"What kind of defense is this. Few meters of walking in the mist and then you get to your destination so easily," Amaryah scoffed, trying to provoke Lucian to both amuse and redeem herself.
She knows he must have sensed her weird behavior while walking up the paths.
Yaron Lucian did not pay her any mind, and instead walked very quietly all of a sudden. Even the leaves dared not to cause the slightest crackle.
His breathing also slowed down. He steadied his aura and chose to walk under the shadows of the leaves and trees.
Frowning, Amaryah looked at him intensely to make sure he was still with her. She almost thought she fell into some kind of illusion and that this was all actually a trap.
Her overthinking is worsening every minute she is not aware of what her enemies are doing or where they might be.
There was also the incident an hour ago when she unknowingly let her guard down and bumped into Lucian.
The more she thinks about it, the more she wants to quickly grow and be able to use her body as she wills.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
The suspicions she holds in her heart are visible in her face, but Lucian is looking away and he hasn't realized yet.
"Shh," Lucian replied, lifting a finger to his lips to shush her.
"What?" Amaryah asked again, a little slow on the uptake. "Are you not from here? Why do we have to be so cautious like thieves in the dead of night?"
Lucian pursed his lips, heaved a deep breath and pulled at her sleeves, leading her away from the path to the entrance.
Amaryah stood stubbornly in place and eyed him suspiciously.
"You don't plan to slice my throat over there in the dark, do you?" she said once Lucian looked at her when she would not budge.
Lucian released a deep sigh before leaning towards her and whispering: "Keep your voice down. I am supposed to be asleep at this late hour, not meeting and picking up homeless strangers."
Lucian tried tugging at her again, a little more forceful this time.
"Let's not wake up the elders. This way," he added.
When Amaryah finally decided to move and follow him, Lucian could not help feeling relieved.
He feels it isn't right to let them see the girl tonight. She looked like she was being chased, and she smelled as if she overdosed from medicine.
It's not that he does not trust his clansmen, but he prefers to keep everything under the rug for as long as he can.
No matter how he analyzes this situation, it is too fishy.
Most importantly, she looks… like that person. He must confirm his assumptions first without pressuring her and alarming anyone.
This way, he can prepare ahead of time.
Lucian looked for her. Day and night for years. He sang to the gods. He visited the Sachiel Clan. He spied on the other clans.
He volunteered for every activity that has to do with leaving the mountains, but to no avail.
He was only regarded as a fool for looking for someone who had already died years ago. In front of the whole world, Amaryah was pushed into the Volcano of the Lost.
They watched her fall, sink into the boiling lava, and burn until nothing, not even ash, was left of her.
And he could only trust the legends. They said that witches don't die. They leave their spirit to be picked up by the wind and bring them to a body compatible with them.
That means, if Lucian truly knew her, she must have had a plan.
The first few years after Amaryah's disappearance, he received many looks of both pity and ridicule, so he never asked for anyone's help again.
Until tonight, when he suddenly felt the chills caused by the very familiar aura.
He was quietly singing in his room, her favorite melodies which always comforted her when she needed them.
Something tapped in his mind. Then he heard a ringing whisper in his ear. He couldn't quite understand in the beginning, but when he opened his doors instinctively, it was like a giant breeze of wind passed through him.
Aside from the ringing, he also recognized the spiritual energy brought by this wind. He can't be wrong.
It was Amaryah.
Lucian then hurriedly stepped out of his room and ran full speed to the direction he felt where Amaryah would be.
It was like fate and the heavens conspired to relive that moment. Like how they had first met, he felt the same heavy bump on his chest.
And he couldn't lift his eyes to look at her face. He needed to touch her first, make sure she was real and that he still hasn't lost it.
All he understood was that she was running away from something or someone, like she had just escaped. Full of bruises, smelling like blood and herbs.
For a moment before lifting his head, he tried to push down the possible false hopes. This girl did not smell and feel the same as Amaryah.
But she definitely possesses her aura. And when his sight finally landed on that familiar expression, his heart thumped.
She has returned. Amaryah.
Steeling his resolve, he made an oath in his heart. He was not the same detached and voiceless Lucian who could only watch like before.
This time, he will do anything to protect her. He will never let her go.
Amaryah.
"You can't disappear from my sight anymore," Lucian unconsciously said out loud.
"Zavebe," Amaryah muttered incoherently. "What are you on about now? I am following you. I'm not wandering about. Do I look like a child to you?"
Lucian's eyes glimmered when they were momentarily caught by the moonlight. Bright and with incomprehensible emotions.
"Yes, so keep quiet."
"Tch. It was your idea to bring me here, anyway. I bear no responsibility," Amaryah still retaliated in a barely audible whisper.
Unless he is certain of her safety outside the Mist Mountains, she either stays here, or he goes wherever she goes.
"No, Amaryah. I am following you," he thought.
