An unexpected turn!

ㅤ Pyrox understood Chalcedony's wishes perfectly, so he calmly accepted the order to "protect lady Paraiba until his last breath, while he could not be with her". As well as a modest addition with a request to also find out her mood and thoughts about it. And he really wanted to believe that the chances were great, but deep down Pyrox understood perfectly well that they were not there at all. True, he had no idea who exactly would break his friend's heart… "Chalcedony sent you?" Paraiba said softly, looking at Pyrox with a slight smile. "How sweet of him. He certainly knows my tastes!" "Pardon?" Pyrox didn't immediately grasp the meaning of the phrase. And soon he regretted having even dared to ask… After all, without the question, there would have been no answer. And the answer wasn't simple. It pierced the depths of his soul, stirring every cell of his body. Pyrox, of course, appreciated the technique, even giving in a little, moving more instinctively than consciously, as his brain temporarily shut down from the shock. Or rather, it froze, trying to process information it wasn't mentally prepared for. "I hope you enjoy my company as much as I enjoy yours. After all, we'll be spending a lot of time together," Paraiba said evenly, not hiding the subtle flirtation evident in her gaze. "…Y-yes," Pyrox struggled to say. His partially recovered consciousness couldn't do more. 'Forgive me, friend…' Pyrox thought bitterly about Chalcedony, 'I'm afraid the odds are worse than we thought…' Pyrox was an excellent warrior, never one to run from difficulties or problems. But this time, for the first time, he felt the urge to run away, to disobey orders, unwilling to betray his friend. But... both were betrayals. 'If I run away, I'll break Chalcedony's heart and leave Paraiba without reliable protection. It seems I have no choice but to stay. But how can I protect myself from… lady Paraiba without offending her with a categorical refusal?' Pyrox found himself in an unexpected trap. And he had no one to ask for advice… ㅤ