The two of them leaned back against each other, their hearts still racing. It took a while before they both exhaled a long breath of relief. Even the bravest would feel a shiver of fear recalling what could have happened if they had not spotted the snake in time. Nash turned and hugged Nina tightly, kissing her on the forehead. "It’s okay now. I’ll thoroughly check the cave in a bit to make sure nothing like this happens again.""It’s not your fault. No one could have expected a snake to be in the cave," Nina reassured him. In such a damp place, it was inevitable that there would be snakes. This might have even been the snake’s den. They were the intruders, and now they had killed it. In a way, they were the ones being unreasonable.Nash reignited the torch and carefully inspected the cave, then found some stones to block the entrance. Once everything was secured, he began roasting the snake meat. They did not know how much further they had to travel, so it was best to fill the
The two of them teased each other, each laughing at the other's clumsiness. After walking quite a distance, Nina glanced back at the cliff, feeling like she had missed something.Nash noticed her hesitation and joked, "You’re not thinking about staying another night, are you? Not worried about running into that snake’s husband?"Nina thought for a moment, "Seven-Leaf Clover thrives in damp places and venomous snakes often guard it. Could the Seven-Leaf Clover be inside the cave?" She was only speculating, though. The cave was always dark, and the books mentioned that the Seven-Leaf Clover needed some sunlight to be considered top-quality. It thrived in the shade but also needed sunlight.It was almost like people, needing the company of others, yet craving solitude.A contradictory existence.Nash considered her suggestion and realized she might be right. He offered, "I’ll go back up and check. You can wait here.""No, let’s go together. If that snake’s husband shows up, we c
Nash held Nina close, and she could hear the steady, strong beat of his heart against his chest.Ever since they arrived, Nash had stayed by her side. At first, when she spotted the Seven-Leaf Clover, she thought about going alone. After all, she felt like she had not done enough for Orion. But then, Nash had shown up.As the thick fog began to clear, they started their journey back.The Yaren Tribe was in turmoil, and Pharaoh, along with the others, was deeply worried about Nash and Nina's safety, especially Nina’s. They did not want her to suffer even the slightest harm."You! That was my list of herbs, and I know the best and quickest ways to find them. You’re unfamiliar with the area. What were you thinking, running up the mountain?" Pharaoh scolded, his concern clear. The herbs he listed were to save Orion, and in his haste, he had put the list aside when Nina arrived, wanting to give them an update.If something had happened to Nina, he would never have forgiven himself.
Wilfred noticed the dust on Nina’s clothes and the redness in her eyes. She was willing to do anything for Orion, acting swiftly and decisively. He had wanted to accompany her, but Nash had already taken that role, leaving him to stay behind and assist Pharaoh in saving Orion. When the Yaren Tribe was attacked, he and Pharaoh were both busy tending to the injured. Now, Pharaoh was in the lab, and Wilfred was by Micah’s side.Hearing Wilfred’s update, Nina finally let out a sigh of relief. Micah was going to be okay. She also noticed Freya, who was steadfastly watching over Micah. Freya had once seen Nina as a rival, but now she was staying by Micah’s side, clearly devoted to him. Nina realized there was no need for her to linger and play the third wheel.Nina and Nash quietly left, and Wilfred, finding it inconvenient to stay as well, told Freya, "If you need anything, just call me. I’ll be right outside.""Alright," Freya nodded, and Wilfred stepped out.Freya remained by Mi
But it was impossible. Wilfred quickly snapped out of his thoughts and returned to reality. He knew he could never be Nash. He was Wilfred. Even if he could not stand by Nina’s side as a lover, he could be a friend, a brother. He had dedicated his life to her, and that would have to be enough.......When Nash returned to the bedroom with the medicine, Nina had already finished her bath. Her damp hair fell loosely around her shoulders, filling the room with a faint scent of roses.Nash quickly wrapped a towel around her hair. "Lower your clothes a bit so I can apply the medicine.""Okay," Nina complied, and Nash carefully began applying the ointment, his touch gentle.He even blew softly on her skin to ease any sting from the medicine. He was so worried that the medication might irritate her wounds, that she might feel pain. But in truth, this kind of pain was nothing to Nina. She recalled her early days as a war journalist, how clumsy she had been amid the chaos of war.On
It was a clear reality, even if she refused to acknowledge it. Everyone around her knew that Pharaoh was her biological father. Pharaoh was helping her save her child because of their blood connection. Otherwise, he would not care who she or Orion was. If they were to die in front of him, he would not even blink."Maybe we should wait outside for the results," Nash suggested, gently guiding her toward the door, worried that staying might overwhelm her, leading to unnecessary worries.But Nina was resolute. "If he’s not poisoned, then I have to stay. I’m not leaving until he wakes up."Her determination was unyielding, and Nash knew there was no changing her mind. He would stay with her, no question.Unexpectedly, Pharaoh gave Nash a look.Nash placed a reassuring hand on Nina’s shoulder. "I’ll be right back.""Okay," she nodded.Nash followed Pharaoh outside the lab. Pharaoh hesitated for a moment before speaking "Regarding Nina, I hope you can put in a good word for me. Even
Orion shook his head but held onto Nina’s hand even tighter. In the next moment, he slowly raised his hand.Nash immediately reached out, understanding what Orion wanted. The emotion welled up in Nina, and her voice broke as she spoke, "Orion, I promise you, once you’re better, we’ll go back to the place where your dad and I grew up. I’ll take you to school and pick you up every day."I’ll take you to see your grandparents. It’s nothing like the place you’ve been, with war all around. You’ll be able to play every day and eat all the delicious food you want."Orion nodded, his strained voice barely above a whisper, "Okay."Pharaoh heard Nina’s words, and though it stung, he could not blame her. He understood that Nina’s upbringing had been vastly different from the values of the Yaren Tribe."I’ll go make you something to eat," Nina said, gently patting Orion’s hand before standing up.Nash hesitated for a moment, noticing the sadness in Pharaoh’s eyes. He gave Pharaoh a meaning
"Those things are in the past. Let's not dwell on them anymore," Nash said, noticing Nina's low spirits. "Now we're together as a family, and Orion's health is slowly improving. That's what matters most." Mentioning Orion's recovery brought some comfort to Nina. Yes, instead of constantly revisiting painful memories, it was better to focus on the present.The chicken broth was ready soon after, and as she was lost in thought, Nina absentmindedly reached out to grab the hot pot."Ah!" The searing heat made her quickly pull her hand back, and she pressed her fingers against her ear to cool them down."Are you okay?" Nash asked, rushing to check her injury.As he leaned forward, Nina also looked up, and their lips brushed lightly against each other. The sensation was soft and warm.For a moment, Nash relished the warmth of that accidental touch, wishing time would freeze, but his concern for Nina's injury quickly took over."It's nothing serious, just a little red and swollen," Ni