Chapter 103: ONE HUNDRED AND THREE

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The next morning we continued our journey towards the flower of destiny. Acantha led the way, using the map, while Ace and I trailed behind.

As we progressed, the paths got even more difficult to pass through but thanks to Ace, it was a lot easier.

"We can't go through that path, Derek has some Rogues combing the area. I encountered them on the way yesterday," Ace said. I flashed him a worried look and he shook his head with a smile, whispering some words to tell me he was okay.

After our brief make-out session yesterday, we spent the rest of the night healing Ace's wound and then cuddling. I had missed sleeping in that position a lot and it was exciting to know that I would be spending my nights that way henceforth.

Acantha hesitated before nodding in agreement, "I know a safer route." So we headed through it.

The journey became more vigorous and challenging as the paths got even rougher, Ace held my hand and helped me get through. Surprisingly, Acantha made her way through without much struggle.

"Derek's men are everywhere, how were you able to avoid them?" I questioned Ace.

"It was easy. I killed the ones I could, and then skillfully passed through the rest without them noticing," he replied. If it was anyone else I might have questioned how Derek's men didn't notice them as they walked past them, but it was Ace. He wasn't the most powerful Alpha alive for nothing.

He had scaled through even tougher situations.

"If they had noticed me then Derek must be aware that I am alive. I don't care about that though," he shrugged. I sighted a serpent just in time but before I could raise an alarm, Ace tore it off from the branch it was hanging on- preparing to sting- and smashed it on the ground. It coiled up immediately and slowly died.

I flashed Ace a thankful stare and he kissed my forehead, curling his arm around me more to assure me that I was safe. I didn't doubt that I was anyway.

"How did you know where to find me?" I asked.

"I followed the rumors. After I heard that you jumped off a cliff to escape Derek's men, I decided to look for you there first- it was on the journey that I found you," he beamed. "And I'm glad that I did."

"Me too," I leaned into him, accepting his hold as we ventured deeper into the forest.

Before nightfall, we had crossed a couple of steep mountains and waterfalls and walked through dense forests.

The journey was all twists and turns, and we got scratched a couple of times by the sharp branches that missed our sight. With my healing ability, we were able to get through the dangerous paths alive and without any injuries.

Just before the full moon, we arrived at a mysterious place. It was a vast land and it was odd because it was the only place in the dense and ancient forest that was empty.

"We're close," Acantha said with a smile.

We walked down the forest, arriving at the woods and we cautiously strolled, avoiding traps from wolf hunters.

Suddenly, I felt a great amount of energy surge through me. Acantha had earlier revealed that the flower of destiny carried a massive amount of energy and you could feel it from a distance.

We were close. I was now more tense and excited. Ace must have felt my fear as he pulled me closer to himself.

After an hour of walking in the woods, we arrived at a meadow and Acantha signaled for us to stop. At the edge of the meadow was a cluster of unique flowers; it was the only sunny spot in the woods, so it was hard to miss.

"We're here," she revealed, holding her head high.

In front of the cluster of flowers, she drew a circle and asked Ace and me to step in it. She brought out sage from her animal skin bag and began cleansing the area of the circle with it while muttering a spell.

After thirty minutes of her continuous recitation under the full moon, the night suddenly faded and sunlight hovered above us. Now, a spot in the woods was filled with sunlight, and as though they had been summoned, there was a disturbance, and the clusters of flowers grew and multiplied.

Soon we were all standing in the middle of the most beautiful garden I had ever seen and in front of the most beautiful flower to have existed. It bloomed with a moon-like radiance, emitting a captivating fragrance. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

My jaw dropped at the sight and my eyes were filled with fascination. Books did no justice to how beautiful the flower of destiny was. It was enthralling.

Aside from Ace, Acantha bore a similar expression as I did.

"Come," Acantha held my hand, and I held Ace's as we stepped towards the beautiful flower, gazing at it.

Suddenly, it glowed and the light intensified until we stood directly in front of it. The energy got stronger and more mysterious, and you could feel without a doubt, how powerful the flower was.

I touched the petals, unfurling them in my fingers. It felt different from every other flower I had touched, and I could sense a burst of power from it.

"We should hurry," Acantha muttered, drawing out a knife. I held out my palm, and she slashed it; she urged Ace to do the same before slashing hers.

After pouring droplets of our blood on the flower and letting them fuse into the petals, we simultaneously placed our hands on top of it. Acantha uttered some incantations and we recited some with her at her order.

In an instant, the garden went completely dark, as though there had been a blackout and a gust of wind swept through the area.

Acantha continuously chanted as the wind grew thicker, resulting in a whirlwind that I could feel running around us repeatedly.

All through, Ace's grip on me was firm and his arm wrapped around me protectively. Although I wasn't scared, I leaned into him.

The wind grew more fierce, lightning flashed, and its cracks stained the sky, giving us a bit of light, just in time to see the petal of the flower of destiny, stained with our blood, darkened.

"Don't be distracted, focus!" Acantha warned and we did as she instructed at once.

After minutes of the disturbance, we suddenly heard a familiar scream. It was Acantha, and when I opened my eyes; she was on the floor writhing in pain.