Chapter 83: Follow Ari
>>Ariston
The festival lights flickered behind us as we left the lively streets and made our way toward the riverside. The further we walked, the quieter it became, the noise of the festival fading into the background until all that remained was the gentle lapping of water against the stone embankment. The river stretched ahead, guiding us toward the outskirts of the city, where the air was cooler and the shadows stretched longer.
Drakkar walked beside me, his arms crossed. The rhythmic click of my shoes against the cobblestone echoed in the silence.
"It’s strange," Drakkar finally said, his voice breaking through the quiet. He followed me down the steps leading toward the river’s edge. "I’ve been wondering about this for a while, but you talk as if you already know stuff."
I halted mid-step and let out a long, exasperated sigh before slowly turning to face him.
"You would too if you used your brain, Drakkar."
His lips parted slightly, as if offended, before he let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Is that so?" He smirked. "Well, I do use my brain, Ari. I just prefer using my eyes."
I rolled my own eyes and turned back around, continuing forward.
***
>>Draegon
I reached out, brushing away the last traces of her tears with my fingers. Her skin was still damp, her cheeks flushed from crying so hard, and it made something in my chest twist painfully. I still can’t believe Alishay did something like that.