The waterfall cascaded down the jagged rocks in silvery sheets, its steady roar blending with the soft rustle of leaves around them. Mist hung in the air, cool and refreshing, kissing Rayna's skin with every breeze.
The pool below glistened like a mirror of crystal, so clear that even the pebbles resting at the bottom shone through in shades of amber and gray.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, scattering into golden shards that danced across the water's surface, making it sparkle as though sprinkled with stars.
The air here felt lighter—clean, untouched, carrying the faint scent of wet stone and wildflowers that grew along the bank. The leaves of the trees rustled, and the scene felt serene, like a hidden pocket of peace tucked away from the world.
"This is Elaris Falls. It's one of my favorite spots to rest whenever I'm on the way to the Beast City," Ezra said, his gaze following the rushing water as he came to stand beside Rayna.
Rayna's eyes lingered on the shimmering cascade, the corners of her lips curling into a soft smile. "Yeah... it's so pretty," she murmured, the sparkle of the waterfall reflecting in her eyes.
"I can finally take a bath here, right?" Rayna asked hopefully, already eyeing the sparkling pool beneath the waterfall.
"Yeah, it should be fine for you to bathe here," Soren replied as he came up from behind.
"And once you're done, I'll prepare some food for all of us." Yunxi said.
"Finally," Rayna sighed in relief. Since leaving the Vukari village, she hadn't had the chance to bathe, and the thought of the cool, fresh water was irresistible.
They had been traveling for six days now. Along the way, they stopped to rest—first at Moss Rock, a towering boulder draped in soft green moss and surrounded by whispering pines, and later at the Thistlemere Meadows, where the ground was carpeted with pale wildflowers that swayed gently in the breeze.
But despite the beauty of these places, Rayna never got the chance to bathe, as there hadn't been any proper water bodies nearby. Their journey so far had been sustained with the supplies they carried and Yunxi's sweet, honeyed drinks.
Ezra mentioned that it was a good thing that they flew most of the way, or it would've taken much longer to reach the Beast City.
But here, before the silver curtain of the waterfall, that longing finally ended. The water sparkled in the sunlight, inviting her to step in, and Rayna felt her lips curve into a smile of relief.
Rayna undressed and slowly stepped into the water. It was cold at first, but with the sunlight warming her skin it soon became pleasantly refreshing.
She waded deeper until she reached the spot where the waterfall cascaded down, its steady stream beating softly against her shoulders.
It wasn't strong enough to sweep her away, just enough to soothe her tired body.
"Ah... this feels so good," she murmured, closing her eyes as her hair, now heavy and wet, streamed down her back. Droplets clung to her wet skin like scattered diamonds, catching the light with every movement.
From the shore, the three of them exchanged glances, unable to deny the temptation to join her in the inviting water.
Ezra was the first to break the silence. "Well, I'm not going to just sit here and watch while she enjoys herself," he grinned, pulling off his tunic and skirt. Without much thought, he entered into the water.
Yunxi shifted on his feet, his cheeks a little pink. "Rayna usually bathes in Mirae fruits, right? I... I have some with me. I'll just go and, um, assist her." He rubbed the back of his neck shyly before slipping toward the water.
Soren pinched the bridge of his nose with a long sigh. "These two are just..." He shook his head, muttering under his breath, "nevermind." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Might as well make use of this chance too."
Without further hesitation, he shed his feather skirt too and waded into the water after them.
Rayna blinked in surprise when she noticed all three of them stepping into the water. "You're all joining me too?" she asked, her voice carrying over the gentle rush of the falls.
Ezra grinned, wading closer. "Of course, we're all stinky. Wouldn't want to trouble you with our smells." He winked, his tone light and teasing. "Besides, we always want to look good for you." He came closer wrapping his arms around her wet body, pulling her against his chest.
Rayna laughed, shaking her head at his antics.
Meanwhile, Yunxi moved forward a little hesitantly, holding out a cluster of Mirae fruits. "Rayna, you usually bathe with these, don't you? I... brought some. If it's alright, I can help lather it on your body." His voice was soft, almost shy.
