Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 78 - Fate needs two pairs of hands to hold

Previously:

Elaru goes to see Ixos Eryey, asking him to make her an antidote for Fever Touch – the poison with which Dusk Rose knocked out Kiel. Ixos succeeds in making the antidote and Elaru hurries back towards Muni. Kiel finally wakes up after consuming the antidote and Elaru explains how he got poisoned by a Shadow hired by the Rroda family.

* * *

Kiel shook his head and thought about Elaru's explanation that couldn't even be called an explanation, considering how lacking in details it was.

He understood that she didn't want to talk about what happened. That she had many secrets she didn't want to share. If he asked her how she defeated the Shadow or obtained the antidote, would she even answer?

Was it even a good idea for him to know the truth?

He wanted to know. He really wanted to know.

But if she told him about it, he would become an accomplice to a crime.

Perhaps her choice to skim over it was not just a matter of trust. Perhaps she was protecting him in her own way. There were many ways to extract information from people in this world. Ignorance was sometimes the best defense.

Not to mention that it was perfectly understandable why she wasn't willing to share her darkest secrets with him. They only knew each other for several days. If he were in her place, he wouldn't be sharing his illegal activities with her either. He would never let his emotions take control and prevent him from being cautious.

Aetherneal bond connected their minds and souls, but it didn't make their hearts one and the same. They were still just two people unwilling to share their innermost self with others.

Kiel's eyebrows furrowed as he dissected what happened and carefully chose which questions to ask. As he searched his memories, he realized he had no idea how he got poisoned in the first place.

Was it the perfume? He did remember how nauseated he felt by the scents. But that didn't make sense. If it was in the air, why didn't anyone else feel sick?

Did someone prick him with a needle?

He remembered girls swarming around him. Grabbing his arms coquettishly. There were also people who introduced themselves. But surely, he would have felt it if someone pricked him?

Finally, he squeezed out a question: "How did I get poisoned?"

This was something he absolutely needed to know. He never wanted this situation to repeat. What he despised the most in this entire world was being weak, being unable to protect himself, being a damsel in distress.

Familiar bright red flames flashed through his mind.

Never again!

Only when his fist started producing cracking sounds did he realize just how hard he had been clenching it.

Elaru glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and couldn't help but sigh. "It was a rare poison called Fever Touch. It is transmitted through physical contact. The Shadow rubbed it on his palm."

Kiel's eyes widened. "A handshake! I got poisoned through a handshake?!"

Suddenly, a deep sense of helplessness swelled up within him. "There is such a thing? How am I supposed to guard against that? Jump away in fright from any physical contact? Cover my whole body in cloth leaving no skin exposed? Wear gloves and a scarf?"

That time, he promised that he would never again allow himself to be so helpless. That he would become strong. That he would work harder than anyone else, surpass everyone else.