Tempest War

Chapter 7

The second time I regained consciousness, I was lying in bed at Caspian's mansion. I was wearing a dry shirt that was too big for me and underwear and wondered who had changed my clothes. A glass of water sat on the nightstand next to me as well as a bowl of fruit. I sat up gingerly, and chugged the glass of water. I ate an apple and walked downstairs.

"I told you to leave," Caspian's first words were the same ones that would've saved me. "You disregarded my concerns."

"I didn't know what else to do," I mumbled. Caspian sighed.

"It's not her fault," Asami agreed. "Who would've wanted such a fate to befall her?"

"Somebody who clearly doesn't want Koa to succeed," Caspian replied. "If what you told me about Perun holds true, he may be behind this."

"He's stuck in prison!" I exclaimed.

"He might not be as stuck as you think," Caspian turned around and put a pot of water over the stove. He was going to make some ramen to make me feel better.

"You like ramen right?" Asami turned to me. I bowed under the scrutiny of her eyes. Remembering what she had done in the Deep Crypt brought a blush to my face.

"Yeah," It was an inaudible whisper.

"I'm sorry for reacting the way I did in the Crypt. The first time was to save you. The second? I don't know what came over me," Asami understood my look. "I truly am sorry."

"It's fine," A warm smile spread across my lips. It was genuine. One I had not forced. Caspian started wrapping small dumplings filled with a mixture of shrimp and pork. He sliced hard-boiled eggs and took out sheets of dried seaweed. The scent from the broth was tantalising. The hints of cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, and other spices were very aromatic. Caspian sliced thin slices of beef and placed them over the nest of noodles at the bottom of the bowl. Dumplings were placed around the beef. A half egg was placed on the side along with two sheets of seaweed. Chives were sprinkled over top.

"This looks amazing," I stared at the colour of the slightly red broth.

"Hope you like it spicy," Caspian set a bowl down for himself next to Asami, who was in the middle. "So, I take it everything but the slight run in went well?"

"Yes," I replied. "We're well on our way."

"There are five spikes on the crown yet six territories of Taigea," Asami pointed out. "Why is that?" She took some noodles in her chopsticks and slurped the ramen noodles.

"Therian is not considered to be containing a 'prime' element," Caspian replied, sipping his broth from a soup spoon. "They possess wind and lightning powers which are secondary."

"That makes sense," I had a dumpling shoved in the side of my mouth. Asami shot me a look and I wilted under her gaze. I quickly chewed and swallowed the dumpling before finishing my thought. "So, we have three more countries to go to?"

"And all of them are heavily dependent on Suvara," Caspian sighed. "They are going to be hostile after the little stunt you pulled with Dax."

"Dax is not my friend anymore," I replied. "He doesn't understand the importance of certain things therefore I cannot associate myself with a peasant like him."

"You were friends once," Asami pointed out. "However, you cannot simply disregard him. He had some valid points."

"Valid points I cannot accept!" I roared in outrage. "What if this was fate! What if everything I've done is meant to be happening!"

"Can you really deny the boy that pretty much raised you. I understand you had your differences over the Thunder Crown and Perun, but you should go visit him after things settle down," Asami advised. "Trust me, leaving these to sit until you can no longer look each other in the face because of all the hate is no way to live a life."