Isola's brows raised slightly at his words, a mixture of surprise and confusion flickering across her features. She hadn't expected such concern from a stranger, especially one who was going to die in the belly of the Kraken.
Her voice resonated firmly yet softly in his mind, like the gentle caress of a sea breeze, "You don't have to bother feeling sorry for me. This is the path I've chosen, and I have to see it through, even if it costs me my life," Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for argument.
As she continued, her voice took on a melancholic edge, "Even if I wanted to leave this cocoon, the Kraken wouldn't allow it since it would hurt itself in the process and wouldn't want me going back on my promise. My fate can't be changed, and I must fulfill my destiny to ensure the survival of my people. I can't let them down," She met his gaze, a flicker of determination shining in her eyes, even as they held the weight of her sacrifice.
Asher inwardly smiled as he learned something very important. It seemed as if he didn't even have to try and damage the Life Pearl. All he would have to do was free her from the cocoon, and the Kraken will get weakened. It was like killing two birds with one stone.
Asher's expression softened as his eyes met hers.
He exhaled slowly, deliberately, as if gathering his resolve, "Isola," he began, his voice gentle, "I understand your devotion to your people, but I can't just stand by and watch you sacrifice yourself in such a miserable way."
Isola wasn't expecting him to care so much. A flicker of emotion crossed her face, a mix of confusion yet appreciation for his concern and a resigned acceptance of her fate.
She knew he couldn't do anything to change her fate but was probably telling all this to make her feel better which made her feel even more grateful.
"I appreciate your concern," she began, her voice laced with a gentle sadness, "But I have made peace with my destiny. All I eagerly await is my people having a future without fear. I have been waiting and preparing for it for my entire life."
Her gaze drifted away from him, as if she were looking into the distance, into the unknown future, "Besides, we're trapped inside the Kraken. There's no way out of here. We're both doomed to die in this place. I have always wondered how beautiful the surface world must be, but maybe you can share your experiences with me until our time comes?"
Her words hung in the air, heavy and resigned. In her heart, she felt a strange sense of relief in sharing these thoughts with a stranger.
She also didn't know why she was feeling relaxed having a conversation with this man when she was going to die soon. Perhaps, this was the final and only chance fate gave her to pour out everything she had been bottling up inside.
Asher's eyes held a spark of defiance as he responded to her resignation, "Why ask me about my experiences when you can experience the outside world for yourself?" he challenged, "Even if we're going to die, how can you give up without trying to seek out a better way?"
He paused, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "And maybe, just maybe, you can convince your people to broker peace with the Bloodburn Kingdom. This war won't end without most of your people dying. If the Bloodburn Kingdom gets desperate, they'll unleash everything they've got on your people, even if it means hurting their own kingdom in the process. Your people had been suppressed and suffering for thousands of years. Do you really believe they can push back the entire Bloodburn Kingdom?"
His words struck a chord within Isola, as she knew deep down the truth in what he said, even if she didn't want to accept that.
"I know that you also don't want to really follow the path you have chosen," he added, his eyes locking onto hers, searching for any flicker of agreement before adding.
Isola's heart skipped a beat as his words resonated within her. A whirlwind of emotions swirled inside her, clashing with the certainty she had held onto for so long. She always had a lingering doubt in her mind if her people would really win the war with the help of her sacrifice.
She never wanted to think about such a devastating possibility since it would mean everything she went through and did would be for nothing while failing to save her people.
The main reason for her believing in her sacrifice was the prophecy. The prophecy of the Ancients can never be wrong.
However, at the same time she remembered how the prophecy mentioned 'In life or death', meaning she could also save her people without dying.
The possibility of a different path, one where she might not have to sacrifice herself for her people, was both hopeful and terrifying.
But none of her people or even she considered this possibility since there was no possible path to fulfill it.
The only way she and her people knew was to gain the favor of their guardian.
The Bloodburn Kingdom was known to be ruled by greedy, ruthless and vile people who would seek to suppress anything that might threaten them or destroy anything that might benefit them, especially House Thorne.
She still remembered the terrifying tales of the Ravager and how he tormented her ancestors before banishing them to rot and die.
If they really felt sympathetic for her people or were willing to accept the mistakes of their ancestors, why would they engage in war instead of trying to broker peace?
Her resentment towards the Bloodburn Kingdom was no less than that of her people, but on the inside, she also didn't want her people to die.
She felt that it was just a fleeting dream and that this sailor was too naive to think they could broker peace. She knew he would think like that since he was not a part of the Bloodburn Kingdom.
And so she said with a firm shake of her head, "I know there is some truth to your words, but the harsh reality is that there can never be any peace. If we are doomed to get wiped out then…so be it. At least we would die trying to reclaim our ancestral lands. We can die with honor instead of helplessly awaiting our deaths in the Forbidden Waters," She said, her eyes glinting with cold determination.
However, her gaze locked onto his face as a flicker of curiosity flashed past her face, "But why do you care so much about what happens to me?" She felt that in a situation like this, anyone else would be more worried about themselves than someone they just came upon.
Asher's eyes softened as he took a deep breath, "I know that we barely know each other," he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability, "But I... I once knew someone very close to me who sacrificed themselves for the good of others. They believed that their sacrifice would bring about a change, save everyone they cared about. But in the end... nothing good came out of it. Their death only brought more suffering, more pain to those who cared about that person," As Asher said this, his eyes briefly rippled.
He paused, as if the weight of his past weighed heavily on his words, "Seeing you here, in this situation, I can't help but see them in you. The same resolve, the same willingness to give up everything for a cause you believe in. But I don't want you to end up like them. That day I learned that you don't trade your life for uncertainty. The future's unwritten, but you can't rewrite it once you're gone. There has to be another way, a better way. And I'm willing to do everything I can to help you find it."
Isola's heart trembled as his words washed over her. She could hear the sincerity in his voice, the echoes of pain from the story he shared.
Despite the resolve that still lingered within her, she couldn't help but feel moved by his words, wondering if her future was really unwritten.
She never expected she would feel stirred from the words of a stranger. By now, she was feeling curious to learn more about this trapped sailor but knew it was just another one of her hopeless wishes.
Just as she was about to tell him to not try anything reckless, she saw her taking out a blade in the shape of a ring.
The intricate design and the deadly green glint of the metal captured her attention, momentarily silencing her.
Her heart raced as she looked from the blade to his determined expression. She felt a mixture of shock, concern and curiosity, wondering what he planned to do with the weapon. Was he truly planning to die while trying to free her?
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Isola finally spoke, her voice wavering slightly, "What…What are you doing? You cannot be serious. The Kraken will—urgh…" Isola suddenly grimaced as the eerie dark veins spread even more across her face, her life force gradually dwindling by the second.
But she wanted to warn him to not come closer since it would be miserable to get dissolved to death.
Asher said in a determined tone, "Don't strain yourself, Isola. Since I am doomed, I shall die trying. Just sit tight," Asher had engaged in a conversation with her for the past few minutes since he was waiting to let his MP get replenished fully. Afterall, he would need every wisp of it. But he wasn't completely sure if he would make it.
Worst case, he will have to teleport to the Dimension of the Damned before his MP runs out and then recuperate using his health potion. But that would mean he would fail what he set out to do and possibly his future and plans ruined.
Isola took deep breaths as she tried to gather the strength to quickly warn him. But just as she looked ahead, her eyes widened as he leaped forward, towards her, "Don't!!"
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