The air crackled with tension as Tia blinked back to consciousness. Her head throbbed, her vision blurry, but the first thing she saw was Kian hovering over her, his face etched with worry.
"Tia? Tia, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it before.
"I'm fine," she mumbled, trying to sit up. Her body ached, and her hand instinctively closed around the watch. It was still warm, humming faintly. "What happened?"
Kian sighed in relief, leaning back on his heels. "You fainted. The watch did... something. I'm not sure what, but it's clearly more than just a fancy timepiece."
Tia rubbed her temple, frustration bubbling up. "Great. Another mystery to solve. Just what I needed."
Kian's lips twitched into a faint smile. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"And yet, here you are," she shot back, a spark of amusement in her eyes despite the situation.
He shook his head, helping her to her feet. The forest around them was eerily quiet, the oppressive weight of the Riftwood seemingly gone. But the tension between them lingered, unspoken.
"We need to keep moving," Kian said, his tone serious. "The map the watch revealed—The Hollow Gate—it's our next destination. Whatever answers we're looking for, they're there."
Tia nodded, her fingers brushing the watch. "Fine. But you're carrying me if I faint again."
"Deal," he said with a grin, his eyes twinkling in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
The journey out of the Riftwood was strangely uneventful. The forest seemed to have lost its menace, the twisted trees and haunting hums now replaced by an almost peaceful silence. Tia couldn't help but feel uneasy. It was too quiet.
"This is weird," she muttered, glancing around. "I thought the Riftwood was supposed to be, you know, terrifying."
Kian shrugged, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "It's probably recovering. The magic here is… temperamental. Kind of like someone I know."
Tia rolled her eyes. "Ha ha. You're hilarious."
They walked in companionable silence for a while, the tension between them easing. Tia found herself stealing glances at Kian. There was something about him—his quiet confidence, his dry humor, the way he always seemed to have her back. It was infuriatingly attractive.
"What?" he asked, catching her staring.
"Nothing," she said quickly, her cheeks warming. "Just wondering how someone like you ended up being my guide."
Kian raised an eyebrow. "Someone like me?"
"You know," she said, gesturing vaguely. "All mysterious and broody. Like you stepped out of a bad romance novel."
He laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made her stomach flip. "If I'm from a bad romance novel, what does that make you?"
"The long-suffering heroine who has to put up with you," she said with a smirk.
"Fair enough," he said, still chuckling. "But for the record, I'm not broody. I'm focused."
"Sure you are," she said, rolling her eyes again. But her smile lingered.
As the day stretched on, they reached the edge of the forest. Beyond it lay a sprawling plain, dotted with wildflowers that swayed in the breeze. In the distance, jagged mountains loomed, their peaks shrouded in mist.
"The Hollow Gate is somewhere in those mountains," Kian said, his voice thoughtful. "We'll need supplies before we head there. There's a village nearby. It's small, but it should have what we need."
Tia nodded, her stomach growling audibly. "Good. Because I'm starving."
Kian smirked. "I'll buy you dinner, then. Consider it payment for not abandoning me in the Riftwood."
"You're too kind," she said dryly.
The village was quaint, with cobblestone streets and charming cottages. It bustled with activity, villagers going about their day with a sense of purpose. Tia felt a pang of envy. Their lives seemed so simple compared to hers.
They found a small inn near the center of the village. It was cozy, with wooden beams and a roaring fireplace. Kian paid for a room and ordered food, his demeanor oddly relaxed. Tia couldn't help but notice the way the innkeeper's daughter kept stealing glances at him.
"She's cute," Tia said casually, taking a bite of her stew.
Kian looked up, confused. "Who?"
"The girl at the counter," she said, nodding towards the innkeeper's daughter. "She's been staring at you since we walked in."
He glanced over, then shrugged. "I didn't notice."
Tia raised an eyebrow. "Really? Are you blind, or just oblivious?"
"Neither," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "I just don't care."
She blinked, caught off guard. "Why not?"
He leaned forward, his gaze meeting hers. "Because she's not you."
Tia's breath caught, her heart skipping a beat. For a moment, she couldn't think of anything to say. Then she laughed, trying to play it off. "Nice line. How long have you been saving that one?"
Kian chuckled, leaning back. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Later that night, Tia found herself unable to sleep. She stood by the window, staring out at the moonlit village. The watch sat on the table nearby, its glow faint but steady. Her thoughts were a jumble of questions and worries.
"Can't sleep?" Kian's voice broke the silence. He leaned against the doorframe, his expression unreadable.
"Too much on my mind," she admitted. "This whole thing… the watch, the Riftwood, The Hollow Gate… it's a lot."
He nodded, stepping closer. "It is. But you're handling it better than anyone else I know would."
She glanced at him, her lips quirking into a small smile. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Take it however you want," he said with a shrug, but there was warmth in his eyes.
For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the weight of their journey briefly forgotten. Then Tia spoke, her voice soft. "Why are you helping me, Kian? Really?"
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Because I believe in you. And because…" He trailed off, then looked up, his expression earnest. "Because I care about you."
Tia's heart raced, her cheeks warming. She didn't know what to say. So she did the only thing she could think of.
She kissed him.
It was impulsive, reckless, and utterly unlike her. But as their lips met, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. When they finally pulled apart, Kian looked stunned, but a slow smile spread across his face.
"Well," he said, his voice soft. "That was unexpected."
"Shut up," she said, laughing, her cheeks burning. But she couldn't stop smiling.
For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem so daunting. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.