Exhaustion gnawed at me. Childe, ever the optimist, led us on a seemingly endless chase for clues. Today, unlike the biting mountain chill, the sun beat down mercilessly. Yet, an inexplicable shiver ran down my spine.
"Told you you'd get used to the mountain weather," Lumine chimed in, her voice devoid of a single tremor. "See? Perfectly comfortable."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, Miss Perfect," I mumbled, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
A mischievous grin spread across Lumine's face. "Don't get sarcastic with me, mister!"
Normally, I would've laughed along, but the constant strain of the journey had frayed everyone's nerves. Frustration hung heavy in the air, as thick as the silence that followed.
Suddenly, a flash of brown darted through the tall grass. A startled squeak, followed by a mournful whimper, pierced the quiet. We all froze, the same chilling thought crossing our minds: Abyss Mages? But the sounds that erupted next were far from menacing.
A muffled thump, followed by the sound of someone being tackled, filled the air before abrupt silence descended. Steeling myself, I gripped my spear tighter, heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. "Who's there?!" I yelled, my voice echoing across the vast plains.
A mumbled curse broke the stillness before a figure emerged from the tall grass. Not one figure, but three. To my utter astonishment, it was Bennett, Noelle, and Xiangling – my closest friends!
Speechless, I lowered my spear. Lumine, however, bristled with anger. Her glare could have melted hilichurls. The trio averted their eyes, shame etched on their faces.
"What are you doing here?!" Lumine hissed, her voice barely a whisper that crackled with contained fury. I was lost for words, a helpless bystander in a brewing storm.
Lumine, however, wasn't one for inaction. "You're supposed to be back at camp, or better yet, back in your hometowns!" She stomped her foot for emphasis, her eyes flashing towards me. "Mika," she began, a steely glint in her eyes, "Take these three back to the last camp and make sure they stay put."
"O-okay," I stammered, a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach. The cheerfulness I usually associated with my friends was replaced by a nervous shuffling of feet and downcast gazes.
The walk back to the camp was shrouded in an awkward silence. Reaching the clearing, I turned to face them, a hesitant goodbye forming on my lips. Bennett offered a meek nod, while Xiangling bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
As I pivoted to leave, Xiangling lunged forward, surprising me with a tight hug. The dam seemed to break. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out a confession. "Mika," she sobbed, her voice thick with emotion, "I... I have something to tell you, in case you don't come back." She hesitated for a moment, her gaze searching mine. "I like you," she whispered. "Not as a friend, but... well, more than that."
With another tearful sniffle, she pulled away and fled before I could react, leaving me rooted to the spot, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. Life, it seemed, had a knack for throwing unexpected curveballs, even amidst a perilous mission. With a sigh that escaped on a shaky breath, I watched her retreating figure disappear into the distance.
YOU ARE READING
Mika and the Spiral Abyss ( Mika's Diary )
Fiksi PenggemarWhere are going to die. At least I thought we were going to die. Childe said we wouldn't, but he's a harbinger, so I don't really trust him that much. We were standing by the portal to the spiral abyss. Childe and Lumine looked at each other, and th...
