Chapter 70

: 70. Our Promise

Mia finished her training around late evening, just moments after Tisdale left. Outwardly, the girl seemed fairly worn-out but her vivacity suggested otherwise. She ran up to Baiyi and wrapped her arms around him as she rubbed herself comfortably against his back and cooed,
Mr. Hope? Im kind of sweaty and sticky Can I go for a bath?

Baiyi nodded and stood up.
Not a problem. Let me prepare the water.

He headed towards an empty classroom next to the lab they had been using and he lit up the room with Lumos. With the room lit up, it was obvious that the room had been turned into a makeshift bathroom. The window had been barricaded and in the center sat a big wooden tub. Towels, bathrobe, detergents and assorted bathing items were placed nearby.
Baiyi ignored all of them except for the wooden tub. He filled it up with water and then put one of his arms into it. He started warming the water with heating magic as if he was a human water heater. Meanwhile, with his free hand, he produced a vial of mana restoration potion from his inner pocket and poured the content into the bath.
The potion was actually useless to Mia, but according to the Alchemist, the addition of herbs such as Peacebloom and Swiftthistle 1 
would do wonders to remedy physical fatigue while replenishing psychic energy and that was the exact treatment Mia needed.
Baiyi put a lot of effort into preparing the best hot bath for that little girl. In fact, very few would disagree with the pleasantness of such a bath; those who had to stay in the academy provided accommodations could only bathe in the common bathhouse and some of the students found themselves trading off hygiene for privacy by washing themselves hastily with their own water magic.
The relative rarity of an actual, let alone enjoyable, bath was the reason why Mia always looked forward to the end of her training. She would always request for one ofBaiyis heavenly bath and he would always comply.
As he was preparing, the girl had already removed her clothes and wrapped herself in a simple white towel. Upon hearing Baiyis call, she hurried to the bathroom with eagerness written all over her face as she climbed up a chair and extended one of her baby soft legs to dip into the water.

Just the right temperature!
she exclaimed happily.
Thank you, Mr. Hope!

And with that, she promptly dropped her towel on the floor and dove into the tub.
It was so abrupt that Baiyi was taken aback. He was about to take his leave when from the girls direction came a sweet, nave voice,
Excuse me Um, my back is a little bit itchy. Mr. Hope, can you help scratch that part for me?

That stumped him. He was still thinking about what his next course of action should be but that request had been relayed through his ears into the Void already and once those horny bastards started, there was no stopping them,
Cmon Mia worked so hard and youre the only one who can soothe her pain! Are you not going to scratch her back just a little?


If youre not gonna help her, get me that hammerhead shark doll and let me possess it! Let me work my hands!


PFFT! You dare volunteer yourself in my presence? Let me be clear with my background, gentlemen before becoming an astrologer, I worked in a massage parlor for five years! These hands are professional hands!

Screw these asshats. Theres no way Im letting their filthy hands touch her! 
Baiyi thought to himself as he walked towards the expectant Mia.
The girls face lit up immediately when she discerned his agreement as a playful and sweet smile appeared on her lips. She brushed her black, disheveled hair into a simple bun on top of her head, baring her graceful, slender neck. Making herself comfortable, she leaned forward to the edge of the tub, revealing her ivory back to Baiyi.
Baiyis eyes fell onto her back and all he saw was the beauty of a young maiden; the flawlesscurve of her body was almost a testament of the creators superior skills. With Lumos, the clear water took in the light and revealed Mias thighs. At that moment, Mia was like a fatal beauty.
It was truly a blessing that Baiyi was good at controlling himself compared to most men. Nothing much arose in his mind as his icy hands reached out then lightly pressed on her back. The skin felt like velvet.

Oh
She let out a soft groan, not accustomed to temperature of his cold hands against the warmth of her bath water. But when he lifted his hands off, she briskly protested,
No, um, its alright! Its a bit cold but thats why its so comfortable

Baiyi said nothing. He started using a few massage techniques that he drew from his memory on her to relieve the soreness of her muscles. Suffice to say they worked really well because Mia closed her eyes in contentment and placed her chin on the edge of the tub, enjoying every moment. Her head sometimes nodded indicating her satisfaction.

