NoGift

Chapter 137: flustered

AURUM and Clay were walking near the big plaza of Victoria City. They were at the northern area of the city, looking for information regarding the elf. While Argent went to the southern part to start her reconnaissance work. They chose the northern side of the city because this was the area where the priests did most of their activities.

Aurum looked around. She really had no idea how they should start looking for that elf. They couldn't just carelessly go around, asking people about him. They might as well announced their presence to the Temple if they did that. She thought of just probing the minds of the people here. But even with that, she had to be super careful.

If she continuously released her Mana and just read the mind of all the priests they came across to, sooner or later, someone would definitely notice. And that someone might report it to the Pope. Something that they should avoid at all cost. At least until before the day of the Festival of Creation. That meant if she had to use her Gift, then it should be on a person who would at least have an idea about that elf's whereabouts.

"I've been meaning to ask this, but where's Black?" Clay asked, cutting Aurum's train of thought. "You didn't bring him with you?"

"He has something to do. But he'll be here on the day of the festival." And Aurum hoped that the kid wouldn't mess up the task given to him by her brother. But then again, White was with him so that seemed to be very unlikely to happen.

"I see." Though Clay did wonder how that kid would actually go here by himself. "What are you two planning to do at the festival anyway?" he asked, a bit curious to know the answer.

"Something big. You'll probably like it."

"I take it, it has something to do with messing with the Temple. Am I right?"

"What else would we be doing in this place otherwise? We're not that devout to go here personally just to celebrate the so-called day that Gaia created everything in this world."

"You won't let me in in this plan of yours?"

"If you want to join in the fun, ask my brother."

Clay somehow already expected that answer. But he still couldn't help but be curious on what the twins were planning. Just based on the fact that they're here on disguise, they definitely didn't want what they're going to do to be connected to them. He already thought of a lot of possibilities. But whatever it was, it's probably going to be something big. Now, he wondered, just how deep was the enmity between the Temple and the twins or rather, their family?

"How did you even search information about that elf when you were in Achea?" Aurum thought of asking Clay.

"By lurking in dark corners. Which didn't really produce that much of an outcome."

"Clearly. What does that elf look like anyway?" If she did end up probing someone's mind, she at least had to have a clear vision of that elf. So she could pinpoint it in that person's memory.

"He had pale blond hair that looked almost white and a pair of emerald green eyes. His skin was also really white that it almost looked transluscent. In short, he's a little beauty."

Aurum glanced at Clay and saw that he seemed to be deeply remembering the face of that elf. She scrunched her brows. "Wait- do you actually have a thing for that elf?"

Clay almost tripped when he heard that question. He turned to Aurum. "You're joking, right?"

"No, why would I be?" After her experience at Xing, Aurum was now more open to different types of relationship. Like same sex for example.

Clay looked incredulously at her. "He's a boy!"

"And so? Two guys could fall in love with each other too."

"When I said 'boy', I meant that he looked like he was only about seven or eight years old."

Oh, Aurum actually didn't expect that. She thought the elf would be at least an adult. Then she suddenly remembered an important detail. "But elves age really slow. He might look like a child but for all we know, he's already the same age as you."

An elven child could actually have the same age as a human teenager. That's because they aged really, really slow. If humans started aging slowly once they reached a certain age of maturity, like 18 for example, then elves aged slowly the moment they were born. A 50 year old elf could easily look like someone who just entered puberty.

"Even if that's the case, I'm straight. I don't play on the other team," Clay said with the emphasis on the word 'straight'.

He couldn't believe he's having this kind of conversation with someone. They were just talking on how that elf looked like. How could Aurum just suddenly think that he's interested with the elf in that way? Now he couldn't help but wonder what exactly went on inside this golden haired girl's head.

"Oh." And here she thought she could encounter another gay relationship. "All say that elves are the most beautiful race in the world. So, how would you rate the beauty of your first elf? Was it earth shattering and mind boggling?"

"He was beautiful. But his looks was probably a tad bit lower than yours."

"What's this, are you actually saying that I'm more beautiful than the elf?" she asked with a bit of joking tone.

"Yes. You are, actually."

Aurum felt like her face suddenly heated up when she heard that straightforward answer. It's a good thing she was wearing a human skin mask or else her face would definitely be red by now. She couldn't understand why she would suddenly feel flustered just because of a simple compliment. Those words had been said to her far more times than she could count. She should be used to it by now. And yet, what's with this reaction?

Because of that, she couldn't help but feel annoyed. She stopped walking and glared at Clay. "I thought you're not interested in me."

"In that way, yes."

Aurum just became more annoyed when he answered her without even a tiny bit of hesitation. "Then stop flirting!"

Clay looked at Aurum like she just said a not so funny joke. "I'm not! If I am, trust me, you'll know."

Aurum stomped her foot, turned around, and continued walking. She was obviously pissed off just by looking at her gait. Clay suddenly felt like he's going to have a headache. Just what's with this girl today? Did she actually eat the wrong medicine this morning?

He immediately followed and walked beside her. "Are you angry with me?"

Aurum took a deep breath. Her reason already returned to her. This was not the time for her to act like some petty kid. "I'm not. Let's just do what we should do here. So, do you have a plan on how we should proceed?"

Clay let out a sigh of relief seeing that Aurum was no longer throwing a tantrum. "I think finding out more about that auction was our best choice right now."

"Then let's do that," Aurum agreed. "Where shall we start?"

"How about there?" Clay said, pointing at the Holy Temple.