Yes? You do have to readjust the wrappings around your chest anyways.

After waiting in anticipation for your answer, the color in Maxius' eye sockets turns back to yellow and shines brightly as you sigh.

"Alright, I'll help you. As embarrassing as it is, I also need to readjust the cloth around my chest, so if that makes you happy, then good for you, but I don't intend on showing anything else," you explain.

Maxius gasps, completely content with that arrangement.

"Oh yes! Thank you Araatris, you'll make some old bones quake with happiness!"

You can't help but look at the skeleton in disgust. This guy is absolutely hopeless. Is this how he usually acts? In the small chance that he does "revive", then you were going to have to put up with him.

"...I'm having second thoughts about giving you my blood."

"W-what? Why?" Maxius cries, the color in his eyes turning blue.

You frown and glare at the sorcerer. "In the case that you do revive, that means I'll have to put up with your antics. I've trained as a monk all my life and while I have to learn to be tolerant, I also wish to avoid any distractions."

Maxius gasps. "I'm a little offended, monk. Yes, I may be...overzealous, but I see that a good thing. Even in this mountain which may hold who-knows-what, it's important to remain optimistic, no?"

Your upper cheek twitches again and you close your eyes. He wasn't wrong, but at least he knows he can be too upbeat.

You must always to ready to stay in control of your emotions, Araatris. The best warrior is one that learns to make peace with others

God damn it...of all times, Master Jamkas's wisdom repeats in your mind and you know he is right. Even after ****, it seems he still follows you.

"Fine," you sigh as you open your eyes, "Let's just get this over with. I honestly wouldn't show you anything if it weren't for the fact that you are just bones and I have to readjust myself."

"Oh, I understand completely! Trust me, I'm not taking anything for granted and I truly appreciate this!" he passionately welcomes.

You could only curl your lips. Even though Maxius is just a skeleton, the fact that his shining eyes are staring at you intently made you feel a little violated. There isn't anything he can do, but you don't like how eager he is. Your chest is nothing special and is simply fat that needs to be restricted so that you can fight properly. You will never understand men.

Imagining this whole strange situation to be just another one of your tests, you begin to loosen your sash so you can find the end of the yellow cloth that is wrapped around you. It is found to your right side of your waist, kept secure by your sash. Like peeling off skin, you take the loose corner and pull it back, unwrapping your kashaya from your backside and slowly coming around from the front.

"...yes..."

You ignore the skeletal fool in front of you and switch hands so you can pull the cloth around your upper body again, then up to your shoulder on the opposite side; doing so reveals your chest that is tightened around by white strips of cloth.

"Beautiful! You have such a well-toned body; not like those beastly muscle-women who I see carrying their huge swords against their back! I'm feeling my bones shake upon seeing your curves and thickness, but your chest - they are bigger than I imagined! How can you restrict your body like that? It's against the very laws of nature, I say! You look also rather uncomfortable..."

Your cheek twitches despite trying to ignore the sorcerer's comments. You are uncomfortable, but the fact that he is paying so much detail to your body makes you shiver a little. Unable to help the rising heat of embarrassment, you feel your cheeks rise in heat. This only spurs the sorcerer even further.

"Oh, Araatris! You are simply teasing me, aren't you? Ah, but this is much better than I could have imagined! Seeing a maiden blush as she slowly strips to reveal her beauty makes it all the more exciting. Ah...wait, you are a maiden, right?"

You literally shake, biting the bottom of your lips. Why are you getting so worked up by his words? Calm your emotions...calm your emotions...calm-fuck it.

"If you don't shut the hell up, I will smack you into dust!" you threaten, snarling.

Maxius instantly regresses in fear, not wanting to incur your monk wrath, but he couldn't help but persist...a little.

"O-okay, but I still wish to know, are you a maiden?" he inquires with rising hope in his voice.

You really couldn't ignore him right now, even if you wanted to. Perhaps you have an opportunity to lower his hopes as he thinks you are unmarried. The truth is that you are a maiden as you really didn't have the time to engage in "love".

