Chapter 231: A Hot Kiss (1)
Kestrel and Ren walked back through the vibrant flower sea. They felt lighter than when they arrived; their hearts weren’t weighed down with serious problems, allowing them to enjoy the endless blossoms around them.
Bright flowers, a glowing Ferris wheel, blossoms surrounding the amusement park.
Colors were as vibrant as morning clouds, and landscapes here felt like a dream. This place was a real wonderland, making Kestrel wonder which beta had been consumed by the Mantis Queen many years ago.
The more enchanting and dreamier the flower sea seemed, the more it brought out a feeling of tragic magnificence.
Ren had a hurt leg, which made walking tough, so they both mounted the orca.
The orca glided quite low, its white underside barely touching the soft petals below, cruising over the rolling hills and causing a swirl of petals and leaves behind it.
They noticed an unusually pretty roof sprouting from the ground, decorated with a line of colorful neon lights showcasing a word from ancient times, which meant "hotel" or "inn".
Back in the old days, structures with this marking were quite common. However, in today’s world, places like vacation hotels were no more, and no one used alphabetic script any longer.
Ren proposed to Kestrel that they should rest here to escape the scorching daytime heat. Having frequently ventured into the Polluted Zone, he was well-versed in the different functions of the buildings from the ancient cities. He was familiar with what could be found in hospitals, pharmacies, supermarkets, movie theaters, amusement parks, and the likes, and naturally, he knew about establishments such as hotels.
On their journey to this place, he had noticed this roof and sign from a distance. Back then, they hadn’t given it much thought because they were chasing their group and couldn’t pick their path. But as they were returning, without any hurry or time constraints, Ren nurtured a private wish.
He wished that Kestrel’s initial memories of their time together weren’t just of dark caves, muddy dirt, and a bloodied version of him. He hoped that Kestrel wouldn’t associate their time together with his unkempt state.
Regrettably, Ren lacked both the time and energy to arrange something nice for Kestrel. Looking back, even their close moments seemed inadequate.
That time when they were being intimate, under the gaze of Kestrel’s golden eyes, he lost his composure, giving in too easily, not embodying the typical traits of an alpha.
In his heart, Ren wished to locate a slightly gentler and cleaner place where they could spend quality time together.
The subterranean area marked with the hotel sign didn’t let them down. Inside, they discovered amenities like a bathing area, carpeted flooring, couches, and a food heating counter. Certainly, there was a big, firm bed available - but the thought of the bed made Ren a bit uneasy, he barely dared to glance at that room.
The room wasn’t expansive but it was neat, a massive improvement compared to their usual makeshift shelters in caves.
Ren felt a silent sigh of relief.
In the shower, Kestrel let the water wash away the deep-rooted heaviness in her heart. She found herself enjoying the water, maybe because her psychic incarnation was linked to a water creature.
The fresh, chilly water poured over her, removing the dirt and blood from her body. The dirt-infused water spiraled down the drain, and her tendrils playfully came out, splashing on the wet floor amidst the rivulets of water.
Throughout their adventure, she’d rolled amidst flowers, wriggled through dark caverns, all while being covered in dust. Yet, the most traumatic part was the passage through that hallway where she saw the utmost agony and sorrow of numerous individuals. The screams of those impaled and the torment of those engulfed by flames haunted her thoughts, blending with the sound of the running water.
It felt like Kestrel had been witness to the most heartbreaking experiences of the human realm.
As she smoothed her wet, long hair, her mind involuntarily wandered to Ren, similar to the moments when she craved sugar to lift her spirits.
She remembered standing amid the blossoms, lifting her eyes to see Ren’s visage emerging above the clear dome, marred with wounds and blood, displaying a ruthless resolve as he sliced open a foe’s neck without a second thought.
His reserved demeanor in her presence contrasted sharply with his ruthless attitude in battle, which held an allure that made her heart race.
His solo infiltrations into the Tower, countless ventures into the Polluted Zone, and his dedication to the underground movement aiming to topple the tower showed his fierce resolve and readiness to stake his life. It was only with Kestrel that he unveiled a gentler side, willing to forsake everything to be her alpha.
Throughout her life, Kestrel had little that was truly hers - no family, no home, and scarce friends.
Her attire was provided by the academy, her hobbies orchestrated by the Tower, and even her future spouse was assigned by the government. This left her heart feeling barren, consumed by a loneliness that seemed unfillable.
But over the recent two years, she felt like she was finally seizing a lot of precious things in her grasp. For someone who had been devoid of possessions, she yearned to cherish them dearly.
She had an alpha now, an alpha who wholly belonged to her, both in flesh and spirit.
Kestrel shut off the water and exited the bathroom.
She’d taken somewhat of an extended time to shower, and as she emerged, she spotted Ren preparing a meal on the stove. Kestrel couldn’t pinpoint where he scavenged the ingredients from. The smell floating in the room was enticing, reminding Kestrel that she really need to eat something now..
Ren had this knack, somehow always able to scrape together a meal no matter where they were. Given a place with pots and stoves, his impressive cooking skills came to the fore.
Earlier, Ren had freshened up, scrubbing his face and hair clean. His wrists and lower legs were now neatly wrapped in clean white bandages, and he had even procured a stick to aid his injured leg.
Currently, he was standing near the stove, one hand leaning on the stick, while the other managed the cooking tools, his face stern and attentive in the dancing glow of the fire.
His face, naturally good-looking, bore soft lines, giving off a warm and welcoming vibe, suddenly making Kestrel think he was not meant for the harsh realities of war.
Kestrel wished they could reside in a neat and cozy home like this, share a hearty meal, and perhaps she’d gift him with a gentle kiss afterwards. Maybe during their downtime, they could lounge in the sun in the backyard, journey on his orca to marvel at towering peaks and sheer cliffs, traversing expansive meadows and vast seas.
Ultimately, in another time period, a sweet, cheerful, and attractive individual like Ren should not be marred by violence, engulfed in bitterness and distress.
Across Ren’s face ran a significant scar, crossing the bridge of his nose. Though not distasteful, it stirred a deep sympathy within anyone who saw it.
