Diadem's Birthright

chapter 11: The Trek Up The Terrain

I didn't think I'd be able to fall asleep last night, but I was out like a light soon after we arrived.

I had the same dream about my supposed parents again last night. It was the same as the others. Two people holding a smaller version of me. Thinking about it now as I and the rest of the class trudged after the professor and the people from the Archeological Association over the uneven terrain, I felt somehow unattached to them. Weren't people supposed to just know it deep within them, have this familial feeling? I felt no feelings towards them. It felt like I was just looking at a pair of strangers. It was one of the main reasons why I always argued with Ashley whenever she tried to convince me they were my parents. But it could also be because I wasn't seeing them in real life, only in dreams.

The only different thing about the dream this time around was the stone the priest held in his hand. I only managed to catch a glimpse of it glowing before I woke up, but from what I could see it was red. Ruby red.

I felt that same feeling I had noticed yesterday once more as we approached the mountains. It felt as more familiar to me as if I had been here before. Upon wracking my brain, I couldn't come up with any memory of actually being here. Besides, the feeling wasn't threatening so I could relax and brush the burden of the matter off my mind.

I turn to my left where I could hear Ashley's voice. I see her chattering away happily with none other than Evan. I smile wryly to myself feeling a slight twinge of jealousy but I squashed it immediately. Although I was happy to see Ashley seriously interested in a guy she likes but I felt as if I was losing my best friend. I sighed deeply as this I realized how pathetic I was being at this moment. As I advanced further up the mountain distractedly, I lost my footing and toppled backwards. This sudden motion surprised me. I was already anticipating a rough landing so I flailed my hands searching for anything to latch onto when I was caught by the waist suddenly by something huge. I look down on check what it was and found that it was an arm. The arm pulls me closer to a hard and warm chest.

" Careful there" a familiar husky voice breathes into my left ear. I felt excited shiver down my spine and my face burned with embarrassment when I realised that the owner of the body and voice was Ramzan and also that my backside was plastered snugly to his front. I could feel his warmth from beneath his loose flannel shirt. I could also smell his strong musky scent which was pleasing to my nose and definitely confirmed my suspicion of him not using cologne.

He releases me gently while making sure that I had a sure hold on my footing. I turn to him with my head bent forwards so my hairs will cover my face in order to hide the fact that I was embarrassed and aroused at the same time.

"Thank you very much. My mind was preoccupied so I didn't notice where I was treading" I say in a voice so quiet, I could barely hear myself.

His lips quirked up in a grin that I have come to recognize as his signature smile " it was my pleasure". Amusement danced in his eyes as he bent forward to look at me straight in the eye startling me. He raises his right hand to cup my face while tucking my hair behind my ear to reveal my face.

" Tell me, what is it that goes on in this cute head of yours that distracts you enough to almost hurt yourself"

His eyes scan my face as if searching for the answer there. I don't know what he saw on my face that made his forehead crease into the beginning of a frown.

" Why is your face red? Do you have a fever?" He asks in a voice laced with concern while placing the back of his hand on my forehead to check my temperature. This action of his ended up making my face burn hotter with more embarrassment. I had the instant urge to away and one to step into his embrace. I stepped away from him when I finally won the battle to save the last shred of my dignity.

" I don't have a fever but it might be heatstroke because the sun is high up in the sky" I say while fanning my face with my hand. He looks at me with worry in his eyes before removing his backpack from his back. He opened it, rummage through it and brought out a bottle before passing it to me.

" Drink that. It's an energy drink. It should help with rehydration and tiredness"

I collect it while mumbling a thank you and moved to open it. The cover of the bottle opened easily without any fuss. I tilt my head in confusion before looking up at him with an inquiring gaze. He looks at my face, looked at the bottle and his eyebrows lifted in understanding.

" Oh! Sorry,vu entirely forgot about that. Evan was dragging the drinks from me this morning when he accidentally opened it so he left this open one for me before running out with the unopened ones. Just in case....." he collects the opened bottle from me, takes a sip from it before handing it back to me

" See? Nothing wrong with it"

My breath hitched at the back of my throat as I looked at the rim of the bottle where his lips had made contact with. A bump to my shoulder brought me out of my reverie. I look around us to see the last of our party pass us on their way up the terrain.

" It seems we are lagging behind. Almost everyone should be at the site now but here we are idling away" I saw in order to liven the atmosphere between us.

" We can catch up to then after you have drank that" he nods towards the bottle on my hand " and are hydrated enough"

" Oh! Excuse me" I exclaim before bringing the bottle to my mouth and gulping the contents while keeping my eyes closed to ignore the image of Ramzan sipping from the same bottle.

" Alright," I say once I had my fill enough " let's hurry up before we miss the introductory explanation"

"Okay" he says while replacing his backpack on his back " let's go already. To make sure you won't trip over again" he reaches forward to clasp my hand in his before he began to lead my bewildered self up the terrain to join the others. The trek from there on was easy, faster and definitely enjoyable.