Before Miuson could answer, Kaede's grip on his hand tightened and she gave a small, decisive tug. Miuson was half-dragged toward a horizontal tree trunk nearby—weathered wood crusted with snow, a makeshift bench in the clearing. He started to protest, the old reflex of formality slipping out of him in a nervous reflex. "M-Milady, what—?"

Kaede cut him off by placing a finger to his lips, pouting with mock severity. Up close, the playful sparkle returned to her eyes. "Drop the 'milady' already! You know you don't have to be so stiff with me, at least when we're alone." She said as she guided Miuson onto the tree trunk.

Miuson huffed as he sat down, trying to reassert the drills that have governed him since he first joined the guard. "I can't just do that, you know that. You're the chief's daughter, Kaede, and I'm a guard trained to answer to you." His voice half admonishment, half nervous deflection as he shifted awkwardly on the tree trunk.

However, Kaede paid his words no mind. She settled beside him with the easy comfortability of someone who's lived beside him since childhood. Her pout softened into something almost fond as she took Miuson's injured hand in both of hers and studied the knuckles as if they were a map she's was tasked with deciphering.

"W-Wait, don't tell me you're going to use your Healing Affinity?" Miuson blurted out, the concern in his tone overtaking the embarrassment, for he knew the strain it had on her.

Hearing Miuson's concern, Kaede looked up at him with a mild scowl and an eye-roll that was half-playful. "Duh, you doofus." She said as she took a roll of white bandages from beneath her robe.

Taken aback by Kaede's apparent preparation, Miuson stammered as he began to protest. "Please, mil—I-I mean, Kaede, you really don't have to do this..."

Words of assurance that fell on deaf ears, as Kaede placed the bandages beside her, held his wrist steady and eased his fingers splayed in her palm. With no more argument, she positions her other hand a hair's breadth above his knuckles.

A small hush then fell between them. Kaede closed her eyes, and something like a calm bell rang in her a mind—a familiar warmth kindling beneath her chest, slow and steady.

She breathed in, letting the warmth spread for a moment before guiding it down into the hand hovering over Miuson's knuckles.

At first it was faint—a whisper of heat among the winter air—but the more she focused, the more the sensation pooled into her palm. Eventually, a transparent aura of green light began to bloom at her fingertips, shimmering like oil on water.

The veil thickened; its color deepened. Green threads of light weaved through the air, and the more Kaede concentrated, the more opaque that green became—an emerald glow humming from her skin.

Miuson blinked in fascination as the warmth slid from Kaede's palm into his wounds, a familiar comfort that loosened his tension. But, after looking at Kaede and seeing the signs of strain on her face, he tried to protest again. "K-Kaede—!" He began, weakly trying to tug his hand away.

Before Miuson could get even another word out, Kaede shot him a stern look whilst gripping the hand he tried to tug away—both actions making Miuson gulp and shrink back. The healing paused; an awkward silence stretched thin over the snowy field.

When she resumed, the green light pooled and flowed like a calming mist. Bit by bit, the ragged skin smoothed, dried, and closed. Flesh knit itself as best it could, but not fully, with an almost tender slowness until the redness faded back into a healthy tone.

Miuson watched as the ache in his arm was replaced by something softer—a flutter of gratitude that had nothing to do with rank or duty. He rubbed his head for words to fix the awkward silence, but the right things kept slipping off his tongue. "I—I…" he stammered, voice small.

Kaede didn't let him tumble for long. Her face softened as she spoke, the words spilling out like a small confession. "I admire your seriousness and devotion, Miuson, I really do," Kaede said softly, eyes fixed on his hand, "but you're not just 'a guard' to me. You're Miu, the fun boy I grew up with, the friend who filled my days with easy, careless memories."

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

As Kaede finished the last of the mending, she rested her other hand over his, warm and firm, enclosing his hand between both of hers. "How about you, Miu? Do you really only see me as just the chief's daughter, like everyone else?" She then blinked up at him with exaggerated, watery eyes. "Even after all we've been through?"

Miuson opened his mouth, starting to stammer an answer, but before the words could even escape, he would witness Kaede's eyes dim and flutter once. Right after, her head began to sway, then droop as moans of weakness escaped her lips.

She sagged forward fast enough that a bewildered Miuson barely had time to brace himself. Instinct took over: he folded his arms and caught her against his chest, careful, gentle, as if she were a fragile item perish to him.

