Chapter 44: Arrogant Patient
The secluded stone cave offered a perfect sanctuary from the chaotic horrors roaming the Whisper Woods.
Leon sat cross legged on the hard cavern floor while the invisible dome of the Soundproof Ward ensured absolute silence reigned within their hidden shelter.
The giant armored wolf Stormfang lay curled near the narrow entrance with his massive head resting on his paws acting as a loyal sentinel.
Leon closed his eyes and directed his entire focus inward to explore the newly acquired Basic Aura Circulation skill. He could physically feel the dense magical core spinning within his chest like a miniature sun.
The system knowledge perfectly guided his breathing allowing him to slowly push the raw mana outward into his muscular pathways.
A faint translucent shimmer began to envelop his hands as the internal energy fused with his physical strength.
Diffrent from the blazing crimson fire of the noble daughter or the toxic purple fog of the masked mercenary. His aura was a pure distortion of kinetic force that gently vibrated the air around his skin.
He opened his dark eyes and clenched his fists feeling a massive surge of lethal power coursing through his veins. He finally possessed the foundational key to fighting the true monsters of this brutal hierarchy.
A soft ragged groan echoed from the flat slab of rock located a few feet away.
Lady Seraphina Sterling slowly fluttered her violet eyes open and immediately winced as a dull throbbing headache assaulted her skull.
She stared up at the jagged stone ceiling in profound confusion as she desperately tried to piece together the fractured memories of the explosive battle.
She remembered the devastating clash of magic and the masked Enforcer preparing to deliver a lethal blow before the apex beasts interrupted them.
She attempted to sit up but her severely depleted magical pathways screamed in protest.
She fell back against the hard stone and suddenly realized the heavy leather buckles of her combat suit were entirely undone. The thick material was peeled back exposing her toned midriff and the swell of her cleavage to the cool cavern air.
A lingering taste of sweet honey and fiery cinnamon coated her tongue while her skin practically buzzed with the fading memory of large warm hands massaging her thighs.
"You should remain lying down Lady Seraphina," Leon advised in a calm resonant tone from his position across the cave. "You suffered a severe case of dark elemental poisoning and your internal mana reserves are dangerously unstable."
Seraphina snapped her head toward the sound of his voice. Her violet eyes widened as she took in the sight of her attendant sitting peacefully in the gloom.
The horrifying realization that a common male servant had unbuckled her armor and intimately touched her bare skin while she was unconscious sent a massive jolt of adrenaline straight into her exhausted heart.
"You touched me," Seraphina whispered harshly while her trembling fingers desperately fumbled to pull the leather straps of her combat suit back together.
The usual suffocating crimson aura she relied upon to assert dominance failed to manifest leaving her feeling incredibly vulnerable and exposed.
"If you took liberties with my body while I was incapacitated Leon I will personally blind you."
Leon simply offered a highly relaxed magnetic smile and slowly stood up.
He walked over to her resting place looking down at the fierce aristocratic warrior who was currently struggling to secure a simple belt buckle.
"The mercenary grazed your collarbone with a poisoned blade," Leon explained smoothly while gesturing toward the faint red scar marking her pale skin.
"The affliction was rapidly freezing your blood. I administered a highly potent healing elixir and manually stimulated your cardiovascular system to ensure the antidote circulated properly. I assure you my actions were strictly medical."
Seraphina stopped struggling with her armor and glared at him. Her passive Lie Detector aura flickered into his vision showing a chaotic storm of deep embarrassment tangled with a profound begrudging gratitude.
She knew he was telling the truth because she could physically feel the lingering restorative magic repairing the severe damage in her veins. The arrogant floor sweeper had risked his own life to pull her from a battlefield and had miraculously cured a lethal dark poison.
Her stubborn aristocratic pride vehemently refused to accept this massive debt.
She gritted her teeth and stubbornly pushed herself up into a seated position intending to stand and prove she did not need a servant hovering over her. Her legs trembled violently the moment she tried to bear her own weight.
The crystal bell chimed beautifully in Leon’s skull projecting a glowing pink text box right in front of her flushed face.
[Quest Issued: The Crutch of the Goddess]
[Context: The proud noble daughter refuses to acknowledge her own weakness. Her pride is a beautiful fragile thing that requires a firm shameless hand to manage. Teach her the value of relying on a strong man.]
[Objective: Catch her as she falls, pull her firmly against your chest.]
[Reward: +10 Charisma, Skill ’Aura Concealment (Upgraded)’, 200 Shameless Points.]
[Failure Penalty: The Host will suffer a localized magical cramp in his jaw forcing him to speak exclusively in highly annoying rhymes for the next twelve hours.]
Seraphina locked her knees and attempted to take a bold step forward but her depleted muscles instantly betrayed her. Her legs buckled and she pitched forward toward the hard stone floor with a soft gasp of pure frustration.
Leon utilized his monstrous Agility and smoothly stepped into her path.
He caught her effortlessly by the waist and pulled her heavily against his tailored tunic. He wrapped his strong arms around her back providing a sturdy unyielding pillar of support that her exhausted body desperately needed.
"You are surprisingly heavy for a swordswoman Lady Seraphina," Leon whispered deeply directly into her ear while her face was buried in his chest. "I cannot possibly carry you all the way back to the estate so I highly suggest you rest and heal quickly."
The sheer scandalous audacity of calling the most beautiful woman in the territory heavy sent a massive shockwave of pure outrage straight through her nervous system.
Seraphina shoved her hands against his broad shoulders attempting to push him away but his ninety points of Strength made him an immovable mountain.
"I am not heavy you insolent rat," Seraphina hissed furiously while a brilliant red blush conquered her pale cheeks.
Her body felt incredibly warm pressed against his muscular frame and the intoxicating scent of his clean linen uniform scrambled her thoughts.
[Quest Completed Successfully!]
[Your speech remains perfectly normal and blissfully unrhymed.]
[Distributing Rewards: +10 Charisma, Skill ’Aura Concealment (Upgraded)’ Acquired, 200 Shameless Points.]
Leon felt a subtle shift in the magical band resting on his finger as the concealment skill actively integrated with his aura ensuring not even more powerful warlords could sense his true capabilities.
He slowly lowered the flustered noble daughter back down onto the smooth rock slab maintaining his firm grip on her waist until she was safely seated.
"Rest now," Leon commanded softly projecting a magnetic authority that made her heart race. "I will keep watch over the entrance. The Eclipse Syndicate will not find us here."
Seraphina glared at his retreating back as he walked toward the cave entrance to sit near her giant wolf.
The infuriating servant possessed no noble blood and lacked any formal magical pedigree yet he carried himself like a seasoned king surveying his domain.
She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared into the dark gloom harboring a very dangerous realization.
The terrifying Silver Goddess was rapidly becoming fascinated by the very man she had intended to use as a disposable sparring dummy.
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