Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world Chapter 480: The First Companion [4]

The desert night had turned piercingly cold.

Brandon approached the modest, improvised camp that Rheanne had pitched, shielded by a massive rock outcrop.

Glancing inside, he spotted Rheanne seated cross-legged upon a thick blanket retrieved from her spatial storage.

Her long white hair tumbled over one shoulder as she perused an ancient leather-bound tome.

Next to her sat a plain metal cup brimming with water, alongside several portions of flatbread bundled in fresh cloth.

’She’s truly well-prepared,’

Rheanne looked up instantly as he neared, her expression softening just a touch.

Silently, she grasped a piece of bread and held it out to him.

"Here..."

Brandon accepted the bread from her grasp.

He chewed it deliberately, savoring each bite.

’It’s pretty good,’

Following endless hours trudging across the desert sands, even simple bread seemed heavenly.

He settled opposite her within the tent, legs folded, as he kept eating.

Gazing at her, he inquired, "You keep these in that strange storage space?"

Rheanne nodded briefly.

She stretched her left hand forward, and the air near her palm warped inward.

Her hand slipped through the void, vanishing into a hidden realm, as if dipping into an unseen spatial pouch.

Soon after, she withdrew another slice of bread and a compact waterskin.

"I possess this... kind of free space for storing items," she clarified steadily.

"It proves incredibly useful. Provisions, water, bedding, arms... I’ve grown accustomed to stashing all essentials for extended journeys."

Brandon observed the feat in silent wonder, still munching away.

"I see..."

Rheanne handed him the waterskin. "Drink. Hydration is crucial."

Brandon took it and gulped down several deep swallows.

He returned it, eyeing as she tucked it back into storage.

They lingered in cozy quietude, partaking in the basic repast while the lantern bathed them in a cozy golden light.

After a stretch, Rheanne spoke again. "You mentioned awakening your power two years back... and concealing it."

Her gaze turned inquisitive upon him. "How did you pull that off? Most who uncover such energy struggle to keep it under wraps for long. It transforms you. Your view of the world. How the world perceives you."

Brandon selected his words with caution, aware of the era and the temporal paradox ensnaring him.

"I got lucky," he replied. "Reliable folks surrounded me, aiding in the secrecy."

Rheanne nodded deliberately, taking it in. "You’re blessed. Trust vanishes quickly amid power."

She glanced at her hands, then met his eyes again. "I... I’d love to learn more about your power. Its sensation for you. Your methods of control. If you don’t mind sharing."

Brandon paused briefly, then opted for maximum honesty without shattering the delicate timeline.

"It’s like... an extension of myself," he described. "A secondary pulse. At times effortless to wield. Others, tough to rein in. Yet I’ve mastered flowing with it rather than battling it."

Rheanne absorbed his words closely, her stare fixed on his features.

"I get that sensation,"

"My initial awakening brought a tempest within. Months passed before I tamed this energy surging inside."

A subtle smile graced her lips. "It feels good... discussing it with someone who truly comprehends."

Brandon mirrored her smile. "Yeah. It does."

Beyond the tent, the desert night maintained its frigid vigil.

---

"You term it ’ether’?" she queried, a gentle laugh slipping from her lips.

"Quite an amusing label. I simply refer to it as ’energy’. Hmm... perhaps I’ll adopt ’ether’ henceforth."

She repeated the word, "Ether... It rolls off the tongue nicely."

Brandon merely grinned, but then epiphany struck. ’Hold on... so I’m the one who coined ’ether’ as ’ether’?’

’Meaning, if Rheanne spreads it as ether... everyone else will too...’

This exchange transcended idle chat.

It marked the genesis.

The precise instant "ether" infiltrated global lexicon.

He had originated it.

Via her.

The Bootstrap paradox clenched tighter still.

Rheanne caught the abrupt change in his look and cocked her head. "Something amiss, Kael? You appear as if a vital memory just resurfaced."

Brandon swiftly concealed his inner chaos behind a nonchalant shrug and faint smile.

"Nah. Just pondering how names cling to concepts. ’Ether’ outshines plain ’energy,’ right?"

Rheanne let out another soft chuckle. "It surely does."

She sipped lightly from the metal cup, then extended it his way. "Drink. Night’s chill drains moisture quicker than anticipated."

Brandon took the cup and drank leisurely, the refreshing water easing his parched throat.

While returning it, his thoughts kept whirling.

'If I'm the one introducing the term "ether" via Rheanne... then the ranking system afterward, the guilds, the full modern grasp of awakeners... could all stem from this one chat.'

'So, yeah... being here doesn't shatter the timeline.'

'It's fulfilling it.'

History remained unchanged by him.

History progressed as it did because of him.

The essence of the Bootstrap paradox lies here, where some elements lack any 'origin' point.

A faint smile formed on his lips. 'Interesting...'

'Still, caution is needed in what I say...'

She eased back a little, propping her back against a tent pole.

"For now, rest if you can. I'll keep watch."

Brandon nodded, then settled onto the blanket, eyes fixed on the tent ceiling.

Gazing at Brandon's sleeping face, Rheanne's eyes narrowed faintly. 'A weird energy pulse from him echoes within me.'

'Not sure the reason... perhaps because our special powers align?'

'I also can't fully trust an unknown person.'

She regarded his calm features. 'But still... he sleeps so soundly beside a stranger like me.'

'With such faith in me, I should return it.'