Chapter 153: Second Layer of the Forest of Disruption? [14]
"Huu..." Lillian let out a deep breath as she stood over the Spider's mutilated face. She smiled lightly but then became light-headed. Her liquid arm lost its shape and disappeared, allowing her blood to leak.
She then stumbled back before falling...
Thud...
... On to her back. She was tired. Hurt. And quite frankly... a bit hungry. Not only that, but she felt dizzy and a bit sick. She gave a short sigh before moving her hand to the pocket of her hoodie.
She rummaged through it and found that the slip of paper was missing. Her talisman was missing. Her eyes briefly narrowed before softening. She pushed her arms out to her side and laid there.
"Oh boy... where did I put the talisman?" She chuckled nervously, a bit, as she was bathed in the smell of blood and the coldness of the fog.
Soon enough, tiredness took over her. Her eyelid became heavy. And she could fall asleep at any minute. However, before she did, she raised her remaining hand towards the Spider.
With the palm of her hand facing the sky and her hand forming a fist, she pushed out her middle finger. Her arm then went limp and fell to the ground.
A split second before she lost consciousness, she heard:
"Hm? Lillian...?"
***
Walking through the fog, a woman with long black hair stumbled upon Lillian. Her red eyes widened at her injuries for a moment. It was Marionette.
She crouched down just beside Lillian's head. She then held up her right hand and summoned a red vial. It was a high-quality health potion.
Using her left hand, she tilted Lillian's head up a bit. After biting off the cork, Marionette slowly tilted the vial into Lillian's mouth. The back of her fingers briefly brushed against her face.
After emptying the vial into her mouth, Marionette shifted her body around, placing herself behind Lillian and lowering her head onto her lap.
She then murmured, wiping away the blood on Lillian's face with her hand:
"Honestly... you do have quite the habit of receiving some serious injuries..." She glanced towards Lillian's stump that twitched.
From it bones began to grow, taking shape into that of an arm before muscles, blood vessels, and skin grew over at a rapid rate.
She then stared back down at Lillian's sleeping face, which twitched in uncomfort. That was until Marionette cupped her cheek, rubbing it slowly.
"Don't worry, Lillian... I'm here now. Sleep all you like... And as long as you like..." She gave a small, gentle smile and she leaned over the Rabbit's face. Her hair cascaded over the sides like curtains, veiling them from the outside.
"And let's get you out of those clothes too," Marionette whispered.
***
"Ughmm..." Lillian gave a groggy moan as she felt something cold be poured over her face. And then something wiping it off. She moved her hands over her face, shielding her from it before opening her eyes.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light. She slowly glanced around, wondering, 'Am I still in the forest...?'
She then looked up through the gaps between her... arms? And fingers.
"Oh... You're awake. Good morning, Lillian." Marionette greeted her, moving the Purified Quench away from Lillian's face. "Did you sleep well?"
"I uh... eh? Is it just you? And what were you doing?" Lillian turned her head side-to-side. She then felt two hands place themselves on the sides of her face, holding it in place.
Marionette stared down at her, "It's just me, washing your face." She then frowned, "Why? Did you want someone else here with us?" She tilted her head a bit, "Or did you think I wouldn't be able to find you?"
She rapid-fired her questions, leading Lillian to become slightly flustered.
"W-well, I... eh? I got my arm back?" She stared at her right arm in surprise. "Wait. Am I in your lap, right now?"
"Don't try to change the subject."
Marionette pulled Lillian's arms away, giving her a full display of Lillian's face. "Did you want others here or not?" She asked in a low tone, with a surprising pout on her face.
Lillian widened her eyes briefly before—
"—Pfft...!"
Chuckling a bit. She held up her hands towards Marionette's puffed cheeks and gently squeezed them, "Pouting now? Where'd you learn to do that?" She laughed, "So adorable~..."
She then sat up from Marionette's lap and turned around. She then held both sides of Marionette's face and deliberately leaned in. With an inch gap between their faces, Lillian whispered:
"Nah... I prefer some more alone time with just us..."
Marionette stared into Lillian's sparkly blue eyes before glancing down at her lips to find it curling up playfully. And then at her words, her face began to heat up slightly.
Lillian raised an eyebrow as Marionette's cheeks seemed to redden. She widened her eyes in surprise before giggling, "Are you blushing?!"
Marionette hurriedly pulled away, holding an arm over the lower half of her face and saying:
"No."
"Nah! You definitely are Marionette!"
"I'm not."
"But—"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Oh, come on! Just let me see it!" Lillian grabbed onto Marionette's forearm and pulled it out of the way, which seemed to stubbornly not move.
She then leaned away and sat on her knees. She then looked at her clothes and found that her attire had changed.
Instead of the blood-covered clothes she had on before, it was replaced with a black turtle neck sweater and jeans. Exactly like what Marionette was currently wearing now.
"Sooo uhh... these yours?"
Marionette lowered her arm and nodded briefly.
"Yes. I carry around spare clothing. Are they... not satisfactory?"
"Hm? You sure do ask that question a lot." Lillian smirked, "Yeah they are. But what I wanna know is..." She leaned in again, crawling towards her, "What did you think of the sight of me nude?"
Marionette slowly pushed herself back, "T-... that's quite an inappropriate question, Lillian." And at her words, Lillian paused.
She then rubbed the back of her head in shame, "Ah... I guess it is. Sorry—" Just as soon as she apologised, however, Marionette spoke up.
"But if you want to know..." She turned her face slightly to the side. The tip of her ears reddening a bit, "You were beautiful..."