Things were a lot more different now that Nichs was now an adult. Compared to when he stayed with Sophie eight years ago. He was only 13 and she took care of his injuries and most of the household chores. Now it was time for Nichs to show himself as a capable individual.


    After he moved all of his items from the inn and back to Sophie''s hut, he also bought an extra mat for him to stay in since there was no bed avable… The two of them started out living their life like before.


    Except for this time, Nichs made sure to help out a lot more and did an extra effort.


    Since he was still cursed with lycanthropy, Nichs was a lot stronger than the average man and could do a lot of things for Sophie. Whether it was chopping down the trees with expert strength and precision to even hunting animals like deer for them, Nichs was prepared to do it.


    "Woah, I didn''t realize that you learned how to hunt," Sophie eximed as she looked at the young man entering the hut.


    Nichs carried the carcass of the deer and carefully ced it outside. He blushed at thepliment and shrugged. "I had to learn it. Combat is also necessary for a person who lives during tumultuous times. Military experience is necessary."


    "I see, but one would expect that someone your rank would stay on the sidelines," Sophie said as she met the young man outside.


    Nichs was only wearing pants and a in white shirt this time, and it revealed his toned body from underneath. He shook his head. "I don''t think I''d like to simply strategize, it is also important to be familiar with how battles ur in person."


    "I see, well I think it shows." Sophie chuckled and grabbed Nichs''s arm. She found his biceps actually hard and she whistled. "You''re quite fit."


    "What do you think you''re doing?" Nichs blushed madly and pulled his arm away. He thought Sophie was too carefree and didn''t feel shy at all being around him. Maybe it was because she knew him from when they were little so she felt more at ease with him?


    "Checking out your muscle''s strength?" Sophie raised a brow and then lifted her arm. "Mine is a little softer than yours, but climbing up trees in cow dung academy and my aunt''s home has helped me gain some muscle."


    Nichs stared at her and realized that she was letting him touch her. It used to be normal and without any kind of embarrassment when they used to do it as kids and the two of them even slept in the same bed.


    Things were much more different since the two of them grew up. Ahem.


    His heart raced so madly, but he tried not to show it on his expression.


    "Feel it. I have muscles too," said Sophie.


    Nichs cleared his throat and reached out to gently poke Sophie''s arm with one finger. He watched Sophie''s expression lighten up as sheughed and looked at him.


    "What are you so afraid of? I''m not going to bite you, Nichs."


    Nichs sighed in defeat and gave her arm a squeeze. Her skin was incredibly soft and smooth, but it was true that there were a decent amount of muscles that were shapely and fit.


    "You''re right. I''m more likely to be the one biting you," Nichs said in passing.


    "Huh?" Sophie blinked and stared at him in surprise. She was a bit startled by what he said and stepped away from him. "What did you say?"


    The look on Sophie''s lips made Nichs chuckle and he approached her, "I said, I''m going to bite you!"


    "Are you serious? I guess we really need to find those wolfsbanes soon." Sophie yfully red at him.


    "Unfortunately, it''s toote!" Nichs pretended to bite into her and raised his arms. "Run away while you can!"


    Sophieughed at his silly antics but then quickly ran back inside of her home and shut the door. She spoke to him from the other side. "Well, you''re not going toe inside anytime soon. It''s best for people who bite to sleep outside."


    "Oi, Sophie, I was joking." Nichs chuckled and knocked on the door. "Come on, let me in."


    "No can do, Nichs. Better to be safe than sorry."


    "Sophie,e on! Don''t be like this." Nichs pursed his lips. "You left the deer unattended here and more importantly, you left me alone here too."


    "Didn''t you say that you were with a deer?"


    "Well, the deer is dead," Nichs replied. "I''d prefer to have a livingpanion and a person... if you don''t mind?"


    "Oh, okay," Sophie opened the door and found herself face to face with Nichs. His amber eyes shone and gazed directly into hers that Sophie instinctively stepped back, a bit embarrassed. "I didn''t know that you''d be standing so close to the door."


    "Where else was I supposed to wait?" Nichs chuckled. He didn''t want to admit that he was relieved that Sophie acted that way around him.


    It meant that it was not only Nichs who saw things a bit differently between them.


    The two of them were no longer children and it was good that Sophie saw him as a man.


    "I don''t know?" Sophie said. "Anywhere else so you wouldn''t kiss the door when I open it?"


    "It would be incredibly sad if my first kiss happened to be a wooden door," Nichsughed. "What a pity my mother would say for sure."


    "Huh?" Sophie blinked at him. "You''ve never been kissed before?"


    Nichs stared at her. "Huh? Have you already been kissed by someone, Sophie?"


    Sophie shook her head. "It''s just that it''s a bit surprising that someone as handsome as you doesn''t have experience. You seem to be popr around women, you know?"


    Nichs chuckled. "I''d say the same to you. Didn''t that school prince of yours want to date you at first?"


    Sophie rolled her eyes. "He was only looking at me through my looks but didn''t actually care about me. If he was a good person, he would have helped me out better, but unfortunately, he didn''t."


    "It''s such a shame," Nichs said.


    Sophie pursed her lips. "Well, let''s not talk about him, I don''t want to think about the people in Hastings anymore."


    Nichs nodded. "Of course, my apologies. Let''s just get our lunch and dinner in and then go around and look for wolfsbane again, shall we?"


    "Mhmm, let''s do that!"