The forest, a place of serene beauty, now felt like a cage of silence. Two days had passed since my argument with Caius, and we had sat in silence, our only interactions occurring when he checked on my injured foot. Our appearances had grown disheveled, mirroring the tension between us.

The air between Caius and me was thick with unspoken words, and the weight of our mutual disdain was becoming unbearable. As the hours dragged on, I realized we couldn't keep going on like this if we wanted to survive our journey. We needed to be a unit, not two individuals who couldn't stand to be near each other

I shifted uncomfortably, contemplating the necessity of breaking the silence. The forest, though filled with the sounds of nature, seemed to amplify the awkwardness surrounding us. Swallowing my pride, I finally spoke up.

"Caius, we can't keep ignoring each other like this. It's not helping either of us, and we won't make it through the journey if we're not working together," I said, my voice carrying a blend of tiredness and desperation.

Caius, still maintaining his stoic demeanor, glanced in my direction. "We're here to survive, not to be friends," he retorted, his tone curt and unwavering.

"That's precisely the problem," I replied, frustration evident in my voice. "We may not be friends, but we have to be allies, at least. Ignoring each other won't get us anywhere."

He raised an eyebrow, acknowledging my words without speaking. The tension lingered as I continued, "We can't keep hating each other if we want to make it through this. We need to find a way to trust each other, for the sake of our own survival and everyone depending on us."

Caius sighed, his gaze distant. "I don't hate you, " he admitted, and I couldn't help but arch an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Really?" I questioned, incredulous. "Since the moment I got here, you've been judging and blaming me for everything."

He nodded, clenching his jaw. "It's hard for me to let people in, especially someone like you who has grown up with privilege, it just angers me."

I agreed, acknowledging the truth in his words. "Yes, I've had a privileged life, but that doesn't mean I haven't faced struggles. My father's rule has affected me too, in different ways. We're on the same side, Caius."

He nodded, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "I get it. I believe you."

I took a deep breath, relief washing over me. "Thank you, Caius. All my life, I've been surrounded by books and the sheltered world my father created. I never questioned it; I didn't know any better. But I promise you, if I had known, I would have stood against him."

Caius nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Alright, I won't hold it against you anymore. It's clear you're not your father, and you're willing to acknowledge the truth and change."

I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, and I nodded in gratitude. "I swear to you, Caius, I am nothing like him."

Caius extended his hand, a gesture of reconciliation. "Truce, then?"

I offered a slight smile, before firmly shaking his hand, "Truce, so, what's your favorite animal?"

He looked puzzled for a moment, but I continued, "We need to get to know each other better. What better way than starting with something simple, like your favorite animal?"

Caius hesitated but eventually relented. "Dogs," he said, a hint of surprise in his own voice.

"Why dogs?" I asked, genuinely curious.

He shrugged, a hint of indifference in his response. "Why not?"

We stared at each other in an awkward silence. Sensing the need to break it, I quirked an eyebrow at him. "Well, it's your turn to ask a question now."

He grumbled, clearly not thrilled about participating in this exchange. "Fine. What's your favorite color?"

I couldn't help but light up with a playful grin. "Have you not caught on already? It's obviously green."

Caius just looked at me, his expression unreadable. "You really like my eyes, don't you?" he remarked, his voice carrying a note of skepticism.

I burst into laughter. "Well, they are really pretty. I'm kind of jealous, to be honest."

Confusion flickered across his face, evident in his furrowed brows. "But you have nice eyes," he pointed out.

I chuckled at his compliment, genuinely surprised. "Well, I never would have ever thought I'd get a compliment from you. Thank you."

Caius mumbled something, his gaze shifting away momentarily. "I wasn't complimenting you, just stating the truth," he muttered.

Rolling his eyes he continued, "we're wasting time," he grumbled, his tone more serious. "So, how does your foot feel?"

"It actually feels a lot better, I can walk on it with no pain," I replied, unable to hide a small smile.

