In the depth of night, when the moon hung high in the dark infernal sky, a soft knock echoed through the stillness of Asher's private chambers.
As always, he tapped into the castle's senses - a magic woven into its very structure - to see who it was. Usually, it would be Merina returning after spending some time with her family.
But his heart clenched when he saw it was her and not Merina. A rush of conflicting emotions swirled within him as he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the encounter.
A moment of hesitation passed before Asher rose from his seat, his dove-gray skin gleaming faintly in the soft red moonlight that filtered through the room's lone window.
"Come in," he called out, his deep voice steady, a warm smile carefully plastered on his handsome face to hide the turmoil within.
The door creaked open, and Rowena stepped in. She was a vision in the dim light, her long black hair cascading down her back, framing her enchanting crimson eyes and full black lips.
The faint glow of moonlight painted her gothic beauty in bewitching majesty.
"Are you alright, Ash?" Her voice, soft and filled with concern, cut through the silence as she walked in with slightly hurried steps. Her crimson eyes took a quick scan of his body just to make sure he was okay.
By the faint hint of urgency in her voice, it seemed as if she had rushed straight toward his room right after learning some concerning news.
Asher stepped forward, the smile still lingering on his face, "Why do you ask?" he responded, though inwardly, his mind raced.
As far as he knew, only Merina and Isola were aware of what had transpired in the training room earlier.
Rowena's crimson eyes never left Asher's face as she answered, "I was too busy today," she began, her voice imbued with a strange mixture of worry and concern, "but I just found out now that Isola had rushed into your training room. Given that she has been of help to you before when you were ill, it got me wondering if there was an emergency today, something she needed to help you with. I don't remember her rushing in like this before."
Asher hadn't expected Rowena to deduce so much from that simple event. However, the truth in her speculation was too unnerving to acknowledge.
He moved closer to her, closing the distance between them. His hands gently took hold of hers, the warmth of her hand contrasting the rising tension in him.
"It was just a false alarm raised by Merina," he explained, his eyes holding her gaze. "I was deeply engrossed in comprehending my grimoire, so I didn't even notice it at the time."
Rowena's eyebrows relaxed, a relieved smile gracing her face, "I see...Still, if you ever need help, or if you're in danger, never hesitate to call me, Ash, no matter how busy I may seem to be," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath in the silence.
She then added, "I don't want to not be there when you need me," Her words held a promise, a mirror to her feelings.
Asher's heart skipped a beat. The sincerity in her voice stirred something within him - emotions he had been diligently suppressing. But then, the bitter reality of the bloody memories of the past clouded his thoughts, suffocating him.
Yet, amidst the whirlpool of emotions, Isola's soft words echoed in his mind, reminding him of a different perspective, causing a tumultuous clash within him. This delicate dance of emotions caused a storm to brew beneath the surface, disturbing his composure.
Even if he had to face a dragon in a battle, he would never lose his composure. Yet, all this was hitting him right where it hurt.
Sensing the irregularity in his heartbeat and the change in the rhythm of his blood flow, her hands tightened around his, "Is something wrong?" She asked with a look of worry.
Asher tried to compose himself and sighed, the gravity of his words making the air heavy, "I feel sad," he confessed, his voice low and steady, "knowing that I won't get to see you for a while," He paused, swallowing hard as he continued, "And what's worse is that we can't tell how long this quest will take to complete," Asher knew the completion time of this quest in history varied from taking weeks to months and even years.
Rowena's crimson eyes reflected the somber mood, her lips pressing into a thin line as she nodded in understanding, "I feel the same, Ash," she admitted softly. Her gaze then drifted down to the pear-shaped crimson gem necklace around her neck, its glow dancing in her eyes.
She raised her hands to unclasp it, "I want you to have this," she offered, her voice choked with emotion, "At least until you return..."
"Rowena," Asher interjected immediately, his hand reaching out to stop her, fingers closing around her wrist gently, "You don't have to do that. This necklace... it should remain with you."
Yet, the conflicted thoughts within him were baring their fangs, gnawing at his resolve.
He knew how much she cherished this necklace since it was from her late mother, and yet she didn't hesitate to offer it to him.
If it was any other woman, he wouldn't hesitate to grab it since it could be a lifesaver.
But he didn't want any such tokens from her, especially when gestures like these would only make things harder for him.
He even failed to prove himself to Doomfall, all because of this. He wished he could just purge all these feelings so that he wouldn't struggle like this.
Rowena still felt uneasy and said, "Ash, no, I—"
"Just trust me, Rona. I will be fine," Asher firmly insisted.
Seeing his insistence, Rowena sighed softly, her fingers slowly pulling away from the necklace as she took in Asher's words.
