Scepter

Part 8

Sensing the active magical elements within each other, Yannick was almost mesmerized, completely lost in the moment. Their bodies pressed closely together, their hands intertwined. To an outside observer, this position did indeed seem overly ambiguous.

Chris extinguished the flame on his hand as the others approached, not even bothering to lift an eyelid. With his status, he didn't need to explain himself to these few individuals.

The priest no longer needed to worry about Asur wanting to kill him. With Chris present, he was sure Chris wouldn't sit idly by if anything were to happen. However, their covenant relationship was confidential, so he didn't provoke the easily agitated Asur further. Instead, he smiled gently, "I was just healing Chris's injuries."

"Is that so?" Asur's skeptical gaze shifted between the two of them. Suddenly, he remarked, "Chris, you're not being swayed by his innocent face, are you... mmph!"

Afra covered his mouth, apologizing to Chris, "I'm so sorry, Chris. Asur just spoke without thinking. Please don't take it to heart!"

Chris, who had been traveling with them the whole time, remained cold and indifferent from start to finish. They, as a group, weren't even a match for a high-level mage, so why would Asur dare to provoke him like this!

"Mmph mmph!" Asur was quite unhappy with her apologizing on his behalf and struggled against her hold.

Even Lily and Daniel seemed a bit displeased with Asur at this point. Lily stepped forward, "Yannick, thank you for healing me and Afra earlier. You even exhausted yourself for it!"

While restraining Asur, Afra's smile seemed a bit grimacing, "Yes, thank you, Yannick. I'm extremely sorry for Asur's rudeness towards you earlier!"

"I have a proposal," Lily said. "We've all seen on this journey that Yannick is different from other priests. He's saved our lives several times, so I hope we can make him our official companion rather than a captive."

"No way!! I'm not the same... mmph!" A silence spell and a paralysis spell silenced Asur completely.

"..." The others glanced at Chris, the one who cast the spell. Honestly, they felt a bit relieved.

Even Afra was starting to get fed up with Asur.

"I agree!" Daniel quickly added.

"Me too," Afra chimed in. "Do you want to go check over there? There are lots of magic crystals, although the quality is mediocre, they can be sold outside for money."

Yannick was a bit intrigued. He was currently broke, and his only six copper coins were left behind in the small house in Jed Town due to their hasty departure.

It didn't matter much now, traveling with Chris and the others in the wilderness, even if he had money, there was nowhere to spend it. But in the future, when he went to the Jardet Empire, he would need money for buying staffs, magic scrolls, books, and even for meals and accommodations.

He looked to Chris, inquiring silently.

Chris spoke slowly, "Those crystals are of low quality."

Yannick sighed, "I'm broke now."

"I can support you," Chris said.

Yannick: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

Their teacher-student covenant was a secret, but hearing this sentence in the ears of others easily led to another misunderstanding. Faced with the ambiguous looks from the others, Yannick smirked and took the lead towards the depths of the cavern filled with magic crystals.