Contents
Chapter Forty-Four
Overview
Aeri and Royo, still strained after the previous night, discover a hot spring while seeking camp. Aeri rushes in, tests the water, and coaxes Royo to join. She slips from a slick rock into a sudden drop, cannot swim, and loses consciousness, imperiling their fragile bond and her life.
Summary
Aeri travels the Northern Pass with Royo after an awkward night, blaming herself for recoiling when Royo touched her time-controlling amulet. They ride in tense silence, unable to find a safe clearing and wary of forest predators after recent zaybear attacks.
Royo spots distant steam at sunset. Aeri excitedly identifies hot springs and races ahead, drawing a reluctant smile from Royo as he follows. At the pools, Aeri tests the temperature with a sausage casing and her hand, judging it comfortably hot.
She strips to her undergarments and wades in, urging Royo to join. Royo hesitates, then undresses down to his underwear. Their banter briefly lightens the mood and hints at mutual attraction beneath the strain.
As Aeri steps deeper to wash her hair, she slips off a slick boulder into an abrupt drop. Unable to swim, she panics and sinks. Aeri realizes her amulet cannot help her learn to swim in frozen time and silently pleads for Royo.
Seeing no sign of rescue, Aeri’s lungs burn and her vision fades. Her last sight is the Night Rays of the Sun King above the surface before everything goes dark, leaving her fate unresolved.
Who Appears
- AeriNarrator; awkward with Royo after recoiling from amulet touch; discovers hot spring; slips into deep water, cannot swim, loses consciousness.
- RoyoTravels with Aeri; cautious about camping and predators; follows to the hot spring, hesitates, then undresses; Aeri hopes he rescues her.