With all her might, Amaryah tried her best to restrain herself. She thought she was the shameless one for pretending and taking advantage of Lucian—well, she was partly telling the truth then. But this Yaron Lucian, does he still have his dignity? Or did it flee down the mountains from suffocation because of their small world? Looking at where she was, it's not that she is complaining since she at least was given a place to stay, but this cabin? Really? The clan leader and elders have their own residence at the back of their offices at the center of their mountains, but they also have a private residence. In all their homes, she remembers there were cabins built behind for their wives and children. Lucian had led her to the cabin farthest from his bedroom, or the place for the “least favorite” wife. He went out again to get a healer, so she was left alone to think and mend for her hurt pride. Yaron Lucian was just so adamant at staying single for life in the past that she never
Amaryah was there, standing in front of a million people. Clothes tattered, dust covered her skin, and head was still bleeding. People occasionally threw stones and some would hit or graze past her. Yet she doesn't recognize pain anymore."Throw her into the lava!""That thing does not deserve to live!""She's going to cause another calamity!""A curse to Selaphiel!""Misfortune!""Wench!""Immoral!"All these people in front of her were the very same crowd who once fought beside her, admired her skill and beauty, and some even not just once asked for her help. Yet they gathered before her and screamed for her execution. The feeling of betrayal already drowned out whatever pain and noise she could feel and hear.So Amaryah was just there, wishing for everything to quickly end. Staring straight into nothing with dead eyes."My lady?" It was a faint sound, but it was loud enough for Amaryah to quickly realize she wa
Saying that Amaryah was speechless was an understatement. She and Lucian had a staring contest before a knock disrupted them. Amaryah jumped a little in surprise. "Lord Lucian, the food and medicine are here," Firal announced from outside. While Firal and a maid prepared their food on the table, the two were just quietly watching them. The maid was intimidated under their gaze, but Firal was only confused. Lucian was wearing a rare silly smile and the lady was in a trance. What is with this atmosphere? "You may think about the matter anytime. You need to eat for now," Lucian spoke, picking up a spoon to taste the soup. When Amaryah came to, there was only her and Lucian in the room. Once again, she suffered in another internal war. On the side were the witches who were secretly laughing at her. Of course, she knew what they were thinking since they currently share a single body. "Whatever happened to Lucian, really!" she exclaimed in her mind.
Amaryah followed behind Lucian for half a day as he talked and led her to places where she didn't see even a single soul. She understood that Lucian must not be ready to introduce her to anyone from his clan at all, but it didn't bother her. It was an advantage on her part, anyway.Lucian would watch her expression as he spoke while the girl would only nod from time to time to show that she was listening.However, the truth did not escape from Lucian's keen eyes.More than ever, he believed the girl was Amaryah. The way she had put on such a serious face while pretending to be attentive was all too familiar for him that he almost laughed in amusement.Before the sun had fully set, Firal came looking for him carrying some clan matters that needed to be urgently taken care of. So Amaryah was sent to her quarters, the same cabin from last night, and was advised to rest as she waited for her dinner.Naturally, no matter how much the witches dissuaded h
"My lady!" A servant came running to meet her once she entered Lucian's residence. It was the maid that had been helping her.Amaryah's gloomy aura instantly disappeared as she greeted the servant back by stuffing a handkerchief in her mouth."Why are you being loud? Yes, I am here," she scolded, chest still thumping from being caught off guard by the maid's voice.With muffled sounds, the little girl tried to answer, but Firal, who had heard the commotion, also came running to her with a sweaty face. He interrupted the maid and talked loudly as well, but Amaryah didn't have any more handkerchiefs with her. So she just scowled at him which Firal did not seem to see."My lady, where have you been? Please do not disappear without a word again! If the lord finds out about this—" He halted as Lucian appeared behind Amaryah."If you already know that there are consequences, keep a good eye on her next time," he coldly said as he passed by them. "R
Every day, Amaryah woke up with splitting headaches and felt disconnected. Her maid had started getting used to her morning grumpiness and had even found out that only a feast for breakfast would cure it.During the last few days, Amaryah did nothing but eat, sleep and meditate. It was hard for her to continue roaming around the mountains since Gana would almost always be attached to her hip. She would only let her be when she enters the Spring Cave to train and meditate. Every time she would poke her head out the entrance of the cave, she would be met either by a smiling Gana or a bowing Firal.This all happened after they got told off by Lucian the other night. They turned all sticky and wouldn't let her disappear from their sight for even a moment. Amaryah was starting to get frustrated, but she at least had time to talk with the witches. She instead made some time after her training sessions to discuss her plans with the witches."You will be going on the da
Amaryah ate such a heavy dinner, and it worried Gana very much that she refused to go even after finishing all her duties. Firal, who stopped by for a little while to check on Amaryah's condition and whether she diligently took her medicine or not, also could not make her budge. She stubbornly stood by the side for more than an hour, scolding Amaryah every time the lady felt like falling to her bed. Gana only left after deciding that she had finally digested everything and that she would not have an upset stomach later.Amaryah thought that it was too troublesome, so she took a note of not eating more at night to save herself from her maid's concern.After another hour, it was almost midnight and nothing could be heard in the mountains anymore. Because of the silence, the sounds of the insects, night animals, and the waterfall were made clear. Amaryah summoned Seraph, and the witch spirit immediately materialized in front of her. She could finally continue without gett
A troublesome spirit in the form of a bird had been causing trouble in the village near the foot of the Mist Mountains. A number of elementals, spirit tamers and trappers had already tried to capture this spirit, but their attempts had all failed. Thus, the troubled villagers made a loud enough cry to the righteous Yaron Clan practitioners to help them. The clan, in response, asked for a special investigation before proceeding. The Mist Mountains' dwellers were completely detached from the mortal world and its matters. All they cared about was music, worshipping the gods, practicing and improving their spirituality, and living a long life of peace. So they usually want to gather as much information as they can before leaving their sanctuary. Still, they would always offer their aid to those in need, because one of their beliefs was that those in power should be the ones to protect. It was not a burden, and they believed they were doing something meaningful. T