The Adrift Oath

Chapter XXIII: Unsung Heroes

A loud splash sound was made while the devil ever so slowly walked until she reached the ledge, gently sitting down with her feet inside the river while Dominic finally emerged out with a deep inhale as he wiped the water off his face with his hands

"You know" She spoke with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow

"Shouldn't have gone in there with your clothes not dried yet, what are you going to wear after you come out from there hmmm?" She added on with stern narrowed eyes

"Oh, uh..." He didn't have any words to reply, only a nervous laughter accompanied his stuttering

"Mhm, don't worry about it" She then smiled as the guilt he had written over his face was enough for the devil

"You enjoy yourself in there" Dominic's face beamed warmly at the words given to him

Besides, his clothes were near the campfire they made, she was sure that they'd be dried after they were done exploring here after he'd get out of the clothes he was currently wearing, the same ones she stole just for him

The devil then looked away, although the fact that Dominic's clothes were around the campfire could leave some traces of their occupation in this cave to the people that she sensed earlier, the devil wasn't quite used to being chased, she made a mistake

She then looked at the child inside the river playing with the water, she didn't quite understand how one could have so much fun with this blue liquid of life but she didn't really want to, all that mattered is that he was smiling, and as she looked at that same smile she realized to herself that if push came to shove and those people were a threat to Dominic, she'd just have to stop them

She then looked around herself, towards the flow of the water that came from the old yet unfallen towers, standing tall in the darkness of the cave, shy only of the few scattered torches, illuminating what little they could

A huge metal gate was between those two towers, blocking the path and protecting what is as of now, a dead civilization

Yet it didn't matter for the cold steel as it would stay closed until its owner came back to reignite the fire that once burned bright

Although not exactly their owner, the devil would still try to go through them, trying her hardest not to face the people that seemingly were pursuing both her, and the child

A light chuckle brought her gaze back at Dominic, he seemed to be still ever so enjoying his time with the water he was in, maybe she should give him more time for fun, the devil thought

"Hey, lady angel" He spoke up, and then looked at her with his smile still unwavering

"Yes?" She replied alongside a slight tilt of her head

"Do you angels know how to swim?" He asked, bringing a gentle touch on her otherwise evil face

"Interesting question" She said and then looked away

Although as one would expect a deeper elaboration, the devil seemed to not do so any further, which prompted a snort out of the child that made his caretaker look at him with narrowed stern eyes

"How did you live for so long without knowing how to swim?" He asked while biting his lip to hold the accumulating laughter

"Well, my dear Dominic" The devil spoke with a haughty tone, less so out of actual pride and more so for the desire of protecting what was left of it, if there was any left at this point

"One doesn't require swimming if one doesn't need to breath" She said with a puffed chest and a lifted chin

"Uhm..." Though it didn't seem to quite impress him