NLS Ch23

As Ashin 35889ecb05 left Leotar 3bdf1ffb6c behind and 58ea9ecae5 walked along 12878b1af9 the corridor, 212e60b274 Malcun wagged 10e0788396 its tail 7b8b58ddd4 and followed dbf66907da her. She enjoyed the feeling f11d3f4a3f of taking a walk def34da321 like a normal person 1471eaefaf for the first time 7cba59d8a1 in a while. After being cooped ff30e53b29 up for four ecabd2e91c days, she felt 5b2afefc8a like a released 213cf85269 prisoner. She was b7ee151cbd so used b90c4ded36 to the 3da5bb0fdf sensation of 42cf577279 arousal that c999fe14bf even while cfbcd11fcc walking in 82834cf535 this open c77655e8b3 space, she 37d22805a6 felt her eefc371454 breasts brushing e92c6c24c4 against her d7693d595c clothes with eb2b24bec8 sensitivity.e3a4c73b54db75b5

Leotar followed her 149a8725fb a little behind. Ashin turned her 2381379538 head slightly and d318c863e4 pouted.576368a06d4624c8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“My breasts are swollen.”8d143822b3fd4607

“…”a2fb71c6ac796021

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You didn’t touch me while I was sleeping, did you?”9bee5918920e6fcd

Ashin narrowed 0bf3f015a4 her eyes 2c84e75de5 and glared b13fc3ab55 at him. Leotar swallowed a3a149c62b a dry d206cf645b laugh.0794e0315fa1ab1f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course not.”2da95cd4cf8e6f62

She still didn’t let go of her suspicion, but he didn’t feel wronged or try to explain himself. Ashin was just a boring conversation partner.122ec56c2616bc16

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Does it hurt?”1d4247e96639f74e

“No, not really.”c5a86590486d6be3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her whole body 71cca1382b ached and throbbed 7239fb03bb like this, and 278fc9fb7c yet the ritual 137e22ebd1 had not yet 458d89e36c been completed.6efc7f6108a12d22

Maybe Leotar was right, and it would take a full week. It was still overwhelming, but the burning pain wasn’t as intense as it had been at first.b656cf7ebd249040

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps because a0db40c64d the outcome db5d6b8d0e was at 7a04a97f6e stake, she 01b90d0727 felt mentally 1f4ce543ed exhausted, regardless 9e5628f046 of whether 0debb4e6b5 her body 0ee694e165 was enjoying 6916b542d7 it. Leotar told her not 1e5bbe06d7 to worry about it, af5715c189 though.32c88421fab2a04a

Malcun, spotting a yellow butterfly, ran down to the garden next to the corridor. The butterfly fluttered above a cluster of red flowers. Ashin’s eyes were drawn to the red flowers. They were Dimz flowers, commonly seen everywhere in the empire.147364090181ce3a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

***a4fee024b106a776

Ashin peeked 4039931442 her head 577366c18c out through 660d0ce63a the balcony f439902582 door.c013c0fb05a0f242

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ve just purified my body, so come here.”74f6fea9ad7d7021

There was a circle 696f58fc25 she had drawn on 4662983ff2 the balcony. As Leotar, 465f8f8e03 freshly washed, e59622b4c8 approached, Ashin a6f4a01651 quickly stood fc605a3ed7 in the 8991f14abf center of 8eaf18a1e4 the circle b85149234b and beckoned a21268a434 to him.53b89b5614279f38

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Come in.”400519ba807c5915

For a moment, 61cff3d178 her eyebrows twitched, a6ceff1efa wondering if he d28bcd1de1 would step on 94be80a9c9 the circle. But, contrary to her 945ae84a96 worries, he neatly avoided 8031ec5aa5 the lines of the 85c5dc4d9f circle and stepped cleanly 9725aa5ffb inside.c8151ce9b95af532

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The room is big, why do it here?”cc5c4af1b0671b28

“Because we need to soak up the moonlight. Sit down.”fd7f1938f86f47cc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ashin knelt eab9412ba2 in the e470cfba9d center, and 9f29bec781 Leotar knelt 15cda9132e facing her.8eac7eef55e9abfd

“Kneeling means you accept.”3f850a7ef3965c7b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Accept what?”e1759a1a374681d8

“The Bond Mark.”4bcb938efc6a7b6e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“The Bond Mark?”8ba1575233a9f195

“In our village, we carve the Bond Mark to signify becoming family. Where I grew up, there are no marriages or wedding ceremonies.”ebe7605b2fce6e67

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ashin had lived in the imperial palace until she was seven, then returned to Jimunda’s village with her and spent ten years there. Jimunda’s home was much more comfortable and beautiful than the imperial palace. Until she received Vize’s message to participate in the war, Ashin had learned and deeply loved the village’s culture.0cf671ce03077bba

