Author's note: It's getting harder to respond to everyone since my notifications is exploding continuously. Sad. If only I could split myself into three pieces 😂.

It was late in the night, and Cecil dragged her tired body to her room. Other than her fatigue, her tongue and teeth had also suffered.

While training, Hana would bring them food for them to taste test. At the same time, the food allowed them to replenish their energy.

However, all of Hana's food had been imperfect so far. Due to Hana's sensitive tongue, every food she made had the right amount of seasoning, alas, her cooking method was completely wrong.

If it wasn't undercooked, it was overcooked. If it was a meat dish, they would cut open to check if it was undercooked, they didn't want to get a stomachache after all.

Cecil finished her shower, flopping down onto the bed and she groaned out. She relaxed into her bed and closed her eyes, when she heard a knock on her door.

Too tired to even get up, she simply turned her head to the door as it was pushed open, seeing Xue standing there.

Though the dorms were open to everyone, and there was no curfew. Nevetheless, coming all the way to another dorm in the middle of night, it was bound to attract some attention.

Hence, those entering their rooms in the middle of the night was surprised see Xue walking through the courtyard, towards Cecil's room.

Cecil was surprised to see Xue, immediately bolting up from her bed as she winced.

"Xu-Xue, what are you doing here?" Cecil questioned.

Thankfully, her sleeping gown wasn't the one she always wore back in her mansion. It was pale peach in colour, and its sleeves were long and her gown was thick enough that it wasn't see-through.

Xue walked into her room, placing a small container on her bedside table.

It was an ointment.

He had personally went down to the clinic to find the healer, requesting for an ointment for bruises.

The healer recognised him in an instant and handed the ointment to him without another word. Advising him that it was better for the person to apply it before they slept.

Cecil stared at the ointment in shock, looking back at Xue.

"For your bruises."

"...I was planning to get it on my own tomorrow, but..."

"She said it was better to apply it before you slept."

Cecil nodded, she obviously knew that since she had basic knowledge in medicine.

Xue prepared to leave her room without another word, his expression remaining indifferent the entire time.

"Xue, wait."

He turned, eyeing Cecil curiously.

"Thank you very much for the ointment," Cecil muttered out, grateful. "Even though you didn't need to get it..."

Xue softened the look in his eyes as he gazed at Cecil, his lips curving into a small smile. Without another word, he left her room.

Cecil took the ointment, smiling softly at it. She gradually applied it to her bruises, making small pained noises and wincing as she did so.

After that, she placed the container back on the bedside table, drifting off to sleep. The smell of flowers and herbs surrounding her, due to the ointment.

***

Xue walked back to his own room, the souls inside his head growing noisy once again.

Kai: "At this rate, you may as well get another ointment from the healer."

Zasiok: "No doubt if this training continues, the bruises will just increase and she would use it more."

Alric nodded sadly along with the two of them.

Leonaut: "I know you said you wouldn't catch her, but aren't you being too heartless?"

Xue: "Getting hurt is part of the process of growing stronger."

Xue cut off the link after he said that sentence.

If Cecil were to back down from a training because of a couple of bruises, it wouldn't be the Cecil he and Hana knew.

***

Ten days passed quietly.

Everyday, Xue would spar with Cecil, with him winning easily and Cecil unable to land a single hit on him.

Everyday, Cecil would drag herself back to the room and shower, before applying the ointment on her body, falling asleep quickly right after.

Everyday, Hana would cook different dishes and bring them, asking the two of them to taste test.

Of course, these repeated activities resulted in an improvement from both ladies.

Unfortunately, for Cecil, though she may have improved in both controlling her vines and her combat abilities, she still couldn't land a hit on Xue.

It was yet another exhausting day for Cecil.

She showered and dressed in her sleeping gown, sitting on her bed. She grabbed the container from her bedside and opened it. To her horror, the container was completely empty.

She was out of ointment.

She pulled a long face, rolling up her sleeves with difficulty as she saw the bruises on her arms. She lifted up her gown, seeing them on her legs as well and there were even some between her neck and shoulders.

