Svenja and Ahina two continued to follow Kurovika into the darkness, the eerie atmosphere of the place creating an ambiance of anticipation. Svenja, trying to keep her focus on their task, couldn't help but steal glances at Kurovika's dark yet gorgeous form ahead of them. Ahina, true to her playful self, openly ogled Kurovika’s lack of clothing with an obvious grin. Svenja nudged her friend, giving her a look that said “behave.”
Svenja couldn’t blame Ahina though; Kurovika’s tall, lean frame seemed to move like a dancer's, every step she took was a mesmerizing dance. Not to mention the way her muscles tensed and relaxed under her black skin.
“She def’ knows she’s hot,” Svenja murmured, reluctantly agreeing.
Ahina let out a low whistle, “Damn right she does. And those muscles...oof, imagine the strength she must possess.”
Svenja playfully shoulder-bumped her, “Focus, Ahina. Remember why we're here. It's not for admiring her looks."
Kurovika suddenly glanced back at them over her shoulder for a moment, as if she could feel their gazes burning into her back, her eyes gleaming in the darkness. She then spoke in a sarcastic way, her voice like silk over steel, “...Staring respectfully, are we?”
Ahina nearly choked on her own spit at being caught. “Uh…we, er, just…were admiring your elegance.” She struggled to keep her gaze on Kurovika's face and not let it wander lower.
Svenja whispered, “Real smooth there, Ahina. Ye're only provin’ her point, ye know.”
Ahina groaned quietly in embarrassment, “Oh, shut up! Can you blame me? I’d die happy if she'd just wrap those strong thighs around my—”
Ahina was cut off by bumping into Kurovika, who stopped in front of a glowing fissure in the cavern wall, the blue light casting dancing shadows on everyone. Kurovika turned to face them, her gaze level and steady
"We're here. Evelynn’s spot is on the other side of this fracture."
Once on the other side of the fracture, they found themselves in a quiet, dimly lit clearing surrounded by thick trees to the left and right and a small lake in front of them. Across the lake, there was a lone figure standing on the other side, unmoving. Despite the person being so far away, they could still make out who it was, the familiar tall form of Evelynn, seemingly deep in thought.
"There she is," Kurovika said quietly, nodding towards Evelynn across the lake. "She's been keeping to herself lately, more than usual. I think whatever plan she has is starting to affect her."
Svenja and Ahina followed Kurovika's gaze to see Evelynn on the other side of the lake, her form silhouetted against the dark sky. The atmosphere was tense, as if something big and significant was about to unfold.
As they continued to watch, the wind picked up, causing the surface of the lake to ripple, and the trees surrounding them to sway and creak. Despite the eerie atmosphere, the forest remained silent, save for the sound of the wind. They could see Evelynn standing as still as a statue, not moving or reacting to the ominous environment.
Kurovika broke the silence with a deep sigh, shaking her head slightly. "You should probably go speak to her."
Svenja and Ahina exchanged a glance, sensing the unease in Kurovika's voice. They both nodded silently, silently agreeing to go along with her.
Together, they cautiously made their way around the lake's edge, careful not to draw attention to themselves. The water lapping against the shore was the only sound to listen to as they walked, creating an unsettling atmosphere. As they rounded the lake, the soft glow of moonlight illuminated Evelynn's stoic expression, making her look both beautiful and menacing.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
When they reached Evelynn, she didn't turn around to acknowledge them. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on whatever she was focused on. It was only when they stood right behind her did she finally speak.
"You're here," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of her thoughts.
Svenja and Ahina shared a glance, unsure of how to react to her detached tone. After a moment of silence, the two took a step closer to Evelynn and spoke up.
"We wanted to check on you," Ahina said gently, her voice filled with concern. "You've been distant lately.”
Evelynn let out a quiet scoff, finally turning to face them. Her gaze was tired and distant as she looked at them.
"Distant? I've been planning," she replied, her voice carrying a note of irritation. "There's a lot at stake, more than you realize.”
Svenja and Ahina exchanged another glance and nodded, sensing the tension in Evelynn's words.
"We know it's important," Svenja said carefully, her voice steady as she spoke to Evelynn. "We jus’ wanted ta make sure ye're okay.”
Evelynn's irritation flared up even more, her patience clearly wearing thin. "I'm fine," she snapped, her words sharp and biting. "I don't need to be coddled or checked up on. I know what I'm doing.”
