Rio stepped out of the Nether Skull Post shelter, peering his eyes as he gazed ahead. A barren land stretched out before him, devoid of any sign of life. The blistering sun beat down on the scorched earth, emitting everything in a hazy, warm light.
Taking a deep breath, he set out on his journey, his eyes fixed on the horizon. As he traveled like a blue dot enchanting his body with thunder, he could also feel the heat radiating off the ground, making his skin feel tight and dry.
After what felt like hours, Rio came across a vast swamp land. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of moss and slime.
He slowed down and traveled carefully, trying to keep his footing on the slippery terrain as he moved forward, taking careful steps to avoid falling into the murky water.
As he was making his way through the swamp, a voice sounded in his mind, filled with longing for him.
"Why... why did you leave me?" Lia asked, her tone trembling with sadness.
Rio's voice was hesitant and uncertain as he answered Lia's question, "Just something important came up, I had to leave," he said, the burden of breaking his promise to her was heavy on his shoulders.
"What could have been more important than your own wife? You promised me that you would be here with me this time, but you broke that promise." Tears began to well up in her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks.
Rio's heart twisted at the sound of her despairing voice. He yearned to come clean about the truth, but he knew that if he did, Lia would insist on accompanying him to bring back Helia.
Unlike Emperor Dylan, who prioritized the Shamor Empire above all else, Lia cared deeply about Helia's safety and would never allow him to go alone. But the boy couldn't bear the thought of putting his beloved wife in harm's way.
Reluctantly, he replied, "I'm sorry, Wifey. I had no choice but to leave."
"Just tell me, why you had to leave?" she demanded, her tone stubborn and insistent. Her voice trembling with emotion as she spoke via telepathy to Rio. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she refused to back down.
Rio's heart sank as he heard Lia's tearful voice. He knew that he had to be strong, but it was difficult to hear her cry, making his core shake.
He took a deep breath before responding to her telepathically.
"I will tell you when I come back." His voice was tender as he replied. However, inwardly he thought, "Sorry, Lia. I cannot reveal the truth to you. It's better if you don't know for now."
Lia fell to her knees, her mental agony was strong, and Rio could feel her heartache from miles away.
As he listened to her sobs echoing through their telepathic connection, a sharp pain shot through his heart. He could sense the immense sadness and despair that engulfed her, and it made him feel helpless.
Lia's fragile whisper broke the silence, sending chills down Rio's spine, "I'm a bad wife anyway," she trembled.
Her words were so cold and distant that his heart ached even more. He longed to hold her, to comfort her, and to tell her that she was one of the two best things that had ever happened to him.
The weight of her words hit him like a ton of bricks, and a lump formed in his throat. Rio could feel the pain and self-blame in her voice tearing at his soul, making his own heartache.
As much as he wished he could reveal the truth to Lia, he knew it would put her in danger. So he held back, keeping the truth locked away inside.
"Do as you wish," Lia's voice was barely a whisper, filled with so much heartbreak and despair that it brought tears to Rio's eyes. He couldn't bear to hear her like this, and he knew that he had to find a way to bring Helia back and return to Lia as soon as possible.
He tried to hold back his tears, but they came anyway, blurring his vision and making it difficult to see. Rio longed to comfort Lia, to hold her close and let her know that he was there for her, but he knew that he couldn't reveal the truth to her. It would only put her in danger.
Taking a deep breath, Rio wiped away his tears and composed himself. He had a mission to accomplish. He knew that he had to be strong and find Helia so he could bring her back from the mouth of danger, no matter what it took.
Blaming Rio or Lia for their situation would not be fair. Both of them were facing difficult circumstances that were beyond their control.
Their separation had become a recurring pattern, starting from the National military school tournament where he was away from her for thirty long days. Then, he had to leave again for training when Lia told him about the banquet and duels. And when her birthday ended, he had to rush to save Helia, knowing how much Lia cherished her sister.
Despite her attempts to ask him why he left, he kept the reason to himself, leaving her feeling helpless and her eyes brimming with tears. The ache of missing him consumed her, and the worry for his safety was almost too much to bear. Her love for Rio ran deep, so much so that the mere thought of losing him was unbearable.
Without a word, Rio shot off into the distance, his mind consumed with thoughts of how he could make things right for Lia.
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Edited By: TheWhiteSnow
