As the silence of the igloo enveloped Vastarael, he couldn't help but sit back and reflect on everything that had just transpired.
His mind, though clearer now, still carried the weight of the events. He knew something was different about him, something that set him apart from others.
But it wasn't until now, in the aftermath of the night's chaos, that he truly began to understand the full scope of it.
"I'm a walking aphrodisiac."
It was a realization that struck him with an unexpected clarity, like a painful epiphany. His Boon, Ethereal Beauty, was more than just a gift of appearance.
It was an allure, a presence that affected everyone around him. He had always known he was attractive, that he drew attention effortlessly. But this... this was something else entirely.
It wasn't just the visual appeal, the physical traits that made him undeniably beautiful. It was the feeling he evoked in others, something that stirred desire at its very core.
His physical beauty, combined with his Boon, didn't just capture eyes. It captivated hearts and minds, twisting them into a state of intense desire. The way Taryenne had kissed him, the way she had looked at him with such raw need... he could feel the weight of it, the deep pull of attraction that made them unable to resist.
And it wasn't just Taryenne. It was all of them. His very presence triggered something in people, something far beyond simple admiration or affection. It was desire in its purest, most uncontrollable form.
The thought haunted him. The Bane that came with his Boon, the way it twisted everything, turning even the simplest of interactions into complex, overwhelming emotions-was something he hadn't fully grasped until now.
His Boon didn't just make people like him. It made them need him, in ways that were impossible to ignore. That need, that raw lust, wasn't something he could control. It was a force of nature, one that existed within him and within everyone who came into contact with him.
He had never realized how far-reaching they were, how deeply they affected those around him.
As much as he wanted to blame it all on his powers, there was a deeper truth lingering in his mind:
'This is who I am now. I can't escape it. I can't hide from it. His beauty, his charm, and the intense effect it had on others... it was all part of his fate.'
And that realization made him feel even more isolated.
°°°°
Morning came.
The warmth from the mystic circle was now a distant memory as the sun rose over the snow-blanketed landscape outside. The blizzard raged on, howling against the icy walls of the igloo, but inside, the temperature remained steady.
It was clear that the storm wouldn't let up anytime soon. The sisters had slept through the night in a peaceful, dreamlike state, the power of the Sleep Rune still working its way through their systems.
Taryenne and Rienne stirred in their sleep. Their eyes fluttered open and for a moment, the fog of sleep made them question reality.
The warmth that had surrounded them was gone, replaced by the faint cold of the air. They blinked, confusion flickering in their gazes as they looked around the igloo. The familiar scent of the icy air mixed with the strange, intoxicating warmth of the mystic circle filled their senses.
"Was that... was that a dream?" Taryenne murmured groggily, rubbing her eyes as she tried to make sense of the hazy memories. Her body felt strange and the sensation lingered in her chest.
Rienne blinked and sat up, glancing around. She looked down at herself and then over to her sister.
"It doesn't feel like one, does it?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep. "But... it feels so unreal."
The two sisters locked eyes and the realization slowly crept in. The warmth, the closeness they had shared with Vastarael, it hadn't been a dream. The kiss, the tension, everything.
The emotions they had felt, the intense pull toward him, the burning need that had overtaken them... wasn't something fabricated in a dream.
It was real.
They both turned to look at Vastarael, who had remained still, his back against the cold wall of the igloo, deep in thought.
Taryenne's gaze softened for a moment as she took in his form, his physique...
She felt the residual heat of the previous moments still lingering in the air between them, even though the mystic circle was no longer active. She shook her head lightly, trying to clear her mind.
"That kiss... it felt so real," she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.
Rienne didn't answer, but her gaze lingered on Vastarael. The strange feelings from last night still surged through her, the ones that had made her want to get closer to him, to never let go.
Vastarael, sensing their confusion, looked at the sisters, his usual indifferent mask fhe said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
"We'll need to wait here for now. You can rest as much as you need. This... this wasn't a dream. It happened."
It was a simple statement, but it was enough to confirm everything.
Rienne stood up first as she locked eyes with Vastarael. There was no hesitation in her words, no shying away from the truth that had hung between them like a heavy fog.
