The Hunt for Aquatenite

Chapter - 32 Lucy

I was back on my feet and walking on my own. Rislerk/Linent and Nexiana had hit off on a conversation and were enjoying it very much. Tyrek and Bren were talking about Aquatenite to Thiela who was at the front guiding us. Theus was apparently sent home as he wasn't prepared for what was to come.

Oliver made his way to me at the back, hands in his pocket. "Looks like you're not gonna need crutches to walk. That's good news."

I kicked a stone. "Yeah..." I wasn't feeling much happy about it.

Oliver let out a silent sigh. "Something's bothering you, isn't it?"

I clicked my tongue, running a hand through my hair. "I just...Don't you think about how your sister is doing right now? Is she safe or not?"

"I do. But they are doing their job and we are doing ours. And I know nothing's gonna happen to her. She knows what she is doing."

Well, I wasn't satisfied. I knew Liza didn't know what she was doing. She didn't even know how to ride a tricycle until she wasn't 6. There was no way she could survi-.

"Liza is with Olivia. She will not let anything happen to your sister. You know that, right?" Oliver asked, his eyebrows scrunched up.

"Of course, I know that! But I'm still worried. Liza can't take care of herself. She needs me. She won't survive without me. I need to be there-"

I was interrupted by Oliver resting his palms on my shoulders, forcing me to look him in the eye. I started to feel my cheeks heat up.

"Stop worrying. Take a few deep breaths." He said. I doubted I could breathe with him so close to me but I did as I was told. "Now, Relax. I know you love your sister but trust me when I say she has enough training to kick those giants' butts."

I chuckled, looking down. "I guess she is capable of that much."

There was a round of silence before Oliver broke it.

"Looks like Nexiana and Rislerk are having a good time." He said, glancing at them laughing.

That's when I remembered. I had to tell everyone about the Rislerk/Linent thing.

"Oliver, I have news about Rislerk. Or should I say Linent?"

He looked confused for a moment until it changed to shock. "You mean Linent has taken plastic surgery to look like someone named Rislerk and is working with the enemy by gaining our trust?"

"No, that's not...Wait, how did you even think of this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. But before he could answer me, I stopped him. "You know what? I don't even wanna know. We need to talk to Rislerk."

I grabbed his hand, dragging him towards Rislerk/Linent and Nexiana. And obviously, I was worried if my hand was sweaty.

"You are acting like your sister, you know?" Oliver whispered from behind. And maybe it was true. She is my sister.

"...can't believe you pulled off Rislerk for so long." I heard Nexiana say. "Oh, Lucy's here!" She exclaimed when she saw me.

"We need to talk to you, Linent," I said, crossing my arms. I had a few questions that I needed answers to. And I couldn't wait any longer.

Nexiana leaned in to whisper in Riserk's/Linent's ear, "Maybe you didn't pull it off."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I figured out that much." He turned back to me, hands in his pocket. "So, talk."

I let out a small breath, rubbing my hands together. "Why did you hide you being Linent?"

"Well, that's easy. From what I'd learned when I was captured in the giants' realm was that you can't trust anybody. I couldn't give away information about myself that easily. You should learn something from me."

"Oh, so you're gonna backfire?-"

Nexiana clapped twice to stop us from starting a war. "Well, the question/answer round is finished."

"No, wait," Oliver said with a really confused look on his face. "All I got is that Rislerk is Linent and that he was using a fake name. Is that right?"

I nodded.

"That explains why Nexiana and Rislerk were getting along so well!" He exclaimed, understanding just now. How dumb can people be?

I shook my head in disbelief. "The fire group has really opened my eyes as to why my sister is so stupid."

All of us laughed at this. Except for Oliver. He pouted. I felt way more relaxed than just a few minutes ago. And for a moment, we all forgot about our worries and just enjoyed the moment. Until the worry landed right in front of our eyes-

Aquatenite...in the hands of the King.