Chapter 66: Floral Scent and Contract

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Floral Scent and Contract

Hesia figured he must be well and truly exhausted.

The moment his body touched the clean blankets on the village chief’s communal sleeping platform, a heavy drowsiness washed over him like a tidal wave, almost drowning him in an instant.

He had originally forced himself to stay alert, planning to wait until midnight and witness firsthand how that demonic contract would take effect.

But a strange exhaustion took hold of his body, as if someone were whispering, ’Go to sleep... hurry...’

When assigning sleeping spots, Captain Hulk exercised the unilateral authority he rarely used as a leader—

he flatly rejected Belte’s request to sleep next to him.

Hesia silently gave the captain a thumbs-up for that.

After all, no one wanted to endure the snores of a "human pile driver" right next to them, especially after a vicious battle and in desperate need of rest.

The room was spacious, containing one of the few large communal sleeping platforms in the village.

Their positions were roughly as follows, from left to right:

Hulk-Hesia-Zoya-Laila———————————Belte.

Aside from Belte, who was "exiled" to the far end, everyone was about a meter apart, maintaining a basic comfort zone.

Considering Captain Hulk had also eaten quite a bit of the "musk-flavored" roasted boar, Hesia instinctively scooted his bedding closer to Zoya.

He subconsciously felt it might be "safer" over there.

Before sinking completely into his slumber, he checked the orb of light in his mind one last time, equipping the [Bloodline Solidification] trait and swapping out the currently unneeded [Wild Charge].

After doing all this, he turned his back to the figure still wearing a black mask and fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.

...

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

In his sleep, Hesia unconsciously rolled over to face Zoya.

Gradually, he sensed an extremely subtle, elusive fragrance drifting closer.

The scent was very peculiar.

At first, it had a clear, cold, mineral-like quality, as if a piece of moonlit jade were pressed to the tip of his nose.

Still asleep, he subconsciously took a deep breath, trying to capture more of the calming aroma.

As he inhaled deeper, a delicate floral note emerged—sweet but not cloying, like a night-blooming cereus opening silently in the evening breeze, faint and elusive.

He couldn’t help but breathe it in, wanting to explore the depths of this scent that made him feel so incredibly comfortable and at ease.

The fragrance was cool, ethereal, and faint, as if it had a life and Will of its own.

Hesia even had the illusion that if he moved in the slightest, the fragile scent would startle and dissipate into the air, lost forever.

Just when he thought that was all, a trace of warmth settled in as a finale, slowly enveloping him.

The sensation was marvelous, like burying his face in a cashmere blanket that had been thoroughly sun-dried in the afternoon warmth.

The warmth and the earlier cool fragrance intertwined, creating a peculiar contrast.

At once distant and intimate, cold and warm.

The nerves that had been wound tight from battle completely slackened, and his entire body was immersed in an unprecedented state of languor and ease.

He couldn’t even summon the will to move his eyes, wishing only to drown forever in this sea of tranquility built from cool fragrance and warmth.

Gradually, his consciousness was pulled by the scent into an even deeper dream...

...

In the midst of his slumber, midnight arrived.

Suddenly!

Hesia jolted violently in his sleep.

He felt as though his body, lying solidly on the platform just moments before, had instantly lost all support and was now plummeting into a bottomless Abyss.

An intense feeling of weightlessness enveloped him!

Gradually, it became difficult to breathe.

More terrifyingly, he felt as if his ’soul’ or ’consciousness’ was being forcibly torn from his body by an irresistible external force.

The pain roused him slightly from his sleep.

He immediately realized—

’Salamakis’s contract is taking effect!’

’So this is what it feels like to have your Bloodline Power drained?’

’I never thought it would be so bizarre and terrifying!’

Fortunately, just as this sensation of being torn away peaked, a tough, invisible film surged from the orb of light in his mind, firmly blocking the cold Will that sought to extract his power.

[Bloodline Solidification] was working!

His anxious heart eased slightly.

The trait’s effect was real and reliable!

However, the cold Will trying to strip away his Bloodline Power didn’t give up. It continued to apply pressure, battering the barrier formed by [Bloodline Solidification] in relentless waves.

This feeling of his soul being forcibly torn away was agonizing.

His consciousness grew sharper amid the tearing sensation, yet he couldn’t fully control his body.

Worried his teammates would notice something was wrong, he could only shut his eyes, clench his jaw, and endure the ordeal in silence.

Just as he was fighting the formless, pulling sensation with all his might—

a completely different sensation abruptly intruded upon his chaotic perceptions.

He felt... as if an invisible hand were cautiously exploring his body.

’Is Salamakis that powerful?’ he thought. ’She can even simulate the feeling of touch?’

He felt as if his body were truly being caressed by a cool palm.

But he soon realized the sensation was becoming clearer and more real.

It wasn’t the illusory touch of energy or Will!

It was real.

Fingers with a cool temperature and the delicate texture of skin!

The hand seemed hesitant and unpracticed. It grazed his chest lightly, then... slowly began to move down, past his abdomen...

The unexpected physical contact sent a jolt through Hesia, so startling that it instantly lessened the tension of his struggle against the contract!

His eyes flew open!

In the moonlight, an exquisitely beautiful face was inches from his own, almost close enough to touch his nose.

Strands of silvery-white hair shimmered with a soft luster, a few of them brushing against his cheek and tickling him.

The eyes that were normally hidden in the shadow of her hood were now clearly visible.

Eyes as clear and brilliant as amethysts were staring blankly at him.

It was Zoya!

And the hand that had been "exploring" his body... belonged to none other than the mysterious Moon-eyed Elf!

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.

Hesia’s mind went blank, completely unable to process what was happening.

Zoya, too, seemed surprised by his sudden awakening. A flicker of panic crossed her amethyst eyes.

The slender, offending hand froze midway, unsure whether to retreat or continue its advance.

The two of them remained frozen, inches apart in the moonlight.

Only the rhythmic snores of Belte from the far corner of the room continued unabated.