They were at the Water Ark again—a serene, luxurious place surrounded by glasslike pools and soft sunlight filtering through the crystal dome above. Asher sat near one of the side decks, letting his gaze drift lazily across the surface of the shimmering water, where a few children played, splashing around and laughing.
That’s when she arrived.
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Another stunning woman—tanned skin, sharp eyes, and wearing a sleek bikini-style swimsuit—walked confidently toward him and sat beside him without a word. Asher didn’t even turn his head as he muttered, "I’m not interested in you."
The woman, Marina, kept her pleasant smile unfazed. "I know," she said easily. "But if we came to your domain, maybe I wouldn’t be that bad, you know?"
She leaned forward slightly, eyes drifting to where Asher’s girl group members were playing in the water.
"You’re bold," Asher said, still not looking directly at her.
Marina’s lips twitched, amused, but she kept her voice composed. "Okay, then. Can’t you at least use me for one night?" she asked, leaning in so close her breasts touched his shoulder. There was a sultry gleam in her eyes as she gently toyed with the chain around her neck.
Asher finally turned to look at her, eyes calm but direct. She smiled wider, sensing a shift—but instead of responding to her offer, he stared at her hand.
"I need something from you," she said, her voice dropping a note lower, suggestive but serious.
"You should’ve just said that from the start," Asher replied bluntly.
She groaned, rolling her eyes. "I’m trying, alright? I have my pride too. But tell me—what woman hasn’t tried to sing her way to a man’s attention?"
"And I don’t like sleeping with women who act like whores," he replied coldly.
That struck her sharply. She blinked, the flirty mask slipping for a moment. "Whoa—are you calling me a whore? I haven’t even done anything, and I’m still a maiden," she snapped back, her tone now sharp.
"And you think I’d just let any stranger touch my body?" she added indignantly.
Asher’s gaze didn’t waver. He leaned a bit closer now, his voice low and unshaken. "Yes. I don’t believe you’re as restrained as you claim."
She stiffened. For a moment, it was like lightning arced between them—not anger, but something deeper, a clash of pride and confidence. Then, without another word, she stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her legs.
"You’ll see," she said, walking away, hips swaying—not in seduction, but in defiance.
Asher didn’t watch her go. He simply leaned back again and closed his eyes, letting the warm light of the Water Ark soak into his skin.
The day passed gently in the Water Ark, the scent of salt and fresh blossoms carried in on the breeze from the artificial sea, and the soft laughter of the younger ones echoed between the marble columns. Asher remained still, his arms folded behind his head, half-dozing beneath the shade of a smoothwhite canopy. The encounter with Marina had left no mark on his mood, though a few nearby onlookers still glanced curiously his way, whispering behind fingers.
Valeris eventually returned from her meditation, hair still damp from the pools, clad in a modest but elegant wrap that shimmered like deep ocean silk. She walked barefoot across the smooth stones and stopped beside him.
"Still turning away the locals?" she asked lightly, sitting down beside him.
Asher opened one eye. "They keep trying."
Valeris laughed softly, her fingers tracing patterns in the stone. "Maybe because you never look at them long enough to break their illusions."
"They break themselves eventually," Asher muttered. "One sentence in and it all unravels."
Valeris tilted her head, eyes watching him. "What if one doesn’t?"
"She will," he said simply. "They always do."
Before Valeris could reply, a commotion stirred near the western deck. A few attendants rushed by, murmuring rapidly. Asher caught fragments—’She dove in,’’Not responding,’’The deeper trench...’
He was already standing.
By the time he reached the deeper trench, several guards and lifeguards had gathered, looking into the shadowed depths of the Water Ark’s abyss—a vast artificial trench designed for advanced swimmers and spiritual divers. At its base lay fragments of ancient coral, glowing faintly with soul-light. But something was wrong. A current spun unnaturally near the bottom, and above it, floating slowly in a spiral, was Marina.
Her eyes were closed, body unmoving.
"She dove without escort," one of the attendants explained nervously. "She wanted to challenge the pressure trench. But she didn’t come back up."
Without a word, Asher stepped forward and jumped in.
The water folded around him like silk. It was warm at first, then steadily grew cold as he plunged deeper. The trench shimmered with illusions—shapes of sea serpents, memory shadows, drowned echoes of those who had lost themselves in soul-diving. He ignored them all. His eyes stayed fixed on the unmoving girl below.
He reached her easily. One arm looped around her waist, and with a small pulse of power, he disrupted the trench’s current and began to ascend. On the way up, he could feel her faint heartbeat. Not dead. Not unconscious.
When they broke the surface, a crowd had formed. Gasps rang out. Marina clung to him weakly, coughing once or twice, eyes fluttering open in that perfect balance of vulnerable and coy.
"You came for me," she whispered.
"I came to drag a fool out of the water before she drowned," Asher replied, dumping her unceremoniously onto the deck.
She groaned, still catching her breath. "No need to be so rough."
"You tried to bait me again. With danger this time."
She sat up slowly, brushing wet hair back from her face. "You saved me anyway. So maybe you do care."
Asher leaned down, meeting her eyes with a deadpan stare. "I save even wild dogs if they’re drowning. Don’t confuse instinct for affection."
Marina grinned despite herself. "Maybe I’m a cleverer dog than you think."
Valeris walked up then, expression unreadable. She handed Asher a towel.
"She’s still alive," she said mildly. "That’s something."
Asher nodded. "Barely."
Marina looked between them, raising a brow. "You two always ?"
"No," Valeris said, turning toward her. "Usually he’s even less patient."
Marina laughed lightly, clearly enjoying herself now despite being soaked and scolded. "Well... I’m not giving up yet. One of these days, Asher, you’ll look at me the way you look at others."
"I don’t sleep with just any other," he muttered.
"Yet," she said, smirking as she stood.