Oath [BL; Book 2]

69

"Ugh.." Aether sat in front of the toilet, his stomach ached. Paimon worried looking from him to Xiao who came in with a glass of water.

Handing him the cup he took his glove off checking his temperature. Still running a fever. He got in Paimon's view lifting Aether's shirt seeing his stomach. The bruises were fading just a bit and the swelling had nearly gone completely down. However he still needed to avoid going anywhere.

"Aether, was it something you ate?"

He smiled through his misery and gave a nod, "Yeah.. guess it was."

"Your fever is still high." Xiao said, "Are you alright for a bath?"

"Ye-urgh!" He wasn't,

Paimon stressed, "Ooh, Aether shouldn't we go see Baizhu? If you're that sick it could be food poisoning! What if it gets really bad?! Paimon's worried, why don't we have him look at you? Your fever hasn't gone down either. You can't even leave the bathroom. Should Paimon get you-"

"Paimon." Xiao stopped her from talking anymore. "Why don't you go see if Belliol needs any help?"

"Oh! Yeah, Paimon can do that!" She floated away and he closed the door so she wouldn't just come back in.

Aether's expression said it all. "I can't..." he mumbled,

"Relax." Xiao rubbed his back,

"She just keeps pushing like it'll get better over night." He leaned to him feeling weak, "I know she doesn't get it, but... why? Why can't she just give me one minute to breath?"

"I understand you're frustrated, but she's only worried."

"I know... I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. Venting your frustrations is a wise choice."

Aether sighed hugging him. "You're too mature."

"....." He wasn't sure if that was a compliment, but he kept saying it so he accepted it as one. "How do you feel?"

"Terrible."

"Is it your stomach?"

"Yeah. The bruises still hurt, and throwing up only makes them hurt worse."

"Hm." The bruises had appeared on his back too, he was concerned, but Feiyu said it would be alright. "Is there anything you feel you can eat?"

"..... Almond tofu."

Xiao blushed lightly not believing he actually pulled a fast one like that. "That.. very well. I will prepare it for you."

"Yaay~" he was in better spirits.

Xiao went to make it while Aether did his best to keep it together. Finally finding some freedom he sighed leaning against the wall holding his stomach. He had to think, the demon that had its eyes set on him. He had already come into contact with it before, but where did it truly come from?

"Was it... back then?" Aether wondered thinking back to when he and Wanderer went to the ruin. "He 'killed' me, I know that much, but why?" Curling up he waited to see if anymore would come out and sighed feeling better that it didn't. "I should ask but I can't if I'm like this...." now he simply sat there thinking. With a heavy mind he pondered the thoughts.

The story he had heard from Feiyu described an entirely different world. A place of wonder where many clans seemed to live. He was curious about it. The place seemed almost too good to fit in such a sad tale. Especially with how it ended. He recalled their conversation about adeptal energy and how it was affecting him too.