How the hell does this blood tonic adds attributes to my status? I know that when I assimilated Pengu blood back at the time of our fight the same situation occurred, but I already tried to do the same with other beasts that I hunted through the day, only to fail again and again! How come the blood that I obtain by killing monsters is unsuitable to let me grow, while a diluted demonic beasts blood can bring such a wondrous effect?
"Hey, I know this might sound stupid, but could you tell me again how is this tonic created in the first place? I don't need to know the exact formula, but the logic behind it!"
Chopping down some of the trees from the area surrounding us to clear the spot for a comfortable campsite, I direct my voice to Eve busying herself with preparing a huge fireplace.
"While this one is of rather high quality, all of them are basing on a demonic beasts blood and a special combination of medicinal herbs. Some even say that you need to use special artefact to concoct it. Is there some problems with the one that I gave you?"
Turning her cute face around to face me, I could easily notice a sudden bout of worry in her expression. Just like in European medieval times, even if the medicine or alchemy is already quite advanced, most of the people are rather untrustful to the representatives of those professions.
"Nah, it's simply made me curious about something entirely else, no need to put this worried face of yours! I would prefer if you just smiled at me!"
Just this short exchange made me remember that we still had a great and hard talk to go through. I can only thank the excitment that I got during the hunting for forgetting about this matter. No matter how strong I will get, the emotions and trust will be still as fragile as ever when it comes to another person!
When the trees got cleared out and cut into smaller firewood pieces, I helped Eve to set up a single, wide tent and a comfortable bed inside the cover. While that should be absolutely enough to get through the night without any problem or whining later, my inner perfectionist couldn't allow this shabby place to house us through the night! No matter how you look at it, this is my first time camping with Eve outside!
"I'm gonna head out for a short while. I would love if you could prepare something to chew on later on."
Not giving her any chance to protest, I dashed out of the cleared area, while making sure to mark it in my inner compass. While I could always use our shared cultivation to find her even if I were too lost my way completly, doing so would only show my inner incompetency, that I was ashamed off already!
After walking around the surrounding areas for a while, I managed to find some nice looking flowers and some other weeds that were surrounded by quite a pleasant and delicate aroma. Just by binding the flowers together with said vines, I managed to create a bouquet that florists from earth wouldn't be ashamed off if I can say so for myself!
Hurrying back, I made sure to slow my steps right before entering the cleared out plot, to save the atmosphere that I was aiming for with those flowers.
"Beautiful flowers for even greater beauty that you represent!"
Kneeling on one knee right in front of Eve, I stared at her dumbfounded expression as she machinally accepted the flowers. In this single moment, all kinds of emotions flashed through her face, from embarrassment and shyness, through puzzlement all the way to pleasure and happiness. I guess this world didn't have a tradition of gifting flowers to one's significant other, so that would make my small gift even better!
"I don't know what to say…"
Burying her face inside the flower tops, Eve pretended to savour the delicate aroma while hiding her flushed red face from my view. Little did she know that I could still see it through the small gaps between the flower petals!
"Don't worry about it, I just wanted to improve your mood a little before we will start our discussion. Did you create the barrier already? I think we should make sure that nothing and no one will interrupt us while we talk."
No matter what, just daring to expose myself in front of her is a harsh thing for me to do considering how vital this information is. If someone were to learn about it just because of passing by or by trying to join our campsite, I would have no choice but do my best to kill him!
"Yeah, just give me a moment!"
As I felt a small tickle of my energy forced to move, a thin barrier suddenly enveloped the entire area that I just cleared, stalling the air inside. Just as I thought that we were free to talk now, Eve pushed another layer of barrier outside and stuck it to the previous one, only to repeat this action ten damn times!
I guess she really took my advice to the heart. Looking at her actions, she might've something important to tell me as well! Otherwise, there is no way she would be so attentive in making sure that we can talk safely! In the end, no matter how much you care about someone, there is always a limit of effort that won't be crossed unless your own business in on the line!
"The truth is, that I'm actually a rein…"
Just as I wanted to finally throw all the truth out of my guts, a sudden slash of power disturbed my attention. While Eve is far more proficient in using this energy, my sensitivity towards it is simply incomparable to hers!
Even before the attack managed to reach the barriers, I already stopped talking and pulled out the windslord from my storage ring. As soon as the hit broke the barrier, it was met with a counter of my own!