Chase

For many millenniums, witches and regular humans lived in harmony, under the benevolent eyes of the Divine creatures. The Divine are creatures that prioritize equality and peace of all things, for there are only four of them balancing each other. They were rumored to be champions of the Gods, chosen to be their host. God-bloods are what others call them. But years ago, humans began disrespecting the small supernatural beings, looking at them like they were some sort of amusement. Feeling that it was their responsibility to punish the humans for their insolence two of the grand Witches, the North and South witch decided to wage war against humanity. The Divine creatures were said to have disappeared along in time, leaving nothing but legends of their existence, thus allowing the witches to begin the war. Following the waves of attacks, the surviving countries collected people with special abilities to combat the witches, strengthening the now cornerstone of the humanity, Bairong Empire. In years that had passed, two-thirds of the world was under the witches’ control, but some witches betrayed their own race and allied with the humans by entering the Empire’s army against witches, drastically turning the tides of the war, allowing humans and some countries to survive up onto the present. The witches who began the first war are currently aiming to bring about a second one. And Lee found himself back in the Bairong Empire. It displeases him. Being back in the Empire means dealing with all the people looking at him like he was some sort of God and the walls that surrounded the empire that protected it from threats with magical barriers. He couldn’t even feel the winds blowing with those walls around. Lee focused his attention on the crowd and away from the walls of the Empire. The Bairong Empire was huge and the walls towered above all the building with the exception of the palace. The path the hunters were walking on was designed to welcome and impress nobles and other important people. There wasn’t a single ruined or damaged building in sight. Wealthy houses, expensive shops and decorations lined the street. The hunters always take this path because it leads to the inner gates of the Empire and to the palace. Lee was used on taking this path, not that he had a choice to, but he still can’t get used to the people clogging the sidewalk everytime they arrived. He was getting annoyed every minute as more people emerged from their houses curious about returning warriors, hunters of humanities greatest enemy. And it didn’t even help that the other hunters behind him was trotting slowly with their horses escorting a dozen of extravagant carriages. Right, he forgot. Some of the hunters were ordered to escort some country leaders for the alliance meeting. Oh, the joy. He really didn’t like being the center of attention. Whether they’re doing it on a purpose or not the people keep looking at him even with those extravagant and gold rimmed carriages were right behind him, it annoys him. Can’t they just look at him and just see him? Not some kind of majestic monster with scales, wings and horns. Rumors said he was next in line into becoming a Divine creature, savior of all humanity, he cursed all of it. People didn’t know. His father— The Emperor didn’t let them know that he wasn’t a dragon by blood. A witch had forcefully turned him into a monster he was now, just like his brothers but now he was alone. He was just an experiment that succeeded. His brows furrowed when his eyes caught something or rather someone lurking in the corners that seemed so out of place, dressed in ragged clothing. The people who were busy lining up in the street and whispering to each other were mostly plump and extravagantly dressed. His grip on the horse reins tightens. You really think witches are the only monster in this world? Whispered by a soft breeze in his ears and Lee pulled the cowl of his cloak to block it, whatever kind of spell it is. He really didn’t need to hear her voice right now. Magical barriers were surrounding the Empire’s walls, so that a witch like her can’t enter. The war and his position in it is his first priority not her or her voice. “Lee, are you alright?” Ray asked, one of his teammates when they escorted him out of the on-going celebration. A party before the main fight which Lee thought was weird. The arrival of other country leaders in the Empire was not just about strengthening the alliances turns out it was a strategic planning of attack against the South Witch. They had finally located the South witch’s castle. “Hey, you can ask them to pull you out in this mission, you know. You’re only the dragon left in this world. I’m sure they’ll listen to you. Your life is worth a million of ours.” Kenneth suggested a Were-fox while Ray is a spell caster, words are his powers. “That’s where you’re wrong, my life is no more important than anyone else.” Lee remarks and told them that he’ll retire for the night. The Alliance of Countries had planned a full scale attack on the South Witch’s castle and Lee will be the one to lead it. Being a dragon, the Alliances thought that they had a chance with him as the leader of the attack. They look at him with