The next morning I went to my tent to check on Valeria but she was sitting in the corner with her hands on her head and she was just so pitiful, I moved beside her and sat on the corner. She looked at me with her blank eyes before turning them away so I put my hands on her head and gently rubbed her head.

"Hey.... If you want to talk about something, I'm all ears.. "

It was quiet for 10-15 minutes before she said.

"My... My mom... She's gone... "

"Yeah... "

"She died... Because of me.. "

"....."

"It's all my fault! "

"No, it's not"

"How could you say that?! Do you understand how I feel? "

I also lost my mom in my last life... I loved my mom but I was too busy to visit her, then she suddenly died in an accident. I didn't get to say anything like an "I love you" before she died, I hated myself for days... But in the end, I got through thanks to a letter she left behind...

"Of course I don't, but I also lost someone in an accident. It all happened way too fast, I didn't even get to say goodbye or say an 'I love you'"

Valeria looked at me

"But in the end, I got through it"

"I'm not as strong as you.. Mom was all I had... "

"Who told you, you only had her? I may not be a someone who can replace your mom, but I can be someone for you to rely on"

"Are all men like this? You all have a glib tongue"

I won't be able to convince her this way

"A mothers love is infinite and boundless, she may have lost her body but not her feelings. Don't fall into the abyss because if you do, you'll forget the happy memories you had with her along with the feelings she had for you and that to me, is true death" I stood up and left the tent, I can't force her to listen, and I was never really good with these kinds of things. I'll just have to let nature take its course.

I slept in Arachne's tent that night. The next morning I brought Valeria food but she didn't eat, it was the same with lunch and dinner.

This kept on for a week, I'm surprised she didn't die due to starvation. This should stop, I went beside her again and sat beside her.

She only took a glance before muttering "not hungry"

She was practically skin and bones... It hurts seeing her like this, so I hugged her. She couldn't resist because her body was too weak

"... Stop... It.. "She said

"No"

"Please... Let me die! "

"Like hell I will! "

"Why?! "

"Because you're my responsibility! And you also have to take responsibility "

"What? "

"I went through hell to save you! take responsibility for it and live"

"... You're being unreasonable "

"Am I? "

She went silent

"Hey, I don't want you to die.. "

"Why go so far...?! "

"Because I like you! "Fuck I don't care anymore as long as I can be her pillar of support, it is true I like her as a friend though.

"Heh... Trying to be my pillar? "

How did she?...

"It's one of my abilities... During an intense moment, I hear the true feelings of the person" she said before continuing "You said you 'like' me but what I heard is 'I want to be your pillar of support'"

I was speechless

"Hehe.. If you want to be my support that much... Then I'll take you offer"

She said as she nestled herself on my chest

(Valeria Pov)

He stood up and said

"A mothers love is infinite and boundless, she may have lost her body but not her feelings. Don't fall into the abyss because if you do, you'll forget the happy memories you had with her along with the feelings she had for you and that to me, is true death"

Huh?... My skill activated.. [Eye of truth]

'Why can't you understand? I just don't want you to be sad.. ' That's what his heart said... This.. This new... All the men I've encountered... All wanted sex nothing more... This is the first time I've seen a man with a heart as his...

The next few days, he brought me food, I still think he lusts after me.. But he only smiled and told me to eat, I really didn't have an appetite so I just left it there..

In the middle of the night, I woke up... Ah, the food tray! I didn't eat but at least I've got to return it. Under the cover of night, I returned the tray at the canteen and then noticed a large tent with its light still on, I was gonna ignore it but...

"Will she speak with us now? " a man said

"No, she still needs time.. Please give her time... She's going through some stuff"it's his voice! Come to think of it I don't even know his name

"We've already given her 3 days... Young master, we really need some information from her... "The man replied

"Please! I'll take responsibility if something goes wrong! "

Why is he going through such lengths for me?

'She's really sad right now but I don't have the qualifications to comfort her... This is all I can do' ah! I heard his heart again... No.. He must still be hiding something else...

So the day's passed and he kept coming to give me food but in the end, I ignored him.

