A huge gust of wind enveloped both Genad and Feral prompting their hairs to scatter across the wind as they finally landed in a steep area, somewhere deep in the almost unending enclosure of rocks.
Feral blinked twice, his eyes turning slightly red from the stray hair which had flown into them, and only then did he realize that his bangs had grown quite long.
“Need help?” Genad called out to the pouting Feral who was busy fiercely struggling with his messy hair.
“Hmm,” Feral hummed after he was done.
As he stretched out his hands to grab unto Genad’s outstretched one, Paws suddenly sneezed and with a heavy quiver of his body threw him off.
“Huh? ...AHHH!!”
In a panic, the screaming Feral grasped at anything he could catch and ended up grabbing Genad’s hair and with a forceful pull, they ended up falling unto the floor together in a rather disgraceful manner.
“Ugh…,” Feral groaned a bit when he suddenly felt a tuft of something smooth in his arm.
Looking over his entire face paled on seeing a flash of purple and glancing at Genad who was under him with more than half of his ponytail completely torn off, he felt like breaking down in tears.
‘Why??!!!!! Why me Zero?! The Awemeter is already down, if it gets lower than this… ahhh!!!’ Dina screamed internally.
How unlucky could this day fucking get?!
“Calm down host, it’s not that bad.”
“What do you know?! Do you know just how precious a person’s hair is to them?! There’s no exception even for guys! Why do you think they worry about being bald if they don’t care about hair in the first place? I’m doomed I tell ya! Fucking doomed!” Dina roared dramatically, like a sorrowful historical figure.
Zero who couldn’t figure out what else to say in comfort simply shut up leaving Dina speechless at how he didn’t even try.
‘Ah…, I wish I had a chattier system, Zero is so mean!! QAQ.’
Luckily or not, her worries were unfounded and after they had adjusted their position, Genad had simply taken out his band letting his now neck-length hair fall to his back. He was so casual with everything that Dina felt like she was the only one who had missed the hair more.
Ah, she really did, what a waste!
“Be more careful, this could have been serious if I hadn’t broken your fall,” Genad cautioned lightly with a slight frown.
Feral’s eyes widened, he wasn’t angry about his fall, neither was he about his hair but he was more worried about him…
‘This guy might not be that bad after all, I feel like my own like meter increased ah.’
“Wait!” Feral suddenly called out to Genad who had turned to leave when he felt a hold on his shirt, “I just… erm… Thanks… thank you, master!”
Feral’s face flushed up to the extreme with his head lowered in embarrassment at how awkward that had been. Was it so hard to say thanks?! Damn, he just had to make it dramatic and now the awkwardness was killing him.
Genad chuckled softly, stretching out his hand he patted the boy’s fluffy hair and couldn’t help sighing a bit.
“Is that for cautioning you? I didn’t know you liked that kinda thing,” Genad teased while still pressing down Feral who groaned internally. What a bully!
“It’s because you were worried and weren’t angry about your hair… I don’t like being punished or anything,” Feral responded softly.
Genad paused for a second before instantly grabbing Feral’s hair and pulling his face upwards, his grip strong but not enough to hurt the boy and looking at the confused face, he found himself breaking out into a smirk.
“Let’s go.”
/ Awemeter increased to 48% /
‘Huh?!!’
Feral who was confused as hell at what had just happened and the apologetic Paws could only dawdle along with the male until they finally reached the entrance of the cave.
“Hold my hand,” Genad ordered as he reached out for Feral’s hand venturing deep into the dreadful-looking cave.
***
[Around the same time]
“You did what?!” Artalio exclaimed as he flung his gold cup at Silvia who stood pitifully as it smashed right into her head, blood oozing from the injury. Artalio however looked less than appeased and as he made gestures of raising up Silvia quickly threw herself to the floor.
“My king! I apologize! I can’t tell which enchantment was used but I was and am still sure that that animal was the guardian! I could feel it with my soul and it resonated with my blood!” Silvia yelled with a pale face.
If she was any later then the king would have had her heart served to her family in a platinum plate. Even then she would be happy as her family would have enough riches to survive on their own.
‘Maybe I should have just allowed it…’
“Silvia Graystone,” Artalio suddenly called out sending shivers down her body.
The Highness’ call could only be of two natures— of joy or of tragedy.
And with his current mood…
“Do not think that your death will be a fortunate one when you fail to give me what I seek,” Artalio stated and with a terrifying glare from his multi-colored pupils declared,
“If you fail me, your head and your family’s will be served in a silver plate and thrown to the street for the commoners. However, your reward for success will be just as bountiful, so make sure to do well my loyal subject, okay?”
Fear, despair, and terror overwhelmed her entire senses and for a moment Silvia forgot how to breathe. But even still as fidelity demanded, when spoken to by the king, a loyal subordinate at all moments must always…
“Y-y-e-es-s my lord.”
….respond.