''Step, step...''


    ''Step, step...''


    The rhythmic sound of their footsteps echoed through the silent forest as Ste and Aether walked cautiously, their senses on high alert. Yet, despite the tension in the air, an awkward silence hung between them, each lost in their own thoughts.


    After several minutes of walking in silence, Aether finally broke the quietude. "Is it really that shocking that I belong to Frostde House?" he asked, his expression awkward with uncertainty.


    Startled out of her reverie, Ste''s response came out in a stutter. "Yeah, n-no, that''s not...!" she trailed off, her words faltering as she struggled to articte her thoughts.


    "Hmm?" Aether tilted his head, silently urging her to continue.


    "You said Eternal ve, right?" Ste pressed on, her expression now tinged with dread.


    A heavy sigh escaped Aether''s lips as he confirmed her suspicions, "Yes, I am an Eternal Contracted ve," he admitted, his tone weighed down by the gravity of his confession.


    Ste''s eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth agape as she struggled toprehend what she had just heard. Her gaze darted around nervously before she finally voiced her concern, "W-Why did you agree to that?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.


    "T-That is..." Aether hesitated, unsure of how to answer.Aether found himself unable to provide a straightforward answer to Ste''s question. The truth was, he didn''t fully understand why the previous owner of HIS body had agreed to be an Eternal ve.


    All he could do was offer a half-truth, citing his supposed amnesia and uncertainty about his past as the reason for hispliance. This exnation seemed to satisfy Ste, who nodded her head in understanding, though he could see the flicker of pity in her eyes.


    Despite their conversation, an uneasy silence settled between them as they continued their journey through the forest. Ste found herself struggling to find the right words to say, opening her mouth to speak only to falter and remain silent.


    She wanted to offer reassurance orfort to Aether, but she wasn''t sure how to express herself in the face of such uncertainty.


    Suddenly,


    "shhh!!"


    Aether''s sharp senses kicked in, and he swiftly covered Ste''s mouth as he pulled her behind a nearby tree. Peeking out cautiously, he spotted two members of ke''s team patrolling not too far away.


    "It seems they''ve already checked the exit and now split up to search inside," Aether whispered, his mind racing to devise a n to evade their detection and escape unseen.


    In his urgency to evade the approaching threat, Aether momentarily overlooked the fact that he was holding the teenage girl in his arms..... Her face flushed crimson as she struggled to breathe; Aether''s hand, while covering her mouth, unintentionally obstructed her nose as well, what''s more, when he hugged her tightly... she could even feel something on her back.


    ''Pufff!!''


    Literally, a hot flush swept over Ste, radiating from her head down to her neck and ears, as embarrassment engulfed her entirely.


    "Let''s take a little detour..." Aether''s voice broke through the awkward silence, his decision to veer off the beaten path aimed at avoiding ke''s vignt team.


    Aether stole a nce at Ste, receiving a hesitant nod in response. However, as he caught sight of her bright red face mere inches away from him...


    ''Ba-Dump, Ba-Dump''


    Aether felt his heart quicken its pace, a subtle flutter of excitement coursing through him. Quickly regaining hisposure, he nodded back at her before leading the way, their proximity lingering in his thoughts.


    It took Ste a few moments to shake off her unwanted thoughts, her initial embarrassment gradually fading as she lightly punched Aether''s shoulder and muttered, "You jerk!"


    "Hmm?" Aether tlited his head, puzzled by Ste''s sudden reaction.


    ''Hmph'' With a huff, Ste simply pouted in response, turning her head away to hide her still-flushed cheeks and racing heart.


    Observing Ste''s behaviour with a furrowed brow, Aether couldn''t quite decipher her actions. Nevertheless, he refocused his attention on their mission, determined to navigate their way out of the forest without further dy.


    While walking in an awkward silence, Ste suddenly asked, "S-So your true name is Aether...ah?"


    "Yes, What about you?" Aether replied without hesitation.


    Aware that people sometimes use pseudonyms when encountering strangers, Ste awkwardly responded, "Well, Ste is my name."


    "..." Aether halted his steps and looked at Ste with a perplexed expression as if she had just said something utterly foolish.


    Caught off guard by his reaction, Ste''s face flushed with embarrassment as she shyly punched his shoulder and muttered, "W-What?"


    "... Nothing," Aether dismissed her naivety with a shake of his head.


    She was really naive!!


    Clearing her throat, Ste quickly changed the subject, "Ahem... S-So, mind telling me what you did back there with your weird mask?"


    Curiosity piqued, she was genuinely intrigued by the mysterious white dust that had halted ke''s group. Though unsure of their levels, surviving the presence of a 2-Silver Star Orc implied they were at least Level 10 in Silver Aptitude or above Level 50 in Copper Aptitude.


    "Oh! That was..." Aether''s tone suddenly shifted to one of awkwardness.


    Sensing his difort, Ste gently nudged him and urged, "Come on, you can tell me."


    "Well... Actually, I made that for you," Aether confessed with a hint of hesitation, before exining,


    "You see, when I found you wounded, Though I wanted to help you but... I couldn''t help but worry that you might attack me. So, When gathering materials for you I also gathered materials like dried resin, nt material, and moss spores, ground them into fine powders, mixed them with charcoal dust, and Since I don''t have pockets...


    I crafted a makeshift mask out of arge leaf folding nicely fitting for my face and I wore it like a mask not wanting to create any suspicious...."


    Aether''s voice carried a touch of pride as if he had executed the task wlessly.


    Ste stared nkly at Aether, her expression silently questioning ''What in the world are you talking about?''.


    Nevertheless, she couldn''t help but ask, "S-So if I had done anything harmful to you, you would have thrown those weird things at me?"


    "Yes" Aether nodded without hesitation.


    She had a horrified expression... That was quite funny!!