Chapter 36 - Research

Seeing the determination of the group, Riveria looked towards Ais and Ethan.

"The most important thing in the long run is to count on each other when you face difficulties. Doing everything alone can lower the trust you place in the other. My advice is to say most things to your partner, knowing that face it together can make you see a 'light' in every problem you might have."

Nodding, He reflected on her words.

'She's right.. I should talk with Ais of more issues, we should open to each other...'

Seeing the lost expression of Ethan, Riveria decided to hit him with her staff again.

Feeling the pain that always accompanied him when he was hit by Riveria, he heard her say

"Your problem is that you think too much. Although I'm the one saying to talk, it doesn't mean you should think about it so hard. Try to be natural with Ais, you know her personality, right?"

Nodding, Ethan understood she was right. Looking towards Ais, he squeezed her hand.

"You are right.."

Seeing him relaxing, Riveria sighed.

"Go with the flow but don't make it take you where you don't want to."

Hearing such wise words, he felt blessed to have the right to join and listen to Riveria's lessons.

'I think..with her guidance.. I won't have any problems..'

Although she didn't utter a word the whole time, Lefiya was listening to Riveria's words as always.

"I want to..talk about E-Ethan's magic...if he wants to.."

With a nod, Riveria said

"If it's something about magic... I'll gladly help you."

Smiling, Ethan replied

"I have a magic called [Boost Magic] that can boost my body and my mind. The thing that made Lefiya have doubts was the fact that I one-shotted a Goliath on the 17th floor."

Surprised by his words, Riveria started to think but, before she could, Ethan added

"The cause is the aftermath of my attack. A powerful shock wave spread in the Goliath's body, hitting the core and destroying it. She asked me If I can use [Boost Magic] to boost something I can touch but I still need to test it. Although I can do something similar with shock waves it consumes all my mana."

Nodding again, She tried to understand the information he gave her.

'I never heard of such a powerful magic..this kid.. Space Magic is rare but I saw some people with it. The fact his mana is always acting strange..now this Boost Magic.. I wonder what its origins are'

"Assuming your spell is capable of empowering everything you touch, can you control what to boost?"

Thinking about it, Ethan replied

"I should test it, I'm not sure..."

Understanding he didn't consider this, She sighed another time.

"We can test this tomorrow, for now, Show me your [Boost Magic]"

"Although I said I can boost my whole body, that doesn't mean I can't boost just a part of it. Concentrating the boost in one point can make the boost even more powerful than normal."

Seeing it with her eyes, Riveria replied

"I see, your mana is flowing in your right arm. And the boost of your mind? How can you boost your mind"

Dispelling the boost in his arm, he slowed his perception of time as he boosted his legs. In a fast move, he was in front of Riveria.

Seeing her surprised expression, he deactivated his [Boost Magic]

"I can slow my perception of time for short periods of time. Although this consumes a lot of mana."

At his words, She hardened her expression.

'I thought I knew nearly everything about magic, but he's making me think I now nothing about it..'

Deciding to take notes, Riveria said

"So...to make a brief of your Boost Magic. It can slow your perception of time, boost your body, parts or completely and If trained, you can boost shock waves"

Seeing Her do such a thing, Lefiya finally felt she wasn't the only one that wanted to understand how Ethan's magic works.

Going near her, she said

"Isn't it interesting? I want to study and help him with his magic...what do you think, Riveria?"

Nodding, Riveria answered

"I want to know how far his magic can reach...If Ethan wants to collaborate.."

Thinking for a second about it, Ethan said

"I want to know more about my magic, If the two of you can help me, I will gladly accept it. Just don't tell Loki because I will tell her in the future...When I feel I can trust her completely."

Understanding, the two looked at each other before Ethan directed his attention towards Ais. With a smile, he added

"I know it's not that important for you to know about my magic. Do you want to talk in another room?"

With these words, he held her hand like before. 'Smiling' she replied

"You don't have to...worry about me. If you want to talk about your magic... I will listen too.."

Without caring about her statement, he looked at Lefiya and Riveria.

"We will talk about it tomorrow. For now I need to talk with Ais..."

He went to the door, still holding her hand. Without saying anything, She followed behind him while Riveria sighed.

"She is kind. But it doesn't seem to work with Ethan. I understand now why even you chose to let them be. You saw he didn't want to take advantage of her from the start.."

With a nod, Lefiya replied

"I.. I can't intrude when he even w-welcomed me into their group.."

Hearing her words, She looked at the door.

'I will study his magic in detail from tomorrow..'

Although Lefiya had same thoughts in mind, her mind wasn't completely focused on Magic...