She looked up at him and nodded, a thoughtful expression in her crimson eyes, "Okay, but," she began, her tone firm, "I'm sending Ceti along with you, and you can't refuse."
Asher blinked, caught off guard by her announcement, "Ceti?" he echoed, his brows knitting together in surprise, "How much do you really trust her?"
She nodded again, this time with an air of confidence that left no room for doubt, "I have trusted Ceti my entire life," she said, her voice echoing with conviction, "Not just that, but my father always assured me I could rely on her."
A realization dawned on Asher as her words settled in. It was not just her trust, but her father's words that solidified Ceti's place by Rowena's side. It explained her unwavering confidence in Ceti.
With a resigned sigh, he nodded, "Alright, if it puts your mind at ease, I'll agree to it," Asher felt that he could handle Ceti, especially since Merina would also be accompanying him, and it definitely would benefit him to have someone as powerful as her who was at the mid-level of Soul Purger.
A soft, relieved smile brightened Rowena's face at his words, "Thank you, Ash," she murmured. "I'll let you rest now. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
Asher offered a smile and a nod of understanding, his gaze following Rowena as she turned away. Yet, just as he was ready to let her leave, she hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she whirled around and surged forward.
Caught off guard, Asher stiffened as she pressed her lips to his, her embrace catching him off guard.
Rowena, who always was reserved, had initiated the kiss, something she had never done before. His brows arched in surprise as he took in the passion that seeped from her kiss, her emotions radiating through their intimate connection.
Asher tried to reciprocate the kiss, though he couldn't match her fervor; something inside him held him back, a hidden turmoil he was unable to let go of.
Rowena gently broke the kiss, pulling back slowly, her crimson eyes meeting his. A moment of silence stretched between them before she whispered hesitantly, "Are you…" Rowena trailed off as she completed her sentence in her mind, '...unhappy with me?'
"Are you what?" Asher asked with a shake of his head, though he was holding his breath.
Rowena held her breath as well as she hesitated. All these months, she felt he had not been coming to her as much as before and was even spending more time with Isola.
But thinking about it again, she knew she was the one who told him to gain Isola and her people's confidence. So it would only seem natural that he had to spend time with her, especially since they also have a beast companion to train and take care of together.
And so she decided to not think about it now and make him feel like he did something wrong.
Her crimson eyes flickered back to him. A soft vulnerability danced in her gaze, something Asher hadn't seen often.
Gathering her strength, she swallowed and asked in a soft voice that was barely audible, "Are you okay... if I slept with you tonight?"
The simplicity and earnestness of her request took Asher by surprise. He obviously knew she meant simply sleeping by his side.
But even then, it wasn't like her to ask for something like that. She never did, though he could understand why.
His heart pounded in his chest, a turmoil of emotions he didn't wish to deal with. Inwardly, he cursed the universe for throwing him such curveballs.
Yet, he couldn't reveal his inner chaos to Rowena. He put on a gentle, warm smile, trying to make his expression as genuine as he could.
He snapped his fingers, and the lights in the room dimmed, the eerie shadows dancing around them as they were engulfed in soft darkness.
Stepping towards her, his hand reaching out to pull her close as he said, "I can't think of a better way to spend this night."
The words flowed smoothly from his lips, but deep inside, he couldn't help but wonder about the consequences of this night. All he could hope was to sleep as if everything was alright.
As they laid on the plush bed, the soft fabrics caressing their bodies, Asher wrapped his arm around Rowena, drawing her close.
Their bodies molded together, a perfect silhouette in the dim light. Rowena's head tucked neatly in the crook of Asher's neck, her breath warm against his skin.
Their eyes met, locking in a deep gaze, the intensity of Rowena's emotions reflected in her crimson irises. She moved her hand gently, tracing the outlines of his chiseled features, her fingers tender against his skin.
She wrapped her arms around his body for a warm hug as she said in a soft voice, "I will pray every day for you to return as fast as possible. And I want you to promise me you won't put anything else above your own life," Rowena was worried that he might take extreme risks to try and obtain treasures or maybe even the Deviar.
Asher tried to match the warmth of her gaze as he nodded with a subtle smile, "I promise," though inwardly, he was determined to stop at nothing.
Upon hearing his words, the undercurrent of worry and concern that had been subtly etched in her gaze softened, replaced with a reassured serenity.
Her crimson eyes gradually lost their sheen as the curtains of sleep began to close. Her long black hair, like a waterfall of midnight silk, cascaded onto the ivory pillow, framing her face in an ethereal halo while the soft light of the moon made her bewitching beauty shine.
However, the peaceful scene before him was a stark contrast to the chaotic whirlwind of emotions raging within him.
He was adrift in a sea of tumultuous thoughts, and her sleeping face, radiating an innocent charm, only seemed to fuel the storm within him.
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