Love at War | Aonung 🤍

🤍 Chapter 18

As Lia walked along the shore, observing people going about their daily routines and children running amok, she let out a heavy sigh.

The majority of her day was spent caring for the villagers with Ronal and learning about her pregnancy journey and the changes it will bring to her body.

Then she found Neteyam and spoke with him about Siwei. Though he remained stubborn about changing his mind, he appeared to be a little more open to pursuing her.

Hopefully, Lia's words of encouragement touched his heart, and he would spare Siwei and himself any pain.

In a couple of days, the visiting villagers would be heading home, so she was headed for the communal area to prepare a journey's worth of food for them.

"You do not get to dictate what I do and don't do anymore, Faytu!"

In a sudden shift of direction, Lia observed Sylvon's loud cry from elsewhere. The two friends were arguing by the pier, surrounded by heavy wooden baskets of fish stacked on top of one another.

"Ugh! You're such a crybaby. I can't believe Ami and I even considered you into our friend group," Faytu retorted, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms.

"I don't care," Sylvon sniffled. "I'd rather be alone than be with someone like you—"

The smack on her face cut her off as she fell to the ground. Their actions attracted the attention of others nearby, and they stopped what they were doing to watch.

Faytu huffed, her hand turning red as she looked down at Sylvon, who struggled to hold onto her cheek in pain.

"I dare you to say that again, you ungrateful bitch," she spat, raising her hand to strike her friend until someone grabbed her wrist.

"That is enough!" Lia yelled, pulling Faytu away from Sylvon as she tightened her grip around her wrist.

Lia harshly released her grip, prompting her to yelp as she stumbled backward. After shooting a glare at Faytu, who looked at her with wide eyes, Lia turned back around to help Sylvon up.

"Are you alright? Let me see," she said softly, gently removing Sylvon's hand to examine the red mark on her cheek.

Tears brimmed her eyes as she nodded. "I-I'm okay, thank you."

"This isn't any of your concern, Lia. Just because you're Tsahik doesn't mean you can interfere in our personal issues," Faytu muttered, her eyes burning with anger.

"Is that so? Would you like me to intervene, Sylvon?" Lia smiled warmly at her, taking her by surprise before she quickly nodded in response.

Turning to Faytu, Lia shrugged. "Well, it looks like I'm needed by Sylvon, so this is now my concern as well."

The tension in Faytu's jaw tightened as she clenched her fists. Speechless, she stood her ground without knowing what else to do.

"What is going on?"

Their attention was caught by Ezaa's voice as she approached from the side, her face displaying apparent confusion.

"Fuck off, Ezaa. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now." Faytu rolled her eyes.

"What did you say, you bitch?" She clenched her jaw in annoyance as she walked toward Faytu.

"You heard me, ugly skxawng. Don't tell me you're deaf—"

A smack from Ezaa cut off Faytu's dialogue as Sylvon gasped. Faytu turned around and hissed at Ezaa, stunned by her action.

"Nobody treats me with disrespect!" Ezaa shrieked, grasping Faytu's braids in her hands.