(Chapter 116 Chaos)
As Tempest and Nahida stood by the carriage, preparing to depart, Mavuika's voice called out, laced with a hint of challenge.
"Leaving so soon?"
She asked, her gaze unwavering as she looked between them.
"Yes."
Tempest replied curtly. Reflecting inwardly, he couldn't shake the frustration gnawing at him; he had gained nothing substantial from his time here, save for the loss of loyal soldiers defending a remote village. In the end, he couldn't help but feel it had been a complete waste.
Nahida, sensing the tension, attempted to lighten the mood.
"I'd love to stay longer, but it seems my friend here is growing a bit homesick. Thank you for your hospitality, Mavuika, it was a pleasure getting to know you."
Tempest gave her a sidelong glance, expression unreadable.
"I'm not getting homesick, Young Pasha."
He replied, his voice flat.
Mavuika's smile was tinged with understanding.
"Tempest, I know we had our differences, and we couldn't reach an agreement. But perhaps, next time, things will be different. Natlan will always welcome you for your service to its people."
With a quiet smile, she extended her fist toward him in a gesture of respect.
"Safe journeys, Tempest Proudmoore, may the flames of Natlan guide your way… and perhaps, one day, bring you back."
She said, hoping he'd respond in kind.
Tempest hesitated for a moment, then gave her a curt nod.
"Right..."
He murmured, not returning the fist bump but acknowledging her words with a brief nod before boarding the carriage.
Nahida sighed as she watched Tempest bypass Mavuika's extended fist without reciprocating the gesture. She turned to Mavuika, offering a warm, apologetic smile.
"Please forgive him."
She said softly.
"He can be...rather reserved when things don't go as planned. It's just his way, though he means no offense. Sometimes his focus on achieving his goals makes him seem a bit distant."
Mavuika nodded, her gaze following the carriage as it moved further away.
"I understand."
She replied, her voice steady.
"Not everyone walks the same path. May the next time bring different outcomes."
Nahida returned a grateful nod.
"Thank you, Mavuika."
She said warmly.
"Until next time."
Nahida stepped into the carriage, finding Tempest seated with his legs crossed, and his arm propped under his head. His expression was one of deep disappointment, a furrowed brow betraying the frustration he felt from their encounter with Mavuika. The weight of unmet expectations hung heavily in the air.
He settled into her seat beside him, glancing at him with concern.
"You seemed a bit distant back there."
She said softly, her tone gentle as she tried to gauge his mood.
"You mentioned before that you only respond to people you dislike with a curt 'right.' Does that mean you don't like Mavuika, Tempest?"
Nahida asked, her eyes searching his for a hint of his true feelings.
Tempest remained silent, his gaze fixed outside the window as he watched the landscape of Natlan blur past them. The tension in his shoulders spoke volumes, suggesting that Nahida's question had struck a nerve.
She watched him for a moment, sensing the weight of his unspoken thoughts. The silence lingered in the air, heavy with unexpressed emotions. Nahida sighed softly, realizing that his mood told her everything she needed to know.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Midnight enveloped the land in a shroud of silence, broken only by the soft, haunting melody of a song that floated through the air. A lone woman, her ethereal appearance illuminated by the moonlight, walked gracefully along the path, her presence both enchanting and eerie. In her hand, she cradled the black heart, its ominous beating resonating with an unsettling rhythm. Though her eyes were closed, she navigated with an uncanny certainty, her destination unwavering: the Sacred Flame.
"Halt!"
Commanded a Natlan guard, his voice piercing the stillness of the night.
Yet, Columbina did not pause. She continued on her path, an air of confidence surrounding her, as if the very night itself bent to her will. As she glided past the guards stationed to protect the sacred flame, they fell one by one, collapsing to the ground like marionettes whose strings had been cut. Their eyes darkened to an inky black, a clear sign of the enchantment that had overtaken them.
With each step, the atmosphere grew thicker, charged with a sense of foreboding. The heart in her grasp pulsed ominously as if sensing the weight of the impending darkness. Columbina's melodic humming grew softer, melding into the whispers of the night as she approached the source of the Sacred Flame, the air heavy with anticipation and dread.
"Hah, much better~"
Columbina exclaimed, a playful smile dancing across her lips as she dropped the black heart onto the cold stone floor. The heart landed with a dull thud, a stark contrast to the soft melody that had accompanied her moments before.
She raised both her hands above her head, stretching and wiggling her fingers as she basked in the warmth of the nearby Sacred Flame. The flickering light illuminated her features, casting playful shadows across her face, and enhancing her otherworldly charm.
The cold night air wrapped around her like a shroud, but the heat emanating from the flame enveloped her in a comforting embrace, a stark reminder of the power she wielded. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she reveled in the moment, aware of the chaos that would soon unfold.
As the flame crackled and danced, casting golden hues against the darkness, Columbina leaned closer, a grin spreading across her face. The heart pulsed ominously, as if eager to fulfill its dark purpose, and she could feel the energy in the air shift, a palpable tension that hinted at the storm brewing just beyond the horizon.
"Well then, let the show begin~"
Columbina declared, her voice a melodious whisper that danced through the night air. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she tossed the black heart into the flickering embrace of the Sacred Flame. As the heart made contact, the flames roared in protest, flickering wildly before surrendering to its dark gift.
With a satisfied smile, Columbina turned away, resuming her enchanting humming as she strolled into the depths of the night.
"Tonight will be quite a show."
She mused, the words laced with anticipation and delight.
Behind her, the Sacred Flame began to sputter, its once vibrant glow fading as if dimmed by an unseen hand. Shadows lengthened and deepened, swirling ominously as the light diminished. The sky responded in kind, transforming into a foreboding canvas of deep purples and inky blacks, an unsettling reflection of the chaos to come.
As the last flickers of the flame sputtered and finally went out, an eerie silence descended, broken only by the haunting sound of Columbina's melody fading into the distance. The atmosphere thickened with tension, crackling like a storm ready to break. The Abyss was coming, and with it, the promise of chaos and destruction.