[Hey readers :) This chapter has been lightly censored to stay aligned with WebNovel's guidelines.]
She truly did try.
But it was hard for her to talk without her words clustering up on her tongue, unable to leave her lips.
Even though Bazil turned away, seemingly unflinching, he couldn't restrain the frost slipping through his occasional sidelong glances.
"It's like a stream in perfect flow – not too withered down, neither gushing over. It flows exactly where it wants to go and seeks no other path but this, wanting to reach it no matter what it demands.
If it even slightly tilts off, it slickly feels its way back to where it's meant to be. Though some parts of its path prove tricky to reach, the stream is unyielding, meeting each new twist and turn, even when pushed to the brink.
It doesn't turn back, as all its senses are fully attuned and immersed, as it leads itself further through the path than any current could. Time becomes meaningless. As do expectations of the stream.
For in the end, the stream and path become one, reaching their peak together, a bliss unlike any other."
Salīa couldn't help but smile proudly, as the words poured out like a stream in perfect flow itself.
She finally found a way to describe what she learned, almost with the blended eloquent elegance of her longest teachers, Magi Inio and Magi Rai.
Yet when she turned to Bazil, you'd almost think she spoke as an uncouth thug asking him to hand over all his coin.
His eyes went red, and the metal flask he held had already been crushed in his grip.
"Is something wrong, Bazil?"
He looked at her blankly, his teeth clenching and unclenching.
While she thought she was effortlessly conveying that all the images they'd shown of them were a compilation of them in this flow and guiding her to the necessity of it – and what it requires to stay within this flow, it wasn't received as such.
For Bazil only thought about Salīa being alone with twins and what they were doing, and merged that vision when hearing things like 'gushing over,' 'reach it no matter what it demands,' 'slickly feels its way back,' and 'reaching their peak together.'
And he just about lost it when she said, 'a bliss unlike any other.'
"Nothing's wrong," his eyes cast to the crushed flask as if he just realized he'd been holding it. "Is that all?"
"I just surmised, but they showed me all sorts of secrets that their ancestors learned from previous Protectors and passed down to become the best version of themselves. Things I've never fully known. And that's what's needed to—"
"Protect the realm?"
She nodded, nervous to continue. He nodded too and said, "I'm glad you've been given more guidance on your path."
Why? Bazil wanted to still ask even though he'd already heard the answer.
"As a Queen, you can refuse ridiculous offers from subordinates. So why? It can't be because they're on the council. I'm pretty sure if Councilman Eli asked to suck your neck for secrets, you'd reprimand him," is what he wanted to say.
But he was never a fool. He knew that it simply boiled down to her trusting them.
Of course, it was that. Why else would she let them touch her when she despised being touched by any without permission? Even as much as a shoulder tap was enough to turn her eyes to a glaring scarlet.
Her scorn at unwanted touches grew more unsettled as years passed.
Who could blame her after all she had been through?
Salīa could see him scowling to himself and nudged him, offering a smile. He tried to return it, but the most his lips could do was straighten.
"We should get going."
As he turned, he felt arms wrap around his waist, and the soothing warmth of her chest pressed onto his back.
"Please don't be mad at me," she whispered.
His heart softened at her embrace. He turned around, only having her tighten her grip, not wanting him to push her away. Yet he only did so to face her.
"I have no right to be mad at you."
"But you are anyway," she nuzzled her head into his chest, feeling the speed of his heart.
He sighed.
It wasn't something he could confidently deny. And so, he let his arms curl around her too as they hugged, feeling each other's hearts sync.
He used to stroke the back of her head when they were kids to cheer her up, and unknowingly started doing so.
Only when her cold ear touched his hand as he leaned in to kiss her forehead did he wake from his daze, realizing how inappropriate he had been.
If any sees the crown Princess—no, acting Queen—of Salazā being tenderly touched by me, a mere Commander Guardian, this could—he pulled away before he could finish the thought.
Not only could he lose his position, but some might question her authority. If he were of the higher-ranking Commander Guardians, then it might be more acceptable, but he had just made mid-rank.
An impressive position for zazi, but not necessarily to the realm.
"I won't be mad about it anymore," he said before she could move closer. "Forgive me for my behavior."
Salīa studied him.
"Very well. But if you find yourself mad at me again, rather tell me than struggle to keep it to yourself."
From there, they had swept through the air with the tigers, not stopping until the sun slipped behind the mountains, and the clouds melted into the darkening blue sky while the stars pricked through.
They had saved several days' worth of travel on horseback when they reached a point of caves were some zazi were gathered after coming back from or heading to Oggl.
X