Stella’s gaze was hardened and firm, and it was obvious that she didn’t intend to change her mind at all! Stella spoke calmly.
"I know that you are young, my prince. I have heard of the King’s other sons, and I know there are others who could become king before you. But as I kneel before you today, I swear to you that you are the only one I will follow. It was fate that brought us together, and it was fate that allowed you to save my life. I have been running from my own fate for the longest time, but I realize that this was a grave mistake, and now I have decided to face it head-on. I believe wholeheartedly that my fate lies with you. And... and even though you might not think it is possible, I feel that there is something special about you, my prince. I do not know what it is yet, but I can tell that you are favoured by destiny. I do not think I will ever make a wiser decision than to follow you to the end of the world."
Jason could only sigh calmly once he heard all this. This was the heaviest speech that Jason had ever heard, and Jason couldn’t even begin to understand the pedestal that Stella had put him on. Did she really believe in him that much? Jason didn’t think she should be putting so much faith in someone whom she just met a few hours ago. Jason had only learned about his wider family tree a few days ago, and he didn’t even know until then that he had other siblings, so Jason never even thought about the throne of Avaran or any of that royal drama. In fact, if Jason were asked right now to take the throne, he would refuse it simply because it would cause more issues for him. It was already hard enough to lead his guild back on Earth, so how the hell was he going to lead a whole world?
But it was obvious that Stella really wanted this, and Jason decided to give her one last push.
"And what of these people that you have sworn to protect?"
Jason turned to glance at the campsite around them, and for the first time since they started speaking, Jason saw a shred of hesitation flash across Stella’s eyes. Stella swallowed as she turned to the campsite, and she saw some of the Nazins watching them curiously. Sagarda was also watching from a distance, and there was a heavy frown on his face when he saw Stella kneeling in front of Jason. Stella looked down, and Jason spoke up again.
"You swore to protect these people after they cared for you, so what will you do about them? Will you abandon them here in the middle of the desert?"
"I... I – I don’t ..."
Stella felt tongue-tied and confused. There was a part of Stella who desperately wanted to say that she would abandon the people if she could go with Jason, but another part of her knew that she had a responsibility to the Nazins. She promised to take them to their new settlement, and it would be wrong to leave them like this. Jason smiled at Stella’s confusion, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the massive Mana Stone he got from the Dune Worm. Jason tossed it at Stella, and she caught it with a confused look on her face before she watched as Jason carried Gina bridal style and stood up. Jason then turned to her and spoke.
"I want you to go back to the Nazin elders and have a proper discussion with them about what you want to do. This is a big choice, so you need to sleep on it and make sure you’re doing the right thing. We’ll be leaving at sunrise tomorrow, so if you still want to come with me, then I’ll consider it."
Jason turned and began to walk towards one of the empty tents that the Nazins had left for them to use, but Stella immediately called out!
"My prince, the crystal. Why did you give me this?"
Jason answered without bothering to turn around.
"You need it more than I do. And besides, you’re the one that really fought that bastard. All I did was finish him off. Make sure you eat all of it."
Stella felt a surge of gratitude flow through her heart when she heard Jason say this, and she yelled out a ’thank you!’ while holding the crystal to her chest. The Mana stone of a TITAN Ranked beast was very precious to an Avaran, and the fact that Jason was willing to let go of the power boost he could gain from consuming the stone just to give it to her meant more than she could put into words. Stella let out a calm sigh and looked up at the setting moon with a conflicted expression.
....
[The Next Morning]
Jason and Gina had woken up very early that morning to prepare to set off again, and after freshening up and making sure they had everything they needed, they moved out and watched the blue desert sand while waiting for the rest of the Nazins to wake up too. Jason had explained everything he and Stella spoke about yesterday to Gina, and Jason had seen the way Gina’s face squeezed in anger when he mentioned the whole ’five wives’ situation. But Jason managed to calm Gina down, and he explained that he wasn’t interested in upholding any tradition from the Avarans. Jason had grown up on Earth, and he was more of an Earthling than he was an Avaran, so he wasn’t going to change who he was.
The conversation ended with Jason explaining Stella’s desire to come with them and the choice he had given to her, and now they were both waiting for Stella to come and tell them what she had chosen. Jason let out a small sigh as he watched the rising sun, and he put his hand around Gina and held her close. But the moment was broken when he heard a voice shouting from behind him.
"Hey! It was you, wasn’t it!? I’m talking to you! You’re the one who put those stupid thoughts in her head!"
Jason blinked in surprise and turned around to see a large group of Nazins coming towards him. The Nazins were being led by Sagarda. And if looks could kill, Sagarda’s furious expression would have murdered Jason ten times over! Sagarda came to stand right in front of Jason and looked down at him threateningly! The Nazins were all around seven feet tall, so it almost looked like they were towering over Jason and Gina, but neither of them felt intimidated by the Nazins’ height at all. Jason just raised a brow as Sagarda spoke in anger!
"It was you! You are the one who put that nonsense into her head! Before you came, everything was going well, but all of a sudden Stella is thinking about leaving because you corrupted her mind! Was it some sort of mind control!? I know your kind! You people use twisted magic to enslave the helpless and make them follow you! Is that what you did to her!? ANSWER ME!"
Sagarda stepped closer to Jason threateningly, but he stopped when Jason’s eyes narrowed in anger! Jason closed his eyes and released a breath to calm himself, and then he spoke.
"You and I have never spoken before, so I am going to overlook this disrespect only this once. Now step back."
Sagarda felt an intense anger rising through his heart when he heard Jason’s condescending tone, and he became so blinded by the anger that he almost charged at Jason! But before he could move, a long sword suddenly pressed against his throat!
Shink!