Chapter 136: You better take him up on the offer

Words : 1058 Updated : Sep 30th, 2025

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: You better take him up on the offer Isabella spun on her heel, fuming. She didn’t even know what she was mad about anymore—Cyrus’ questions, his tone, his audacity. Her footwear crunched against the gravel as she stormed off, jaw tight, fists clenched. "Do you plan on going there again?" Cyrus’ voice cut through the air like a blade. She froze mid-step. Her spine stiffened, fingers twitching at her sides. Damn him. Of course she was going back—but she wasn’t about to admit that. Not to him. Not when he was already poking into things he had no business knowing. Still, she didn’t move. Didn’t look back. But she knew he saw her hesitate. A quiet, knowing smile tugged at Cyrus’ lips. He took a step forward, then another, his strides smooth and deliberate as he came to stand beside her—close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating off his body, but not close enough to touch. "I have a way to survive on the mountain," he said softly, not looking at her. "To stay there safely for a long time." Isabella’s brows drew together, suspicion flaring behind her eyes, but she said nothing. Her heart thudded. Her gaze flicked sideways, just in time to catch the subtle motion of his fingers. A soft shimmer rippled in the air—and then, from the center of his palm, a delicate necklace blinked into existence. Her breath caught. What the— A swirl of light-blue crystal nestled inside a pendant shaped like a crescent moon. It pulsed gently, as if alive, the energy faint but oddly comforting. It wasn’t just beautiful. It was... powerful. Wow, she thought, but kept the word locked behind her lips. Her expression didn’t change, but she couldn’t stop the flicker of intrigue in her eyes. Cyrus... was full of surprises. She had assumed Kian was the stronger one. The stripes on his arm said so. Four thick bands marked his status—his power. But Cyrus? No stripes. Nothing flashy. Yet in just a few days, he had impressed her more than most beastmen she’d met in this village. He learned fast. Moved faster. And somehow, without any grand displays, he kept standing out. A small part of her, one she’d rather ignore, wondered if she should ask him to train her one day. Maybe—maybe—after she knew she could trust him. Before Bubu decided to take her training into her own hands. But that wasn’t now. She shook the thought off. Her eyes darted to the necklace again, still sitting in his outstretched hand. Was he... waiting for her to take it? Her gaze slid upward. His face was calm, patient, unreadable. Not a trace of deception in his voice when he said, "This will let you stay on the mountain. It’ll keep your spirit and core energy from burning out." Isabella blinked. She hated how calm he sounded. Hated that he wasn’t pushing or coaxing. He was just offering. No expectations. No smugness. Her throat tightened. She couldn’t even look him in the eye. Not after the way she’d snapped at him earlier. And now he was giving her something that could save her life? What is wrong with this man? He was a snake beastman. A predator. A monster that should make her blood run cold. In his beast form, he probably could crush a man in one coil. But here he was—offering her a gift. After she’d thrown attitude and sharp words his way. And still—still—he wanted to help. Why? Cyrus, for his part, was watching her carefully. His chest ached from how tightly his heart was beating. He didn’t even realize he was holding his breath. Please, he prayed silently. Just take it. Don’t turn me down. If she rejected him now, how was he supposed to protect her? How was he supposed to stay by her side if she kept pushing him away? His jaw clenched. She didn’t know what she was walking into. That mountain—those paths—weren’t safe. And she wasn’t invincible, no matter how stubbornly fearless she acted. In the little time he’d known her, he’d already learned this much: she wasn’t scared of anything. And people who feared nothing... were always the ones closest to dying. His hands trembled, just slightly. Don’t go back there alone. Don’t make me watch you walk straight into hell. Then, beside him, Isabella stirred. Her voice was quiet, the question almost tossed out as an afterthought—but Cyrus heard the shift in her tone. "For how long then? "More than a month," Cyrus said, voice steady, eyes still locked on hers. Isabella whipped around, disbelief stamped across her face. "Excuse me?" Her heart skipped, then stuttered into an angry gallop. Did he just say— No. No, he didn’t. He couldn’t have. A full month? On that cursed mountain? Without the constant drain? Without burning through her spiritual core like dry paper? Was he insane? Her throat bobbed. Her brain scrambled to make sense of what she’d just heard, but no matter how many times she replayed it, the words didn’t change. He was giving her something that valuable. Freely. Just like that. No strings. No demands. No smirks. No manipulation. What the hell is wrong with this guy? Her lips parted, closed, then parted again. "Do you—do you even realize what this could be worth?" she hissed, eyes narrowing. "Do you even know what people would do to get their hands on something like this?" She was breathing harder now, like she’d just sprinted uphill. Not from exhaustion. From pure, flustered frustration. "You don’t just hand something like this out like a damn fruit at the market, Cyrus!" He tilted his head slightly, the edges of his mouth curving up. "I’m not handing it out. I’m giving it to you." That smug, infuriatingly kind tone. Isabella scowled and ran both hands through her hair like she was about to yank out a fistful. "Okay. I’m done. Nope. We’re not doing this." She turned on her heel again, fists tight at her sides. But the necklace still hovered in the air between them. A glowing reminder. A goddamn glowing guilt trip. She was two steps into her dramatic exit when a familiar voice rang in her head again. "You better take him up on the offer." Isabella froze, spine going rigid. Bubu.

Chapter 136: You better take him up on the offer

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