Isola paused in her play, the gravity of the question evident in the slight furrow of her brow.
Nearby, Elsyia and Lyra exchanged glances. The atmosphere shifted palpably, the weight of years of history and grievances pressing down upon them.
"Mirena!" Lyra's tone was sharp, a clear reprimand, "You must watch your words before the princess."
Elsyia's face echoed the sentiment, but before they could berate Mirena further, Isola held up a hand, effectively silencing them, "It's alright," she began, her gaze thoughtful.
For a brief moment, her eyes flitted to where Asher stood before turning to look back at Mirena.
"Harboring anger and resentment towards him for trying to protect his kingdom serves no purpose," Isola began, her voice measured, "Yes, there was a time when the Bloodburn Kingdom deserved our wrath and hate. But the Bloodburn Kingdom of today is not the one of our past. Their queen is just and fair, unlike the barbaric Ravager. In the eyes of the people of the present Bloodburn Kingdom, we are the villains for starting a war they believed they had no reason to suffer for."
Mirena gulped, absorbing the words, her expression mixed with confusion and realization.
Isola continued, "We cannot change the past, Mirena. We cannot turn back time and punish the Ravager. But we can shape our future. If we continue to be prisoners of our past, we will never be free. Our focus should be on building a better world, a better future. One where our people don't live in fear, but in hope. We have suffered enough for thousands of years. Why should we make ourselves suffer more at the cost of our happiness and lives?"
Elsyia's eyes flickered as she blinked away tears. Lyra's expression softened, admiration shining in her eyes. The two exchanged glances, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Their princess was truly far-sighted, as expected from her.
Mirena, a hint of crimson painting her cheeks from embarrassment, pursed her lips.
The weight of her own shortsightedness bore down on her, a heavy stone in her chest. "I... I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice shaking slightly, but with a sincerity that could not be mistaken, "I shouldn't have doubted you. If you're happy, Princess... that means we all are. I promise I won't let doubt cloud my judgment again, nor will I ever let you down."
Isola's expression softened even more, a tender look in her sapphire eyes, "Mirena," she began, reaching out to gently hold the other's face, "I know people consider me as the chosen one, but that doesn't mean I am infallible. Not every choice I make will be the right one. It's only natural to have doubts. We've always looked out for each other. We are more than subjects and royalty. We are family. Even if we are far from the Forbidden Waters, that bond won't change."
Mirena's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the depth of her emotions evident. A hesitant smile tugged at her lips, "Can... Can I hug you...please...?" The question was almost a whisper, filled with a yearning that spoke volumes of her profound reverence and affection for Isola.
Without hesitation, Isola opened her arms, gently pulling Mirena into a close embrace. The world seemed to pause for that brief moment, the two of them lost in the comforting warmth of the hug.
From a short distance away, Elysia and Lyra watched, their own eyes moist with emotion. Lyra's voice was soft, barely audible, yet laden with warmth, "Look at that... Mirena finally got one of her biggest wishes fulfilled."
Elysia nodded in agreement, a contented smile lighting up her features, "Only our princess could remind us what truly matters."
However, the two, always observant, noticed the Bloodburn Consort's intent approach towards the waterfall.
Their sharp eyes darted between him and the princess, sensing the weight of unsaid words in the air. With a quick glance exchanged between the two, they subtly moved closer to Mirena and Isola.
Asher's steps resonated firmly, his eyes locked onto Isola.
Every stride he took was filled with a purpose that was palpable even from a distance. As he neared, the playful ambiance around the waterfall shifted to one of expectation.
Elysia leaned over to Mirena, her voice soft and teasing, "I think Mirena has been enjoying for too long, right?"
Lyra chimed in, trying to maintain a straight face. "Yes, we've played enough for now. Besides, Sylus and Orin might need our help setting things up and gathering resources."
Mirena, however, wasn't as quick on the uptake, her cheeks puffing out in an adorable pout.
"But I was having fuu….," she whined and froze upon seeing the Bloodburn Consort walking towards them.
And so, with an aggrieved look, she could only let Elysia and Lyra drag her away from the scene.
