Chapter 21: A Recuperation and Future Plans

It was already noon on the seventh day when Aldoran finally awoke, greeted by the rising and falling sounds of children playing and flitting through the forest outside her window, their joyful laughter permeating the air.

“Haaah…”

The dappled shadows of white featherwood branches and leaves stretched through the window, settling gently upon her thick, soft bedding.

A cool breeze slipped through a crack, carrying with it a few pristine white petals.

A fresh, invigorating fragrance filled the warm room.

“Creak.”

The wooden door was gently pushed inward.

“Aldoran, you’re awake!” Qing Yu exclaimed, stepping into the room with a steaming bowl of noodles. He softly closed the door behind him before approaching Aldoran.

“Qing Yu,” Aldoran began, wincing slightly as she tried to prop herself up despite her injuries. “There’s no need, I can manage it myself.”

“It’s no trouble at all, let me help you,” Qing Yu insisted, his gaze tenderly sweeping over Aldoran’s bandaged form.

Only then did Aldoran realize she was entirely swathed in bandages.

“If I can’t aid you in battle, Aldoran, then allow me to care for you like this,” Qing Yu declared, carefully lifting a few strands of noodles, blowing gently to cool their steaming surface, and then bringing them to Aldoran’s lips.

Aldoran glanced at Qing Yu, then at the offered noodles, and nodded, taking a bite.

“How is it? I made it myself, you know!” Qing Yu asked eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he watched Aldoran finish the noodles.

Truth be told, Qing Yu’s culinary skills were far from impressive; the texture was abysmal, the noodles were undercooked, and the broth was rather unpalatable. Yet, Aldoran still offered a firm nod.

“Mm, it’s delicious.”

“I knew it! My cooking has always been excellent!” Qing Yu beamed, a joyful laugh escaping him. “I’m quite skilled in the kitchen, actually!”

“Mm, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate it if you could cook for me like this every day,” Aldoran replied, taking another mouthful of the noodles Qing Yu offered.

“Mm! Alright! As long as you like it, Aldoran, that’s all that matters! Even if I can’t do much else, I can still assist you with daily life!”

Qing Yu’s smile was utterly pure, devoid of any artifice, and would undoubtedly charm anyone who beheld it.

“You truly are an endearing fellow,” Aldoran murmured, finding her own spirits lifting as she watched Qing Yu’s unbridled joy.

Qing Yu possessed an undeniable charm, almost like a young girl, with wide, dark eyes that shimmered like polished obsidian. His nose bridge was elegantly sculpted, his lips small, and his skin smooth, delicate, and flawlessly fair. Paired with his radiant smile, he was as beautiful as a flower blooming in an endless summer.

“Mm-hmm!” Qing Yu nodded vigorously, his smile blossoming like a vibrant rose.

And then, came a few more strands of noodles.

“Speaking of which, Aldoran, did you defeat that horse?” Qing Yu suddenly inquired during a lull in feeding her.

“It fled,” Aldoran replied, “though I believe it won’t trouble us again. After all, it sustained severe injuries, wounds that are notoriously difficult to heal, especially those inflicted by Odin’s power.”

“Is that so? That’s good then,” Qing Yu nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. “This way, everyone will be safe!”

“Mm,” Aldoran affirmed.

“Next, once your injuries are healed, Aldoran, we can continue our journey, right?”

“Exactly. Once I’ve recovered, our travels will resume.”

“Aldoran, you mentioned before that our first stop is Alastor, correct? Besides being an information exchange hub, what other unique features does it possess?”

Once Aldoran had finished her noodles, Qing Yu set the bowl aside and, brimming with curiosity, began to question her about their upcoming journey. During Aldoran’s absence, he had relentlessly pestered Thrud with inquiries about this world, and now that Aldoran had returned, he could finally pose his questions directly to her.

After all, Thrud often had trouble recalling certain details.

Observing Qing Yu’s eager curiosity, Aldoran propped herself up a little further, patiently beginning to answer his questions.

“Well, besides being the largest hub for information exchange, it’s also the most significant center for equipment trade. There are thousands of gear shops there, and their wares are renowned for being both high-quality and affordable.”

“While they might not rival the creations of the most masterly equipment smiths, their quality is still exceptionally high.”

“Really!”

Upon hearing this news, Qing Yu’s eyes seemed to fill with stars. He instinctively leaned closer to Aldoran, asking excitedly,

“What kind of equipment do they have?”

