Chapter 294 - What is Love?

As Ada and Osira made their way to the 7th Tunnel of the left side, they both instantly noticed something out of the usual here. The Staircase is way too long! This was either a method to evade clashing with another room or the Snow Ignites tried to get this room away from most people's reach!

One can measure its length simply by counting the steps, so far they are 126 steps deep. However it becomes tricky to count while having a conversation, Osira was itching to ask. "Um... So you and Eric?"

Although a short sentence, Ada could understand what Osira meant by it. "What about us?" But of course she still had to ask, with no intend to be rude but precise instead.

"Will you two get married?" Osira decided to become more and more direct, what's the worse that can happen? She can't beat Osira up and on the opposite sounds too mature for her age.

"Well our mother's certainly like to see that happen." She answered with a little giggle, to lighten the mood once getting a hint that Osira might not be in her best mood. And afterwards continued, "But as ridiculous as it seems, I only know him for two days!"

"Just for two days?" Osira shouted, in both confusion and a bit of joy. But let's not let anyone know about that aye? "How did you decide for marriage under such a short time?"

With a smile growing on her face once noticing how confused Osira is, she wanted to clear it out. "We didn't decide about anything, our mothers just figured that we both should know someone new considering he is almost 16 years old and I will be 16 in two years."

Although the "16 years old" part might not be too descriptive, Osira could immediately understand what it meant. Because it isn't just Ignite tradition, its an ill.u.s.tratian tradition too! But to make sure, Ada added. "You know how those things go."

"Oh..." Osira let out a small sigh of relief once she finally figured out what the situation is here, but to fight off suspicion she put all the pressure back to Ada. Immature but it works, "So do you love Eric or?"

"Well love is a strong word, I don't believe that anyone loves anyone or anything. We just love what that someone brings to the table! Be it materialistic or..."

"Or?"

"Calmness of mind, spiritual blessing or at my case the shared love for Horses." With this wordplay she didn't just show maturity but intelligence as well.

Although Osira couldn't understand what she is meaning with all this wordplay, she understood enough to put a question together. "So what do Horses bring in order for someone as smart as you to love them?" She tried to tease a little bit, with her mood meeting a sudden shift that she even started giggling.

"A good looking butt!" Ada replied shamelessly, but odd enough in great seriousness.

Osira on the other hand burst in to laughter, and her tone echoed all the way to the second section's main area. Ada stared at her, feeling puzzled. Trying to figure out what she said that made everything so funny.

"Are you okay?" Ada asked her, showing concern and considering to go back up and ask for help.

"By the God of Sources you were serious?!" Osira felt stunned at her spot and forgot how many stairs she counted. But at the other hand this makes it even more funny and she felt like she was holding a thunder of a laughter in her stomach.

"Of course! Have you seen how nice their butts look! I think it is the most beautiful part of any body." She continued with her tone crackling a little bit just because she found Osira's laugh contagious.

And afterwards she started laughing along with Osira who now stopped on the spot and is holding her stomach because of all the laughter, even her throat started feeling dry. It felt nice to laugh this much after all that burden she got from providing for the tribe or burden from her more private cases, like who she fancies.

But to make this laughter meet and end although unintentional, Ada bent down to peek at Osira's behind and said. "Speaking of which, you carry the most perfect butt I ever had the pleasure of seeing."

Although she shouldn't be shy of a compliment like that coming from a girl who might not see her "that" way, she still felt a bit embarrassed since someone is talking about her behind. Her cheeks were covered with a blush as she asked with a bit of anger with shyness as a source. "You have been staring at my but?!"

"How could I not?" Ada answered shamelessly once more, still not understanding what the problem is here. She goes by one sentence often, "What's true is true." But to Osira she replied. "You've maintained your physical form regardless of what the situation was, I don't see everyone doing the same!"

"Well I wear thick fur clothing for a reason Ada." She replied once figuring out what the situation is here, Ada has no impure intend thankfully. She just has weird types of appreciation, "Perhaps it is just a phase?" Osira thought.

"Which is?"

"I don't like anyone seeing or having a hint of how my body looks like." Having an urge to clarify it more, she added. "The Snow Ignites are the most hungry people I've met, it wouldn't be the best idea for me or any other woman or man for that matter to walk around looking hot!"

"Ohhh." Ada answered, trying to comprehend her words and finally understanding Osira's point of view.

"By the Source you made me talk about Behinds to the point where I forgot my question." Osira dared to point out and without wasting a second she instantly added. "So Eric is just your crush?"

"Indeed. I think he is a kind person, but I'm not sure about marriage. Two days aren't enough to decide." She finally cleared it out, giving Osira much deserved ease at last.

Finally walking down the stairs, they've met with rather unique figures. Well as a start they've found a lot of shattered glass reflecting the light of which the Fire above Osira's palms provided. It instantly caught their eyes because of that fact.

They even saw dried blood on the floor, a lot of it! So if possibly a Demon stormed down here, it got cut once it smashed whatever was made of glass and ran upwards shedding blood. Perhaps it didn't kill it instantly, but once these Demons come here on Earth they aren't immortal, surely they are prone to death caused by blood loss.

They've approached the place closer with caution and found that there is a human skeleton near the shattered glass as well, chances are that more Demons ran down here recently and stepped on glass. Blood can't remain intact on the floor for hundreds of years after all, but glass can.

"I'm guessing this one fought a Demon." Ada pointed out without hesitation, and gave Osira a little bit of shock.

Not because her tone scared Osira, but she remembered that it might not be the best idea to let a 14 year old see a human skeleton. "I think you shouldn't be staring at that." Osira finally alerted and tried to drag Ada's gaze away from the skeleton.

"Oh please, I saw worse scenes." Such a sentence made Osira think that Ada has witnessed Gore, little did she know Ada was talking about seeing her grandmother n.a.k.e.d.

However, they've at least met an agreement. Whatever trauma Ada faces here, Osira won't be held responsible. They've figured out that this room isn't like any other, there are weird things down here.

Apart from the shattered glass and Skeleton, there are Human arms on the walls at the very right end of this room. Or at least they look like Human arms, what could anyone be possibly doing with Human arms? Are they collectables or experiments?

Most likely the second option but the first one can't be scribbled away. It is good that there isn't any flesh or nerve on those arms or this scene could have become a lot more disturbing regardless of age.

Giving the place a view with more intended detailing, Osira saw buckets on the ground. Empty but still raised curiosity, first glass and now a bucket? This gives a preview that this place might have been used for experiments.

Glass for example is a good way to mix liquid substances without mixing anymore things to it by accident, like mud or wood. Glass is as pure as it is expensive, but what is it doing up here? Glass is a discovery made in the previous decade!

Suddenly, Ada alerted about something they might have missed once this right side caught their attention. "Look there is a large book shelf on this side!"