After arriving at the makeshift camp, Kairos carefully laid a blanket on the ground, ensuring Aella could be somewhat comfortable. He looked down at her, anxiety gnawing at him as he consulted with Eclipse about her condition. "Is Aella going to be okay?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
"The spider bite itself isn't lethal," Eclipse replied, his tone even and reassuring. "But the sheer number of bites from the swarm has put her in grave danger. She's teetering on the edge, Kairos."
Kairos felt his heart race as dread settled in. The thought of losing Aella, especially after all he'd done to protect her, was unbearable. "I can't let her die," he muttered, his resolve solidifying. "Not after I just showed off."
Eclipse paused, a note of mischief creeping into his voice. "There is something you can try. You could... suck the poison out of the bite. It might help, but you'll need to act quickly."
Kairos didn't hesitate. With a serious expression, he moved closer to Aella, his eyes locking onto the bite mark on her neck. The spot was a deep red, stark against her pale, porcelain skin. His heart pounded, but there was no time for second-guessing. He leaned in, his lips finding the mark with swift precision, following Eclipse's instructions to the letter.
Aella stirred beneath him, her consciousness slowly returning. Her face flushed a deep crimson as she became aware of what was happening. Her eyes fluttered open, and when she saw Kairos leaning over her, his lips pressed to her neck, her shock quickly turned to outrage.
Without a second thought, Aella delivered a swift and powerful uppercut, catching Kairos completely off guard. "What do you think you're doing?!" she exclaimed, her voice shaky but forceful. "I was saving myself for marriage!"
Kairos staggered back, rubbing his sore jaw, his face a mixture of pain, confusion, and embarrassment. "Wait! It's not what you think!" he quickly explained, his words spilling out in a rush. "I thought the spiders were poisonous, and I was trying to save you!"
Aella's initial fury began to subside as she processed his words. She glanced down at herself, realizing she was still alive. Her expression softened, the anger giving way to gratitude. "Oh... I see," she said quietly. "Thank you for saving my life."
Kairos let out a relieved sigh, nodding as he caught his breath. "It's no problem. Really."
Just as he began to relax, Eclipse's voice cut in with a teasing tone. "Kairos, you absolute idiot. Those spiders were poisonous, but that could have easily been cured. You didn't need to suck any poison out. All you really had to do was use some healing magic."
Kairos froze, his face turning a deep shade of red as the realization hit him. "You've got to be kidding me," he groaned, embarrassment washing over him in waves.
"Oh no, I'm completely serious," Eclipse continued, his voice filled with laughter. "Just use some healing magic next time, okay? Save yourself the trouble."
Kairos sighed heavily, shaking his head at his own blunder. Focusing his celestial energy, he summoned his healing magic, a soft, warm glow enveloping Aella as he channeled it into her. The healing light washed over her, soothing the wounds and mending the damage caused by the spider bites.
Aella watched him with wide eyes, her expression softening as the pain and fear began to ebb away. The glow of the healing magic faded, leaving her feeling rejuvenated and whole once more. She looked up at Kairos, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "Thank you, Kairos. You really did save my life."
Kairos, still tinged with embarrassment, managed a small smile. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Aella, touched by his sincerity, bent down slightly, her wings fluttering softly behind her. "I owe you my life," she said with a gentle bow, her voice full of conviction. "If you ever need anything, just say the word. My life is yours to command."
Kairos took a moment to fully absorb the sight of Aella. Her majestic owl-like features, the delicate feathers framing her face, and the soft, ethereal glow she seemed to emit left him momentarily speechless. Shaking his head, still a bit flustered, he decided to tease her just a little. "That won't be necessary," he replied, his tone genuine but laced with playful reluctance. "Just take care of yourself."
Eclipse, still lurking in Kairos's mind, couldn't resist one final quip. "Next time, stick to the healing magic. It's a lot less awkward for everyone involved."
Kairos chuckled despite himself, the embarrassment giving way to amusement. "Yeah, I'll definitely keep that in mind."
Turning his focus back to Aella, Kairos's expression became more serious. "So, how did you end up in this horrid ravine? You should be with your family."
Aella's expression darkened, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I was... no help," she admitted quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.
Kairos frowned, concern evident in his eyes. "What do you plan on doing now that you're alone?"
Aella hesitated for a moment before lifting her eyes to meet his. "I'll follow you," she replied, a hint of defiance in her voice.
Kairos blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Wait, what?"
Aella's gaze hardened as she clarified, "Because of you, I have no home to return to, and because of you, I didn't even get a quick death. It's truly your fault that I'm here now, so I'll follow you."
Kairos sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to process her words. "I... understand," he said eventually, his tone thoughtful. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a piece of beef jerky and tossed it to her. "Here, eat up. You'll need your strength."
Aella caught the jerky, staring at it for a moment before looking back at Kairos. "What is this?" she asked, clearly puzzled.
Kairos grinned, his mood lightening a bit. "Try it, you'll like it."
Aella hesitated before taking a tentative bite. As the flavor hit her taste buds, her eyes lit up in surprise. "This... this is amazing!" she exclaimed, taking another bite. "What flavor is this?"
Kairos couldn't help but smile at her reaction. "Teriyaki," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Eclipse's voice chimed in Kairos's mind, cheeky as ever. "Well, well, looks like Aella's been tamed with jerky. Who knew?"
Kairos initially thought Eclipse was joking until he noticed a new notification in his vision: Aella's name now appeared beside his, along with a small heart icon indicating her affection level. Beneath it, the word "Tamed" was displayed in a party-like system.
Kairos blinked in surprise, his eyes widening as the realization set in. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, half in disbelief and half amused.
Eclipse's laughter echoed in his mind. "Nope, dead serious. Looks like you've got yourself a new party member. Just remember, next time, jerky to catch them all."
Kairos shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, yeah, I get it," he replied, still chuckling to himself as he watched Aella savor the jerky, her earlier solemnity now replaced by a sense of contentment.