novelraw Chapter 110 - 109 - Annabelle
Chapter 110 - 109 - Annabelle
Lind knew something was wrong. He, at first, thought something was testing his defenses but then he realized what the problem was. Or rather, he realized there had been an unexpected change. There was a restraint across his chest and legs but it did not feel like a rope.
The only comparable memory he had was from when he was under 11 at the Frey Clan and his mother had come to comfort him during the rainy season.
"If there is any just God listening, what I think has happened could not possibly be correct." Lind resigned himself to lift the cover and saw exactly what he expected. While not a large fan of manga or light novels, one could not exist on the internet without knowing about memes.
One such meme was picking on said source material for lazy tropes of a girl falling into the protagonist's arms from the very sky at times. Lind had agreed and picked on George about it but only a little. Afterall, Lind was a puzzle fanatic so George had tried to suggest rather tasteless puzzles online to him.
Now, all of his ridicule and dismissive thoughts seemed to come back and bite him. How did the beast become a beautiful woman?! His Eyes had distinctly seen an aether beast. The elements were the same, so how had he been deceived so completely?
"It is not my fault. To all the spirits and Gods as my witness, this is not my fault!" Lind was referring to the fact that a beautiful woman was entwined with him naked and happily snuggling against his chest! His right hand, by some merciful grace, was only on her back! The fact Lind had decided to stop being dense about his relationships did not mean he was ever immune to such beauty in the first place.
Compared to the 3 women currently in his heart, this young girl easily destroyed them. An aether child was always pristine and had much higher quality looks than humans, but the few he had met did not seem to match this girl right then. Her cute snoring also engendered the desire to protect her heavily from him.
Lind took a calming breath and thought hard about how he had not been able to see through to the truth. The 2 elements in question suddenly sparked an idea in his mind. Illusion! This aether child must have been granted a supreme illusion ability to go with her elements.
Unlike humans, aether children were born in the Soul Realm, much like the salamander that Lind fought on the journey over the Fortune Way. Just as with that beast, the tier they manifested varied wildly, but the conditions for manifestation were vague at best. Sometimes a beast like the wolf he met 3 years ago would come into being as part of a pack, but other times powerful beasts could spring into existence in the middle of nowhere just as the salamander had.
The elements of those beasts or children, however, were always dictated by their environment. The salamander was a surprise to have fire, but not impossible. This girl was near the river and the forest so having light and water was not impossible at all.
Lind finally calmed down as he analyzed the reality and was deeply impressed that a nascent aether child could have such a powerful skill when born. If it could fool his Sky Eyes, it was entirely possible she could fool an actual Sky Realm while at the Soul Realm!
Her lack of clothing was entirely due to the simple fact she had just been born. There were no signs of struggle and the trap was not meant for a person. Lind theorized she had not yet acclimated or that perhaps she had not yet really understood what she was. There was very little literature on the subject.
The study of aether children and beasts was mostly focused on abilities and, sadly, how they could be useful to cultivators. In the case of taming aether beasts, Lind was fine, but even he knew that cores, parts, and blood were useful ingredients. For a beast that attacked, Lind had no qualms on this, but there were many beasts that were zero harm to any other living being.
It was reality that for something to live, others must die in some form, but Lind did not personally like it in regards to cultivation. Food and survival were acceptable, but nearly extinguishing a race simply because they had a useful ingredient for a pill or something like that, was too close to his bottom line.
Lind could not change the world, so he put resources to use, but he would not actively participate in such a dark endeavor either. The young girl next to him finally started to stir and broke Lind from his dark thoughts.
Her eyes were stunning as they mixed her 2 elements brilliantly. She looked up groggily at him then broke into the most innocent smile Lind had ever seen! She squeezed him tighter and snuggled even closer! Danger, there was danger in that movement!
"Ahem, I think we need to talk." Lind kept his voice gentle but confusion was all that looked back up at him. She cutely tilted her head and noises began to come out of her open mouth. Lind did not recognize them at all!
"I am Lind Frey. I am from the Lotus Empire. Do you understand my words?" Lind tried again as it was known aether children quickly picked up languages. He hoped that was not exaggerated or hinged on learning their first one the old fashioned way.
Her body suddenly glowed to his Eyes and comprehension entered her eyes. She suddenly bounced up in a disturbingly distracting manner in excitement.
"YES! YES I UNDERSTAND YOU!" Thankfully she dove back to hug him some more. Lind had to blink a few times and shake his head to get his brain working. Why was this woman affecting him so badly?!
"O-ok! Listen we need to talk but first we need to get you some clothes!" Lind was nearly shouting but the girl only looked up in worry. He patted her head and quickly examined his storage ring There was not much that would fit her lithe body as she was a full head shorter than him, but he had a robe that would do for the moment.
The dark brown color did not go with her own coloring, but it was far better than nothing. She scrunched up her eyes as she wiggled in it, but thankfully she did not take it off.
