Chapter 30: The Morning After

"Krell." I couldn't help but call his name. Krell opened his eyes and changed into human form. He put his index finger to his lips and made a silencing gesture at me. "Keep your voice down. Mia is tired. Let her rest for a while more," Krell whispered as he approached me. What did he mean? Did they really... really do that thing? As much as I respected Krell and didn't want to compete with him, I still couldn't believe it. I seemed to like Mia more than I thought. "Was Mia willing?" I asked. "Am I that despicable to you?" Krell asked jokingly. He had a smile that I had never seen before. It seemed that they had indeed had a very pleasant evening. "Do you really like Mia?" I asked him, my eyes lingering on Mia. Krell's face suddenly turned cold. Seeing that I was looking at Mia, he moved to the middle to block my view. "Am I such a lowly person?" Krell was a little taller than me, so he looked down at me. "Willard, I'm telling you seriously that I like Mia. I want her for myself." My heart seemed to be broken. "No, don't, Krell." Mia, who was behind Krell, was talking in her sleep. Mia was unwilling! "Krell, Mia didn't want to do this!" I suddenly shouted. Krell covered my mouth, still afraid that I would wake Mia. "Willard, you should be able to tell that this is the love of consensual partners in bed." Krell was too calm, which made me even angrier. Why? Why did Mia still like Krell even though he hurt her over and over again? "Willard, what are you confirming?" Krell was sizing me up like he was examining a criminal. I felt a little ashamed. All my love for Mia became illegal, wrong, and guilty. "No... Nothing..." I could only say obediently. *** *Mia* My back hurt... And my legs were sore... I also felt a burning pain down there. I wondered if it was bleeding... Krell was really too energetic. I almost lost consciousness the last few times. I could only feel the person on my body working hard. I couldn't do this again in the future. It was too crazy. I didn't want to open my eyes, but I felt myself moving and even a little bumpy. "Krell..." I opened my eyes in a daze and saw Krell's perfect jawline. "You're awake. Do you want me to carry you or walk by yourself?" Krell asked me, and his voice was extremely gentle. "You carry me." I really didn't have any strength left, and Krell's scent comforted me. "You said it yourself." Krell smiled wickedly. I suddenly had a bad feeling. I turned my head to look at the road and saw three more people in front of me. They were Willard, Simon, and Locas. When did they arrive? Did they already know what Krell and I did? "We, no, they..." I was incoherent. This was so embarrassing! I didn't even dare to recall the scene last night. Krell and I were almost one in the cave. In such a cold environment, we were sweating profusely. The sound of the water under us fused with my moans. I threw away all my shame last night. Krell moved his lips to my ear and blew. He was teasing me again. My body seemed to have become more sensitive to him after last night. I actually arched my body to respond to him. Frightened by my reaction, I quickly lowered my head and buried it in Krell's chest. "Heh." Krell chuckled. "Don't worry. No one knows." Krell did it on purpose and wanted to make a fool of me! I punched Krell's chest unhappily. "Hey, Krell, why are you walking so slowly? How about let me carry Mia?" Simon shouted at Krell from the front. "No need," Krell replied. I looked ahead. Simon and Locas had already turned around and walked forward. Only Willard was still looking at us like an abandoned child… How strange! Where was my moon goddess necklace? I remembered that I was still holding it when Krell picked me up. Did it fall on the road? Ah, I had to find it. It was the only thing my mother had left for me. It also saved Krell and me last night. I couldn't lose it. Should I ask Krell to join me? It seemed to be very late. I looked at the tent next to me. There was no warm light. It seemed that Krell was already asleep, so I'd better not disturb him. I finally decided to find the necklace myself. A waning moon hung in the sky, like the scythe of death, with a biting cold light. I walked on the mountain road against the cold wind, searching for the familiar moon goddess necklace with my flashlight. The grass by the road swayed with the wind, rustling like a beast wandering. I couldn't help but shiver. This wasn't a good feeling. I kept walking forward. Rustle... Rustle... The sound became louder and louder, but the wind clearly did not become stronger. I couldn't help but quicken my pace, but the rustling sound followed me like a shadow as if it was deliberately tailing me. It went fast when I was fast, but when I slowed down, it also followed suite. I felt that things were getting worse... "Who! Who's hiding behind me?" I summoned up the courage to shout. The thing in the dark seemed to be enraged by my discovery, and the rustling sound became chaotic. "Ah!" A six-foot-tall monster rushed out of the grass. It was covered in long fur, making it impossible to see its face. Instinctively, I ran forward. My skill was healing, and I was not good at fighting so much that it was hard enough for me to subdue a skinny wolf, let alone a big monster like this. Unexpectedly, although this monster looked big and heavy, it ran much faster than I did. Soon, it was less than ten feet away from me. I didn't dare to stop for fear that it would catch me if I slowed down. I shouted inwardly, 'Faster, faster... I have to get rid of this monster!' Suddenly, my collar tightened. The monster grabbed my collar and pulled it up. I was almost suffocating. "Help!" Losing my mobility, I could only shout for help. But I was so far away from our camp that Krell and the others couldn't hear me. Um... air... I couldn't breathe... "Help, help..." I still wanted to shout, but my head was so dizzy that my vision turned black. I couldn't see anything either. My biological instincts made me gasp to inhale heavily, but it was useless. How painful! My heart was beating so fast, and my lungs were about to explode... Could anyone save me? I didn't want to die! "Moon goddess, please, protect me!" I prayed in my heart. With a thud, the ground trembled. My collar came loose. Lots of air rushed into my lungs. I breathed in the hard-won air greedily, not thinking about what was happening. "Pretty girl, are you alright?" It was a pleasant young man's voice, like a cool breeze or a bright moon. My eyesight returned, and I could see the young man clearly. He was fair-skinned and tall, but his figure was lean on the side. He wore a burgundy suit with a ruby brooch, which was bright and conspicuous. He was spotless and elegant compared to this wilderness. "Thank you. My name is Mia." I stepped forward to thank him. "My name is Kasim." The young man offered his hand. I reached out and shook Kasim's hand. It was cold but comforting. Kasim laughed, his eyes curving up like the crescent moon in the sky. What an innocent young man! "I saved you," Kasim said suddenly. "That's right." I smiled back at him. "Then how should I repay you? How about I give you a gift?" "Then I only want one gift." Kasim let go of my hand and stuck his hand into his pants pocket. "A very special gift." "What is it?" I asked him. "Whatever it is, I will definitely give it to you since you saved me." "It's you," Kasim said. He took his hand out of his pocket and wrapped it around my waist. The coolness reached my waist through the fabric. "I don't want anything but you."