Ch. 134 A Talk

( Yuto Pov )

" Well, try it on." I spoke to Aristos as he held the finished mask in his hands.

" Alright." He replied.

The mask was white with golden decorations but were actually runes.

" Hmm? it seems cool, but not my style." I spoke as I looked at the mask on my body.

" Really? it feels comfortable to me." Aristos spoke as he kept the mask on.

"Whatever you say, you're the one in control." I spoke as I heard Caenis speak up.

" Cool mask. Too bad I can't see ya pretty face." She spoke as she lifted the mask and tried it on.

" Huh, comfy." She spoke as she looked around.

" Yup!" Aristos proudly said.

" Eh, it's average. it's just the basic runes." I spoke.

Aristos became depressed and drew circles on the floor.

" But I tried my best." He muttered.

" Well, you did better than I, so that's a given." I spoke as I watched Aristos cheered up.

" I'm a genius!" He shouted.

" Shut up." I spoke.

" Here's ya mask back," Caenis spoke as she handed the mask back to Aristos.

" Oh. thank you." Aristos smiled.

I saw Caenis freeze as she looked at Aristos' smile.

' Sigh, so cliché.' I thought.

"Tch, Whatever." She looked away as she began to walk on the road.

Aristos equipped the mask on as he yelled.

" Hold up!" Aristos caught up to Caenis as he packed his things from the camp.

They began to travel once more on the road even though the sun hadn't risen.

/// Bringing you Chibi Aristos humming a tune ///

" Hum~hm~hmhm~" Aristos was humming a tune.

If it was anyone else who tried to sing, I would've punched them.

But since that's my body, it seemed he had my musical talent as well as how great and smooth his hums are.

Caenis seemed to enjoy it as well as how she looked relaxed she is especially when her guard is down.

' The intrusive thoughts want me to strike while her gaurd is down,' I thought before looking at the grass field.

" Hey, are you really gonna keep wearing that mask?" I asked Aristos, who was still wearing the mask.

He nodded as he kept humming.

" Oi, the city is in front of us." Caenis spoke.

" Finally!" Aristos shouted as he ran through the gates.

" Oi! wait up, you bastard!!" She chased after Aristos.

They entered the city as Caenis caught up with Aristos.

They began towalk around the city.

As they were walking around, they heard some rumors of Atalanta taking down a corrupt official.

" woah, did you hear that? Atalanta was here!?" Aristos shouted.

Caenis, seeing him getting excited, had an annoyed face.

" Tch, whatever, I could become a greater hero." She said as she walked off.

Aristos followed after her.

" I'm sure we both will." He said as he looked around for any more news about Atalanta.

' Atalanta was here? It looks like she's continuing my work, huh?' I thought as I followed after Aristos.

* A few hours later *

Caenis and Aristos exited the city.

They managed to find a place to sleep, which was close to a river.

" Yawn, I'm tired." Aristos spoke.

" Maybe you shouldn't be running around." I spoke as I looked at the moonlight reflecting from the river.

" Maybe you're right. Yawn~"

" Just go to sleep, Caenis already did." I spoke to Aristos without looking back.

" Hey?" Aristos spoke as he walked next to me.

I looked up to him.

" What?"

Aristos looked down to his feet as he rubbed the back of his neck.

" I'm sorry that I stole your body." He said as he looked at the river.

I looked at the river as well.

" it's alright. it's a whole new experience for me, I guess." I spoke

" Teacher said life is about experiencing."

" Did he?"

" Yeah, he's wise and gentle. He reminds me of the forest. He's also the one who helped me when I didn't know what to do or who I was. He was there when I felt alone."

" He must've been a great teacher." I spoke.

" Yeah."

We both looked at the river, the trees, the stars, and the moonlight.

' This would've been a great picture to paint.' I thought.

' Paint? I've never painted before.' I thought to myself as I looked at Aristos.

" Hey, what's your favorite hobby?"

Oh? it's painting, Teacher said it help calming myself and it did. And I guess I enjoyed every second of it." He said.

" I see." I looked back at the river.

" So? do you love Caenis." I spoke surprising Aristos.

Aristos looked surprised but calmed his breathing as he sat down.

" Yeah, I guess you could say that."

" You guess? if you love her, then you love her. if you don't, then you don't."

" You're right, I love her." Aristos looked up to the stars.

Seeing them reflect from his bright eyes, he spoke once more.

" I love how she talks. Her voice is a melody I want to die to. I love how she fights. I could always watch her beautiful dances in battle. I love her smile. How it makes me not differentiate from the sun. And most importantly of all, her personality. It always makes me feel...feel....feel like I'm falling more in love with her."

" I fell in love as well." I spoke up.

Aristos eyes widen, and he looks down to meet my eyes.

I sighed as I looked at the moon

" Sigh, and yet I feel like I don't deserve their love. Every time I'm with them, it's like the days slow as my heart beats faster than time. And yet here I am, on an adventure without, I feel like I lied to them. like I'm a failure for keeping secrets from them and as well keeping the sys..."

[ Warning can't mention the system to anyone out of the contract. ]

'Right. I forgot.' I thought.

" And what?" Aristos asked.

" And that I feel they deserve someone better." I looked down to my hands, remembering the feeling of blood being spilled on it.

Aristos looked at me for a while before looking at the river.

" I wonder if we're in some different life, but instead of being like this, we're like brothers." Aristos said as he looked at me.

I looked at him.

" That.....is probably the most stupidest shut I heard." Aristos dropped his head.

" Sigh, but it wouldn't be so bad." Aristos lifted his head.

" Don't smile, idiot."

His smile became bigger.

I just sighed as I looked at the river, and he did as well.

" You do realize one of us has to go." I awoke.

" Yeah. Though I'm sure I'll well have a great experience with each other for now." Aristos spoke.

" Yeah, you're right. we'll deal with it once it comes." I said as I ignored the system.

We both watched as the river moved down the stream. Enjoying the sound the river makes as it moves. And warm breeze that gently comes once in a while.

From this point on, I grew fond of Aristos. I treated him like a brother. He was the only person I could talk to when I couldn't talk to anyone else.