Chapter 391.2
“No, absolutely not,” Aldrit declared vehemently, his resolve firm. He couldn’t bear the thought of contending with the unpredictable Mara, even if it meant resorting to forceful measures!
With urgency propelling him, he hurriedly left the house, though he halted his steps en route to the underground caves. As he traversed, a semblance of calm settled over his thoughts. Regardless of how he pondered it, navigating Mara’s capricious and unpredictable nature seemed beyond his capabilities. Perhaps even the elders of the caves would struggle to manage his antics.
Redirecting his course, Aldrit made his way to Flora’s dwelling. Upon knocking, Flora promptly opened the door, her curious gaze meeting his.
“You expressed a desire to meet with the tribe’s elders, and they’ve granted their consent. Would you come with me?” Aldrit proposed, conveying the elders’ agreement. However, despite this prompt affirmation, Aldrit intended to proceed with caution, taking time to carefully plan their course of action. Yet, he couldn’t afford to be leisurely now. It was imperative to swiftly discern Flora’s true intentions.
Flora nodded silently and fell into step behind Aldrit, her eyes darting nervously around the unfamiliar surroundings. The scattered houses of the village were nowhere in sight, evoking the same anxiety she had felt on her first day here. Doubts crept into her mind, wondering if she was being deceived, as a myriad of thoughts raced through her head.
Their journey led them to a dead end, surrounded by imposing stone towers with no visible path ahead. Flora observed Aldrit’s silent interaction with the stone towers, her expression guarded as she took a step back, wariness clouding her features.
Then, to her astonishment, the solid rock they had assumed to be a wall began to shift slowly. Flora’s eyes widened in surprise, mirroring Aldrit’s expression from their first encounter in this mysterious place.
“It’s down here. Be cautious as you follow me; it’s dark,” Aldrit advised, disappearing beyond the opening in the rock wall into the shadows beyond.
Watching his retreating figure, Flora felt a surge of irritation. It seemed as if Aldrit cared little whether she followed or not. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she steeled her resolve and stepped into the darkness.