Then, he immediately looked away as he tried to calm the raging emotions he felt inside.
He didn't know why he was telling her all this. He never intended to rant that much. But somehow, once he started, his mouth didn't seem to want to stop as he expressed what he truly felt.
And soon afterward, he realized that he actually felt good when he finally released the thoughts he's been harboring ever since he came to the academy.
It must've been because the people he usually turned to were all on the other side of the wall now.
Meanwhile, despite the intense emotions she felt behind his words, Inna could only understand the first half of his rant. Yet somehow she still was able to get what he was trying to convey. And when he finally said his last statement, Inna couldn't help but instinctively wrap her arms around his neck tightly.
"I.. I know this is inappropriate but… but…"
Oh god, she didn't know why she felt a huge wave of sympathy coursing through her.
But when she thought of it deeply, she finally knew why.
She saw it in his eyes, his tone, and his expression.
Even if they literally just met a few hours ago...
Even if it was just for a moment…
She somehow saw herself in him.
And she couldn't help but give him the thing that she herself wanted the most.
Comfort.
Although alarmed from the sudden action, Rhys didn't seem to mind her hug. Instead, he was about to hug back, but he somehow felt that it was an inappropriate thing to do so he opted for patting her head instead. He stroked and patted it, and had fun messing it up that he nearly forgot what they were talking about in the first place. He felt all his irritation and loneliness go away and when he was just about to stop and let go, he noticed that her brown locks seemed to have curled itself into his fingers and he couldn't help but think of it as cute.
Heh, even her hair hugged his fingers.
Rhys wanted to speak up and say that he was okay with it. After all, he's been isolated most of his life if he doesn't count the times he's met up with Raghnall and Favian. So, with a somber chuckle, he spoke with an even voice.
"Oh c'mon. It's not such a big deal. I'm used to it. Anywa--"
But he wasn't given the chance to finish because Inna was quick to cut him off.
"Uh... we're friends, right? So, I will… visit you… I'll come and find a way to visit you if I have some spare time, okay?! Let's... hang out and teach each other some fighting moves, okay?!"
Inna hugged tighter after every pause she had and Rhys couldn't help but chuckle at her attempts of comfort.
It's very charming that he can't help but smile.
"Okay, okay. I'll look forward to that."
Truthfully, Rhys's neck was starting to feel sore from bending down from her hug but he didn't mind it in the least as he continued to stroke her hair until she let go. Seeing that she wasn't letting go soon, he decided to continue the conversation to avoid him having to deal with the awkwardness of hugging in silence.
"Well, to be honest, I kind of feel bad for taking and you not receiving so, what can I give back to you?"
Inna finally let go then, she looked at Rhys with confusion.
"What? I don't need you to give me anything. I don't want it to seem like I became your friend just because you're giving me something in return. That's just weird."
Rhys looked at her with shining pitiful eyes as he spoke sadly but with a hint of playfulness behind it.
"But I don't want to be a selfish brute who asks my friend to visit me, make time for me, and teach me without giving at least something in return."
Inna tried hard to avoid looking at his tantalizing grey eyes as she stood her ground. But after a few annoying pokes from Rhys, she finally relented.
"Okay fine. Just… well… Just give me food whenever I visit? I think that'd be acceptable."
Well, whenever she did come over to any of her friends' houses, she goes straight for their fridge so she found it to be the one thing that wouldn't weight too much on her conscience.
Rhys's face scrunched up almost immediately at the mention.
"So you just want vegetables?"
Instantly, Inna grimaced.
"Fuck no."
Rhys's titled his head as confusion showed in his expression.
"Isn't that what you women eat in the Magic Department? Something about that belief of absorbing the mana from the magical plants."
Inna understood why he thought that way but she still couldn't hide her disgust when it came to leafy greens.
"I… don't eat.. those. I'd rather have meat."
Rhys was speechless. He didn't expect her to choose that. But the absence of his response made Inna feel that she was being too shameless so she decided to withdraw her earlier statement.
"Well… I'm okay with… anything you can give. Ehe."
Rhys snapped out of his shock when he noticed Inna becoming meek.
"Oh no, no, no. It's alright. I can have it arranged."
Then, he gave a small laugh while muttering under his breath.
"Interesting."
Reaching into his pristine spatial pouch, he grabbed a bag of his favorite sweets and a golden bangle.
"Here you go."
Inna looked curiously at the items on his hands.
"What's that?"
Rhys placed the bag filled with sweets on her lap as he slowly offered to her the golden bangle.
Inna gingerly picked it up as she examined it.
The golden bangle was a thin one, about half an inch thick and it's size also matched its light weight. Due to its small size, Inna couldn't help but find it beautiful and feminine, especially when she noticed the intricate details on it.
The bangle had a breathtaking design of ivies circling around it that made the illusion of ivies wrapping around the wearer's hand. In the middle of the bangle, Inna saw a red gem as big as her nail which glittered under the moonlight. Looking closely, it had a design of a rose engraved into it. Judging from the size and shine of the gem alone, she can already tell that it must be one hell of an expensive bangle.
Inna couldn't seem to pry her eyes away. It was her first time seeing a bangle that stunning and luxurious near her.
Then, she carefully held it with two hands, trying to distance it away from the looming cliff in case she might accidentally drop it.
Rhys noticed her being so engrossed and impressed over its designs that he couldn't help but smile in pride.
"You like it? I made it myself. And I'm giving it to you."
Inna whipped her head to look at Rhys in shock.
"W-what? I can't possibly receive such a… beautiful and expensive thing. I-I'm sorry but I think I'll have to pass. Fucking hell, if I lose this thing, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
She muttered at the end as she observed the chining bangle. Then, ignoring her inner desire to keep something so pretty and luxurious, she slowly and carefully pushed it back to Rhys's hands.
But he just grabbed her hand that held the bangle mid push and he laughed lightly. Though Inna didn't know why, she noticed that his eyes held relief as he stared at her.
"Okay, what if I say it's something to commemorate our friendship? Will you still return it?"
Inna gritted her teeth in frustration when she heard it but she was still stubborn about returning it.
"But…"
Rhys didn't seem to take no for answer as he added another statement.
"And returning it means you're rejecting my friendship."
Inna let out a groan of annoyance as she playfully glared at him.
"When you put it that way, I can't possibly return it!"
Then, Inna sighed as she stared at her hand that was still being held by Rhys.
"You're not giving me a choice at all, are you?"
Rhys pushed her hand along with the bangle back to her with a cheeky smile.
"Nope."