As I check Avyanna, she remained unconscious, but with a swift examination, I revealed stable vital signs: her temperature and breathing were normal, and her wounds from Wilder's assault appeared significantly healed.
She was simply resting, but let her rest one night in a car seat was unwise.
A more suitable location was her apartment.
Then, her eyes flickered open.
"Avyanna!" Relief flooded me. "Thank God you're awake! Are you alright?"
She paused, testing her limbs, before declaring with quiet assurance, "Yes, I'm fine now."
"Excellent. A full day's rest will restore you completely. We're at your building. Shall we go to your room? I'll assist you."
She nodded faintly.
"Yes, but walking is difficult. Could you… carry me?"
The request, delivered in a surprisingly soft yet insistent tone, was unexpected.
This wasn't the usually composed Avyanna.
But she'd shielded me from Wilder attack, and now it was my turn to take care of her.
"You don't have to worry about security in the apartment. Security's not a concern. I can explain to them if they asked," she reassured, sensing my hesitation.
I carefully lifted her; her arms encircled me tightly.
The warmth of her body against mine was striking, a contrast to her usually reserved demeanor.
My mind inexplicably wandered to a comparison with Lisa, a fleeting thought I swiftly dismissed.
I navigated towards her high-rise apartment, a testament to her family's exclusive position within the Knight's Association.
The luxury was breathtaking; observers were subtly present, but Avyanna efficiently handled any inquiries.
Her apartment door clicked shut behind us, revealing an immense, luxurious bed.
I gently laid her down.
"There you are. I hope you recover quickly. Thank you for protecting me. But you mustn't overextend yourself against such formidable adversaries. S-rank Knights are not to be underestimated, regardless of their eccentricities," I cautioned.
She offered a weak nod.
As I prepared to leave, she grasped my shirt, her grip firm and unwavering.
"What is it?" I asked, concerned.
A blush crept onto her cheeks.
She clutched a pillow to her chest, her vulnerability palpable.
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air, broken only by the shared scrutiny of two souls.
Finally, Avyanna, her voice trembling slightly, confessed her need.
"Alstair," she whispered, "could you remain here… until I fall asleep?"
Her vulnerability was striking; a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
I'd witnessed this fragility before, in my sister Arlene, and understood the inherent strength it masked.
"Of course," I replied, settling beside her bed.
A faint smile flickered across her lips, a palpable wave of relief washing over her features.
Yet, the quiet resumed, a different kind of tension settling between us.
Each time my gaze found hers, she would bury her face in the pillow, only to peek out cautiously a moment later.
After a stretched silence, I inquired gently, "How are you feeling now?"
"The pain from my injuries has largely subsided," she replied, touching her abdomen – the unfortunate target of Wilder's brutal attack. "Lisa's healing magic proved invaluable."
"I'm glad to hear it," I said. "Lisa's skills are exceptional. We should recruit her for the Crystallice Guild. We lack a healer, and she'd be a phenomenal asset."
Hearing my idea, Avyanna offered a hesitant agreement.
Her reluctance was palpable.
"What is it? Do you still have reservations about her?"
"No… it's just… the Crystallice Guild's strength primarily rests with you, Alstair. Even without me, it would flourish," she mumbled, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of shame and deference.
"That's not true, Avyanna," I countered, my tone firm but laced with compassion. "You've made significant contributions; your role is invaluable. Stop underselling yourself."
Undeterred, she persisted.
"But it's the truth. While I was hospitalized, you single-handedly completed three A-rank missions! Your achievements surpass even Lance's raid team, comprised of numerous A-rank guilds!"
"We've reached an extraordinary milestone, becoming the 20th best guild globally," she continued, "but I believe our ascent would be even swifter, more pronounced, under your leadership, Alstair."
The question hung heavy in the air, unspoken yet undeniable.
"You want me to lead the Crystallice Guild?"
"Yes, Alstair," she affirmed, her voice gaining strength. "The Knight Association's bylaws don't explicitly prohibit a Knight of 'irregular' rank from holding such a position."
I fell silent, considering her words.
For me, the guild was merely a means to access dungeons unhindered by the unreasonable hatred from majority of Knights and their unfair blacklists.
But Avyanna's unwavering belief in me... it resonated.
Become the leader of guild would undeniably simplify my access to the dungeons I wish to explore.
Furthermore, it would allow me to recruit valuable members, Lisa being a prime example.