shining eyes, said he’ll be a great leader, congratulated and patted his back. Lee’s back was never been so heavy before with their faces full of overwhelming relief. He looked at his scarred hands and clenched it. He couldn’t help but hear his long lost brother’s voice speaking that small collection of four words played over and over again in his head. The golden collar tightens on his neck, reminding him that hope was nothing more than a poison wrapped in a candy wrapper, just like mana. A cold-blooded killer. But, Yue, his lost brother had sounded like he meant it, when he uttered those words, in such a soft, truthful voice, full of conviction. “I will save you.” And deep down he knew he wanted that so bad he’d sell his soul. Lee’s walk towards his room was quiet without his teammates on his side though if he’ll listen carefully the bustling sounds of activities in the main hall was at its peak. He fought the urge to go back there and freeze all those pompous leaders to death, those pigs deserved it but the golden collar on his neck tightens again reminding him of his position in this war. A breeze from the large open window of the balcony stopped him in his tracks. It’s the very first time the wind had reached and caressed his skin since he entered the walls. Turning to look at the balcony he was greeted by the sight of an all too familiar figure sitting on the railings, feet swinging and barely reaching the floor. “You.” It came out as a whisper and the head of the intruder tilted in wonder, unwavering golden eyes under the cowl of her white cloak watched him silently. “You shouldn’t be here. The walls—” “Oh, that? It wasn’t that tall.” Her attitude still gets on his nerves. “There are barriers to prevent you from entering.” He growled. She pulled back the cowl of her cloak and revealed her face with a soft amused smile. Lee notices something white and black was flicking back and forth behind her back. “The barriers were nothing to me.” Her abnormally white colored hair that marked her as his enemy, a witch, had the mixture of black stripes in it. Just like those in tigers. His eyes narrowed when her ears twitched, cat like ears to be specific. “What’s wrong, Lee? Cat got your tongue?” “What are you?” He found himself asking. He couldn’t see the golden flecks of mana dancing around her body, another sign that she was witch. Mana, the magic that naturally flows in a witch body is like poison. It corrupts the body and mind, this account for the evil and warped natures of witches. Her smile pulled into a full blown Cheshire cat grin, one that suited her well. “Catch me.” She mouthed, the winds picking up and she’s off, running away from him. And of course, Lee not someone who like to be left out and challenge by a woman nonetheless, chased after her. The war and dancing pigs was forgotten. Memory of the broken promise pushed from the back of his mind. He chased after her, watching her back, the white cloak she wore over that peasant clothes flutters with the wind. The night was beautiful, deadly and silent. Lee stood in the middle of an alley, feeling the winds caressed his body. She was around here somewhere, he can tell by just how the winds move. She had this control over the winds and Lee wonder if she was a creature of it. A streetlamp flickered on the corner and Lee straightened, brows furrowing into a scowl and hands clenching into a fist. His cyan eyes sharper than any blade as it scan the area for any indication of her hiding spot. “Well?” His voice drifted over the wind. “Will you not come out and face me? Are you not tired of this little game yet?” A sharp crack somewhere on his side was her response and he automatically spun to look for the noise. A dagger was embedded on a wooden window creating the noise, he belatedly notice as his eyes caught her sprang upward from the opposite direction, moving with inhuman speed as she kicked off the alley wall and grabbed the edge of the roof, then pulled herself up and vaulted the gap to the next roof. The moment she found her footing, she was off and running, leaping between rooftops and laughing merrily from his simple mistake and colorful cursing as Lee chased after her again. The city spread out below his feet, all the human wonder in it. It’s a shame that the humans couldn’t hear her laugh. Her voice seemingly entwined itself in the winds, a melodic purr. Different from what he usually associated with a witch’s insane cackles. “Catch me, Lee.” She taunted, gliding over a roof of a large house. Lee knows they’re in one of a noble’s household, the Rain Household he recalled. The guards seem to be asleep, at ease since they were in the innermost part of the city and close to the castle. “The moon is up tonight. Can’t you do it?” A low growl vibrated from his chest. She was always challenging him. He saw her almost slip on a tile but she just hissed in thinly veiled annoyance and dove forward into a graceful roll, tumbling off the edge of the building to land on her feet in the street below. He increased his pace in order to catch her and now she was already within his arms reach as they raced on the empty cobblestone street. He tried to snatch her up with the cloak she’s wearing but to no