Majai Presents Pagan Hills: Beige

CHAPTER 3: Yardenima: Part 2

Charon responded with a grunt, detaching his pole from the carriage. Both veterans observed as several hands of the damned dragged the carriage back into the netherworld, emitting a harsh, gurgling screech. The River Styx's surface fluttered with small waves as the carriage submerged into its depths. Once the tumultuous sounds ceased, the dark river returned to a state of calm, its surface smooth and undisturbed.

"Mabi for before, Charon. Though a little concern for me wouldn't hurt, right?" Ralph quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Corvus would never let harm come your way, Ralph. Why worry about you at all?"

"Just when I thought-" Ralph feigned indignation, but Corvus was already moving towards Mika, who had isolated herself. They paused briefly to observe the horses interacting playfully with the rest of their group. Meanwhile, the Dubois family ventured deeper into the valley to take in the views and converse in seclusion. Corvus, after a moment of smoking, extended his fresh cone to Mika.

"No, thank you, I'm good," Mika responded with courtesy.

"Really? It's only going to get stranger from here," Corvus chuckled, content to see his humor eliciting a smile from her as she accepted the cone and positioned it between her lips. She drew in a gentle breath, then exhaled a plume of smoke.

"They're magnificent!" Mika exclaimed, gazing at the horses. "Have they all been given names?" She turned to Corvus, noticing his smile briefly dim.

"No, Charon prefers we don't name them. He thinks it's unnecessary," Corvus explained. Mika was curious about why Charon would be against naming the horses but then she recalled the origin of these horses. If the Styx served as the divider between the world of the living and the domain of the deceased, then it stood to reason that the horses were also spirits of the departed. Contemplating this, Mika took another puff from the cone.

A tense quiet settled between Corvus and Mika as they observed the others frolicking with the horses. Mika grew increasingly restless, stealing brief looks at Corvus, tempted to blurt out something impulsive, yet she chalked it up to the herb's influence. Just as she found the bravery to voice her thoughts, Corvus beat her to it.

"I wish I could remember who your ex was," Corvus admitted with a hint of unease, idly fiddling with his locs. His words took Mika by surprise, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Could you tell me his name? I know I should've asked sooner, but I let pettiness get the better of me. Mabi." As Mika took another pull from the cone, seeking a moment to gather her thoughts, she inhaled too deeply, leading to a coughing fit. Through her coughs, she mulled over her embarrassment repeatedly. Corvus's inquiry was a stark contrast to what she had intended to say. Indeed, since their arrival in Somneiral, thoughts of her ex, the original catalyst for her journey, had barely crossed her mind. "Are you okay?"

Corvus reached out to steady Mika as her coughing nearly caused her to lose her balance. The intensity of her coughing brought tears to her eyes. Realizing she was in Corvus's embrace, she let out a small shriek of surprise and quickly stepped back, freeing herself from his hold. Corvus was taken aback, not by fear, but with worry for her well-being. Seeing his concerned look, Mika hastened to put his mind at ease.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My thoughts are just scattered," she said, offering Corvus a broad, reassuring smile. As he smiled back, a sense of calm washed over her. "Honestly, since arriving here, I've been captivated by everything. You're an incredible guide. Oh, I mean Praedicator."

Mika teasingly referenced Corvus's formal title, causing him to flash an embarrassed smile. "So, does that make you a clergyman?" she inquired, her curiosity thinly veiled behind a casual tone, recalling that Corvus had skirted around Louie's earlier question. After taking another puff from the cone, she passed it back to Corvus. As he accepted it, Corvus locked eyes with Mika.

"Something along those lines. Does that unsettle you?" Corvus queried, bringing the cone to his mouth. Mika remained motionless, captivated by the depth of his gaze. It was as if she could glimpse a field of daisies hidden within the darkness of his eyes.

"No, it's just curiosity," Mika responded, nervously biting her lip as her hand lingered in the air after passing the cone back to Corvus. Suddenly, Corvus tightly shut his eyes.

"Oh, Mabi!" Corvus exclaimed. Startled, Mika blinked several times and shook her head, taking a step back. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to clear the mesmerizing effect of their recent interaction. She felt a wave of relief wash over her when he closed his eyes; she had been on the verge of asking him about a vow of celibacy, a question that would leave her mortified whether he answered or not, especially given her curiosity's true nature.

Right on cue, Ralph jumped into the mix, wrapping his arms around both Corvus and Mika's shoulders with a buoyant, "Let's kick this off!" Following a quick peck on Corvus's cheek, Ralph darted ahead towards the group.

"Hey!" Corvus called out to Ralph's retreating figure, hesitating to follow lest he leave Mika behind. As he managed to quell the urge to chase after his friend, he caught Mika's intense gaze fixed on him.

"Not joining your buddy? Chose to stick around with me instead?" Mika teased, her head cocking slightly, her tone playfully changing, prompting a blush and a choked cough from Corvus as he inhaled deeply from his cone. "Everything okay?" she inquired, giving him a light pat on the back and letting out a light laugh, amused by their reversal of roles from moments earlier.

"In fact, it's time we got moving," Corvus promptly adjusted the course of the conversation. He averted his gaze from Mika, brushing off the reason behind his initial hesitation. Summoning a sharp whistle, he called to the horses, his signal reaching the nine magnificent creatures. This act naturally drew the attention of the group, prompting them, including the Dubois, to gather back swiftly from their brief exploration. "Everyone, get on your horses! Each one comes with a satchel tailored just for you. If you need a hand, reach out to me, Ralph, Oliver, or Louie. But, wait for my command before we move out. Understand?"

"Understood!" echoed the group, proceeding to mount their assigned steeds. Corvus and Ralph initially lent their aid to the Cruz couple, taking extra care with Danilo due to his discomfort. Ralph lent a hand to Maria, who initially hesitated but soon found herself charmed by Ralph's playful banter, easing her onto her horse. Meanwhile, Louie and Mr. Dubois exchanged heated debates about the proper technique for mounting, culminating in Louie's humorous fall when he tried to show off, resulting in a collective burst of laughter from the group. "Alright, alright, let's get going. No more distractions!" Corvus managed to say through his chuckles, steering the group's focus back to the journey ahead.