"Big brother, I'm hungry..." she whispered, her voice still trembling slightly.
Rose was well aware that she hadn't been kind to Rio in the past. She had even gone so far as to wish that he would be killed by a beast and captured by the Asuras, becoming trapped in the Asura's cage himself.
However, as she looked into his eyes, Rose couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment and guilt for her past actions. She wanted to make amends, and so she decided to adopt a more affectionate attitude toward him, emulating the role of a caring little sister that he had wanted her to be during their first meeting.
Seeing the vulnerability in Rose's eyes, Rio felt a sense of amusement at her change in behavior.
He gave her a faint smile and reached into his spatial storage, pulling out some orange, round fruits that were typically found in the wilderness.
"Here, eat these," he said gently.
Rose's hands swiftly grasped the fruits offered by Rio, her desperation clearly visible. She sank her teeth into the succulent fruit, savoring its sweet and mildly tangy flavor. The sensation of relief and sustenance washed over her, as she finally had something to satiate her hunger after such a long period of time.
Emotions overwhelmed her, and tears brimmed in her eyes, reflecting her gratitude for the much-needed nourishment.
Rio watched as tears trickled down Rose's cheeks. He moved closer and tenderly brushed away the tears with his thumb.
As she continued to savor the life-giving fruit, Rose gazed up at Rio's kind face and made a silent promise to herself. She vowed to be a better sister to him, to stand by his side and offer her unwavering support in return for the love and care he had shown her during her darkest hour.
This experience taught her an important lesson: a person's true nature and worth could only be tested in times of adversity. The one who came to her rescue in her desperate situation was the very boy she had once hated, proving that kindness and love could be found in the most unexpected places.
As she devoured the fruits given by Rio, her eyes flickered with curiosity, and she couldn't help but ask in her weakened, tone, "Big brother, Where did you manage to get these fruits out of nowhere?"
With a lighthearted tone, Rio explained, "I got lucky and acquired a rare beast soul that allows me to store food and other essentials inside." As he spoke, he pulled out more fruits for her, noticing that the little rascal's stomach still wasn't satisfied after devouring six of them. She was eating so quickly that he worried about her ability to digest it all properly.
Understanding that she must have been starving, he gently chided her, "You should eat slowly, so you don't make yourself sick."
Rose nodded, realizing that she had been eating quite ravenously. With an embarrassed expression, she continued to eat, but at a somewhat slower pace than before. As Rio watched her, she reminded him of a younger version of Second mother.
Eventually, Rose stopped eating after finishing her eleventh fruit. She hesitated to eat more, not wanting to deplete Rio's supply or appear too greedy.
"So how did you end up here?" he asked gently, hoping to learn more about what had happened to her.
Rose paused for a moment, wiping away the remnants of the fruit from her lips. Her eyes took on a distant look as she recalled the events that had led her to this dark and labyrinthine cave.
"When I used the AI watch to teleport, I ended up here, in an unknown location. I went out to explore my surroundings and discovered I was in a cavern. But when I tried to go back, a terrifying beast chased me.
So I hid where it couldn't find me, and after a while, I tried to return to the portal capsule. But I couldn't find the way back to it. I made sure to leave tracks behind so I could come back here, but I still couldn't find my way back..."
Rose explained with a sad tone in her voice. Despite her distress, the girl's face had regained some of its glow after eating the juicy orange fruits.
'Eve was right; while she can help me locate the place where Rose was teleported, the little girl won't be able to find her way back to a human shelter alone. If she doesn't make it to safety soon, her progress in strength and training will be hindered.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to bring her back to a secure location later on, as I'll be busy with my own tasks. Therefore, it's best to take her with me now to a safer place, where the Havenglow Family can eventually escort her to their shelter.'
Rio's mind raced as he formulated a plan to get Rose out of the treacherous caverns.
"Alright, Rose, I guess I'll be leaving now... You should be able to find your way on your own, right?" Rio said with a playful glint in his eyes, pretending to prepare for his departure, knowing full well that he had no intention of actually leaving her alone.
"Nooo... Please don't go..." Rose's voice wavered, and her face fell, genuinely believing that Rio was serious about leaving her behind.
"Why shouldn't I leave? After all, you used to hate me, didn't you?" Rio asked gently, kneeling down and placing his hands on his knees as he looked deeply into Rose's eyes with a soft expression.
"I'm sorry for how I treated you... I promise I'll love you even more than I love big sister, Lily..." Rose apologized, her gaze falling to the ground, her eyes shimmering with tears as if she couldn't bear any more teasing from the boy.
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Edited By: TheWhiteSnow
