In the tranquil embrace of silence, Alora and Silas found themselves seated by the glittering pool, their feet gently submerged in the shimmering waters. Alora's head rested tenderly against Silas's shoulder, finding a serene sanctuary in his presence.

Silas, in this moment, remained as still as the quiet night, fearing any movement might disrupt the fragile tranquility they shared. He had always imposed upon himself the restraint of not intruding on her personal space.

"Silas," Alora's voice, barely above a whisper, called out, the sound delicate as a butterfly's wing. Her eyes met his, her gaze a soft plea.

"Yes?" Silas looked down at her, his eyes reflecting the moonlight's gentle glow.

"Thank you," she uttered, her lips curling into a gentle smile.

Silas couldn't help but clench his jaw, a quiet storm of emotions swirling within. His voice, when it finally emerged, held a deep intensity. "Don't thank me."

Alora, ever observant, couldn't help but notice the faint undercurrent of anger in his words. She gazed up at him, her inquisitive eyes locking onto those pools of darkness, which, despite their intensity, had always been warm and tender towards her. But now, they harbored anger, leaving her bewildered.

"Why?" Alora questioned, her voice laced with curiosity. She needed to understand the source of his sudden ire.

"When you thank me," Silas confessed, his voice a barely audible murmur, "I feel distant. I feel we're not close."

Alora's eyes widened, and in that serene cave, her response burst forth like a fresh spring bubbling up from the depths. Her sweet giggles, like a musical cascade, filled the silence around them.

Silas listened to her laughter with a sense of quiet satisfaction. He cherished those moments when he could make her laugh and smile, finding himself captivated by the sheer beauty of her happiness. Her smiles could indeed blind him, but he realized that he would gladly choose to be blinded by her radiant joy rather than possess sight but be unable to witness those smiles.

"Then it would feel like I am taking you for granted," Alora replied, her eyes twinkling with mirth. Laughter had left droplets of tears clinging to her lashes.

Silas gently stroked her cheeks, his touch tender as he wiped away the remnants of her tears. His eyes, dark and intense, focused on her soft, pink lips.

"Will you?" he whispered, his voice a low murmur that seemed to vibrate in the intimate space between them.

Alora, ever the picture of curiosity, tilted her head in confusion. Silas couldn't help but smile; he had come to notice that she often did that when something puzzled her.

"What?" she asked, her eyes searching his, for answers.

"Take me for granted?" he inquired, not needing to wait for her response.

"Never," Alora affirmed with unwavering sincerity. Her words echoed in the cave, resonating with the depth of her feelings. "You are important."

Silas remained silent, the weight of those words sinking into his heart. Only he knew just how profoundly her declaration had affected him.

In a world where rejection and isolation had been his constant companions, where he had been deemed a monster and met with nothing but cruelty and hatred, there was one exception. Alora.

She was different.

In her eyes, in her heart, he found something he had never known before.

He was important to her.

'Would she say that if she knows what you really are?'

Those tormenting voices resurfaced, relentless and cruel.

'She will loathe and abhor you! She will abandon you!'

Silas felt as if he were trapped in a frigid cage.

'No...she cannot abandon me. I won't let her! Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up....' His inner turmoil waged on, drowning out the malicious voices.

Alora gazed at Silas, growing increasingly concerned by his silence and vacant stare.

'What's going on in his mind?' she wondered, her worry mounting.

"Silas? Silas?" She reached out and gently touched his arm, only to be met with the surprise of his cold, clammy skin.

His eyes, devoid of their usual warmth, locked onto her, and Alora felt a shiver run down her spine.

However, her shock intensified when he seized her by the arms, his grip unyielding like iron hoops binding her wrists, rendering her unable to escape.

"Promise me..." Silas spoke, his voice filled with desperation as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his breaths slow and deliberate.

Alora couldn't help but shiver at the sudden intensity of his actions, her heart pounding with worry. Her breath on his skin had a calming effect on him, but Alora couldn't ignore the turmoil she sensed within him.

It was as if his head was on the verge of splitting apart.

"Promise me that you won't abandon me..."

Silas's voice was tinged with desperation as he clung to Alora, his body trembling against hers.

Her heart ached at the vulnerability she sensed in him. Silas had always been the stoic and stern one, never showing weakness or fear, but in this moment, he was almost pleading.

