Miria walked until she reached a place where the trees spaced out, revealing the sky. She raised her eyes to the moon and remained still.
Images rose up, brutal.
Herself, chained, screaming in pain while a black aura penetrated her.
Her eyes turning completely white, the chains breaking.
The devastating shockwave that had destroyed everything around her.
Her eyes misted over. A tear slid down her cheek. She closed her eyes, her heart heavy.
A sound of footsteps alerted her. She turned her head and saw Asher. Immediately, she quickly wiped away her tear and forced a smile.
"Asher… why aren't you with the others?"
He crossed his arms.
"And you?"
"I asked the question first. So you answer me first."
Asher sighed.
"Alright. I came because I noticed something was wrong. To make it short… I'm worried about you. And you?"
Miria hesitated, searching for her words.
"I… I just wanted some air."
Asher displayed an annoyed expression.
"Miria… we've known each other for nearly a thousand years. And you dare lie to me while looking me straight in the eyes."
She became flustered.
"But… but… I… I'm not lying to you."
"Go tell that to Katrina and the others. With me, it doesn't even work a little."
Miria lowered her head, caught. Asher let out a long sigh, then gently took her hands in his.
"Miria… I love you. And seeing you suffer in silence… hurts me. We're a couple. We're supposed to tell each other everything… and hide nothing."
She turned her head, unable to answer. Asher lowered his eyes, dejected.
"I'm not going to force you. When you feel ready… I'll be here."
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then walked away without another word.
Miria remained still long after he left, unable to make the slightest movement, her heart too heavy.
Later, at bedtime, it was decided that no one would sleep as couples.
"Just to avoid… certain less-than-holy impulses in the middle of the forest," Eiden had summarized with a knowing smile.
The tents were therefore distributed as follows:
- Klaus, Gale, and Ray
- Asher and Axel
- Bryan and Eiden
- Miria and Marlie
- Katrina, Diana, and Isabella
- Kira and Alix
Everyone went to their tent. The campfire gradually diminished. The Mistmoon Forest fell back into silence…