Alright, thats enough now, isnt it?
Baiyi rubbed her back carelessly for a while before muttering as he retracted his hands.
However, Mia was quicker. She snatched his right hand immediately and with her two hands still warm from the water, she cupped his icy hand onto her cheek.
Her back was against him when she softly whispered,
Mr. Hope has been so kind to me. Cant we stay like this together, forever?


Why is that even a question? Arent Soul Armatures and their summoner bound together forever?
Baiyi replied, perplexed.

Mm Thats normally true, but But I think Mr. Hope is not just any normal Soul
She replied, caressing the back of his hand, before continuing,
I just get this feeling, you know? That one day, when I finally cant catch up When that happens, will you leave me behind.

Are all women’s instinct this accurate? 
Baiyi was briefly stunned. To be completely frank, all bets were off when it comes to the future. The Voidwalkers will be freed one day that was a given, but when that happened, what would happen to Mia, whose one true purpose would be fulfilled by then? Will she be abandoned?
Baiyi shook his head at the thought.
No. I wont leave you behind like that.


Really?! Thats wonderful! Well be together forever! Youre the best in the world, Mr. Hope!
Mia exclaimed not caring about how her words could be misinterpreted. She even rubbed her cheek against Baiyis palm softly, just like a purring kitten.
Unfortunately, the title of
The Best in the World
was short-lived. Once they returned to the dorm, she rushed towards her favorite hammerhead shark plushie, caressing it with her cheek only to have the plushie pushed her away as it then hovered in the air.
The plushie nimbly evaded all of her attempts to catch it back into her embrace, it even avoided her when she leapt up trying to catch its tail.
The plushie floated into Baiyis hand.
Sorry to remind you but someone misread her incantations five times today, right? As a result, this plushie is sleeping with someone else tonight,
Baiyi teased as he half-smiled. The plushie turned its back and wagged its tail in refusal with a flick of his hand.

Noooo!
Mia cried out in protest.
Mr. Hope is not 
the best of the world! Hes a meanie, stealing my Sharky away!

She turned her back to him and burrowed herself into her blanket, pursing her lips in frustration, even though Baiyi could not see anything but the back of her head.
After a while, the girl lifted her blanket a little, sneaking a peek at Baiyi, probably wanting to see his reaction to her apparent anger. He was having fun poking the white belly of the plushie instead of watching her though and that made her mad again as she hid herself under the blanket.
Her childlike antic cracked Baiyi up. He waited, making sure that the little girl was no longer throwing a tantrum before he returned the plushie to her with magic. The hammerhead shark flipped the top of the blanket open and rubbed itself on her face.
The girl was already half-asleep when the plushie returned to her but it still made her incredibly happy. She wrapped the plushie with her arms and lifted her head to look across the room, grinning sweetly at Baiyi before slumping back into deep slumber.
Baiyi shook his head thoughtfully. Was Mias innocent, childlike grin the true reason why he did not mind sticking by her side for a little while longer?
His promise to not abandon her in the future was not a bluff. He really meant what he said.
He found himself warming up to the idea of having a sweet child as his companion.
He looked up at the night sky, sprinkled with countless stars. His gaze did not look like it was admiring the beauty though. In fact, it seemed as if he was looking beyond the the sky, his piercing gaze looking into the Void where his real body laid.

The sky is beautiful but it isnt real,
He muttered under his breath.
His attention turned inwards to listen in on the heated conversation between the Walkers.

Sir Hope is totally attached to Mia now, isn’t he? She means more to him now than when she had first started out… Uh-oh, what about Lady Fairy?


Oh my This reminds me of the popular tropes in the literature from Earth!
Someone chimed in tauntingly.
The lead guitarist of a band and the beautiful vocalist was meant to be together until an ignorant third wheel barged into their life! That is so unfair because I 
came into his life first!

Another added,
Please allow me to be frank From where I came from, a third wheel like that should be burnt! Burnt alive! The Church will do everything to prevent it from happening!


Prevent it from happening? My ass! True love will always prevail! It will always find a way OOF!

Baiyi sealed the individuals mouth shut with a Silence spell.
These louts are at it again! 
He sighed. Why the whole responsibility thing? All I did was take care of the little girl who means a lot to us. Plus, she is still young why are they dragging her into some adult drama plot?

He shook his head helplessly.
Unfortunately, Mia is not my only companion…