"Nnnrgh."
Ackster wasn't sure what kind of sound that was, but it sounded like something a person about to wake up might make. It was also the first sound Karandiel had made since he picked her up. And when combined with how he could feel her body start to move, it didn't take a genius to figure out that she was about to wake up.
Ackster looked around for a place to set her down. Waking up while being carried by someone running like a madman probably wouldn't give Karandiel the best impression. It could possibly be excused if he was being chased. But he wasn't. And lying about it wouldn't do him any good.
All in all, it would be best just to let her come to at her own pace and preferably while comfortable, at least more so than in Ackster's burly arms.
Since most of his body had been hidden by training equipment day and night, Ackster hadn't thought much of it since he last changed his clothes, but he was really getting into shape. If he didn't watch himself, he would cut his own clothes with the contours from his muscles.
But while they looked nice and aesthetic, they probably weren't the most comfortable to lie down on or to be held by since they were so hard. Ackster's running most likely wasn't adding any comfort, either. And since being comfortable would hopefully go a long way in making Karandiel more amenable, Ackster wanted to ensure she was just that.
"I guess this will have to do."
Unfortunately, Karandiel chose an inopportune moment to wake up. There weren't any nice shady groves nearby where he could offer her the utmost comfort available in the wild. But, on the other hand, the sun was about to set, so maybe looking for shade was unnecessary.
In any case, since there weren't any more proper resting spots, Ackster chose a stretch nearby where the grass was tall enough to hide most people if they bent down a little.
Ackster dove into the area back first so Karandiel's face didn't brush against the grass, and he randomly chose a spot to sit down, bundled up a bunch of grass on the ground, and placed Karandiel on.
He was a little curious about why the grass right in this area was taller than the rest when it looked the same, tall, green stems, leaf sheaths, and leaf blades, with inflorescences decorating the ends. The tall grass was marginally thicker, but to Ackster's untrained but keen eye, they looked practically the same.
However, now was no time for idle musings and curiosities, so he focused his attention on Karandiel and their surroundings.
It seemed the groan he had heard was more of a prelude to Karandiel's waking process rather than a sign of her actually waking up in a couple of moments. She was still about to wake up, not just right now, and Ackster could see her eyeballs move below the almost fluttering lids.
The earlier frown had come back, and it seemed like Karandiel was in some sort of distress.
'Nightmare?'
Maybe she wasn't waking up after all. Maybe she was just having a nightmare and was therefore groaning and moving her body.
Eventually, it seemed like the nightmare receded and let Karandiel sleep rather than remain in the state of unconsciousness she had been in after her fall. But that didn't last long, either.
Ackster could sense Karandiel's breathing change. His hearing and sight cooperated to point out the change in rhythm, and his sixth sense gave him a feeling of not being alone. Karandiel had woken up but pretended to keep sleeping was his conclusion.
Ackster didn't say anything. He would wait until Karandiel felt comfortable enough to do so on her own. Not that it looked like she was going to open her eyes anytime soon. It got to the point Ackster didn't even know whether she had really woken up or not. Maybe he had gotten it wrong, and her change in breathing wasn't because she was merely pretending to sleep.
After all, he had no idea whether an angel's physiology would be any different than a human's or if it would be entirely different.
But since she looked and felt like a human, albeit an extraordinarily beautiful one, Ackster decided to assume she was at least close to being one. And he could also guess that she was pretending to sleep to make him let down his guard.
He wasn't sure if he would use the same approach or not, but he could understand her. She was in a foreign place, and a strange man was watching her. Pretending to sleep until there was an opening to flee wasn't such a bad idea, especially if she had lost all her power with her fall.
Ackster decided to test his theory.
He already sat cross-legged with the bearded adventurer's sword in his lap and Mio in the bag on his back. And he looked ragged and tired. So, he crossed his arms and slowly tilted his head downward. He nodded off and jerked his head back up like he was fighting off sleep—and losing.
His lids grew heavier and heavier. He wasn't sure if Karandiel could see him since her eyes were closed, but he put on a convincing act nonetheless.
Finally, his head remained tilted forward, and his breathing evened out, and he drew deep and steady breaths. In and out in slow exhales and inhales. Anyone listening or watching him would assume he was asleep. And since he was so worn out, anyone would assume he was in a deep sleep from fatigue.
It took a while, and Ackster almost fell asleep for real. Thankfully, his hunger kept him awake. But he felt a gaze prick his skin, and it came from Karandiel's direction. She had cracked open an eyelid just enough to glance at Ackster and confirm he was asleep.
She didn't make any other moves or do anything directly after that. She just watched Ackster, her surroundings, and the starry night sky with a melancholic depth to her light grey eyes. She held back a sigh before sitting up.
She tried to do it without a sound but couldn't stop the grass from rustling as her weight shifted and left it. She winced, but Ackster didn't move, so she continued and stood up. She stretched her arms out and touched the grass and the breeze lazily flowing through the fields with her fingers while her bare feet connected with the ground as she felt mortal soil beneath her for the first time in what felt like forever.
This time, she couldn't hold back the sigh that slipped out after she took a deep breath and inhaled the sweet, cool air of grass on a late summer's night.
After several moments of taking in the mortal realm, Karandiel looked at Ackster, the blood on his clothes, the stains on hers, and her wrists. She didn't know the situation or the details of her arrival on Millmeria. But it looked like Ackster, the almost-naked man, had gone through a lot to—she didn't know what to say, kidnap? save?—move her. And after getting to relative safety, he hadn't bothered to tie her up.
Granted, he didn't have much on him, but he had a bag. If he really wanted to, he could have used it to restrain her. But he hadn't. Karandiel didn't know why. But it didn't matter.
She gave the ruggedly—regrettably—handsome exhibitionist one last look before turning around and walking into the sea of grass.