06 Herb Gathering

(Ella's Pov)

The night at Veiled Gorge was even quieter than I had imagined.

Moonlight fell between the canyon walls like a thin layer of silver frost. Occasionally, the low calls of unknown magical beasts came from the distance. Wind passed through the mountain walls, carrying a damp and icy breath.

If it were before, I would never dare come to this kind of place in the middle of the night.

But now it's different.

I secretly looked up and glanced at Kyle, who was holding me.

He flew very steadily.

His black hair was blown by the night wind. His profile looked sharp and beautiful in the moonlight. Those emerald eyes constantly watched the surroundings, like some kind of dangerous creature accustomed to moving in the dark.

I don't know why.

As long as he was beside me, I wasn't afraid at all. I was even a bit excited.

The thing I used to like most was going into the mountains with Wayne to gather herbs.

Sometimes we would stay in the forest for several days. At night we'd organize herbs around a campfire, and during the day we'd climb mountains and cross ridges to search for rare materials. I was always curious about what kind of person Wayne really was. He said he was just an ordinary traveling bard, but he knew so much about herbs.

But he wasn't a pharmacist. I knew this very clearly. Because he couldn't prepare potions at all, yet he knew many potion formulas.

Wayne was an enigmatic person.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile lightly.

"What are you laughing at?" Kyle looked down at me.

"Nothing." I shrank my neck. "I just suddenly felt that coming out to gather herbs at night seems quite interesting."

Kyle didn't speak, but the arms holding me seemed to tighten a bit.

Soon, we landed at the canyon's edge.

The mountain wall here was almost vertical. Wind whistled up from below. I carefully peeked down, then immediately retreated, dizzy and disoriented.

Too high.

"Over there." I pointed toward a protruding rock wall not far away.

Several gray-green plants grew between the crevices, their leaf edges gleaming with a silvery-white luster.

It was Craglocks.

"Finally found it!"

I immediately became happy and hurriedly rummaged through my potion bag for tools. Silver shovel, fish-scale gloves, small silver jar... harvesting Craglocks requires special methods. A bit troublesome.

Kyle stood beside me, watching as I took out items one by one. His brow gradually furrowed.

"Gathering this herb is this troublesome?"

"It's okay, this isn't the most troublesome one." I nodded earnestly. "The roots of Craglocks can't be directly exposed to air for too long. You must first use a silver shovel to dig out the surrounding soil together, then wear fish-scale gloves and slowly pull upward—"

I gestured as I spoke.

"After pulling it out, you must immediately put it in a silver jar, then fill in the nearby broken stones, otherwise the medicinal properties will be lost."

Kyle hadn't even listened to half before showing obvious impatience.

"Are all you pharmacists this troublesome?"

"This is professionalism!" I retorted, dissatisfied. "You promised to help me gather herbs..."

The next second, my body suddenly left the ground.

"Ah—!"

Kyle directly flew up while holding me.

The night wind suddenly rushed up. I instinctively hugged his neck tight.

"Kyle!"

"Don't you need to gather herbs?" His tone was lazy. "I'll take you there."

As soon as he finished speaking.

He had already placed me on a protruding stone slab halfway down the cliff.

The slab wasn't large, only enough for one person to stand. Looking down, I could only see the bottomless canyon.

"Don't move around!" I nervously grabbed his sleeve. "It's so high here!"

Kyle glanced down.

"Weren't you very excited just now?"

I clutched his clothes tightly and pleaded: "Just now you were holding me, of course I wasn't afraid. Now you're making me stand here alone... good lord, the wind is so strong!"

He very lightly curved the corner of his mouth.

"I'll block the wind for you. Hurry up."

After saying that, he let go of me and came to stand behind me, blocking the howling wind for me. His build was very tall. Shielding me completely was no problem at all.

Feeling Kyle's solid back, I felt at ease. Alright, while the dark elf is still in a good mood, I'd better finish the work quickly.

I took a deep breath, trying hard to focus.

This Craglocks was in very good condition. It looked like the medicinal properties would be very potent.

I carefully put on the fish-scale gloves, used the silver shovel to dig away the surrounding soil bit by bit, then slowly pulled out the roots intact.

The entire process had to be very stable. Otherwise, even slightly damaging the roots would greatly reduce the medicinal efficacy.

My movements were very careful. My muscles stayed tense the whole time. On this somewhat cold night, I was actually sweating.

