Chapter Twenty one
The clearing fell quiet once more.
For a while, the three of them simply sat beside the lake.
The reunion had eased the heaviness around Kael, but Aiden could still see the tiredness lingering in his eyes. It was subtle enough that most people would have missed it.
Arith did not.
She watched Kael thoughtfully before speaking.
"Tell me honestly. How much strength have you recovered?"
Kael looked down at his hand and slowly closed it into a fist.
"Very little."
"I thought as much."
"I have enough to defend myself if I must." Kael said
"But not enough to search for your core." Arith concluded
Kael gave a single nod.
"I can still feel it."
Aiden looked between them "You can?"
Kael's eyes drifted toward the endless stretch of forest beyond the lake.
"It is difficult to explain."
He fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"My core was part of me for centuries. Even though it is no longer within me, a connection remains."
"Like knowing where someone important is?" Aiden asked.
Kael considered the comparison before giving a small nod.
"That is close enough."
"Then why can't you just follow the connection?"
"Because it is too faint."
Kael looked down at his hand again.
"I know it still exists, but I cannot tell where. It is like trying to hear a whisper from the other side of the world."
Aiden frowned thoughtfully.
"So if you had more spiritual energy..."
"I could strengthen that connection," Kael finished.
"For a while," Arith added gently.
The three of them fell quiet.
After a few moments, Arith looked at Kael.
"I can lend you some of mine."
Kael answered immediately "No." He declared
"It is only spiritual energy." Arith pressed on
"No." Kael declared again
"It is not my core." Arith insisted
"No." Kael stubbornly refused again
"It will recover naturally after a few days."
Kael looked at her with determination "I will not take your strength simply because I misplaced my own."
"It is not your fault my prince, let me help"
"You know what I mean."
"I do." She smiled patiently.
"And you are still insisting" kael gave her a disbelieving look
"I am." Arith said patiently.
Aiden looked from one immortal to the other.
"You really don't need to, i can cultivate more for my energy." Kael insisted
"I know but It'll take time." Arith said again trying to persuade the naga prince
Kael's expression remained calm.
"My answer is still no."
Arith sighed, although there was affection behind it.
"You have always hated accepting help."
"I dislike burdening those I care about."
"You have never been a burden."
Kael lowered his eyes.
"I have already asked enough of you."
"You have asked for nothing."
"I summoned you."
"And here I am ." She smiled warmly. "So let me help."
Kael did not answer.
"You would have done the same for me."
"...Without hesitation." Kael reluctantly confirmed
"Exactly." She leaned forward slightly. "So allow me to do the same."
The breeze stirred the tall grass around them.
Kael remained silent for a long time.
Aiden could almost see the battle taking place behind those golden eyes.
It was not a question of trust.
It was pride.
Pride formed from centuries of carrying responsibilities alone.
Finally, Kael let out a slow breath. "...Very well."
Arith's smile widened "Thank you."
"I am not thanking you." Kael stated stubbornly
"I don't care." Arith laughed
Aiden smiled to himself.
Somehow, that exchange sounded perfectly normal coming from Kael.
Arith rose gracefully to her feet.
"We should move closer to the water."
She looked toward the quiet shore.
"It will make the flow of energy much easier."
Kael stood and followed her without another word.
They stopped only a few feet from the edge of the lake, where the grass was soft beneath their feet.
Arith lowered herself onto the ground first.
Kael sat opposite her, leaving only a short distance between them.
They folded their legs comfortably beneath themselves and rested their hands loosely on their knees.
Neither of them spoke again.
Aiden remained where he was.
He did not want to interrupt whatever was about to happen.
Both immortals slowly closed their eyes.
The clearing grew silent.
The gentle breeze faded until even the leaves overhead became still.
The surface of the lake settled into perfect calm.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
Aiden wondered if meditation always looked this ordinary.
Then he felt something change.
It was not something he could explain.
The air suddenly felt lighter, almost as though the forest itself had taken a slow, peaceful breath.
Tiny droplets of water rose from the lake.
They floated into the air like scattered diamonds, catching the afternoon sunlight as they drifted toward Arith.
A faint silver-blue glow slowly spread across her body.
It began as little more than a soft shimmer beneath her skin before growing brighter with every steady breath she took.
The light flowed around her like a quiet river.
It never rushed.
It simply moved with effortless grace.
Aiden had never seen anything so peaceful.
Moments later, a warm golden light appeared around Kael.
It shone softly beneath his skin before expanding into a gentle sphere that surrounded him completely.
The two lights remained separate for several seconds.
Then the silver-blue glow surrounding Arith slowly reached toward him.
It did not shoot across the space between them.
It drifted.
It flowed like water returning to a familiar stream.
When it touched the golden sphere surrounding Kael, the light rippled gently across its surface.
The sphere welcomed it without resistance.
The golden glow gradually deepened.
It became richer.
Warmer.
Brighter.
It reminded Aiden of watching the first light of sunrise spread across the horizon.
The change was slow enough to be calming, yet impossible to ignore.
The golden sphere continued to brighten until Aiden had to lift a hand to shield his eyes.
Even through his fingers, the warm light painted everything around him in shades of gold.
The trees shimmered softly.
The lake reflected the glow until it looked as though liquid sunlight had spread across its surface.
Then, as gently as it had begun, the silver light faded.
The tiny streams of energy dissolved into the air.
The floating droplets slipped quietly back into the lake.
Arith opened her eyes first.
She looked no different than before, although a faint weariness rested on her face.
She smiled softly.
"That should be enough."
Aiden lowered his hand.
The golden sphere around Kael remained.
It pulsed once.
Then again.
Without warning, Kael slowly rose from the ground.
Aiden forgot to breathe.
He floated effortlessly several feet into the air, still seated exactly as he had been moments before.
His long black hair drifted gently around his face as though carried by an invisible current.
The golden light surrounded him like a radiant cocoon, making it impossible to tell where the glow ended and the prince began.
He looked completely at peace.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
Sacred.
Aiden had seen Kael transform into a naga.
He had watched a goddess rise from the waters of a hidden lake.
Neither compared to the sight before him now.
At that moment, Aiden understood why the people of the ancient world had worshipped the naga.
Anyone who witnessed this moment would have believed they were standing in the presence of something truly divine.