**Lila's Return**

The next morning, Alex was startled awake by the sound of someone screaming. He quickly sat up and saw Lila storming into the room, her face red with anger.

"Why the hell did you leave me 20 miles back?" she shouted, glaring at both Alex and Thrain.

Alex rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "Lila, I'm sorry. I completely forgot you were with us."

Lila crossed her arms, her eyes blazing. "You forgot? How do you forget something like that?"

Alex opened his mouth to respond, but Lila turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

**A Silent Trip**

For the rest of the trip back to the village, Lila didn't say a word to either Alex or Thrain. The atmosphere was tense, and Alex felt a growing sense of guilt for having forgotten about her.

They eventually arrived back at the village and headed to the tavern for some much-needed rest. As they settled in, Yuki entered, her expression curious.

"What's she so mad about?" Yuki asked, looking from Alex to Thrain.

Alex sighed. "We forgot her 20 miles back."

Yuki's eyes widened in shock. "That's mean," she said, her voice rising. "How could you do that?"

Before Alex could respond, Yuki lashed out at him, her words sharp. "You can't just forget about people like that!"

She turned and ran off, leaving Alex feeling even worse than before.

**Seeking Forgiveness**

Thrain placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "I'll deal with Lila. You should go talk to Yuki and make things right."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Alex nodded, grateful for Thrain's support. He quickly left the tavern and went to find Yuki. He found her sitting by the stream, looking upset.

"Yuki," Alex called out softly as he approached her.

Yuki looked up, her eyes filled with hurt. "Why did you do that, Alex? How could you forget her?"

"I didn't mean to," Alex said, sitting down beside her. "I'm really sorry. I was so focused on our journey that I lost track. It was a mistake, and I feel terrible about it."

Yuki sighed, her anger fading. "You can't treat women like that, Alex. It's not right."

"I know," Alex admitted. "I'm sorry, Yuki."

Without warning, Yuki slapped him across the face, the sting surprising him. But before he could react, she leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was brief but intense, and when she pulled away, she looked just as shocked as he felt.

Yuki stood up and ran off, leaving Alex sitting there, stunned by what had just happened.

**A Realization**

As he sat there, Alex realized that he might have feelings for Yuki. He would always love Lyra, but he found himself thinking that perhaps he could love two people. He decided to talk about it with Thrain.

Back at the tavern, Alex found Thrain sitting at a table, a mug of ale in hand. "Thrain, I need to talk to you," Alex said, sitting down across from him.

Thrain raised an eyebrow. "What's on your mind, lad?"

Alex took a deep breath. "I think I might have feelings for Yuki. But I still love Lyra. Is it possible to love two people at once?"

Thrain smiled, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. "It's more common than you might think, Alex. Love isn't a finite thing. You can have love for more than one person in your life. If you care about Yuki, you should tell her. You only live once, after all."

Alex nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks, Thrain. I needed to hear that."

**Confession**

Determined to set things right, Alex went to find Yuki. He found her near the edge of the village, her back to him as she gazed at the horizon.

"Yuki," Alex called out, approaching her slowly.

She turned to face him, her expression wary. "What is it, Alex?"

"I've realized something," Alex said, his voice steady. "I love how much I've gotten to know you. You're amazing, and I care about you a lot. But I also need to tell you that I have someone back home. Her name is Lyra, and I love her too."

Yuki looked at him, her eyes searching his face. "So what does that mean for us?"

"I want to be with you," Alex said honestly. "But I also want to be honest with you. If marriage is something you want in the future, we'll have to talk to Lyra about it when we see her again. I don't want to lie to anyone or hurt anyone."

Yuki smiled, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Alright, Alex. I understand. Let's see where this goes."

**A Night Together**

With a sense of hope and understanding, Alex and Yuki walked back to the inn. They spent the night talking and getting to know each other even better, sharing stories and dreams. As the night wore on, they grew closer, finding comfort and joy in each other's company.

This concludes Chapter Nineteen.