The rumbling sound of colliding ices awakened Ariana from her faint state. She felt herself enveloped in warmth, and the pain from the wound on her shoulder had lessened. The only audible sound was the strong heartbeat. She struggled slightly and realized that she was firmly held by Lucas, and this refugee had her in his embrace without a shirt! The soft sleeping bag had been cut open to wrap both of them inside. Her face was pressed against his bare chest, and the scent of the boy surrounded her completely! Her face instantly turned red. Aware of her physical condition, she knew that in this winter, Lucas had no choice but to resort to this method to keep her warm. She struggled to lift her head, which alarmed Lucas. He uncovered the sleeping bag and clothes covering Ariana's head, allowing her to emerge. The midnight sleep had given her fair skin a rosy tint, and there was still some warmth. Her translucent blue eyes gazed at Lucas with a mixture of post-injury weakness and the blurry confusion of just waking up. Her chest gently rose and fell, impacting Lucas' chest, and this sight immediately stirred his senses after a tense night.
Kiss or not? Contemplating this question,Lucas subconsciously puckered his lips, ready to seize the opportunity. Unfortunately, Ariana regained consciousness quickly and firmly blocked his mouth. "No messing around! You stinky refugee," she said. Her voice, just waking up, carried a bit of hoarseness and sounded weak, yet it seemed like the playful coquetry of lovers.
Sighing, Lucas couldn't resist and still kissed the delicate hand of the girl. This made her face flush even more dramatically. Biting her lip, she decided not to argue with this fellow. Glancing around, she noticed that the sky was already brightening, and the sound of water roared from the lake. The Caspian Sea was right before their eyes! The surroundings were desolate. A campfire was still burning there. The horse, taken from the hunting army, grazed with its head lowered. Thin morning mist enveloped the area. Looking around, there were no signs of people or tracks, just a serene quietness as if the world was newly created. There was also the heartbeat of that stinky refugee. The long sword was stuck by this guy's side, ready to be drawn and used at any time... he had guarded her for the entire night.
"Where is the hunting army? Haven't they caught up?" Ariana finally returned to normal and asked the question that concerned her the most.
Lucas wryly smiled, "How could they not catch up? Those guys are relentless, like a bunch of hunting dogs that won't let go of their prey. I decided to just sit down in this open area, make a fire, boil water, and eat my dry rations. As soon as they make a move, I can see them. When they approached, I pretended to be ready to break your amulet at any moment. They hesitated and retreated. Throughout the second half of the night, they occasionally sent someone to circle around, watching if I was asleep. I just showed them the sword in my hand, and they didn't dare to make a sound, sneaking back away... What do you think we should do now? With this massive lake in front of us and not even half a boat. Shall we linger here, or do we prepare to cross it somehow? I don't see any way out for us."
Ariana struggled to stand up, and Lucas smiled and let her go. He stood up first. In the winter's cutting cold wind, he was bare-chested, and his inverted triangle muscular physique was vividly displayed, catching Ariana's eyes. Seeing her shy expression, Lucas deliberately struck a few bodybuilding poses before putting on his clothes. Damn, it seemed like he wasn't afraid of the cold after being scalded by the ring. Ariana swayed as she stood up, quickly walking to the water. The wind lifted her golden hair, and Lucas hurriedly caught up. Naturally, he wrapped his arms around her.
Large chunks of ice rolled in the water. Father was in the distant Constantinople City. Behind her was the betrayed motherland, the hunting army led by the General of Great Persia. Beside her was only this stinky refugee who blocked the wind for her. In this vast world, where is the way for Ariana? The girl's body softened, falling into Lucas' embrace. She whispered, "We have nowhere to go..."
Lucas held the long sword in his hand, smiling bitterly. "Anyway, we're already bound together. If we're going to die, we'll die together. If you want to surrender, I won't oppose it either... In any case, I won't leave you alone. You can rest assured of that. It seems that in this era, holding this sword, I finally understand what it feels like to be a true man. In our time, I couldn't see these things. Unfortunately, Seems like I can't experience more of this era..."
Ariana looked at Lucas gratefully, a mix of emotions swirling in her heart. This stinky refugee who appeared out of nowhere. After falling into his arms, they embarked on a journey of escape and struggle together. In just a day and two nights, the two had experienced life and death, death and life. He had been by her side all along, protecting and caring for her. Was this all part of fate? The girl nestled in Lucas' embrace, tried to lift her head, closed her eyes, and slightly trembled as she offered her lips. Watching Ariana's actions, for some reason, Lucas suddenly felt warmth in his chest and eyes simultaneously. He lowered his head to meet her.
This kiss seemed to be everlasting.
Suddenly, a low rumbling sound echoed from the horizon, as if emanating from the depths of the earth. The wind grew stronger and more fierce, causing the clothes of the two embracing to flutter high. From a distance to near, the Caspian Sea suddenly rapidly came to a still. A bright white ice surface swiftly extended from afar. The roaring waves froze, and even time seemed to freeze at that moment. In the blink of an eye, the massive lake turned into a smooth ice field!
Lucas didn't notice any of this, he was fully immersed in the kiss. The girl's soft body trembled gently in his arms. Her lips were soft and fragrant, and her tongue, responding to his invasion, moved gracefully. The intense feelings of desperation, gratitude, and the nervousness of a first-time encounter in this girl's kiss were a blend of experiences he had never felt before. Regardless of whether the outside world was collapsing or not, he wanted to carry this kiss through to the end.
The girl was the first to break free from his embrace, her chest heaving violently. Her blue eyes, watery, seemed to be on the verge of melting. "Had enough, you stinky refugee?" Hell no, it wasn't enough. Lucas was about to pounce again, but Ariana, with a delighted expression, turned towards the lake. "The Caspian Sea..... is frozen!"