"It wasn't a dream. I know it wasn't. And... I'm not going to pretend otherwise anymore. I... feel it. What happened between us. What I feel for you."
Her words hit the air like a confession, an admission that was both freeing and terrifying. The tension that had built up between them was thick, but she refused to hide from it any longer.
There was no need for shame, no need to pretend that everything was just a fleeting moment. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she made herself vulnerable, yet there was no turning back. The fire inside her had been ignited, and she was not going to extinguish it now.
Rienne turned to her, sensing the tension in her sister's silence.
"Taryenne... you can't deny it, either. You felt it too. The pull, the heat, the way everything changed when he was near us. You felt it, didn't you?"
Taryenne's cheeks flushed.and she opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. She clenched her hands in her lap, her gaze flicking briefly to Vastarael before quickly averting.
The cold, logical part of her wanted to push it all away, to tell herself it was just the result of the blizzard. But the truth was harder to escape.
The feelings that had surged through her when they were close had been too much to ignore. She had wanted to deny it but now, hearing Rienne's certainty, the reality of it crashed into her.
Rienne, however, wasn't letting her off the hook. She reached over and gently grabbed her sister's hand, pulling her attention back to Vastarael.
"Don't lie to yourself, Taryenne. Don't pretend you didn't feel the same way. We're not the same as before... and neither is he."
The words stung more than Taryenne had expected. She swallowed hard, biting back the emotions threatening to break through. The thought of Vastarael being more than just an enigmatic figure in their lives, of him being so close, so real, made her heart race.
She was torn. Torn between the desire to reach out, to give into the emotions swirling within her, and the fear of what it would mean. She had always been careful, always held her emotions at a distance. But with him... it felt different.
Vastarael, who had remained silent until now, took a deep breath, his thoughts shifting with the realization that the truth had been laid bare before him. He knew they had been affected by his presence, and he had expected it.
"I understand how you both feel. But... sooner or later, I will have to return to my home. The migration must happen, and after that... I'll have to leave. You won't see me again."
The words were simple, yet they cut through the air like a blade. The finality of it. The truth of it.
Taryenne's eyes widened, her heart sinking at the thought of him leaving. Rienne, who had been so certain just moments ago, now found herself struggling to keep her composure.
"I'm a divine being, remember? I'm not meant to stay with the tribe. Sooner or later, I'll have to go back. And I'm sure you won't leave everything just to be with me."
[Veneri, don't continue. You have the looks that will make any girl leave everything just to be with you!]
Her words felt like a sharp jab and despite the emotional storm swirling in the room, Vastarael ignored the teasing, focusing instead on the sisters before him.
"You have time to think this over. Think about it carefully. I need to know if your feelings are genuine or if it's just because of... my charm, my looks. I don't want you to follow me out of impulse or desire."
Taryenne opened her mouth as if to protest, but she faltered, her eyes darting away from him. She had felt it, the overwhelming pull of his presence, the undeniable attraction that surged through her whenever they were close.
But was it truly love? Or was it just the effect of his unnatural allure? She wasn't sure, and that uncertainty gnawed at her, making it harder to breathe.
Rienne, on the other hand, stood frozen, her thoughts spiraling. She had always been the one to act on instinct, to follow her heart without hesitation, but Vastarael's words made her doubt herself in a way she hadn't before. Was she really falling for him?
Or was this just the result of the incredible power he held over her, the pull of his presence?
Vastarael's gaze softened as he noticed their hesitation, the storm of thoughts crossing their faces. He gave them no time to respond immediately, simply giving them space to process.
Vastarael looked at them both, his heart heavy with the knowledge that his presence, his Boon, had clouded their judgment. He didn't want them to act on impulse, to confuse attraction with something deeper.
He wanted to wear the mask but he knew it either offensive to them. After all, he didn't exactly hate what happened last night...
It didn't feel right because they were affected by his Boon.
And why would he hide his looks?
"Alright, buckle up. We're going to be stuck here for a few days. Thankfully, I have a lot of supplies for all of you. Have you ever heard of something called an energy drink?"