Chapter 24: Clashing emotions

Hearing these words, Ray halted his footsteps. 'Holy kingdom? Again?' He thought. As if it was following him around, he was stumbling upon bizarre things since the moment he set foot on the lower realms and every time It had some type of connection with his life. Coincidence? Most probably not but he couldn't put his hand on what is triggering this.

'There's something off with this place.' He didn't know why but this place was alarmingly unsettling. Even though he didn't see anything that should've aroused such feelings, his senses are telling him to leave as soon as possible.

Ray didn't want to stay any longer. The conversation was interesting, but the last thing he wanted was to make unnecessary trouble for himself.

Looking at it normally, people would call him cruel or heartless because he could help get rid of these supposed kidnappers. But Ray didn't see himself as a hero, in fact, he considers himself as someone who is bad at heart. For those he doesn't care about, that is.

When he left the church, he found Flora leaning on a nearby tree waiting for him. Even this casual poster was worthy of a portrait that will take anyone's breath with how beautiful it is.

She turned around to look at him and smiled sweetly " Satisfied your curiosity?" She asked as she strolled to him.

"More than I should've." He sighed and walked towards her.

"Hm...What happened?"

He recounted what happened inside as they walked farther and farther from the church. She was also shocked from hearing about Ray's homeland in this village.

"So, what are you going to do?" Flora knew that it's a sensitive matter for Ray. So she was hesitating for a few seconds. This gesture made Ray a little surprised but he still smiled lovingly and patted her on her head.

"Don't worry. We don't have much time, so we will just leave it be." He assured Flora.

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"we don't need anything else, right?" Asked Ray as he laid on the bed with a dazed look. A very beautiful voice answered him from another room " I think we're ready."

"Then, tomorrow morning we will leave this village. We still have a long journey." He replied.

After changing her clothes, Flora came out of the shower wearing a white silky robe that wrapped around her body seductively. Who knew he will spend a night with a beauty like Flora alone in a room.

She walked towards him with a shy look on her angelic face.

"You like it?" She asked anxiously as she made a turn in front of him which revealed her beautiful legs even more.

But Ray just kept on looking at her without saying anything, as if he didn't hear her. This made Flora even more embarrassed so she pouted slightly " Hey! Say something. It's really embarrassing for me." She complained angrily.

"I'm sorry. It's just.....you're so beautiful I was mesmerised." He answered honestly. At this point, both of them knew how they feel about each other but Ray didn't want to take the next step with Flora or to be more precise he couldn't do that. He was scared that if she stays by his side she will get hurt. If that happens, Ray won't be able to forgive himself.

'Even though I can't stay by her side, at least....let me be happy for now.' He thought.

" T-Thank you." Her cheeks were as red as a tomato at this point. She then sat on the bed.

The silence prolonged for minutes, but Ray's voice eventually broke the silence "You know...I want to tell you something." His mouth started talking by itself. He didn't know how to start but he still tried his best.

Seeing her looking at him anxiously he continued " I don't know what the future holds for me. I chose to take revenge over my life, my happiness, and still I didn't regret any of that. if there's one thing I regret and will continue to regret for the rest of my life..." His voice trailed at the end leaving a few words barely audible but Flora still understood his words and most importantly...his feelings.

" Flora. I love you. I really really love you. Not as a friend or as a sister but as someone of the opposite sex. At this point, I don't know If I will be able to live without you. But I also can't let you get hurt because of my selfish decisions and my revenge. I-" Before he could continue, Flora silenced him with her finger. Ray's mind was a total mess of emotions. He was shredded between his love for Flora and his desire to protect her. Between hurting her and hurting himself.

But when he looked at her face, he didn't see disappointment or anger, nor did he see any kind of resentment. The only thing he saw was a dazzling smile, more dazzling than the sun in the sky. This smile was the most beautiful thing Ray saw in his life. Her eyes were looking at him full of affection that she didn't try to hide at all.

" Shhhh...You don't have to say anything else. All of this is my choice, my destiny is to be with you and I will gladly make this choice even if I go back to the past a million times. Do you think you can get rid of me? You better try even harder because I will follow wherever you go. The only thing that will separate us is death. So don't blame yourself for anything...You didn't do anything bad. Let me help you, ok?" She said with tears on her face. Even then, she was still smiling. Ray didn't know why but he remembered the words Galdof said to him before 'Hatred is the source of all pain Ray'.

'If I will fall in darkness at one point. This smile that I fell in love with will save me for sure.' He thought as he wiped his eyes that moistened slightly and then smiled while caressing Flora's cheek that was stained with tears.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt. That will be even more painful for me than my own suffering." He apologised as retracted his hand but she took it and held it tightly with both of her hands. Ray could feel her warmth and love just from her hands.

"Neither do I. I can't bear seeing you suffer. So let's promise each other that we will take revenge and then live happily." She crossed her pinky with his.

This gesture made Ray freeze in his place. He then giggled slightly for some reason.

"Hey! Why are you laughing?!" Flora thought she was acting childish so she tried her embarrassment.

"Hahaha! No, nothing. It's a promise then."

As they looked at each other, they felt as if a magnet was pulling them closer and closer. their hearts were beating wildly.

Their faces were closing up slowly. A few seconds later, their lips were barely away from each other. But before they could connect.

"ROAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!"

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Author note: Arguably the best chapter I wrote until this point. I hope you will like it.

Don't forget to support the story. Peace✌️