Rayna's expression softened. "That would be nice, Yunxi."
He gently crushed the fruit in his hands, its sweet fragrance spilling into the air as the golden juice mixed with the water.
The scent lingered like honey and blossoms, mingling with the cool spray of the waterfall. He rubbed his palms together, creating a lather, applying on her curves with his hands.
"You can wash my upper part as well Yunxi. After all now, you are my mate as well." Rayna said with a soft smile on her face looking at Yunxi.
Yunxi blushed. "Okay..."
Yunxi was already charmed by Rayna. It wasn't his first time, being charmed by her, but seeing Rayna like this, and since he got permission from her to touch her, made his throat dry.
Yunxi slowly massaged the lather onto her chest. Her skin was smooth and soft which made Yunxi be a bit bolder.
He came closer and pressed a soft kiss on her on her arm.
Seeing Yunxi take the lead, Ezra smirked. There was no way he was going to let himself be left behind.
Ezra hugged Rayna tighter pressing a soft, lingering kiss just below her ears on her neck. His hand come up to frame her face gently as he kissed down to her pulse point.
Ezra whispered against her skin, "My sunshine, you're irresistible... every time I look at you, I just want to hold you closer."
He started to trail open-mouthed kisses down to her collarbone.
Meanwhile, feeling jealous, Soren waded through the water, came in front of them and tugged Rayna into his arms.
Then—splash!
He sent a wave of water crashing over Yunxi and Ezra. The two of them came up sputtering, coughing as they wiped their faces. "Soren!" they shouted in unison. But when they finally looked up, their eyes widened.
Soren's grip was firm. Rayna blinked up at Soren, droplets clinging to his hair as he held her close.
"Soren—?"
Before Rayna could say anything further, Soren's lips crashed on her.
The sudden force stole Rayna's breath, the kiss urgent and fierce almost as if he was pouring all his suppressed feelings into that one moment. Soren swallowed the little sounds Rayna made. His one hand tangled in her wet hair while the other pressed firmly against her lower back.
The chill of the waterfall splashing around them only made the heat between their bodies more consuming.
Rayna's hands instinctively pressed against his chest, melting into the moment, allowing Soren to just have his way with her.
Slowly, Soren pulled away, his forehead resting gently against hers.
"Sorry... it's just—we've all been so tense these past few days and I..."
Rayna smiled softly. "I understand."
Before the moment could linger, Ezra huffed, crossing his arms. "This isn't fair. You're stealing Rayna away from us again."
Yunxi nodded in agreement, muttering, "Exactly."
Soren only gave them a smug little hmph.
Then, with a calmer tone, he added, "Anyway, we shouldn't go further than this. I don't want Rayna to tire herself out."
Yunxi and Ezra exchanged glances, and Ezra sighed. "Yeah... you're right."
Rayna's heart warmed at their concern.
They think about me so much, she thought, her smile brightening.
"How many more days to reach the Beast City?" she asked curiously.
"Just half a day more," Soren replied.
Her eyes widened. "Oh, we've almost covered the distance already?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
Yunxi spoke up, thoughtful. "Do we need anything special to enter such a big city? I've heard that it's easier if you've got connections."
Ezra chuckled confidently. "Don't worry. If the guards see Soren, they'll personally escort us straight to the palace—and probably give us the best treatment."
Rayna turned to Soren, teasing. "Oh really? Tell me, what's so special about you?"
Soren smirked and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I told you before... I came from Beastcity as a guardian to the Vukari village. I grew up there, so people just... know me."
"Ooooh, my mate is so capable, huh?" Rayna teased, her voice full of pride.
He chuckled and brushed a hand through her wet hair.
"Yeah, yeah. Now wash up quickly or you'll catch a cold, my love."
The three of them surrounded her once more, gentle and attentive, helping her to relax further. The playful splashes softened, and laughter mingled with the steady rush of the waterfall.