"How many days are left for the mission?"

[ Time limit: 2 days ]

"It has already been ten days?"

[ Yes, you have been training very hard these past ten days~ ]

Without knowing, Cecil had started to enjoy the sparring matches, though they were painful and she always lost.

Cecil shrugged lightly.

Since they are only two days left, I'll just leave the bruises be for now and get the ointment tomorrow.

Cecil collapsed onto the bed, shutting her eyes and she could feel herself drifting off into sleep. At that moment, someone knocked on her door and once again, she was too tired to get up.

She turned her head with a groan, blinking drowsily at the doorway. The moment she saw Xue, instead of being surprised, Cecil whimpered as she thought of all the training and food tasting.

She assumed he was here to mention something about the matches.

"No more, Xue," Cecil shook her head weakly, whining. "No more training and food tasting today, I want to sleep..."

Seeing Cecil in such a pitiful and lifeless state, Xue was mildly surprised before he smiled softly in amusement.

He went to find the healer again and she passed the ointment to him without another word, eyeing him knowingly. She then demanded both her containers be returned to her once he was done using them.

He switched the containers on the bedside table, and Cecil blinked curiously at him, a sleepy look on her face.

"Another ointment."

Cecil was too tired to even think about why Xue was being this nice too her.

"Thank you..." she muttered out softly, genuinely thankful but she was too tired to even express it.

So sleepy...

I want to sleep...

...sleeeeep...

Cecil shut her eyes, but Xue wasn't done here.

"The healer wants the containers back once you are done using them."

"...oh."

"You should apply it before sleeping."

"...oh."

"...are you asleep?"

"...oh."

Xue leaned down, observing Cecil, she as lying on her side and her eyes were closed, she was clearly falling asleep. He wanted to leave her alone to rest, but upon seeing the bruises on her arms, something itched within his chest.

The bruises would cure faster if she applied the ointment.

Seeing that Cecil wasn't moving at all, Xue hesitated before moving back to her side. He sat on the bed, uncapping the container and dipped his finger into the ointment, scooping a small amount out.

Cecil didn't react to him sitting on the bed, only furrowing her eyebrows slightly.

"If you aren't applying it yourself, I'll do it."

"...oh."

Xue sat down on the bed, placing her arm gently onto his lap. He used the same finger coated in the ointment, spreading it onto her bruises.

Cecil made a noise, flinching at the cold substance touching her skin. She opened her eyes, drowsy and she glanced at Xue applying the ointment on her arm. She was too tired to even resist or move her arm away.

"...what are you doing?"

"Applying the ointment for you."

"I never asked you to do it."

"But I want to."

"..."

Cecil was speechless, not bothering to understand Xue due to her exhausted state.

Xue dipped his finger into the container again, gingerly spreading the ointment. He took her other arm, placing it onto his lap. The warmth of her arm and his fingers made the ointment warm, no longer making Cecil flinch at its coldness.

"So many bruises."

Cecil gave Xue a look, blinking sleepily at him, her voice laced with sleepiness. "...whose fault is it?"

If she was in her normal state of mind, she wouldn't dare to openly blame it on Xue. However, she was currently feeling grouchy for all the abuse she had suffered for the past few days, even if it was her dearest protagonist, Cecil couldn't help but feel resentful.

Moreover, every single time she fell, Xue would appear nonchalant and raise his eyebrows at her. It was as if he was telling her to get up and continue.

It was not so easy to get up after getting bruises, one after another!

Going to sleep with bruises, and waking up to a constant aching body wasn't great either!

...to repeat this process day after day, there was only so much she could hold in!

Xue paused, glancing at Cecil.

One could say she was currently sulking.

It was a rare sight to see Cecil in this manner, and the indifferent mask on Xue broke.

He started to chuckle softly.

Cecil pouted, unhappy. "Why are you laughing? These bruises are painful..."

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault." Xue responded lightly, continuing the process of applying the ointment.

