After their victories, Rishi's teammates gathered around him, congratulating him on his win. As they celebrated, Rishi excused himself and made his way towards Srishti, who stood alone, observing the crowd.
As he approached her, Srishti's eyes widened in surprise. No one dared to approach her directly, due to her uncle's influence as the ruthless King of Frosthaven. Despite her beauty and power, Srishti's life was marked by loneliness, with people only speaking to her out of necessity or fear.
Rishi, unaware of the whispers and warnings, smiled warmly and said, "Hi, Srishti. Congratulations on your win earlier."
Srishti's gaze searched Rishi's face, looking for any sign of hidden motives or fear. Finding none, she replied, "Thank you, Rishi. Your win was impressive too."
Rishi stood beside her, undaunted by her uncle's reputation or her own formidable powers. Srishti, accustomed to being avoided or feared, found herself drawn to Rishi's courage and kindness.
As they spoke, Srishti's uncle, King Ryker, watched from the shadows, his eyes narrowing at Rishi's boldness. He had warned everyone in Frosthaven to stay away from Srishti, to maintain her isolation and ensure her dependence on him.
But Rishi, with his fearless and friendly approach, had unknowingly challenged King Ryker's control. Srishti, sensing a glimmer of hope, found herself smiling, feeling a connection with Rishi that she had never experienced before.
Srishti's eyes sparkled with a mix of emotions as she gazed at Rishi. She knew that if he continued to talk to her, he would be going against her uncle's wishes, potentially putting himself in harm's way.
"Rishi, I...I don't want you to get hurt because of me," Srishti said, her voice barely above a whisper. "My uncle, King Ryker, he's not a good person. If he finds out you're talking to me, he might..."
Rishi's smile faltered for a moment, but then he took a step closer to Srishti. "I think you already consider me special, Srishti," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "And don't worry, I can take care of myself. I'm not afraid of your uncle or anyone else who might try to harm me."
Srishti's eyes widened in surprise, but Rishi continued, his words pouring out from his heart.
"If anyone tries to harm you, I'll be there to protect you. I'll delete them from this world, Srishti. You're not alone anymore."
Srishti's lips parted, her breath catching in her throat. No one had ever spoken to her with such courage and conviction. She felt a flutter in her chest, her heart beating faster as she realized that Rishi might truly care for her.