Isola's gaze was gentle, but her voice was firm as she replied, "You can't be certain of that, Asher."
He scoffed, a bitter smile tugging at his lips as he shook his head, "I was certain once. I was certain of Aira. I was foolish enough to believe that she, of all people, wouldn't betray me. We knew each other for practically our entire lives."
He paused, gazing at the waterfall as if seeing something beyond the cascading water, "The pathetic part is," he continued, his voice now just a whisper, "even after waking up in this place, after knowing the betrayal, I refused to believe Aira did it even if I accepted the others did. I convinced myself that Aira didn't...couldn't have betrayed me. I didn't want to accept that she had turned her back on me. It wasn't until my reaping trial that I was forced to confront the reality. Forced to realize my weakness."
Isola lowered her gaze in silence. She could see how someone who had gone through all that wouldn't want to love or trust someone fully.
However, seeing him hurting like this because of it didn't sit right with her.
Asher felt her cold hand on his hand, yet her touch was comforting in a way he hadn't expected.
Her voice was gentle, but the strength in her words was undeniable, "Asher, it's not foolish to trust or to believe in the goodness of someone you care about," she said, her gaze earnest. "The real fools are the ones who took advantage of your trust, your love. They threw away something far more precious than anything wealth or power could buy them."
Asher's eyes flickered briefly as his gaze remind distant.
She continued, her voice gaining momentum, "I agree with you, it's impossible to know someone completely. But love and trust aren't about certainty. They're about believing in someone despite the uncertainties. They are the only things that can help you rise again, stronger than before. That's how my people have survived for thousands of years, by choosing to love and trust each other. Without that, we would never have survived."
She looked at him, her gaze steady and sure, "Don't let your past betrayals and fear of the unknown keep you from living your future to the fullest. That would be a horrible way to live."
Asher's gaze grew intense, and a complicated emotion stirred within him as he heard Isola's words. He shook his head slowly, strands of his silver-white hair brushing against his forehead, "You might be right, but I have learned to only believe what I see," he said, his voice a low murmur against the backdrop of the cascading waterfall.
His eyes found hers again, and the subtlest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, "When you told me you wouldn't expose my past to anyone, I didn't completely believe you. Not until I heard that you refused the Draconis Kingdom's offer. If you wanted to betray me, that was your best opportunity."
Isola softly smiled in response, her gaze briefly shifting to the flickering glow of the waterfall before meeting his, "I have no reason to betray you. I believe in you."
Her words hung in the air between them as Asher deeply looked into her entrancing sapphire blue eyes, "You really believe in me…despite everything?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
He truly found it odd, especially after the things that happened during the war. If he were in her shoes, believing in him would be the last thing he would do.
However, her gaze never wavered from his as she said, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't..."
His question came like a bolt from the blue, "Then aren't you worried I might betray you or take advantage of it? Or that I might already be doing it?"
She faintly smiled at his question, her gaze steady and unwavering, "Just like I said earlier...I am taking a leap of faith. I have seen your darkness, and I chose to step into it. If betrayal is part of that darkness, then it's a risk I'm willing to take."
The world around them seemed to fade away, the only sounds were the rustling leaves and the persistent falling of water.
Asher, still feeling the gentle pressure of her slender hand above his, slowly twisted his own hand, fingers brushing over the back of her hand in a slow caress.
Isola's gaze froze, her heart racing within her chest, her lips parting in a silent gasp as she felt the warmth from his hand, seeping into hers.
Her fingers, as if they had a mind of their own, interlaced with his, their palms meeting in a warm, silent pledge.
A few minutes ago,
Ceti returned with Sylus and Orin after setting up a perimeter.
And as they came back, Mirena, Elysia, and Lyra walked towards Slyus and Orin, mentioning the lack of resources they have, especially after spending a lot of it on the Shelter.
"Hmm…We didn't manage to collect much from Pyro Peak," Sylus said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "We should head out and look for more supplies."
Ceti crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing at the suggestion, "It would be better if we all went together. It's not good to split up."
Sylus offered her a brief, reassuring smile, "It's okay. We won't be going too far. The place we have in mind has a teleportation gate that can teleport us right back to this shelter. We'll be back in no time."
Lyra chimed in, her tone hopeful, "I spotted that place before; it's full of resources. And there's no telling when it'll get submerged again. We should take advantage of this opportunity."
Ceti sighed, finally relenting after a few moments, "Alright, go. But you all need to be back within two hours. It will get dark soon," Ceti knew how lucky they were that Asher agreed to this alliance and didn't want these 5 to wander off too far, just in case.
Assurances were given, and Ceti watched as the group set off.
She was about to enter the shelter, wondering where the others were, when she caught a familiar scent.
Following it, she found her mother at the back of the shelter, planting a seed in the ground and staring into the distance.
Ceti followed her gaze, her eyes narrowing upon seeing Asher and Isola engaged in conversation, sitting too close for comfort.
As if sensing her presence, her mother turned towards her, greeting her warmly, "Ceti, dear. Are you done with the preparations?"
However, Ceti didn't seem to hear her mother as her attention remained on Asher and Isola, her lips pinched as she muttered, "He is so unbelievable..." She felt her blood heat up, and it definitely wasn't the climate of this place.
