Chapter 105: Flames, Food and Fiascos!

Chapter 105: Flames, Food, and Fiascos!

The group trudged down the road toward Stormway City, but their morale was crumbling. It had been hours since they left Rivermount City, and exhaustion was creeping in. The tension between Ashley Duve, who had taken over Tessa's body, and Adrian was almost palpable. As they walked, everyone's minds were scattered, each person processing the strange and dangerous journey they were on.

"So where to next?" Ashley's voice rang out suddenly, cutting through the silence. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she turned to Ikehara.

Ikehara blinked, slightly caught off guard. "You walked ahead like you had a definite destination, but alas, you were just going to ask me anyway. You're a bad bitch." His chuckle carried a hint of something darker—lust, hunger. His eyes lingered on her backside as he licked his lips, his thoughts were flooded with more than just admiration.

Ashley Duve winked, her hips swaying in the wind, her lips curving into a smirk. They walked side by side, chatting easily, leaving the rest of the group behind them in awkward silence.

"The next ingredient we need is the flame of the Sun God," Ikehara began, his voice deepening as if preparing to tell an epic tale. "This flame burns at the core of the sun itself. For centuries, it could only be found in the far eastern lands, but... there's a legend—"

He paused dramatically, his gaze sweeping over the group. Everyone listened intently, even Adrian, though his eyes flickered with barely contained rage. Tessa's consciousness, trapped within her body, stirred at the mention of the Sun God, her awareness piqued.

Ikehara continued, his voice lowering for effect, "There exists a city here in Grinwall, a place called—"

Before he could finish, Ecdy snorted under his breath. "Oh, for crying out loud, all that drama just to talk about Stormway City. What a load of crap." His voice was quiet, but not quiet enough. Several warriors struggled to stifle their laughter, their choked snorts filling the air.

Ikehara shot a glare in Ecdy's direction, his eyes narrowing. Though he hadn't heard the exact words, he knew whatever Ecdy said wasn't respectful.

Deciding to ignore it, Ikehara pressed on. "In Stormway City, there is a temple—the Sun Temple. The priests there are chosen by a sacred flame that never ceases to burn. It is said this flame was taken from the sun's core itself, and only a descendant of Solaris, can wield it."

Ecdy, ever the troublemaker, muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Even an idiot knows Solaris is the real Sun God. Who does he think he's fooling, siding with Rhemon like a loyal lap-dog?"

This time, the group couldn't hold it in anymore. Laughter erupted, filling the air with roars and coughs as everyone, including some of the stoic Rhemonic warriors, lost themselves in the moment. Even Tessa's spirit, trapped inside her own body, would've laughed if she could.

—What is so funny?–Ikehara's face turned crimson, and he looked about ready to snap at the group when Ashley raised a hand, stopping him. "Ikehara, let them laugh. We've got bigger fish to fry."

With her words, she picked up her pace, marching faster as if her body couldn't help but respond to her own command. The group grumbled but had no choice but to follow her, their earlier laughter fading into murmured complaints as they continued their long journey eastward.

Adrian, still walking in stony silence, glanced briefly at Nyala, who occasionally tried to placate him with soft words. But it was no use. His anger was like a storm brewing beneath the surface, barely contained, and his thoughts were consumed by the near-death experience at Ashley's hands—Tessa's hands. He clenched his fists as he walked, his mind replaying the moment over and over.

Nyala sighed in frustration. Nymff had already given up trying to talk to him, leaving him to his brooding. "He isn't the only one suffering," Nymff thought angrily. "We're all in this together. Why can't he see that?"

---

Several hours later, exhaustion began to take its toll. The group had walked a grueling 143 kilometers from Akanon to Rivermount City, and now they were facing another 367 kilometers to Stormway City. It was too much.

One by one, Rhemonic warriors started to stumble and collapse from fatigue. Ashley, still under the control of the malicious force within her, wanted to press on without them. But when the entire group sided with the exhausted warriors, things got messy. Voices rose, tensions flared, and it became clear they needed rest.

Reluctantly, Ashley agreed to stop for the night. During that brief period, Tessa managed to regain control over her body.

They found shelter at a small roadside inn, and under Tessa's brief moment of control, she allowed the Cloak of Restoration to be used, healing their tired bodies and rejuvenating their spirits. They sat down to a hearty meal at a local restaurant.

The atmosphere inside was a strange mix of relief and tension. Adrian sat at the far end of the table, brooding as usual, while the others bantered.

Tessa approached Adrian, moving so swiftly that she seemed like a whisper in the air. With a subtle flick of her wrist, she slipped a small, folded note into his hand. The exchange was seamless—so fluid and fast that it was almost as if she had never been there at all. Her presence vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving even the sharp-eyed Ikehara none the wiser, completely fooled by her imperceptible speed.

The eating and drinking activities continued with everyone so focused on the food that they momentarily forgot about the tyrant that led them to that situation.

Ecdy, never one to keep quiet, decided to make the most of the situation.

"So, what do you think this flame of the Sun God tastes like?" Ecdy asked, shoving a piece of meat into his mouth. "Bet it's spicy—like, burn-your-tongue-off spicy."

Nymff, sitting across from him, rolled her eyes. "You think everything's about food, don't you?"

"Well, when you've walked 300 kilometers, food's all you've got left to think about. Speaking of which, this meat's a bit too tough, don't you think? Or is that just my superior Rhemonic palate talking?" Ecdy grinned, causing more groans and snickers around the table.

Nyala leaned toward Adrian, her voice gentle. "Adrian, you need to eat something. You've been silent the whole time."

He shook his head, eyes fixed on the plate in front of him. "I don't feel like it," he muttered.

Ecdy, overhearing, couldn't resist jumping in. "Careful, Adrian. Skip too many meals and you'll fade away into nothing. And then who's gonna save us from Ashley? Me? I can barely handle my own power, let alone hers." His attempt at humor didn't land, but it broke the ice a little.

Adrian, still lost in thought, quietly muttered to himself, "What does she mean I'm a child of the Sun God? I was born an orphan… Could she have seen wrongly?"

His words caught Nyala's attention, her eyes widening. "What did you say?"

Adrian glanced at her, unsure whether he should repeat himself, but he saw the curiosity and concern in her gaze. "Tessa… she said something when she took control for a moment. She told me I might be a descendant of the Sun God."

Nyala gasped softly, but before she could respond, Ecdy—who had overheard—let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Oh great, so now we're throwing in divine lineage to Adrian's growing list of awesomeness...? Well, he's a cool dude, but... Wait did you just say it was Tessa involved and not Ashley—as in—in our eating and resting?— I knew it! That bitch—Ashley– couldn't be as good-hearted as she pretended to be, so it was Tessa who helped us.."

He said it loud enough for others at the table to hear, and soon the information spread like wildfire. Within minutes, the group was buzzing with whispered conversations, speculation, and rising tension.

---

By the time they left the restaurant and resumed their journey, spirits were surprisingly high. Everyone had rested, eaten, and—thanks to Tessa's brief moment of control—they were in better shape than before. But the uncertainty of what awaited them in Stormway City loomed over their heads like a dark cloud.

Tessa, deep within her own body, could feel her strength returning. Though Ashley had regained control and still held tightly to the reins of control, she had managed to pass crucial information to Adrian and Nyala. They knew she was fighting back.

The battle for control wasn't over yet.