When James and Thalia followed behind the two elves, they did not immediately tail them. James wanted to seek his own opportunities before going after anyone.
But…
'I don't think I can do that despite me saying so…'
His kind and noble heart couldn't agree with his earlier decision. However, when he thought this, he felt his chest burn for a brief moment, a moment that changed his mood, making him question his determination to do whatever it took to get his vengeance.
'Hmm… My resolve is too weak. People don't change very much, huh?'
It was a saying he had heard many times in the past but never put it to heart. After all, his nature was from the core of his being, and people don't just wake up and change.
Thalia observed James's expression changing from time to time like he was struggling to make a decision.
"Ja- Jay...? You seem to be struggling with something. Do you want to talk about it?"
Her question brought him out of his thoughts as his head turned to look at the woman who looked at him with so much affection; shaking his already chaotic heart.
Suddenly, he stopped walking and faced Thalia with a serious expression. He needed to understand this woman better and although she said some words before, he didn't really get it.
He was having a hard time accepting the fact that a woman who he barely knew showed him more affection and care than he ever got from his wife.
And any time his thoughts wandered to her, his heart would ache for a moment before growing cold with intense hatred and anger.
"Thalia…"
The calm tone she called out to her made her understand he was serious and wanted some answers. She involuntarily swallowed, not out of fear but from her growing emotions towards James that made her heart leap whenever she stared deeply into his golden eyes.
"Why?"
The question was a simple one, yet it covered everything James wanted to know. Thalia understood the meaning behind his question as she too wondered why she felt so strongly about him.
It wasn't even about the aura he gave off anymore that attracted her, but something else entirely; that was her honest thought and she wanted to find out.
"Haa… I don't know."
She began and lowered her head searching for the right words.
"Even before I found you passed out close to the river, I felt a change in the air. It was like a missing part of me suddenly appeared, and it led me to you."
Her eyes were firm as she raised her head to look directly into James's eyes. He remained quiet for now, waiting for her to continue.
"Then there was the aura you gave off, though sinister and dark, it also aroused desires I never felt before. I don't know what you have that brought on these feelings, but there is one thing I am certain of.
"The attraction I have towards you is real and I wouldn't change it for the world. I trust you, James. And I hope you learn to trust me too."
Her words were deep and resonated with James, but he couldn't show it on his face. His heart strings shook from the sincere words, yet his expression remained stoic.
"I can tell there is deep-seated anger and hatred in you and while I have my guesses as to where it came from, it's entirely up to you to tell me.
"I followed you because I wanted to know the person called James."
She spoke in a low voice as she concluded her words. Her right hand moved to caress his face with so much compassion and passion that James could feel it.
"What if I turn out to be the vilest man on Veloria, would you still dare to follow me?"
That was the only thing he could tell her at the moment, after all, despite already being intimate with her, he couldn't tell her everything about his life, at least from his own perspective and not a third party's.
"Yes."
Her response came with conviction. There was no trace of hesitation in his voice. It moved James in ways he couldn't describe.
"What about the Sunbound and its doctrines?"
Again, her response was sharp and carried conviction.
"I was raised by the Order and I am grateful to them, but I have my own life, James. I can choose to leave any and stay by your side if you'll have me."
James stared deeply into her eyes and she returned the gaze with equal intensity. Slowly, the two people felt the air around them grow hot, passion burning deep in their eyes.
Then James made a move and Thalia responded in kind as they grabbed hold of each other and shared a passionate kiss that expressed their emotions as they couldn't get enough of themselves.
Things were getting really heated in there as James moved to disrobe Thalia, but then.
*BOOOM!*
A loud sound resounded throughout the cave, breaking them from their heated kiss as they turned their heads in that direction.
"It's coming from the direction the elves moved to."
"Mm.. Come on, let's see what's going on."
It was an unfortunate thing to be disturbed when things were really going in the right direction, but things couldn't be helped.
He'd have to ignore the bulge in his pants and hope it doesn't give him blue balls. Of course, he wasn't the only one.
Thalia was already aroused and ready to go. The wetness in her inner regions was proof enough of how she was feeling.
'Tch!'
She followed behind James as they quickly traversed the cavern with their guards raised to the limit.
James took out his sword while Thalia retrieved her mage staff. She was more of a mage than a fighter, though she knew a thing or two about close combat.
They quickly arrived at the large space overflowing with natural and magical plants. However, that beauty was shattered as James and Thalia watched in astonishment as the two elves tried to kill the beast.
"They can't win. That Adder is larger than normal and would soon break that binding."
James explained to Thalia since he was more experienced in hunting magical beasts from his earlier years of training to become a powerful fighter. His father taught him a lot of things related to magical beasts, their weaknesses and how to deal with them when faced with them.
Thalia nodded in understanding, her gaze remaining on the two elves as they struggled to deal any damage to the Adder.
Then, James's words proved true when the Adder broke through its bindings and attacked the elf that seemed to be the eldest.
"They're done for."
James watched on as the Adder slowly moved towards the elf knocked out cold. His stomach churned and his fingers twitched as his very being wanted to go and help.
He ground his teeth in frustration at being torn about what to do. He had never not helped anyone in need before, so while his heart grew cold to ignore such things, it wasn't entirely.
Watching the internal struggle James was going through, Thalia couldn't help but place her hand on his shoulder, silently giving her support.
She too would love to help them, but she knew her capabilities very well and that monster wasn't something she could defeat.
James might be the only option for the two elves, and whether he chose to help them or ignore them, it wouldn't change anything. She had made her stance clear already.
James turned to her with an expression of indecisiveness, yet Thalia could tell that his desire to help was more than wanting to turn a blind eye.
"Somebody... A-anyone out here, please save my sister!"
Suddenly, his eyes snapped towards the younger elf as she cried out for help and it touched his hatred filled heart more than he wished. He momentarily looked at Thalia who nodded at him, giving her silence approval.
'Very well…'
With a resolute expression, James stood up as he circulated his mana through his body and sword, weaving the spell matrix in his head.
The air around him changed and Thalia instantly noticed it. It was the same aura she felt James give off whenever he turned serious and murderous.
At the same time, it aroused deep emotions and a burning passion in her.
Blue lightning tendrils sparkled around James's figure and his eyes blazed blue in its ambience. It was a spell meant for agility and assault.
Then…
*CRACKLE!*
He instantly disappeared from where he stood, taking Thalia by surprise.
'Fast!'
She bellowed inwardly as James disappeared from her sight.
Suddenly, he reappeared on the wall the elf was slammed into in a fury of lightning with his sword aimed directly at the Adder. Then he kicked off the wall and zoomed through the air towards the monster.
His movement was fast and powerful, taking only an instant to appear and attack the Voidscale Adder.
To the eyes of Thalia and Sylvara, they only saw a streak of blue lightning zoom straight towards the beast and the creature also failed to detect or even see James move before it felt something invade its mouth.
*BOOM!*
Sylvara and Thalia looked on with wide eyes as James blasted through the mouth of the Adder and pierced through its head before reappearing from the back, covered from head to toe in the blood of the monster.
It was a brutal scene, yet strikingly beautiful; fast and efficient.