She couldn't believe he had the audacity to flirt with Isola in public.
She felt he was becoming more and more unruly in the absence of the queen.
Her mother's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, "Who is unbelievable?" she asked, confusion clear in her voice.
Caught off-guard, Ceti stuttered a response, "It's... it's nothing. I'll be back," she said, already moving towards Asher and Isola.
Merina's expression became contemplative as she watched her daughter walk away. Ever since they reunited in Hollow of Echoes, something about her wasn't the same. And the way she acts around Asher was strange in an inexplicable way.
Merina could only wonder what was going on.
Meanwhile, Isola's heart pounded in her chest as Asher suddenly leaned in close, making her unconsciously hold her breath.
But to her surprise or not, his mouth leaned towards her ear as he whispered, "Tell Callisa to keep Ceti occupied for a while," he said, his words confusing her for a moment.
But as she turned her gaze towards the approaching figure, she understood, though she wondered why he would want that.
But then it suddenly struck her as she awkwardly nodded while Asher got off the stone.
And as Ceti arrived, her expression was a mix of suspicion and puzzlement, her gaze darting between Isola and Asher.
With a mischievous smile on his face, Asher approached Ceti, "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement, "How nice of you to join us. It's a pity I was just about to leave and take a nap."
Ceti's nostrils flared red at his words, but she kept her gaze averted, trying to keep her composure, "I-I didn't come here to join you," she retorted while staring right back at him, though she was struggling to keep her gaze steady.
Asher's chuckle rippled through the air, "Oh, I didn't say you were here for that. Did I?"
Ceti's cheeks flared as she realized she stepped on her own foot.
But before she could respond to his teasing remark, Asher turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there in bewilderment.
She wondered why she couldn't act or think properly in his presence, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and frustration.
Ever since he had stolen her first kiss, she'd felt off-kilter around him, as if she was no longer on solid ground.
However, her musings were interrupted by Isola's approach, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Is everything alright?" she asked, making Ceti quickly reel in her thoughts.
She gave a firm nod and cleared her throat, "Things are… good," she said, her expression as stiff as her words.
"Actually, there's something I need to tell you that I have been wanting to tell ever since we got back together in Hollow of Echoes," she started, her gaze meeting Isola's.
She hesitated, then continued, her voice growing stronger, "I have always held a dislike for you and your kind, for the war you people initiated, for the pain it has caused my kingdom. A war we didn't deserve to be dragged into."
Isola's expression grew solemn, but she remained silent, letting Ceti continue.
"But I know you and your people also had your reasons, and the war has cost you all dearly as well. So I am not here to start an argument about who was right or wrong," Ceti continued, her words taking Isola by surprise, "I wanted to thank you," Ceti's tone was firm and sincere, her gaze direct, "For protecting my mother during those long weeks when we were separated. For refusing to align yourself with the Draconvers."
Ceti's thoughts swirled in her head, her words were an admittance she never thought she would voice.
She knew if Isola hadn't refused the Draconvers offer, her mother wouldn't have made it back.
This made her realize that Isola was not the woman she thought she was.
Isola said with a look of pain in her eyes, "I lost so many of my people in the war. All I ever wanted was to avoid bloodshed as much as possible and get back our ancestral lands. But I failed in my mission, and my people and I made the mistake of starting a war without hoping for an understanding between our kingdoms, especially since the present is not the past. So despite what I feel for your kingdom, I care more about not repeating such a mistake again. Merina was one of the few people who helped me understand that. Her kindness and understanding towards me since my first day in your kingdom made me realize some important things."
Ceti had her lips parted slightly, not expecting her mother to have made such an influence on Isola.
Isola's soft smile warmed her eyes as she added, "I consider your mother as a good friend of mine. And I wouldn't let anyone harm her. Not on my watch," Her words, filled with sincerity as Ceti's facial features softened, silently nodding.
"I...appreciate it. My mother had always felt lonely and sad for the most part of her life. So it is good to see that somebody considers her as a friend," Ceti said as her gaze became distant for a moment.
And a moment after, her gaze had barely returned to Isola when a monstrous claw gripped her from behind, lifting her off her feet with a swift, powerful jerk.
"What!" She yelped in surprise as she found herself hoisted into the air, clamped in between one of the giant pincers of the young Kraken.
Ceti knew it was nearby, but she never expected it to suddenly snatch her up.
She was about to shout at it to release her when Isola waved her hands in a calming motion, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Relax, Ceti," Isola called out, "Callisa only wants to play."
Ceti could only stare in disbelief, suspended high above the ground, "Play with me?!" she sputtered out, her gaze shifting to the giant bulbous eyes of the Kraken looking back at her. Why would it want to suddenly?
"Koo! Koo!"
However, its soft, playful mewls echoed in her ears as if in affirmation to Isola's words.
Helplessly suspended in the air, Ceti found herself being dragged away towards the cascading waterfall, with Callisa making excited sounds as she carried her off.
All Ceti could do was let out an exasperated sigh as she shouted out, "Isola!" And continued, trying her best to sound nonchalant, "Next time, I would prefer a heads-up before being hoisted off by the Kraken!"
Isola winced slightly, feeling guilty for being an accomplice in letting Ceti get caught up in Asher's whims, and swam after them just to make sure Callisa didn't get too excited.
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