Trash: Chapter 128 The Perfect Time and Place (Patreon)

Chapter 128

The Perfect Time and Place

We moved slowly, the three of us, Luna, Lucia, and I, leaving the arena grounds and finding a secluded back hallway. A hallway that looked both maintained but not frequently traveled.

Only after seeing Pierre’s disappearing form did, I get the idea that this was the servant wing of the estate. Or at least that is what I thought and would explain both the well-maintained aesthetics of this hallway, and the fact that not many people actually frequent here.

Luna for her part looked absolutely flustered as she peered down the hallway. Seeing that Pierre was gone from sight, and that no one was following us, Luna turned and gazed into my eyes.

Immediately upon staring into her eyes, I see her. I see her and I feel my breath get sucked out from my lungs for she is beautiful, in the way that fire is beautiful; twisting, violent, and will engulf you in an instant if you are not careful. I also can’t help but see the way my vision pierces through her Skill. A stark contrast to the last time I saw the real her, the part of her that had been necrotized. Before, I needed to activate my Divine Sight, but now my new seal did the work of piercing through her enhanced concealing Skill brilliantly. Being this close, I remember our last time, when I had only healed the right arm of the wrestler, Lefty Lowitski, I think.

It’s amazing to think about just how much I managed to improve in that time. Even now, the effects of what I was able to awaken and accomplish in that time are enough to show just how effective the General is at divining a true strategy for advancement.

Being this close, I can clearly see the outline of a dark shadow that lingers in place over Luna’s face. In a way, it is odd as her Skill seems to be doing the opposite of its intended purpose, at least when it comes to my perception as I can see the infected areas much clearer thanks to her Skill. Though to be honest, the Skill only adds an exotic appeal to her beautiful face. As the damage that is covered is clearly a necrotized flame that looks exquisite, despite being dangerous to her.

Luna, at the center of our group is the first to stop. Lucia who had been in the lead, stops a half second later, after apparently feeling her friend stop in her peripheral vision, before turning around and facing the two of us. Meanwhile, I was bringing up the rear, the buffer protecting Lucia and Luna from any surprise attacks that might come from the aunties or Icky. However, my time to stop was not as quick as Lucia’s as I find myself close to Luna. Not so close that we are touching, but close enough that I can almost feel Luna’s body heat, still radiating off of her from the battle. A sign of how much the team duel still affected her. There was an awkward moment of silence, before Luna began.

“I wanted to say thank you for sticking up for us,” Luna began, her voice dignified and slowly seeming to gain confidence as she seemed to be building towards something. Again, being this close to her, within what most people of my past life would call her personal bubble, I could make out more of her exquisite features. The way her tan skin had an almost ethereal sheen. The way her eyes had what appeared to be flecks of green, giving her eyes a hazel appearance.

“You are welcome,” I reply. There is a moment where we both realize this might be enough, but I can almost see Lucia giving gentle prodding motion with her hand. An obvious attempt to push Luna into asking or doing something that she clearly wants to ask about but is otherwise too timid to ask outright. Seeing the gesture, Luna clearly looks frustrated for a second, but only at Lucia, before she composes herself and stares back at me.

“Actually, there is something I have wanted to talk to you about for a while,” Luna asks, a note of vulnerability filling her. For a moment, I am lost trying to understand what could make someone as powerful and confident as Luna suddenly seem so fragile. It isn’t until I look at her face, and see the necrotized burn marks, marks that must remain in place that I think I know what she wants to talk about. Especially as I remember the way she ran off after seeing me heal Lowitski. While that was before the surge of Death Eaters were released, I do remember her being frightened by my actions. Especially as I myself was hesitant to try healing her, not wanting to leave behind a blemish on her skin. As I still remember the way there was a clear divot in Howard’s right arm, even after I healed him. Of course, that divot was from before I got my Class Skill Recuperatio Vitae*, a Skill that helps regenerate blood. After using Recuperatio Vitae* in conjunction with my Streamline Healing* Skill, I am fairly certain that most of the issues I saw with my first round of healing can be fixed with these two Skills working in unison.

“Yes?” I ask, though seeing the look of confidence washing over her face, I think I know exactly where this is going.

“Could you—” Luna begins but then seems to falter, as I can tell she almost wants to run away right there. Then as she turns, she finds that Lucia is right there, stopping her from following her first reaction and fleeing. Instead, Lucia just gives a look that seems to scream, you better not back out now. Seemingly emboldened by Lucia’s peer pressure, Luna turns back to me and continues to fumble through the question that was eating at her.

“Could we—” Luna begins, opening her eyes to stare at me, with wide eyed panic. Seeing where this conversation is clearly going, nod.

“Yes,” I respond, nodding my head in agreement.