Caius nodded in response. "Good. In a bit, we should try to make it through the forest so that by the time we reach the witches' kingdom, it's night. Most of them should be asleep by then."

Continuing, his gaze met mine. "I found a lake nearby, we should freshen up before we continue."

As we made our way to the hidden lake, the forest gradually thinned, revealing an oasis. The water sparkled under the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, inviting us to escape the weight of our journey for a moment.

The beauty of the lake captured my attention, its tranquility distracting me from all the hardships we faced. Lost in the mesmerizing scene, I failed to notice when Caius began to take off his shirt.

My distraction turned into a gasp when I suddenly realized what he was doing. Flustered, I instinctively covered my eyes. "What are you doing?" I blurted out.

Caius, seemingly confused by my reaction, responded, "I am going to wash off in the water?"

I blushed, feeling the warmth creeping up my cheeks, and turned around hastily. "Well, warn a person next time!" I mumbled, trying to hide my embarrassment.

As someone who had immersed herself in books, I thought I knew a lot about the world, but seeing Caius without his shirt was an entirely new experience. The lines of his shoulders were well-defined, a testament to the hardships he had faced. The sun shined to his tanned skin, highlighting the contours of muscles that seemed sculpted by both nature and adversity.

I couldn't ignore the chiseled definition of his abs, each ridge and curve telling a story of resilience. The scars on his torso bore witness to battles fought and won.

Before I could daydream any further about Caius and his body, he interrupted my thoughts, approaching casually. "Alright, it's your turn," he said.

I tore my gaze away from his body and nodded. As I retrieved my change of clothes, I noticed the way his wet hair clung to his face as he passed by, leaving me momentarily breathless.

I placed my clothes near the edge of the lake, feeling a mix of self-consciousness and gratitude that he had given me the space I needed. With a final nod, he turned around, respecting my privacy as I began to wash up.

The cool water refreshed my tired body, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relaxedness. As I finished, I changed into dry clothes, calling out to Caius, "You can turn around now."

He pivoted, and with a dry remark, he said, "Took you long enough."

I rolled my eyes, smiling at him. "The water felt so nice, I couldn't stay away ," I said, accepting a comb he handed me.

As I brushed through my long, tangled hair, Caius commented, "Your hair is very long." I laughed, "Yeah, hair is kind of a big deal for me. Haven't cut it in a long time."

He nodded, "It's nice."

I cocked my head to the side, a genuine smile on my face. "Thank you. You've been really kind today, and I've enjoyed it."

His gaze lingered on me as he reached to push a stray strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. "You missed a strand," he said softly.

I laughed, feeling a warmth in the gesture. "Thanks for pointing that out."

Caius then looked up toward the sky, a serious expression crossing his face. "We should get going before it's too dark," he declared.

As Caius and I ventured out of the forest, the landscape changed, revealing a mix of rolling hills and rocky terrain. The sun cast long shadows, signaling the approaching evening. With every challenging step, Caius, ever watchful, reached out to steady me, ensuring I didn't hurt my recovering foot.

I couldn't help but smile at his consideration, a silent acknowledgment of our growing friendship. The journey continued, our footsteps accompanied by the rustling leaves and occasional calls of distant wildlife. The air was crisp, carrying a mix of earthy scents that hinted at the untamed beauty surrounding us.

As we approached a particularly steep incline, Caius instinctively reached out again, his hand gently enveloping mine.The contact was not just a physical support but a subtle affirmation of a shared journey, a silent understanding that we faced the challenges together.

After we made it passed the incline, Caius came to an abrupt halt, prompting me to follow his gaze. Before us laid the Witches' Kingdom, a mystical realm shrouded in mist and guarded by towering spires that seemed to touch the heavens. The air was tinged with an otherworldly energy, and the sight left us both momentarily awestruck.

Caius broke the silence, his voice low, "We've reached the Witches' Kingdom."