I stood up after resting briefly, feeling the effects of my Rapid Recovery skill kick in. My exhaustion faded, and my stamina replenished faster than usual. It was remarkable how much this skill helped me endure these grueling training sessions. With my strength restored, I grabbed my sword, ready to return to training, when I noticed someone running toward me in the distance.
I stopped and turned toward the figure, squinting slightly against the sunlight. As the person got closer, I recognized her—it was the girl from the mess counter. She was Liana's friend, the one who always gave me double portions without saying much. I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing here.
She clutched something in her hands, and as she came closer, I saw she was carrying a tray of food. The smell of rice and soup mixed with a hint of sweet fruit wafted toward me, immediately making me aware of how hungry I was. Her ponytail bounced with every step, and she had a small smirk on her lips as she approached.
"You didn't come for breakfast today," she said with a light teasing tone, stopping just in front of me. "I thought you might be taking a break, but then I overheard the soldiers saying you were training here. So, I figured I'd bring you food." She tilted the tray slightly, her smirk growing into a playful grin. "You know, you really can't train on an empty stomach."
I blinked at her words, realizing she was right—I'd been so caught up in my progress this morning that I had completely forgotten to eat. I woke up bursting with excitement and came straight to the training grounds. Now, standing here, smelling the food, my stomach growled in protest, as if to scold me for neglecting it.
"Thank you," I said, feeling slightly embarrassed but grateful nonetheless. "I was starting to feel hungry."
"No worries," she said cheerfully, waving her free hand. "Liana asked me to take care of you before she left, so this is me doing just that."
My eyebrows raised in surprise. "Liana asked you to take care of me?"
She nodded, her tone softening slightly. "Yes. She was so worried about you before she left. Told me I should make sure you don't collapse or something while you're here alone."
Hearing that brought an unusual mix of feelings—gratitude, embarrassment, and something else I couldn't quite place. I looked down at the tray, the warmth of the soup steaming up in small swirls. "Thank you. Really," I said again, offering her a small smile.
That's when I noticed her expression shift. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She quickly raised her free hand in front of her face, almost defensively, her tone flustered. "It's—it's okay! Just eat your food!"
Caught off guard by her reaction, I decided to let it slide and began eating. The warm soup and the simple yet hearty flavors filled me with a renewed energy, reminding me just how much I'd needed this. I glanced at her again out of the corner of my eye, and she was staring off to the side, pointedly avoiding my gaze. Her cheeks were still pink.
After I finished, I handed the tray back to her and asked, "Can I ask you a question?"
She tilted her head slightly, her ponytail swinging along with the motion. It was... amusing, to say the least. "Sure," she said. "What's your question?"
Looking into her light brown eyes, I tried to make my tone as serious as possible. "What's your name?"
For a moment, she just stared at me. Then, out of nowhere, she burst into laughter—loud, unrestrained, and entirely unexpected.
"Hahaha! What—what are you even saying?" She clutched her stomach, struggling to breathe through her laughter. "I thought you were going to ask me something serious with that straight face of yours, but you just wanted to know my name?!"
I could feel the heat rising to my face. "I... I didn't ask when we first met, and it felt rude to ask after all this time when you were already helping me," I muttered, trying to explain myself as she continued to laugh.
She wiped away a tear, her laughter finally calming. Stretching out her hand toward me, she said with a playful smirk, "Elina. My name's Elina. And don't forget it, got it?"
I shook her hand, nodding firmly. "Elina. Nice to meet you. I won't forget it."
"Good!" she said, standing up and picking up the tray. "Now, don't forget to eat next time, okay?"
I smiled. "I won't."
She began walking back toward the mess hall, humming softly. Her ponytail bounced with every little hop in her step, swaying behind her like a playful rhythm. Watching her disappear into the distance, I felt a strange sense of lightness—something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Then, Nochtaris's voice broke through my thoughts, his tone dripping with mockery. "Oh, so now that Liana's gone, you're aiming for this one? What's next—are you starting your own harem, Kael?"
I stiffened, my face instantly heating up. "Wh-what harem?! My relationship with Liana isn't like that!"
"Oh?" Nochtaris chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Then why are you so embarrassed? I'm just pointing out the obvious, boy."
I glared at nothing in particular, knowing I couldn't actually face him, and gritted my teeth. But before I could retort, a treacherous thought slipped into my mind—an image of Liana in my arms, her lips brushing mine.
"What the—?!" I shook my head violently, my heart racing. "What am I thinking?!"
Nochtaris roared with laughter in the back of my mind. "Pure Liana, huh? You've got it bad, Kael. Maybe this Elina girl can snap you out of it."
"Shut up!" I snapped, jumping to my feet and grabbing my sword. I swung it wildly at the air, desperate to chase away the thoughts with training. Nochtaris's laughter echoed like thunder in my mind, and I cursed that damned dragon with every breath I took.