Neven's expression immediately grew stern as he turned to Aria and said, "Go back to your tent. Felix is an Aether; it's best if you keep your distance from him."
Aria was stunned and asked again, "What do you plan to do to Felix?"
"What do you think? Kill him?" Neven replied seriously. "Aria, I'm not a monster. I just want him out of the camp. He's been snooping around for information, especially about you. I think he's dangerous and might hurt you."
Aria bit her lip, swallowing the words she was about to say. Neven's hostility towards Felix seemed to have intensified after her attempt to reason with him. She recalled Alexander's warning from the other day: "Don't look at other men. It will anger Neven, and the consequences will be severe."
Neven seemed childish when it came to emotions.
Aria returned to her tent, feeling dejected. Her cloak slipped to the ground, and she noticed a bloodstain on her dress from tending to the wounded with Alexander. She sighed, sat on the bear pelt, and leaned her head against the bed, feeling heavy-hearted.
She pulled out a golden pendant from under her collar. She fiddled with it, and with a click, the golden wings slowly opened, revealing a small, dark obsidian Soul Stone.Since Neven had given it to her, it had never glowed, looking just like an ordinary gem.
She couldn't help but think of the girls at the Moon Tower who often flaunted their glowing Soul Stones because their lovers were using Essence Power far away, causing their stones to light up.
Twin Soul Stones, no matter how far apart, would always resonate with each other.
But Aria's Soul Stone remained perpetually dark.
"Neven..." she whispered, her voice filled with regret and helplessness. She had spoken carelessly, not intending to open his old wounds. Perhaps Neven's reaction stemmed from his insecurity about not having Essence Power. Aria buried her face in the soft fur, feeling an overwhelming sense of loss, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her shoulders. She resolved to apologize to Neven the moment he returned and clarify that she had no involvement with Felix.
Night fell, and the shadows of patrolling soldiers flickered outside the tent, casting moving silhouettes in the light. Sleep gradually overtook Aria, and she soon drifted off.
A gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes blew into the narrow tent. Footsteps approached, and the fur beneath her sank under the weight of a warm breath. A cold hand gently caressed her cheek. Aria's eyelashes fluttered, but she didn't open her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." she murmured, her voice laden with guilt.
Neven's fingers paused as if time had frozen in that moment. His fingertips lightly traced Aria's skin, gently outlining the contours of her face. The air was filled with a faint scent of plum wine, mixed with the chill of the night.
Then, Neven's breath drew closer, his soft whispers in her ear. A kiss, carrying the light scent of wine, gently landed on her cheek, cold yet tender, like snowflakes melting on a warm flame. Aria felt the warmth and tenderness, her heart involuntarily racing.
She slowly opened her eyes, meeting Neven's gaze. His eyes were languid and misty, as if lost in thought, yet with a hint of vulnerability and deep affection. His brown eyes were deep and filled with emotions, hiding countless unsaid secrets and wishes.
"Aria..." he whispered, his voice hoarse and gentle, each word laden with affection and hesitation. "Felix was right today. If we didn't have our engagement, we might really be apart. But I don't want to lose you. I want to be with you forever."
As Neven spoke, he gazed deeply into her eyes, his glimmering gaze conveying his true feelings. His kiss slowly approached again, lightly touching her lips.
Aria placed her hand gently on his chest, feeling his warm skin and cold clothes. Her heart raced like never before. Her fingertips trembled slightly, as if the whole world had turned to nothing, leaving only their existence as real.
She felt Neven's warmth and the emotions he conveyed, a surge of indescribable emotion rising in her heart. In that moment, their souls seemed to merge, erasing the distance between them. She closed her eyes, responding to his kiss, feeling the sincere love, as if the entire world had stopped at that instant.
"Neven..." she called softly, her eyes shimmering with complex emotions. Neven, half-dazed, looked at her, his voice raspy: "In a few days, I will announce our engagement to everyone. I want everyone to know... you belong to me." He finished, sparse kisses like raindrops fell on her lips.
"Our engagement..." A flash of terror crossed Aria's heart as a scene suddenly appeared in her mind. A face with a long scar showed her a cold smile. In the blood-red sunset, accompanied by cries, Thanatos announced to the people of Sovereign Bastion... their engagement.
She stiffened, her heartbeat so rapid it almost suffocated her. The same face, spanning centuries, had said the same words. The intertwining of past memories and present emotions left her at a loss. She took a deep breath and looked up at Neven, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "Neven, I want to wait. I'm not ready yet..."
Under the cover of night, Aria's emotions churned like turbulent waves. Neven's gentleness and promises awakened her deepest fears and memories. She knew she had to be honest with him about her true feelings.
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“Neven, I…” she began, her voice tinged with unease and hesitation.
Neven didn't let her continue. His fingers gently caressed her face, his gaze firm and loving. “Aria, I understand your worries. I don't want to pressure you, but I hope you can trust me,” he said softly, his tone resolute.
Aria closed her eyes, the conflict within her growing stronger. The shadows of the past enveloped her heart like a thick fog. She knew she had to find a way to face them before she could truly be with Neven.
“Neven, I really appreciate you,” Aria whispered. “But I need time to sort out my thoughts. I'm not sure if I'm ready to face the commitments of the future.”
Neven's expression darkened instantly. His hand slowly moved away from her cheek, the tenderness in his eyes gradually fading. He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress his disappointment and pain. “Aria, I thought we had enough trust between us.” His voice was low and husky, filled with deep disappointment.
Aria lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. “I'm sorry, Neven. I truly am. It's not that I doubt you; I doubt myself.”
