Noah has a strange and ominous features that can completely reflect one's own face.
However, his neck was so thin that there was almost no excess flesh in his jawline. From the collar of his combat suit, someone could also see part of his collarbone.
Although he was seventeen, apart from his height, there was no sign of maturity. Riveria felt that no one would doubt Noah if he said he was fourteen or fifteen.
For some reason, despite the huge difference, Riveria looked worried...
This unfortunate child, did he eat well? He really needs proper nutrition. Come to think of it, he seems to have been wearing those tattered clothes. It's winter now, I should take him shopping later...
When Riveria found herself thinking about such irrelevant things, she was shocked. No, what am I thinking? Coming back to her senses, Riveria quickly looked away and tried to pull her hand back. But Noah still didn't let go; instead, he held it even harder, so much that Riveria felt a little pain. This guy, doesn't he know how to be gentle with women? His mind is full of fighting.
Will he end up alone in the future? No, why should I worry about the rest of his life?
Thinking of this, Riveria's expression became disgusted and helpless. "Let go!"
Sensing the change in Riveria's tone, Noah's eyes lit up, his expression excited. "Riveria? You agree to let me go to the Dungeon?!"
The high elf, who usually valued elegance the most, couldn't help but roll her eyes. This motion appeared on her delicate, intellectual face, making her look surprisingly playful and seductive. "When did I ever tell you not to go?"
Noah's eyes suddenly widened. "So why are you here?"
As if to express 'I'm too lazy to say another word to you,' Riveria half closed her eyes, tucked her staff between her arms, and used her free hand to lift up her robe, revealing the shoulder bag tied around her slender waist. "Of course I'm following you. Otherwise, with your strength, I don't think you dare run directly to the 17th or 18th floor, right?"
Looking at the high elf with a faint smile in her eyes, as if saying thank me, Noah blinked and let go of Riveria's hand. Then! Before the high elf could react, Noah stretched out his hands, grasped her slender waist under her robe, and lifted her high!
"Long live Riveria!"
The completely unexpected situation made the high elf open her eyes wide, her mind blank. Especially the strange touch on her waist, a sensitive part never touched by anyone, made her cheeks turn blood red instantly. She froze completely, not knowing how to react. Her slender legs under the robe could only kick the air subconsciously.
"Stupid! Idiot! Put me down!"
But Noah didn't care and even held Riveria in the air and spun her several times. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Riveria raised her fist high, veins popping on the back of her pale hand.
"Duang!"
"Ouch!"
After a very pleasant sound echoed in the courtyard, Noah fell headfirst to the ground...
"Unbelievable! You actually do this to someone of the opposite sex! Don't you have any common sense?" Her cheeks were incredibly red. Riveria gritted her teeth as she straightened her clothes, staring at the fallen Noah with disgust. "Don't you know that the body of an elf cannot be touched casually?"
However, as soon as the words came out, Riveria herself was stunned. She touched the part of her waist that still felt strange, then placed her palm in front of her and frowned slightly.
Huh? There's no sense of rejection?
All elves have a degree of mysophobia and dislike being touched by others. The most serious even reject contact with other elves. Elves who come to Orario are generally better adjusted, and Riveria was no exception. Treating the wounded and carrying people in the Dungeon was unavoidable. But it definitely wasn't to the point where she wouldn't feel anything even if someone touched her waist...
Could it be?
As a guess emerged in Riveria's mind, she suddenly smelled a faint fragrance.
Hm? Her delicate nostrils twitched slightly.
Riveria turned her head, looking around, then slowly focused her gaze on her hands. There was no doubt the fragrance came from her palm. Could it be that it rubbed off from Noah's grip just now...
Riveria subconsciously lowered her head and sniffed her palm. A light, refreshing fragrance similar to mint and lemon rushed into her nose, making Riveria feel as if she were back in the white garden in Alf's Elven Forest. The courtyard bathed in thick sunlight, bees and butterflies fluttering among exotic flowers, the elegant melody of a harp drifting from somewhere...
Riveria felt her cheeks getting hot, but her consciousness was completely normal. However, a faint warmth and loneliness lingered in her heart, making her unable to extricate herself. It wasn't until a cold wind blew that Riveria shuddered and woke up, realizing how inappropriate her previous actions were. No, it was beyond inappropriate. It was like she was possessed...
As if there was something dirty on her hands, Riveria shook them vigorously, feeling the cold wind gradually subside. Fortunately, no one noticed just now....
Just as Riveria was thinking this, she met a pair of confused golden eyes behind the door.
"Riveria, what were you doing just now?"
In an instant, Riveria's toes curled tightly inside her boots.
...
As the morning glow dyed the clear sky, the biting cold wind gradually became stronger, and the white mist condensed by breath almost blocked the vision. But looking at the blonde girl in front of her, Riveria felt that no coldness could compare to the chill in her own heart at that moment. Even her offensive magic, Fimbulvetr wasn't this cold!
Heavens! She really just did it subconsciously! There was absolutely no lewd intention! If Ais really saw what happened just now...
"Riveria, I never thought you were that kind of elf. Always acting arrogant and lecturing me... Hehe, how cute!" When Riveria imagined Ais looking down at her and mocking her, a weak version of herself rolled and kicked wildly on a bed in her mind.
No! Riveria suddenly clenched her palms, using the pain of her fingernails digging in to force herself calm.
Besides, that was just my guess. Maybe Ais didn't see anything. Even if she did, she might not understand. Yes! That's it! Maintain the heart of an instructor! Never waver!
"Ais, what are you doing here so early instead of sleeping?"
Looking at the high elf who was looking at her seriously with arms crossed, a huge question mark appeared above Ais's little head. If it weren't for the unusual blush on Riveria's face, she might have suspected the scene just now was an illusion.
"I get up for morning exercise..." Ais waved the wooden sword in her hand, then looked at Noah lying on the ground. "Riveria and Noah, what were you doing?"
"Um, yes…" The tongue that could normally recite magic chants smoothly even when surrounded by monsters seemed knotted. There was a pause of perhaps four or five seconds before Riveria's eyes lit up. "Morning exercises! Yeah! I was giving this guy morning exercises too! He has magic, after all! He needs to train chanting while moving... concurrent chanting!"
Looking at Noah lying on the ground, Ais's big eyes were full of confusion. "Training concurrent chanting... requires beating people unconscious?" This was really an eye opener. However, this is also good.
If someone asks me for help with concurrent chanting training in the future, I'll know what to do.
Looking at Ais, who had obviously absorbed the wrong idea, Riveria bit her lip, feeling a little guilty. But refuting it now would only make things more complicated. Anyway, no one will ask Ais for help with concurrent chanting training... Thinking of this, Riveria suppressed her aching conscience.
At this time, Noah groaned, covered his head, and slowly sat up. "Well, why did I fall asleep?" After meeting Riveria's cold gaze, the confused Noah felt a wave of pain on his head and suddenly woke up.
"Hmm...."
Noah subconsciously glanced at Riveria's palms and her waist hidden under her robe. Although Riveria had a slender figure, her palms were surprisingly small, easily enveloped by Noah's. But what was even more surprising was that getting hit really hurt! After a quick look, Noah looked away guiltily, feeling that if he stared any longer, Riveria would make him explode on the spot.
Then, Noah met the gaze of a pair of round golden eyes. "Eh? Ais? What a coincidence. Why are you here?"