After leaving Liz's tent, Aster settled down by the campfire, trying to cool his mind. Yet, despite his efforts, there was one part of him far from being "relaxed." It was a physical response he had little control over, and all he could do was wait it out until it eventually subsided.
"You were quite noisy, you know?"
"...!"
Aster flinched at the unexpected voice beside him. Turning, he spotted Kali sitting under the shadow of a nearby tree, her dagger in hand as she carved random shapes—more like stakes—from a block of wood. He briefly wondered what she might use them for, but decided to leave that mystery for another time.
"Y-you mean the massage, right?" Aster clarified, a little too quickly. "Yeah, well... I got lost in a trance, so I didn't notice." He emphasized the word "massage," desperately hoping to avoid any misunderstanding.
"Hmm..."
