145. Lemuen Begins Her Operation
Xiling groggily opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Why am I still so tired?"
Xiling tried to get out of bed; his mouth was dry. However, as he tried to prop himself up, a wave of weakness and trembling washed over his arms, as if his body no longer belonged to him.
"I didn't feel this way while I was chopping at the Cocoon of the Finality, but afterwards, I feel completely powerless. This is really..."
As he tried to stand up again, the door clicked open.
"Feeling better, Xiling?" Lemuen entered the room lightly and then closed the door behind her.
"Lemuen? You...you didn't install surveillance cameras here, did you?" Xiling questioned.
How could the other person know he was awake so soon after he got up? If it wasn't surveillance, it must be some other method. He was feeling weak, not stupid.
Lemuen nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, I installed surveillance cameras here."
As she spoke, she walked to Xiling's bedside, and she helped Xiling sit up.
Xiling said, somewhat speechlessly, "I'm not seriously injured or anything, do I really need surveillance?"
"Well, because I understand you," Lemuen blinked, "Even if you need help, you won't ask. Like now, right?"
Looking at Lemuen's sly expression, Xiling couldn't help but laugh:
"That's why we say we're old friends, you really understand me."
"After all, we've known each other for a long time; it wouldn't be right for me to be a partner if I didn't understand you." Lemuen handed Xiling a glass of water.
"Here you go."
"Thank you." Xiling reached out to take the water, but found his hand trembling slightly.
Lemuen noticed this too, a knowing smile appearing on her face, and she sat down on Xiling's bed.
"Looks like I'll have to feed you after all."
Xiling rolled his eyes at her.
"You're just taking advantage of my weakness. Wait until I'm better, then you'll see..."
Just as Xiling was about to say something, Lemuen brought her face close to his, smiling.
"What are you going to do to me when you're better?" Lemuen tilted her head curiously. They were very close now, and Xiling could clearly see Lemuen's curious eyes.
For some reason, Xiling felt that those eyes were a little different than usual, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He stared into Lemuen's eyes, lost in thought, and the two of them gazed at each other.
Lemuen moved closer and closer, her breath brushing against Xiling's face.
Lemuen teased Xiling, "What's wrong? Staring straight at me, am I that pretty?"
Xiling snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at her question.
"Don't you know you're pretty?"
"Sigh, I really don't know if I'm pretty or not." Lemuen looked troubled.
She was indeed quite beautiful, but it was still useless, wasn't it? The other party hadn't shown the slightest interest because of it.
Xiling reluctantly raised a thumb: "Yes, you're very beautiful, a hero's affirmation."
He tried to make his tone sound as relaxed as usual, but a sudden cough cracked his voice.
"Heh," Lemuen chuckled softly, "Then you'll have to praise me more often in the future, otherwise I'll lose my confidence. Okay, have some water."
Lemuen moved closer to Xiling, the two of them very close, and Lemuen held the water glass to Xiling's lips.
After taking a sip of water, Xiling felt much better and then asked with some puzzlement, "I don't know why, but I feel like I'm getting weaker and weaker."
"Indeed, your body seems to be burning hotter." Lemuen put down the water glass.
Then, under Xiling's gaze, Lemuen climbed back onto Xiling's bed and sat on the bedding.
Seeing Lemuen like this, Xiling blinked.
"What are you doing?"
Lemuen didn't answer, but with a smile on her face, she reached out and touched Xiling's face.
"Of course, I'm taking your temperature." Lemuen's brow furrowed instinctively as she touched Xiling's face. Xiling's temperature was even higher than before; something didn't seem right.
"Xiling, tell me seriously, are you sure there's nothing seriously wrong with you?" Lemuen asked earnestly.
Xiling glanced away guiltily.
"This is my first time being a hero, and I've never encountered anything like this before." But the weak Xiling quickly reassured her, "Okay, don't worry, I'm a hero, everything will be alright."
A hero will not die halfway through his mission.
However, Lemuen's expression did not soften. Silence fell in the room, broken only by Xiling's heavy breathing. Just as he racked his brains trying to find something to ease the tension, a cool touch suddenly pressed against his forehead.
Lemuen's eyes were closed, his forehead gently pressed against Xiling's, this method of taking temperatures causing their breaths to mingle, their noses almost touching.
Xiling's eyes widened slightly.
(This…isn't this too close?)
But Lemuen seemed completely oblivious, her eyes still closed, focused intently on his body temperature.
