The Legacy of the Alliance

Chapter 41

The group remaining on the ship had decided to test if they could unplug their earplugs a while ago - making communication so much easier. "Celeste, try and fly out a bit. Maybe Val's escaped and needs a bit of direction." Atlan made a circle motion with his finger. The avian nodded as she took off.

"I'm so sorry. I never should've let her go off on her own..." Lyra sat on a crate; head in her hands and her fingers combing through her long hair.

"Hey, don't go blaming yourself... It wasn't your fault in slightest." Theo rested his hand on the other's shoulder - Zeke behind him. The blond man sat in front of the woman.

"Why not change the subject? What's been up with you lately? Weather okay down there?" he teased, causing her to laugh slightly.

"You're only five inches taller than me asshat!" Lyra shoved him jokingly; laughing out loud for the first time in too long. Even Theo and Atlan joined in and before they knew it, all four of them were sat in a circle on the floor.

"Psst. Theo." Lyra leaned closer to the mage as he turned to face her. "What's going on with you and Zeke?" after saying this, Theo's face suddenly went bright red.

"Oh, nothing! We're just-"

"If you say friends I will get Val's notebook and list the evidence against it one by one."

"Wait, Val's been taking notes on us?" 

Lyra quietly excused both of them and dragged the mage to the wheel of the boat. "Yeah, obviously. She's a researcher. Kind of her job." she shrugged.

"I know. But- Oh gods... What am I meant to do?" Theo briefly removed his square glasses from his face to clean them before perching them back onto his nose.

"You know she's not going to stop until her theory is proven or disproven. And even then she-"

"No, not Val!" the mage interrupted her. "Zeke. What am I meant to tell him? I know he likes guys but... I just don't know if he likes me. You know?"

Lyra's eyes softened for a moment. "Of course I don't. I've never had a crush on Zeke so I can't really know..." Lyra chuckled slightly, catching Theo's attention. "I mean, I'm ninety-nine percent sure he likes you anyway. Have you seen him? He carried you back to his tent that one night. Not yours. His."

Theo rubbed his arms, a warm feeling taking over him at the memory. Zeke had apologised that morning and blamed it on being tired. Theo had wished it wasn't just the blonde's fatigue that got him there that morning. Now, he was pretty sure he didn't have to wish for too long.