"...and what if I am?" you counter with raised eyebrows.

"Ah...well, I'd feel terribly guilty for wanting to court with you. At this point, it may only be a dream since I am nothing but bones; however, if I am to revive..."

"Well, I am sorry to raise your hopes, but I am married," you lie.

"You lie!" he accuses causing you to flinch, "I don't know why I even asked! I have never once seen a married monk...or truthfully, any monk actually now that I think about it. You people really are isolated, huh?"

You let out an exasperated sigh. What's the point of lying to this fool? He's never going to believe your word anyways.

"Let's just get this over with," you groan, pulling what was left of the kashaya off your shoulder with your whole frontal body visible with the exception of your chest with is covered. It wouldn't be for long as you quickly unravel the white strips of cloth, making haste ensuring you won't have to listen to Maxius' commentary.

Instead, Maxius chuckles, gasps, and groans which you found is much worse. Your breasts which protruded forward and dropped a little caused the skeleton in front of you to groan in delight. His commentary started again.

"What shapely breasts! Araatris, I may not have the parts required to grow literally excited, but my soul is quivering! They aren't too big or small, just perfect enough to jiggle a little as you breathe! Those pink nipples of yours are also too sweet!"

This is awful to endure and you needed end this quickly. Taking the white strips of cloth you unraveled, you start at the side, just underneath your arm and wrap the strip from above your breasts. You wind down while ignoring Maxius' clear awe as he watches with intensity. You calm yourself as much as you can, less you tug on the cloth and tighten around your chest too much.

With your chest now protruding more forward, but still contained and snug, you close your eyes and sigh, reaching back to grab your yellow robe and drape it around your shoulder.

As you finish changing, Maxius calms down a little, but you could hear his bones rattling, emphasizing the "excitement" he received by your showing.

"Ah, Araatris...I think that if I have to die, I can go quietly. Thank you."

You almost glare at him but focus your attention on wrapping your yellow cloth around to hide the rest of your body. If only he remained quiet while you unclothed, maybe it wouldn't have been so painfully embarrassing. You really wanted to smash his skull into the wall.

Control of your emotions, Araatris...

"God damn it, master, why must you keep reminding me even in ****...?" you complained out loud, pausing as you realized you let your thoughts roam outside.

"Master? Oh yes, that's right - the one who gave your name. So he has also passed away as well? I must give you my condolences again. If I am able to travel with you, I would like to get to know you better and perhaps your master who raised you," Maxius requests with surprising solemness.

He is too insightful. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons he was a great sorcerer.

Regardless of his intelligent that you at least acknowledged, you do hope that there is a chance that he passes on. Considering what you offered to him, he should at least be satisfied and able to rest peacefully.

Finishing up your kashaya and holding it from falling apart by tightening your sash, you stand up. You breathe in and once again calm yourself. You can feel the heat fading from your face as you forget about Maxius' antics.

Putting a hand close to your mouth, you bite into the side of your hand, just below your thumb and allow it to bleed a little. Squeezing your hand into a fist, you extend your arm over Maxius' skull as he shakes a little.

"Oh...I am quite nervous. Is it weird that I feel more nervous about awakening to my hidden vampiric heritage than to find out that nothing works?" he asks, just before a little blood seeps out of your hand.

You curl your lips with a grim outlook. "To be honest Maxius, I worry too. Please remember that I am doing this because I don't mind your help. If you revive, then it may mean that I am not intended to travel alone."

Maxius sighs, more serious now. "I do wish to help you, Araatris. If I do attack you in bloodlust, I hope you forgive me and quickly manage to end my life..."

His tone changes as he grows a little more humorous. "...and if I attack you in lust, I hope you take that as a compliment to your beauty."

Your cheek twitches. This guy...

Everything is up to fate and Maxius' heritage as a single blood drop finally drops out of your hand and splatters against his skull, staining it...