Charles trailed Nora through the forest, his tunic still damp from the rain, boots caked with mud.
The tension from the lightning strike and his impromptu blackmail hung in the air, but Nora seemed determined to ignore it.
"Come on, Rian, don't lag behind," she said without looking back, striding confidently toward a path leading to a nearby river.
Charles frowned, wondering what she was up to.
'Where's she taking me now?' he thought, adjusting the bandages on his hands, which no longer hurt thanks to the lightning, though he still had to play it cool.
When they reached the river, Charles stopped, eyeing the clear water flowing over rocks.
The sound was soothing, but he didn't get why they were there.
Nora, without a word, sat on a flat rock by the bank and started removing her boots.
Her black socks came off next, revealing small, well-kept feet with short nails and smooth skin, a stark contrast to the muddy ground.
