Elena's Gift (2) Healing Candy… Cloud Crunched It Down and…
Cloud bit into the healing candy with a loud crunch-crunch-crunch as if it were a normal snack. The moment it dissolved in his stomach, every scratch on his body and even the faint soot marks on his skin from the dragon's flames vanished without a trace. The effects were nothing short of miraculous. He could even feel the depleted Witch's power flooding back into his veins in a single gulp.
“Whoa, can you really give me this? It looks expensive!”
Healing potions and instant wound healers like this were shockingly pricey. The really premium ones were usually only carried by top-tier adventurers. Elena simply smiled softly without answering, but the expression on her face was enough to melt his heart. She looked so proud of herself. Her beauty was already stunning, but right now her kindness was even more charming. He wanted to grab her cheeks and squeeze them.
Cloud cupped her soft cheeks with both hands and pulled gently. Her cheeks puffed out into the cutest little pout.
“You look even cuter like this.”
“Don’t.”
Elena said flatly, but her voice carried a smile. Cloud just grinned and kept playfully pinching her cheeks.
“Elena’s cheeks are so soft and fluffy. Must be because your skin is so smooth.”
“Ugh, ow! Stop it!”
“I can’t stop touching you because you’re so pretty.”
“You’re lying.”
Cloud knew he was joking, but he was genuinely surprised that such a gorgeous elf had chosen to follow him. The fact that she had come looking for him the moment he returned to Valua felt warm and sincere. Maybe she really did want to marry him? The thought made his chest swell. If she could accept his teasing like this, it felt almost like home.
“This is the thank-you gift for the healing candy.”
Cloud reluctantly pulled his hands away. Elena pouted and rubbed her reddened cheeks, then reached back into her tiny storage bag that could hold anything inside. A moment later she pulled out an elegant, long sword.
“What is this?”
“Gesaengquiya.”
“Eh?”
Cloud blinked. That sounded like a swear word. “Gesaeng…?”
“Gesaengquiya.”
“What?”
“Gesaengquiya.”
She repeated it again. Had he offended her by pulling her cheeks earlier? Cloud scratched his head, laughing nervously. “Haha, Elena, I’m sorry about that. So what is this sword?”
“Gesaengquiya.”
“…”
Cloud wiped his face with a long sigh. “Elena, the thing I did earlier with your cheeks was—”
“The sword’s name is Gesaengquiya (게생퀴야).”
“The sword is called Gesaengquiya?”
“Yes.”
Cloud burst out laughing. “Hahaha! Of course it is!”
“It belongs to you.”
“You’re giving it to me? This expensive-looking thing? You can just take it?”
Elena explained that she was the daughter of the High Elf Queen and that, ever since the time of the High Elves’ ancestors, the ruler had passed down Gesaengquiya and inherited tremendous power and authority. Since her mother was currently queen and she herself would be the next one, it was only natural that Cloud, who would become the future High Elf King, should possess the sword. She said it all without any hesitation at all.
But still.
“Did you ask your mom first?”
“No.”
She answered coolly. At that moment Cloud felt his life flash before his eyes. The thought that he might become the entire High Elf race’s target sent a chill down his spine.
“I-I’ll pass.”
“No way.”
Elena was firm. “This sword is essential for someone who has been cursed by the Witch.”
“Cursed by the Witch?”
Elena said she had been there the day she received her powers from the Witch. “Cloud’s power is dark magic. To fight it, this sword is needed.”
“You didn’t harm me at all.”
“I don’t know what the future holds.”
She added, “The Witch’s mark on your back is proof of a slave contract. The Witch can control your mind anytime she wants.”
It sent a chill down his spine. He suddenly remembered the mad mage Nicolas who had escaped from the mental hospital in the military district. But abandoning the power that had saved his life was impossible.
Cloud hesitated for a long moment, then asked, “How do I remove the Witch’s power?”
“Just erase the mark on your back.”
“You don’t want to become like Nicolas?”
“Correct.”
“Then all I have to do is hold this sword?”
“That’s right.”
“Simple enough.”
Cloud gripped Gesaengquiya. And—
__SWITCH__
SWITCH!
—
“Aaaaaaaaah!”
