26 Chapter 26: Treasured Memories (Part 2).

"Ah- before that, there's something I wanted to clarify. You said that you wouldn't have met me unless you went into that building with Lyra but actually, I was following you so you would have met me regardless." Ruby declared happily. 

"Eh?" They all responded simultaneously.

Now all the attention had unexpectedly fallen on Ruby. 

"Alright, now let's let Julius get on with choosing the relics-"

"Hey, wait, I think you said something serious just now?" Julius interrupted. 

"It was serious? I saw you at the bridge and thought you were interesting so I followed you." Ruby responded.

"From all the way back then…? I-I see…" 

Julius lowered his head to think for a bit before looking back at the relics in the centre of the room.

"Alright then, let's choose the relics." Julius continued.

'He chose to ignore it...' Ava and Lyra thought to themselves. 

-

-

-

"Hm… this is more or less surprising." Julius muttered as he looked at the group.

Everyone had received a relic. Though not in the order he had anticipated.

While holding the sword in his hands, Julius sensed an ominous aura emanating from it. In the end, he had ended up with the [Cursed Blade - Yugen] in his possession.

'I had expected Ava to be the one with this, she's the only one out of the three of us who knows how to use a sword… however she ended up with…'

Julius glanced at Ava, who had put a shiny blue steel breastplate on. It was the [Chestplate Of Intervention.]

Since it was designed for a man, they were worried it wouldn't fit her, but once she wore it, the shape of it magically changed to fit her figure. 

"Ava, you're far better suited to use the sword. Are you sure you don't want it? Your ability would work great with it." 

"Yeah…" She responded as she took the breastplate off and stored it under the bed. "You can have it, I already have a katana. I don't need a new one… besides, I think it's about time you learn to wield a blade."

Although Julius was still hesitant to comply, Ava had set her mind on it, so he had no choice but to comply.

"Alright-"

"Oh… I can make so many different and accurate shapes, even better than with my own threads…!" Lyra declared with her eyes sparkling as she formed different shapes with the glove's strings. 

Lyra had already put on the runic leather gloves and was testing them out. She had ended up with the [Gloves Of Misery.]

In contrast to Julius, who found it difficult to form shapes and only exhausted his energy, she was far more proficient at using it. 

"This is so cool! Look Julius!" Ruby spoke excitedly as she appeared in front of him wearing a large dark cloak. "Now you see me…" 

Suddenly, her figure vanished, leaving no trace behind.

"Now you don't!" 

The exact same spot, however, was still occupied by her voice. He could feel her excitement rippling through the air. Ruby had ended up with the [Cloak Of Disappearance.]

"I'm glad that you liked it." Julius responded with a smile.

'It happened back in the Labyrinth too, she gets really into things she's curious about and interested in… that childish side of hers is cute. ' 

An unexpected whisper fell on his right ear just as he was turning his head to check on Lyra's creations.

"Hehe~ I was fine with whatever relic but I like this one." Ruby whispered quietly. "It's a little big, but it'll be very useful in places where Vampires are hated. Thank you, Julius." 

Julius' cheeks reddened as he turned his head in the opposite direction. He could feel her warm breath against his ears.

"You're welcome…" Julius responded.

'But you're too close…' He thought to himself, his heart pounding as he slowly extended his hand to push her away. 

*Squish!*

Because he couldn't see her, Julius pushed at where he thought she might have been. Unexpectedly, an incredibly soft sensation ran through his fingertips.

'Hm…? What's this?'

Even with the fabric of clothes in the way, It felt smooth to touch and there was indescribable warmth to it. He could feel the firmness in his grip but it was also very delicate.

Julius' fingers ran across its texture as he pressed it a few times. 

"Hn~" 

On his third squeeze, a strange noise escape Ruby's lips. Then, suddenly, her figure appeared, showing him grabbing her right boobie from over her white shirt.

It hadn't occurred to Julius earlier, but Ruby was wearing a red shirt and black cargos, another of Lyra's outfits. There was only one problem; she wasn't wearing a bra below. 

Furrowing her eyebrows in embarrassment, she gazed at him with a bright red cheeks. 

"Uh…"

For a moment Julius had short-circuited and he pressed down once more. But quickly after doing so, he retracted his hand.

"I-I'm sorry." He apologised whilst flustered.

"...It's fine..." Ruby responded before covering her face with her cloak and disappearing. 

"..."

"Julius, you perv~" Lyra teased as she stopped fiddling with her relic.

"He might be growing too fast." Said Ava as she stared at him with narrowed eyes. 

"Haa... Stop teasing me, you know that wasn't intentional." Julius sighed, still flustered. "Let's just focus on the next topic of discussion. Give me a second, I need to go grab something." 

He quickly got up and left the room, leaving the three girls behind. 

"Haha, his reaction was hilarious, did you see how shy he became? Sorry about that Ruby, he doesn't have any experience in that area." Said Lyra. "Well, not like we have any either." She added as she glanced at Ava.

A suddenly reappearing Ruby shook her head. 

"It's okay, it just surprised me. As if something like that is enough to get me flustered." Ruby smiled proudly. 

"Oh~! Does that mean you have experience?" Lyra asked, her eyes sparkling.

Ruby's proud smile faded as she lowered her head. 

"No… I also don't have any experience. I wasn't allowed to interact with any guys as a princess and even when I finally managed to escape, Julius was the first boy that I met when I came to this world." 

"Must be hard, for a princess I'm sure you would've wanted to meet a knight in shining armour. Julius doesn't really give that impression does he?" Lyra asked 

"Maybe… but… I'm glad it was him…" Ruby responded as she smiled. "I doubt a knight in shining armour would've been as interesting." 

Lyra giggled in response.

"Hehe~ that's right. Julius is way cooler." Lyra added with a bright smile.

"That's true." Ava nodded, joining in the conversation. 

Suddenly, Julius returned into the room clutching a letter that read, [Mandatory.].

"What about me?" Julius asked whilst out of breath.

"Nothing, why do you sound so tired?" 

"I couldn't find the letter. Thought I lost it for a second, more importantly, let's decide now." 

Julius placed the letter down in the middle of the room and leaned against the wall.

"Are we heading to the academy? Or are we going to go adventuring as hunters? Now's the time to choose." Said Julius. 

Everyone's eyes shifted from Julius to the letter.