Helos Olivia instinctively turned her head back, narrowing her eyes slightly as she saw a red-haired youth leaning against the guild’s door pillar, waving at her.
The youth’s fiery hair fluttered in the wind, complementing the face adorned with a smile as bright as sunshine.
“Hello~”
His voice was clear and pleasant, like the tinkling of a mountain stream in summer.
Standing beside him was a pale-skinned girl with gray hair.
The girl was as quiet as a sliver of moonlight, her slender fingers pinching the newly posted commission notice.
When Helos’ gaze met hers, the girl gave a slight nod, a faint curve appearing at the corner of her lips. “Who are you?”
“We’re newcomers who just recently joined the adventurer ranks, but we’ve already obtained our E-rank Certification.”
The youth took a few steps forward toward the two of them, extending his hand, “I’m Kyle, and this is Selina.”
Julius took an unassuming half-step forward, positioning himself right in front of Helos.
His arm muscles tensed slightly beneath the black uniform as he grasped Kyle’s hand, a perfectly measured smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:
“Hello, Mr. Kyle. It’s an honor that you two accepted our commission.”
Julius’ gaze casually swept over Selina standing nearby.
Selina remained quietly in the shadows; her gray-white long hair almost blending into the wall behind her.
The girl’s pale gray pupils shimmered oddly under the sunlight, and the faint, elusive smile on her lips sent a chill creeping up the nape of the young Saint Knight’s neck.
“Not at all~”
Kyle scratched his head with a hint of embarrassment, his fiery hair bouncing in the sun.
He deliberately shifted sideways a half-step, just enough to block Julius’ probing gaze.
“Our rank is still too low, and with only the two of us, we have to start with simpler tasks. But don’t worry,”
Kyle flicked the adventurer’s emblem on his hand, making a crisp sound.
“We’re pretty good at gathering herbs!”
He gave Selina a glance, “Last month, we even found a patch of rare medicinal herbs deep in the forest.”
Selina nodded lightly, her pale fingers gently brushing over the leather pouch at her waist:
“Just tell us the location….”
Her voice was as soft as the night mist, “and we’ll deliver them right to your door.”
“That won’t be necessary; let’s meet back here in three days.”
Julius shook his head and withdrew his hand. “Good luck to you both.”
After Kyle and Selina left, Helos finally asked curiously, “Why were you staring at that girl for so long?”
“Nothing.”
But Julius only shook his head, “It just feels a bit strange.”
“Strange how?”
“I can’t really say… just trust it’s my intuition.”
Helos pursed her lips, about to ask more, but Julius suddenly turned:
“We should go back.”
“If we’re late again, the Head Maid will nag us.”
“True, we sneaked out secretly.”
Helos sighed, following behind him as they headed toward the Duke’s Mansion. “Alright, I’ll just wait a few days then.”
***
Kyle had just taken off his coat when a rustling noise came from the bed behind him.
He turned to see Selina curled up in the corner of the bed, her gray-white hair cascading down, hiding half her pale face.
Her fingertips unconsciously clenched the bedsheet, and her pale gray pupils slightly contracted under the moonlight, as if enduring some unspeakable hunger.
“Kyle, I’m hungry.”
Her voice was softer than usual, tinged with a faint grievance.
The red-haired youth sighed and crouched down beside her.
“Didn’t you just drink from a blood bag?”
Selina shook her head, a slender neck exposed among her hair, veins beneath her skin showing an unnatural bluish-purple tint:
“That animal blood… isn’t fresh enough.”
Her canine teeth lengthened slightly, “I want…”
Kyle was silent for a moment, then resignedly extended his wrist:
“Go ahead.”
The girl’s pupils suddenly narrowed into thin slits.
She grabbed Kyle’s wrist fiercely, nearly crushing his bones.
Sharp nails pierced the skin, a few drops of blood oozing out, as she lowered her head close.
Her gray-white hair fell like a waterfall, shrouding the two of them in darkness.
The room was eerily quiet except for the faint sound of swallowing echoing in the dark.
Kyle frowned, feeling the chilling sensation of his blood draining away.
He stared at the ceiling, counting the patterns there out of boredom until Selina’s grip gradually loosened.
He gently pushed her shoulder, “If you keep drinking, I won’t be able to travel tomorrow.”
Selina slowly lifted her head, a trace of scarlet still lingering on her lips.
Her pupils had returned to their normal round shape, but a faint lingering darkness remained deep within her eyes.
She extended her tongue to lightly lick the blood at the corner of her mouth, her movements elegant as if savoring the finest wine.
“Thank you.”
Her voice returned to its usual cool tone, but her fingertips lingered over the bite mark on Kyle’s wrist.
The wound was healing visibly fast.
Kyle withdrew his hand and picked up the bandages prepared on the bedside, skillfully wrapping them:
“Next time, don’t say you’re hungry while I’m taking off my clothes.”
Selina tilted her head, her gray-white lashes trembling slightly under the moonlight:
“You don’t have to take them off.”
Kyle rubbed his temples helplessly and rolled over under the covers.
In the darkness, he heard Selina moving gently, curling up on the other side of the bed like a cat, maintaining just the right distance—
Neither too far to worry him nor too close to make him uncomfortable.
“Tomorrow we’re going herb gathering.”
Kyle said with his eyes closed, “Try not to stay out in the sunlight too long.”
“Mm.”
“And don’t scare that silver-haired girl.”
Selina’s lips curled slightly:
“She has… a special scent.”
Kyle opened his eyes:
“What kind of scent?”
“Like…”
The girl’s voice lowered gradually, “a soul blessed by the goddess.”
“Oh? Really?”
The red-haired youth turned over, their gazes meeting.
“I think that boy’s more interesting.”
“After all, he’s been watching you the whole time.”
“Hm… I like his gaze.”
Selina smiled faintly but didn’t say more.
“That guy looks like a Saint Knight… but at his age, probably still a Squire.”
Kyle remained silent for a long moment before continuing, “Selina, don’t you know him?”
“Are you kidding? How could I know him?”
Selina brushed Kyle’s cheek, “But once he grows up, will he become our enemy?”
“After all, the Church nowadays… sigh.”
“Why think so much now?”
Kyle shrugged, “Don’t forget why we’re here.”
“This commission suddenly buying up hemostatic herbs…”
“Maybe they’re the clues we’ve been looking for all along?”
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