“Generally, they offer swords, armor, and potions for adventurers, as well as ordinary exploration gear and sporting equipment,” Aldoran explained, detailing each category.

“Oh, wow! So, Aldoran, what kind of equipment do you think I could buy?” In Qing Yu’s mind, vivid scenes of heroes battling demon lords once again began to play out.

“Perhaps you’d be best suited for something like a healing staff,” Aldoran mused, surveying Qing Yu. “These are specifically crafted for those who practice healing magic. Depending on the price point, they can be made from refined iron, magic stones, magic crystals, or Asna Stone, each inlaid with refined magic stones of varying magical concentrations. If you have a Frigga crest, it would provide even greater enhancements to your healing abilities.”

“Oh, wow! That sounds incredibly powerful!” Qing Yu’s excitement surged even higher; he could already envision himself supporting Aldoran on the battlefield.

“Indeed. So, you need to practice diligently now; only then will you truly experience the joy of magic,” Aldoran stated, naturally understanding Qing Yu’s aspirations.

He had always longed for an opportunity to prove himself on the battlefield.

Qing Yu’s mind was perpetually brimming with all sorts of fantastical ideas. Aldoran didn’t dislike this trait; in fact, she found Qing Yu’s imagination quite amusing.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry! Following Thrud’s practice methods these past few days, and after personally sensing the power of the crest, I can now make the light in my hand a little brighter!” Qing Yu boasted, proudly extending his hand towards Aldoran, a faint white glow shimmering in his palm.

The light was exceedingly faint, almost imperceptible, yet it was undeniably stronger than his initial attempt.

“Mm, that’s very impressive,” Aldoran affirmed with a nod, gently ruffling Qing Yu’s hair.

Qing Yu chuckled, a soft “Heh-heh” escaping him.

“If you practice every day, by the time we reach Alastor, you should be capable of healing minor wounds. With the aid of a staff and the crest’s blessing, you might even be able to cure simple ailments,” Aldoran explained, her gaze falling upon the faintly gleaming gem on Qing Yu’s collar as she reached out to gently touch his cheek.

“Once you can fully control your magical circuits, you might just be able to accomplish anything short of raising the dead.”

“Mm-hmm!” Qing Yu’s eyes widened, his excitement visibly escalating.

Hearing Aldoran’s words, his confidence in his own future soared. While he might not be able to raise the dead, achieving anything else sounded quite remarkable.

“But why can’t people be brought back from the dead?” Qing Yu asked, genuinely curious. In the myths he had read, resurrection never seemed to be a particularly difficult feat.

“That’s because it requires magic to recall a soul, not simple healing or restoration. In Midgard, all departed souls return to the underworld, the realm of the dead. To bring someone back to life is, in essence, to recall a lost soul.”

“However, that requires the Death Queen’s consent, and no one has ever encountered her,” Aldoran clarified. “She’s merely mentioned in our legends, and as for her true name, no existing literature in the world offers any answers.”

“I see—” Qing Yu murmured, a sudden understanding dawning on him. “So, what kind of person would be able to accomplish such a thing?”

“It’s unknown. To this day, no one has ever succeeded in recalling a departed soul,” Aldoran shook her head. “Thus, there’s immense debate surrounding whether such a magic truly exists, or even if the Death Queen herself is real.”

“Oh well! Such things always find their answers eventually, don’t they! Who knows, maybe when I master this magic, I’ll actually be the one to recall a lost soul!” Qing Yu remained remarkably optimistic, the controversies holding no significance for him.

Witnessing Qing Yu’s buoyant optimism, Aldoran felt a surge of contentment. She considered him a truly wonderful companion, a gift bestowed upon her by fate.

Endearing, optimistic, cheerful, and understanding.

“I believe you. I’ll look forward to it, then. Once you’ve mastered it, let me witness your abilities.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry! I’ll definitely achieve it!” Qing Yu declared, patting his chest in earnest.

Thus, throughout the entire afternoon, Qing Yu chatted with Aldoran in fits and starts, constantly posing questions that seemed somewhat naive in this world, and following up Aldoran’s answers with yet more inquiries. Yet, Aldoran never once displayed even a hint of impatience, instead responding to Qing Yu’s questions with unwavering patience.

After all, no matter the circumstances, this was her divine consort…