Chapter 9

"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.