Chapter 12: Patience is a Virtue.
Even after being kept here all night with no food nor proper shelter, Lucian didn't look dispirited at all, instead he gave her the feeling of watching a man still filled with strength and power.
Of course part of that was a lie, He might have hidden it well but secretly the young son of the lord of the north was a step away from hunger. Moreover, the reason he even had the strength to behave so leisurely was thanks to Gorzods cloths which allowed him to feel warm in this freezing cave, all night.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Lucian continued, stretching his arms above his head with a lazy demeanor, as if he hadn't a care in the world.
He stepped closer, his boots scuffing against the stone floor, and Hilga stiffened as he approached, her mind flashing back to the sticky liquid from this morning, the heat of her own embarrassment.
Her eyes darted to his, getting a closer look at his face which now looked wild thanks to his messy hair, a rosy hue creeped across her cheeks and she unconsciously glanced away.
' Hmm? What was that for.'
' Is she angry that I harmed one of her own?' Lucian's gaze flicked to Gorzod's unconscious form, misreading her reaction. He clicked his tongue, feigning a scowl. "Don't tell me you're worried about this useless fat pig." he said, his voice laced with mock disdain.
" If it makes you feel any better, I didn't go as far as killing him."
"He's still breathing, unfortunately. You'd think a blow like that would've taught him some manners, but I doubt it."
Hilga's lips parted, but no words came. She glanced at Gorzod, avoiding Lucian's piercing stare, her heart thudding in her chest.
The human crouched in front of her, his movements deliberate, and before she could react, his fingers brushed her cheek, light as a feather but warm enough to send a shiver down her spine.
"Instead of fussing over him," Lucian said, his voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur, "You should be more worried about making me wait so long to see what rightfully belongs to me or have you forgotten that your now mine and mine alone."
Her breath caught, her body trembling as she stared at the ground, the blush deepening on her cheeks. She pursed her lips, trying to summon the sharp retort she'd usually hurl at such boldness, but her voice failed her.
Lucian's touch, his words, stirred something unfamiliar, something that made her feel exposed in a way no battle ever had.
' Another weird reaction? Do my words have no effect?' He raised a brow, confusion flickering in his eyes. ' I don't remember Orc's being this passive in the novel.'
' Huh?' Then his gaze shifted upward, and he froze, a slow smile curling his lips.
' I see, so that's why.'
Floating above Hilga's head, visible only to him, Lucian spotted the pixelated words.
Bond: 55 (Friend).
' Her bond rating managed to improve this much in one night on her own?' He once wondered if he would be able to convert her to his side with the limited time they had together but to think that even without him being physically present, the Bond rating could still improve on its own.
' This blessings more potent than I thought.' Lucian attributed the unexpected bonus to his speech related blessing. He didn't expect it to be this compatible with his Bond Meter blessing.
' The blessing might be the compel blessing or maybe the wishing blessing or something else entirely. If only I was back in Ishtar, I could pay to see just what type of blessings I have.'
The sight caught him off guard, his heart skipping a beat. She was warming up to him, whether she admitted it or not.
Emboldened, he leaned closer towards her nape, his breath hot against her ear. "Did you hear me?" he whispered, his voice a velvet challenge. "What're you going to do to make up for keeping me waiting?"
The warmth of his breath sent a jolt through her, and instinct took over. With a startled gasp, Hilga shoved him away, her strength sending Lucian flying back three meters. He landed hard on his back, the impact jarring his bones, but he clenched his teeth, refusing to let the pain show.
Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked at her, noting the vivid blush on her face and the way her hands trembled. Above her head, the pixelated text shifted.
Bond: 58 (Friend)+
Lucian sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile.
' Crap she really is an orc.' he said inwardly, his thoughts organized despite the ache in his ribs. ' That push of hers nearly broke me in half.'
' But since her rating improved, it was definitely worth it." Inwardly, he grinned, his mind racing.
' Almost broke my bones, but I'm getting to her. At this rate, I'll have her won over by tomorrow morning.'
Hilga left briefly to call for some help, a few orcs came by and carried Gorzod away. Fortunately he wasn't too hurt so he should recover quickly.
She then maintained her spot at the mouth of the cave. Now alone with Lucian, she felt an unsettling feeling within her chest. Due to her high bond rating, she would steal glances of him from time to time, wondering what he would try next but every single time, Lucian still didn't make any moves, instead staying in silence at the back of the cave.
" Is there a problem?" Lucian called out when he caught Hilga stealing another glance at him.
Hilga's mouth parted yet no words came out, instead she faced forward and shook her head I'm denial.
Seeing this, Lucian chuckled silently, happy with her current unstable state.
Time continued to pass like that, Lucian was worried that Mona would arrive soon enough, hindering his plans but to his satisfaction, she was no where to be found.
With Lucian remaining silent, Hilga stopped paying attention to him and instead kept waiting for Mona to arrive so that her shift would be over.