GAMES OF FATES (H.P/T.M.R)

The Book Of A Human's Life

The morning sun greeted Cassopiea as she stepped out of the cave, its warmth kissing her skin after days of hiding in the shadows. The stark contrast between the dim cave and the bright outdoors momentarily blinded her, but the cool morning air invigorated her senses. The landscape before her was rugged and untamed, a mix of dense forest and jagged cliffs that stretched into the horizon. She pulled the woolen cloak tighter around her shoulders, its strange texture comforting in an odd way.

Her heart raced slightly as her eyes scanned her surroundings for any sign of Ashwatthama. Her self-appointed "bandaged guardian" had been her anchor in this bewildering series of events, even if his cryptic words and sardonic humor often left her reeling. Where could he have gone?

The embers in the fire pit had still been warm—he couldn’t have gone far. Right?

"God, you really know how to pick them," she muttered to herself, brushing her fingers across her belly. "First a psychopathic dark lord obsessed with me, and now an immortal with a god-complex who abandons me in the middle of nowhere."

She let out a breath, trying to steady her nerves. Her baby didn’t need her panic right now. She rested a hand on her stomach again, the small, subtle bump a reminder of the life growing inside her. "Alright, little one. Let's go find him before I start thinking I’ve been abandoned for real this time."

Cassopiea began walking, her boots crunching on the loose gravel as she followed a faint trail leading away from the cave. The path was narrow, framed by towering trees that blocked most of the sunlight, casting long shadows on the ground. The forest was alive with the sound of chirping birds and rustling leaves, a stark reminder of how foreign this world felt compared to the one she’d left behind.

"Bandaged Guardian," she called out, half in jest, half in desperation. Her voice echoed faintly in the vast wilderness, but there was no response. "If you’re out there, I’m going to need you to stop playing hide-and-seek. I don’t do well in forests."

The further she walked, the more her unease grew. What if he really had left her? Or worse, what if something had happened to him? She shook her head, dismissing the thought. If there was one thing she’d learned about Ashwatthama in the short time she’d known him, it was that he wasn’t easy to kill. He had survived curses and gods, after all.

As she rounded a bend in the trail, she caught sight of a figure standing near the edge of a cliff. Relief flooded through her as she recognized the unmistakable silhouette of Ashwatthama, his broad shoulders cloaked in a shawl that fluttered gently in the breeze. He was staring out at the horizon, his posture relaxed yet commanding, as if he were a sentinel watching over the world.

"There you are!" she called out, quickening her pace to close the distance between them. "Do you always leave people without saying a word, or am I just lucky?"

Ashwatthama didn’t turn immediately, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains. When he finally looked over his shoulder, his expression was unreadable, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Good morning to you too," he said dryly. "I see you finally decided to step outside. Took you long enough."

Cassopiea rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide her relief. "Yeah, well, I didn’t exactly have a guide to show me around. You could’ve at least left a note."

He turned fully now, leaning against a large boulder with a smirk tugging at his lips. "A note? What are we, pen pals? You’re resourceful. I figured you’d manage."

She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. "You’re impossible, you know that?"

Ashwatthama chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "And yet, here you are, searching for me like a lost puppy. What’s the matter? Missed me already?"