"So now you are admitting it's your fault?"

Xue paused, looking at Cecil again.

It seemed like she was bent on pouring out all her grievances tonight.

This was a side of Cecil he had never witnessed before, and he was sure that no one else had witnessed it either.

Xue laughed again, grinning as he went back to caring for her bruises. "Yes, I am, that's why I'm applying it for you."

"...should have done that earlier."

"Is that so?"

"...yes."

Xue was amused.

He wondered why Cecil never stood up for herself like that in the past, when she suffered so many injuries for his other soul fragments.

She kept a smile on her face the entire time, saying it was alright. In the worst case, she cried, but she never once sulked or vented her anger.

Xue didn't know whether to feel touched or offended. He was the first to make her sulk...and the first to make her stand up for herself in this grumpy manner.

"You need to sit up, so I can apply it to your neck and shoulders."

"...but I want to sleep."

"Let me apply it then you can sleep."

"..."

Cecil slowly pushed herself up, blinking drowsily and swaying from side to side. He shifted closer, sweeping her hair aside, his actions gentle and he started smearing the ointment on her bruises again.

"If you want to stop any more bruising, I can start catching you again if you fall."

"No," Cecil harrumphed softly, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "If you said you wouldn't catch me, you should keep to your words."

The gentle ministrations from Xue made her even more sleepy, and sitting up amplified her drowsiness. Her eyes started drooping close, her consciousness drifting.

"You want me to?"

"Want you to...what?" Cecil yawned, tears clinging onto her eyelashes.

"Keep to my words."

"Mhmm, you have to," Cecil nodded, her words starting to slur. "You also said it's to make me stronger so..."

Cecil closed her eyes, her words trailing off.

"So...?" Xue probed, finishing up on her neck and shoulders.

"...you don't need to catch..." Cecil murmured softly, her body swayed as she started to fall.

Xue caught her just before she hit the bed. He stared at Cecil who had truly fallen asleep, his gaze tender. He laid her down carefully, placing the container back on the table.

Though her legs had bruises as well, it wouldn't be appropriate for Xue to apply it now.

He left the room quietly.

Cecil was already in a deep sleep at that time, her expression serene.

Fortunately, Xue had his mental wall up, thus, he was truly the only witness to such a petulant Cecil Lan.

***

Cecil was currently pacing in circles around the entrance of the courtyard, tapping her finger on her chin.

She wore an anxious look on her face.

"Yesterday...I...I did something something unforgivable." Cecil muttered to herself.

She was extremely sleepy last night, and she had unexpectedly threw out her frustration on someone.

...and that someone was none other than Xue, the actual perpetrator behind her grievances.

Cecil stopped pacing, and she sneaked a peek into the courtyard.

No one was there, and the pillars had no one standing on it as well.

Nevetheless, Cecil felt like breaking down into tears.

What have I done?!

How could I do that?!

Throwing a tantrum to the lord protagonist, after he brought me the ointment, and even...even applying it for me!

Xue was so nice to me...and yet...and yet...!

Despite the internal conflict within her mind, Cecil still wore an indifferent expression on the outside.

She tapped her finger on her chin again, resuming her pacing.

...if I kowtowed for forgiveness a hundred times, will the lord protagonist forgive me?

No, no, maybe kowtowing isn't enough.

...what should I do...

What should I do?

What should I do?!

Cecil couldn't take it anymore, her face twisting. Her expression was a mixture of frustration and guilt.

"Why did I even do that?!" Cecil hissed to herself, burying her face into her hands.

Xue had already noticed her a while ago as he walked out from his room, coincidentally moving out of her sight when she looked over.

He watched her actions, amused and he silently walked up to her, leaning against the doorway to the courtyard.

"What are you doing?"

***

《 start 》

It's my first time.

It's my first time seeing you in this manner, and it's because of me.

It would be good if I can continue see all the different sides of you.

It would be good if you are showing them all because of me.

It would be good if I am the only one who sees them all.

《 stop 》