NOVEL NEXT Chapter 424: Woman Of Purpose
Under the bright morning sun, the lake shimmered like a sheet of glass, reflecting the sky in rippling silver and blue. Nala brought Cassius to the shore, where a medium-sized wooden cabin stood, sturdy, well-built, and practical, its clean lines contrasting beautifully with the natural scenery.
Nala slithered ahead, her expression bright with pride as she gestured grandly at the cabin.
"Well, Cassius, here we are." She said, her chest swelling as though she were about to reveal a great treasure. "This—" She stretched her arms wide "...is my warehouse! What do you think? Pretty great, huh?"
"This is where I keep everything I've made, all the inventions I designed for the villagers. Anyone who needs them can come take what they need and then bring it back here when they're done. It's...it's basically a sanctuary." Her voice carried a warm pride, like she was presenting a piece of herself before cheekily adding, "...Not to mention I built it myself."
Cassius blinked, genuinely taken aback. "You built this building?" He asked, staring at the cabin, then at her.
"Of course I did!" Nala said, grinning wide. "You think I'd let someone else build something that represents me?..Not a chance."
"And a cabin like this? Nothing for me! I'm Nala, the girl who invents things that even old men can't wrap their heads around, naturally, I can build a cabin. My tail's as good as a crane, y'know." She added with a playful flick, slapping the ground with her thick coils. "Easy to move beams, easy to haul logs. It's like cheating at construction!"
"You never cease to surprise me." Cassius couldn't help but smile, shaking his head.
That only emboldened her. She beamed, eyes glittering with mischief, and pointed upward at the cabin roof.
"Then look up there! Do you see that sign? Go on, take a closer look."
Cassius followed her gesture, and sure enough, painted on a board nailed above the doorway was a bold red fish crowned with gold. The design was simple yet elegant, striking in a way that made it instantly recognizable.
"That's…" Cassius blinked. "That's the brand logo the grannies were telling me about, isn't it? The one you created for the fish trade."
Nala nodded proudly, hands on her hips.
"That's right! It's called Marina's Net. Marina's the God of Fishing, the one everyone here prays to before casting their nets. I figured, why not give our brand a divine touch?..So, what do think of it?"
Cassius studied the board again, nodding slowly as he said,
"It's good. It's really good in fact. The fish looks cute, easy to remember, and the crown makes it feel official, like something special. It feels both approachable and prestigious."
"...You also managed to balance cute and regal and made it seem as if the fish yo're selling is not just another catch of the day—but Marina's blessing itself."
Nala's whole face lit up like fireworks.
"Exactly! You get it!" She squealed, slithering in circles, clearly thrilled that he understood. "The villagers thought I was being silly when I made it—but you, you actually get my vision! Ugh, Cassius, you're the best."
Cassius laughed softly at her antics, but then tilted his head, his expression curious. "I do have a question, though…"
She paused, blinking. "What is it?"
He studied her carefully before saying, "Just who are you, Nala?"
Caught off guard, she gave a cheeky little pose, winking as she curled her tail around herself. "I'm Nala, the adorable little snake, of course!"
He chuckled, reaching forward to tug gently at her cheeks. "Yes, you most definitely are an adorable little snake."
Her giggles rang out, but his face soon grew more serious.
"No, what I mean is...what exactly are you? One moment you're a marketer, building brands and selling ideas like a seasoned merchant. The next, you're a businesswoman helping your village prosper. Then you're an innkeeper's daughter, dutiful behind the bar. Then a dancer, stealing the show with moves that could outshine professionals. And now here you are, an inventor, building strange contraptions to make life easier. And an artist too, apparently, with that logo."
"You wear so many hats, Nala...So tell me, what do you really consider yourself to be?"
The question made her pause. She tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm...that's actually a good question. I've never really thought about it before."
She went quiet for a moment, her eyes darting as though sifting through years of memories. Then, all at once, her face brightened.
"I've got it, Cassius! I know who I am."
She leaned forward, her smile brilliant before saying,
"I'm a woman of purpose!"
Cassius raised an eyebrow. "A woman of purpose? What does that mean?"
