?"
"Could you please guard the door for me?"
"I don't want anyone to bother me from now on."
Rujierd glanced at me, asked no further questions, and simply nodded solemnly.
"Leave it to me."
After saying that, he turned and left the room, gently closing the door behind him.
Silence returned to the room.
The silence was so profound that only their faint breathing could be heard.
" Eris..."
Rudeus called her name softly, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing her.
Then, he carefully took her into his arms.
The body was so light it was heartbreaking; you could barely feel its weight.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Tears, imbued with a clear, magical power, gradually gathered in her eyes, like a pool of crystal-clear spring water gently rippling in her eyes.
Open your eyes again.
Vision also became blurred.
Without the slightest hesitation, he slowly lowered his head.
He gently pressed his forehead against hers.
Then, their lips touched gently.
There was no fervent demand, nor the slightest urgency.
There is only the cherishing of reunion and the tenderness of fearing to lose it again.
At the same time, the tears that had been building up in her eyes finally slid down her cheeks.
Those were not ordinary teardrops, but were formed from the purest and gentlest magic.
The shimmering light slid down her cheeks, transforming into soft radiance the instant it touched Eris's skin, silently merging into her body.
A wisp.
Two strands.
More and more light entered her body.
The life force that had been almost completely depleted was gradually restored under the nourishment of this gentle, magical power.
I don't know how much time has passed.
Eris's long-dormant consciousness finally slowly broke free from the darkness.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly.
Consciousness gradually became clearer from a hazy state.
When she slowly opened her eyes, what came into view was that all-too-familiar face.
She could clearly feel it--
That steady, powerful heartbeat...
That reassuring body temperature...
And that unchanging aura.
In an instant.
All the unease.
All the confusion.
All the fears and doubts suppressed deep in my heart.
It was as if ice and snow met the warm sun, and at that moment they all vanished.
Eris stared blankly at the man before her.
Her eyes were slightly red.
She didn't speak, but slowly closed her eyes, immersing herself completely in this long-lost warmth.
Then, she reached out and involuntarily wrapped her arms around Rudeus's neck.
They hugged each other tighter and tighter.
It was as if they feared that if they let go, the person in front of them would disappear again.
Rudeus did not break free.
He let her nestle in his arms.
Time slips away, little by little.
After a long time...
A gentle breeze blew in through the window, softly ruffling Eris's long, bright red hair.
Her hair fluttered in the wind, then slowly fell back down.
Like crushed sunset clouds, it drifts gently in the afterglow of the setting sun, so beautiful that it's impossible to look away.
He looked down at the girl in his arms, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
Are you feeling better?
Eris nodded gently, her voice barely audible.
"Um..."
Even so, she didn't loosen her grip on her neck at all.
It was as if simply holding her like this gave her enough peace of mind.
Rudeus couldn't help but chuckle softly.
There was no urging, nor any joking.
He simply let her rest quietly against his chest, feeling their familiar heartbeats.
At that moment, it felt as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them.
If possible.
I wish this moment could last forever.
late at night.
Rudeus slowly opened his eyes.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional sound of the wind coming from outside the window, intertwined with the soft, even breathing of the person beside them.
Looking down, Eris was still nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly.
A slight smile played on her lips, as if she were having a beautiful dream.
Rudeus looked at her, his eyes softening unconsciously.
He then carefully withdrew himself, his movements so gentle they made almost no sound, as if afraid of waking the girl in his arms.
He gently tucked the blanket around her, making sure she was covered up completely, before turning and walking towards the door.
Squeak--
The door was gently pushed open.
As soon as Rudeus looked up, he saw that familiar figure still standing guard outside the door.
That iconic pink mushroom haircut stood out prominently in the dim corridor lighting.
The moment I saw him, my previously gloomy mood dissipated somewhat.
" Rujierd."
Rudeus stepped forward and said with a hint of apology:
"Sorry to have kept you here for so long."
Upon hearing this, Rujierd simply shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"It would be too formal to say such things."
Aren't we brothers?
Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"I did miscalculate this time."
"I didn't expect Eris's magic power to be so completely depleted, and that it will take longer than I anticipated to recover."
After looking at Rudeus and confirming that there was nothing wrong with him, Rujierd slowly spoke.
"Now that you're back safely..."
"That means everything is resolved, right?"
Rudeus nodded.
"Yes, it's been resolved."
"Things on the Demon Continent have come to an end; it's time to set off for the next continent."
When are you planning to leave?
"It's time, "Rujierd asked.
Rudeus pondered for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze to the distance shrouded in night.
"Probably... in the next day or two."
"However, before I leave, there are a few things I need to confirm."
Rujierd did not press the matter further.
He's always been like this.
He would give Rudy enough trust in anything that Rudeus hadn't explicitly stated.
"Good."
"Then I'll go back and rest first."
"Um."
Rudeus nodded in agreement.
After watching Rujierd gradually disappear at the end of the corridor, the smile on his face slowly faded.
After confirming that no one was around, he looked back at the empty night and spoke in a low voice.
" Yanli."
The words had barely left his mouth.
A ripple gently spread across the shadow cast at my feet.
A streak of purple light quietly appeared.
"Your subordinate is here."
Yanli knelt on one knee, quietly awaiting orders.
Rudeus raised his right hand, and magic slowly gathered in his palm.
The strands of magic intertwined and, in the blink of an eye, coalesced into an exquisite doll.
It was a doll depicting a young girl.
She wore three braids, a fitted robe, and held a long-handled magic wand. Her features and expression were so lifelike that it was as if a real person had been shrunk down and placed in the palm of one's hand.
He handed the doll in his palm to Yanli.
"These past few days, the port has been designated as a key monitoring area."
"If you find someone who looks exactly like her, no matter when they appear or where they are headed, you must notify me immediately."
"Do not alert them, and do not make contact without authorization."
"Do you understand?"
Yanli accepted the doll with both hands and bowed her head in response:
"Understood."
"I'll take care of it right away."
The words had barely left his mouth.
The purple light flashed once more.
Yanli's figure instantly transformed into countless tiny specks of light, merging back into the shadow beneath her feet.
Night fell silent once more.
Rudeus stood alone at the end of the corridor, gazing at the dark night sky outside the window, his eyes flickering slightly.
Hopefully... this time, I won't miss it again.