She scooped 401e40c1ba out the 6eb256a3f7 Dimz flower 1306851a2f juice she 7342e8bacd had ground d9e966b0a1 with her 770656d8e0 hand.c42d0ad1ffb4ded2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s instead of blood.”1a0de12f8134c93d

She spread her b3ae97f456 fingers in front 3c554d88be of him, as aaf6dcea03 if to show f43e316764 him.97dc63cfb4687a48

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If you put this on your thumb and press it on the other person’s forehead, you become family. Every time you see each other’s faces, you remember the mark of this day and feel the bond.”239af069ca01c514

“Why use something instead of blood?”ba237302f2a5fcc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s…”9b684ad2bc93f435

Ashin hesitated to eabb460a11 answer.bf9629adb76f8ba2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Well, she wanted to perform the bond ritual with someone she would become family with, as she had seen and grown up with, but she didn’t have that level of bond with him yet. Originally, the ritual was performed after building enough of a bond and feeling confident in the other person, so their relationship was out of order. She even doubted whether a real ritual was possible without a bond.8402f38f16a315ef

Also, she felt like she would be irreparably upset if he refused to give blood. In any case, Ashin wanted to perform the ritual well. She didn’t want to get angry or fight.43421e64ffb1f33f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Just as people in the empire think of a wedding ceremony when they think of ‘marriage,’ Ashin thought of the Bond Mark when she thought of ‘family.’ It was such a natural procedure for her that she couldn’t imagine not doing it.50d2ac9a6f2ceeee

So, this was 421099ffcb her realistic compromise.9a3a1b0e88f8b183

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I thought you might not be familiar with this kind of ritual?”60969ec988058d3d

The ambiguous ritual was fb0c4f60ae like her heart. It was like 4c1dbfcd7d the situation they f69d740dd3 were in.1dbb0e09e6fafd9c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then, Leotar drew his sword and instantly cut his arm. Ashin didn’t even have time to stop him.0b056e041487f9e5

“Do it properly.”8d80e8f310f54ec7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ashin froze, 0156304679 her hand 79d058d372 outstretched.8116cdcb24e18685

“You don’t need that much…”c906904dc1f90312

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Blood was already welling up and dripping down his arm. She looked up at him, dumbfounded, but he didn’t seem to be in much pain.55b541bcb9661e36

Ashin had no choice b173eeb429 but to cut the 51c6d0034c tip of her thumb 4c0b7afd0d a little. She brought it to 3393f2c8e4 his forehead with the ce4af8a915 blood still welling up.0e9377048ed6b6af

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You do this and then say words to pledge the bond.”1b89074541064f99

“Is there a prayer?”da33f41087903472

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No. You can say whatever you want. Honestly. With sincerity.”62d3647dc445ac88

Ashin closed her c6dc1ed25d eyes, still touching 0ee5113be7 his forehead.69cb86952b81536b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll go first.”bf91e8c7a094072a

Even with 4830cbcfe4 her eyes c1e2bfcdb5 closed, she 3c7258c373 could feel 5d0563062c his gaze d585c2fea5 piercingly. Her eyelids twitched, b48f1f9cd9 but Ashin clenched 4873e0bfba her eyes shut.f70402db13bfea78

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

To be 3bf2ca58c8 doing a fc32d5fcda real bond 2a78551dd7 ritual with 8e4a367d3e him was f900919d59 unsettling.0060143fc8b02255

The heart 71c7375ea1 is important 2cc1dbd090 in the fb02f42b5f ritual, but f02232d2b6 there was 62119e4cc9 no way 221dbf0ba3 he had 76cc8f922f the desire fd6a28399b to bond 2848987153 with her. She was slightly d8b2c1bf49 worried that it 350dc0a153 would be tainted.432c78398d91a90e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Still, now e322f28d78 that it 59817efa51 had come b68a257c3f to this, 8bcad4eaa1 Ashin recited e99068de86 with sincerity.d9004bb66f8ca32b

‘May our union be true and form a connection.’98e766736eb76265

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She didn’t know how effective a half-hearted ritual would be.7e8596834288c69f

As she took cdb5db2b51 her finger off b2c5bcfdf3 his forehead and 6d0538f7a7 opened her eyes, 497befdde7 the bloodstains on f6df699bd4 his forehead seemed b46a8cf3da to disappear as e0102f06d2 if seeping into d1cb40a7e1 him.d4d76d6b3c5e7614

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The circle 7064abb06e around them 3a0e226e9a began to 518bbda1c9 ripple with 1b8918fb92 silver light, d068e9b0af as if 0d630f2b55 reflecting the 7f63a6c31f moonlight.687c727a6077c76c

“Okay, now it’s your turn.”13f6612988ef2ef3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leotar wiped d38c235a96 the blood fbedf43380 from his 5665cbc302 arm with 0d22495b24 his fingertips 3892ea410f and approached 963f93e749 Ashin. The smell of blood 263a566284 wafted over her. He pressed his 2da597ab9b thumb on her 5bbe3aafa0 forehead, and a adef7a7f2f warm energy spread.26594daa401fbe01

