05 Request

(Ella's Pov)

Kyle needs a new set of clothes, and the moment I first saw him, I decided I wanted to give him this set.

The clothes had been carefully folded by me and placed in a wooden box inside the wardrobe. The box also contained some old travel maps, worn quills, and several half-written potion formulas.

All things Wayne had left behind.

I sat on the floor holding the clothes, lost in thought for a while, until an impatient voice came from the storage room.

"Are you planning to keep me like this forever?"

Only then did I come back to my senses and hurriedly ran back with the clothes.

Kyle was leaning against the bedside.

Sunlight fell through the narrow high window, gilding his black hair with a faint golden edge. He seemed to have recovered some strength. His complexion was much better than last night, though those emerald eyes still carried a languid sense of danger.

I handed over the clothes.

"Put these on first."

He glanced down.

It was a set of light armor in a traveling style. The dark gray coat was sewn with silver thread, with leather straps on the shoulders, and underneath was a soft white shirt and tall boots.

This was what Wayne wore when he first came to Thorn Town.

Kyle reached out and took them.

"You go out."

"...Oh."

I turned around and obediently stood by the door.

The room fell quiet for a moment, with only the rustling sound of fabric.

Then I suddenly heard him speak.

"That werewolf just now."

"Hmm?"

"What's your relationship with him?"

I was stunned.

"Friends?"

"Just friends?"

"Of course just friends." I was a bit baffled. "I've watched him grow up since he was little. Finn isn't even an adult yet."

A very light scoffing laugh came from behind.

"Are you this unguarded with everyone?"

I was about to retort when I suddenly heard him let out a low "tsk."

"What's wrong?"

"How do you wear this thing?"

I turned around, then almost laughed out loud.

Kyle had fastened the shoulder straps wrong.

The leather buckle that should have been secured on the left had been wrapped around to the back, and even the collar of the shirt inside was half askew.

He clearly wasn't very good at wearing this kind of complex clothing, just like Wayne.

Wayne often looked at maps while getting dressed, and ended up tying the straps in a complete mess. Every time I had to help him reorganize.

Thinking of this, I walked over and pressed down on his shoulder: "Don't move."

Kyle looked down at me.

I stood in front of him and reached out to untie the wrongly fastened straps for him.

The distance suddenly became very close.

His scent was somewhat cool, like a damp forest at night.

His hair hung down, brushing across the back of my hand. I lowered my head to straighten his collar. My fingers occasionally touched his collarbone and the skin on the side of his neck, also cool. Dark elves are elves of the night, right? That's why they're like moonlight—beautiful, mysterious, and unreachable.

Kyle was rarely obedient. I told him not to move, and he actually stayed completely still.

I skillfully arranged the clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles along the collar, and gave a satisfied pat: "All done."

Just as I was about to step back, my waist was suddenly gently held.

My breathing hitched. Only then did I realize what I had just done, and also... the feel of the muscles beneath my hands was quite nice.

Kyle lowered his head, his gaze resting on my face.

"What are you looking at?"

I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks burning: "Nothing, I just think you look very good in this outfit."

He said: "Why do you have men's clothes in your house?"

"..."

"And," he slowly added, "the size is very large. These aren't clothes a human could wear, are they?"

The elven race is much taller than humans. Every time I look up to talk to Kyle, my neck hurts.

Kyle was very perceptive. These indeed weren't human clothes. These were once Wayne's clothes, but these clothes fit Kyle perfectly, as if custom-made.

My heart gave a light leap. Kyle and Wayne's builds were almost identical.

Just now for that instant, looking only at his back, I even thought Wayne had come back.

I lowered my eyes, avoiding his gaze.

"A long time ago, an elf came to buy potions and accidentally left his clothes here."

Kyle looked at me for a while. I don't know if it was my imagination, but he seemed a bit unhappy.

"I don't like wearing old clothes." He tugged at the clothes.

"Huh?"

"Ella, I want new clothes."

It was very difficult for me to refuse such a request, because Kyle was looking at me with those beautiful eyes of his.

But I tried to struggle: "You're someone being supported by me right now. How can you still be so picky?"

