CHAPTER 325: HER VULNERABILITY

When Isiah finally made his way back to the forest where he had left his companions earlier that morning, the moon hung high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape.

The forest, once shrouded in the soft light of day, had transformed into an enigmatic realm where shadows danced and secrets whispered.

The passage of time had shifted their location, and Isiah could sense that they had moved deeper into the forest.

Eijar’s energy acted as his guide in the darkness.

It led him through the labyrinthine underbrush, past towering trees that seemed to reach for the heavens, and over babbling brooks whose murmurs were the lullaby of the night.

With each step, Isiah drew nearer to his group; he couldn’t help but wonder what had transpired in his absence.

Hours later he reached them..

Standing amidst the shadows, Isiah observed the scene before him with a sense of quiet .

His return had gone unnoticed thus far, and he took in the tableau that unfolded before him.

Lexie was seated on the forest floor, still awake at this hour ..

Meanwhile, Eijar, in her larger form, had draped herself like a protective barrier, her sinuous body serving as a makeshift bed for Ciel.

The young boy, with his golden hair splayed out, seemed to have found comfort in the presence of the dark creature, curled up in slumber.

Quietly, he considered whether he should announce his presence, breaking the stillness of the night with his return, or whether he should continue to observe, allowing them their peaceful respite before revealing himself.

He hadn’t made a sound or uttered a word, but Lexie, in her heightened awareness, sensed his presence.

It wasn’t the sound of footsteps or a visual cue that gave him away; instead, it was a subtle, almost imperceptible shift in the air around them.

It was as if her very being had become attuned to his presence, a connection formed by their shared experiences and the subtle nuances of their interactions.

Her eyes, glistening with a mix of emotions, slowly turned in his direction.

Lexie’s gaze met Isiah’s. Her breath caught in her throat as the realization of Isiah’s presence fully hit her.

A sharp intake of air escaped her lips as her heart raced, the sudden surge of emotions overwhelming her for a moment.

It was as if the world had paused, and in that gasp for air, she felt a mixture of surprise, anticipation, and a hint of anxiety.

Her wide eyes remained locked on Isiah, searching for answers, reassurance, and perhaps a way to bridge the emotional distance between them.

Lexie’s words tumbled out in a hurried rush, a palpable tension in her voice as she sought to ease the atmosphere.

"Ciel is fine," she declared, her words an immediate reassurance.

She understood, or at least believed, that in Isiah’s eyes, her significance paled in comparison to Ciel.

It was the young boy who held the key to Isiah’s care and protection, while Lexie often felt like an outsider in their world.

In the depths of her heart, Lexie harbored a profound sense of unworthiness when it came to Isiah.

She couldn’t help but feel that she would never deserve him.

The weight of her past mistakes, her human frailty, and the stark contrast between her ordinary existence and Isiah’s extraordinary powers all contributed to this sense of undeserving.

Isiah’s presence, as he settled gracefully on the ground under a tree in front of his group, seemed to encapsulate his otherworldly elegance.

He sat there, a silhouette against the backdrop of the moonlit forest, his dark and enigmatic aura contrasting with the natural beauty of their surroundings.

His posture exuded a certain quiet confidence, a stoic grace that was a testament to his powerful presence.

It was as if the very forest acknowledged his authority, allowing him to become a part of its intricate tapestry.

Isiah’s choice to sit in silence, his gaze distant and unfocused, was a subtle but unmistakable act of ignoring Lexie.

It was as if he had created an emotional distance between them, intentionally or unintentionally, by not engaging with her in that moment.

Lexie’s voice quivered as she mustered the courage to break the stifling silence.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her words carrying a tremor of uncertainty.

Isiah’s voice, though detached, held a note of finality as he finally broke his silence. "You should sleep," he said, his words carrying a faint trace of warmth. "I’ll take the watch."

Lexie’s actions spoke volumes as she rose from her spot and approached Isiah with measured steps.

Her movements were deliberate, as if she were carefully considering her every action.

In her hands, she held the fruits they had found earlier, a small offering amidst the complexity of their emotions.

Without a word, she extended her arms towards him, offering the fruits as a silent gesture .

Isiah’s keen observation didn’t miss the trembling hand that bore the injury Lexie had sustained earlier.

In response to this, his irritation was palpable as he spat on the ground with a clear sense of annoyance.

As Isiah refrained from taking the basket of fruits, Lexie, with her sensitivity heightened by their strained interactions, misinterpreted his reaction.

In the silence that followed, her mind raced to make sense of his response.

In her vulnerable state, she couldn’t help but think that Isiah was somehow disgusted by her injured hand.

The assumption weighed heavily on her, intensifying the discomfort and self-doubt that had been brewing within her since their encounter with Eijar’s candid remarks.

With a heavy heart and trembling emotions, Lexie set the basket of fruits on the forest floor.

Her misinterpretation of Isiah’s reaction had left her feeling vulnerable and shaken.

In her attempt to ease the tension and retreat from the uncomfortable situation .

Overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, Lexie made a difficult decision.

With tears welling up in her eyes, she chose to return to her previous spot.

Her heartache and the complexities of her feelings for Isiah were too much to bear alone in the solitude of the forest.

As she retraced her steps, her tears fell freely, a silent testament to the internal turmoil she was experiencing.