"Are you sure?" I blurted out, not knowing what else to say.
"I'm sorry, sir, wh-what do you mean?" Tia responded, he was probably as confused as I was. He was blushing even more now, and I couldn't stop thinking how cute it was.
"You're Tianor Iris?"
This was Tianor Iris?
"Y-yes! You can call me Tia, sir."
"You're a boy?"
Was he really a boy?
"Um..." The freckles on his cheeks were swallowed by red, and he stared up at me with a teasing smile. "Of course I'm a boy!"
I looked down, studying his body once again. He was short, delicate, and completely feminine by all means. His waist was dainty, and gave way to his wide, curvy hips—the kind of hips genetically designed for breeding.
The only evidence to suggest he was a boy at all was the complete flatness in his chest. Maybe I was just used to seeing Amethyst's oversized boobs, though.
I couldn't believe it, but this boy had to be the most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life. I had to stop staring at his body and respond. I raised my eyes just slightly to meet his bashful gaze once again.
God, he was pretty.
I was usually good under pressure. I could fight a pack of magma wolves without breaking a sweat, or stroll into a dungeon full of giant, venomous cave spiders with a smile on my face and a fool-proof plan to win.
But right now, no thoughts came to mind, no words could be uttered. I was completely entranced by the… man in front of me. I was drowning in the frost-touched ocean of his eyes. Hypnotized by the innocence of his smile and overcome by the seduction of his curves.
I daydreamed of feeling his pink lips against mine and imagined how soft his milky white skin would feel pressed against me. I needed his perfect thighs squished on my lap, and my hands wrapped around his hips.
He must think I'm a weirdo staring at him without saying anything. I had to react, to do something.
I reached my hand out to him, "I'm Draven Kaste, leader of this Party."
He held out his small, gentle hand to mine. "Nice to meet you, Draven." His hand was soft, like how I imagined the gentlest of clouds to feel, and warm. I cherished the comfort I felt as I held his hand in mine, and wished I could live forever enveloped in that sensation.
I managed to let go of his hand after holding it for just a little longer than most would be comfortable with. Get it together, Draven, he's here to join your party as a healer, not for you to fall in love with. I took in a few deep breaths and tried desperately to rid my head of all the lewd fantasies.
"So you're a dual-class healer? You might be just what we're looking for, Tia." I was finally able to speak, bringing myself back into the moment.
"I am!" He exclaimed joyfully. "But I just experienced my rebirth this year, I am still learning to use my druidic magic."
Amethyst jumped after hearing those words and went into a frenzy, spewing off questions before Tia could respond.
"When did you first learn about your affinity with magic? How much mana do you have? Oh, wait, what spells can you cast!? Do you know..." And on and on she went.
Tia looked like he was about to collapse from all the questions.
While Amethyst had the healer distracted, I took a moment to calm myself down. I turned to Kyros, who was already tired of Amethyst's rambling. I thought it was a good way to learn more about Tia, though, if she would at least let him respond.
"So what do you think of him, man?"
"Tsk, just because he's a dual-class doesn't make him special. You heard him, he barely even knows how to use his power."
"You're a bit of a pessimist, you know that?" I joked, but Kyros didn't find it funny. "We were both new adventurers at one point; he just needs a little training, that's all."
"Just look at him, Draven. Do you really want such a weak looking boy as your healer?"
Weak wasn't how I would describe Tia.
Feminine, pretty, cute, small, beautiful. An angel to heal me, or an incubus that seduces me just standing there in his little skirt.
That's how I would describe Tia.
"What's that saying? Never judge a book by its cover? We haven't seen the full extent of his abilities yet."
"I recognize strength above all else. If he is strong, then let him prove me wrong."
I nodded to Kyros in agreement. His power as a healer is the most important thing right now, I can't let my judgment be swayed by his good looks. I needed someone I could count on, no matter what, to keep me alive in battle.
"Unbelievable…" Amethyst said, something had caused her to end her ceaseless interrogation of poor Tia.
I looked up to see her face frozen in awe, her purple eyes completely fixed on Tia.
I turn towards him and watch as well.
He was casting a spell. His hand was held palm up to the ceiling, and growing from his palm was a small flower. Its roots formed in golden light radiating from his hand and transformed into a green stem studded with leaves. I watched as it blossomed into delicate pink petals, filling the room with the sweet scent of nostalgia.
I was impressed. I had never seen anything like it before; it was truly beautiful magic, but Amethyst was stunned. Being able to impress her with magic was anything short of impossible; even my ability with ice magic didn't receive this response from the mage.
Dazzling colors of gold and green emanated from the flower and dispersed into glittering rainbows before blending with the sunlight that reached inside. The mirage of golden rainbows illuminated Tia's face and his perfect lips, which formed a shy smile.
Tia finally closed his palm, ending the floral display. He returned his attention to Amethyst to respond to a question she had asked him earlier.
"Sorry, that's the only druid spell I know right now." He said, embarrassed, the blush in his cheeks already returning.
He searched Amethyt's eyes for a response, but she was still in a daze. I pinched the tip of one of her elvish ears to pull her out of it.
"Ouch! Those are sensitive, you know!"
"Yeah, yeah. So what do you think of his magic?" I asked her.
"I almost can't believe it," her expression was solemn and sincere, "I never imagined anyone could be this gifted by Mother Nature, let alone a human. His mana is potent; even the ability to produce one small flower is something the most studied elves struggle with."
Tia's face filled with childish joy. His eyes glistened, and his bashful smile grew into a full-blown grin that reached across his face.
"Do you really mean it, hehe?" Tia asked, searching for more praise. He was adorable.
"It's something not even I'm able to do."
That really must be impressive then. Amethyst, despite her flaws, was unmatched in her magical knowledge and vast mana pool. If Tia could cast magic that she couldn't, he really has proven his strength.
"You're supposed to be a holy priest too, right?" Kyros' words cut through the air like the black steel daggers he kept hidden under his cloak. We all turned our focus to him in silence.
"The flower is a cool trick, but I'm not convinced yet. You're supposed to be a holy priest as well. Can you even cast high-level miracles?"
"Y-yes, I can! I might not be the strongest, but I know how to cast Greater Heal and Mass Restoration, um sir." Tia whimpered, looking down at his feet.
The assassin's dead black eyes were fixed directly upon Tia in a murderous gaze. His joy from earlier had completely faded now and was replaced with fear. His soft white skin grew even paler, and the knees under his long socks buckled.
He could really be terrifying if he was serious, but right now, Kyros was just testing Tia. He must want to see if his mind is strong enough to act under pressure. I was hoping he wasn't going to take it too far, though, because things could get ugly.
"Prove it then."
In an instant, Kyros held one of his curved, black daggers in his right hand and disappeared into the shadows.