After an unknown amount of time, Lemuen finally slowly opened her eyes.
Those pink eyes, so clear at close range, reflected Xiling's somewhat surprised eyes. A meaningful smile slowly curved her lips.
"What's wrong?" Her voice was as soft as a feather.
"No, no...it's nothing," Xiling said awkwardly, looking away.
"It's just that we're getting a little too close."
Lemuen didn't pull away; instead, she leaned closer, her nose almost touching his.
"Really? I think it's fine." Her breath brushed against Xiling's face, carrying a faint minty scent.
Xiling was about to roll his eyes in retort when he suddenly felt dizzy—Lemuen's hands braced on either side of him, forcefully pressing him back onto the pillow. His head sank into the soft feather pillow, and Lemuen's face suddenly loomed large before him.
Her long pink hair cascaded down like a waterfall, a few strands playfully brushing his cheek, causing a slight tickle.
"What are you doing..." Xiling's words trailed off.
Looking down at him, Lemuen wore an expression he'd never seen before—her usually gentle, smiling pink eyes now gleamed with a dangerous light, and the curve of her lips was both alluring and menacing.
"Um...Lemuen? What's wrong?" Xiling's voice unconsciously softened, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. He tried to sit up, but found his wrist firmly gripped by Lemuen's seemingly slender fingers, completely immobile.
Under the modifications of the Elden Ring, Lemuen could switch between Sankta and Divine Being. At this moment, she was in Divine Being form, without her halo or wings.
In the dim room, Lemuen didn't answer immediately. She stared intently at Xiling's pale face, the light in her eyes growing brighter and brighter—not a metaphor, but a genuine, luminous pink glow in the darkness.
"I'm fine," she finally spoke, her voice incredibly soft. She slowly leaned down, her hair cascading down like a curtain, creating a private space between them.
"But you…" Her fingertips traced Xiling's burning cheek, "You're already so weak, yet you're still trying to be strong."
"But…but the way you look," Xiling's voice broke with urgency, punctuated by a few weak coughs, "Something just doesn't seem right."
(I didn't want to look like this either.)
Lemuen gazed at Xiling's pale face, her eyes greedily tracing every familiar feature.
(You're the only one to blame, Xiling. You're the one who made me like this.)
(But…let's stop here for tonight. If we go any further, the Hero probably won't be able to handle it.)
Lemuen slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the dangerous glint in her eyes had faded, replaced by the mischievous smile Xiling knew.
"Hehe, didn't scare you, did I?" she said in a light tone.
"Alright, go rest."
Under Xiling's gaze, Lemuen straightened up and then lay down on the empty spot beside him.
Xiling blinked, slowly turning his face to meet Lemuen's smiling eyes.
(So it was a joke…but what kind of joke is this?)
He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, his tense nerves suddenly relaxing, replaced by a tide of weariness.
(Never mind, I'll think about it later. Her antics have made me feel even worse.)
"I'm going to sleep," Xiling said weakly.
"Close the door when you leave."
Lemuen smiled, her eyes crinkling: "It's already closed."
As she spoke, she actually lifted the covers and slipped inside, her cool legs inadvertently brushing against Xiling's burning skin.
"…What are you doing?" Xiling froze, his voice trembling.
"I don't want to get up and run to your room in the middle of the night just to take care of you," Lemuen replied matter-of-factly, already settling into a comfortable position.
"So I'll just stay here for the night."
"Then you can sleep on the floor."
"No." Lemuen refused decisively.
"...Fine, whatever." He was a very quiet sleeper anyway, and for some reason, he always felt like he was the one in danger.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiling's eyes slowly closed, his even breathing reaching Lemuen's ears.
Lemuen opened her eyes at that moment.
A dangerous smile curved her lips, her pupils flashing with that eerie glow again. She slowly turned to her side, propping her cheek up with one hand, her gaze fixed on Xiling's sleeping face.
"Asleep...?" Her voice was almost inaudible.
"Xiling, Xiling." Lemuen called softly to Xiling, but seeing no response, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes: 'Looks like he's really tired; even calling him didn't wake him.'
In the moonlight, Lemuen's movements were as graceful as a hunting cat, slowly pulling Xiling into her arms, letting his head rest against her chest. Lemuen lowered her head to inhale the scent of his hair, her eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
'So good…' she murmured softly.
'He's always so stubborn, only obedient at a moment like this.'
'Xiling, if only you could always be this good…'