Dimensional Descent

Aina rolled her lips over themselves. In a motion that was far slower than she cared to admit, she washed her hands clean, wiped away the portions that fell on Leonel, and covered his body in a blanket.

Even hours after she finished, her heart still beat wildly.

Days later, Leonel startled awake, finding himself in a rocking vehicle. It took him a moment to realize that he was lying on a bed made of straw and that the 'vehicle' was a horse pulled carriage.

Leonel shot up, taking quick and deep breaths.

How could he let this happen? Not only had he gone to sleep, but he was completely out of it. He was in a Zone, he wasn't at home.

It took several moments before Leonel realized that Aina was sitting on a cushioned bench opposite his, averting her eyes.

Leonel looked down at himself and blinked in confusion. He could tell that he was naked now, but at the very least, his lower half was covered. There was no real reason for her to avert her gaze like that. But, he didn't question it too much.

"Are you alright?" Leonel asked.

Aina finally turned to face Leonel, seemingly stunned by his question.

"… I should be asking you that." She said softly.

"Me? I'm fine." Leonel smiled, rotating his arm as though to prove a point.

He really did feel great.

apologetically. "I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened while I was out

that if she tried to speak now, she wouldn't be able to control her tears. So, she said

wasn't even aware of. Usually such awakenings happened in a controlled space

you could withstand the awakening of your Lineage Factor, the greater potential it would have in the future. If her vague thoughts while she was unconscious were correct, Leonel had stayed awake for more than half a day. She

fighting a battle against thousands of enemies. It wasn't an exaggeration to say his degree of difficulty was far higher

the Lineage Factor managed to be stimulated. Therefore, if Leonel was battling while his was activated, it went to reason that every second of his remaining awake was worth

who could match him was her… But the difference between them was that when her Lineage Factor

had almost killed

Please stop apologizing to me…" Aina finally managed to

smiled. "It's

"I…"

you have my pants?"

stared blankly for a moment before nodding. She had even managed to patch together the tears in it

though." She said

"So you pay enough attention to me

turned away,

standing up and stretching. He was certain that this carriage was only

haven't answered my question." Leonel turned back toward Aina. "Are

"Put a shirt on first and I might consider