Though she was innocent, Alora was far from ignorant or foolish

She recognized what was happening - Silas was experiencing a panic attack. Without hesitation, she hugged him back with all her might, disregarding the strength of his grip or any discomfort it caused her.

All that mattered was comforting him and letting him know she was there for him, just as strongly and tightly as he held her.

Alora remained in the same comforting position, the passage of time forgotten as they both shared this intimate moment. Her hand gently moved from his back to his head, her fingers slipping through his long, silky hair.

Silas eventually opened his eyes and slowly loosened his grip on her, though he didn't release her completely. He whispered an apology, aware that his hold might have left some bruises on her skin. Guilt and self-loathing filled him.

'She can hate me, loathe me, abhor me,' he thought, 'and if she asks for it, I would gladly give her my life. But the one thing she cannot do is leave me. She can't. She can't abandon me.'

Silas bit down on his lip hard to suppress any whimpers or cries, unwilling to reveal the depth of his emotions in that vulnerable moment.

Alora sighed and attempted to break the hug so she could look at Silas, but he refused, not wanting her to see him in such a vulnerable state. She gently caressed and comforted him, running her fingers through his hair, which seemed to have a calming effect on him.

"I know I said I wouldn't ask," she began softly, continuing to rub his neck, "but what really happened to you?" Silas tensed up once more, still not ready to share his painful past with her.

Seeing his reluctance, Alora sighed again and reassured him, "It's okay. Tell me when you're ready." Silas finally relaxed, closing his eyes as he let out a deep breath.

In that moment, the cacophony of voices and turmoil in his mind seemed to dissipate, leaving him with a newfound sense of clarity.

"And don't worry. I will never abandon you." Silas opened his closed eyes. His eyes stung as he gently held her.
Those words of hers were so convincing that he could give all his life to see half of it fulfilled.

As I lay in the comfort of her warm embrace, I wondered.

'If you were asked to name all the things you love, would you ever consider to even name me?'

Time seemed to drift away in the cave as Alora hummed a soothing tune, her voice filling the space with its gentle melody. Silas listened in silence, afraid to disturb her as he found solace in the rhythm of her song.

Alora's faint smile was dedicated to him, her humming echoing through the cave, creating a serene atmosphere. Outside, the drizzle continued, each raindrop hitting the earth softly and making the world outside seem to hush and hold its breath.

Animals found their shelters, and the world became still. Yet, inside the cave, two figures remained oblivious to the outside world, enveloped in their own shared moment.

Alora's eyelids grew heavier as she continued to hum, and her gentle gestures of rubbing and patting slowed, signaling her descent into slumber. Silas noticed her growing tired and adjusted her position, letting her sleep on his chest as he leaned against the cave wall.

Exhaustion washed over him as well. He hadn't truly relaxed since the incident, and now that everything seemed alright, he could finally release the heavy burden of worry and anxiety. Silas closed his eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep, with Alora nestled against him.

----

Alora slowly opened her eyes, feeling a droplet of water land gently on her face. Groggily, she blinked and took in her surroundings. A momentary confusion settled in, but then her memory returned, reminding her of how Silas had brought her to this cave.

She turned her head to find Silas still asleep, his hold on her never having wavered throughout the night. A fond smile played on her lips as she watched him slumber peacefully.

Morning was approaching, evident from the cheerful chirping of birds outside the cave. Alora's gaze returned to Silas, and with every passing second, her feelings for him seemed to deepen.

In the quiet of the morning, Silas appeared so different from his usual self. His icy demeanor had melted away in slumber, leaving behind a visage of tranquility and serenity. Alora couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't be like this when he was awake.

Her heart fluttered as she gazed upon him, the man who had somehow managed to stir her heart in ways she couldn't fully comprehend.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she pondered.

'I suppose,' she mused, 'if anyone ever wondered how a combination of spring and winter would look, it would be you. A man who can provide both the warmth of a gentle breeze and the chill of a winter's night. A man who can inspire both the fluttering of butterflies and the tempestuous storms of passion in my heart. You, who can offer me both the delicate beauty of flowers and the pristine purity of snow.'

She giggled at her thoughts.

"Why are you laughing?" Silas asked as Alora darted her eyes at him. Silas felt like he woke up to the most beautiful music in the world.

"Nothing." She giggled. Silas helplessly smiled.
"It's morning." Alora said.
"It is." Silas looked at the small opening of the roof of the cave to see a small ray of light passing through.

