They arrived at the Lake of Miracles by late evening.
The trio had set up camp beneath a peculiar snake tree, its twisted, scaled bark spiraling upward before branching out into oddly shaped leaves that resembled coiled serpents. The faint shimmer of the lake reflected in their eyes as they prepared their meal, the comforting crackle of the Heat Rune breaking the stillness of the evening.
Vastarael crouched near the rune, using its heat to roast slices of meat skewered on thin sticks while Phaenora unpacked snacks and dried fruits from the inventory. Sirithiele sat slightly apart, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the shimmering lake ahead.
As Vastarael handed her a freshly roasted skewer, she finally broke the silence.
"You should know… on the third Winter Solstice, I will renounce my place in the Mopheria Pantheon. So we won't meet."
Vastarael paused, mid-motion, as he handed a skewer to Phaenora. His golden eyes met Sirithiele's, curiosity flickering across his face.
"That soon huh?"
"Yes. The ritual requires complete severance from the pantheon and I'll be vulnerable for days. During that time, you are not to visit me. Not under any circumstances."
He studied her for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. I'll stay away. I'll focus on something else instead, like the Fallen Bridge."
The words left his lips casually, but Sirithiele stiffened as if struck. She turned sharply toward him, her eyes wide.
"The Fallen Bridge? Vastarael, are you insane? That place is cursed! You don't know what it is. You can't just wander there like it's some ruin to explore!!
"I know. But I need to get close to it. There's something about that place… something that keeps pulling me toward it. I'm this close to understanding what it is. To getting a revelation about something important. And I'm not letting that moment pass at all."
Sirithiele's hands clenched around the stick of her untouched skewer.
"And what, exactly, do you think you'll gain? Knowledge? Power? The Fallen Bridge isn't a gateway to answers, Vastarael. No one who's gone near it has ever returned the same, if they returned at all!"
Her words carried a weight of desperation, but Vastarael remained unmoved.
"I'm not going in. I'll just stay on the outskirts, observe and leave. I'm not stupid, Sirithiele, but this is something I have to do—"
"No, you don't!" She snapped, her frustration spilling over. "You think you're lucky, but you're not. The Fallen Bridge isn't just some ruin. It's a wound on this world, a scar left by gods and beings far beyond even your understanding—"
"Yet that's exactly why I need to go."
Phaenora, who had been silent until now, leaned back against the snake tree, crossing her arms.
"For once, I agree with her. The Fallen Bridge isn't the kind of place you 'visit.' Even if you're just observing, there are forces there that could tear your soul apart without you even stepping foot on it."
Vastarael looked at her, his expression calm, almost amused. "You too, Phaenora?"
"Yes, me too," she said sharply. "And if that doesn't convince you, maybe you should think about what'll happen to Sirithiele if you don't listen. She's giving you good advice, Veneri, for once. She might even tell you to come see her instead of going there."
"I'm still going."
Phaenora sighed, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. "Why do you always have to be so stubborn?"
Vastarael shrugged, finishing his skewer. "Because being stubborn has gotten me this far."
The tension in the air was thick, but before Sirithiele could respond, Phaenora stood and sauntered toward Vastarael, her teasing grin returning as she straddled his lap and plopped down unceremoniously.
"Fine. If you're so determined to go, maybe you need a distraction."
"Phaenora—" Sirithiele began, her voice exasperated, but the other woman ignored her, running a hand lazily along Vastarael's shoulder.
"Don't mind her," Phaenora purred, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Let's talk about something more interesting than deadly bridges."
Vastarael didn't flinch or react, entirely unbothered by her antics.
"We're having dinner."
"And what better time to chat?" Phaenora teased, leaning closer, her face inches from his. "Also, can't you admit how beautiful I am?"
Phaenora was undeniably stunning, her beauty captivating in a way that seemed almost supernatural. That was an undeniable fact. Sharing Vastarael's Boon, Ethereal Beauty, it made her extremely beautiful that it can be compared to gods.
As she settled herself onto Vastarael's lap, she leaned in close, their faces only inches apart. Her thighs pressed snugly against his hips, the soft fabric of her attire brushing against his own. One of her hands curled around the front of his hoodie, gently tugging him closer, while the other lightly trailed along his shoulder, her fingers brushing against his neck with deliberate slowness. Her expression was flushed, her pink eyes glinting mischievously as she tilted her head, lips parting slightly as if daring him to react.
Sirithiele, standing a few steps away, looked at them silently. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her face a deep shade of crimson that rivaled the flames of the campfire. Her lips pressed into a thin line, betraying the storm of emotions swirling within her.
"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, glaring daggers at Phaenora. Whether it was out of jealousy, exasperation, or a mixture of both, Sirithiele's feelings were unmistakable. This display was driving her mad.
Phaenora smirked, seemingly taking pleasure in Sirithiele's visible discomfort. She shifted slightly in Vastarael's lap. She let out a soft, lilting laugh, leaning in so close that their noses nearly brushed. Her breath, warm and sweet, fanned against his cheek as she whispered;
"You're not even fazed at all. How?"
Vastarael, leaning casually against the tree trunk behind him, let a faint smirk tug at his lips. He met her gaze with a calm, unshaken confidence, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering flames.
"I'm used to your teasing, Phaenora. You've done this so many times I've built up a mental resistance. Let's just say my state of mind is... calm?"
Phaenora arched an elegant brow, her lips curving into a sly smile.
"Oh? Is that so?"
She adjusted her position again, her thighs pressing more firmly against him as her hands slid up to his shoulders, her nails lightly grazing his collarbone through the fabric of his hoodie.
"Let's test that, then."
She leaned in even closer, tilting her head as if she might close the distance between them entirely. Her lips hovered near his ear, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper.
"You say you're prepared, but surely even you have limits, Veneri."
Her hand moved to his chest, resting lightly against his hoodie as she tilted her head, letting her white hair cascade down and brush against his face. She gave a soft, breathy laugh, her flushed face inches from his.
"Still not fazed?"
"Still not amazed by what you're doing," he replied. He reached up and gently removed her hand from his chest. "You'll have to try harder than that, Phae."
Sirithiele's face was practically steaming at this point. She turned away abruptly, muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like curses.
Phaenora sighed dramatically, her body flopping against Vastarael's chest with mock defeat.
"Well, I tried. You're no fun, Veneri. Not even a blush? I'm practically throwing myself at you here."
"I noticed," Vastarael replied dryly. "But like I said, I'm prepared. Besides, I have bigger things to worry about than falling for your antics."
Phaenora pouted, though the glint of amusement in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
"Fine, fine. But one day, Veneri, I'll break through that unyielding mental state of yours. Mark my words. I will make it my life mission to make you vulnerable."
"Good luck with that," Vastarael replied, his tone light and teasing as he leaned back against the tree.
Until midnight, they talked about what they were supposed to do which was nothing much really. Vastarael was to go go the Fallen Bridge, Phaenora would check around the Frozen Ruins City and see what why are doing and Sirithiele would renounce herself from the Mopheria Pantheon.
And then, Vastarael and Phaenora vanished at midnight, knowing that they would never see Sirithiele again until they got to the present... well, the past but still the present.