Chapter 41

When walking started to seem like it was taking forever, Myan began to regret her decision. What if she had just let Ash decide what was supposed to happen to them? He was the lord after all, and he was truly powerful enough to overcome whatever possible obstacle could come their way.

She was slowing her steps so Minrad would always be in front of her. She had relied unfailingly to convince herself that she could trust him. He could do many things to her and get away with it in a situation like this and thinking about it was really not helping her feel better.

"Are you exhausted?” He asked her, barely looking over his shoulder.

“Why are you walking so slow?” He sounded irritated. She frowned, knowing he could not see her.

“We’ve walking for too long,” she told him.

You can’t just call for an ancestor’s presence,” he said, slightly looking at her before focusing on the route again.

“What are you going to do to me?” She asked in fear. This was something she had not thought through, and she knew how dangerous it was to be alone with him. What if he tried to take advantage of her?

She swallowed and slowed down even more.

“What are you going to do to me?” She asked him. She had let her actions take over her thought and knew surely that she was acting over the board without telling Ash.

Of course, there was no response from him, she had her answers. Even though he was supposedly doing this for their world. She was putting him on the list of heartless man because he was definitely not hesitant to behead her.

She heaved a sigh and followed behind him in silence, waiting for fate to happen.

***

Ash burst into the bedroom, panting heavily, “Myan, hurry up, get out of bed…” He trailed off, realizing how empty the bedroom actually was.

“Myan?!” He panicked, worried that someone might have come to get her.

“Myan!” He raised his voice, leaving the room. “My—" He trailed off when he saw that Asha was standing by the entrance of the bedroom.

“What are you doing here?” He snapped at her. “Where is she?” He was acting like she was responsible for Myan’s absence.

“I don’t know, Ash. They have been gone for hours.” She sounded worried and a hint of fear laced her voice, she did not know what to expect from him.

“What do you mean they?” Ash frowned.

“My husband, I haven’t seen him either…He left and one of the servants informed me that she saw them leave together. I went out calling for them, but it was useless, they were gone, and I could not do anything about it. I wanted you to return so we could go for them together,” she sighed.

“Where did he take her?” Although he was still in his human form, he had his deep voice that shook the ground around him, his skin turning a bright red.

“I…I don’t know…” She swallowed, shaking in fear.

He knew he was too angry and could hurt her terribly if he was not careful. He withdrew from her and left the room.

“Where are you going?!” She dared to ask. She was still genuinely worried for Minrad. A part of her had an idea what he could be up to. “Please don’t hurt him…” she whispered under her breath.

***

“We are here.” Minrad announced to Myan.

She looked around them, anxiety driving her at the presence of the huge trees and outgrown bushes.

The last time she was supposed to witness the invoking of ancestors, Ash had intentionally let her go to sleep. She wished they would let her sleep this time, killing her in her sleep might not be so painful.

“Sit down, cross your legs,” he ordered.

She was far beyond exhausted. For a journey that long, Ash would have fed her and offered her something to eat.

She did just as he had ordered and waited for the next step.

Minrad took his shirt off and began with his fire, making halo patterns above his head with it.

She would admire it if it was not to her demise. She went unconscious in that moment, uncontrollably.

Myan reopened her eyes to the smell of burning wood. Whatever had happened, she was certainly unaware of it, but Minrad was standing in front of her, his hand extended in front of her face.

“What happened? She groaned, feeling a pounding headache. She took his hand, trying to restore her vision in the dim light.

“Follow me,” he told her, leading her towards a log of wood. “The ancestral conversation has happened, and it is now time to leave,” he said, smirking when his face was turned away from hers.

His dreams were slowly coming true. He would have the senses and unlock powers Ash was useless to involve. He always wanted to shift to an Aeu when he willed and have their world’s strongest fire.

Placing her head on the log of wood, pretending not to see her endless tears, he lifted the spiritual axe Yugi had given to him.

“Do you want to say any last words?” He sighed, hating how tearful she was being.