[Novel] I Don't Really Understand Love (Tentative) Chapter 24: Confusion

Chapter 24: Confusion

After Terrastine, who had been facing her on the bed, drank the red liquid in the test tube and suddenly lost consciousness, Camusyana waited for her to wake up with bated breath.

The red liquid was a potion to cure status ailments. Using materials gathered from various places, she had managed to concoct it in the pharmacy laboratory's mixing room at the academy. She hadn't been able to make much, but since there were still materials left, it was possible to mix the medicine again if something happened. The method for creating the medicine was recorded and kept separately.
However, it would be meaningless if this medicine didn't work. If Terrastine didn't wake up and return to her former state, it would be out of the question.

How much time had passed since Terrastine lost consciousness?
Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her eyelids opened.

“Terra.”
“Camusyana.”

When Terrastine saw Camusyana's face, she twisted her own. When Camusyana reached out, sensing that her reaction was strange, Terrastine grabbed her hand. Camusyana bit her lip at the strength of that grip. Her nails dug into her hand so deeply that blood began to drip.

“Terra. What are you doing?”
“Please stay by my side forever.”

She raised the corners of her mouth while tears spilled from the edges of her eyes. She was gripping one of Camusyana's hands so tightly that she couldn't shake her off. Then, she raised her other hand.
Perhaps she had manifested it the same way she would a rapier, but she held a dagger in her raised hand, and without hesitation, she swung it down toward Camusyana's chest.

Camusyana grabbed Terrastine's wrist as it was swung down toward her own chest.
“Terrastine. There is no need to harm me. I will stay by your side until you say you don't want me to.”
“It was you who taught me that if I harm you and then follow you, we can be together forever.”

Camusyana had no memory of saying such a thing.
Judging by her appearance, the spell that seemed to be the original charm had been successfully broken. However, it appeared she was still under some kind of spell.

What did you do, Diethelm?
Camusyana bit her lip lightly while still holding Terrastine's wrist.
It would be easy to loosen her grip on her wrist and give her her life, just as she wished. But when she returned to her senses, she would regret harming her with her own hands. If things went poorly, she might even follow her in death.

Camusyana thought that perhaps the amount of medicine was too small and had only neutralized the charm effect. If Terrastine was still under some kind of status ailment spell, she had no choice but to give her additional medicine.

Camusyana tightened her grip on Terrastine's wrist. Terrastine's face twisted. The dagger she had been holding fell off the bed, as she could no longer hold it due to the pain.

“Let go!”
“I refuse. I want to save you.”
“I am... weak, so I cannot stay by your side as I am now.”
“You are not weak.”
“No. I cannot be of any help to you. Because I am weak, I am a person who is not needed. Please don't leave me. Camusyana. I cannot live without you!”

Were the tears she was shedding coming from the pain in her wrist, or because she loathed the idea of parting with Camusyana? At the very least, she was seeking help from Camusyana.

“Terrastine. I am the same; I cannot live without you.”
“If that is so...”
“That is why I want to live with you. You are stronger than you think you are. I am saved by having you by my side. So, I am the one who wants to be your strength.”
“...”
“I will never leave you behind. As I said before, as long as you don't say you hate it, I will stay by your side.”

“I am always being helped, and I am always causing you trouble.”
“If we are talking about that, I am the one causing you trouble because of my birth and position.”
“I just want to be by your side.”
“I agree. I want to be by your side, too.”
“I don't want you to be in danger trying to save me. I am afraid of losing you.”
“Because I am by your side, I am putting you in danger. I don't want to lose you either.”

“Are we thinking the same thing?”
“We are thinking the same thing.”
“...”
“Won't you take the medicine one more time? Terrastine.”
The strength left Terrastine's body. Seeing her condition, Camusyana released her wrist and rubbed the area that had turned red and was oozing blood with her palm.

Camusyana picked up the test tube on the table beside the bed. She placed her hand on the chin of the Terrastine before her, tilted her face up, then took the red liquid from the test tube into her own mouth and, along with her magical power, poured it into her through their joined lips.

Continued in Chapter 25