Descargar la aplicación
12.88% SMITTEN / Chapter 21: A Comforting Hand

Capítulo 21: A Comforting Hand

"Woah!" Aisha screamed in fright.

The hand looked like a dead woman's hand, with its whitish cast and cold temperature. And it was about to drag her with it underwater.

She was just emotionally unstable as she witnessed the horrifying state of her land when this gruesome extremity frighteningly shot up in the water.

"Stay back!" King Leandro immediately pulled her away.

Then he immediately slew the dreadful hand with his sword. The chopped hand flew to the grass beside Aisha, terrifying her all the more.

"Are you all right?" King Leandro quickly went to her side and helped her to stand. Concern was written all over his face.

"Yes," Aisha answered him as she dusted her tunic.

"What is that thing?" She continued to ask in bafflement as she watched it wiggle as if it was suffocating out of the water. Then it eventually died, leaving a lifeless form behind.

King Leandro returned his sword to its sheath as he responded. "They were Nagaes who were living inside Lake Visum. They must have thought that you're an enemy. They haven't sensed your blood yet."

Aisha nodded as she understood. Somehow she was already getting herself familiar with Gaean people.

"So far, I could see that most Gaeans were very protective of their homes. Maybe it was the reason why it didn't suffer from Mother Nature's revenge," She uttered as she recalled the vision that she just saw.

Recalling the purpose of her desire to get near the waters, she went to it again. But this time she stood a little far from the lake. But enough to get a clear view.

No matter how hard she tried to look, she couldn't find any moving individual or even animals in the chaotic world.

"You're absolutely correct. That is why you should not be reckless if you want to survive here in Gaea, my lady. Almost all the people here could sense that you are an outsider. That is why I ask you to stay in the Castle - " King Leandro stopped midway.

He must have realized that he would just admonish her again. He just took a deep breath.

Then he spoke again, "This was the world that you're risking your life to get back to. Do you still want to go back?"

Aisha heaved out a long sigh. Deep inside, she knew that it was a hopeless case. Was she in denial then?

She sniffed and wiped her nose as her eyes turned blurry. Should she just accept the fact that she alone survived that hapless strategy?

"You know, our world may not be as beautiful as this land. But it is our safe place. Folks work hard to survive and provide for their children. Now it was completely useless. Everything that they worked so hard for was now gone underwater," she said in a quivering voice.

She gazed at the waters of the Lake Visum which was now turning back to its natural beauty. The vision of her world being submerged underneath it.

King Leandro drew near her. She felt the warmth of his masculine hand on her back as he spoke, "I understand where you're coming from. I wouldn't want to see Gaea in that state either."

Aisha swiveled to face him. She wanted to ask if he had any idea how it happened. Or if they have something to do with it.

But as he talked, she felt like they were just on equal ground.

He has a colossal height compared to her, a king in every angle and decree.

But they both wanted to preserve their own home. Hers, being destroyed, though.

The King gazed at every part of her face admiringly, making Aisha feel butterflies in her stomach.

He was not touching her or anything. But his smoldering gaze comforts her, like a warm fireplace in the winter seasons of her life.

"Now that you've seen it with your own eyes, I hope you will never try to escape again. Because I will not be as merciful next time," King Leandro said tenderly as he lifted his finger to remove a strand of her silky black hair away from her reddened face.

His heartwarming gesture made her head bobbed up and down. Her pink lips curled into a smile. "Thank you, your Majesty. You are indeed a good King," She couldn't help but utter sincerely.

Her statement seemed to bother the King, as his face suddenly transformed. It was as if he was surprised to hear it from her.

"I am just obeying orders from the Great Theos. It is He who is good and just," With a swift motion, he turned around and walked away.

Aisha scratched her head as he tried to figure it out. "Did I just hit a button?" But she shrugged it off as she followed him.

She thought he would return to Draco. But King Leandro walked towards the woods.

"Wait, can you show me how to do that chant? Please?" She babbled as she tried to imitate him while following him inside the forest.

*************************************************

"What to do if you find yourself stuck in a crack in the ground underneath a giant boulder you can't move, with no hope of rescue. Consider how lucky you are that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn't been good to you so far, which given your current circumstances seems more likely, consider how lucky you are that it won't be troubling you much longer."

― Douglas Adams, The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts


Capítulo 22: What do you want before you die?

Leandro's ruby lips twisted in a sad smile. His heart beat seemed to slow down.

He knew how difficult Aisha could be feeling right now. He would be devastated himself if that happened to Gaea.

At least, he did not have to worry about her leaving the island now.

"There aren't any Nagaes here, right, your Majesty?" Aisha curiously asked as she lifted her skirts, so she could see where she was walking.

With her eyebrows furrowed in concentration, she was trying to trace his footsteps like something would come out of the ground and grab her if she did not.

His amaranthine eyes twinkled at her innocent gestures.

He was showing Aisha the unfortunate state of her land through the Lake of Visum when a Nagae tried to attack her. Fortunately, Leandro saw him first.

Leandro looked around the uneven ground. There were fallen trees covered in moss, bark fragments, dead leaves, and pine cones tangled in tall grasses.

But there were no forest trails of Nagaes or wild animals that might have visited the water edge.

"No," he answered bluntly in his usual deep, resonating voice, hoping she would be reassured by it.

"Why are we here, anyway, your Majesty? Do you have something else to show me? Or will this be where I would leave my last will and write what I want before I die? Do you have a pen and paper with you, your Majesty?" Aisha inquired.

Leandro clamped his lips to prevent a smile from creeping up.

"This lady has only been here for a few days, but she has amused me in more times than the Castle's Jesters have," Leandro pondered.

