Say ‘No’

It had been hours since the kiss. But in here, Crystal couldn't tell what time it was. Her sense of time was distorted. But in these past hours, she and Adam started talking very casually. Adam was very talkative as he was doing his best to teach Crystal about magic.

The magic that she learned was outstanding.

In some cases, Adam would explain to her where and how magic circulation should be done.

Several times, Adam would cause the heat to move and give her discomfort, but afterward, Crystal could move the fire magic alone.

"But why fire magic? It's really uncomfortable!" Crystal complained as Adam wanted her to do another cycle.

"Uncomfortable? Do you know those not blessed with your Soul constitution would be screaming in pain? The Immaterial Body also needs to be trained and used to magic. Your discomfort is already a sign that you resist the fire."

"But… shouldn't I use ice?"

"Your ice won't return yet. You've exhausted your soul! It might even take months for the ice to return!"

"Months?!"

"Your soul was exhausted. My soul is yours. it kept you alive and allowed your Body and Spirit to reconstruct the Soul. So, train in the ways of fire magic for now. The advantage for you is that because you are a being of ice, your naturally cold body will have a higher resistance to bearing the heat. And it will only grow stronger the more your Ice powers return."

"I don't understand. Won't my body be susceptible to fire because it is ice?" She asked again.

"If you wielded the common ice of the world, yes. But notice that a day has passed since you fainted, and yet the ice of this mountain has not melted? Your ice has strong resistance to the heat."

"But… Doesn't your flame melt my ice with ease? Logically, isn't having a dragon soul in me dangerous?"

"No. You could even say it balances it.

"What about my sister? I heard them say she has an Ice Heart Maiden. Is that the same as mine?"

"No. A Soul Constitution is different from an Immaterial Constitution. Our bodies have three specific states. Body, which is the Material. Spirit, which is the Immaterial, and the Soul, which governs both. The Ice Heart Maiden is a Spirit Constitution, which gives her power in the Immaterial and the Material. She was born in a womb with great ice. Most likely, the power you had remained in the womb and gave her that constitution. As for you, your constitution covers all three levels."

"What about… you?"

"Me? My three levels are all vastly different than yours. My bodily constitution would already surpass all three of your levels. We are not on the same level." Adam answered frankly.

"...Yet you still saved me. Thank you." Crystal dug her face closer. In the past hours, she had become more comfortable and unashamed of this.

Adam rolled his eyes. Every now and then, Crystal would often somehow hijack the conversation and talk about her thankfulness.

She pushed her lips down on his shoulders, but though she wanted to bite and taste Adam, she couldn't. She had already tried this, and Adam got angry.

"So, how does it feel to be out of the frost. The sorrow of the maiden is her frost. Right now, you don't have it. You must feel… happy."

"...It is a new feeling. I guess I'm more hopeful? Or maybe it's because I'm just… with you."

"I know this is too much to ask. But can we please just not talk about me?" Adam sighed.

"You know that's very difficult! And it's your fault for giving me the experience. Besides, I won't have a chance like this, won't I?"

"You definitely won't," Adam answered.

"See? Right now, I'm just happy to be here." Crystal held on tightly.

"But um… would a Prime like you, a Star of the Eden as you call it, ever consider having me as a…" Crystal began to blush.

"A wife?" Adam completed her words.

Crystal turned red but nodded her head and buried it on his shoulder.

Adam was amazed.

"I can't believe you'd even say that. But I guess this is still an effect of having little to no frost in your soul. Normally, you'd just be quiet and insecure."

"Please answer while I still feel confident," Crystal said while her face pressed down.

Adam was resisting and fighting back against his own heart.

"Say no… Say no." He thought to himself and gave his answer.

"Who knows? I won't stake my pride and say anything final." Adam answered and began secretly cursing himself for such a vague answer.

"Oh. I was expecting you to give an adamant no. So I do have a chance?" Crystal rephrased her question and began to dig into her face even more.

"You know, I can feel it when you quiver or shake in embarrassment, right?"

"Just answer the question."

Adam sighed.

"Say no, Say no…" Adam told himself again.

"It will be your undoing, and you might die again! Say no!" Adam mentally rehearsed.

But as he opened his mouth, he paused.

"If you had the time and chance, anything is possible."

Crystal's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

"Take, for example, our particular scenario. Had you not saved me and done that stupid thing, I would not have gazed upon you a second time. If we had met in a different circumstance, I would not have cared for you. But now, here we are, talking. Conversing as equals, though you are closer to an ant to me. Think of a person in your life. I saw this Prince who managed to move your heart in your memory. Didn't he catch your attention once?"

"You speak of… Prince Janus?"

"Yes. He did not give you any chance or even talk to you. But how can he know he won't fall in love with you? If the circumstances presented themselves… let's say you were stuck on a deserted and isolated island, and you two would be forced to be together… And let's say you stay there for two months… wouldn't he develop some feelings towards you?" Adam asked.

"I guess, it's possible. Maybe it's just the confident and joyful me, but I could make him like me at the very least."

"Well, there you go. Pursue that prince. With your innate talent, you are sure to soar."

"But that wasn't my question. What if… the situation was… that a mere ant like me… was in the epicenter of a collapsed mountain with the Dragon Emperor. Would it be possible that he would at least... like me?" Crystal was taking deep breaths between her words.

"No." That's what Adam was saying in his mind, as he had said numerous times before.

But what his mouth and heart uttered was, once more, vastly different.

"...I already do."