When a clang was heard the figure floating in the air slowly turned around and redirected the gaze that was off in the distance towards the sound slowly. A small smile appeared on that majestic face, the emotions swirling in those crystal pair of eyes was like a whirlpool as they gazed on those figures below. Kirin slowly descended towards the ground landing near Varick, the instant she touched the ground he slowly reached out his hand to touch her… just to make sure she was real.
It has been a year since they lost her, a year without a trace of her. They scoured every cave in the area to try to find her, battled countless beasts and other factions. Ao Qing lost track of her shortly after they entered that crystal cave. They thought for sure she had died after not finding her after 3 months, but still they searched thanks to Xiezhi.
Varick slowly lost hope of ever seeing her face again, he despaired to the point where he almost lost his will to live on. When Xiezhi and the others stopped him earlier he was almost to the point of madness. That was when he sensed her aura again and rushed out of the cave in case it disappeared or it wasn't real. He had to make sure.
Only he knew that when she was taken he realized that he loved her, he knew then that he had only hidden his emotions because of the fact that he was from a different world, a different status. The moment she was gone he knew he couldn't go on without her. He had to find her at any cost even if it were his life. Even if she never loved him back he didn't care, he just wanted to be by her side and to fight next to her for the rest of his life.
The instant his shaky hand touched her cheek, the flood of emotions and everything he thought rushed forward with tears running down his face. He pulled her close in a tight embrace sobbing all the while mumbling incoherently. Yes he was a man and he forsook his pride because nothing was more important than her in his heart.
At the same time tears flooded out of Kirin's eyes as well as she accepted and hugged him back. "I'm back, I'm so sorry I left you for so long. There is much to discuss now that a lot has happened with me that you all need to know." She stood back from him a bit and looked at him with tender eyes before shifting her gaze to the rest. Nodding to them all she was almost knocked down as they rushed to her and slammed into her body with hugs and tears.
Xiezhi stood back as he had not known the lady for long but had the most enchanting smile on his face as he watched the emotional scene erupt before him. A bit of sadness entered his features at this, thinking back to the past. As he snapped out of it he had to rush to catch them all again as they began to move off to find a quiet place to talk.
"There is a town nearby we can go to, there should be an inn it would be the best place so we can all rest." Ze, who was silent up until this point, made a note to mention as they had been battling since morning and everyone was exhausted.
Entering the town, the atmosphere was really lively, there were market stalls selling everything you can think of. People jostling in and out of the streets, children playing, and even small groups on occasion of people chattering away about their day. It wasn't a large town but it wasn't that small either.
Xiezhi and Shou left to find an inn to book their rooms while the rest toured around to get food and supplies. There wouldn't be another town for a long period during their journey. In the center there was a huge board as they walked closer to it, they noted that it was like an information board only for side jobs and missions.
Varick couldn't help but notice the changes on Kirin's body and how her demeanor was now, 'Did someone hurt her? What is this feeling I get from her now… and she is even more beautiful than when she was taken.' he reached over and clasped her hand in his without sparing another glance at her and dragged her towards a food stall.
Chuckling at his forward reaction, she just let him lead her over, besides his hand was warm and felt comforting anyways she missed him. There was a light in his eyes now that wasn't there before, she couldn't put her finger on it but she knew he felt for her like she did of him even without the words. His actions proved it to her, now that she was aware of her own feelings it was easy for her to notice it.
'I can't believe I never noticed him like this before… it was like I was an empty shell and nothing could enter before. Was this the Blood Rite? Or the knowledge? Whatever it is it doesn't matter anymore I know now and I absolutely will not leave his side again. I can't handle that pain. So it was a whole year that I was gone, no wonder he is acting this way he must have thought I was dead.' Her gaze softened at that thought as she let Varick lead her around the marketplace pointing out various foods and other trinkets asking what she wanted. It was a custom she was unfamiliar with as she was always alone in the forest before so things like this she found endearing but strange.
"I spotted this earlier, and… it will match those earrings you have let me get it for you ok?" Varick noticed those earrings when she arrived in front of him and he couldn't remember if she had them before but either way he wanted to give her something.
"Mmm, it's beautiful, and these earrings… I will explain later to you where I got them but not to worry they weren't gifted to me per-say." She reminded him of that last part because she saw the ever increasing scowl appearing on his face as if someone just killed his dog. She couldn't help but to giggle at that reaction of jealousy from him.
Nodding to her his face brightened up at the fact that nobody gave her those earrings, so he bought the necklace she found. It had a deep blue teardrop gemstone intertwined within delicate gold that wrapped around it in a swirl pattern and was connected by a gold chain.
Reaching behind Kirin, he slowly placed the necklace on her neck and clasped it then let his fingers slide ever so gently across her shoulders for a moment he let go while his face turned into a tomato. Before Kirin could even react Xiezhi came along and dragged everyone to the Inn they had found so they could settle and talk.
"Hey Varick, why the heck are you and Kirin's faces so red? Did you eat something spicy!?" Jun couldn't help but notice and the naive brother just had to point this out at the moment…
"NO!" They both shouted at the same time and hastened their steps away from the prying eyes of Jun and company.