Lying in the medical bay, Max experienced healing magic for the first time. The two paramedics worked in tandem, resulting in a golden glow that conglomerated around the wounds. Max stared with his mouth agape as the newly formed skin wriggled underneath what was left of the reddish crusts. Though the spells couldn't compensate for the loss of blood, Max was feeling much better.
His thoughts adrift, Max didn't realize when the duo left. Impulsive! You were too impulsive! Those were the only words that constantly ran through his mind. He groaned at the thought of how this battle had ruined his plan of staying in the shadows.
Max scowled, remembering the final moments of the match. Their finishing blows left undelivered thanks to Julius's interference. The Grand Master's spell had agglomerated the force of a gale into a single point and had parried the two strikes.
Sulking, Max took a while to notice Liliana sitting across him with an unusually calm face. Her lack of words was eerily disturbing, her intent stare making the atmosphere increasingly awkward.
"You lied." She finally said.
Confounded, Max blinked and stared back, seemingly not having registered the declaration. "I lied?" He dumbly repeated, confused. "About what?" He thought about the time he had spent with her, his face freezing at the thought of the worst possibility. Could she have found out I'm not from this planet?!
"You lied about your strength. You know, there's a big difference between a Premier Knight and a Superior Knight."
"Ah, that's what you meant." Relieved, Max said, "In my defense, I said I could handle a Premier Knight. I never said I was one."
Liliana frowned. "Still not coming out with it?"
What do you want from me, woman?! Max nearly yelled back, but managed to maintain a poker face as he waited for her to elucidate.
"It was you, right? On that night, in the forest, you told me that you had found me lying on the ground, when in fact you were the one who saved me from those two. Am I wrong?"
"No, it was me."
"Then why hide it?"
"I – At that time, I had no idea who you were. I didn't know that I had unknowingly become your familiar." Max felt that Liliana was more upset than she was letting on. He guiltily averted his gaze and started to stammer. "Bu - But the rest of it was the truth. I - I really did find myself in the forest and I had no idea how I got there."
By the end, his voice had transformed into nearly inaudible whispers. He nervously fiddled with the hem of his shirt, but came to a stop when Liliana burst into laughter. Inadvertently, he looked up in a daze and involuntarily focused on that inexplicably beautiful face.
"Never thought I'd see a day with you panicking."
Realizing that he had been staring, Max hurriedly looked away. Awkwardly coughing, Max adjusted himself and tried to justify, "I just got the feeling you were mad."
"You saved me from the Minister's goons. How could I be mad?" Liliana gently replied before she sternly tapped Max on the head. "But no more secrets, okay?"
"O - Okay..." Max wryly smiled. How will she react if I really do tell her everything?
"Ahem!" Amy cleared her throat as she stood at the door and purposely drew attention to herself. She mischievously said, "Maybe we should come back at a different time?"
"Yeah, I think we just ruined a moment there." Lewis smoothly answered, his eyes showing the obvious desire to add fuel to the fire.
Liliana yelped and created some distance from Max. She stuttered, "What- What are you guys saying?!"
YOU ARE READING
The Envoy of Darkness
Fantasy"Everyone loves a good fantasy, but my life was turned upside down by one." What would you do if you had the ability to control the air? How about if you were suddenly brought to a world where, despite your powers, you're at the bottom of the food c...