Avyanna's request seemed logical on the surface.
However, I sensed an underlying motive, one seemingly unrelated to the guild's prosperity.
"Avyanna," I began, my tone laced with inquiry, "your initial motivation for establishing this guild was escaping your family's restrictive rules. Choosing me as leader appears counterintuitive to that goal."
"Initially, yes," she conceded, her voice tinged with melancholy. "I believed independence was only attainable through my own guild. I enjoyed Crystallice, even willingly give up most contributions to you, recognizing your pivotal role. But..."
A pause, heavy with unspoken burdens.
Tears welled in her eyes, prompting me to offer a nearby tissue.
"The weight of leadership is crushing," she confessed, her voice breaking.
"High-ranking knights and journalists relentlessly question my decisions, particularly the inclusion of you, constantly scrutinizing the guild's future. It's utterly exhausting! I traded one form of constraint for another, a far heavier burden."
She wept, releasing pent-up stress.
The irony wasn't lost on me.
Her quest for autonomy had inadvertently saddled her with immense responsibility.
"It's agonizing," she continued, her voice laced with longing.
"I'd much rather be on missions, enjoying the freedom of my streaming life."
Nostalgia clouded her voice, painting a vivid picture of her past.
Her openness was both touching and hilarious.
I couldn't suppress my laughter.
"Alstair, why are you laughing?" she protested, her voice laced with indignation.
"It's your honesty, Avyanna," I explained, my laughter subsiding.
"Your genuine vulnerability is admirable, and I appreciate you sharing this with me."
A chuckle still escaped my lips.
"You're mocking me!" she accused, her tone sulky.
I smiled while patting Avyanna's head.
A gentle pat on Avyanna's head surprisingly calmed her agitated spirit.
I summarized her difficult situation: "You're irritated under familial dictates, yet crave the familiar responsibilities of a Knight Tanker without such additional job as guild leader, right?"
A flicker of resentment remained in her eyes, but she nodded slowly, accepting my assessment.
"Alright, then. I'll lead the guild," I declared firmly, "but resource allocation remains primarily my prerogative. My authority to select guild members is absolute."
Relief washed over her. "Of course, Alstair. You can even rename the guild—once we achieve tenth-rank status," she conceded.
The Crystallice Guild's name lacked appeal, though I didn't actively dislike it.
A new name could await our ascension.
Avyanna's next question caught me off guard: "Alstair, you truly desire Lisa's join in the guild, don't you?"
"Yes," I replied casually.
"She's a superb healer, and trustworthy."
Avyanna's gaze sharpened. "Her healing prowess is undeniable—she saved me from Wilder's attack. But I sense a deeper connection between you two."
Her words were an inquiry, tinged with subtle investigation.
She clearly harbored curiosity about the events in Dawn City.
"Consider it a strategic alliance, Avyanna," I responded shrewdly.
"As guild leader, loyalty testing is important. I had done what I need to do to assess her loyalty at that time." My carefully constructed defense seemed to disarm her.
Silence descended, punctuated only by the ticking clock.
Midnight approached.
"Time for rest, Avyanna," I announced, rising. "Send word if you require assistance."
Her eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion etched upon her features.
I prepared to depart.
Then, her fingers tightened on my shirt.
Her flushed cheeks betrayed a seductive blush.
"I may not fully grasp your intentions," she whispered, her voice husky, "but I feel...you're embarking on a dangerous journey alone."
My secret—my planned solo expedition to the Abandoned Tower Dungeon—remained unspoken.
Yet, her intuition, much like Lisa's, had pierced the veil.
"I'm not prohibiting you," she continued, her voice barely a breath.
"Your family's safety is your primary concern. I simply...require your presence tonight, Alstair. Please."
It was less a request, more a heartfelt plea.
Her need registered instantly.
The red flush staining her cheeks, her ragged breathing, the nervous, self-conscious gesture of her hand in her hair, the inadvertent exposure – her unspoken plea was crystal clear. In this circumstances, I think going to the desolate Tower Dungeon tomorrow is no problem.
Silently, I settled onto the bed beside Avyanna, gently easing her into a more comfortable position.
My embrace enveloped her, soothing the frantic rhythm of her breathing and the erratic pounding of her heart.
In the shared warmth of our bodies, time dissolved; a mutual solace in the stillness of the night, a balm for our wounded souls.
***