Morning came slowly
The sun was up, birds chirped waking up the townspeople, the forest seemed warm and welcoming —unlike yesterday when it felt like everything wanted to kill Ashley
The two strangers sitting under the tree still asleep. If you didn't know better you'd think they were a couple. Enjoying their time together, admiring nature with all its beauty. Ashley's head was rested on Kyle's shoulder still asleep, without a care in the world.
Her eyes opened slowly, raising her head she yawned, stretching her hands. It had not yet dawned on her that she was still in the forest—not until the voice of a man brought her back to reality
"Did you sleep well?" Kyle asked startling her—she really did forget she was stuck in the forest with a stranger
"W...who are you?"she asked, looking at the handsome young man, she was mesmerized. she had never seen such a well sculpted face in her life—literally, his skin was pale in a good way. his midnight hair fell on his face nonchalantly, slightly covering his eyes. His sitting position made him look more like he was basking in the sunlight, his back rested on the tree with one leg raised to support one of his hand and the other flat on the ground. His other hand where Ashley laid her head, sat beside him slightly raised to support Ashley's head
"Your gaze is more scorching than the sun" Kyle said, turning to look at her. Ashley's eyes widened
"Y... you're the crazy mage who saved me yesterday" she said, backing up while pointing at him
"And you're the girl who has no life preservation skills—again I am no mage" he replied, sitting up
Ashley watched him closely, she realized that all this while he had hidden his face from her. Why exactly did he reveal it now?, watching him get up from his sitting position, he walked towards her with his hand stretched out
Stretching out her hands to place on his. she stared at him almost drooling "Can I have my cloak?" he requested, with a raised eyebrow
"Oh..."
Ashley's face turned bright red, noticing the cloak covering her shoulder. She removed it and handed it over to him.
Seeing her shiver from cold last night made him uncomfortable. After much thoughts he used his cloak to cover her. Shaking his head slightly, he wandered why the primordials made such fragile creatures—so easy to die, how exactly were they useful to them.
"Are you going to keep sitting on the ground" Kyle asked as he put his cloak over his shoulder, covering his head with the hood.
"Oh...sorry" Ashley muttered even more embarrassed. She quickly got up from the floor dusting her skirt.
"Thank you for saving my life...huh..."
"Kyle"
"Kyle" she laughed nervously "I will be on my way now" she continued, bowing slightly. She turned to leave, grateful that he was kind enough to save her life. He also threatened her life...so it was best to get away from him now and hope they never meet again
"Aren't you curious about the mark on your chest" Kyle said, his words making Ashley stop. She had forgotten about the mark on her chest. but— she didn't tell him the mark was on her chest
Slowly it dawned on her, clutching her top 'did this man touch while she—'
"I did not touch you" Kyle defended, he could hear her thoughts. it was part of the bond they shared but currently only he could. She couldn't hear his —after a thousand years of having brides he learned to block them out.
Ashley slowly turned around with suspicion wrttien on her face "then how did you know where the mark was..." She replied
He paused—choosing his next words carefully
"because every bride chosen has a mark on the same place" he said, walking past her.
"Every bride?" Curious Ashley followed close behind him
"You're not the first Bride the mark has chosen—"
"probably the first mortal bride"
Ashley was more confused "And who is the Bride?" She asked, hastening her steps to catch up with him.
"The Bride of the reaper keeps the balance between the human realm and the underrealm" Kyle said, not wanting to delve in deeper— that was basically what she had to do
"Just that...isn't it the reaper's job to keep the balance" Ashley replied, she knew he was keeping the rest of the information from her
Kyle stayed silent.
their feet crushing the soil was the only sound between them. He didn't want to explain in detail the bride's duty—he didn't know how.
All the brides chosen by Ananke were prepared for him. knowing their duties before they are chosen. Now he had to train his bride?. His face darkened under his hood, when he got his hands on that old primordial.
'this is going to be a long walk'
"The Bride exists to anchor death to creation...." He started