Lara blinked a few times and mumbled while staring before herself, "Where are we?"

Haden stepped beside her and said, "The spring of youth."

She stared at the serene waterfall, its blue water glimmering like trapped starlight as the warm sunlight caressed it, cascading into the pond in soft, silken folds.

She let the scene sear into her eyes and turned her head towards Haden to calm her curiosity. "Why is it named the spring of youth?"

Haden explained without looking at her, "When a godblood cleanses themselves within the pond, they earn longevity."

Her eyes shone in awe, and she asked, "What if someone like me bathes in it?"

He finally turned his head towards her and muttered with a puzzled look, "What do you mean? Aren't you a godblood?"

She frowned at his questions and said, "No. I am not a Dhaevrak."

He pointed at himself and explained, "I am a godblood, and I belong to Dhaevrak, which is our tribe that rules the red and black mountains." he pointed at her and continued, "You are a godblood whose ancestors were Dhaevrak, but you belong to the Leonara kingdom."

"Huh?" Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she muttered, "Is that even possible?!"

He turned his head towards the spring of youth and said while pointing at it, "Try it by yourself."

"All right!" She responded cheerfully and took a step forward with determination, but stopped soon after.

She turned her head and asked, "Why are you still sitting here...?"

He furrowed his brows. "Where else do you want me to go?"

Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she yelled with clenched fists, "Anywhere instead of here!"

"Why?"

She looked at him with trembling eyes and called out, "You... you pervert!"

The corners of his lips twisted into a smirk, and he said, "Heh. The same princess who didn't cower in the face of death is now trembling at the possibility of someone gazing at her uncovered body?"

Lara's face ballooned in embarrassment, and imaginary smoke began to come out of her head.

"It's not the SAME!!" she snapped and turned her head away from him.

"Hmph!"

He let out a chuckle and said, "Don't worry, princess. The only thing I am interested in is your title."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and remarked, "Just so you know, I am called the most beautiful of the royals."

"Maybe you are, but I've seen better," he commented.

She turned towards him with a furious expression and spat, "Bullshit! There's no way you've seen a human better looking than I am!"

He looked into her eyes and muttered with an amused smile, "I never said that they are a human."

"You've seen elves?!" She questioned with eyes widened in disbelief.

He nodded with a light smile.

"How's that possible?! Elves only show themselves to those with pure souls!" She remarked.

His smile widened, and he commented, "You've never seen an elf, have you?"

She answered with a shake of her head, "I haven't."

He nodded and muttered as he walked away from her, "No wonder..."

A vein throbbed at her forehead, and she yelled, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!"

"Go try the spring," he said and disappeared.

She looked around herself and walked towards the spring with determined eyes.

***

Laerain sat atop a rock and mumbled in a daze, "What was that?"

Far away at the top of the right cliff, Jura asked doubtfully, "Are you sure that she knows?"

Haden nodded and said, "I am."

"What if she doesn't?"

"She is here for a reason."

Jura exhaled softly and said, "I hope it works out the way you want it to be."

"It will," Haden commented and disappeared from the spot.

Jura shook his head and mumbled, "Just don't end up giving instead of taking..." he touched the scar at his left shoulder and added with a reminiscing smile, "The wounds of love hurt more than those of any weapon."

Haden appeared beside Laerain and commented, "So? How was your bath, princess?"

She turned her head towards him and mumbled, "Strange..."

"I see."

He placed a hand on her shoulder, but before they could disappear, she asked, "Are you sending me back?"

He shook his head and answered, "Not yet..."

She flashed him a bright smile and said, "All right!"

Both of them vanished, once again.

This time, they had appeared atop the highest peak of the Red and Black Mountains.

The wind wildly scattered their hair, and she clamped onto his arm while gazing out at the forest and other mountains.

"Whoa!" She shouted in excitement.

He watched her with a slight smile and felt a strange joy within his heart, which died right after as he thought, 'It's still too early to ask her.'

Haden's motive for giving her the taste of freedom was simple: He wanted to find out why the kingdom had decided to attack them.

He had tried to get the information from the captured soldiers, but as soon as they tried to answer, they died from breaking the soul oath — an oath bound to the person's soul.

So Haden had decided to get the information from someone who was most likely not to be under any soul oath.

The second child and the first daughter of the king of the Leonara kingdom — Laerain Leonara.

Time passed, and soon Laerain found herself before her tent. She lowered her head and looked at the small red flower in her hand.

'He isn't that bad...' she thought and walked inside the tent with a smile tugging at her lips.

After stepping inside, she found her black haired young maid who appeared as if her soul was sucked out of her because of her hollow yellow eyes.

Just as the maid's gaze fell onto her, she dashed towards her with a tearful look and called out, "PRINCESS!!"

Lars stepped to the right and stated after trying to dodge the incoming cat, "Stop acting like a child, Kiyara."

But Kiyara still caught her in a tight hug.

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