After the tears were shed and the pain subsided, all that was left was a silence that nobody knew how to break. Genis took the lead, bringing the group away from the serene clearing, toward the hemisphere. Odeen walked in the back beside Ruby, Vatic, and Genis took the lead once again, while Jasher and Safire wandered in the middle of the lineup. Nexus stayed close, just out of sight of the others.
Odeen's hand snaked across Ruby's shoulder delicately, speaking low in their unique encrypted language to ensure that their words were only shared between one another. "Ruby, that breakdown came out of nowhere. Are you sure that you're fit to be travelling so soon? We can stay behind and let the others go ahead if you need a break."
Ruby's eyes were still puffy and red, letting out a dull, hollow chuckle. "You're sweet to worry about me, Odeen, but I'm perfectly fine. Actually, crying like that has made me feel a hell of a lot better. We have a long road ahead, and not much time to wait."
Safire turned her head back toward Odeen and Ruby with a look of betrayal. "I used up that wish to ensure we could all talk together without a language barrier, and you two still choose to use your secret lovers' language. Rude!"
Ruby finally let out a laugh, filled with humour and amusement. "I'm sorry, Safire. Odeen was just checking on me to ensure that I was alright without the fear of embarrassing me. We're not canoodling behind your back."
Odeen's cheeks began to flush a heated red as Safire's eyes widened with realisation, whipping her head forward suddenly. "Right! I shouldn't have assumed that you two would be purposefully excluding us for anything more than compassion. Carry on!"
Safire's pace sped up, leaving Jasher in her wake. Ruby shook her head in amusement, watching Jasher slow to come to her side. He looked over at Ruby with apologetic eyes, reaching out to brush his fingers across her arm. "Are we good now?"
Odeen perked up, staring at Jasher from above Ruby, his eyes almost glowing with the sudden contact. The expression he gave Jasher was loud enough to carry his intent without words. 'Keep touching her and find out.' Jasher slipped his hand from Ruby's arm, averting his gaze to continue living for another day.
Ruby sighed meekly, moving closer to lean her head against Jasher's shoulder. This sent a terrified chill up his spine, knowing Odeen's eyes were locked on them still. "I don't know, Jasher. You betrayed me – what are we on now, 3 times?"
Jasher cleared his throat, breaking out into a cold sweat. "Yeah, I haven't been the best friend to you. But I want to make up for that. The truth is, I got so caught up in everything that I had to do, I forgot you're the only person who would ever truly understand me on this planet. I stabbed you in the back multiple times to get my own way, never once considering how it'd make you feel. I'm sorry, Ruby."
Ruby grinned, prodding her finger into Jasher's cheek. "You're still doing it, too. The only reason that you want everything to be fine between us is that you've finally realised that without me, your time on Earth means nothing to anybody else."
Jasher's shoulders slumped, his head hung, and his tone came out drenched with regret. "You're not wrong. I wish I could be better, but the truth is, I'm selfish. Could you still forgive me? Even with all my selfish flaws?"
Ruby chuckled, squeezing Jasher's arm. "I forgave you the moment that house came down. I knew that you needed someone who was there for you. But you know as well as I do that I'm not the one you need right now." Ruby pushed Jasher forward with surprising strength, tilting her head toward Safire. "Go get your princess, knight."
Jasher sighed in relief, nodding toward Ruby. "I'll make it up to you. One way or another. Thank you." Jasher ran forward to join Safire. Odeen and Ruby shared a knowing glance, followed by an exasperated eye roll.
After hours on end, walking with no end in sight, the group was left sweaty, dirty and aching. The moon had risen long ago, and with nowhere in sight to stop, everyone began to gripe in one way or another.
Vatic sighed, rubbing his stiff shoulders as Safire began to stumble, red in the face and panting weakly. She collapsed to her knees, pulling at her dress as the world began to spin and sway. "Vatic... I thought that you said the cooler weather was on its way."
Ruby rushed to Safire's side, hoisting her up slowly. Vatic stopped, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I said nothing about it being here. Tonight is quite humid and hot. We need to find a rocky plain to rest, or else we're going to meet our makers sooner than planned."
Genis hummed, holding his arms behind his head while he strutted around the perimeter. "This forest seems to go on forever. Not trying to be insensitive, but how do we bury mortals in this world?" The glares silenced Genis instantly.
Nexus let out a disgruntled sigh as he broke through the trees, finally revealing himself. "Is nobody going to help Safire? Heatstroke can happen at night, too. She's in peril." All eyes fell coldly on Nexus's unwanted entrance. All except one. Ruby stared at the deity with curiosity and interest.
Nexus clenched his jaw, stepping forward. "Fine, you don't trust me. I know why, and I don't blame you. But she will die if this continues." Ruby gripped Safire tighter when Nexus approached with aggression.
Safire was beginning to look hazy when Nexus took hold of her embroidered gown's skirt. Ruby's brows furrowed before shooting up in surprise when Nexus pulled with all his strength, tearing the fabric from Safire's body. "What the fuck?!"
Jasher stepped forward, grabbing a fistful of Nexus's hair to pull him back. Nexus never wavered, pulling back against Jasher's hand as he focused on tearing the petticoats, hoop skirt, and modesty layers, leaving her in nothing more than a chemise. The breeze that brought no relief to the others began to billow across Safire's damp skin like a wave of relief.
Nexus was yanked back and thrown to the ground without mercy once Odeen intervened with Vatic and Jasher. Ruby held Safire close, swiftly noticing her relief. "Stop! I think he was trying to get her out of those layers before she passed out or worse."
Nexus sat up with a pained grunt, rolling his aching shoulders. "What else would I be doing? She needs something to drink. There's a stream not far from here, but she won't make it on foot. I can get her there in an instant."
