Dimensional Descent

Leonel almost couldn't refrain from laughing as he watched Aina run away like a frightened rabbit. Even a while after she had disappeared into the room she chose, he could still feel the softness of her frame.

Behind the closed door, Aina slipped down to the floor, her face a beet shade of red. Her heart beat wildly and completely out of her control. It made her breathing seem somewhat erratic and anxious.

The last time she had been so intimate with Leonel… her legs had been blown off. So, it was safe to say that she wasn't really thinking about how embarrassed she should or shouldn't have been.

But this time, there wasn't such a looming elephant in the room. It was almost too much for her to bear.

It was only a long while later that Aina's heart finally calmed. Ironically, it was because she could hear the same moving waters Leonel had just moments ago. Just listening to them made her feel the same peace Leonel had.

Aina reached a hand toward one of her military pockets and pulled out a cracked bracelet.

It was quite funny. Considering all the treasures she had, a mere C-grade defensive treasure was practically useless garbage. But, other than her ax, this had been one of the only things she managed to hold on to in her injured state back then.

She looked at the bracelet until the sudden end to the rushing waters woke her up. She quickly put it away, the hazy look in her eyes clearing.

At that moment, a knock came from her door. Unsurprisingly, it was Leonel. He was the only other one in the Abode Setting to begin with. But, what Aina hadn't expected was that when she opened the door a black blur would suddenly pounce at her.

Her first instinct was to reach for her ax, but she instantly realized that she had taken it off her back. She felt safe in this place so she wasn't constantly on her guard.

It wasn't long after that she realized that even if her ax had been on her back, she wouldn't have been able to get to it in time. This black blur was simply too fast.

strong force collided with Aina's chest, causing her to take a step back. But, when she looked down, she found and adorable little mink using

through his connection with Leonel treated her like a playmate too. Unfortunately, though Aina was stronger physically than Leonel, her body's defenses

"Little Blackstar." Leonel reprimanded.

could do about the little mink. The little guy was simply too fast… It also didn't help that Blackstar treated Leonel like his pet rather than the

a deep breath to recover before looking down at the little mink. A light smile played

is your beast

that he was growing more mature because he started to take more naps recently,

to around Leonel's neck and the top of his head, Aina's chest was

manage to contract

head somewhat awkwardly. After some hesitation, he

"—Pchu!"

her light giggle tickling

there a need to laugh so hard? We share a relationship of equals." Leonel said

nodded but continued to play with the little mink, a happy smile on her

scene. It seemed that not only did he lose his beast partner to Aina's chest, he lost Aina to the little mink. Life truly

…

next few moments between the

the dining area of the Abode Setting, Leonel brought out some of the foods he had bought before leaving Terrain. However, Leonel was shocked to find that Aina didn't only match him in how much she ate, but she

with Aina, but he hadn't noticed this before at all. After

he and Aina had always hunted for their own food. Since he was the long ranged attacker amongst the two of

the beast and leave behind what he thought would fulfill Aina's appetite, not realizing that