Asher finally came to a stop a few feet away from Isola, his gaze unwavering. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them under the glistening curtain of the waterfall.
He was still staring at her, making Isola's skin tingle a bit.
While she was usually composed, his intense stare made her feel seen in a way she hadn't experienced before. Taking a deep breath, she finally managed to muster her voice, her tone light yet curious, "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Asher subtly smiled and said, "I was just testing how long my eyes can last before your beauty blinds me."
"Asher…" Isola let out a chuckle of disbelief and added, "Your jokes are getting more silly. You should save them for somebody else," As she said this, her gaze flitted away momentarily, her smile warm, though the next moment, her lips quivered as if caught between certain emotions.
Asher subtly smiled and said, "Okay, silly jokes aside. You were looking at me earlier. Were you sharing anything funny about me with your people?"
Pushing off a submerged rock, she gracefully floated and shook her head with a smile, "You think too much. You aren't that funny for me to say anything funny about you."
His gaze momentarily followed Callisa, who seemed engrossed in her own watery games while using her giant pincers to try and find something good.
Returning his attention to Isola, he met her serious gaze.
She pressed on, asking the question that had been lingering for a while ,"So…can you tell me what truly happened back there?"
Asher's expression became solemn. He then took a deep breath and explained what happened.
When he finished, Isola processed the information, a mix of disbelief and wonder in her eyes, "You felt a connection with that phoenix named Pyrrah? Despite having never met or even heard of her before? And this is ignoring the fact that it is impossible for mortals like us to even know them."
Asher nodded, his expression earnest, "I know it is bizarre. But the feeling was so profound; it's hard to explain. I had no control…literally. My body was moving, and my mind was thinking without me realizing it."
She stared at him, with a certain heaviness in her gaze, "There are so many mysteries that are beyond our comprehension. You have an Immortal Bloodline and nobody knows how and why. Your origins are also unknown. Maybe...it all has to make sense in some way..."
"Immortal bloodline huh...I never saw that coming nor can I make sense of my origins. I was even crippled...So much for having an Immortal Bloodline. Still...I am a demon and how could I even know a mythical creature that served the Angels or feel as if I do?"
Isola nodded as she said with a distant look, "If we look past that...she must have been a kind soul…to help you out despite her fate. I can only imagine how miserable she must have been...to endure the pain for who knows how long that almost crippled you."
Asher's gaze was somber as he nodded, "And she was enduring it without a change in her expression. I can only imagine how much willpower and strength she must have had to hold on like that."
His lips then curled as his scoff echoed through the serene ambience of the waterfall, "Is it a common theme among the Angels to punish those who have good intentions?" He looked at Isola, the anger apparent in his gaze, yet behind it lay years of anguish and torment, "I killed the Bloodburn King, hoping to save my world, and thought the Angels would be pleased. But what did I get in return? A cruel joke of a fate. A marriage to the very woman who took my mother's life, a woman whose father's blood stains my hands."
Isola looked deep into his eyes, the depths of her own holding an ocean of understanding and sympathy.
Asher's chuckle, tinged with bitterness, continued, "It feels like the universe is playing a game with me. Even my own grimoire almost got me killed, and the Tower of Hell stands as a taunting reminder of how pathetic I am, refusing to let me take the trial."
With a grace that only she possessed, Isola moved closer, lifting herself onto the rock to sit next to him.
She looked at him with a deep and focused gaze. "Carrying this weight, this grudge, it'll suffocate you, Asher. The only way to solve everything is to make peace with the past," Isola could see that his mother's death still haunted him.
But she could understand why. His mother's death molded him into the man he was now.
He shook his head slowly, the weight of his words pressing down like a heavy burden, "That's the problem, Isola. I can't. Even now, after being away from her for all these months, I find Rowena's face haunting my every waking moment. And it serves as a reminder that no matter what feelings I may have for her, it wouldn't change what we did to each other. If she ever discovers the truth about what I did...she will try to kill me anyway, just like how I had wished throughout my life. We were never meant to be."
