“Half a year ago, the first thing I would have done in this situation,” she explained to Erefir, after she finished laughing, “is grab Guiyosh by the scruff of the neck and drag him anywhere, to Calcite, to the islands, to Helles by rabbits, to Zimivya – in short, to save our souls. But now... Just think. Now I am ready to risk myself and go to the most godforsaken place in the world, just to save that world. And even though I am not particularly loved here,” she giggled again.
“And I’ve always said that deep down, you are a good person,” Guiyon said emphatically, as if it were an immutable truth for him from the first moment they met.
“Oh, come on... I’m still very scared. I still want to run away. But for Rinze, this escape is nothing. I want to do something useful with my worthless life, at least once. Or I’ll die trying.”
“Beata, you...”
“Shut up, I know what you want to say. I’m glad you think so, that I’ve done something good for at least one person in this world. But that’s not enough.”
“It is enough. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone and sacrifice yourself. You are acting out of a desire to save the world, not to profit. That is already worthy of all praise.”
“To save the world... And you.”
“Then I will save you while you save me,” Guiyon took his beloved’s hand.
“No,” Beata stepped back and became more serious. “As long as I save you, you will save yourself. Right now. Run to the pier and sail anywhere, wherever your eyes look, away from Welfern. This is a damn order.”
Guiyon snorted and folded his arms across his chest.
“Just in case you’ve forgotten, I’m reminding you. Your orders, ‘mistress,’ no longer apply to me. And no force in the world will make me run away and leave you to the mercy of the dragon of despair.”
“Guiyosh, I...”
“I might also want to save the world! I also want to do something useful in my life, at least once! Besides, someone has to balance out your stupidity and courage!”
“I won’t survive if you...”
“Do you think I will survive? Those three damn weeks were hell, and I don’t intend to live like that for the rest of my life. And now I can’t even know if you’re alive!”
“The main thing is, I will know that you are alive...”
“You will know that I am alive if I go all the way with you. No discussion.”
Beata hesitated, not knowing what to say. Then, with a sigh, she hugged her companion. He hugged her back.
“Guiyosh, you idiot...” she sighed, admitting defeat.
🏹🎪+⛓️♿=💕