Hearing the loud thud, Iris open the handkerchief that covered her eyes. She found Iowyrthe laying. He still opened his eyes. But he looked pale and in pain. She also saw that blood gushed to the snow.
"Duke!"
She checked that his right shoulder was drenched in blood. She opened the cape and the suit that he wore. She quickly held the handkerchief to stop the bleeding. She poured the Euntaras essence that they took to the wound. She was about to use her power, but she soon realized that in that part of mountain her power couldn't be use.
"No, stop I don't need this."
Iris ignored him.
"Now Aaa…" Iris said to Iowyrthe.
"Wha…" Iris poured it to the Duke's mouth. He coughed a little but eventually drink all the essence.
"I thought you're going to kiss me again while making me take the potion," Iowyrthe murmured.
"Pardon?"
"I mean I already said no, and you forced me. This is outrageous. We don't have any left, in case something happened to you."
"You said it is safe here. Now tell me what happened?"
"Yeah, but you are not in a good condition."
"You too. So, what happened?"
Iowyrthe admitted the defeat, he said, "Alright, so the devil's king army come back with a sudden attack. They used arrow, beasts, and undead army. We managed to get here safely."
"How about the others?"
"They fought bravely, that's all you need to know." Iowyrthe sat up and wore his suit and cape back, "Let us go, all their sacrifice will be useless if we don't continue."
They walk in slow pace. The weather was getting colder. Iris shivered so much, but Iowyrthe embraced her shoulder as they walk. As they reached nearer to the peak, the snow fallen. It was serene but cold.
"I felt like I am going to faint anytime soon," she unconsciously stated her thought.
"Do you want me to carry you?"
"With your wounded shoulder? No thanks."
"I have made us pass the bridge safely. So, I win the bet."
"But you are wounded."
"But safe nonetheless. So, I have a request for you."
"Alright, what is it?"
"Call me Io."
"But, we… Ummm, I mean, isn't it weird?"
"What's weird with that?"
Iris sighed, "Alright. Now, you have to call me Iris too."
"Deal."
They kept walking in slow pace. He kept thinking how her shoulder was fit his embrace perfectly. He thought he should've done it long time ago. Walk in the garden or in the lake should be better than walk in a cold snowy mountain. He found himself staring at her most of times. He realized he has lost so many times to admire her. He has lost many chances to love and made her trust him. How stupid he was, only focusing on searching Iris the Healer. He ignored the Iris beside him. Even chase her out with all his might. He sighed thinking about his foolishness.
Iris also felt how comfortable it was to be walking side by side with Iowyrthe. She felt her heart was beating faster. It was a very long time for Iris to feel that kind of way. Falling in love is endearing but dangerous. She was comfortable in that embrace, but her logic kept thinking that it was just temporary. Cling into that kind of fleeting moments will lead her to heartbreak, as she already knew Iowyrthe feelings. The feelings he expressed during the last banquet in royal palace. She kept forcing herself to think that this was only a guilt, a repay for what she did last time.
They kept walking and walking. Iris often fell because of the cold winter wind and exhausted. Iowyrthe helped to get her up. Iris knew that she would use up all of her energy soon. She was gradually weakening. Every step that she took, use a lot of energy. Her sight was already blurry. However, she didn't have a heart to tell the Duke how she feels. She thought it will just be burdening him. Therefore, she gritted her teeth and kept going on. She knew her body temperature has lost rapidly as well. "Maybe it is time," she thought to herself.
After a long walk, they finally reached the peak of mountain. They found a green bush with white flower grew in a pile of stones. The stones were covered in snow, but the flower was standing and shining radiantly. That was the Amandine Flower. The one flower they search for.
They walked straight to it right away.
"So pretty, can we just let it live?" Iris amazed at the dazzling flower appearance.
"Nope." Iowyrthe snapped the flower and gave it to Iris. At the very same moments, a commotion was heard. They found a mother carrying her unconscious daughter behind them. Must be another pair to search for the flower.
"No, I am late." The mother cracked voice was saddening the situation.
"Myera, I am sorry little one, we late, we late. Pardon your mother, sweetheart." Her cry was echoing.
"Pardon me, were you looking for the flower?" Asked Iris.
"Indeed." The mother told the story that her daughter was ill. She came for desert area of Dastan. Her daughter having a blood abnormality. The daughter often vomit blood and very weak. They have searched doctors to cure, but all failed until they don't have any money left. Her husband left them. They were alone in this fight for her daughter health.
"How old is she?" Iris continue asking.
"A week ago, she turned 8. I thought this will be the best gifts I can give to her. But I am late. So late." The mother cried again.
"Then here, take this. An 8 years old girl has a world full of chances. This is her birthday gift, from me."
"Iris! We are here to cure you...!"
"30 years old is enough for me. But for her… 8 is just too young, Your Highness."
"It is Io, you promised. But you really just give up that? Don't you know how hard it is? We already put our life on the line. We don't even know how our friends down there fighting with beasts and undead army. Now you… You gave them up? What about you?" Iowyrthe was really angry.
"I still can depend on blood enhancer. I can afford that. They cannot. They need it more."
"No, you cannot. Count how many times you collapsed unconscious! Metuselah and June confirmed that your health will not getting better unless you eat that flower."
"I have trust you to take me here. Now trust me, please," Iris eyes glowed with tears. She was sincerely giving it up when she sees the little girl. For her, it was like looking into her past as a girl. She said, "I will be more miserable knowing I have taken a little girl chance to live. I cannot."
She gave the flower to the mother. The mother was thanking her. She fed the flower to her daughter mouth and kiss her on her forehead.
Iris smiled. So radiant like the flower before. Iowyrthe was bewitched. It was the most beautiful smile a person can wear he seen.
"Iowyrthe…" That's the first time Iris called him by his name.
Iris then looked straight into his eyes, "Thank you."