“Yes?” Luna asks, a bit hesitantly as she almost seemed like she expected a fight or some resistance. Though I don’t know why, I am healer after all, and I now have enough confidence to think I can pull this off.

“Yes? As in, you mean it?” Luna asks, her voice switching octaves as she goes through various states of confusion, to fear, and other emotions all at once. Seeing her clear concern, I try to help end her fears by stating this as resolutely as possible, so there is no ambiguity.

“Yes, in fact, I’ve wanted to do this for a bit now.”

“You have?” Luna asks, a note of excitement filling her as she turns to face Lucia who energetically shakes in shared anticipation and excitement. Sharing in the success of her friend, the way that only a true family member or friend could. Seeing their bond, I am reminded of similar situations from my past life. Where family members would be excited when hearing that treatment was possible, and that a possible solution to a longtime illness existed and could take effect shortly.

“Yes,” I reply honestly. Then realizing I’ll only psych myself out if I hesitate for a moment on this, I press on. Knowing that getting Luna to commit to something like this, or worse me doubting my ability to heal her beautiful face well enough, might make it so this moment never happens again. That is why, I feel it, this is the time and place. While I might want a more private setting for such an event, this unused hallway is as perfect of a place as any to try. “In fact, we could try it here.”

“Here?” Luna asks, looking a bit confused.

“I mean we could find an open room, or maybe go to your room, but I thought the sooner the better, before either of us talk ourselves out of this—” I continue. Hearing my words, I see a moment of panic fill Luna’s eyes as she too seems to realize the implications of being caught going into an abandoned room. Or worse one or both of us losing our spark to try something this crazy, right now. Especially considering we would be trying it right on the heels of victory, but then again that is when Healers often have the most breakthroughs, from my understanding.

“No, no. You are right, here is fine,” Luna recovers quickly and looks momentarily flustered before leaning in closer to me. Placing her face that is to be operated on within an inch of me, letting me get a good contrast of her clear left side of her face, and her scarred right side of her face.

“What should I do? Should I close my eyes?” Luna asks, suddenly nervous as I can see her moving and trying to get out some of her jitters. For a moment, I think that closing her eyes might be excessive. But then I realize that the first part of this would be my singing notes of music empowered by my Divine Music Resonance Skill and realize that gold dust to the eyes might burn. Or at the very least might cause her to flinch away. Realizing that her closing her eyes would likely be the best, I tell her.

“I think you should close your eyes for this,” I reply.

“Right, right,” a clearly flustered and nervous Luna replies then closes her eyes moves her head forward and seems to purse out her lips. For a moment I am confused, but after a second, I realize that this new position seems to stretch out the necrotized skin on her cheek, giving me more area to aim at. This is good, and good thinking on her part. Still, I don’t want her to flinch away, or dart into the wall mounted light stone. With her safety in mind, I reach up wrapping my arms around her head to keep her in place, an act that causes her to tremble and gooseflesh to appear all over her expectant face. Seeing her like this, so vulnerable and open, I can’t help but want to take advantage of this situation. I pause there, feeling my own body have a hard time breathing as my own heart rate rises, as I realize the intimate position we are both in.

I can even see Lucia now dancing excitedly from foot to foot in my periphery as she almost squeals out in shared excitement. That’s when I realize, I need to treat this moment with the seriousness that it deserves. Knowing that I can’t take advantage of her, not when she has asked me for my care. Still, I can’t help but want. Then finally regaining my control, I take a deep breath, open my mouth, and I begin to sing. Or at least I open my mouth to sing but find that I can’t think of a single song. Then I start singing the hook from a song I think I remember.

“You have the most beautiful—”

Only after I begin singing, each note resonating with a seemingly perfect amount of divine energy, do I realize what I am saying. Unfortunately, by the time I realize this might be embarrassing, it is already too late, as the necrotic spores from under the skin are already activating, meaning I need to go into full combat mode against this infection. With the outer layer already forming, I begin using Trash to remove the dead layer of skin, and begin the process of ridding the infection from Luna’s face. Unlike last time, I also begin channeling energy for Recuperatio Vitae* as well, trying to make this easier for her body to fight against.

Somewhere in this, I must have messed up as I see Luna’s beautiful almond eyes staring at me. I almost get the sense of betrayal from her stare, but I can’t quite place why. Unfortunately, we are at that point where there is no turning back, so regardless of what pain she is in right now, I need to continue. Working my apology into my song, I continue to press out more infused musical words at her, while gently using my thumb to twist her face away, giving me full access to the side of her face.

“I’m sorry to tell, that we can’t stop this now.

No, we can’t stop this now—”

And like that, I continue to perform my most important act of magical healing that I’ve performed in this world. Or at least, the one I desperately want to get right.