CH69.1

Night fell on Akremon forest, the sounds of owls dominated the general atmosphere and only their voices were heard in quiet places like this forest, even the monsters are rare in this forest as it's mainly peaceful, well except for this man who is meeting a fearsome death now.

"FORGIVE ME PLE-.", Shouted a guard in a deep pit in the ground before a pile of dirt completely covered him and dumbed the pit completely!

"They are still following us, they are not making it any easier.", Thought Jaxith while kneeling beside the pit that was dumbed before standing up and brushing his hands together to remove the dust away from his gloves.

"I simply can't stop to hunt everyone of them before proceeding to Duskthorne, this will cost us even more time compared to the method we are taking now on our way to Duskthorne, Irene is already worried and in fact, the faster we are there the better.", Thought Jaxith while looking to the narrow path between the trees, his looks were so bold like nothing had happened, as if there was no one dying below him.

"Guess that's the only way, it is the safest way to reach Duskthorne, I just have to hunt close guards in order to not tell they found anything close to us, I don't want them to think that we are really going to Duskthorne, that will give us more time there without any risky encounters.", Thought Jaxith before he suddenly opened his eyes fully and immediately looked at the left side then sprinted fast, he heard something!

Irene was sitting beside the campfire and behind her was Senka that was awake too now and leaning closer with his head as he is still sitting too, he was calming her down.

She was shaking while hugging her knees and the traces of tears were apparent, her breathing was heavy and she was clearly in a shock.

"Remember Irene, just like Jaxith told you, only good memories, remember the joy when you felt him hugging you in the warehouse.", Said Irene while trying to calm herself and regulate her breath, but after remembering Jaxith she looked in worry at the wooden log to her left side, he was sitting on it while sleeping.

"W-where is he?", Asked Irene in fear, the tension raised inside her when she found Jaxith not close, she looked back in front of her to find him standing and only a few meters between them!

Jaxith could clearly see that Irene was afraid and not looking well, he knows her well by now.

"W-where did you go?", Asked Irene in worry.

"What happened?", Asked Jaxith seriously, but by now Irene too understands his eyes, the scarlet eyes were showing worry.

"N-nothing, I just felt a little anxious so I woke up.", Said Irene while trying to hold herself in front of Jaxith, she was even trying to clench her fists to stop the shaking but she wasn't doing well and even her words were easily noticed as lying words, Jaxith noticed everything.

"Nightmare again?", Said Jaxith calmly while trying to have a sympathetic look different than his serious one.

Irene opened her mouth to protest but she didn't know what to say, she simply looked down in disappointment and nodded positively before wiping her tears.

Jaxith looked a little left at the ground while exhaling calmly before looking back at Irene.

"Come on, show me.", Said Jaxith calmly while walking over to Irene and taking off his gkoves before kneeling down and holding her hands.

"You are doing good, you didn't even exert any dark energy.", Said Jaxith in a calming manner while looking at her.

"I took your advice.", Said Irene in a low voice mixed with fear, Jaxith just smiled.

"Come here.", Said Jaxith before leaning closer to her then calmly hugging her while stroking the back of her head gently.

"Relax, nothing to be afraid of, the time will come when you get rid of all of that.", Said Jaxith calmly before he felt Irene raising her arms to hug him back, the girl is gradually getting attached to him even more, he now remembered what Emelia told him that she's seeing him as a brother now not just a random person helping her.

"Now don't get too emotional, Senka is getting jealous here.", Said Jaxith sarcastically and he even heard a little chuckle from Irene beside his head.

"Come on, Senka, I am literally spending all the day with you, let us give old grandpa some appreciation.", Said Irene while smiling, Jaxith snickered in mockery while looking at Senka who is nickering in disapproval which on hearing him she break the hug and started laughing while looking at Senka.

"She is a cheeky bastard, Senka, beware of her.", Said Jaxith while still smiling, he looked at Irene's laugh and gradually lost his smile, again, she is too innocent for any of this.

Irene gradually stopped laughing and looked at Jaxith to notice that his smile disappeared.

"Is there something bothering you?", Asked Irene, she is looking better than before five minutes, she is gradually developing her emotions and controlling it as Jaxith is telling her, she just wanted a simple hug from the only person she trusts now to calm down.

"Nothing, just thinking about what you have seen this time.", Said Jaxith calmly, Irene looked pale for a moment, Jaxith thought about not pushing her but instead she started talking.

"The same thing that haunts my dreams, the same battlefield that is filled with many strange dead bodies that I know nothing about except for the scarlet giant, but no dead person that I knew this time, only this thing with his strange language.", Said Irene in a bit of hesitation but she is holding up well now, Jaxith gradually looked at the campfire in confusion, he still knows nothing about any of that, he looked back at Irene while moving the hair over her eyes and touching her left cheek gently while smiling.

"Well, look at how brave you have become now, you have developed much than before, and you will keep getting better to the limit you won't even care about that thing.", Said Jaxith calmly while smiling before Irene smiled back.

"I hope, Jaxith, I really hope.", Said Irene warmly.