Ah, I cant move my body.. I'm all skin and bones... Ah! He entered again with food..

[Eye of truth]

'...... I cant take this anymore.. ' he said as he moved towards me.

'he's gonna unleash those pent-up desires he has, see I was right...? He's just hugging me..?' I thought to myself

'I don't care even if you hate me... I'll be your pillar of support! '

..... I have always been afraid of everyone because I can see what's in their hearts and to be honest I still am whenever I'm surrounded by people... But I never thought.. This man's desire, his heart to be so warm...

I rest my head on his chest... I hear his heart beating... This is something I, an undead don't have but strangely it was soothing... If it's him...

I fell asleep due to the comfort of his embrace... This is the first time I've slept so peacefully in 10 years...

--------------------

Valerie is peacefully sleeping... She looks cute, well I better not move, I don't want to disturb her.

The next day I woke up to Valerie eating the food I brought.

"H-h-he-y y-you u-up? "Ah must be her first time to talk with a friend.

"No need to be so nervous we're friends remember? "

"You're right... It's just that this is the first time I actually talk to someone who actually has emotions....after 10 years..."

"What? "

"I've been raised in the undead castle so all those I talked to were the undead that has no emotions..."

I had no idea how to answer to that so I kept silent

"Oh, sorry for turning the mood gloomy" Valeria said as she smiled apologetically.

"It's not that, I just didn't know how to respond " I said as I scratched at my cheek

"Hey wanna go out for a little bit? " since she's been held in their castle for so long, she might want to go out and see the world

"Sure, I'd be happy to! " she tried to smile but her smile was like that of a line that has a tiny curl on one side.

She'll get used to it. I took her hand and went out by the tent but there was Arachne and Mira outside.

"Master Lyan I wondered why you didn't sleep in my tent yesterday night so I came to check if you were in your tent but may I know who this person is? " Arachne puffed her cheeks and asked in displeasure.

"Yes" Mira paused for a bit before continuing "May I also know who this person is? " Mira asked with a tilt of her head and smiled....threateningly.

"She's my friend " I gleefully smiled as I ignored their threatening stares but deep inside I already resigned to my fate

Valeria was never good with people, to begin with so under Mira's and Arachne's death stare she could only hide behind my back.

"It's ok, they won't eat you. Hey, this is our new friend don't scare her" I said as I tried to convince Valeria to come out from hiding.

"This is Arachne, my partner, and friend while this one is Mira also my friend" I tried to Introduce Arachne and Mira to Valeria.

"Mira, Arachne this is Valeria" I also introduced Valeria to Mira and Arachne.

"U-uhm I-I am V-Valeria, I h-have trouble c-communicating with p-people so p-please bear with me" Valeria worked up the courage to Introduce herself.

'Good job Valeria! ' I gave her a thumbs up in my mind

"Arachne, I'm Arachne nice to meet you. And the quiet one is Mira, she's a bit cold and frank but deep inside she's very kind" Arachne walked up to Valeria and held both of Valeria's hands as she started a one-sided conversation with Valeria.

We walked through the forest as we introduced and explained the plants, and animals we came across. It was Valeria's first time seeing plant's and animals which were all full of life and like a kid in a candy store, she approached everything that gets her interest.

We only watched her poke plants and animals, but what really mesmerized her was a single butterfly that landed on her claws.

Looks like she really liked the butterfly because she was depressed when the butterfly flew away.

We all walked back to the camp and ate dinner after an entire day adventuring and exploring

Valeria went to sleep at Arachne's while I went back to my tent to hit the sack.

I was woken up in the middle of the night. I don't know what it was but I sensed bloodlust, I don't know how I got it but somehow I can sense killing intents around me since the Dragon king's trial.

I swiftly put on my magic robe over my armor and sneakily left the tent, all I saw was quiet a camp. Everything seemed fine and normal except there were no patrolling guards.

"Lyan! Lyan! This is bad! " Valeria also came running out of their tent

"What's happening " I had no idea what was going on but she probably does.

"Sleeping powder was spread all over the camp! "Valerie explained.