Finally, I completely placed the Craglocks into the silver jar. Just as I was about to close the lid—

Something suddenly shot out from the stone crevice!

"Ah!"

Two slender black shadows rushed straight at my face.

I hurriedly dodged by turning my head, but my feet suddenly slipped.

Broken stones clattered down the cliff.

The next second, my body suddenly lost weight. My hands clutched the silver jar tightly. I only had time to shout: "Kyle—!"

Wind sounds instantly filled my ears.

The previously tranquil night sky became terrifying before my eyes. Was I going to die? No, I still haven't found Wayne...!

A black shadow dove down at extreme speed from above, blocking the cold night sky, warming me with his body.

My waist was fiercely gripped. A familiar scent completely surrounded me.

Kyle held me, suddenly spreading his wings to slow the descent, finally landing heavily on a rocky area below the canyon.

Before I could recover, he lifted my chin.

"Don't move." His voice turned this cold for the first time.

I stared at him blankly, somewhat afraid. Did I cause him trouble?

"I'm sorry..."

Kyle's expression looked terribly grim. He didn't acknowledge my apology. He suddenly reached out and touched my neck.

Ice-cold fingertips slid across my skin. I couldn't help but tremble lightly. I felt something tugging at my skin, then a sharp pain. I saw two tiny black insects in Kyle's hand.

Those things looked like snakes, or leeches, their bodies still constantly writhing.

"What is this..." I touched my neck. There were two small wounds on it. Clearly I had been bitten by these two insects.

My head felt a bit dizzy. I figured these two insects were poisonous.

At first I just felt my cheeks were somewhat hot, but soon the heat spread crazily along my bloodstream. Even breathing became difficult. My vision gradually blurred.

The figure before my eyes also began to sway.

The emerald eyes turned into gentle brownish-tan. I saw Wayne looking at me anxiously.

I reached out my hand in a daze.

"Wayne..." I no longer had the strength to voice my longing. I moved my lips and looked at the person before me with tears.

I'm sorry Wayne, I didn't mean to make you worry. I can't control my tears.

I miss you so much. Why didn't you say goodbye when you left?

You're such a cold person.

But I still miss you so much. After all these years, meeting so many people, I still like you the most.

The heat made me dizzy. I could barely think. I just wanted to get close to the person before me.

Wanted to hold him.

Wanted to confirm his warmth.

I grabbed his clothes and burrowed into his embrace.

"Don't go..." Maybe only I could hear this voice. It's fine. I'll use my actions to prove my determination to keep you.

I hugged him tightly.

I just felt my clothes getting hotter and hotter, more and more bothersome.

"Uncomfortable..." I reached out to pull at my collar but was pressed down by him.

"What are you doing? What's wrong with you? You have a fever!"

"But it's hot..." My body was so burning. This heat that couldn't be relieved made me feel very wronged.

He wouldn't let me take off my own clothes, so I'd take off his.

But as soon as I touched the button on his chest, my wrist was gripped again.

"No."

His hand carried the coolness of night wind. I couldn't help but press my face against it, gently rubbing. Following his arm, his shoulder, I breathed my burning breath onto his neck.

He seemed to shudder.

So hot, so hot. It felt like my body was about to melt. I wrapped around him tightly like a snake, my lips pressed against his chest, trying to absorb a bit of cool feeling.

He pushed me.

Heat, grievance, confusion all surged up together.

I couldn't control it and started crying again.

"You're so mean..."

The body beneath my hands clearly stiffened.

In the moonlight, I saw a pair of emerald gems, sparkling and mesmerizing. I couldn't help but kiss them, then moved downward, touching something soft.

What is this? It feels so soft. I sucked once then again, then was pushed away again.

I couldn't hear any sounds, couldn't see anything clearly. Only this person beside me was my sole connection to the world.

He seemed to say something. I couldn't hear. I just drowsily burrowed into his embrace.

My nape suddenly transmitted sharp pain.

"Mmm—"

Like something ice-cold pierced through my skin.

Immediately after.

The heat in my body began to rapidly drain away.

I limply leaned in his embrace. My consciousness grew increasingly blurred.

Hazily, I felt myself being gently placed on the ground.

I opened my eyes and vaguely saw a tall figure walking toward the lake ahead.

Silvery-white spring water reflected the moonlight.

He walked in step by step, until I could no longer see him.

I watched in a daze.

The last thought in my mind was actually—

Is he going to take a bath?