Chapter 67 - She’s Gone
Tanner stood at the entrance of the medical camp, watching in silence as the trucks arrived one after another, carrying the wounded from the battlefield. Severus was beside him, his face set with a frown as he was sitting on a chair while his wounds were getting cleaned and bandaged by a nurse. The distant sound of soldiers groaning, medics shouting orders, and the incessant beeping of medical equipment filled the space. They had won the battle, but the cost had been high. Too many lives were lost, and too many were still hanging on the edge.
Maxton was among the injured, lying unconscious in one of the trucks as it pulled up to the camp. His body was pale, and his chest was barely rising and falling in shallow breaths, but he was alive. Tanner’s eyes never left Maxton’s, the war had ended and the Western region needed him, he must live.
Chapter 68 - Gift From The SeaThe waves crashed against the shore of Havalu Island with the sound of the waves rumbling across the white sands of this small and isolated piece of land where nature ruled and the touch of modernity had barely settled. The sun had barely begun to rise, casting a faint bluish glow across the sky, when the fishermen spotted something unusual carried by the crashing waves."Oi! There is someone out there! " one of them shouted, his voice breaking through the quiet dawn. His companions rushed over, their feet sinking into the wet sand as they squinted toward the object, now barely visible in the morning mist.It was not driftwood, nor was it the debris of a shipwreck. As they drew closer, they realized it was a human body, a woman — unconscious and bruised and wounded with several scratches from hitting
Chapter 69 - Awaken at Havalu IslandGeorgia awoke with a sharp gasp, her chest heaving as if she had been pulled from the depths of a terrible nightmare. Her eyes fluttered open, but the world around her felt blurred, distant, and unfamiliar. The soft light that filled the room flickered from oil lamps that hung on the walls, their fiery glow casting faint shadows that danced across the wooden floor. Her head pounded, and her body felt heavy and weak, as though it had been dragged through the ocean itself.She blinked, her mind struggling to catch up with reality. Where was she? What had happened?The last thing she remembered was the raging river, the battle, Maxton’s blood dripping into the earth, and her getting tossed by the current underwater. She knew she had drowned, lost consciousness… she thought she had died. She
Chapter 70 - The West Will Rise AgainAs Tanner walked through the woods arriving at the Western Palace, the Westerners passing by and watching his arrival either nodded or bowed their head in acknowledgment of his presence. They had already heard the news that their King Maxton was severely injured in the war and was still currently in the Southern Palace getting treated. Hence, it was Tanner’s responsibility to step up while Maxton was away, as the second in command, the Beta and most trusted ally and best friend of the Western King.Tanner took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the soldiers working tirelessly to restore the palace grounds to what they were before Harrion attacked. They were doing everything they could to rebuild and repair anything and everything that was broken, to prepare for Maxton’s return.Jason had
Chapter 71 - The Chief’s Visit“They say the sea never returns what it takes,” Yenari muttered under his breath, the sound barely more than a whisper as he gazed out at the endless horizon. His eyes were locked on the distant waves, their steady rhythm was a reminder of the mysteries they held deep in their waters. “But this time… this time it has.”Sitting on the wide porch of his home, Yenari’s fingers absentmindedly traced the edges of a finely carved wooden bowl, his mind occupied with thoughts of the woman who had been pulled from the sea. The ocean didn’t often release those it claimed, and when it did, there was always a story behind it. The village was still buzzing with speculation, and Yenari, Chief Captain of Havalu, had heard every theory from the superstitious and the skeptical alike.
Chapter 72 - Will of the SeaGeorgia stood at the entryway of the healer's hut, her bare feet sinking into the sun warmed earth, it was relaxing, massaging the soles of her feet. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of salt and ripe coconuts. For a brief moment, the soft crash of waves and the distant chatter of the villagers calmed her racing heart. But her senses remained on high alert. Every laugh, and every movement around her was a potential threat in her eyes.Her head turned toward the sea, the vastness of it overwhelming her, reminding her of the escape she had attempted. It had brought her here — alive but broken. She stepped forward, drawn toward the ocean's horizon, as though it was calling her.“I’ll leave her to you for now. I’ll come visit again.” Yenari uttered before leaving, only giving
Chapter 73 - The Village’s HarmonyGeorgia woke the next morning, the sound of waves gently crashing against the shore outside the healer’s hut greeting her. For a moment, she lay still, staring at the ceiling made of woven palm leaves. The unfamiliar yet peaceful rhythm of island life slowly stirred her, and a sense of calm washed over her. It was contrasting to the chaos and nightmares that had haunted her for so long. Sitting up, she felt the warmth of the sun filtering through the open window. The salty breeze caressed her face, carrying with it the scent of ripe coconuts and distant cooking fires.A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. Kaia peeked in, her bright eyes filled with a gentle curiosity. “Good morning. I thought you might like to take a walk today . . . to see more of the village.”Georgia he
Chapter 74 - Looking for a BrideKaia smiled, noticing that Georgia was beginning to open herself, asking questions and showing interest in the village. “Yes. And we are the only village on the island.”“Really? So no other villages on the other side of this island?” Georgia asked, and Kaia shook her head.“There is none. Behind the village territory is just mountains then and cultivated lands by our people. Basically, it is just us.” Kaia answered.Further along the path, after silence settled on them, Kaia pointed to a group of villagers harvesting from the coconut trees. Several men climbed up while some held a net where the climbers dropped down the fruits. Others gathered the coconut fruit into woven baskets, their arms full as they carried their
Chapter 75 - For the Night’s FeastThe soft white sand beneath Georgia’s feet crunched in her every step as she wandered the shoreline, watching the sun dip toward the horizon like a ball of fire kissing the blue sea, becoming one to be painted in brilliant hues of orange and red, casting a golden glow across the rippling waves. A calm breeze swept through the air, tangling gently in her hair, while the faint calls of seabirds circled overhead. She stopped for a moment, letting the beauty of the scene wash over her. It was almost surreal, standing here after everything that had happened, after all the blood and pain. The serenity of Havalu Island was the opposite of the chaos that haunted her memories.But for now, she let herself forget. She was miles away from where she had come from, and she did not have to relive every single memory she had.