Once Tingyun had taken her leave.
Sylvia returned to the room, watching Acheron who had already settled down to rest. She picked up the fruit bowl from the tea table and walked over to her.
"?"
Acheron lifted her gaze, a questioning look in her eyes.
But Sylvia was already unceremoniously plucking a grape-like fruit from the bunch. She leaned in slightly, reaching out to press it gently against Acheron's lips.
"You've got your sense of taste back now, right? Don't forget to savor all the flavors life has to offer. Or… is it still unfamiliar since it's only just returned?"
Acheron's eyes flickered down toward the deep purple fruit. Though she didn't speak, her expression conveyed her thoughts clearly enough.
Sylvia studied that placid, almost stoic face. Lately, Acheron had shown more emotion, true, but most of the time she still wore this same unreadable mask.
The more Sylvia came to understand Acheron, the harder it was to fathom how she kept herself from spiraling into madness.
"I'll help you get used to tasting things again, starting now. No matter how many times you forget, I'll be here to remind you. Let's start with this fruit, alright?"
The cool surface of the fruit rested against her lips. Acheron could already catch its inviting fragrance.
It was unfamiliar, yet carried a faint, elusive sense of recognition.
Nothing like the scent of a peach.
Maybe I've tasted something like this before, Acheron found herself thinking.
It was a shame most of those memories were lost to her.
Lost in thought, Acheron lowered her gaze slightly, then parted her lips. She let Sylvia's fingers press the fruit gently into her mouth.
The pad of Sylvia's thumb brushed, almost accidentally, against her damp lower lip.
A faint, salty tang spread from where their skin had touched—quickly overwhelmed by the sweet explosion of flavor that filled her mouth.
It was a sweetness entirely different from that of a peach. Acheron closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the taste.
Committing it firmly to memory.
"Is it good?"
Sylvia's amused voice pulled Acheron from her reverie.
"Mhm, very sweet. You're right… I'll do my best to make it a habit."
Acheron tilted her head up, her expression as characteristically blank as ever, and spoke those words.
For some reason, Sylvia couldn't shake the image of a big, slightly dopey puppy sitting right in front of her.
I mean, sure, she's incredibly strong, but there's this undeniably loyal dog vibe about her.
Not that Sylvia actually thought Acheron was like a loyal hound—but the feeling was there nonetheless.
Driven by that thought, Sylvia picked up another fruit and brought it closer, aiming to feed Acheron again.
Whether Acheron simply didn't mind or was influenced by their earlier exchange, this time she opened her mouth willingly.
Letting Sylvia place the fruit inside.
"How's this one?"
While Acheron savored the flavor, Sylvia popped one into her own mouth as well.
A clean, delicate sweetness spread across her palate—not overpowering, but wonderfully refreshing.
She tried another kind of fruit—just as delicious, with a completely different sweetness that lingered pleasantly.
Sylvia could swear these two fruits were more delicious than any she'd tasted in her previous life.
No wonder they were provided in a suite like this.
The room they were staying in wasn't cheap per night, and the fresh fruit here definitely matched its standard.
Thinking this, Sylvia casually picked another fruit and brought it to Acheron, who had just opened her eyes.
"They're all very good. I like them."
Acheron seemed to have grown accustomed to being fed. She smoothly took the fruit Sylvia offered into her mouth before answering.
Then, as Sylvia reached out with another, Acheron pulled out her phone.
Just as a faint look of surprise crossed Sylvia's face, Acheron pressed the shutter—capturing the moment Sylvia leaned in to feed her.
"How come you never take any cool shots of me in battle?"
Sylvia thought back. Acheron had taken plenty of photos, but they were all casual, everyday snaps. Sure, she looked cute in them, but Sylvia wished she could look a little more dashing.
She settled onto the sofa beside Acheron, still holding the fruit bowl, and couldn't help but ask.
They continued sharing the fruit, one for you, one for me.
Enjoying Sylvia's attentive feeding, Acheron explained:
"Because your swordsmanship still has many flaws. It isn't cool."
"…"
Such blunt honesty made Sylvia freeze up for a second.
Right… I forgot she's a master of the sword.
My skills probably look like a child swinging a stick in her eyes…
Thinking this.
Sylvia pulled back the fruit she'd been about to offer Acheron and put it in her own mouth instead.
Ignoring Acheron's already parted lips and the gaze now fixed on her.
"…"
Acheron's mouth remained slightly open, her eyes fixed on Sylvia with a confused, almost wistful look—as if wondering why the fruit meant for her had been stolen.
That dazed, clueless expression somehow struck a chord in Sylvia.
She felt her cheeks warm slightly, and quickly plucked another fruit, stuffing it into Acheron's mouth.
--+--
After they'd finished off all the tasty treats in the room.
Sylvia and Acheron decided to head out and explore the area.
While looking up nearby points of interest, Sylvia found a moment to use the green summoning card she'd obtained after befriending Tingyun.
With a thought, she pulled up the system's bare-bones gacha screen.
A single green card lay quietly at the center.
Silently, she commanded: 'Draw.'
A green glow lit up the summoning interface.
According to the gacha rules, even a green card could—in theory—yield a purple or even gold card, but the odds were obviously slim.
And Sylvia simply didn't have that kind of luck. As a certified non-whale, she had to resign herself to the pity system.
Watching the green light, Sylvia sighed softly, then turned her attention to the result with mild interest.
But the moment she saw it, her face went dark.
--+--
[Prohibited-Grade Fur Care Techniques (Highly Acclaimed by Furries)]
['Oh my heavens! As a heartbreaker, your life skills and flirting methods are so lacking it pains me! But now! Trust me! Even the hairless will fall under your spell, utterly at your mercy.']
['Of course, my sincerest wish is that you don't become a furry yourself.']
--+--
Well said. Next time, don't.
Sylvia's fists clenched.
Who the hell wrote this crap?
And this skill… is it even legitimate?
Seriously, bro? Can this thing actually be used?
It doesn't come with some weird, ban-worthy side effects, does it?
The corner of Sylvia's eye twitched. She had a strong feeling this new skill was anything but respectable.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.