In the midst of the chaos, Ariana felt that Lucas' body had already jumped onto the horse, tightly embracing her waist, and loudly shouted in her ear, "Quickly put away your amulet! My hands are about to catch fire!" Swish... swish..., several arrows whizzed past their ears. Ariana, who was acting without knowing what she was doing, subconsciously put away the amulet. The silver light immediately went out.
With Ariana in his arms, Lucas discerned the wind direction, turned the horse's head, and spurred it out. The two could feel the horse panting heavily as it rushed to the lake, then headed straight forward until they heard the sound of hooves hitting the ice. Finally, they took a breath. They had stepped onto the frozen Caspian Sea! In such a tense situation, Ariana still felt Lucas blowing on her ear and chuckled, "So quickly, here we are together again. Give me a kiss to encourage me, won't you?""
In front of him, Ariana rolled her eyes and thought with irritation, "A refugee is a refugee wherever he is... Even if he can glow. Why did I think of kissing him?"
In the distance, in a grove of trees, the girl in black was also gaping at the rolling mist along the Caspian Sea. The mist was vast, almost covering dozens of miles around the lake, churning and rolling. The strong wind couldn't disperse the dense fog, creating a stunning spectacle on the earth.
She... she had only activated the magic circle, attempting to change their fate of being chased. Was it necessary to create such a big commotion? Was it because of the Moonlight Ring and the Stardust Amulet on them? The presence of these two extraordinary spiritual treasures made her secret magic, which had never been successful before, work so well. Did the old man master never lie to her? The girl murmured unconsciously, "Oh... oh... now I realize, my blood is so useful..."
On the north side of the Caspian Sea, there was also a group of people and horses preparing to cross the lake, staring dumbfounded at the surging mist. The group of sturdy men and a neatly dressed tall girl, watched everything in astonishment. The girl, with slender eyes wide open, seemed to be so overwhelmed by the silver light and the current mist that she forgot everything. "Father... Is the legendary miraculous treasure really existing? It's so amazing..." She forcefully shook her long whip and loudly commanded, "Uncle Hatice, order everyone to speed up, go around to the front. We must capture that young man and the girl ahead of the hunting troops. This is what Father cares about the most!" The guards around her, one by one, looked solemn, unsure whether they were frightened by the scene or concerned about the might of Cyrus. With a resounding agreement, they spurred their horses onto the frozen surface of the Caspian Sea.
The sound of hooves on the ice produced a faint cracking noise as the recently frozen lake had not solidified completely. The horses, which had been galloping, slowed their pace, cautiously searching for stable footing due to their innate animal instinct. The two individuals on horseback felt anxious, however, it was uncertain how long this mist would persist. Since they had no intention of taking a risky bath in the cold lake, they had no choice but to proceed slowly. Reflecting on the surreal scene they had just witnessed, both individuals felt as if they were in a dream.
The mist pervaded, creating an atmosphere where everything seemed dreamlike and mysterious.
Speaking in a hushed tone, Ariana asked, "Mr. Lucas... you consistently emit a silver light, what is it? Where exactly are you from?"
Lucas also felt depressed. How the hell did he become a weirdo? Glowing every other day. He vaguely felt a connection between the amulet in Ariana's hand and his jade ring. Every time she took it out, his hands heated up enough to fry an egg. But what was going on, he was still confused. If that jade ring could make him time travel, then the glowing, it was probably a piece of cake. In response to Ariana's question, he just shrugged, "How the hell should I know? Recently, my luck has been inconsistent lately. But at least I got to know you... Don't call me something like Mr. Lucas, I'm used to you calling me Stinky Refugee... It sounds like we are closer..." As he spoke, his laughter had a mischievous tone. Like a big gray wolf's tail wagged happily behind him. He reached out to sneakily touch the girl's tender cheek.
Ariana quietly pulled down his hand. Lucas felt a bit puzzled. She had taken the initiative to offer a kiss earlier. So, what's happening now? The mist is thick, and no one is around to bother them. It would be a good time to be intimate and relax after the tension just now.
Ariana whispered, "Mr. Lucas, please don't do this. What happened just now was a moment of impulse on my part, a gratitude for your protection along the way. If you can ensure my safety until I meet my father, he will certainly reward you generously. However, I, myself, cannot offer anything to you. The princess of Persia do not have the freedom to choose my own marriage. I hope you will respect that."
Her voice echoed in the mist, sounding somewhat muffled. Lucas felt a discomfort in his chest, as if something were blocking it. Why pretend to be a saintess now? If it weren't for this inexplicable bond formed through life and death, would he go to such lengths to protect her safety? Reward me generously? Money? As for the notion that the princess lacks the freedom to choose their own marriage, he neither understood nor cared. Having crossed through time and space, he was not interested in such convoluted matters. He snorted, "You like me, and I like you too. Otherwise, would we have shared such an intense kiss? Why you talk about all this now, we're in a life-or-death situation! As for now, you are mine. In the future, as long as I'm alive, I'll snatch you back from wherever you end up! Now, just listen to me!"
Ariana revealed a bitter smile of melancholy. This stinky refugee really didn't understand anything. He had no idea what the noble family meant in this era! Even if there were any feelings between them, if they truly reached the Roman Empire, could he really decide anything? Sensing that Lucas was proclaiming ownership as if staking a claim, he tightened his grip on her. Ariana softened her body, leaning into his embrace. She picked up his hand and placed it on her face, feeling the roughness and strength of the boy's large hand. This was her current and only reliance, something essential supporting her escape, aside from her pride.
At this moment, as the stinky refugee said, let things unfold naturally... As for the future, that was a matter for the future. If they could truly survive and reach the Roman Empire, a mysterious refugee and a girl with princess title had no future.