"Kae!" Miuson gasped, panic sharpening his tone as he felt her full weight. She was limp for a heartbeat, then a soft exhale and a tiny shiver told him she was coming back. He kept his arms steady, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other settled at her waist, breath slow and measured so as not to jostle her.

Only a few seconds passed before Kaede's lashes fluttered open and she grinned, cheeks flushed. "I'm fine..." she murmured, pushing against Miuson lightly, but not really trying to move away. "Guess that last bit of healing took more out of me than I thought. Ugh, and here I've been, practicing in secret, so embarrassing, hehee..."

"You scared me right there. This is why I told you to not worry..." Miuson said as he secured his hold of Kaede, bringing her closer a bi, surprising the girl.

Taking that as an invitation, she snuggled closer, pressing into his chest with a contented sigh. "I guess I don't mind, since you would have never held me like this on your own, Miu."

Heat flamed up his neck. Miuson's words came out choked and earnest. "I—I..." He stammered, the formalities he has upheld beginning to fade. "I don't see you as just the chief's daughter, how could I? I see you a-as..."

Kaede lifted her head a fraction, eyes half-lidded in that teasing way she reserved only for him. She didn't wait for the rest. Instead she simply smiled. "I already know, Miu. You did just call me 'Kae' like you did back then~!"

As the realization settled in Miuson's face, causing him to cup his mouth, Kaede's giggles rang out, her amusement bright as sun on snow. "My goddess! See, I knew it," she teased, nudging him lightly with her shoulder, "you and Dama are like two peas in a pod! Both of you are hopeless when it comes to being teased~!"

At the mention of Dama's name, Miuson immediately straightened, the flush in his face easing as curiosity pushed the embarrassment aside. "Dama? The green-haired boy?"

Kaede nodded, eyes dancing as she began bandaging Miuson's knuckles with practiced movements. "That's the one. He came with the other three Enohayean Men two days ago." She cocked her head to the side. "Did you meet him?"

Miuson rubbed the back of his head, looking away for a heartbeat as the memory nudged loose. "Yeah, briefly..." his voice was low, a little shy. "I met him during the feast. He was struggling to cut himself a slice of pie, so I helped him."

"Oh? That's so sweet of you! What did you guys talk about?"

"We didn't." Miuson chuckled out nervously. "I wanted to say something, but you know me, I was never good at conversation..."

"Checks out, tehee~!"

"Tch, speaking of Dama, how is he? Didn't he pass out at the feast?"

Kaede giggled. "Oh yeah, he did. I was actually right next and talking to him when he just...fell asleep. I thought it was pretty rude of him, so I tried waking him up. But, nothing worked. In the moment, it was pretty scary." She shrugged before continuing. "In the end though, I just went and got that blonde man, Liam, since Himon and that nobody were too drunk. Liam then took Dama and his two stuffed animals to Imke's house. He's fine last time I saw him yesterday."

Miuson raised a speculative and rather disapproving eyebrow. "Stuffed animals...? Dama brought stuffed animals with him?"

"Oh, they're not your normal stuffed animals by any means, and their names are Mumu and Nini!" Kaede replied, a glint of fascination and fondness in her eyes. "They're these cute, giant stitched toys that seem to have their own free will! Don't tell me you haven't seen them yet. They're the talk of the village ever since coming here! Not only that, but it seems they're also the result of Dama's Soulful Technique!"

The last words hooked Miuson in an instant, repeating in his head as he grasped his chin. "Soulful Technique... Chief Okun has one, and I remember Captain Dominitius mentioning Dama having one too during training yesterday."

"Don't forget, my father did say due to your recent training, you're showing potential to awaken a Soulful Technique of your own, right? It's why he wants to train you alongside Dama!" Kaede giggled again before gasping and clasping her hands together in excitement. "That means you'll most likely get to meet Mumu and Nini alongside Dama again!"

Miuson grinned. "Yeah, I would love that." He balled his other hand into a fist and set it against his chest with quiet determination. "I—I may have not talked to him when I first had the chance, but I really do want to thank him and the other Enohayean Men. They saved my little brother from freezing after he snuck out. For that, I owe them dearly"

-

Next: (Chapter 78) Miuson & Kaede: Part 2

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.