Celeste knelt beside Lucian, her hands trembling as she assessed his condition. His shoulder was still bleeding, the torn fabric of his shirt clinging to his skin. The sight of blood pouring from his wound made her stomach churn, but she pushed through her fear. Gently, she slapped his cheek.
"Lucian, wake up," she urged, her voice shaking.
No response.
Her eyes darted around the clearing, scanning for any lurking dangers. The memory of the Monster's attack was fresh in her mind, and the thought of the hound pack returning chilled her to the core. Satisfied that nothing was immediately nearby, she grabbed Lucian's limp hands and, with all her strength, began dragging him toward higher ground.
"Oh, gods, you're so heavy!" she muttered through gritted teeth. "What do you even eat, bricks?"
After much struggle, she finally managed to lay him down on a patch of grass. She collapsed next to him, panting heavily. "Well done, Celeste," she congratulated herself, giving her shoulder a tired pat.
Her moment of triumph didn't last long. She retrieved the two vials of water Lucian had given her and splashed their contents onto his face.
"Wake up already!" she shouted, half panicked and half amused.
Lucian twitched but didn't open his eyes. Undeterred, Celeste filled the vials again from the pond and splashed him once more, thoroughly soaking his face. This time, he shot up with a startled gasp, eyes wide in alarm.
"What the hell?!" Lucian exclaimed, clutching his injured shoulder.
Celeste giggled despite herself. "You're awake. You should thank me."
Lucian glared at her through the pain. " What the hell were you doing, Almost drowning me?"
Ignoring his complaint, she crouched beside him and studied his shoulder wound. "You're still bleeding. We need to clean and dress it. Do you have anything in that fancy bracelet of yours?"
Lucian gritted his teeth and nodded, carefully opening his storage bracelet to pull out a small cloth. He winced as he moved his arm and muttered, "I'll take care of it. I need to treat this somewhere quiet."
Celeste frowned. "No. We've made too much noise already. If something shows up while you're gone, you won't be able to fight back. Just do it here. I'll keep watch."
Lucian raised an eyebrow, surprised at her reasoning. "That's… actually smart," he admitted reluctantly.
She smirked. "See? I have my moments."
But her playful tone quickly turned teasing. "Unless… you're shy?"
Lucian's expression darkened. "What? No."
She tilted her head, her grin widening. "Oh, the big tough guy is shy. That's adorable."
More than the pain in his shoulder, Lucian felt his patience wearing thin. "Suit yourself," he muttered, his tone sharp.
Without another word, he began removing his gloves, then his shirt, each motion slow and deliberate to avoid aggravating his wound. Celeste watched intently, her cheeks growing warm. It was the first time she'd ever seen a boy half-naked, and her heart raced.
But as her eyes fell on the numerous scars littering his body, her embarrassment turned to shock. There were so many—some jagged and deep, others faint and crisscrossing like a roadmap of pain. She couldn't contain her curiosity.
"What… what are all those scars?" she asked hesitantly.
Lucian didn't look at her as he worked to disinfect his wound. "I don't know."
She scoffed, frustrated by his typical vague answers. "Right. Of course, you don't."
This time, he turned to her, his expression somber. "I really don't. I can't remember how I got them."
Celeste's breath hitched. "How… how can you not remember?"
Lucian looked away, his voice quieter now. "I don't remember six years of my life. I've asked my sister, my uncle… they just tell me I don't need to know."
Celeste's heart sank. She wanted to press him further but didn't have the heart to. Instead, she focused on the practical. "Didn't you… get them healed?"
"This is after I was healed," he replied simply, his tone devoid of emotion.
She couldn't find the words. Lucian, the stoic and strange boy she thought she knew, had clearly lived through unimaginable pain. Her chest ached with a mixture of guilt and pity. She stood up, giving him space, and wandered toward the pond to clear her thoughts.
Near the edge of the water, something glinted in the sunlight. Curious, she approached and found a small ring near the Abyssal Glider's charred remains. As she picked it up, a strange sensation surged through her mind. Information appeared before her eyes as though inscribed in the air:
Mini Abyssal Glider's Ring
Mana +20
Circulation Efficiency +5%
Startled but intrigued, she ran back to Lucian, who was now bandaging his wound with strips torn from his pants.
"Look at this," she said, holding out the ring.
Lucian inspected it, and the same information appeared to him. "It's real," he said, his voice laced with surprise.
"Take it," Celeste said, pressing it into his hand.
He looked at her, confused. "Why would you give this to me? This is practically a relic."
She smiled softly. "Consider it my apology for not being cooperative earlier. And… a thank-you for saving my life."
Lucian's lips curved into a small, genuine smile. "I don't know if I've ever been gifted anything before. Thank you, Celeste. I guess you can be sweet sometimes."
Celeste puffed her cheeks and retorted, "I can be sweet!"
Lucian chuckled lightly, for the first time feeling a sliver of warmth in the desolate forest.