411 The Cave
There was a crack in the wall of the cave, and water was streaming out of it. This crack served as the only available bridge between the Glorious Sun Empire and the Ashen Land. Two people crossed the crack and landed in a shallow body of water.
The two people were Delilah and Roy, and the pool they were in was crystal clear. It was so shallow that one could easily stand in it with their feet touching the ground.
Delilah clung to Roy, tightly embracing him as if she couldn’t bear to separate from him.
Concern etched his features as he felt her trembling.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking at her over his shoulder. Her eyes were shut tight, and her eyelashes fluttered.
Delilah opened her eyes and forced a smile.
“It’s nothing,” she said, not wanting to burden him with her troubles.
Roy furrowed his brows at her reply.
“You’re shaking,” he pointed out. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Delilah bit her lip, unsure of how to answer.
“I am,” she forced out a lie through gritted teeth. “It’s just that it’s too cold.”
“Anyway, why did you stop?” she asked, shifting her gaze to the unfamiliar surroundings. She couldn’t see anything, but she could tell that they were not in the river anymore. “Could it be that we are in the Ashen Land?”
Roy nodded. “Yes, we are,” he confirmed.
“We’re in a small pool. It’s shallow enough that you won’t sink,” he said after a moment.
Delilah frowned after hearing his words.
“I don’t understand,” she said, her nose brushing against his chin. “What are you trying to tell me?”
Roy hesitated for a moment before speaking calmly. “Look, I don’t want to make things awkward between us, but…this pose we’re in is a bit seductive.”
Before he spoke, she couldn’t tell that there was something wrong, but after he opened her mouth, she became hyperaware and realized her breasts were crushing against his back.
As she came to that realization, her eyes widened in shock, and she quickly pulled away from him.
“Pervert!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
“This world is an unfair place for men,” Roy sighed, shaking his head. “Why am I accused of being a pervert when I wasn’t the one hugging others?”
“No one will feel annoyed if you keep your mouth shut.” Delilah barked.
“Did you forget I am your Lord?” Roy asked.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude,” Delilah said apologetically.
“I know.” Roy chuckled as he took out a fresh coat from his spatial ring and draped it over her slender figure. His action was like a warm embrace that made Delilah’s heart swell. She looked at him but was unable to see him because it was too dark. She, however, believed that he was staring at her with those charming eyes and smiling.
The pool was situated at the end of the expansive cave, which was 80-foot wide and 30-foot tall, and the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the tranquility of the water.
The cave was dark and ominous, with an eerie silence that weighed heavily on Delilah and Roy.
The air felt thick and oppressive, like a suffocating blanket of despair that only added to the sense of foreboding.
Despite this, Roy looked calm. Remaining cool-headed was the key to survival, while panicking typically results in the creation of regrets or the loss of life, depending on the severity of the situation.
Delilah, on the other hand, couldn’t stop trembling.
“The atmosphere of this place is unsettling,” Roy commented, his voice hushed.
Delilah nodded in agreement. “It’s almost reminiscent of the stories I’ve read. The Ashen Land is known as a place not meant for the living.”
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He was unaffected by the darkness and seemed to be the one in control, but he knew deep in his heart that he would be as helpless as her if he didn’t have X-ray vision and draconian eyes.
Delilah’s heart raced as she clung to Roy’s sleeve. The darkness surrounding them was impenetrable for her, and she had no idea where they were. “Where are we?” she whispered. She didn’t know why, but she was hoping that he would provide her with a sense of security.
“We’re in a cave,” Roy replied calmly, his eyes scanning the surroundings. “But don’t worry, I don’t see any danger.”
Delilah breathed a small sigh of relief. “Can I please keep holding onto you?” she asked.
Roy turned to her, a glint in his eye. “Are you afraid of the dark?”
Delilah bristled at the suggestion. “No, I’m not,” she said defensively.
“Are you sure?” Roy teased. “Because I can feel you want to stick to me like an octopus.”
She really wanted to pinch him, pinch him to death. How could he still be in the mood to tease her?
‘I can’t. He is my lord.’ She thought, refraining her naughty hands from squeezing his flesh.
Delilah’s voice was barely above a whisper when she admitted the truth. “I am afraid,” she said to Roy. “I never had a problem seeing in the night, but this time it is different. I can’t see a thing.”
“Don’t worry,” Roy said, pulling her before him. “I’ll keep you safe.”
She felt touched by his words, but she wasn’t able to understand how he could say such romantic lines without any change in his voice. Did it come naturally to him? Was he gifted with the ability to conquer a woman’s heart?
“Is the exit nearby?” she asked, as she didn’t want to stay in close contact with him for too long.
Roy looked around and spotted the exit. It was a short walk away.
“Yes, it is. I will take you to it.” Roy said before he moved.