Neven was silent for a moment, seemingly trying to understand her words. But the disappointment and pain in his heart made it impossible to remain calm. He stood up, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. “Maybe I was too hasty. Maybe I shouldn't have pressured you like this.” He turned and walked toward the tent's exit.
“Neven…” Aria reached out to stop him, but her voice caught in her throat.
Neven paused, looking back at her, his eyes filled with pain and disappointment, breaking her heart. “I will give you time, but I need some time to calm down as well.” With that, he walked out of the tent without looking back.
The cold night wind blew into the tent, bringing a sharp chill. Aria sat there, feeling a void and helplessness in her heart. She knew she had hurt Neven and widened the distance between them.
She clutched the dim Soul Stone, her thoughts in turmoil. Outside the tent, the shadows of patrolling soldiers flickered in the light, reflecting Aria's unsettled mood.
Trembling, Aria stood up and grabbed Neven's cloak, chasing after him. In the biting cold wind, snowflakes swirled. Neven stood outside the tent, lost in his thoughts. Aria draped the cloak over his cold shoulders, filled with remorse.
“It’s my fault,” Aria said softly.
Neven turned around, his eyes full of doubt and pain. He scrutinized her, his voice tinged with confusion. “After all this time, why do you sometimes seem so afraid of me?”
Aria bit her lip and shook her head.
“Did Alexander mention my past, making you unhappy?”
Aria looked up, surprised that Neven had brought up his past on his own. “Can you tell me about her?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“So it’s because of her…”
“No, Neven, you misunderstood.” Aria shook her head. “I don't mind, especially since she's no longer here. I'm just curious because you never mentioned your past.”
“My past…” Neven gazed at her, old memories surfacing, and with sincere honesty, he said, “To me, those days are gone, along with all the love and hate. I've moved on, which is why I chose to start a new relationship, but I can't erase the memories from my mind.” He sighed, looking wistfully at the soldiers moving around the camp. “We first met in Voidmarsh. She was hiding in a snow pit, barely alive. I found her and brought her back for treatment. You can imagine, we slowly fell in love. It wasn’t until we were deeply in love that she told me she was Aether.”
“She was Aether?” Aria was shocked. “Aether’s clothes are so distinct. How did you not realize?”
“She wore our clothes. I thought she was an orphan from Shadowvale,” he explained. “Aether forbids marriages with outsiders. After we fell in love, she chose to abandon Aether to be with me. Then one day, I returned from a mission and never saw her again… until…” He lowered his eyes, silent for a long time before speaking slowly. “I found her body…”
Aria stole a glance at Neven. His expression was one she would never forget. She felt his deep pain and loss, a side of him she had never seen. A pang of jealousy hit her—Neven had never shown her such profound emotion. Her heart trembled; if that woman hadn't died, she might never have Neven.
“Neven, I…” Aria's voice was faint, afraid to break the silence.
Neven looked up, the gloom in his eyes still there. “Aria, I don't want you to go through the pain I experienced.” His voice was low. “I chose to be with you not to replicate the past but because I believe in our future. I don't want the shadows of the past to haunt us again.”
Aria took a deep breath. “I understand. Let's leave the past behind. We shouldn't repeatedly blame ourselves for past mistakes. Now is what matters most, right?” she said softly, her eyes shining.
Neven smiled faintly, taking her hand and kissing her fingertips.
They stood quietly in the cold wind, their mutual understanding and warmth filling the chilly night. In that moment, their love seemed stronger than ice, more steadfast than any storm.
A few days later, under the dim night sky, Aria hurriedly went to deliver a secret letter from Seraphina to Neven. Inside the stone fortress, a serious strategy meeting was underway, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Aria didn't want to stay in such a stifling environment. She discreetly handed the letter to Neven, trying not to draw attention from others.
Neven, focused on the intense discussion, took the letter and nodded slightly. "Is this letter important?" Neven asked quietly, his eyes fixed on the letter.
"Yes, the messenger said it's urgent," Aria replied softly. "Seraphina emphasized that this letter is crucial for future strategic decisions."
Neven opened the letter and began reading intently. Aria quietly exited the fortress. Sage Solon, sitting in the front row, had already noticed Aria's arrival and cast a glance in their direction.
Leaving the fortress, Aria prepared to return to the warmth of her tent to continue the task Alexander had given her—dividing a large jar of potion into small bottles. On her way back, she unexpectedly encountered someone she didn't want to see. She lowered her head, trying to take a detour and pretend she hadn't seen Felix in the distance.
"Aria, wait!" Felix jumped over a fence and pulled Aria aside to a tent. He was carrying a large sword today, looking flustered as if he had sneaked into the camp.
"We have nothing to talk about. Stop coming to our camp," Aria said impatiently.
"I just want to tell you one thing, a very important warning."
Aria glared at him, waiting for him to finish.
"Do you really want to be with Neven? Don't you care about your own safety?"
"That's none of your business," Aria snapped.
"You have to leave him. If you stay with him... you'll end up dead. There's no good ending with him."
"Are you done? If so, I'm leaving." Aria urged impatiently.
"If you don't want to marry me, you can come back to Aether with me. Give me some time to get to know each other, Aria. You'll fall in love with me."
"Are you out of your mind?" Aria shouted angrily. "I warn you, stop bothering me. If you keep asking me to go to Aether, I'll call for help." She was trembling with anger, never having met someone so annoying. She shoved Felix aside and walked straight towards the tent.
"I'll have the chieftain step in and negotiate with Sage Solon. They won't refuse our chieftain." Felix shouted from behind. "I mean it. You don't belong with the Lunar Essence clan..."
Aria ignored his yelling and continued walking quickly, filled with loathing for Felix. She knew what she truly wanted and knew she had to stick to her choice, no matter how difficult the road ahead might be.