Forbidden Enchantment

Chapter 14

The infinite field sprawled out before Blake and Alara, a vast ocean of emerald blades swaying gently under the caress of the wind. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers, and the soft rustling of grass created a soothing melody that provided them with a much-needed respite from their trials. At first, they enjoyed the peace, the gentle rustling of the wind, and the untouched vastness that stretched out before them. But after a while, they realized that this was all this place had to offer—an endless, grassy field. No signs of life except for a few scattered berry bushes and trees that they greedily plundered to satiate their hunger.

Despite the monotony, they used the time to focus on each other. They talked and laughed together. Their conversations were often laced with sarcasm, a welcome change from the constant battles and dangers they had faced.

One hot afternoon, as they found refuge under the broad canopy of an ancient tree, Blake absently plucked at the grass around him. "You know, I've never spent this much time in a field. I'm starting to feel like a rabbit," he quipped, trying to distract himself from the throbbing pain in his hand by making a ridiculous face.

Alara laughed and lay down in the grass, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Oh yeah, and I thought I was the only one feeling like a field mouse. What do you think, should we start digging tunnels?"

Blake managed a grin despite the pain that gnawed at his hand like a relentless beast. "Digging tunnels sounds like a plan. Maybe we'll stumble upon a secret mole city," he said, attempting to mask his discomfort with humor. The flicker of worry in his eyes, however, was hard to miss.

Alara rolled onto her side and propped her head on her hand, studying his face intently. "A mole city, huh? And what would we do there? Throw mole parties?"

"Of course! With mole dancing and everything. Do you think they have a mole queen?" Blake raised an eyebrow, pretending to think hard, though the effort cost him.

Alara couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure they do! And we could become their royal advisors. You with your charm and me with my magical abilities."

Blake laughed too, a sound that felt like a balm to his weary soul. "I think we've been out here too long. The sun is making us crazy."

The lightness of their conversations helped drive away the dark thoughts, at least for a while. But Blake was suffering from severe pain that he tried to hide. The wound on his hand, inflicted by one of those little beasts, had spread, and a constant, stabbing pain reminded him of his vulnerability. He was exhausted and at times confused, but he would never tell Alara. He knew it didn't mean anything good, and the worry about a possible poisoning gnawed at him. Every time he used his hand, a burning pain shot through him, nearly taking his breath away. But he gritted his teeth and forced himself to continue. For her. He couldn't afford to be weak now.

Alara noticed the slight twitches and occasional hesitation in Blake's movements. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, wondering how long he could hold out without telling her the truth. She searched for herbs or something similar to brew a potion, but found none. The worry drove her crazy, but she decided not to confront him directly. Instead, she tried to trust that he would come to her and kept him distracted and in good spirits until she could think of a solution.

One evening, as they sat at the edge of the field watching the setting sun, Blake realized he had avoided a question that might help them finally escape. "Alara, how did we actually get to this place? What exactly happened? How did we escape from the canyon?"

Alara sat down next to him and began to explain. "It was the vortex. The wind suddenly appeared when I tried to gather my strength. I always thought I could only control water, but at that moment, it seemed like I was controlling the wind too. The vortex brought us here."