Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 93 - Anti-theft

Control yourself. Don't strangle her. You can do it. Self-control! "Great. That makes me feel so much better. It's good to know that they'll have to pry the ring off my dead fingers." The sarcasm dripping from his words couldn't be any more substantial.

Elaru gave him a solemn look. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There wouldn't really be any prying involved here. I mean, it won't come off even if you die. Have to..." She once again repeated the chopping motion.

Kiel, whose mental faculties were too preoccupied on not strangling Elaru, didn't manage to stop his hand in time, and he ended up giving himself a facepalm. "So, my only choices are an incomplete corpse or taking the ring to my grave? Fantastic!"

"Oh, come on Kiel..." Elaru rolled her eyes as if she was talking to an immature child. "If you're dead, you're dead. What does it matter if your corpse is complete or if you take the ring to your grave? Dead people don't have feelings."

"I bet that's what graverobbers tell to themselves!" Kiel growled out. "Let me guess, 'papa' made you try that line of business as well?"

Elaru's nonchalant behavior suddenly disappeared, replaced by an awkward cough. "Touché..."

Seeing Elaru's visible embarrassment made Kiel's anger suddenly dissipate into thin air. He lifelessly fell back on his seat like a deflated balloon. I can't believe I just said that. He looked up towards the ceiling and let out a sigh. That was a low blow...

He looked at Elaru from the corner of his eyes, but she didn't seem to be upset by it. That tinge of embarrassment quickly passed, and she was back to normal. In fact, judging by her aura, Kiel could tell that she wasn't mad at him at all.

He closed his eyes tiredly and let out another sigh. "What if one day Aetherneal bond gets broken? Am I supposed to carry a useless ring on my finger for the rest of my life?" After all, his initial intention was to find a way to sever this bond.

"If Aetherneal bond gets broken?" Elaru rubbed her chin in thought. "You mean... if I die?" She suddenly clutched her heart in an exaggerated motion. "Oh, how cruel! Your soulmate dies, and you can't wait to get rid of the last thing she left you. How heartless, my only token of affection! You can't even wear it to honor my memory? Why not just rip out my heart and stomp on it."

Kiel couldn't help but glare at her. "Continue down this line of thinking, and I just might do it. At least then I'd be rid of a giant pest."

Elaru stuck out her tongue cutely.

Kiel's glare deepened. "But now, even if I get rid of said "giant pest" I will never be able to forget it, for I can't get rid of what it left behind." Kiel, once again, brought his right hand to their eye level, showing off the ring.

"Awww! How sweet! You won't be able to forget me until the day you die." Elaru looked at him with large eyes and exaggeratedly started fluttering her eyelashes, then she proceeded to sigh in a sickly sweet way.

"Arrrgh! Or I'll just cut the finger off myself!" Kiel jumped on his feet in agitation, wanting nothing more than just strangle this annoying redhead.

Elaru too, could take it no longer, and she finally burst out in merry laughter. "Oh, Kiel! I'm just messing with you! Of course, there is a way to remove the ring. Did you really think that I forgot to include a way out in my spells? I'm not an amateur. "

"ELARU WAYVIN!!!!! This is not funny!!!!"

The musical giggle that couldn't be more pleasant to the ear echoed inside the room. "It kinda is."

"Tell me how to remove it right this instant!"

"Nope." Elaru shot it down instantly. It's better if you don't know how to remove it. That way no one will be able to force you to hand it over."