Saria climbed down the rope where Vesryn stood waiting. Her orb of light was floating around beside Vesryn. He looked around to see melting ice and he became irritated. Vesryn turned to Saria who was looking around confused.

    "I assumed he used his pathetic ice magic to weaken the impact...he's definitely probably hurt though." Vesryn said sternly as he headed down the hall in the direction Ky went earlier. Saria walked beside Vesryn silently as she played with her necklace. She was deep in thought, causing him to notice her silence. "What if we just forget him and the quest...let's leave Faeria and travel the world together." Vesryn said with a smile on his face that caused Saria to glare at him.

      "I'm not leaving him." Saria said in a slightly harsh manner. Vesryn looked annoyed and agitated.   

   "Why did you ever choose to befriend him, let alone allow him to join us?" He asked, causing her to come out of her thoughts. “He’s not even fully highborn…he’s something else.” He continued. She was silent for a moment as she glanced at him.

   "When I met him he was a homeless orphan taking care of his sister. There were days I think he starved himself so she could eat." Saria said with a look of slight admiration on her face. Vesryn was silent as he stared at the ground. "It's my family's fault he ended up without his father." Saria said as she clenched her fist and trembled as she tried to hold in her anger. Vesryn became curious as he tried to prod her for more information. 

    "What exactly happened?" Vesryn questioned with a curious look on his face. Saria let out a deep sigh as she stepped past Vesryn.

    "I...it's a long story but Ky later lost his sister as well on the night my father was finally executed for treason. I still have yet to figure out who was behind that heinous crime." Saria said as Vesryn scoffed at the irony of her statement.

    "Nearly dies in the cold and awakens a latent ability for ice magic despite not being a versipellin....amusing." Vesryn said as he followed behind Saria. She was turned away and he couldn't tell exactly how she was feeling.

     "His mother had to be even though he doesn’t have their animalistic traits. Look, I know he can be careless but I'm sure it's because he thinks he lost everyone that truly cared." Saria said as she's touching the necklace again. Behind her Vesryn has a grim look on his face. 

    "So it's not that you bare feelings for him but you feel guilty for whatever happened to his family? Vesryn asked, sounding annoyed as Saria glanced back at him. She had a serious look in her eye.

   "I...I do care about him and it's not because of some form of guilt. I've seen the person that he is and how great of a man he can be." Saria said, causing Vesryn to look frustrated.

    "Why would you care about someone so beneath you?" Vesryn asked unhappily as Saria is frozen, unsure of how to respond to Vesryn. She looks away nervously as she sighs trying to come up with a response.

    "Vesryn..." Saria trailed off as she still is struggling to think up the words that best fit the situation. Vesryn sighs as he approaches Saria. He looks at her with a deep gaze before shaking his head and stepping past her. 

    "You know what, forget it...I don't even want to know your reason." Vesryn said in a slightly begrudging tone. Saria grabbed Vesryn by the arm and pulled him back. She stared at him with a confused look on his face. 

   "I can see you're harboring some feelings but why now? If there was something you wanted to say why bring it up when there's a possibility Ky is in danger?" Saria asked in a confused tone but Vesryn pulled away from her. He takes a deep breath before letting out a frustrated sigh. 

   "Because..." Vesryn trailed off as his voice began to crack as he looked to still be struggling with some hidden feeling. Saria looks shocked and confused as she's struggling to say something.

    "Vesryn...l don't understand, why are you being this way?" Saria asked slowly as Vesryn stood silently as he stared at her with defeat in his eyes. Vesryn but his lip as he pondered telling her what was on his mind. What had been on his mind for years now. 

    "I...just can't watch you keep running after someone who isn't worthy of you. Not anymore...after this quest maybe I'll go my own way if you won't come with me." Vesryn said as he continued walking but Saria marched after him. She grabs and forces him to face her. She looks at him with her deep golden eyes with a serious look on her face.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this suddenly?" Saria questioned as Vesryn realized he couldn't hold it in anymore. He had to tell her or he'd never get the chance to ever again. 

 "Saria....I'm in love with you. I have been for quite some time now but I've grown tired of watching you fall for some peasant. When you realized he fell down here the look in your eyes told me everything." Vesryn said with a look of dissatisfaction. Saria stood motionless not uttering a word. She sighed as she rubbed her forehead, appearing slightly stressed. Vesryn didn't know what she was going to say but it felt like it was going to take an eternity before she actually responded to his statement. 

"Why now..." Saria trailed off as she became silent once more. For the first time Vesryn didn't see her as the calm and well composed person he knew. She was nervous and possibly uncomfortable. 

  "Because if he's alive...you're going to be the one to try nurturing him back to health. I can't sit idly by and watch that anymore." Vesryn said as looked down the hall of the dungeon. He could feel a cold air coming from further down. He clenched his fist as anger began to rise inside his chest. It was then he knew Ky was somewhere further down still alive. As she turned away he could hear the shattering of something deep inside of him. This sinking and empty feeling caused him to reach for his chest. 

It felt as if he was impaled by a spear and left with a gaping hole. He bit his lip as he tried to swallow his pride and contour forward. The feeling of rejection from the person he valued most in his life scorned him. He began to question whether he did it too early or came on too strong. His head began to spin with a million thoughts which came at him at light speed. These thoughts began to make him uneasy as he struggled to keep his composure. Despite his heartbreak he recomposed himself for he still had to complete the quest.