Kaden looked at the starry night overhead, a wisp of a smile gracing his face. His smile deepened, then…

"I didn't know you were one with subtlety," he joked.

Standing now beside him, Inara's lips twitched. "What kind of girl do you take me for? I can be damn subtle if I want to!"

"Really?" Kaden chuckled, turning his head to look at her from the side. "My bad then. I mean, I thought you were just a rude girl who does nothing but curse."

"That's a charm of mine."

"A very unique charm, I daresay, then."

"Admit it, Hero. You like it." Inara smirked, turning her body to face Kaden. She stretched her two hands and wrapped them around his neck.

Their eyes were transfixed on each other. Slowly, in eerie sync, their lips pulled upward.

"I certainly don't dislike it, true."

Inara stifled a laugh. It was eerily soft and soothing. Then, slowly,

"But you are right, I am not a girl with subtlety. So tell me…" Inara whispered, heart still pumping faster, "…tell me clearly your answer."

Kaden internally froze at this question, his heart lagging for a brief instant. He cursed inwardly.

For some reason, he had hoped that it would not come to this point. That Inara would not want an answer to her soft declaration right now.

But what did he expect?

Kaden suppressed a sigh.

Now what would be his answer?

Kaden knew very well what his answer would be. But saying it meant hurting Inara.

No matter what they had lived together, Kaden saw Inara as a close friend. One with whom he could be himself without pretending. One with whom he could even curse and be rude, yet know that she would only laugh and curse harder than him.

Inara was refreshing. She was unique in her own way, and she didn't shy away from showing who she was.

Kaden liked that about her. He was not sure he would have the nerve to curse in front of his parents or in certain situations.

But Inara cursed no matter who or where.

All of that to say that to him, Inara was more an irreplaceable friend than someone he could be romantically involved with.

It was not a matter of beauty. It was never a matter of beauty. It was just how his heart felt about Inara.

So he hesitated. And Inara saw the hesitation inside his crimson, starry eyes.

She saw how his lips opened, then closed, as if suddenly forgetting how to speak. How his body tensed softly but undeniably. How his eyes subtly darted around, as if unable to stare at her now.

CRACK—!

Something shattered inside Inara. So loud, so deep that it seemed to echo all around.

It was wrenching.

The Heiress of the Mother of Monsters felt like her heart was being gnawed mercilessly by the jaws of nightmarish monsters. She lost her balance and almost fell, but she stopped herself at the last minute.

Then she forced out a smile, her voice wavering a little,

"Such a long silence!" she said with false enthusiasm. "Tsk! Damn, forget it! Don't you know we don't make a lady wait?"

Kaden's lips pressed into a thin line, his head hung low.

Inara, meanwhile, unwrapped her arms from around his neck, taking her distance from him. Her leeches were now inside her eyes, devouring any tears that would have poured down in that moment.

But if her leeches could overwhelm her tears, they couldn't stop the shaking of her voice, the subtle quivering of her body, and her sudden soft and tame attitude.

'Damn me! I shouldn't have!' Inara berated herself. 'I shouldn't have listened to you, Oeil! I will kill you! I swear I will!'

She was angry. Seething, even. And her only way to express her boiling feelings was to transfer them by cursing and threatening her monsters.

It was not only anger. She was deeply ashamed too. So much that she wished for the moon to fall down on her and destroy everything about her.

She was a fool to have believed the whispers that were now flowing through Waverith. All of those were nothing but talks spread by their rulers to better control the folks.

She should have known better. Yet she didn't; her hope had been more powerful.

A stupid mistake.

Now here she was, causing an awkward moment in a day that had been going perfectly well until now.

She cursed. Again and again, wanting nothing but to go back home, but suddenly ashamed to even talk to her Hero.

Again, she cursed. This time, her whole heart was inside the curse.

Kaden was not blind to the sudden shift in atmosphere and in Inara herself. And he could easily guess why.

He sighed faintly, then walked and approached Inara from behind.

Kaden wrapped his hand on her shoulder lightly. "Hey, you are making me feel bad," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Inara didn't respond. She couldn't. She was afraid that if she did, even her leeches would not stop the deluge of her tears.

Rare are those who know how difficult it is to have the courage to declare your romantic feelings to a friend, only to be turned down.

It was heart-wrenching.

Especially for Inara.

She had practically grown up with Kaden as the only man on her mind. She didn't consider anyone else.

Kaden was her hero, her guide, then later her friend and even her master. She had sworn a Blood Oath to him, after all.

He was the only one.

Yet the only being she wanted to give everything of herself to didn't want to.

It hurt more than Inara could ever admit. And so she stayed silent.

Not because she was angry at Kaden, but simply because she was afraid to break in front of him.

She needed to go home.

"L-let's…" Inara began, speaking slowly, "…go back."

The daughter of Medusa looked at the space around them, finding it ironic. She came here to make this place another one filled with good memories, yet the contrary happened.

Now, she doubted she would ever come back here.

Kaden heard her words and felt a strange chill inside his heart. It was weird.

He didn't see her in that romantic way, but Prometheus didn't want Inara to be sad. He didn't want their relationship to be strained by such a thing.

But what could he do?

Kaden was panicking internally. His relationships were everything to him.

That was what, after all, made him able to bear the burdens he was carrying. Because he knew there were people waiting for him, caring for him, loving him.

People who would smile if they saw him. That was his drive to push harder.

So Kaden didn't want to lose any of them. It hurt to admit, but they were his anchors, what kept him from losing himself.

'Reditha, Blanche, help me. Any ideas?' Kaden desperately asked his sword and his fire.

And as fate would have it, they were both women.

So they should know, right? Kaden truly hoped so.

But instead…

'Give her space,' Blanche said, her voice mature and soft. 'At the moment, emotions are burning her. She won't think straight. Even you won't. So give yourselves time to process.'

'I agree with this chicken.'

'I am Blanche.'

'As I said, I agree with this chicken, Kaden,' Reditha continued, making Blanche click her tongue at the rude sword. 'It's better for both of you to first calm yourselves. Then you can talk it out.'

Listening to their advice, Kaden sighed. He looked at Inara and saw her still and silent like stone.

But a fragile stone, looking like one simple touch and she would crumble.

He sighed inwardly, his heart wrenching in pain.

"Fine," he breathed, "let's go back home."

Inara gave a curt nod, then slowly and silently…

The two went back to Waverith. This time not in laughter like when they left the stronghold.

But in a heavy silence. A silence louder than words.

A silence more painful than thousands of cuts on naked flesh.

—End of Chapter 367—

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