bookbashuk Chapter 53 The Illness is Love
Chapter 53 The Illness is Love
In the center of the camp, a simple breakfast was ready.
In the earthenware pot sitting on the campfire, a thick soup of dried meat and wild vegetables was emitting a rustic aroma.
Fangya and several Nightshade warriors were already sitting together, talking in hushed tones, occasionally glancing towards the leader's tent.
Amber crouched by the campfire, curiously poking at the burning firewood with her dagger, her cat tail swaying gently behind her.
When Lynn straightened his robes and stepped out of the tent, he was greeted by this seemingly ordinary morning scene at the camp.
And... several gazes with vastly different meanings.
The most piercing one came from Vera.
The elven girl was pulling Lia along, sitting on a fallen, dead tree a little distance from the campfire.
Upon seeing Lynn emerge, she almost immediately straightened her back, her emerald eyes like two cold, icy green gems, and glared at him without any politeness.
Then--
She reached out and, very naturally, even with a hint of protectiveness, put her arm around Leah's shoulder.
Leah seemed still immersed in the embarrassment and shyness of the morning. Her long, light blue hair had been neatly combed again, and she had changed into a clean, light blue cotton dress. She was sipping hot soup from a wooden bowl.
Startled by Vera's embrace, she looked up at Vera.
Vera didn't look at her; her gaze remained fixed on Lynn, carrying a silent warning that said, "You dare come any closer."
Noticing Leah's gaze, she tightened her arms around her, almost pulling Leah into her embrace. Then, she deliberately turned her head away, facing Lynn's direction, leaving only an awkward back view.
Leah was hugged a little tighter, burying her face in Vera's chest, and protested in a muffled, low voice, "Vera, you're too big... I can't breathe..."
Vera stiffened awkwardly for a moment, and the grip on her arm loosened slightly.
But another gaze...
Lynn turned his head and met Elune's gaze.
The silver-haired elven chieftain was already seated near the main seat by the campfire, with a bowl of untouched hot soup in front of him.
She changed back into her usual elegant and dignified elder's robe, her silver hair was neatly tied up, and her expression had returned to its usual cool and calm.
only……
When Lynn's gaze met hers, two faint but real blushes involuntarily rose on Elune's fair cheeks.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her gaze wandered for a moment, but she quickly looked back firmly.
Then, she did something that surprised Lynn.
Elune put down the wooden bowl in her hand, stood up, and walked towards Lynn.
Her steps remained elegant and steady, her deep green robe brushing against the dew-kissed grass.
When she was about three steps away from Lynn, she stopped, tilted her head slightly, and looked at him with clear emerald eyes.
"Mr. Lynn."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension that she was trying hard to control.
"There are some points about Emperor-level natural magic that I haven't fully grasped."
She paused, her cheeks seeming to flush even more, but her eyes remained focused and earnest.
"I wonder... if this is a convenient time for you? Could you please explain it to me a little more?"
Her posture was respectful and natural, just like a student asking a teacher for guidance.
But at this delicate moment, in the early morning when Vera was clearly being difficult and Leah was still shy, it was a delicate situation.
Elune's proactive move, which even carries a hint of "seizing the initiative," already conveys many unspoken messages.
On a dead tree not far away, Vera tilted her head, but her ears stood up sharply.
Hearing Elune's words, she tightened her grip on Lia's arm, spitting out a low mutter that only Lia could hear:
"See? See? You scoundrel, you fickle, heartless radish!"
After saying that, she still seemed unsatisfied, and turned to look at Leah in her arms, her emerald green eyes filled with disappointment and frustration.
"Look at him! Look at him like this! Aren't you angry?!"
Leah was taken aback by her question.
Her platinum-gray eyes first glanced instinctively in the direction of Lynn and Elune.
Elune looked up slightly, gazing intently at her brother, who was also looking down and listening.
A familiar, subtle sour feeling, still uncontrollably, quietly crept into my heart.
But then, the beautiful scenes from last night, my brother's gentle embrace, and his clumsy yet sincere promises flowed through my heart like warm spring water, washing away the bitterness.
Moreover... Sister Vera also said that Chief Elune and her brother had signed a natural contract.
This is a special contract.
Leah blinked, her long eyelashes drooping to conceal the complex emotions that flashed across her eyes.
When it was lifted again, it had regained its former clarity and gentleness.
"It's...it's alright..." she answered softly.
"Elder Elune asked her brother for guidance on magic, hoping that by becoming more powerful, she could better protect everyone and safeguard the forest."
She paused, then added, as if trying to convince herself, and also as if explaining to Vera, "Besides... Sister Vera, you also said that Elder Elune and my brother have that contract, right..."
Vera almost jumped up when she heard that.
"Lia! You're so kind of you!"
"If I were a boy, I definitely wouldn't be able to stop myself from falling in love with you."
She shook Leah's shoulder hard, her emerald eyes filled with disbelief.
"With someone as wonderful as you, Leah, this guy still... still went and messed with Auntie! He's so mean! So greedy!"
"If it were me... I wouldn't be so magnanimous as to accept it."
Vera's voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance and self-mockery.
As she spoke, as if to vent all her frustration, she reached into the leafy bundle beside her, grabbed a piece of hard-cooked jerky, shoved it into her mouth, and bit down hard!
"Snap!"
"Chew!"
The sound of chewing could be heard.
Vera puffed out her cheeks and bit down very hard.
Her emerald green eyes were fixed on Lynn's back in the distance, as if she were chewing not jerky, but some flirtatious, fickle "bad guy".
Leah was a little dizzy from being shaken.
But she was also amused by Vera's clenched teeth and wanted to laugh. The lingering jealousy in her heart dissipated a lot in the face of Vera's exaggerated reaction.
She quietly let Vera embrace her, but her gaze involuntarily drifted back to Lynn.
Watching her brother patiently explain something to Chief Elune, watching his brows furrow and then relax, watching his slender fingers as he occasionally gestured...
in fact……
Leah isn't that magnanimous.
Leah also hopes that her brother will only love her and belong to her alone.
I hope his eyes only see Leah, his embrace only warms Leah, and his tenderness only shines upon Leah.
I hope he is Leah's brother, her husband... all by himself.
but……
Leah didn't want to see her brother in a difficult position either.
I don't want to see my brother looking tired or helpless because of Leah's willfulness.
She didn't want to prevent her brother from doing what he considered important, like helping those in need, such as Chief Elune, because of her possessiveness.
My brother is a prophet; he carries a heavy burden, and many people need him.
Leah can't be so selfish as to keep her brother by her side and only look after herself.
if only……
Leah's fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt above her knees.
As long as her brother holds a place in his heart, Leah will always be the most important person.
He always keeps the promises he makes to Leah.
As long as he loves Leah forever.
Is that enough?
He suppressed the red light flashing in his eyes.
Leah took a deep breath, locking away the churning emotions within her, the ailment called love.
Then, she reached out and gently patted Vera's back, who was still chewing the jerky vigorously as if she had a deep-seated hatred for it.
"Sister Vera, eat slowly, don't choke."
Her voice was gentle, with a soothing smile.
It was as if the brief but intense internal struggle I had just experienced had never happened.