Chapter 559
Before Tiffany could react, she felt a sudden weightlessness. The next moment, her feet left the ground. Looking down, she saw herself rising, moving farther and farther from the island. What had been at eye level was now far below, the entire scene spread out beneath her.
In the distance, dawn painted the horizon. The vast, clear sea shimmered in hues of blue, its sparkling surface lapping against the lush, vibrant greenery of the island below. And she was flying.
Tiffany blinked. It wasn't her first time, but the experience still felt fresh and exhilarating.
Richard smirked and teased, "I think you might fall."
Panicked, Tiffany grabbed his waist tightly. They were so close that not even a breath could pass between them. Tiffany immediately noticed a subtle change in Richard's posture, her cheeks flushing scarlet.
The salty sea breeze ruffled her hair, carrying a stifling warmth. She glared at Richard, but he responded with an innocent expression. "What? Isn't this the fastest and easiest way to get you there?"
Tiffany glanced down. From that height, every plant and detail of the terrain was visible. Richard wasn't wrong; it was efficient, but also shameless.
With a huff, Tiffany tried to focus, ignoring Richard's deliberate—or accidental—provocations. She scanned the dense vegetation below. "No, I don't see anything here. Let's check over there," she said.
"Alright," Richard replied, wrapping his arm around her waist and gliding toward the area she indicated.
After scouring the entire island, they still found no trace of the elusive Blood Lotus. "It's not here," Tiffany sighed, frustration setting in. Years-old medical texts had declared the herb extinct. Even after a thorough search, it seemed the textbooks were right. Is this entire journey for nothing? she thought.
Tiffany sat on a rock, deep in thought, when Richard spoke. "I recall hearing that this plant only appears as the tide rises." He'd once overheard Sidney mention that, during high tide, the Blood Lotus would bloom fleetingly, just minutes before the island was submerged. The turbulent tides, however, made retrieval impossible, even if spotted. For years, no one had successfully obtained it; over time, it became nothing more than a legend, considered an extinct remedy.
Tiffany's eyes widened. "Really? Then we still have a chance! I'll gather some alternative herbs just in case the Blood Lotus doesn't appear. I'll have to try substitutes." Hope, faint but motivating, sparked within her.
Half an hour later, they had collected everything they needed. Back on the yacht, they sat in the shade, sharing food as the gentle sea breeze swept over them. The sea was calm.
Richard gave Tiffany a mischievous look. "Why don't I take this chance to teach you how to swim?"
Tiffany froze. "Here?" she asked, incredulous. She could barely manage in a pool; the open sea felt like a death sentence. "No way!"
Without a word, Richard scooped her up and carried her to the shallows.
"Put me down! I said no!" Tiffany shouted.
"You can't afford this weakness," Richard said firmly. "It's dangerous."
Realizing he was right, Tiffany sighed and stopped struggling. The moment her feet touched the cool water, a chill ran through her. Tentatively, she waded in until the waves reached her neck. When a sudden wave swept over her, she stumbled and sank.
"Hold your breath," Richard instructed, pulling her up with strong hands. She followed his calm voice.
"Move your arms. Kick your legs. Find your balance," he continued.
By the afternoon's end, Tiffany had transformed. What started as endless sputtering and splashing turned into tentative strokes, then confident swimming.
"You're a fast learner," Richard said, his eyes soft with pride.
Tiffany beamed and paddled further on her own. When she finally emerged from the water, the joy of overcoming her fear lit up her face.
Dusk approached, painting the horizon in warm colors. Richard busied himself in the yacht's kitchen, selecting ingredients. "Go shower and change," he told Tiffany.
Tiffany nodded and left to take a quick shower. She returned clean, to find a feast waiting on the table.
"You cooked all this?" Tiffany asked, amazed.
Richard shrugged. "Would you believe me if I said I learned from a recipe?"
"I would," Tiffany replied earnestly. To her, Richard was exceptional, beyond ordinary measures.
Richard smiled, pleased by her sincerity. "Eat."
By the time they finished eating, the last rays of sunlight had disappeared, and the fiery clouds on the horizon gave way to the deepening dusk.
Meanwhile, the water around the island began to rise rapidly. Within an hour, more than half of the island was submerged by the rising tide.
Tiffany watched from the yacht, her eyes scanning the water, the island shrinking with every passing moment. And then, just as the tide was about to engulf it entirely, a brilliant red lotus bloomed, glowing like a flame in the darkness.
"There!" Tiffany shouted, leaping from her seat.
Richard didn't hesitate. He swept her into his arms and launched them toward the fleeting flower before the sea could claim it. (The final word is illegible in the original text).