Chapter 601 - WE WILL GO HUNT

The blue flames of the candle flickered by the wind when Hope took it out from her pocket on her jacket.It was afternoon and the sun was above their head.If it wasn't because of the lushes of leaves from the trees that canopied them, it would be too hot for her to wear such a cloak. 

"Here," Hope showed the little candle and gave it to Kace. The size of it was only as big as her thumb. "But I don't know how it works."

"The Candlemaiden didn't say anything to you?" Kace took the candle and watched it closely, scrutinizing it from different angles.But nothing, it looked just like how any candle would look like. The difference was only at its strange blue flames that looked like it wouldn't be extinguished when one blew its fire. 

"No." Hope tiptoed to see the candle in Kace's hand as he raised up his head to the glimmer of the sunrays. 

"Let's figure this out while walking." Kace handed the candle back to Hope and rested his hand on her wrist while they ventured inside the mountain. 

"Up or down?" Hope listened to the chirping bird around them, it was relaxing and like a picnic to be honest. 

"Down," Kace said.

And with that, they walked to the base of the mountain, though the gigantic mountain was before their eyes, but the track to reach the land of its base was very vast. 

Hope thought they would reach there before the sun set, but even when the sun kissed the horizon and the forest was no longer beautiful, as it turned out to be a little bit creepy in this dimly lit place.They were not half way there, especially when they walked in Hope's pace.After two hours, she needed to rest for fifteen to twenty minutes before they could continue. 

Fortunately, Kace didn't say anything about her snail pace, and instead he was unexpectedly very patient. Well, he was always very patient towards her.It was Hope, who felt a little bit sorry for slowing them down. 

"We will continue tomorrow," Kace called it a day. 

Upon hearing that, Hope slumped to the ground.Her feet ached. She couldn't imagine if she had to venture in this uncertain place, and didn't know which direction she had to take, alone. She would have been crying now, and would rush back to where the centaurs were waiting for them. 

She was grateful that Chiron's theory was right that Kace was able to enter the barrier in his human form. 

"I am hungry," Hope whined when Kace passed her a bottle of water. Fortunately, they didn't have to worry about their water intake for the journey, because there were several tributaries along the way.

Kace took off the big backpack that he carried and put it on the ground.From the inside he took out the packed food and gave it to Hope one, while he took another for him. "Let's eat, after that we can sleep."

Kace chose to stay at that spot, because he couldn't pick any suspicious smell of wild animals, and also because the ground was dry over there, since they didn't have any tents and just bought a few blankets for sleep. The weather was also great, so Hope wouldn't freeze when the night came. 

"What will we eat for tomorrow?" Hope was concerned about their rations as they didn't bring much food to last for days. 

"We will hunt tomorrow," Kace winked at her as he took a mouthful of roasted chicken thighs. 

"You can't shift into your beast," Hope frowned, "We don't know what will happen if you did." The centaurs had made it clear since the beginning, that supernatural creatures were not welcomed there. 

"Oh, right…" Kace nodded his head. "So, why don't you hunt for me? You know, sometimes female lions hunt."

Hope rolled her eyes, "I am not a lion and you are not either."

Kace chuckled when he watched Hope give him a look. "You are right." He leaned over and kissed Hope chubby cheeks when she munched on her food. 

"Don't disturb me, I am eating." She pushed him away. "Once we return you have to treat me to a lavish meal." 

"Alright," Kace continued to savor his food. "Everything for you, my lovely."

Hope had to bite her tongue in order to stop her from smiling.No matter how many times she heard that endearing words from Kace, she loved it to the bone. 

After they ate and chatted for a little while, Hope yawned. She was exhausted. These past four days were the most tiring days in her whole existence, she had never walked in such a great distance. 

"Come here." Kace put the blanket on the ground and beckoned Hope to lie down. 

"Should we take turns to stand guard?" Hope asked sleepily, since it was only the two of them, it was only right for Hope to take turns with Kace. 

"Just sleep, I will wake you up when I am sleepy," Kace sat down and leaned over to the tree behind him, as he gestured for Hope to rest her head on his lap. 

Hope did and yawned again when she rested her head. "Okay, wake me up when you are sleepy," she reminded him. 

"Of course," Kace nodded to assure her. 

Hope closed her eyes and was about to sleep when she said softly. "It's a good thing that the fireflies are surrounding us, they are beautiful," she mumbled. 

"Fireflies?" Kace frowned, "what do you mean with fireflies?" 

Kace wanted to ask what she meant with fireflies because Kace could see nothing around them. However, Hope had fallen asleep. 

Maybe she just talked in her sleep. With that thought, Kace raised his head and looked up the starry night sky. There were many things roaming around his head. Many questions without answers. 

The beast felt restless. 

Sometime through the night, when the cold wind blew Hope's sleeping face, she felt her body ache because of her sleeping position, yet when she turned her body around to find a comfortable position, she realized one thing; Kace was not there.