101: A bite no one saw coming

A bite no one saw coming

Only when the gate closed behind Egon and the two camels he led did Adela release the breath she had been holding.0

It felt as if she had entered a new realm standing before the vast expanse of the Latoran desert. Awe washed over her as she beheld the endless stretch of white sand, a strange sensation of freedom tingling in her veins. The sound of the wind which had nothing to obstruct its path made her blood sing, and she longed to roam these lands with unrestricted abandon.

"Egon, just look at this beauty..."

"It remains unknown why Healers are drawn to Latora, but this desert does not seem to welcome you," came his heartless remark.

Adela turned if only because his voice reached her clearly. She noticed that he had removed his helmet and that beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead, she followed them for the shortest moment as they trickled beneath his black hair, his hawk-like eyes seemed to blend with the surrounding view, and he looked exceptionally handsome in his black armor.

Her heart panged a little.

He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "We're in luck with the two camels. The spare one can handle our belongings while you ride with me."

His sudden calmness and casual demeanor finally registered with her. "Where are the knights of the duke?"

"This is no man's land," he explained, leading the camels towards her. "The tribe that guards the entrance starts over there, where the palm trees are."

Adela followed his gesture, but she couldn't spot anyone in the distance.

"The desert people follow different rules. They won't engage with us unless necessary," he whispered next to her ear, his words sending a tingling sensation through her neck and down her arm all the way to the tips of her fingers.

He straightened up. "Now listen, if you think you can handle the camel on your own, I'll allow you to ride it."

Adela, finding his suggestion rude yet reasonable, nodded in agreement.

She attempted to mount the camel, but almost immediately, she realized the difference between riding a camel and riding a horse. The swaying and unfamiliar rhythm threw her off balance, and she quickly understood why riding a camel required a different skill set.

"I see what you mean now. Let's ride together," she said placing a hand over her heart. "I can sense that he's not far from here."

Egon, wearing a momentary remorseful expression, nodded. "I will ride in front, and you hold on tight."

As they embarked on their desert journey, riding atop the camel with another camel trailing behind, Adela reveled in the exhilarating sensation of maneuvering through the vast stretches of sand. Egon adeptly adjusted their course based on her commands, never questioning her decisions. And as the sun reached its zenith, a shared understanding bloomed between them.

"These black armors have to come off," he declared.

"How..." she whined.

"I will quickly set up one of the tents, and you can use it to change. I'll stand guard outside."

Just as when he had knelt before her, it felt as if a man was standing guard for her for the first time. Adela blushed deeply but said nothing in response.

Egon came to a halt and dismounted. "Let's get it done," he said, offering his assistance to help her down from the camel.

"Allow me to help you set up the tent," she offered.

He scoffed.

Witnessing Egon's abilities and understanding the significance of knowing him were two entirely different experiences. It took her four blinks of an eye for the tent to be fully assembled.

He wore an arrogant expression as he stood beside the ready tent.

"Thank you," she murmured as she reached for the tent's door. However, Egon's arm beat her to it.

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with exasperation. "It seems I won't be able to do anything by myself in this desert."

"Stay inside and refrain from doing anything for a few moments while I secure the perimeter."

"Yes, Master," she mumbled sarcastically, but he was already gone.

Once he disappeared from her sight, her eyes quickly found her bag. It was the perfect opportunity to change out of her armor while he was absent.

The relief that washed over her as she removed the hot, cumbersome armor was palpable. In her haste, she undressed completely, swiftly retrieving her half-opened bag. Her eyes darted towards the tent's entrance, worried that Egon might return at any moment.

A hiss reached her ears, causing her blood to freeze. Slowly turning her head toward the source, she discovered two pairs of yellow eyes and a tongue hissing at her from within her bag.

Carefully, she extended her arm, creating as much distance as possible between her body and the snake, rather than throwing it and risking the snake leaping at her, but when the snake recoiled. Adela swiftly tossed it to the side and took a step back, her eyes fixed on the serpent as it slithered around, searching for an escape.

Adela was about to call out for Egon with a scream when another hiss caused her body to freeze. It came from behind her.

"Ah!" Adela screamed as she felt a bite just above the back of her knee.

"Egon!" she cried out glancing back to see what bit her, but Egon was already there having rushed into the tent. In his left hand, he crushed one snake, while his right hand reached down and seized the other, crushing its skull with a trembling hand before discarding both to the side.

"Accursed creatures," he muttered.

His eyes, ruby and black, snapped to Adela, she was panting heavily. One arm covered her breasts, while the other rested sideways over her pelvis.

"Where?" he demanded, his voice shaky.

Tears streamed down her face. "At the back of my knee."

"I should have checked your bags... Here," he said, making no attempt to remove her hands as he guided her to the sleeping bag he had prepared in the center of the tent.

"Lie down."

He assisted a mortified Adela in lying on her front side.

The sound of fabric tearing was followed by the sensation of a cloth being securely tied just above her knee.

"It might not be poisonous, but I must draw out the blood just in case..." He took a deep breath. "I promise I will never harm you."

His words didn't entirely make sense to her, for she knew he was only trying to help. However, she could feel his gloved hands trembling slightly as he tended to the area where the snake had bitten her.

He brought his lips closer to her leg and took a deep breath right before attempting to suck out the venom with his mouth.

"Adela... I'm not like him... I will never drink your blood."

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