"What did you just say?"
Yareth took a deep breath.
"Would you like some tea?"
He turned around.
"They are expensive and quite rare since they originated from Ardor" He added.
"Yareth."
I grabbed his shoulder.
"This isn't the time to talk about tea."
"Well,"
He gently removed my hand.
"I asked you a question and you never gave a reply."
"Would you be able to forgive Eimira if she ever decides to have you killed?" He asked again, with a serious tone.
I blinked.
The thought of Eimira ever doing that never crossed my head, and hasn't, even after hearing what Yareth just said.
"I-I don't know..."
"Zandren, was it?"
"Y-Yeah..."
He exhaled. "It must be hard to hear that but it was just what I received. And they told me to let you know no later than now."
"Who's they?" I asked, puzzled.
"I don't know..." He chuckled slightly. "Whoever gave me the vision I guess..."
"I can't even imagine Eimira turning on me, talkless of her trying to kill me."
My legs weakened, and I quickly had to take a seat.
"Wait here." Yareth said as he turned to leave. "I'll go prepare the tea."
I sat there, staring at the ground, Yareth's footstep slowly fading away. I was unsure of what to think about.
"What could make Eimira think of that?" I murmured.
"We shared the same bed multiple times, she cooked for me. She looked after me." I thought.
I sat there, lost in thought.
A soft tap on my shoulder, but I didn't notice it.
Then a slight nudge, which finally brought me out of thought.
"What are you doing here?" A voice.
I turned.
Blue eyes.
It was Eimira.
I jerked backwards.
I breathed heavily. "Jeez. Don't sneak up on me like that."
Eimira giggled. "What were you thinking so deeply about that you didn't notice me enter?"
She sat beside me.
I unconsciously shifted away.
"Oh uh, it's uh..." My heart, still raised. "Why are you here?"
She stared at me for a moment.
"I'm the captain of this base. I have to be here most of the time." She answered.
She noticed the slight distance I put between us.
"Is everything okay, Zandren?" She asked.
"Y-Yeah." I chuckled, awkwardly. "Yeah, everything's fine."
"Then."
She patted on the space between us.
"Come closer, I'm cold."
"Okay, Zandren, let's not allow what Yareth says cause a rift between me and her. It might not even be true." I thought.
She smiled. "Come."
I moved closer, and she immediately placed her head on my chest.
"Ah, warmth." She exhaled. "If something's wrong, you can tell me."
I smiled, then wrapped my hands around her.
"Hmm hmm. Nothing's wrong, I just got a bit too startled."
"Oh.." She chuckled softly. "Sorry about that."
She faced me. "Aurivelle is in the yard. She's been dying to meet you."
"Oh, that's true."
I rubbed Eimira's shoulder.
"I haven't seen her in a long time." I said.
"Yeah, she's been training and learning about how to control and wield Emberia since you know..."
A door clicked shut in the distance.
"Is there someone else here?" Eimira asked.
"Yes, there is. A guy named Yareth." I answered.
"That bookworm. Him and Aurivelle, oh primords..." She laughed. "So what business does he have with you?"
"Oh, Chichi told me he knows a lot about the dark forest. And I've been trying to learn about it for a while, but the library didn't provide much information on it." I answered.
"True."
She sat straight, then started swinging her legs back and forth.
"The academy decides that, it's best most information about the dark forest isn't allowed in the public. "
"Why?" I blinked.
"Sensitive information." She exhaled. "That's all I can say for no—"
"Oh my, if it isn't the captain herself."
Yareth had returned, with a tray in hand.
"What brings you here? You barely show up."
I turned to her. "But you said you're here most of the time."
She turned away.
"Y-yes... Most of the time."
"Eimira.."
"Yes?"
I folded my arms. "Look at me and say that..."
"Hmph! No!" She pouted.
Yareth laughed.
"I never thought I'd see Captain this casual and chatty with someone."
Eimira's face flushed red.
"I-I'm not some soulless training dummy you guys..."
He chuckled, lightly. "Sure sure."
Yareth walked past us, to the seat right in front. He placed three cups on the seat.
"Why three cups, thought it was just you two?" Eimira asked.
"Oh yeah." Yareth poured tea into one of the cups. "Chiessa was here earlier."
He emptied the kettle's contents into the cups. Then handed one to Eimira
Eimira collected it. "Oh, so where is she?"
"On an errand." Yareth replied, also grabbing a cup.
He took a sip.
"Ahhh..." He exhaled, his face relaxed. "Zandren, the last one is yours."
"Yeah, Thanks..." I grabbed the last cup.
Yareth smiled. "No problem."
