The Last Goddess

Aryan

Taja hugged Samara tightly, but there was an unspoken sadness in her eyes. "Good luck." Pulling away, she smiled—her eyes darting between us.

"Aren't you coming with us?" Samara wondered.

The witch shook her head. "Unfortunately, I'm needed elsewhere. Remember, I was only sent to give you a warning, but I must admit, the two of you made being here lively enough." Taja chuckled briefly before turning her body towards me. She placed her hand out in front of me. "Well, dragon, I'd like to say it was a pleasure, but I don't want to lie, so..."

I rolled my eyes, before they landed on her outreached hand. With a sigh, I begrudgingly decided to put her actions behind me for now. That doesn't mean I trust her, but for Samara's sake, I wouldn't purposefully make an enemy of her... yet, anyway.

"Good." I clasped her hand. "I wouldn't believe you anyway."

Samara smiled before walking over to the nearby deities and their entourage.

Meanwhile, Taja released me, but it seemed she wasn't quite done. In a hushed voice, she said, "Don't forget why I was here. Levi is up to something. I wouldn't recommend letting him near your goddess again."

I scoffed, arms crossed. "Like I would."

"Might not be your choice, Aryan." Taja's eyes were pleading—a rare look from a ruthless witch. "He has set his sights on Samara, and you know better than anyone that Levi is not a quitter. He will come for her again. Be wary."

Great. I groaned, internally. Because we don't already have our hands full with Soren and delivering souls to mostly dead goddesses.

Seeing that I was not responding, Taja nodded her head at me before declaring, "Well, I'm off! Until we meet again, Lady Samara." And with a quick wave, she took her leave.

Trying not to give her warning a second thought, I walked over to Samara who felt strangely fired up. I looked around to see what was making her apprehensive, but I didn't notice anything out of the blue.

"We've packed some things for you." Iris smiled as she handed us our bags, freshly supplied and heavier than I remember. I peeked inside, finding a tent amongst other necessities.

"And Iris and I will escort you towards the Pastel Desert." Ivy nodded, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

"Towards?" I asked.

"With Lady Izara recuperating, we cannot go too far." Ivy replied. "Besides, we don't do well in deserts."

"Is the Pastel Desert far from here?" Samara asked.

"Not for us." Quinn smirked. "It resides on the other end of the forest. But I'm sure Ivy and Iris can take the two of you by tree."

"Absolutely!" Iris agreed enthusiastically, but my stomach lurched at the idea.

"Then, I guess we better head out." I told them.

"Be careful." Silas started, making even me look up at his towering stature. "In order to make it Opal City, you will have to go to the Oasis."

"Oasis?" Samara looked at me, puzzled, but I couldn't answer her.

I'd heard of the Pastel Desert, but never needed to travel through it. It would be a first for me as well.

"Yes," Izara added on, her face slowly paling from using so much energy so quickly. "The Pastel Desert is vast, go too far and you will just end up on the other side in Zephyr. But if you're cautious enough, you will find the Oasis. It's in the middle of the desert. You'll be safe there, but also, you will find a secret passage that will lead you to Opal City."

"It may take you a day or longer to find the Oasis." Quinn revealed. "Depends on the desert."

"Meaning?" I asked, drily.

"Meaning," Silas continued for his fox Janus. "That the desert is temperamental."

"Well, then," Iris started, shrugging. "Ready when you two are."