Vivian had heard it too.
Her mind went blank as trepidation seized her.She mindlessly let Jason pull her toward the tall reeds,
where they crouched for cover.
Two Elysians appeared at the river bank the moment they concealed themselves.
"Are you sure that you saw people here?"
"Yes, I'm pretty sure I heard something."
Frustration flashed across the first Elysian’s face upon hearing the answer.He strode toward the River
of Styx.
"They're seeking death by coming here! Do they want to add to the number of dead bodies floating
down this swamp?" he cursed, evidently annoyed.
Vivian was perplexed, but she instinctively cowered in fear when she heard the malice in his voice.
Her involuntary action caused her to brush up against the person next to her.
The atmosphere grew tense.
"I'm sorry, t-that was an accident" Vivian stuttered an apology.
Her face flushed scarlet as she went rigid from embarrassment.
Vivian was innocent by nature.
Although she and Jason had gotten into a conflict because of Daphne, Vivian harbored no hard
feelings toward Jason.
After all, he was not directly involved in the matter.
Jason, too, was feeling a bit awkward.
He peeked at the young girl and noticed the pink blush on her cheeks.
Realizing that she was not disgusted nor repulsed by him, he heaved a sigh of relief.
"It's all right.It's too dangerous for us to linger by the river, though.Let's head back to the mountains
once they leave."
"Is that so?"
Vivian looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide and watery as she regarded the looming mountain
behind them.I suppose it's safer to retrace our steps.
In the end, Vivian followed Jason back to the mountain.She decided that she would only reemerge
when Kurt got back.
However, they had just settled behind a huge boulder when a voice rang from behind them.
"Vivi, what are you doing here? Where's Kurt?"
It was Lucy.
Thankful that it was a friend and not a foe, Vivian hastily tugged Lucy to her hiding spot.
"Kurt went to the River of Styx.What are you doing here, Lucy? Weren't you guarding the road? You..."
Vivian trailed off as she glanced at the road leading to the mountain.
Alarm bells rang in her head.
"I saw two people come in here just now.I thought that they had discovered you, so I came to
investigate"
Lucy explained frantically.
"Oh, I see."
Vivian nodded in understanding.
"Who is she?"
Jason interrupted the conversation, and his voice was cold and distrustful.
Startled by the foreign voice, Lucy whipped around to look at Jason.She was stunned when her eyes
settled upon his gorgeous face and azure eyes.
"Vivian?" Lucy prompted.
"Oh, allow me to introduce you.Lucy, this is Jason, and he's with us on this trip.Jason, meet Lucy, a
good friend of mine"
Vivian quickly said, amused by their curious, albeit wary, expressions.
Silence descended upon the trio after the brief introduction, but Jason and Lucy continued to scrutinize
each other.
Lucy's eyes seemed to bore holes in Jason with their intensity.
"All right, then.Lucy, you should probably go back before your uncle finds out that you're gone.Jason,
should we head in deeper? I don't think this spot is safe enough,"
Vivian piped up after a long silence.
Preoccupied with the possible danger of their current location, Vivian did not notice the meaningful look
Lucy shot her.
Vivian figured that it would be best if they ventured deeper into the mountain, and Jason agreed readily.
With that, Jason promptly left.
Vivian rose to follow him, but Lucy's grip on her arm held her back.
"Vivi, something feels off about that guy.He looks like he's an Elysian."
"What?" Vivian exclaimed.
How could she tell? Do they have distinctive features?
"Look at how refined his features are! And don't you see the structure of his jaw? It's a wolf bone—a
telltale feature of Elysian royalty!"
"Oh..."
Perspiration beaded Vivian's forehead.She's right about the features but ultimately wrong about
Jason's identity.
He's only a counterfeit.
Brother Cal is the one who's of royal Elysian descent.
"You're mistaken, Lucy.He's not Elysian.He's from Yartran.In fact, he's the young prince of Yartran.Don't
worry about him.He's just here for a visit,"
Vivian placated the rambling girl.
"Young prince?"
Lucy echoed, her eyes bulging out of their sockets in surprise.
"Y-You convinced the young prince to follow you here? D-Does he like you? He came here for you,
didn't he?"
Lucy chattered excitedly, all the while staring at Vivian with rapt attention.
Unable to answer Lucy's intrusive questions, Vivian hurriedly shooed her off.
Like me? No, thanks Vivian quickly caught up to Jason, and the two trudged through the dense forest.
Sunlight barely filtered through the leaves above them, and the thick air made the journey all the more
arduous.
"Jason, did you come from this direction just now?"
"Yes."
Jason nodded his head in affirmation.
Pouting, Vivian began to recount their grueling trek before.
The indignance in her voice was apparent.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda