Klein released an exasperated sigh as he collapsed onto his back. Twice in two days now. Did he have to endure this every day to cultivate? Well, my strength is growing, so I'm not complaining.
But he feared it might break his body at some point when he was unable to break the barrier.
"Congratulations," Elowen said, with exaggerated body language, making it easier for him to understand. "You worried me a little. . . ."
She said something else after that, but he failed to interpret it. Well, he added a word or two to make sure the sentences sounded right in his head. He nodded at her.
Elowen had taught him about cultivation as much as possible with the language barrier between them. Klein mostly learned from imitating her and seemed to be on the right path.
"I need a bath," he told her and stood up. His T-shirt and pants were completely drenched in sweat after a couple of hours of exhausting exercise and breakthrough. While Elowen was sweaty as well, she was far from looking as awful as him.
Leaving her to cultivate, Klein crept on the way they located a stream. Like yesterday, he examined his features on the reflection in the water to find small strands of hair already covering his head, though still shiny with the sunlight. Unfortunately, the eyebrows were far from growing back. It would take a week for him to stop looking like a creep.
Klein relaxed himself in the bath, floating aimlessly on the water. Even with everything going on, his life didn't seem to change much. Apart from the little interaction between him and Elowen, he was still living the savage life, travelling from one place to another, fighting to gain something, and eating badly cooked stuff.
Honestly, a part of him was relieved he didn't have to interact with her too much on the benefit of the language barrier. It wasn't that he detested any form of interaction; it was just that he forgot how to act according to the way of society.
Five years wasn't a small time, in the metric of the twenty-six years he was alive. Even more so, considering how people tend to forget their earlier memories. Klein didn't forget how to interact with people. He was simply rusty in it.
Like the last time he was in a real conversation, he fired a trusted employee of his family just because he made some unpopular decision on the assets of the family. Well, technically, the employee left, but that hardly changed anything.
Klein became brutally blunt with his words, to his benefit and detriment. Honestly, nobody but Xin would like to keep interacting with him for what he really was, and she didn't have a choice.
Abruptly, a terrifying roar resounded from the tall ridge on his back, jolting him awake from his contemplation.
Two somewhat familiar figures stood on the ridge, on top of one another. First, the huge white tiger was still in its majestic form, even when carrying a humanoid figure. It was obviously the handsome elf, who looked twice as dashing as Klein remembered. Both of their eyes met for an extended moment as they came down to block his way, lazily waiting for him to come out of the water.
Klein cursed inwardly, pulling onto his essence.
Klein didn't come out of the water like a good boy. He lazily floated on the water, waiting for the elf to do something about it.
The elf did nothing, which was enough to allow him to continue bathing in leisure. But he did keep his channels surging with essence. But the elf hardly seemed in the mood for a fight, standing on some supposed moral higher ground.
Without letting go of the power, Klein came out of the water after a few minutes. He was about to change into a fresh pair of shorts and shirt, but stopped to glance at the elf.
"Bro, I don't have the gaydar, and I fear you don't either," he said, unbothered if the elf was understanding him or not. "How about you give me some privacy, and deliberate over your preference some other time?"
The guy gawked at him questioningly and eventually turned along with his new pet tiger.
Klein clicked his tongue, turned and put on the clothes he left to soak sunlight on a dry boulder. Thankfully, he brought them out before the bath. The elves seemed chill thus far with their moral ground, but it didn't take long for one to take an interest in something bizarre and extraordinary. Best to keep my secrets to myself until I understand them.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Klein said, leaping to land a few steps away from the white tiger.
The elf turned to meet his gaze.
"So, what is this about?"
The elf obviously didn't know what he was asking, but replied in their high elvish tongue, which he barely understood anything other than the elf asking him to follow him.
"Why?"
The tiger moved on to the path Klein came from, carrying its master
"Swaggers, ye? Mind giving this poor human a ride?"
The tiger kept on moving.
"No?" Klein clicked his tongue and followed behind hastily. Let's see what this handsomeass elf is into.
As Klein hoped, the elf brought him to where the rest of their group was, which was apparently where Elowen was. From the look of things, it appeared they didn't like their departure the last time.
The golden-haired elf girl, who was clearly the ringleader of the group, welcomed him in, clapping sarcastically. She began talking after Klein joined Elowen.