Odeen and Jasher both stepped in front of Safire protectively. Ruby turned to stare at the weakened Safire, her determination burning in her chest like a wildfire. "He's right. She won't be okay for much longer. I'll go with you to ensure you don't do anything funny. Is the water drinkable?"
Nexus stood, stretching his back out with a few audible cracks. "Yes, I believe so. It's just a few feet ahead. The rest of you head forward and meet us there. I'll take the girls ahead to help Safire."
Odeen shook his head, grinding his teeth in worry. "There is no way that I'm going to allow one of you alone with Nexus, let you both of you. That's asking for trouble. I'll go with Safire to ensure he won't play any funny games."
Ruby approached, pushing past Odeen and Jasher. "Use your heads. If Nexus was going to take us, he wouldn't do it with both of us together. All we have to do is touch and he's fucked. You guys head on without us. Nexus and I will take Safire to the river. If he's dumb enough to attempt a kidnapping with two powerful women, then he deserves what he's going to get in return."
Nexus sighed in annoyance, reaching his arm out toward Ruby. "I have no intentions of doing anything stupid. I meant it when I said that I didn't want to kill either of you. You will see them in a few minutes, but she needs to be tended to this instant."
Jasher took Odeen by the arm, pulling him back a few steps. His eyes darkened with rage and unease. "You do one thing to even make them uncomfortable, and they'll blow you into next week. Do not fuck with Safire. I'll come for you if you do. You won't escape me."
Nexus stifled an eye roll before taking Ruby's arm. There was a moment of stillness as Nexus blocked out everything, listening for that faint signal. The moment it approached, he pulled Ruby and Safire back, vanishing into thin air.
Ruby yelped as she hit the ground, landing on her back to ensure Safire landed on top of her. When she opened her eyes, it was to a breathtaking, glittering lake perched on top of a cliff. Crystal clear, babbling water gushed off the edge into a deeper lake below, rushing forward through the forest.
Ruby took a moment of awe-inspired gawking before she helped Safire to the banks, lowering Safire to her knees so she could drink. Nexus stayed back a few feet, watching as Safire quenched an insatiable thirst. He cleared his throat nervously, averting his gaze. "I told you there was water here."
Ruby smirked, shifting to face Nexus. "Yes, you did. And it's good to see that I have you wrapped around my little finger, deity. So, wanna tell me what the fuck you thought you were doing? This 'mortal union' bull crap. Why me?"
Nexus whipped his head back to stare at Ruby with wide, almost terrified eyes. "Mortal union? You? Me?! Who said that I synchronised with you?! That's fucking absurd! I would never break the sacred law like that! Don't act like you know about deities! That practice was banned a long time ago!"
Ruby scoffed, stepping closer to Nexus so they were mere inches apart. "Genis told me everything. And I believe his word more than I'd ever believe yours. If you have proof that you haven't... done weird shit to my soul, then prove it."
Nexus bared his teeth with the scowl he shot Ruby. "Gladly! You think you're so important that a deity would synchronise with you? Your soul is an utter mess!" He raised his fist, sending Ruby back a few steps. Safire scrambled to his feet, but Nexus never wavered. "Mortal unions cannot physically harm one another. The laws of the universe won't allow it. If I can land a clean hit, I'm not bound to you."
Ruby clenched her fists, glaring at Nexus before stepping forward once again. The group they left behind finally broke through the trees, catching up to the trio the moment Ruby spoke. "Do it then!"
Genis stared at the sight with a wild grin. "Ohh shit, I think he's gonna do it! Gentlemen, prepare for the show!" Odeen snarled, breaking into a sprint to get to them before Ruby could be struck.
Nexus reared his fist back as the wind began to pick up to an aggressive billow. Ruby closed her eyes tightly, tensing in preparation for the blow. Odeen sprinted forward, terrified of the next move Nexus made.
BANG
Ruby winced, taking a moment to collect herself when she felt no pain. Her eyes fluttered open slowly as a shimmering shield of soft, illuminated pink sheltered her from Nexus's blow. Ruby and Nexus shared the same expression of shock before Nexus was thrown back with the body blow Odeen happily delivered. "I warned you! I warned you not to lay a hand on her!"
Odeen raised his fist, watching Nexus's entire body recoil in preparation. Ruby grabbed Odeen's arm, shaking her head. "I egged him into it. I wanted to know if he could actually hit me. Well, Nexus, you broke your law. Genis was right. You can't physically harm me."
Nexus laid back against the rocky banks, staring up at the starry night sky while his head reeled with regret and anguish. "No... that can't be. I would never break the law. I mean, I'd never do it again... shit – how can I ever face Serina now?"
Nexus groaned, rubbing his face with a disgruntled groan. Genis approached, still beaming with unfiltered pride. He held his hand out to Nexus, giddy with the turn of events. "Welcome to the bad boys club, Nexy. We've been waiting for you."
Ruby helped Odeen back to his feet as Genis ripped Nexus from the ground, wrapping him in a rib-cracking hug. Nexus groaned, pushing at Genis's face. "Get off of me! What is with you and touching me?!"
Jasher approached Safire, ignoring the commotion to ensure she was alright. He sat down beside the princess, shifting a nervous gaze toward her. "Sorry, I didn't realise you were suffering. How are you feeling now?"
Safire pulled her hair back, leaning her head against Jasher's shoulder. "It's alright. I'm just glad that Nexus saw the warning signs. But I'm starting to grow concerned." Jasher tilted his head as Safire's face hardened. "If Nexus bonded to Ruby, how do we kill him without betraying her?" Jasher's breath wavered. He had no answer. They sat against the banks in silence, realising their revenge plan might be more difficult than they had first planned.
-End of chapter 26-