"It means..." She said, her voice steady but brimming with passion. "...that everything I do, every role I take on, is driven by purpose. By the need to accomplish something, to help someone."
"Like when I learnt to dance, it wasn't because I dreamed of being a dancer—it was because I wanted to win the dance competition in the lamia clan and smear mud in their faces."
"And when I worked behind the bar and learnt how to serve drinks, it was because I wanted to help Grandma. When I made these inventions, it was because I wanted to help the old folks in our village. And when I branded our fish, it was to save the village's economy. Every time, the purpose came first, and I just...did whatever it took to achieve it."
Her hand drifted up to push back a loose strand of hair from her face as she then went on shyly,
"People here call me a genius sometimes. But the truth is, I'm not. Not even close. Every single thing you see here...it took work." She pointed at the logo above them. "That? I drew it hundreds of times before I finally made one I was satisfied with."
"My inventions?...I scrapped dozens of failed prototypes. Months of trial and error, frustration, and late nights before I finally had something worth sharing."
"Even my dancing, do you think I was born good at it?..No. I trained every day in the forest, alone, practicing until my legs hurt, because I wanted to win, because I wanted to prove those who mocked me wrong."
Her eyes softened, though the pride in her tone never wavered.
"What I'm saying is that I'm not talented. I'm not gifted...I'm just stubborn. When I set a goal, I don't stop until it's done. That's why I call myself a woman of purpose, because with purpose, I'll find a way."
Then, with a tilt of her head and a glimmer of expectation in her eyes, she asked softly, almost playfully.
"What do you think, Cassius? Doesn't that title suit me perfectly?"
She was braced for teasing, or maybe a smug remark, something that would let her laugh and puff herself up even more.
But instead of words tumbling right back at her, she found him silent.
His gaze lingered on her, not casually, not even with amusement, lovingly. It was a loving, tender stare that made her skin prickle with heat, her breath catch in her throat.
"What? Why are you—" She started, flustered by his expression, but before she could finish, he spoke, calm and certain.
"I love you, Nala."
The words hit her like a jolt. She blinked, slithering back a few feet without thinking, her coils tightening around themselves.
"Wh-What?!" She sputtered, her face going scarlet. "What did you just say?"
Cassius didn't hesitate. He smiled and repeated, slower, firmer.
"I love you, Nala. I love you so damn much."
Her cheeks burned hotter, her voice stumbling into frustration. "W-Why would you say something like that? And out of nowhere?! You can't just, just drop confessions like that without warning! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
Cassius chuckled softly at her fluster, leaning against one of the wooden posts inside her warehouse.
"The thing is...with my wives back home, it's become a habit. I tell them I love them whenever they do something that makes me see them in a new light. Sometimes it's little things, sometimes it's big, but I never hold it back. I want them to hear it, right in the moment." His grin turned wry. "And you wouldn't believe the results. They'll pick up new hobbies, or learn something unexpected, all just to hear me say it again. It's adorable."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"And when I heard you speak just now, about how you live, how you persist, how you carve your place with sheer will...I couldn't stop myself. It made me admire you even more. So yes, I had to tell you. I love you."
Nala swallowed, her heart hammering. The warmth of his voice wrapped around her chest like a coil of its own. She looked away quickly, muttering. "Y-You idiot...don't just say things like that." But her tail betrayed her, twitching happily against the floor.
Cassius ran a hand through his hair with a sheepish smile. "Honestly, right now I feel like I'm the inferior one here. Compared to everything you've done, everything you've achieved...I feel like bowing down in your presence."
And he really looked like he meant it, half-lowering himself as if to kneel. Nala panicked instantly, darting forward to grab his shoulders.
"No, no, no! Don't you dare! There's no need for that!" She stammered, her face burning. She hesitated a beat, then added more softly. "I...I'd rather you just keep saying 'I love you' from time to time. That's more than enough."
His grin softened into a gentle smile, and he nodded. But then her confidence returned, and with a proud little smirk she added,
"Besides...you're going to fall even harder for me once you see all the inventions I've made."
Before he could reply, she grabbed his hand and eagerly pulled him toward the warehouse door. She swung it open with a flourish, and Cassius's eyes widened in awe at her workshop...