I quickly cleared my throat as I forced that feeling away and simply smiled at Ellie.

Ellie frowned for a moment before returning to her usual demeanor.

(I wonder if she was disappointed?...)

I then helped her to the tree, so that she could lean onto it for support.

"The picnic blanket is in my bag," Ellie said as she pats the tall tree as she looked at it with fondness.

I then reached into the bag she always keeps on the back of her wheelchair, and pulled out the picnic blanket, spreading it out on the grass.

I gradually helped her sit down on the blanket before joining her. The food was still warm from the casing, and it looked as amazing as it smelled. The food was some simple street vendor food, but Mr.Vaughn really knew how to cook.

"So, aren't you going to tell me about your travels this time?" Ellie asked suddenly.

"-Oh yeah that's right...Hmm, where do I start?"

"From the beginning of course. We have a while." Ellie said as she smiled.

"Hahaha...right." I scratched the back of my head nervously before I started to tell Ellie about my travels.

An hour later I finished my story, and I begin telling her about how I got the mark on my right hand.

Ellie would immediately snatch my hand to examining the mark closely."I thought you were starting to get tattoos, but thank goodness you aren't..."

"Ugh..." I began to feel the heat rush to my cheeks once more as Ellie gripped my hand.

(They are so warm...Wait!) I shook my head to snap out of my daze and slowly slid my hand out of her grasp.

"I'll have to eventually ask the captain about it. If he doesn't give me the answers, then I'll just force him to answer my questions." I said with resolve as I clenched my fists. However, despite the seriousness of the matter, Ellie would laugh at me.

"W-what?" I asked as I stared at her confusingly. (How was that funny?!)

"Oh, nothing. I'm just visualizing you trying to beat Captain Liam, but I don't see it turning out too well. You look too weak compared to him."Ellie continued to laugh at me while I can only silently agree.

(But did she have to laugh so loud about it?!)

Several moments later we would finally clean up and leave the hill. I could see Ellie constantly looking back as we made our way back into the main city. The day was still young so we decided to check a variety of different places.

I was having a lot of fun until someone familiar suddenly appeared.

"C-captain..." I acknowledged Liam who was precisely standing in front me with the broadest grin you could ever imagine was planted on his face.

"So, this is where you are boy Gahahaha!" Liam approached us and wrapped his arm around my neck.

The surrounding people gazed at him in awe as I heard people talk about him.

"It's Captain Liam! I want muscles like that!"

"The captain of the Axe Lions?! I want to be his disciple!"

"Oh wow he's so...manly~ isn't he single?"

I admit that the last one I heard embarrassed me. However, there was no change in Liam's demeanor as he was completely focused on me.

"So...I didn't catch you at the base last night boy. Care to tell me what happened."Liam's lips slowly rose into a gentle smile, but I could feel the hairs on the back on my neck stand up after seeing this smile.

"I-I uh... S-so what happened was..." I couldn't come up with a story to tell Liam, and I didn't want to tell him the truth.

"It's because of me sir! I told him to sleep with me!"Ellie said as she sternly looked up at Liam with her left fist clenched tightly. (What did she just say?!!!)

"You? Asked Ian to sleep with you? Liam started to show a different kind of smile, and finally, Ellie would comprehend the words she just muttered after a few moments of silence.

The people around us started talking again after Ellie made the comment.

"Oh, she is so bold!"

"They look a bit young..."

"I never thought someone could shout such things in the daytime."

"Ah! I mean! No, that's not what I meant!!!" Ellie's face instantly turned rosy red as she placed her hands over her eyes. I even found myself blushing after what she just said.

"Gahahaha!! Young people are definitely fearless!"Liam's arm tightened around my neck as he continued to laugh for a good minute.

(It hurts!)

"Ah, I'm ashamed to disturb you two. However, I request that you hand over Ian to me. Will you?"

"W-why are you asking me.....D-do what you want," Ellie responded as she tried to hide her blushing face with her hand.

I sighed as I eventually take Ellie back to the hospital along with Liam.

"I'll see you later Ellie"

"Yeah...come visit me again soon," Ellie said with a smile, but I could clearly hear a bit of disappointed behind her cheery voice.

Once we were out of the hospital, Liam immediately dashed down the street without a single word.

"C-captain!!" I shouted as I dashed right after him. I'm barely able to keep up with his speed, but I quickly noticed that I felt faster than I ever was before. I found myself saying "Sorry" and "Excuse me" as we ran throughout the city.

( This is incredible!... Wait..Where is the captain going?!!)

Liam who was still in front of me suddenly leaped on top of a tall neighboring building before continuing to dash away from me.

"Wait! Captain! What did you need me for?"I shouted as I started to get a little ticked off by Liam not communicating with me.

(That bastard won't get away from me!)

My eyes instantly turned multi-colored as I experienced the power from yesterday surface within my body. I immediately bent my knees before I used all the strength in my lower body to jump high into the air. However, trying to land on a building nearly 50 feet tall after jumping over 100 feet into the air was hard. The new heights forced me to lose concentration, and I started to flail my arms in the air

"Ahhh!!!"I screamed as I closed my eyes. "Why did I think that this was a good idea-"

"Guh!!"I groaned as I felt myself being snatched in the air by the scruff of my neck, and before I knew it I was back on the ground safely.

"W-what?"I gradually opened my eyes and looked up to see Captain looking at me with concern.

"I suppose that earns you a passing grade. I'll tell you all you need to know later. Let's go back to the base." Liam said as he lets go of my neck and started to walk off again.

I immediately dusted myself off before joining him on our way back to base.

(Finally...I need to know...what this power is..But..)