Ahina tried to soften the tension in the conversation, stepping forward and speaking in a gentle tone.
"We're not trying to coddle you," she said, her eyes filled with worry and concern. "We care about you. We just want to make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard.”
Evelynn's hardened expression slightly softened as she heard Ahina's words. She let out a deep sigh, her shoulders visibly relaxing. "I appreciate your concern," she said, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. "But I can handle this. There's no room for weakness now. I need to handle…this,” she ended before brushing her hair covering her right eye, revealing it to the others. Much like her sister, the eye had black markings surrounding it, and the eye itself was pitch black and darted around like a pinball on drugs, all while her left eye was aqua and perfectly normal, looking at them directly.
“This eye,” she continued. “Is the bane of my existence. I cannot allow Necromoon to run my life. I have to defeat him and take back what's mine.”
As Evelynn poured out her heart to them, Svenja nodded, absorbing her words. Ahina, on the other hand, was clearly troubled by how worn out and frustrated Evelynn looked. She stepped forward and put a comforting hand on her arm.
"You don't have to do this alone, you know," Ahina said softly. "We're here to help.”
Evelynn hesitated. Her fierce and defiant gaze softened as she let out a heavy sigh. "I appreciate the offer," she mumbled, looking away.
Svenja, feeling a pang of sympathy for Evelynn, stepped forward and spoke with a firm yet kind tone. "You don't have ta do everythin' alone, y'know. Even the strongest warriors need allies."
Ahina nodded in agreement, her hand still resting on Evelynn's pale arm. "Exactly," she said. "We're here for you. We want to help. You're not alone in this.”
Evelynn looked from one woman to the other, their words sinking in. She bit her lip, torn between her inner need to do everything herself and the growing realization that maybe she did need some support. After a moment, she let out a small sigh and gave a reluctant nod. "Fine," she mumbled, her voice less sharp than before. "You can…help me.”
Ahina couldn't help but smile at Evelynn's reluctant agreement. “Sweet! You're an Alliance member. You're one of us, and if one fights, we all fight.”
Svenja, meanwhile, folded her arms and gave a satisfied nod, pleased that Evelynn had finally let go of some of her stubborn pride.
"Thank you," Evelynn muttered, looking down at the ground as she spoke. She was still clearly uncomfortable with the idea of accepting help, but there was an underlying trace of vulnerability in her voice that revealed her inner turmoil.
Svenja patted her on the shoulder, her touch light yet supportive. "Don't mention it," she said, her voice gruff but surprisingly gentle. "We're all in this together, yeah? No point in facin' it all by yaself.“
Ahina nodded, her eyes filled with compassion. "You're not weak for needing help," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "In fact, recognizing your need for support shows how strong you really are.”
Evelynn's gaze flicked between the two women, her emotions swirling visibly within her aqua eye. She looked as though she wanted to argue, to deny that she needed anyone's help, but the understanding and compassion in Svenja and Ahina's eyes silenced her.
"You don't have to figure it all out on your own," Ahina continued gently. "We're here to share the burden, to fight by your side."
Svenja chipped in, her voice more gruff but still filled with conviction. "We won't let ya down, lass. Just tell us what ya need.”
Evelynn clenched her jaw, the last vestiges of her resistance crumbling. Her shoulders sagged, and she looked away, her voice quiet but more vulnerable than ever. "I...I need your help to defeat Necromoon," she admitted grudgingly.
Svenja and Ahina exchanged a look, their expressions a mixture of concern and relief. They knew how hard it was for Evelynn to ask for help, and the fact that she did was testament to her trust in them.
Ahina stepped closer, her voice softer than ever. "We're here for you, no matter what," she said firmly. "You're not alone in this.”
Svenja put a hand on Evelynn's back, her touch surprisingly gentle. "We'll see ya through this," she assured her. "You're a tough lass...but even the toughest of us need friends by their side. Now let's leg it, we're goin’ back to the Alliance HQ to regroup and figure it all out from there.”
Evelynn took a deep breath, her chest visibly rising and falling. For a moment, she just stood there, her emotions playing across her face more clearly than they had in years. For the first time, she looked less like the fierce and defiant warrior they knew, and more like someone who was finally allowing herself to ask for help. She was vulnerable, weary, and yet stronger than they'd ever seen her.
“Very well…let's go.”