Chapter 45: Power Of Gifts
After going into his room, Kaelor stripped off his worn clothes and began by donning the Mountainhide Armour as his base layer. The thick yet pliant material clung to his torso like a second skin, its inner lining cool against his flesh. He slid into his pants and stepped out barefooted into the open air.
Just then...
"Hmm..." A soft, feminine hum drifted to his ears, subtle yet deliberate, like someone making a quiet appraisal.
Kaelor turned toward the street.
There she was, a young woman, moving toward him with unhurried grace. Her long black gown was cinched at the waist, perfectly highlighting the gentle curve of her hips. Silky silver hair spilled over both shoulders and down her back like moonlight on dark water. Each step she took was light, almost noiseless, her bare feet barely disturbing the earth.
Her eyes roamed boldly from Kaelor’s head to his toes, slow, unashamed, curious.
"Shouldn’t you be at the feast?" Kaelor asked, slinging Ignis over his shoulder. The weapon settled with a soft metallic clink, resonating faintly in the quiet.
"And what should I do there?" she replied, her voice tinged with mischief, teasing. "Chat with Elsa? A healer, a farmer and quite the fighter? Or dance with the men who couldn’t keep their eyes off me? Or maybe just sit and eat till I’m bloated, though unfortunately, there’s no wine. So those deliciously cooked meats lacked their full appeal. And... I prefer beef to mutton."
She smiled as she spoke, her tone light, almost airy, yet it carried the weight of someone used to being noticed. Kaelor raised a brow at her, not amused, but not dismissive either.
"She came because we weren’t there," Mildred said beside him with a soft chuckle, folding her arms.