'The two of them.. Alone in a room... To talk...'

With a blush on her face, she said 'Good Night' to Riveria before leaving the room. Heading towards her own.

---

Arrived outside the door of Ais' room, Ethan smiled, saying

"I will stay in your room to sleep, okay?"

With a nod from her, the two entered her room. Closing the door behind him, he pointed to the bed.

"We can directly talk while on the bed, What do you think?"

Seeing that she was positive about the idea, Ethan took her with him to the bed. Without letting go of her hand, he added

"Our relationship started strangely but that doesn't mean anything. I feel I love you so much that just holding your hand makes me feel so happy..."

With his smile still present, he felt his heart beat faster but, without minding it, he continued his speech.

"I want you to be happy and, I will do everything I can to make it happen."

Hearing his words, she felt a warmth like every time she was close to him.

"I want..the same.."

With a nod, Ethan put his hand on her face.

"You're so cute..."

Although the two started well, he started to feel like his past wasn't even that important anymore. Embracing her, he felt the heat spread through his whole body.

'I want to kiss her..'

As if she read his mind, she immediately brought her lips on his. Getting used to her sudden kisses, he immediately replied with equal passion. Although they started with some light kisses, things escalated quickly to the point were their tongues were dancing together.

Feeling like this was their first kiss, he broke their kisses for a moment, only to start kissing her neck. With the atmosphere in the room turning more and more passionate, Ais felt like it didn't matter how many times she kissed him, she always felt the same emotion, even more than the first time.

After some minutes, Ethan released Ais' neck, only with the time to breathe before Ais kissed him again, searching for his tongue.

Looking directly in her golden eyes, he started to stroke her back without even realizing it. Feeling his hands moving, Ais felt the heat in her body only increase.

Feeling his lower body aching, he understood the situation would only escalate if he didn't stop for a moment. Detaching his mouth from hers for a moment, he placed his hand on her head, bringing it on his c.h.e.s.t.

Stroking the back of her head, he said

"Calm down...for a second..."

Gasping for air, Ethan knew Ais wanted to continue but, he decided it wasn't the right time to do it. Feeling her breath on his c.h.e.s.t, he felt his heart beating even faster than before.

Holding her even more in his embrace, he added

"I want to trust..Riveria's judgment...'

Feeling her breath stabilize, he smiled.

"We should sleep...."

Seeing her nodding while still attached to his c.h.e.s.t, he decided to kiss her forehead. having taken her interest, he added

"This is another kiss..on the forehead."

Without replying to his words, Ais went to sleep as he said. Knowing she fell asleep, Ethan decided to try to sleep as well.

'A nickname...'

Was all that he thought before his consciousness faded away.

---

Waking up, Ethan removed Ais' hair from his face. Seeing her still sleeping, he gently touched her back while saying

"Ais..we should get up.."

Without replying, Ais woke up. Placing her hands on his c.h.e.s.t, she looked at him for a moment before she brought her lips on his.

Smiling, He held her back while whispering

"Good Morning..."

With a 'smile' on her own, she got up from him.

"Good Morning.. Ethan"

Although he wasn't used to it, waking up with her still on top of him always made him feel happy. Seeing her starting change, he turned towards the door, saying

"Do you want to train me today?"

Hearing his words, she replied

"Yes..Lefiya...should come with us"

Nodding, he replied

"We can do half a day of training, and then we can go eat lunch together, what do you think?"

She replied without even think

"It's a good idea...you should ask..Lefiya.."

Knowing she finished changing, he turned towards her, replying

"Yes, for now I'll change as well"

Equipping a new pair of clothes from his Inventory, he said

"We should go now"

Seeing this, Ais asked

"Your magic...can even make you switch clothes..."

He nodded with a smile, answering her question

"Yes, they are clothes I bought in the city while I was going in the Dungeon, do they look good on me?"

With a nod of her own, she replied

"They look good...on you.."

He was wearing a red T-shirt with blue trousers he found in a shop near the Tower of Babel. Knowing he was at least good in his outfit, he said

"We can go then..."

Exiting the room, The two went towards Lefiya's room.

'Enjoy Life...huh...'

---

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can choose one of Ethan's future powers from the pool I created, but that's not all! On the server, you can see the reference on some things that will be present in the story! Right now you can freely see some things like the [Twin's Digimon] and [The Devoted Heart].)

(Alternate Titles: "Riveria, underestimating him before realizing that he was an OP existence.", "[Boost Magic] casually making itself the topic of 4 chapters", "From Riveria teacher of love to Riveria taking notes on Ethan's magic...")