TBC: Chapter Twenty-Three

The light of Elsaria's moons brightened the trail that edged the cliffs of the Green Sea. Gyan stared at Jalena's silhouette ahead of him as she waited for him to catch up to her. The cooling sea air fluttered through her hair, and Gyan couldn't help but become captured in the power of her energy. Her frame seemed to illuminate the surrounding area, making her appear like a guardian of the land.

As he stared at her, he realized that Jalena was much larger—much more important than she claimed to be, and he felt nothing but the same urge to protect her as he had from the day he first saw her.

A black cat appeared at Gyan's ankle, meowed, and rubbed against his leg.

Jalena glanced back and chuckled.

"Eclipse," Gyan whispered as he bent to pet the cat's head. Eclipse purred in response and trotted past Gyan to Jalena.

Gyan shook his head at how small Eclipse felt beneath his hand, especially after recalling how enormous she grew during the attack on the Celestine Temple. She was a Sheba, which was a magical cat that could expand at will into the size of a large jungle cat. The last time he saw her, Eclipse stood as high as his waistline.

Jalena reached her hand behind her to take Gyan's, and the two continued along the trail in shared silence. The trail steepened as they neared the Blanderé Cliffs. The pull of the moons' energy slammed the sea waters into the cliffs, making them even more intimidating to approach.

The two climbed several feet down and sat against the large boulders wedged into the side of the cliffs. Eclipse watched the two for several moments and then took off to explore some nearby trees.

"Everything's about to change," Jalena said softly. "I can feel it."

"Is that why you have been avoiding me?" Gyan replied.

"Not really. But, I feel there has been no time for us to even nurture a relationship like it deserves to be, no matter what our desire is."

"That's not what I mean. I mean your energy—you have been shutting me out."

Jalena remained silent.

"Are you going to tell me why?" Gyan continued. "It makes it difficult for me to understand what's going on with you. I do not want to guess wrong."

Jalena took a deep breath and stared into the waves below them. "Thinking of what is not possible for us at this time just saddens me."

"What does that even mean? Do you not love me?" He looked up to the sky as a light rain began to fall.

"Of course, but because of what we do, the loss of a deep love can be too much to return from. It is the only thing powerful enough to thwart one's purpose. My dán did not speak for months after my nán died…He blamed himself."

"So, you would avoid a chance to love just to escape pain?"

"I do not believe that you can avoid love. The force is too powerful to control. Even if I am hesitant to throw caution to the wind because of what it did to my father, the main reason is that there are other matters that we have to give our attention to now."

"Doesn't love help us cope with them, though? I mean, if you aren't here with me tomorrow, I want to make the best of the time I can have."

He reached out and found Jalena's hand.

Jalena squeezed his grasp in return. "I understand, but the level given must be matched. My heart calls me toward something that I cannot explain. I feel as if the timing for us to engage fully with each other is off, and it would be a disservice to you to say that I felt that it was."

"So, what Aderes said is true."

"What does he claim?"

"That you will not love me in the same manner."

"He is mistaken," she replied softly. "It isn't that I do not want to be together. I thought I could manage all of it, but something—some other burden or mission—draws much of my focus. It is difficult to explain. I'm sorry if this hurts you." She released his hand and stood.

"Jalena." Gyan grabbed her wrist. "If one night more is all you can give me until a later time, then it is all I wish for. I just do not want to be away from you for more than I have to be. Just like what calls you toward something larger, the feeling of being near you is what calls to me."

Jalena stared down at Gyan for several moments. Her expression softened. She turned her hand to grab his wrist and pull him up. "Then let's make this moment the most it can be."

He grabbed her tightly to him as the rain increased and pushed a lock of wet hair off her forehead. "You know, when the time is right, you will eventually have to surrender. Otherwise, as we discussed at the falls long ago, you'll never experience the magnitude of love and power that can be heightened between two people."

She gave him a small smile. "Okay, Master Philosopher." She exhaled slowly as she met his determined gaze. "When the time is right," she whispered.

Gyan smiled and brought her forehead to his to repeat the same words exchanged between them at the Grove of Amasu in Solara. "And how will I know when that time is?"

She smiled and brought her lips to his. "You will know."