Ashes to Ashes

S3: Differences

Digging into the origin of the witches has me barely leaving my room. Unless it's classes or to eat when I can, I'm surrounded with books. I have to be prepared.
I've also done more research on my abilities and furthering my strengths and trying to discover and unlock more abilities. Riven and I haven't spoken in weeks. In those weeks, I've visited Bloom twice more. She says she's returning soon and I can't help but feel elated as this time I go to see her she's coming back with me. I haven't told the girls, wanting to surprise them.

Leaving my room, I grasp the strap of my backpack over my shoulder tighter while I head down the many steps to the barrier of the school. I pass the specialists training and I catch sight of Riven training with sky. I duck my head down walking quickly past before I hear the shout of Sky calling my name behind me. Stopping, I slowly turn to him while he jogs up to me.

"You going to visit Bloom again ?" Sky questions while I quickly glance past him to Riven who only stares at me before I break eye contact first. "Yes, but only for a bit. I have to go home soon after." I say while he just looks at me nodding. "Why do you have to go home for ?" He asks next and my eyes connect with his.

"I have to select my betrothed."

With that I turn on my heel before I hurriedly walk away.

Sky watching me disappear into the tree line turns his head slightly looking at Riven before turning to him completely. Walking up to him, Riven raises a brow before twisting his sword in his hand. "Going to visit Bloom again ?"

With a nod he holds up his sword before making eye contact with Riven. "That and the fact she's going home to pick out a husband." Sky replies while Riven lowers his sword and stands up straighter. "She's doing what ?"

"You heard me." Is all Sky says before Riven is dropping his sword and goes after his girlfriend.

Lydia takes her time. Pondering over the conversation she had with her parents about finding a husband. "Why must I do this now ?" Her dad and mom said her relationship with Riven is all but a fling. After all the conversations of how much she cares for the man she's grown to love with every fiber of her being. Her parents write it off as nothing too serious to the point to even consider him as a possibility as someone who can ascend the throne with her.

After these past few weeks, the pair growing distant, the arguments, the disagreements, the rough patches more than good she can't help but think her parents are right. Stopping suddenly, she feels an energy not meant to be on this earth. Turning she sees a creature that is from the Yondu planet and her breath catches in her throat. A kryert this far from its home planet ? Why here at the school all of a sudden ?

Flames igniting in her palms has her ready for what may come but a hand wrapping around her mouth and stomach tugging her back behind a tree has her frightened beyond belief. "Are you crazy, thinking you can take on a kryert alone ?" Rivens voice whispers and she lets herself relax while she closes her eyes.

Pulling her his hand away from her mouth she sighs. "Of course." She mumbles before he turns back seeing the creature gone and he's taking her hand to drag her further away from the beast. "You will be doing nothing of the sort. We are heading back to the school where it's safe in the barrier. Where you can teleport to Bloom safely." Riven tells her and she glances down at their interlocked hands and her heart skips a beat. She won't lie and say she hasn't missed his touch, his voice, the days spent together, talking about nothing and much in between.

"I'm sorry." She mumbles out glancing up to him. "For everything, for not telling you my plan, for betraying your trust." She says softly and he stops turning to her. "You couldn't have told me ? We tell each other everything. We don't hide anything. You doing this, hurt me and I don't think you'll ever get that trust back." Riven tells her letting go of her hand. "Why did you follow me out here Riven ?"

"I followed you out here because Sky told me you're going to be betrothed. I wanted to get what needed to be said off my chest before I end things with you."

"What ? I didn't think Sky would tell you."

"We're roommates Lydia, we tell each other everything."

"I also should've told Sky I was going to turn down every single suitor, for some sick twisted reason, I felt that I could possibly fix things with you. Some joke on my part that was." I mutter the last part before turning and walking back into the woods pulling out Stella's ring.

With a huff, Riven groans deeply under his breath before walking towards the girl he's still in love with. Despite everything, despite the fighting and the loathing. His brain wants him to end things with her, move on and forget about her. His heart on the other hand, craves her. With one last final stride, he grabs her wrist spinning her around, pulling her into his chest and kissing her deeply.