I took a sip.
"Oh my, this tastes like peace." I said.
They both laughed.
"Well, it's always chaos when we are on a mission. This is the closest to peace we ever get in the Dark Forest." Eimira replied.
I chuckled softly. "I can imagine."
Eimira tapped me.
"So, Zandren..."
"Hmm?"
"I was thinking..." She hesitated. "I was thinking maybe you could train with us for your upcoming tournament."
I took a sip, then dropped the cup. "Thanks. Since the tournament was postponed until further notice, I might as well train till then."
Eimira chuckled softly. "Yeah, the academy will most likely wait till—"
"Zandren, Zandren, can you hear me? Don't look around, just act normal. I'm talking to you telepathically."
I turned to Yareth.
He smiled back.
Eimira continued.
"And since you are really good with the gauntlets, I can have my members drill you with—"
"I know you are here about the Dark Forest. But it's not something I can talk about while the captain is around."
"We'll talk another time. I'll contact you through your arcstone when we should meet. Goodbye for now."
"Zandren, are you listening?" Eimira shook me.
I snapped back. "Uh, yeah yeah... Uhm drill, gauntlets, training. Got it."
Yareth chuckled, softly. "Well, the tea is a bit intoxicating."
He stood.
"Well, I'd be taking my leave now. It was nice meeting you, Zandren. Be sure to take good care of our beloved cold captain."
"Hey!!" Eimira yelled softly.
He turned to leave.
"And you can leave the cups when you're done."
He said before disappearing from our view.
"Ahhh." Eimira sighed. "Finally alone with you."
She rested her head on my shoulder. "I don't think the tournament will be anytime soon."
"Hmm." I stroked her hair.
"Terraka is under attack by something, we don't know what." She sighed. "Hosting something as big as the Vanguard selection tournament will be too risky."
"That makes sense." I shifted my hand to her shoulder. "Me getting my butt kicked has been postponed then, haha."
"Then you'll get it kicked, training with my vanguard."
We both laughed.
She looked at me.
I stared at her back.
"It's been a while..." I said.
She smiled.
"Hmm?"
I placed my hand under her chin.
"It's been a while since I stared into these beautiful eyes of yours."
Her cheeks flushed. "Stop..."
I pulled her face closer.
She lowered her jaw slightly.
Our noses touched. And I could feel her warm breath.
"Zandren."
She whispered my name.
Her warm breath brushed against my lips.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then she closed the distance.
Soft.
Careful.
My hand tightened slightly under her chin as I leaned into it, feeling the warmth of her lips against mine.
Time slowed.
The world outside the two of us, fading into nothing.
She pulled back just enough to breathe, but not enough to leave.
Then, melted into it.
Her fingers curled into my shirt.
She leaned back onto the seat, fingers tightening in my shirt as she drew me down with her.
We wanted this...
No—
we needed this.
Just... Us.
Her lips were warm.
The quiet.
The closeness.
I went from her lips, to her neck. Kissing.
Softly biting her neck.
"Mmm" A soft sound escaped her lips.
Her hands digging into my hair.
Her scent wrapped around me, grounding me more than anything else.
I went back to her lips.
She was waiting to receive mine.
And then—
The main door slammed open.
Aurivelle barged in.
"Zandren, Zandr—"
We broke apart instantly.
I jerked upward.
Eimira still remained laid down on the seat. Her face, turning red.
I cleared my throat.
"Aurivelle... Hii"
I chuckled nervously.
Eimira sat up.
"I-I told you to wait outside..." She said, wiping off a bit of saliva on the side of her mouth.
A slow grin spread across Aurivelle's face. She covered her mouth with her hand trying to hide the grin.
"Ahh noo— I walked in at the worst time." She yelled playfully. "I interrupted the baby making process."
"Wait... What?" I froze.
"Feona's going to kill me. Ahhhhh"
She ran out, giggling and closing the door behind her.
I sighed. Clearly confused.
Neither of us said a word, but my thumb brushed her cheek without thinking.
Eimira sighed. "Why do they always have to interrupt?"
"Maybe lock the door next time!" Yareth yelled from the room he was at.
"Thanks, next time." Eimira yelled back.
"Haha, we kept her waiting a bit too long." I stood up. "Let's go meet her."
Eimira hesitated.
"What now?" I asked.
She frowned. "I want more."
"More of what?"
"M-More of us... Alone."
I chuckled. "Sure, whenever you'd like."
Her smile returned. "Great, then I'll come to your room. Hehe."
She stretched out her hand, and I pulled her up.
"Let's goo.." she said, smiling.
"Hmm."