avail she seems like to slip through his fingers just like the wind dancing around them. His anger and frustrations build his magic to react as she mocked him, carefree and bold, continuously unreachable. She really was a cat, a stray one, so free, so at ease, unbound by obligation from anyone and anything. But by the way she carries herself in a regal manner she wasn’t just a domesticated cat. She’s a white tiger, a creature of black and white. She was the opposite of him a Dragon that can’t even fly. Up here, high above the crowded, dirty part of the Empire, the sky seems so close and he can moved more easily with her winds. He dreaded for tomorrow. Their chase came to a stop when she swung up into a branch with eased and pressed herself against a smooth trunk. There were a few moments of silence before Lee stepped out of his own shadows, the half-light of the grove casting his face into stark relief. “Tired of playing tag already?” he asked coolly, raising an eyebrow. His eyes scan their new surroundings. They pretty much stray far from the palace and now they’ve reached the darkest part of the Empire. The slums near the imposing walls. Who would have thought a tree could grow in this dry land? “Are you going?” her voice uncharacteristically lack its teasing edge, barely audible but he caught it nonetheless. “To South’s castle.” “Yeah. What’s with the sudden interest?” His lips quirked in what was nearly a smile — a dry and bitter one. He didn’t dare to ask where she got that information. She seems to know everything. “Death only awaits you at her doorstep. Knowing that, would you still go?” “I have to.” She loosened her grip on the branch and dropped soundlessly to the ground. “Because humanity relies on you to save them.” She added, arms crossing over her chest. Her golden eyes looked at him with something he couldn’t decipher. “Yeah.” He turned his eyes away from her gaze. He barely stopped the sarcasm in his answer. It had come to the point that their reliance on him had become unpleasant. He thought that being relied or trusted is a good thing but for every little thing he does for them they expect more. Unpleasant, really. “What’s this?” He jolted and automatically responded from the touch on his neck, he caught her wrist. For the first time, he touched her just because she approached him and touched the cursed collar on his neck. Wide gold eyes look up to him. “Ah.” She hissed, and it’s half realization, half fury. “I knew it. You’re bound. Then everything that you have done for humanity was ordered to you by your master. Everything—” His grip on her wrist tightens, “No. Not everything.” He caught her eyes and tried to convey the entire message with it. Silently, pleadingly he stared at her like she was the last promise of shelter in a storm, the last open door when all others are closed. Fortunately, she understands lifting something very heavy from his back. “What do you want, Lee?” “Leave. And don’t ever come back in here.” He whispered, eyes closing as he leaned onto her hand and pressed his cheek. “…If you insist.” Twining her arms around his neck, Lee leaned and captured her lips for the first and last time. The trees rustled madly, as though caught in windstorm. And when he opened his eyes, she was gone with his heart. 0-0-0-0 Lee shook his head and laughed a little psychotically as the city burns. Their supposed to be full scale attack was postponed by the witches ambush on their meeting point. All hell broke loose and when the South Witch arrived, called by the explosions and destruction, the warriors from different countries, supposed to be humanities strongest soldiers all but froze and turn tail when the South witch just pointed a finger showing them a glimpse of what hell looks like. They left him alone in the middle of battlefield where many civilians were screaming their lungs out in fear of witches, falling debris's, fire engulfing and the boulders flying out of nowhere. They all left him alone to deal with everything. It’s not like he lacks in leadership skills and he never got too much engrossed in fighting he forgot his surrounding. He check on his team always, what to do, where they are, wondering if they’re alright, still walking, anything else because he’s the leader and the dammed Dragon they looked up so much. He didn’t lack anything. Inability to overcome fear is human. And right now he hated how cowardly their action was. Did they even think about the consequences? Did it even cross their mind that he couldn’t be at two places at once? Did they even know that it doesn’t mean he have magic, he was invincible? Immortal can be beaten too. Aren’t they all aware of the basic moral lessons from fairy-tales that mighty dragons can be beaten too? How can they be so irresponsible at a time like this when this was supposed to be their war not his? How can they even win this when they don’t have the courage to fight in it? If only he knows they’re going to push all the work on him and leave him alone to deal with the almighty South who was feared as the short-fused humanoid typhoon mass of destruction and did nothing but blow things up left and right, he had long left them alone. A cackle not far from him had Lee losing