"Let's go or else Seira and Maren might get worried about my disappearance." Alora tried to stand up but she failed to balance herself and almost fell face down.

She tightly closed her eyes - waiting for the impact and pain to rush forth, but she was met with a hard chest on her face as Silas' strong arm wrapped around her waist.

She blushed sweetly and immediately straightened herself. Looking away, she apologized,"I'm sorry." She whispered and cleared her throat.

Silas chuckled.
His deep, amorous chuckle wasn't helping Alora in reducing her shyness and embarrassment but further heightened them. Silas looked at her glowing cheeks and felt his lower body slightly ache.
He stopped chuckling.
Feeling that Alora shouldn't see his 'situation', he quickly diverted her attention. "Let's go."

He held her hand.
Alora shyly bowed her head and walked behind him.
'It's scary how he manages to hold me so naturally and it's even scarier that I don't reject his touch.'

Emerging from the cave, Alora was greeted by the intoxicating scent of moist earth, carried by the gentle breeze. She inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma, a connection to the very heartbeat of nature. With graceful steps, she moved forward, her gaze capturing the majestic sunrise on the horizon.

The sky was a masterpiece, brushed with hues of fiery orange, soft pinks, and tranquil blues. The world awakened, and Alora felt herself a part of this magical moment, where the universe whispered secrets in the soft morning light.

Turning around, Alora found Silas standing there, his demeanor stoic as always, but his eyes... they held an adoration and intense passion that transcended words. The realization that he had been her steadfast protector and the one who had shared this hidden world with her washed over her, filling her heart with warmth.

A radiant smile graced her lips, like a burst of sunlight. Her heart fluttered with the enchantment of the moment, and she couldn't help but feel like she was in the presence of something truly extraordinary.

Silas, though usually composed and unyielding, stood momentarily dumbfounded. He had always been the silent observer, hidden in the shadows. But in this ethereal sunrise and the warmth of Alora's smile, he felt something he couldn't quite explain.

He watched her with a sense of wonder, as if he had discovered a hidden treasure that had been waiting for him all along.

-----

Two days later...

Silas stood beneath the solemn podium, his gaze unwavering upon Alora and Grandma Sen, who, along with Chief Sakir, guided the sacred rain ceremony. As their voices intertwined in a potent hymn, the very atmosphere quivered in resonance, compelling the gathered multitude to join in a harmonious song.

Their attire, simple yet adorned with intricate blue fabrics, accentuated their unique markings on faces and arms. In synchrony with the crescendo of their chant, the wind stirred, summoning forth looming, obsidian clouds.

Within moments, what began as a solitary droplet transformed into a cascade of rain, descending from the heavens. Sunlight pierced through the obscurity, akin to a divine blessing bestowed upon the village of Akren and its cherished Ahren people by the benevolent goddess herself.

Amidst the jubilation, people cheered and twirled in the downpour, their laughter resonating through the air, their clothes clinging to their forms, saturated by the rain. Yet, their spirits soared, untouched by the wetness that embraced them.

Alora sprinted toward Silas, a vivacious vision, drenched hair plastered against her porcelain skin, droplets clinging to her form before vanishing into her dress. She was a rain-kissed belle, a nymph emerging from the elements, radiant teeth unveiled, awaiting his words of adulation.

"It was beautiful," he affirmed, a soft-spoken accolade that illuminated her smile to rival the brightest celestial star. With tenderness, he brushed aside errant strands of hair that clung closely to her skin, an intimate gesture of care amidst the joyous deluge.

'Her smile was a beautiful creation that made any man who saw it dwell in a sweet confusion for infinity.'

Finally! I finally got some free time up my sleeve to be able to write and post a chapter today. I am sorry for the delay everyone.

My life is extremely chaotic nowadays and I hardly have time for myself.

I just came into an epiphany a few hours ago and so I decided to do what I liked and leave my work for now.

To anyone who is overworking yourself right now and exhausting yourself, please remember to give yourself a small time.
Remember that "Life is not work and work is not life."
I hope everyone has/had a good day.
Enjoy the chapter and please remember to comment and point out any grammatical mistakes you find. Your opinions matter a lot.

~Snow

Edit:
I just realized how stupid I was.
I forgot to mention this ceremony of rain in the following chapter.
I am really sorry for the inconvenience.