Rohan and Aria stood at the edge of the greenland, their eyes scanning the endless expanse of green. The sun beat down on them, its intensity relentless.

Aria stumbled, her legs trembling beneath her. Rohan's gaze snapped to hers, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Aria, what's wrong?"

She shook her head, her ponytail swinging behind her. "I don't understand, Rohan. I feel like we've been walking for days, but the sun... it's still high in the sky."

Rohan's eyes met hers, his own fatigue mirrored in their depths. He rubbed the back of his neck, his movements slow and deliberate. "I know. I feel it too. It's like time is different here."

Aria's gaze fell upon the sun, her eyes squinting against its brightness. She shook her head again, her voice barely above a whisper. "But how is that possible? We've been walking for so long, we should have seen the sun set by now."

Rohan's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together. He looked away, his eyes scanning the horizon. "I don't know, but we need to keep moving. We can't afford to stop now."

As they walked, the greenland stretching out before them like an endless sea, Aria's eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of respite. And then, suddenly, she saw it - a cluster of palm trees rising from the earth like a mirage.

"Rohan, look!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her hand tugged on his arm, her fingers digging into his skin.

Rohan's eyes followed hers, and his face lit up with hope. "An oasis," he breathed. His pace quickened, his long strides eating up the distance.

Aria struggled to keep up, her legs aching with fatigue. But Rohan's enthusiasm was infectious, and she found herself smiling, her heart lifting with excitement.

As they drew closer, they saw that it was a small spring, surrounded by a cluster of palm trees and a small garden of lush greenery.

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Aria's eyes locked onto the spring, her thirst overriding her caution. She reached out to drink, but Rohan's hand shot out, grasping her wrist.

"Wait," he said, his voice firm. His eyes narrowed, his gaze intense.

Aria's gaze flashed to his, her eyes narrowing. "I'm thirsty, Rohan. And I need to make sure you're safe."

Rohan's grip tightened. "I'm the pioneer, Aria. It's my duty to ensure our safety. And that includes testing the water."

Aria's face set in a stubborn mask. "No, Rohan. As your first helper, it's my duty to protect you. And I won't let you risk your life without knowing if this water is safe."

Rohan's eyes burned with intensity. "Aria, I won't let you risk your life either. We're in this together, remember?"

Aria's voice dropped to a whisper. "But what if something happens to you? Who will lead us then?"

Rohan's jaw clenched. "I won't let anything happen to me, Aria. And even if it does, you're capable of leading us to safety."

Their hands remained locked, each refusing to yield. The air was thick with tension, their roles and responsibilities hanging in the balance.

Aria's eyes locked onto Rohan's, her gaze burning with determination. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a swift, gentle kiss. Rohan's eyes fluttered closed, his grip on her wrist relaxing.

But Aria's kiss was more than just a romantic gesture. Her fingers grazed Rohan's wrist, and a sudden numbness spread through his body. His senses dulled, and his vision blurred.

With a swift smile, Aria nimbly broke free from Rohan's grasp and sprinted towards the spring. Rohan stumbled forward, his movements slow and clumsy. His voice slurred, and his words tumbled out incoherently.

Aria reached the spring and cupped her hands, taking a cautious sip of the water. She waited for a moment, testing for any adverse reactions. Satisfied, she turned back to Rohan, who was still stumbling towards her.

Aria approached Rohan, a cup of water in her hands. "Here, drink this," she said, her voice soft and gentle. Rohan took the cup, his eyes still slightly unfocused. He sipped the water, feeling it revive his parched body.

As he drank, his mind began to clear, and his gaze snapped back into focus. His eyes searched Aria's, his expression questioning. Aria's eyes met his, her gaze steady and sincere.

Rohan's eyes searched Aria's, his expression questioning. Aria's gaze met his, her eyes steady and sincere. She took a step closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had to, Rohan. I couldn't let you risk your life."

Rohan's face twisted, his emotions warring. He looked away, his jaw clenched. "I know," he said finally, his voice rough. "But next time, let's discuss it first, okay?"

Aria nodded, her eyes never leaving his face. "Okay," she said softly.

Rohan's gaze snapped back to hers, his eyes burning with intensity. "Aria, I won't let anything happen to you. You're my... everything."

Aria's face softened, her eyes filling with emotion. She reached out, her hand brushing against his. "I know, Rohan. I feel the same way."

Their hands touched, and a spark of electricity ran through both of them. They stood there, frozen, the tension between them palpable.