NoGift 193 Arriving At Misty Mountains

AFTER two hours of travelling, the flying car being driven by Black landed on a forest clearing.  The forest was on a mountain range bordering the countries of Castille and Gaul.  The range consisted of tall mountains which easily served as a barrier-like existence between the two countries. 

Because this mountain range was the natural habitat for a lot of wild beasts, not many people crossed it.  Most people used the sea route, it's much faster and safer.  That's the reason why Clay picked this place as their base.  One more reason was because the upper half of this mountain range was always covered by mist.  

That's why the people named it – the Misty Mountains.

This mist was another layer of protection for them.  And it had been doing its job well enough for the past five months.

   Clay walked out of the flying contraption.  He let out a relieved breath.  He was finally out of the blasted contraption.  He could feel his stomach churning.  If they traveled inside that flying contraption for another hour or so, he might truly vomit his guts out while that thing was still moving.  Which would not only annoy the owner of the said flying contraption, it would also make him look like a total lame-a.s.s.

How could he make himself look uncool, especially in front of Aurum?  

Wait-  what did Aurum have to with that?  He scratched his head in annoyance.  He's becoming weirder and weirder by the minute.

Black and Aurum also went out of the flying car.  Aurum turned the car back into its capsule form and put it inside her s.p.a.ce ring.  She looked around and couldn't really tell much of anything because of the mist.  She could only make out the silhouette of trees.

"This place looks creepy," Black said.  "Black doesn't like it here."

Well, creepy was an apt description.  Aurum thought so too. 

Clay turned to the two, his face already a lot better than when he was still inside the flying car.  He patted Black's head.  "I'm sorry, Black.  This was the best thing we could come up with under the circ.u.mstance we're in."

Black looked up at Clay who was smiling apologetically at him.  He suddenly felt guilty for complaining.  "Sorry, Clay.  Black wasn't trying to insult your place."

Clay chuckled when he saw Black's downcast expression.  "It's okay.  Don't be sad.  I'm not mad."

Black looked up.  "Really?"

"Really."

After hearing that, Black was revitalized once again.  "Okay!"

Looking at the interaction between the two, Aurum realized just how good Clay was in handling kids.  Probably because he had a little sister and mostly because of his experience at the orphanage.  He'd definitely make a great father.  Wait- what the heck was she suddenly thinking?  She shook her head.  Her brain must have been suddenly filled with water from all these fog around.

"Is your place near here?" she just asked.

"Yes.  We just have to climb up for a bit," Clay answered.  "Let's go.  I'll lead the way."

Clay walked forward.  Aurum looked at his back and she suddenly remembered the blus.h.i.+ng face he made earlier.  Somehow, she wanted to see that face again.  A teasing smile appeared on her lips.  She walked towards him and then hugged his arm.  Completely forgetting what her mother said about acting like a real lady.  She visibly felt his whole body stiffened.

"W-what are you doing?" Clay asked, and then he almost wanted to kick himself.  What was he stuttering for?

"As you can see, I'm holding you.  I can barely see.  I needed someone to hold onto or I might trip," Aurum answered without even batting an eye, as if that was what she really intended.

Clay could feel something soft touching his arm.  He suddenly felt like his brain had just been fried and all the blood in his body rushed up to his face.  He pulled away from Aurum before he started thinking about things that he shouldn't think.  "Don't be too close."

Even with the fog around, at this distance, Aurum could still see the blush on Clay's face.  She smiled inside.  So, her earlier a.s.sumption was correct.  She didn't imagine it.  This guy was not as immune to her as he thought he was.  That simply knowledge made her extremely happy.

Of course, she tried hard not to show it on her face.  Instead, she looked at Clay in dismay.  "Are you saying you're just going to let me fall?"

Clay didn't know how to answer.  He was still fl.u.s.tered by Aurum's action earlier.  He couldn't think properly.  And now he had no idea how to react.  So he just did the first thing that came to his mind.  He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers together.

"Then is this okay?  This way, even if you fall, I can immediately catch you."

Aurum looked down at their interloping fingers.  A strange kind of warmth spread to her heart.  "Yes, this is just fine."

"Eh… Aurum, why do you need Clay to hold your hand?  You're acting more like a kid than Black.  Even though you're obviously older.  That's totally lame," Black said, shaking his head.

Aurum narrowed her eyes at Black.  "Black if you continue to talk nonsense, I'll leave you here.  Do you want that?" she asked sweetly.

Black eyes widened.  "You can't leave me!  I'll tell Master!"

"Of course I can.  You know why?  Because my brother will always pick my side no matter what," she continued on with the same sweet voice.

Black's big eyes quivered and he looked like he was about to cry at any second.  

Seeing him like this, Clay sighed.  "Aurum, don't tease Black to the point of crying."

Aurum pouted.  "But it's his fault."

"You're older.  You should have more patience."

"Tch.  Fine." Aurum glanced back at Black.  "I won't leave you here so don't cry."

Black sniffed and then ran to Clay's side.  "Clay, thank you for protecting me from that bad guy, Aurum." Then he stuck out his tongue.

This kid.  Aurum just knew she shouldn't have been softhearted.

"Don't fight you two and let just go," Clay said.

He continued walking into the mist.  But as he did, all Clay could feel was the warmth radiating from the soft hand he was holding.  And all he could hear was the loud beating of his heart.