He has been calling them lately as he was stressed with the current situation of Gaea. His dominion wasn't as challenging as before, since there were only a few people to lead.

But this year, the population increased exponentially. It seemed that the lands were struggling to keep up with it.

There were even times that he couldn't sleep at night, just thinking.

Aisha is like a fresh breath of air to him.

Though she was also a headache after her reckless escape only to go to the Lycus territory, the expected solution to the problem. His hand flew to his temples as he massaged it.

Until now, he still wasn't convinced that letting go of the Southern land was the best option. While it is true that they could find other suitable places, that was the best soil for Speltas.

His head was aching so he just decided to just go with the flow as he questioned her, "I could have it prepared by the Chancellor with the King's seal on it. What's your final wish, my lady?"

However, he wasn't looking at her. His hyacinth eyes were wary as there might be wild animals trodding along which might mistake her for a meal.

"Well, to be honest, I actually made that one, before the tsunami waves ate me up," Aisha said after she breathed out a sigh.

Leandro suddenly stopped as his curiosity was piqued. "Is that so, my lady?" He asked as he turned back to face her.

"Yes, your Majesty. But I guess it doesn't matter now, since I was going to die anyway. Again," Her shoulders shrugged with her head bowed down.

His eyes glinted as he drew closer to her. "What is it? I am the King of Gaea. I could fulfill them. Before you die, that is," He asked in his kingly voice.

He has no plans of doing the latter. He just wanted to know how she would react.

She seemed to be a person who usually thinks out loud, as she answered abruptly. "Well, the first one was already answered. That is to live in another world, which I have experienced for more than 24 hours, thank God. But the second one," she paused, "It hasn't happened, yet, I guess. But that could not be given easily even if one is a King."

Leandro's eyes widened at her astounding statement. Both his thick eyebrows shot up in astonishment. "Is there such a thing that a King couldn't give? Tell me, my lady."

Clearly, there is nothing in Gaea that he could not do or give. Aisha's final wish was definitely intriguing.

Aisha seemed to think about it as she gazed up at the sky with her narrowed eyes. "Well, if I told you, it might not just happen at all."

Leandro's jaw dropped. "What is something that a King couldn't give? That when one has knowledge about it, he has already lost his chance of giving it? Is this some kind of riddle, my lady? Are you buying your way out of your punishment?"

Aisha quickly responded. "No, your Majesty. It is the truth," she shook her head and her hands vigorously in denial.

Leandro peered into her eyes to see if she was lying. Her bronze-shaded eyes were wide in fear.

It appeared as if she was indeed telling the truth.

A silent wind came in between them, making Leandro hear what he was looking for.

From where they were, he could hear the waters trickling around rocks and over twigs. He quickly went in the direction of the water, Aisha was close behind.

True enough, they were near the grassy banks edging the shallow water. His chiseled face lit up as he saw that the waters were full of minnows and small fish flashing beneath the surface.

It was already early afternoon and Aisha hasn't eaten yet. He knew that ordinary humans have weak bodies. That's why he decided to eat first before they continue on their way.

He withdrew his sharp double-edged sword from its sheath and commanded Aisha, "Stay still!"

Leandro lifted his sword and was about to plunge it at one of the fish.

However, just as he was about to do, his eyes caught on Aisha's expression.

Her eyes were shut tightly, so did her fists which clung to her skirt as if that could save her.

Leandro smiled. "He must have thought that I would cut her neck and have her head float in these streams."

He was about to say that she could open her eyes, and he has no plans of hurting her. But he decided to close his mouth again.

Aisha just looked too beautiful right now.

Leandro drew near her until he was about a foot away from her.

He could feel her staggering breath, even the scent coming from her hair as the winds were carrying it in his direction.

Suddenly he felt his throat go parched as he stared at her pink, luscious lips. Her eyes were still closed.

He drew closer to her and whispered in her ear, "If I kiss you right now, am I on my way to fulfilling your final wish?"

Aisha opened her doll-like eyes in bewilderment and stared at him.

********************************************

We live as if there are countless days ahead. We fail to seize the moment and grab the opportunities to enjoy life to its fullest, do things that make our hearts sing, or express how we feel about the ones we cherish the most. It always seems that we will be able to do that 'later', when the only thing we really have is now.


REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES
Myrrhia Myrrhia

Hello everyone! I'm currently working out the next chapters. But my family and I got sick. I need to take care of them. Sorry for this. I will upload the next chapters as soon as they stabilize somehow. Please pray for us.

Thanks so much for understanding. :* Hope all is well with you. :*

Load failed, please RETRY

Regalos

Regalo -- Regalo recibido

    Estado de energía semanal

    Desbloqueo caps por lotes

    Tabla de contenidos

    Opciones de visualización

    Fondo

    Fuente

    Tamaño

    Gestión de comentarios de capítulos

    Escribe una reseña Estado de lectura: C21
    No se puede publicar. Por favor, inténtelo de nuevo
    • Calidad de escritura
    • Estabilidad de las actualizaciones
    • Desarrollo de la Historia
    • Diseño de Personajes
    • Antecedentes del mundo

    La puntuación total 0.0

    ¡Reseña publicada con éxito! Leer más reseñas
    Votar con Piedra de Poder
    Rank 200+ Clasificación PS
    Stone 0 Piedra de Poder
    Denunciar contenido inapropiado
    sugerencia de error

    Reportar abuso

    Comentarios de párrafo

    Iniciar sesión

    tip Comentario de párrafo

    ¡La función de comentarios de párrafo ya está en la Web! Mueva el mouse sobre cualquier párrafo y haga clic en el icono para agregar su comentario.

    Además, siempre puedes desactivarlo en Ajustes.

    ENTIENDO