"Itches. Why does it itch?" Lind nearly fell over. Of course, she was a blank slate! She did not understand remotely the intricacies of what many would call common sense. The Saint Kingdom was not very bright due to taking advantage of aether children like that but it made sense to Lind. She was a hybrid between a newborn and an adult.
"It was not designed for you, but I do not have anything at the moment. We will buy something better in Cimmeria." Her cute head tilt told him she did not quite understand. Lind sighed and patted the ground for her to sit. Instead, she sat in his lap!
What fresh hell was this?!
The image of naked body from earlier combined with current sensations was not good for Lind's patience. He took a few deep breaths and reminded himself that she did not understand. It would be his top priority to fix that!
"Okay, let me start again.." Lind began to talk as both a diversion and to simply explain reality to her. As the morning passed, she seemed to quickly absorb and comprehend. Blessing the spirits for this gift, he was able to watch as the woman seemed to mature before his eyes mentally.
She asked endless questions, but Lind was patient and even began to enjoy making her laugh with some of his reactions to the more awkward questions.
"Why can't I sleep with you anymore?" Lind felt like placing a hammer on his head. This was the 3rd time she had circled around to that question. The first time, he got lost in the explanation of hormones and opposite attraction being instinctual so he had tried to simplify it. She seemed to grasp she was a woman and he was a man fairly quickly.
The 2nd time he explained that she was very beautiful and he felt uncomfortable being so close to her in that vulnerable moment. She had blushed a dark blue that looked enchanting as she clearly grasped the compliment. Lind thought he was free and clear but when he had explained about separate sleeping arrangements, she had panicked.
"I don't want to leave home!" Lind was stunned. The misty eyes and shaking limbs told him she was afraid. She had been bouncy and happy not a few moments ago with some confusion mixed in. A light went off in Lind's mind as he understood.
She had just been born, had been ensnared in the trap for something like 3 days, once she understood that concept she explained it to him, and now a kind man had healed, fed, and comforted her. He was home. Who wouldn't want to sleep at home?
He was not a man to her, he was safety, joy, and solace. Lind felt embarrassed by his earlier thoughts. She had an adult mind, but her personality was a child. She was a pure innocent.
"All right, you can sleep with me but with conditions." Lind caved and was tackled to the grass behind him as she snuggled against his chest. She really seemed to like listening to his heartbeat.
"I love you, Lind!" Lind froze but then took it as he would a small child and patted her head as he returned the hug. In time, she would become more confident and while he may remain special to her, she would one day walk on her own path as all children should. He would support her too. That moment he accepted the woman into his life.
"Well, we have a long way to go and I have much to teach you. I also will learn a lot from you too." Lind had no reference for such an early developmental aether child, so he would be flying blind a bit, but thankfully she was a quick learner.
The rest of the day was talk about cultivation and she seemed very quick compared to before. She instinctively understood about her elemental tempering and cultivation but it was very inefficient. Lind used his newfound ambition to help guide her.
She did not have a miraculous progression, but polished her tier 3 foundation and tempered her elements as easy as breathing compared to humans. Lind smiled and encouraged her which made her smile and jump for joy.
He could not remember feeling so happy with a day in a long time. He kept his heart humble, knowing this would fade quickly, but he hoped to help this young woman firmly find her path forward.
Lind suddenly slapped himself on the side of his head.
"I am so sorry, what is your name?" Lind waited but she only looked at him confused. She scratched the side of her cheek. Lind was preparing another meal but her silence pulled him to look back towards her.
"I don't have one." She started to cry but Lind quickly patted her head as he offered her a plate of meat with some vegetables. She quickly brightened at his offer of food, but Lind realized that Heaven and Earth did not do everything for the manifested beings.
Lind sat in thought as he quietly ate with her but then a small, sad smile crossed his face. There was a name he could give her. It was not known thus far in this world from what he had seen and heard, but either way, it was appropriate.
"Do you mind if I name you Annabelle?" Lind offered the name and she seemed to be confused again until she worked it out. Lind had a cousin that had been such a bright and innocent girl. She had sadly been diagnosed with cancer, but she never stopped being bright. She had asked him to name his first daughter after her too!
Lind had only been 13 years old but it was one of the few clear personal memories he had. His name was still garbled, but he was accepting he would never remember his old name. He had cried hard when she passed, only surpassed by his aunt and uncle.
Annabelle perked up and nodded so hard she spilled the vegetables everywhere. Lind laughed as he spooned out some more from the pot.
"Hi Lind! My name is Annabelle!" Lind smiled wide as he went to drink his water. "Annabelle Frey!"
Lind nearly choked on his water and had to cough a few times before he could breathe properly. For some reason, Lind felt his right cheek tingle and the distinct impression of 3 pairs of eyes were piercing him from across the ocean. It was not his fault!