The sun was now shining brightly. With shelter taken care of, Ria had one less thing to worry about. Her immediate priorities were food and water. She soon stumbled upon a river, the clear water flowing gently. Using a container she found, Ria collected some water and drank her fill.
Her clothes were now dirty and torn. Taking out the rusted kunai, she cut her clothing and tied it to the end of a long stick, fashioning a makeshift spear for fishing.
"It's just catching some fish, how hard can it be?" she thought to herself.
The answer to that was soon evident. She spent hours by the river, her patience wearing thin. By noon, she had only managed to catch two small fish.
"I stand corrected," she muttered, looking at her meager catch.
After catching the fish, Ria spent the rest of the day mapping her surroundings. She wanted to understand the area and find the safest routes. Along the way, she encountered several demon rabbits, which chased her relentlessly, giving her a hard time.
Despite the challenges, she managed to collect some fruits to supplement her meager food supply. By evening, she had a rough mental map of the immediate area and a small stockpile of food.
Exhausted but a little more confident, Ria returned to the cave, ready to rest and prepare for the next day's challenges.
She used her glasses' lenses to light up a fire.
Meanwhile, at the Nightwing sect, Tate was still in his office, engrossed in work. A knock on the door interrupted his focus.
"Enter," he said without looking up.
Mia, his secretary, stepped in. With her striking red hair and pink eyes, she was the epitome of beauty and had never been shy about her feelings for Tate.
"Sir, it's closing hour," she reminded him softly.
"Don't you think I know that?" Tate replied coldly, his eyes still on the documents before him.
Undeterred, Mia made her way further inside. "You know, sir, it's not advisable to be too keen on a traitor."
She perched herself on his desk, leaning in. "What would the people say if they knew their sect leader had actually fallen for a traitor?"
Tate's voice was firm. "That's enough, Mia. I said to keep it professional."
Mia's confidence wavered, but she didn't back down. "Of course, sir. I'll be taking my leave now." She got up from his desk and straightened her dress. "I'll see you tomorrow at work. And hopefully, you change your mind."
She winked and left the office, the door closing softly behind her. Tate was left alone in the dimly lit room. He rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the tension that had built up.
Sure, Mia was someone who met all his standards. She was beautiful, intelligent, and ambitious. But his thoughts kept drifting back to Ria. Despite everything that had happened, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and responsibility for her fate.
He sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. The room was silent except for the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions, and he found no solace in the solitude of his office.
After a few moments, he stood up and walked to the window, staring out into the night. The sect was quiet, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of night creatures. He couldn't help but wonder where Ria was at this moment, what she was enduring because of his decisions.
"No," he whispered to himself. "I can't let myself be swayed." He turned away from the window, steeling himself. He had responsibilities, a sect to lead. Personal feelings had no place in his duty.
But even as he tried to convince himself, the doubt lingered. Could he have done more for her? Was there another way he could have handled the situation? The questions gnawed at him, refusing to be silenced.
With another sigh, he returned to his desk and picked up a new set of documents, immersing himself in work once again, trying to drown out the turmoil within.
🤓
👘❣️ Manesta.