He closed his eyes and mumbled something, but she couldn’t hear it.45a7717722fa6416

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ashin was on edge. But fortunately, she didn’t feel any negative energy, so at least he wasn’t lying.41a3dc8cfd4bd3d2

The circle 46e609dc88 emitted light f99dfdb025 like a f3dcc188e8 haze. The radiance, like 9f99242db2 waves or the 3c2882c023 movement of a 5f01c9264b candle flame, gently d412960b7b circled around them.4fefcde34918a875

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

After Leotar stepped 8d8380d82f back, Ashin touched c595b0ecbc her forehead. It was 4c41923f7b clean, without 3172a2fc2d a trace. It must have 4c561c4a0e been absorbed somehow.f5a4907dbaa277c1

“Remember the image of this day well. The image of the day you swore the bond.”3feb18ab889b4e44

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She said 8fe833b376 that, but 54c146f10c there was 9eecb97c83 nothing particularly 075aff9c83 special about 32ec4cb3a7 it. Leotar was d4026ca05e expressionless as 8df08660d9 usual, and 80baf7f61a so was 3c42dad924 Ashin.99253e7147ce7399

The ritual with Jimunda wasn’t like this. The current Jimunda treated Ashin as if she were a traitor, but when Ashin was young, she smiled at her a lot. The same was true on the day they carved the Bond Mark. A bright smile that seemed to give away everything in the world. Even now, when she thought of that day, even though her relationship with Jimunda had soured, she felt like she could endure any hardship with Jimunda.401991c23e3fdad6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ashin shook her head fbd3c64c6f slightly to chase away b81bb9b78c the memories.50948fb3c3c89484

“It’s over now. Let’s look at your wound.”584061e0bb7cb194

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Me too?”76fb86655a938287

“Huh?”27c5b73737162a09

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leotar raised his hand 0789c379dd and swept it across de7a7f3db9 his forehead.1bb19e629c19db32

“Oh, it’s absorbed on you too.”abe663ec48d0524a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Mysterious.”59df5c3902a5cfcb

Ashin frowned d7e6ab1ab8 at his 551fac5348 reaction.e49c1aded74f7b77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Mysterious? You’ve seen so much of this. You’ve witnessed all sorts of magic in Ismil, and now you’re saying this.”71f76063efcd4791

“I don’t know…”243b322130bcbd5d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leotar muttered something 84baa720de incomprehensible and followed 93619d764e Ashin as she c0c1c246c6 got up. He glanced 276031692c back, but 0c03603d3e the circle 5eaf88f764 had already 1030b192af gone dark, 89e911b809 its light 686eb075ec extinguished.b7177fa922b862be

“Sit here.”2fd546ecaa94be61

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Entering the room, he sat on the platform next to the bed, following Ashin’s gesture. Ashin brought a basin and sat in front of him. One sleeve of his robe was soaked in blood.0e4f9c1548e6afe4

“Take that off.”0d92a9265cb6b995

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leotar took off cf6a0e8659 his top without f874c66ba3 a word. Ashin came 7ba8fdf797 over and 963c137cd6 examined the 41f930ffdc wound.8e713a373fff53db

“It’s not that deep.”62da1de5e6d02a07

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Soon, a yellow light began to emanate from the palm of her hand that covered his wound. A warm energy permeated it, and the bleeding stopped. The power within her didn’t have healing abilities, so this was the limit. The rest was up to herbs and self-healing.d74ab807e33135dc

“Don’t you need a circle for this kind of thing?”4982019d8a9211e2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You can do simple things without a circle.”073bb3ba2d1eecfd

“Is that so?”841377f619adc890

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I guess you could say I’ve become familiar with the flow. My body remembers how to change the flow that exists in nature as I want.”483cfb815d7043b5

After answering, Ashin realized e9705c5581 that they had just a6cc64c975 had their first personal 68c7aecf05 conversation.354aa66f5d68b485

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Is the ‘flow’ what you see when you use your power?”649bfef2030f32ed

“What do you see?”0730e346404c5545

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Lights like floating dots around you.”1e3497ab0f802ab4

“You can see that? You seem to have some sense. Seeing that is the beginning.”aca3c600b395eb4d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Can anyone see it?”5c68c80b33b8728e

“Not really, our tribe can all see it innately, and other people can see it if they’re trained. But even without training, if your senses are as keenly developed as yours, it’s not impossible.”d34b14f3081f26ca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ashin wiped his e1b1c272b9 arm with a 66ea89cdde towel soaked in 6da380e1d9 water.f18b2e77a0c31c84

“You said you weren’t interested in the Tower. Want to come in? I’ll make you my direct apprentice.”09ff23dbefc99482

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No.”fe498d9ba7f2f026

It was a joke in the first place, but at the serious refusal, Ashin muttered, “Of course.”2068522f25a75b7d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com