"That's your problem," the noble dark elf said.

"..." I actually couldn't refute this, and finally had to nod in resignation.

"I understand. I'll go buy them for you."

Only then was Kyle reluctantly satisfied.

I organized the herbs on the table and reopened the record book for the hair loss potion.

"Still missing three ingredients."

"One of them is Craglocks."

"Should be able to find it around Veiled Gorge."

Kyle, who had been lazily leaning against the headboard, looked up at this.

"You're going to Veiled Gorge?"

"I'd like to." I sighed. "But it's not very safe there recently. Even the goblins don't dare get close."

I turned to look at him: "So, I'd like to ask for your help."

Kyle was silent for a moment: "I'm not going."

I was somewhat disappointed, but thinking it over carefully, it was normal. His identity was dangerous to begin with, and he was still injured now. It really wasn't appropriate for him to go out.

"It's fine." I tried hard not to seem too disappointed. "I can go ask Finn—"

"I can help you." He suddenly interrupted me.

I was startled: "Really?"

"But I need payment first." Before I could react, he had already reached out and gripped my wrist.

Ice-cold fingertips pressed against my skin, and my heartbeat suddenly became erratic.

Kyle lowered his head. Black hair slid from his shoulder, lightly brushing across the back of my hand.

Then I felt his soft, slightly cool lips touch my wrist, right where it was closest to the artery.

I could feel my pulse beating against his lips, one beat after another.

Kyle looked up at me. His deep emerald eyes were quiet in a somewhat dangerous way.

"You agreed."

Not a question, but a confirmation.

My throat felt inexplicably tight.

"...Mm."

The next second, a slight stinging pain came.

I instinctively curled my fingers.

But his grip wasn't heavy, even gentle, really.

The feeling of blood being slowly drawn away was somewhat strange.

A little painful, but not unbearable. Instead it was like some subtle electric current spreading along my veins, making my body gradually heat up.

Kyle looked up at me. I didn't want to show a vulnerable expression, so I could only avoid his gaze.

I don't know how long passed before he finally released me, a bit of bright red blood still remaining at the corner of his lips.

He extended the tip of his tongue and slowly licked it away.

My ears suddenly burned hot: "Are, are you finished?"

Kyle let out a low "mm," then leaned back against the bedside again.

"I need to rest for a while."

I wiped my wrist. Miraculously, it had already stopped bleeding.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

He closed his eyes, his voice somewhat drowsy and lazy, carrying a trace of satisfaction.

"Dark elves can't be active in sunlight. Wait until dark, then I'll help you collect herbs."

I explained: "I'm not rushing you to help me. I'm worried about you."

Kyle had already closed his eyes. He appeared to have fallen asleep.

When night truly fell, Kyle finally opened his eyes again.

He looked much more energetic than during the day.

Those emerald eyes even faintly glowed in the darkness.

"Let's go."

"Now?"

"Don't you need to collect herbs?"

Before I could react, he scooped me up in his arms.

"Wait—"

The window was suddenly flung open by the night wind.

The next second, I completely lost my sense of weight. Wind whistled past my ears.

I clutched tightly at Kyle's clothes, my eyes wide with terror.

The small town beneath my feet rapidly shrank. Rooftops, streets, lights—all became distant points of light.

"Good lord—!" My voice was trembling.

But Kyle let out a low laugh.

"Scared?"

"Of course! This is my, my first time flying!"

"Is that so? Then hold on tight~" Kyle suddenly dove, scaring me into screaming and hugging him tight.

The evening wind tousled my hair. With Kyle's solid chest as a shield, I gradually stopped being afraid.

I timidly stretched out my hands, wanting to touch the night sky.

Kyle held me, traveling through the pitch-black mountains.

I couldn't help but look down.

Veiled Gorge stretched like a huge shadow across the depths of the mountain range. Moonlight fell on the edge of the canyon, gleaming with silvery-white light.

"Kyle!"

"Hmm?"

"Fly a little higher!"

He glanced down at me.

In those emerald eyes was a trace of faint amusement.

"Hold me tight."

Then he carried me flying toward an even higher night sky.