Book Restoration System: Savior Of The Forsaken Legends [BL]

Auri clenched his teeth, trying to not make a sound as Darius applied pressure on his wound. The sharp pain that shot though his thigh reminded him of the time he was bitten by a neighbor's dog when he was eight. He had cried a lot back then, but he refused to shed tears now, even when the pain was almost tripled due to the wild boar's size.

"Remove your pants," Darius ordered, grabbing his leather flask. "Do it now. We need to clean the wound."

Auri hesitated for a second, but the seriousness on Darius' eyes forced him to obey. He unbuckled his belt and pushed his pants down to his knees, grunting when the slightest friction of rough fabric brushed against his wounded flesh.

Darius opened the mouth of his water container, then pulled out a small vial from his bag's pocket.

"What's that?" Auri asked.

"It's holy water," Darius answered as he poured half of its contents into the water flask, shaking it gently. "There isn't much, so I'm diluting it, but it would still work to cleanse the wound."

"W-Would it hurt?"

"It won't kill you."

A sharp, stinging sensation pulled a hiss from him as Darius poured the flask's contents into his wound. Auri shuddered, his fingers digging into the boulder he was sitting on, but the pain subsided, leaving only a slight prickle that made his skin tingle.

"This will help the wound heal faster, but it won't close a wound this big entirely. We need to find a real healer to do it."

"What if we don't find a healer?"

"Then you may not be able to climb a mountain anymore."

Auri stared at the deep punctures on his thigh and flinched at the ugly appearance of the torn flesh. Although the wound had stopped bleeding, thanks to the diluted holy water, he may still need to get them stitched.

Darius continued to nurse his wound with a clean rag, wiping away the streaks of blood before applying a thick paste-like ointment that smelled like a bitter spice. After covering the wound with the mint-colored salve, he wrapped a bandage around his thigh.

"Lift your leg a little," Darius commanded.

Auri did as he was ordered, but not before pulling the hem of his tunic down to cover the front of his boxers.

Darius paused in the middle of fastening the bandage and gave him a quizzical stare. "What are you acting modest for? We're both men here. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Auri scowled, still keeping his crotch covered. "Just because we're both men doesn't mean I want to sit here half-naked and put on a show while you're dressing my wounds."

"I didn't take you for the type who gets flustered at the idea of undressing in front of others."

"Just what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Well, considering that you like spying on others while they bathe..."

"You're bringing that up again?" Auri groaned. "Can we just stop talking about it and get this over with? I'm getting cold."

Darius let out the barest chuckle as he finished the wrap with a secure knot. "All done. You can pull up your pants now. I'm guessing you have no spare clothes to change into, yes?"

"No, I don't," Auri answered, shifting a little so he could secure his pants back around his hips. "Why? Are you going to lend me your clothes? I know you're a good guy, so thanks in advance."

"Unfortunately, I have nothing to lend you. As you can see, my clothes are also drenched."

"That's too bad. I guess we'll have to dry our clothes first before we leave."

"No, we leave now. If you want a healer to fix your leg sooner, we have to reach the fortress before sundown."

Auri shivered as a cool breeze blew past them, so he grabbed his cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders. "S-So we're just going to leave with our clothes still wet?"

"We don't have much of a choice," Darius said while he packed his things back to his traveler's bag. "Well, no matter. We will take the shortest route in the desert. The heat will dry our clothes in no time."

"If you say so." Auri paused, biting his lower lip as he tried to find a better way to ask his next question. "So, uhm... I don't think I can walk properly with this leg, so.... Are you going to carry me?"

"Apparently so."

"O-Okay."

"Why? Does the idea of another man carrying you in their arms bother you as well?"

Auri fought the urge to kick Darius with his good leg. "I was just asking."

Darius slung his bag over his shoulder and offered Auri his hand. "Modesty won't save you in situations like this. Just be thankful that someone is willing to lend you a hand in your time of need."

Auri rolled his eyes but accepted the offered hand anyway and let himself be pulled. "For someone who almost cut my neck yesterday and ignored me while going up the mountain, you sure are very willing to help today. Is this what they call a character development?"

Darius grunted as he lifted him again—bridal style. "Don't get used to it. I don't do this every day."

"Too late. I've gotten used to your kindness. I will now count on you to come and save me whenever I'm in danger."

"What are you? A damsel in distress?"

"Not really." Auri stretched his leg and tried to get comfortable in Darius' arms. "I'm just a poor man who got trapped in a dangerous world with no one to rely on. Tragic life, isn't it?"

Darius exhaled through his nose, clearly done with the conversation. "You talk too much. Stop squirming and hold on tight, or I might drop you by accident."

"Nah. You're too kind to let that happen."

"Don't test me."

Auri was about to throw another playful remark when suddenly, Darius leaped almost twenty feet high in the air. He let out a strangled noise, his arms instinctively wrapping around Darius' neck.

"Now you're being clingy," Darius said dryly as he landed on the ground, unfazed. He bent slightly, about to jump again, but Auri protested.

"W-Wait—!" Auri yelped. "Darius, what the hell? You didn't warn me about this!"

Darius threw him a tiny smirk. "Now, where's the fun in that?"

Auri felt his stomach lurched as Darius once again propelled them into the sky. The ground vanished beneath them, the vast forest unfolding before him in a bird's eye view. Then, the gravity yanked them back to the ground, and the sickening sensation of the sudden drop almost made him pass out.

'Fucking hell!'