I looked at Laura's smooth back for a while before applying the oil on my hands, an idea came to my mind and I muttered, "status".
*******
Name: Tonic oil
Rank: E
Properties: relieves stress upon application, loosens strained muscles, aroma eases the mind.
********
'Woah, this stuff would be golden back on earth'. I thought as I looked at the oil's status.
'To think I bought this for 3 miras, I should go proper shopping after this–'
"Are you going to keep on staring at my back like some creep". My thoughts were interrupted by Laura's rude remark.
"Tsk, just relax". I muttered as I placed my hands on her unbelievably smooth and soft back.
Placing my thumbs at the centre of her back, I pressed and moved upwards with measured force.
"Mm". A light moan escaped from Laura's mouth.
'How about I try this'
*******
[Ding!]
Skill [Masseuse lvl.4] is in use!
Time limit: None
Remark: Go wild!
********
Immediately I activated the skill, I could see Laura's nerve endings, and her tense muscles alongside her anatomy which wasn't so different from that of humans –except for the fact that she didn't have that dumb appendix.
"Mmm". Applying force on the tense muscles, a slightly louder moan of relief escaped from Laura's mouth.
As I continued my massage– with light moans of pleasure and jolts coming out of Laura, she asked, "Why didn't you ask Miriam to strip when you massaged her?".
"Hm? Oh yeah well it's not like I didn't trust her or anything....". I mumbled as I rubbed her shoulders.
"It's her background basically, – she's the last daughter of one of the strongest families within the empire."
"No one would take kindly to a slave stripping her and touching her all over, even if she gave her consent". I said nonchalantly.
"...so I'm that cheap in your eyes, huh". Laura muttered with a low voice.
"What?". I asked with a frown, "that's not what–"
"You think because I'm not haughty and condescending as other guardians, I'm some nobody". She asked, anger hidden in her voice as she sat up.
'Other guardians?, I haven't met anyone other than her'. I thought confusedly as I looked at the angry Laura in her underwear.
"Laura what are–". I tried to calm her down but was interrupted once more with a visibly angry voice.
"You wanted to use this massage to get information out of me and stab me in the back the next chance you got didn't you?".
"No that's not–". Once more, I couldn't reply– partly because I was interrupted by the angry Laura but also because she was right.....well partly.
'Who do I think I am?'. I asked myself as I gave it deeper thought.
Just because she opened up once doesn't mean she fully trusted me, heck, in her eyes, I'm no different from that other guy that betrayed her.
"I'm sorry for–" .
Before I could apologize, I was interrupted once again, but this time....this time what she said hurt...alot.
"Look, you might think I'm your friend but trust me you're nothing more than a stupid mortal who needs guidance like a fool, I'm here to fulfill my role as a guardian and leave here as soon as possible, so don't ever try to act like we're anything closer than that".
An inexplicable pain shot through my heart as I heard Laura's words.
'What did I do wrong?'. I thought.
'I only wanted to know her better....but I guess it was a one sided notion'.
Laura's expression changed from that of anger to fluster as she tried to apologize for what she said.
"Wait, that's not–"
Putting back the ointment in my storage ring, I stood up with a darkened expression.
"I apologize, I didn't know you thought of me that way". I said wore my shoes and walked towards the door, ignoring the inexplicable pain in my heart, I continued, "I'll try to understand this world faster so you can leave sooner".
"Clark, no I–"
Closing the door and walking out of the inn, I unfurled the map and headed in the direction of a nearby weapon shop, trying my hardest to avoid tears from falling from my eyes.
*
Watching the dark haired man walk out of the room with a hurt expression despite him trying his hardest to hide it, Laura wore her clothes and laid down on the bed with a lost expression.
"What have I done". She muttered as she put her hands over her eyes.
"I projected my insecurities again, huh". With a sad smile, Laura said as she realized what she had done.
"I didn't mean to, Clark.....I'm really sorry...I'm so so.... sorry". With tears streaming down her eyes, Laura muttered with a shaky voice.
As Laura cried her heart out, the mana in the air reacted violently as a portal manifested in the middle of the inn, causing Laura to sit up and wipe her eyes.
A figure similar to that of Laura's but with a mature charm surrounding her and a crown on her head walked out of the portal with a worried a worried expression on her face.
"Laura, I sensed your emotions were spiraling out of control so I came here as fast I–". The woman stopped talking as she observed her daughter's expression closely.
'Reddened eyes, puffed up cheeks, tear marks on her cheeks.....she had been crying'. Anger filled her being as her thoughts reached this point. Walking over and sitting next to her daughter, she held her in her embrace and patted her head.
"Who did this to you?". She asked with a calm voice but her eyes were filled with anger as she thought of ways to capture and torture the people who caused her daughter harm, no matter how strong they may be.
"Nobody...". After a long silence, Laura muttered with a low voice.
"What?" Castilla asked confusedly. 'Ah, yes, nobody could hurt my daughter, she's an SSS rank after all'. Her motherly instincts finally calming down, Castilla assessed the situation calmly.
"Then what happened?". She asked
"I hurt someone". Laura responded as she buried her face in her mother's breast.
Patting her adorable daughter's head, Castilla frowned in confusion and asked, "Then he must have deserved it no?".
Shaking her head, Laura answered with a pained voice as she recalled her actions towards Clark."No...he didn't, he was nice to me and cared for me but my stupid self pushed him away"
"You're not stupid darling.....tell me everything that happened". Castilla consoled her daughter as she heard her response.
Laura sat up and cleaned her tear stricken face as she narrated how she met Clark, their daily banter and how she really felt about him.
Castilla watched her daughter narrate her experience with a variety of expressions – happiness, jealousy, pride, anger....and sadness.
"This boy....you said he was your incarnation correct?". Castilla asked as Laura finished her narration.
"Mm".
"Then you'll have to take care of this yourself". She answered with a calm expression.
Her thought process was simple.
If one messes up, they should fix their mess by themselves. And this thought process included her daughter. As much as she hated seeing her daughter in this state, she had to grow emotionally and mentally.
She was the princess of the Aetherion kingdom after all.
"I understand mother". Laura answered with a calm expression.
"Good, although I'd like to see your incarnation, I have more urgent matters to attend to". Castilla, patting her daughter's head with a loving expression, stood up as the portal opened once more.
"Are they acting up again". Laura asked carefully.
".....Yes". After a brief moment of hesitation, Castilla answered with a slightly troubled expression.
"I understand....be careful, mother". Laura muttered as she looked at the back of her mother.
"I'll be fine my sweet child, take care of yourself". Castilla said with a small smile on her face as she entered the portal and dissapeared.
A heavy silence descended over the inn as Laura arranged her thoughts and lay back down on the bed with a tired expression.
"I hope I do this right". She muttered as she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.