Walking up the hill, the path was thin. And because there was hardly anything but rock and heat, as well as the paths being thin, Ariel was the only thing worth looking at in this entire space.
"This is outside of our territory isn't it?" Jairo said, and Ariel shrugged her shoulders. "It's on the edge, so it counts because we're closer."
"Sure, is there anything of noteworthy danger or significance here?" Ariel squeezed his hand with a bit more firmness. "I wouldn't bring you to a place that I thought was beyond you."
Walking up more and more narrow narrow paths, Jairo had decided to ask her. "I know you like me. I like you as well. What if we…"
Ariel turned to him with a serious expression. "No."
"Why? It would be short lived, your father would have nothing to worry about."
"And that is precisely why. You will go off to war. I was declared important enough not to. If we do this, and then you go off and die…I don't think I would be able to move on."
As Jairo thought about it, he realized it also came down to something she wasn't saying. If she was caught with him, they could be in trouble. Him in particular. A relative or family friend could kill him on her father's behalf to restore the honor of his daughter dating a commoner.
Not to mention Ariel, whose reputation would be in the gutter. Being the only member of her family who was caught not dating a prestigious warrior or influential person was going to make her look terrible in the eyes of high society.
'Why? You know…never had it occurred to me why these stupid royals and nobility in movies not just find an attractive person to be with, and try to fall in love them. And now a part of me wishes for her to potentially ruin her standing and be with me.'
Just then it hit him. His words. It's difficult to kiss you right now. He had said that in front of dozens of people and didn't get killed or beaten up moments later. Naturally rumors had spread.
That was why her father showed up. To see who people suspected of dating his daughter.
"I'm such in idiot." Jairo said, grabbing his head with irritation.
Ariel chimed in.
"Yes, but you're my idiot. Now let's proceed. All this emotional speak can't deter us."
He kept walking up the narrow passageways, and as he did, kept thinking to himself that there was no way this was the end. One of the few connections that seemed to be going well for him.
Not one damn was given about the social hierarchy. he would have her hand in Marriage.
Eventually, they had gotten to that top. There exited many many structures on top of it, like termite mounds. It made Jairo feel very tingly and itchy just being in their vicinity.
He took a deep breath but it just wasn't enough. He was constantly on edge with these new weird creatures that kept emerging.
'Why does everything here have to be so creepy and weird?! Watch something slimy with eighteen limbs emerge. Whats next?'
Ariel pointed to the center of the chaos, Where one could see a bunch of openings in the rocks.
"I need you to step there for a moment. It's time to test you." As he walked, he treaded very carefully, taking measured and light steps into the area.
Even now, he was looking down almost preparing for something to come up and try to grab his foot.
Watching his constant layers of preparation she could only chuckle. "Are you prepared?"
Jairo looked at her relaxed expression. And suddenly all of his fears seemed to matter a bit less. Looking like less of a man around Ariel was much scarier.
His expression became more serious than worried, determination flashing in his eyes. "I'm ready."
"Good." She said, and she she jumped into one of the termite mound looking structures, before slamming onto the floor with her feet.
A small rumble erupted beneath him. Whatever had been living inside of these structures, they had just woken up.
A plooming sound came from below. Jairo barely dodged as the creature erupted near its head. Taking a step back, he got a good look at what wanted to get him.
The creature was a worm like thing, with a grey stone like exterior that was somehow slimy. it had two pincer's on what he would from now on assume was the front side of their body, their head.
Ugly creature. As it tried to slide its way back into a hole, Jairo walked up and kicked it away. And while it went skidding away and off of the hill, it still hurt.
Struggling not to yell too much, he spoke as calmly as possible with a clearly strained voice.
"I feel like asking what they're made of would be the obvious thing. Ariel, what do you have me fighting right now?"
She leaned onto one of the structures built by them, almost beehive looking. "Stone worms. They live off of the minerals that are in rocks, as well as the few plants and insects that grow deep within the soil.
They also secrete a slimy substance that hardens over time."
This reminder would have made Jairo wipe his feat agains the ground beneath, but three more of the same windy sound erupted in his ears, and now, it was time to fight. His training began now.