his control over his dragon features in this dire situation where his life was threatened. His wings tear through the back of his shirt, unfurling threateningly, scales replacing his tender skin to protect and his horns just peek through his ruffled light colored locks. “Ah. The rumored dragon, huh?” It’s the South Witch, her flaming red hair seems hotter than the fires she can released. “Fascinating.” She waved her hands on her sides and everything explodes. He thought he could stand against her. She was fire and he was Ice. Ice was supposed to be stronger and yet he could do nothing but protect himself from the onslaught of attacks. Every wave, every mocking laugh and every syllable from her mouth seems to make things explode and destroy. The humanoid typhoon mass of destruction she was indeed. They utterly underestimated the South Witch and sent their precious Dragon into his own funeral party with beautiful explosive fireworks. He didn’t even know if there were even civilian left in the area, couldn’t even feel his limbs from the burns or how many craters did the South Witch had created in order to scorch him to death. What he knows is just he can’t take it anymore, his body couldn’t hold it anymore and his heart longs for the moments where the war seem so far, where the winds blew as the darkness finally engulfs him. He thought hell was scorching hot, full of screams of agony and pain just like what the South witch had kindly demonstrated to him but he was wrong, it was dark, cold, harsh and the chains on his body was heavy, pressing down his wings on the cold ground. He didn’t dare lift his head when he heard footsteps, must be his imagination. Probably some kind of new torture, the whole bound tirade was getting boring for him. That was basically his life when he was still alive given if he really was in hell. His eyes open in surprised when something struck him from behind and shatter every chain on his body. He cringed when light infiltrated his sight. Blinking slowly, he turned to the source of the footstep. “What are you doing here?” Golden lights were dancing around her as she regarded him with a glance. “You only told me to never come back in the Bairong Empire. I don’t think the bridge between life and death was included.” The bridge between life and death, she says. “You call this a bridge?” She rolled her eyes, “i***t. You’re too busy wallowing in self pity you didn’t notice you’re still alive. And everyone was panicking outside they sent me here to wack some sense into you, Lee.” She literally wack his head with the dull side of the black sword she’s holding. “The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason why you held so long.” She narrowed her eyes at him. He blinked and looked at his hands, free from the chains. The golden collar breaks and shatter to pieces. He’s still alive, miraculously. “I didn’t give up.” She rolled her eyes again, “Then why are you still kneeling over there. Hurry up and stand.” He tried but his wings were so heavy and he can’t furl it back into its normal state. The chains were gone but the weight still remains. “That thing on your back looks heavy.” He felt a cold blade pressed onto the joints of his wings connected to his back. He glared at her, hating how she knows everything. “I can help you get rid of it, your answer?” He looked at her seeing the seriousness on her normally amused face, he contemplated his answer. It wasn’t all about his wings. It’s everything that he carried in his whole life, the burned, hopes, expectations and wishes. It was part of him. “No. Just let it be. I will definitely let you see them raise and open on their own.” “That’s good then. I’ll see you at the top, Lee.” 0-0-0-0-0 “The Empire was in chaos with our disappearance.” Ray murmured from his seat on the train. Their destination was unknown. They need to be far from the walls of the Empire. “With Lee gone, I doubt they’ll find a replacement that fast.” Kenneth answered, cheeks pressed on the window boredom evident on his face. “Still humanity stands. They didn’t fall like we thought they would.” Lee comments, eyes watching the lush of green the train passed by through the window. “Don’t make it sound that you almost dying was nothing.” Ray frowned, vividly remembering the battle against the South witch and their rescuers. “Well, he’s still alive, isn’t he? Thanks to that witch and people in white cloak. I still couldn’t believe there was another dragon beside Lee and from the east! It doesn’t have any wings but it could fly! You should have seen how it drives the South witch away. She didn’t even stand a chance!” The Were-fox cheerfully informed, eyes twinkling in fascination and clear admiration. Lee slightly frowned. Now that was new, another dragon just like him. “I wonder who is she? That witch. She seems to know you Lee.” “I don’t know her name. That is why I’m going to find out.” He smiled, the wind caressing his skin from the open window. How ironic everything is. His salvation comes into the most unexpected form, an annoying woman with a sassy attitude. A Divine, Ray informed him about it, and a Witch. A creature of both worlds. Weirdly enough, Lee found he preferred her more than anyone else.