NOVEL NEXT Chapter 106: It's finally about to end
She stayed there, watching his face for five whole minutes, unmoving. But then, her expression slowly changed. The smile faded, replaced by something sour—and a hint of anger.
"Huh? What are they doing here?" she muttered, narrowing her golden eyes and lifting her gaze toward the sky far in the distance.
"Probably because of the commotion that was caused by my last attack. Since it was equal to a Ninth stager's attack, they should be curious which Ninth stage warrior or mage fought here and are coming to check it out," Renan said, his red-golden eyes slowly opening as he looked in the same direction Elaris was staring.
Elaris, hearing his words, looked back at him—Renan, who was still lying down in her lap—and asked gently, "What about your injuries are they okay now husband?"
Renan nodded his head slowly and began to rise from Elaris' soft lap that had been far too comfortable for him to leave so easily, doing so reluctantly.
"Huff," Elaris let out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding, one she'd been keeping in since holding Renan with so much worry in her heart.
Renan now stood tall, stretching his body as his shadow fell over the still-seated Elaris. His form, bare and uncovered, stood strong, and the many injuries that once marred him were now gone, his body restored to its former perfect state.
Elaris, still sitting, looked up at him as he stretched. Her gaze lingered, admiring his body—his chest, his arms, and finally down to his lower body. Seeing Renan's little monster dangling freely as he moved made her cheeks flush red, and her thoughts drifted to not-so-innocent places.
Her already warm face reddened even more, spreading to her ears and down her neck.
"I think it'll take them around five or maybe four minutes to reach here. We should get going now," Renan said while continuing to stretch. But not getting a response from her, he glanced down at Elaris and caught her dazed expression, clearly lost in thought. Following the line of her sight, it became obvious to him what she had been thinking.
A sly smirk crept onto Renan's lips as he stepped closer to her. Elaris snapped out of her thoughts when she noticed him approach, and she looked up, startled, only to find him standing right in front of her, his lower body mere inches away from her face.
"What are you thinking about?" Renan asked with mock innocence.
"Nothing," Elaris replied quickly, averting her gaze to the side, suddenly embarrassed for reasons she couldn't explain.
"Tsk, tsk," Renan clicked his tongue and shook his head in mock disapproval. "C'mon, Elaris. We've already done it. You've even played with it. So why still act shy and embarrassed?" He said.
"Hmm," Elaris murmured as she thought for a second. "Indeed, you are right, but… it's still kinda embarrassing. I don't know why, but it just is," she admitted, finally looking up at him again.
"Hmm, I see," Renan said with a thoughtful nod.
Suddenly, he bent down and took her hand, pulling her up gently. "Then we need to erase this embarrassment of yours. And what's the best way?" His voice lowered, his face closer to hers. "The best way is for us to spend time together..."
He leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear. "...naked," he whispered, his voice teasing. "...and closely," he finished as he blew a light breath into her ear.
Elaris' body shuddered visibly with excitement and anticipation. "Umm," she nodded shyly, resting her head against Renan's bare chest.
Renan smirked but said nothing more, simply hugging her tightly before pulling back slightly. "Anyway, let's go," he said.
Elaris stepped out of his embrace, and just as she did, Renan's ring shimmered. A set of black clothes appeared in his hand, and he dressed quickly.
After that, Renan took Elaris' hand, and they both vanished from the spot together.
Just a minute or two later, three people arrived. They were clad in dark robes adorned with golden lines. From their robes outlines, one was a woman, and the other two were men.
"Hmm, looks like whoever fought here is already gone," the woman on the right said as she scanned the area.
"Hmm," the man in front nodded silently while the other man on the left spoke up.
"They probably sensed our arrival and ran away," the man said with an arrogant voice, arms crossed.
"I don't think they ran away. More like they retreated—probably exhausted or unwilling to meet us," the woman said, her eyes scanning the scorched and destroyed landscape. "And judging by the scale of this battle, if we were to fight, the outcome would be uncertain. You saying they ran away makes me think you're either blind or a fool who can't see what's right in front of you," she added mockingly.
"You—!" the man growled, visibly agitated, on the verge of starting a fight right there. But before things escalated—
"Enough," the man in the middle finally spoke. His voice held authority, and instantly both of them fell silent, straightening up.
"What she's saying is true. They likely retreated because they were either too tired or didn't want to be seen by us. That suggests two things—they're either criminals or from the monster faction," The man said without looking back.
He paused, his gaze stern. "Report this back to His Majesty. Also, inform the gate guards to strengthen the checks at all entry points. Any individual above the Seventh stage—whether on the warrior or mage path—should be flagged and reported immediately."
"Yes, sir," the other two said in unison before they, vanished from the area.
After those two disappeared, the man stood there alone, still hovering in the air. He looked down at the devastated forest below him and muttered under his breath before vanishing into the sky, "It looks like the peace that has lasted for so long after the war... is finally about to end."