His whole body convulsed like he had been electrocuted. The pain felt like his back was being burned alive. He couldn’t endure it and dropped the sword.
“I can’t! It’s killing me!”
“You have to endure it. Gesaengquiya is purifying the Witch’s power.”
“Next time! Not now! We don’t have time for this!”
Cloud kept talking through gritted teeth. “Right now I need the Witch’s power to survive this mess. As soon as the city is safe, we’ll try again. I need the power now.”
“If Cloud says so…”
Elena nodded obediently and reached into her storage bag once more. This time she pulled out a necklace and held it out to him.
“Wear this.”
“You took this too?”
“No. It’s mine. A birthday present from when I was little.”
A pendant with a chamois face on a thin gold chain dangled from it. It looked just as luxurious and expensive as Gesaengquiya.
“This also has meaning?”
“No meaning. It’s just Hess’s Amulet.”
“Hess? Is that the name of a mage?”
“Yes. Hess is an ancient and famous magician.”
Elena explained that the necklace absorbed all possible attack magic and protected the wearer and those around them. It wasn’t absolute power, but it was a legendary treasure that few powerful mages could overcome.
“It will help when the Witch tries to control your mind. Keep wearing it until you accept Gesaengquiya.”
“Elena…”
Cloud was deeply moved by her thoughtfulness. His eyes sparkled as he gently cupped her hands with both of his.
“Elena, when this is over, will you come eat soup with me in my room?”
“Soup?”
Even her curious little ears twitching were adorable.
“Yes. Mushroom soup.”
“I love mushrooms.”
“You do? Then it’s a good thing. There’s a huge mushroom the size of an ogre’s testicle in my room. The creamy, chewy mushroom soup that comes out of it is heaven. I’ll give you the whole thing. Want me to feed you?”
“Are you not eating together?”
“I can’t eat it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s growing on my body.”
Elena finally understood what he meant and her cheeks turned bright red.
“Cloud pervert.”
She gave a shy smile, then whispered quietly, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Shiny little pixies fluttered around her face and burst into giggles.
That was when the roof suddenly collapsed with a rumble and a dragon dove in. Dust filled the air. Cloud coughed and quickly snatched up his sword. He rushed straight at the dragon, prepared to use the Witch’s power—
“Don’t use that power!”
“Eh?”
Cloud answered in confusion just as a wave of searing flame swallowed him whole.
So this is how it ends…
Reflexively he curled into a ball. A moment later he realized his body was unharmed and nearly fainted from shock.
“What the…?”
Sacred light from the Hess’s Amulet on his neck protected him and neutralized the dragon’s breath with ease.
“Kek!”
The goblin rider on the dragon’s back looked terrified. The unknown power was pinning the dragon down. Elena quickly cast a binding spell in Elvish.
Cloud’s mouth curved into a grin.
“You’re making such a cute face. You crashed into someone else’s house while the mood was at its peak. Time to pay up.”
“Kkik!”
The goblin rider glared at him with fear. At the same time Cloud’s sword came down—
***
After safely escaping the ruined house, Cloud and Elena stood in front of their next destination, unsure which way to go.
“I’m heading back to the unit.”
“I don’t want to.”
“At the unit you’ll be treated as an outsider and kicked out.”
“Still, I’m going.”
“You’ll be kicked out, I tell you.”
“I don’t care. I want to be with Cloud.”
“You can’t go.”
“I’m going anyway.”
“You’re an outsider!”
“Then let’s not go back to the unit. Let’s go to the temple together.”
“I have nothing to do at the temple!”
“Then protect the people.”
“That’s why I’m a soldier! I have to return to the unit!”
“I’ll come back with you too.”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying! That’s not what returning means!”
Cloud was pounding his chest when a group of people suddenly appeared.
“Oh oh, Cloud. How long has it been?”
Sergei, holding some strange metal object in one hand, grinned and offered a handshake. He wore armor and carried a weapon he’d never seen before, but looked otherwise well-equipped.
“How long? We just said goodbye a few hours ago.”
“Don’t be so cold, buddy. Surviving a world-ending disaster and bumping into each other again after so long… it’s like a tear-jerking reunion!”
Sergei still had plenty of energy even in a life-threatening situation.