Chapter 32 Reawakened Compassion

• Ough-ough-ough! Ough-ough-ough!
• Ava could hear the sound of her own mouth coughing out water, she was conscious again but she was weak, so very weak that it took a lot of effort just to open her eyes, but she opened them anyway because she wanted to see who it was; the one who’d removed her from that water, and the same one who’d resuscitated her with his breath. She knew it was the same person because he had the same scent, that unmistakable scent, that scent she’d never gotten enough of. She knew who the person that saved her was already, but she wanted to see it with her own eyes so the image would forever remain in her head, and as she opened them, she didn’t see those cold, dark blue eyes she’d always seen before. Instead, these eyes were warmer, these were eyes that showed love, that showed care, that showed concern. She also saw something unmistakable in those eyes; fear. But why was he afraid? What was he afraid of? Was it the fear of what just happened? The fear of losing her? Or the fear of losing his life? If anyone should be afraid, it should be her, but why did he look so afraid? Even more afraid than her.
• “Praises be to the goddess!! She’s alive!!!” She heard Nani’s teary voice say, and Lucas looked away from her the minute he’d noticed her eyes had opened, she also didn’t miss the look of relief on his face. She was still in his arms, and he didn’t know the sudden move that came over him, but he pulled her close to him in embrace, burying his head in her shoulder, she could feel his warmth, just like that day at the forest, her body missed this warmth, this scent, her body missed it all.