Chapter 74: The Weaver Caresses the Golden Threads, Threading Destiny
"Stop the bleeding!" Cipher said righteously. But seeing your flushed face and ears, she belatedly realized that her actions seemed a bit too… intimate, and her cheeks also flushed instantly. "I… I'm doing this for your own good… Little Cat, don't be ungrateful!"
"This won't stop the bleeding." A clear, cold voice came from not far away, interrupting the somewhat delicate atmosphere between you two.
Only then did Cipher remember that there was an annoying fellow nearby. She immediately put away her shyness, put her hands on her hips, and glared at Aglaea: "Hey, Tailor Woman! What exactly do you mean? Why did you suddenly appear just now and ruin my good thing?!"
Aglaea looked at the two of you, sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness: "Because… this is my home."
"Ah?" Cipher's cat ears drooped instantly. She looked at Aglaea in confusion, then glanced around this luxuriously furnished treasure room, which indeed contained many good things. "I… I didn't see you when I… passed by these past two days…" Cipher muttered softly, a little lacking in confidence.
Aglaea explained: "To help you two make clothes a few days ago, I stayed in the Weaving Workshop. I only had time to come back today, wanting to properly settle those 'relics' you exchanged with me before, and by the way… rest a bit."
Cipher was completely speechless, her small face flushed crimson, both embarrassed and annoyed. How could she be so unlucky? After careful selection, she actually chose the home of this Tailor Woman who looked difficult to deal with! Now, she was caught red-handed and made a fool of!
Aglaea's gaze turned to you, her tone softening a bit: "Let me treat your wound first… You two wait for me here." After speaking, she turned and walked towards the door on her own.
"Little Cat, good opportunity!" As soon as Aglaea's figure disappeared, Cipher immediately lowered her voice, pulled your hand, and was about to run out. "That Tailor Woman definitely has ill intentions… Let's go quickly!"
However, when she ran to the door and tried to pull it open, it didn't budge. She tried a few more times, not believing in evil, and even tried to use a trick to open the lock.
"Click." After a slight mechanical sound, the almost invisible Golden Threads at the edge of the door crack shimmered slightly, then quickly faded. The door was locked from the outside with Golden Thread, and she couldn't break it.
Just then, Aglaea returned. "Hey! Tailor Woman! Why won't you let us leave?!" As soon as Cipher saw Aglaea come in with a medicine box and the door closed behind her, she immediately bristled. "This is illegal imprisonment, do you know that?!"
Aglaea placed the medicine box on the low table nearby, her voice flat: "Two people visiting my home late at night, with ill intentions, it's not excessive for me to take some necessary measures of restraint." She turned to you: "Come here, I'll help you with it."
Aglaea held out her hand to you; it was slender and long, with healthy pink fingertips. You hesitated for a moment, and Cipher immediately tugged at your sleeve, signaling with her eyes for you not to go over, as there must be a trick.
You gently patted her hand, signaling her to relax. You walked in front of Aglaea and extended your injured arm. Aglaea gently held your hand; her fingertips were slightly cool, and her movements were very gentle. She took out a clean white soft cloth, carefully wiped the blood from your arm, then took out a small jar of dark green ointment from the medicine box, scooped out a bit with a silver spoon, and meticulously applied it to the wound.
As the ointment touched your skin, a cool sensation permeated it, and the stinging pain immediately lessened considerably. Just as the warmth of her fingertips and the coolness of the ointment intertwined on your skin, your heart stirred, and a strange sensation surged into your body.
You clearly perceived that a new power, a power from the same source as those Golden Threads, was merging into your perception. It was as if you were born knowing how to control them, how to make them serve you. You even "saw" outside the door, those Golden Threads that sealed the door, their structure, their nodes. Is this… Aglaea's power?
You didn't show any trace, just silently accepted this sudden power. Aglaea was still focused on applying the ointment to you, her eyes downcast.
"Your blood…" she said as if casually, "is golden."
"Mm." You responded, neither denying nor explaining further.
"Sister Aglaea, those Golden Threads of yours… are you also a Chrysos Heir?"
Aglaea's hand paused, and she raised her eyes to meet yours. A moment later, she nodded lightly, a form of acknowledgment.
"I knew it." Cipher snorted from the side. She took a few steps in front of Aglaea and warned: "I don't care who you are, you're not allowed to tell anyone about Little Cat! Especially in Dolos, it's not as peaceful there as Ohema!"
Aglaea finished bandaging your wound, tying a neat knot, and then slowly responded to Cipher: "I will naturally keep my guests' secrets."
"That's good." "Alright, the wound is bandaged, Tailor Woman, can we leave now?" Cipher took your hand, wanting to leave this troublesome place.
"Wait." Aglaea spoke again.
Cipher turned back impatiently: "Now what? Do you really want to throw us in jail?"
Aglaea looked at you two, especially you, her tone gentle: "If you two are willing to cooperate, I'll just consider you as having accidentally lost your way tonight and trespassed into my home… I won't hold the previous matters against you."
"Cooperate with you on what?" Cipher eyed her suspiciously.
Aglaea's gaze fell on you: "You two… stay at my house. It's better than sleeping rough outside. It's getting cold, I'll prepare warm clothes for you, and I won't let you go hungry."
"Who wants you to manage us!" Cipher immediately refused, "We still have our own things to do, we don't have time to stay here with you!"
Aglaea seemed to have anticipated her response, sighed, and conceded: "At least… stay here and recuperate until his wound heals. After all, I caused his injury, and I should be responsible."
Cipher wanted to retort, but looking at the bandaged wound on your arm, she hesitated for a moment. She turned to ask you: "Little Cat, what do you think? Do you want to stay?"
You looked up at Aglaea. "I won't force you," Aglaea added, "If you really don't want to, you can leave now."
[For this, you choose—
1. Leave.
2. Stay.]
Seeing the options, Orion began to ponder. Leaving might not be the best choice. Staying and building a good relationship with Aglaea is the best… after all, she has Golden Threads. If he could frequently replicate this ability, wouldn't it be much easier to protect Cipher in the future? Soon, he had made up his mind.