บท 26: Falling (2)

"Ahhh!" The moon elf lord who was lost in his own thoughts yelled out of instinct when he felt that his foot was touching nothing.

Luis opened his eyes and he didn't know what he should do after seeing the situation.

It turns out that he wasn't the only one falling. Xagrien, the jerk with facial paralysis is holding both of his arms firmly, keeping him close while they are falling.

He could feel his head's veins pulsating as his short black hair was standing up due to their falling. The cold and damp forest wind is slapping his face, fanning his frustration with this guy.

'Would it hurt him if he made a warning before pushing him down?'

'Like; hi! We are going down the tree. Be careful not to splash your brain once we hit the ground!'

The moon elf lord frustratedly bit his lips. He lamented how such a man with a gorgeous face could be so hopelessly unromantic! This level of insensitivity should be illegal for people with faces like that!

Luis then made a mental note.

Attacked him when in an unconscious state. Check.

Stunned and took him as a hostage. Check.

Now, dropped him from a five hundred feet tree without any prior warning. Check.

With all these red flags waving in front of his face, Luis would be a huge idiot if he is still attracted to this male.

Seriously, he will slap his face twice whenever he catches himself fantasizing about this hunk in the future.

'Mark those words!'

"Yah! Did you know that it will be the best for both of us if you warn me first before we go down that tree? Because firstly, I will not have a mini heart attack and secondly, you will not hear me ranting," Luis instantly nagged after his feet touched the ground.

"For real, you are the most-" Luis stopped midway when he looked up at Xagrien.

They have a very huge height difference with the top of his head could only reach until the other's lower chest. So when he stared at the other's face it was at a low angle yet this doesn't even tarnish his good looks. Instead, it seems like the charm of this male is magnified to a ridiculous extent. Maybe it was the tanned skin? Or maybe it was the sunlight? This male moon elf is shining in his eyes.

Luis can only curse in his mind.

Xagrien's profile in this angle looks so fine.

Luis' mental conditioning that he used on himself is on the verge of uselessness.

He is about to prove that promises are meant to be broken especially promises that are made to one's self.

Fortunately, Luis persisted just like always.

Xagrien looked down at him and their gazes met.

"Can you not make yourself look so dreamy when I am trying to hold myself together?" Luis blurted out, absentmindedly.

Xagrien stayed silent for a while.

"I can't understand what you are trying to say," Xagrien answered in a low voice, and then he cleared his throat. "But I'll try."

"Ahh! Whatever!" Luis said, exasperated for both himself and this guy.

"Then be careful on your way back," Xagrien said as he was about to leave.

However, Luis was quick to his feet and intercepted the retreating man.

"Hey, did I ever tell you that I will leave?" Luis' brain which was offline a few seconds ago is now running at full speed.

Luis is clear on his goal to unify the moon elf race and of course, rogues are part of that plan. However, given that most moon elves don't look at these minority groups favourably, it is possible that these nomadic moon elves will face skepticism from the others once he achieved his plan.

Luis, as the moon elf lord, does not want that to happen. That will potentially become a poison that will rot them from the inside. Besides, in his personal perspective, he aims to live a comfortable and stress-free life and removing all the potential causes of friction is a great way.

Hence, he thought of alleviating the image of these 'rogues'. Luis wants to let these already strong warriors grow under his wings.

Aside from that, what would the other clans think if their lord made an effort to meet these 'rogues' and made their allegiance before them? Plus the fact that the moon elf lord welcomes these 'rogues' at the same level as their clans.

'Rogues'. Luis sighed inwardly. He will make sure to remove such derogatory branding in the future.

Luis stood in front of the others. Not even a sign of backing out. He finally thought of a way to make himself look useful for this one.

Xagrien stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Luis. His face is as black as ink.

"How about this," Luis raised his both arms, surrendering. "I know how to treat anyone with injury. I will offer you services in exchange for letting me go home with you."

Xagrien looked at him with a faint coldness in his eyes.

"Don't try to cheat on me. How can someone as young as you know complicated things such as healing? Are you an alchemist?"

Luis subconsciously straightened his back. Of course, he is not an alchemist and he is not a doctor. How can he explain that he can heal with the help of his wood powers?

Encountering a young moon elf with an unfamiliar power when the moon elf lord was born just recently. Plus the fact that they met not far from the Ambrian Plateau.

Isn't that straight-up confessing that he is the moon elf lord?

Though making it known makes things easier, no one knows how this guarded male reacts once he finds it out.

Especially since he can sense some scent of trust issues from Xagrien.

Wait, doesn't this mean he should come clean now?

Luis hid his identity in the first place because he didn't want the other to react strongly if he explained that Xagrien wounded him during his frenzy.

Luis thought that the other would inflict self-harm once they found out that he attacked the moon elf lord.

A thought born from the crazy antics of the moon elves that he met thus far…

Luis also did this so that Xagrien will become comfortable talking about his secret. Since it is more likely for people to be unguarded and build rapport towards someone who is not superior to them.

Now that all these are through.

It seems like Xagrien is not someone who will lose his cool because of his identity as the moon elf lord (which proves that the other considers him as a nobody!).

And Xagrien already hinted that his case is not the same as a disease. Hence, it has nothing to do with zombification.

Luis doesn't want to keep his identity a secret. He wants to gain the other's trust.

So Luis bravely met the other's eyes.

"I am not an alchemist or a healer. But I can heal someone with my power."

Xagrien then followed the wrists that Luis raised for him to see. There, a green light suddenly shone covering the burns. The injury healed at a slow and stable speed that is enough to be seen through the naked eye.

"I am the newly born moon elf lord," Luis said to Xagrien whose eyes are wide.

The moon elf lord subconsciously pouted, trying to push down the smile that is forming on his lips.

'Now you finally have a reaction. This one hell of a taciturn guy.'