Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 90:Finally Awake

"You really...kept me waiting."

"I’m sorry. I was stuck inside a crappy dream. "

Ellen moved her chair, sitting by his side—while facing him.

"You missed out on a lot."

"I’m sorry."

She held out a hand, counting down on her fingers.

"You missed our class field trip, Zachary and Lin Qingyi are in the special class now, we’ve all formed our cores already—nearing our first tempering, all the different holidays, you missed the end-of-year party, and the new years."

"And...you missed our birthdays."

Raymond recognized all of those events—the field trip where Ellen first stumbled upon Killian’s inheritance, Zachary finally moving up the classes into the special class, Lin Qingyi getting banished from her sect and moving to the capital.

The end-of-year party which was a tradition in the academy. Hosted by the students, with help from the academy. Finally, the new years celebrations, which was a lot more significant in this world as it symbolized humanity still going strong despite everything that occurred.

And also, their birthdays. Plural.

When Raymond first returned back in time with Ellen. He had been asked to choose his birthday for his fake identity. Since Erde used a different calendar, it was hard to translate it to the Terra/Earth calendar so he just chose the same birthday as Ellen for no real reason in particular.

Even on Earth which used the same calendar as Terra, when he was getting his ID through...dubious methods. Unaware of the calendar, he had just told the guy making it ’the first’ as his birthday and let him fill in the blanks.

So Raymond and Ellen shared the same birthday. Which they celebrated every year during their four years at the Grace mansion—marking this the first time they didn’t celebrate it together.

"I’m sorry."

That was the third time he apologized already. But it didn’t seem to be enough for her.

"If you’re sorry. Then don’t do something like that again."

"Yes ma’am. But actually...can I see your mana attunement?"

She pointed her index finger at the roof, a small stream of mana coming out. A deep amber colour, resembling Raymond’s own mana. Making him mutter.

"Time-attunement...you’re the second person I know to have one."

"It was hard trying to figure out how to use it. It makes it a lot harder for me to use most of my Arts now."

Most of Ellen’s Arts were left behind by Killian, thus they were mainly emotion based Arts. Previously, her willpower-attunement would strengthen the effect of said Arts. But forming a completely new attunement had essentially thrown it all out the window.

Propping himself up using his pillow, his back against the headboard. After not moving for so long, his whole body was stiff and sore.

"Unfortunately, with how rare the attunement is. You’re gonna have to get used to it. There aren’t many Sty-Arts or spells that use time-attunement."

Raymond nearly said Styles instead of Arts, that dream he had while asleep having shaken up his memory.

"Mhm. I’ve been working on modifying my World Crossing Bow Arts, but progress has been slow since I’m still new to this attunement."

"I’ll help you with it once I reactivate my first circle. I can already feel that I’m getting close to it."

A silence settled between them again. Raymond could practically feel her burning curiosity, to the point he just told her.

"Just ask your question already. I’ll get embarrassed if you keep staring at me like that."

She shook her head, "If you don’t want to say anything then that’s fine."

How considerate, but Raymond had no intention of letting her stay curious anyways.

Perhaps he had kept it bottled up within him for too long. But right now, Raymond desperately wanted, no. He needed someone who would listen. Unfortunately for Ellen, she was the only one available right now.

"What time is it?"

"Midnight was five minutes ago."

"No one will come and disturb us right?"

"Instructor Sienna set up a lot of privacy and protection spells. She also hid the fact that you have two cores."

Raymond exhaled, mentally preparing himself as he stared at the ceiling.

"Do you mind If I vent a little?"

He would have to thank his instructor later. For their current privacy and for keeping his secret of having two cores safe. But for now, he just wanted to talk on and on.

So he did.

Ellen was a good listener, she didn’t say much—merely a few signs here and there along with the occasional encouragement or validation for his actions that showed she was still paying attention.

As for Raymond, he felt immense relief mentally. Who knew trauma dumping was so effective at helping to relieve said trauma?

He was like a shaken can of soda, the pressure building up and accumulating inside of him for years on end. If he didn’t release it now, it would have exploded sometime down the future. Hurting him or anyone near him.

All the built-up tension within him poured out like a waterfall as he vented, with Ellen acting as his therapist. Even Raymond didn’t realize just how much stress he had built up within him.

While venting, he suddenly paused. A realization striking him mid-sentence. Staring at Ellen with a complicated expression on his face.

"Come to think of it. You’re the first person I’ve ever said any of this to."

The number of close friends Raymond had could be counted on one hand, despite a century of travelling through different dimensions. The amount of friends he could truly trust was a pitiful amount. Naturally, he didn’t have anyone he could vent to about his past.

He didn’t even talk about his own past with his second girlfriend, although she likely already knew hints of it.

As she listened, she quietly added. "Seems like you’ve had a hard life."

Raymond didn’t even notice when Ellen had gotten so close to him. The distance between them couldn’t have been more then an arm’s length of space, her elbow next to his waist—chin resting on her hand. If she moved and leaned over slightly more, they would be nearly face-to-face.

By the time he reached the part of his story where he was forgotten by everyone. The words started to get stuck in his throat. Struggling to get them out as he coughed. Remembering how Anna had looked at him so distantly, despite all those years they had spent together. Her cold eyes, staring at him as if he was a threat. Even after so long, the pain still stubg him hard.

Seeing his struggle. Without any hesitation, Ellen leaned over slightly and-

Hugged him.

His eyes widened slightly, going stiff at her touch. Before slowly easing into her body and the unexpected comfort from it.

With her arms wrapped around him, her warmth was soothing and comforting. His face buried in the crook of her neck, her steady heartbeat and floral scent helping him to calm down. Pulling him out of the past and anchoring him back into the present.

"You don’t have to say anything. Everything is fine now, Rayleigh."

He sniffled slightly, "I prefer Raymond."

Tears formed at the corner of his eyes, salty glistening droplets running down his face. Their breathing gradually syncing up with the other with every breath.

She wiped away his tears with her fingers, yet they continued nevertheless. His body shaking despite her hug.

"Thank you."

He could only say those two words. Over and over again, like a broken recorder. The sound coming out muffled and shaky.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. "

How embarrassing for someone at his age to still be crying, finding comfort in someone like Ellen.

But he couldn’t help it, her words of comfort worked wonders in consoling him. Her presence like an island of solace in the turbulent seas that was his own emotions.

Still nestled in her neck, he sniffled. Causing Ellen to wipe away his tears for him again. Their close proximity not even registering in either of their minds.

"I want ice cream."

"They said you shouldn’t eat anything too sugary. Besides, you just woke up from a seven month long coma."

"Please?"

Ellen sighed, she couldn’t help but feel the resemblance between Raymond and a dog had suddenly gotten stronger. The look he was giving her resembling a husky being told he couldn’t have a treat—his still watery eyes, lips pouting slightly. She blinked, an apparition of a pair of drooping dog ears appearing on him.

How could she possibly say no to such a sad face?

She let out another sigh, standing up to get her phone. Only for Raymond to pull her back into the hug. Unable to leave his embrace.

"Why are you trying to leave?"

"I need my phone to get your ice cream delivered."

Ellen suddenly felt something float into her hand, twisting her neck slightly. She saw her own phone, which was previously on the windowsill and now in her hands.

Realizing what had happened, she scolded him slightly. "You shouldn’t use mana."

"I know my body best."

Jeez, why was he acting so stubborn all of a sudden?