Chapter 35 - Call me Riveria...
Then he called to the next room, "Oris! Measure this boy!"
After Noah was taken into the next room, Riveria quietly stepped forward. "Lord Goibniu, is that weapon...?"
With a wave of his hand, Goibniu interrupted Riveria, indicating he knew what she wanted to say. "The sword is just a small problem. He's already mastered it. I just think that if your brat hadn't met you, she would have grown up to be like him, using herself as a sword..."
In an instant, the scene of Ais entering the Dungeon for the first time emerged in Riveria's mind. The sight of her desperately fighting monsters, disregarding the collapse of her own body, was still vivid.
Only this time, the blonde girl turned into a silver-haired boy...
Noah... was he once like Ais? No, it's different. He made it through all on his own.
The delicate hand holding the staff tightened, blue veins appearing on the pale skin.
"Let's take him to the treatment center," Goibniu continued. "Forcing himself to push his limits without the Falna must have left a lot of hidden scars on his body... I can sense his body is a little unstable. I wonder if this is the reason..."
Noah was not used to physical contact with others, but this time he endured being measured by three or four men with rulers.
When he walked out of the room, he felt uncomfortable all over, as if ants were crawling on his skin. However, when he saw the way Riveria looked at him like she was looking at a stray puppy on the roadside that hadn't eaten for days... he felt something was wrong.
"Miss Riveria?"
After looking at Noah for three seconds, Riveria took a deep breath, regained her composure, and slowly looked away. "Just call me Riveria."
He didn't know what had happened, but seeing that Riveria didn't seem to want to explain, Noah had no choice but to nod and pretend nothing was amiss. After thanking Goibniu, the two left.
Next, under Riveria's guidance, Noah went to greet members of several Familias along the way. It wasn't until the sun was at its highest point that the two arrived at the last destination of their morning trip: the Dian Cecht Familia Home, which was across the street from the Guild.
The gate in the middle was decorated with emblems of light orbs and herbs. It was called the Blue Pharmacy. Apparently, there was no one at the front desk because they were busy admitting the injured from the attack on the food distribution event the previous day.
"You can wait here for a while. Don't touch anything. I'm going to find Lord Dian Cecht and will be back soon."
Watching Riveria's departing back, Noah looked at the series of medicinal herbs and potions on the counter, walking slowly while falling into deep thought. He felt that after coming out from Goibniu's forge, Riveria's attitude towards him had undergone some subtle changes.
For example, her instructions sounded like, Just stand here and don't move. I'll go buy...
"Ouch!"
His body seemed to collide with something small and soft. Noah broke out of his thoughts when he heard the cry. However, apart from a few scattered boxes, there was no one in front of him.
Hey, there's nothing! Did I see a ghost?
...
"It hurts! Who is it?!"
In front of the empty counter, a childish low moan floated in the air, making Noah even more confused.
Is it a female ghost?
Fortunately, Noah was only stunned for a moment before he understood and quickly looked behind the boxes.
A girl wearing a white robe, with silver hair the same color as Noah's, was supporting herself on the ground with one hand and covering her head with the other. When she raised her eyes, her gaze met Noah's.
This girl... no, this young lady. Although her temperament was a little more mature than Ais's, even sitting down, Noah could be sure she was slightly shorter than Ais.
She was definitely less than 130cm tall; it wouldn't be surprising if she were mistaken for a Pallum. However, because her face, beautiful enough to be mistaken for a fine porcelain doll, was also petite, her body proportions were quite balanced.
Paired with her formal robe, she looked like something one would want to hold carefully.
"Hey! Who are you? The look in your eyes makes me feel like you're thinking of something rude!"
Facing the girl's wary gaze, Noah stretched out his hand without changing his expression. Just as the girl was about to refuse, Noah instead picked up the boxes scattered on the ground, leaving her speechless.
"I'm Noah Sifel, a new member of the Loki Familia. Riveria brought me here. She just went to see Lord Dian Cecht."
For some reason, the girl puffed up her lips, stood up, brushed off non existent dust from her robe. "My name is Airmid Teasanare. Good afternoon, Mr. Noah."
When she stood up, Noah confirmed that she was indeed a little shorter than Ais.
"Um?!" The girl named Airmid suddenly raised her head and glanced at Noah with sharp eyes. But this time, even after Noah gave her a confused look in return, she couldn't see anything unusual.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing." Giving up the pursuit, Airmid was about to continue moving the boxes when Noah lifted them easily.
"Let me help you. Where are these going?"
Airmid blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering like feathers. "Well, then, please put them at the front desk. Thank you."
"After all, I bumped into you. Also, I should help kids..."
But this made Airmid unhappy. She frowned and quickly caught up with Noah on her short legs. When she realized it took her three steps to match his one, her pink lips couldn't help but pout. "I'm already eleven years old! I'm a proper lady!"
Eleven years old is still young compared to seventeen. Although she was staring at him seriously, as if Noah had committed some terrible mistake, because she was so adorable, like a kitten trying to look fierce, he almost smiled.
What?
"Well, this lovely lady, is it okay to put them here?"
This!
Hearing Noah's sudden praise, the seriousness on Airmid's face vanished, and her eyes became a little unnatural.
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