The Dragon's Flame Queen

Chapter 4 - Preparation of Departure

Chapter 4.

Seraphina was barely able to walk as she stumbled into Merlene's house and fell right on the floor near the door. Merlene heard the sound and walked up to the door only to find unconscious Seraphina at her door.

"Sera? Sera, what's wrong?" Merlene panicked as she tried to wake Seraphina up but she was out cold.

Merlene took her in and paced across the room as Seraphina was sleeping on the bed, her breaths were unstable which said she wasn't sleeping so well. Merlene chewed the insides of her cheek and wondered if she should go to the guild Hall and ask Master Jord what happened that she ended up in this situation. Did someone attack her? And, how did she end up in such condition? Seraphina could easily overpower anyone, then this condition was totally confusing. Merlene felt the dread coiling in the pit of her stomach as she sat near Seraphina and her eyes widened as she felt no magic presence from her.

"What the heck? Why can't I feel her magic?" She muttered and then held her hand feeling for the pulse which was unstable. The warmth was there but somehow the magic aura that Seraphina emanated was gone completely without any traces.

"What the– how is this possible? How could her magic disappear like this?" Merlene was close to lose it when Seraphina slowly cracked her eyes open and Merlene looked at her.

"Sera, what happened? Who did this to you?" She asked, Seraphina opened her mouth barely able to get words out. Merlene gritted her teeth, the magic energy was life energy for a wizard and whoever had stolen her magic aura had nearly killed her in process.

"Who did this?" Merlene growled and Seraphina breathed, unable to speak, the agony rose in Merlene's chest to watch Seraphina like this.

Seraphina's thumb gingerly brushed over her hand and Merlene was barely able to control her fury. She brushed her hand over Seraphina's head and decided that whoever had done this with her sister would have to pay.

Seraphina fell asleep again and Merlene left the house stomping towards the Guild Hall. She burst in through the doors and walked right over to Asilax who was the only one who always picked fights with Seraphina. She grabbed the front of his shirt and plucked him up from the ground.

"What did you do with Sera?" She demanded, the fire in her eyes was enough to make anyone feel as if he was staring into the furnace of hell.

"No-Nothing." Asilax said.

"Don't lie to me, what did you do you her?" She demanded, slamming his back against the stone pillar making all of the guild to look at what was happening.

"Nothing, I swear." Asilax winced, "It was her who threw me off for no reason at all."

"Merlene!" Merlene turned to look at Master Jord who had called, "Come in my office." He said and disappeared in his office.

Merlene let go of Asilax and walked off towards Master Jord's office. She entered inside and was instantly faced by a question.

"What's going on? What were you doing, Merlene?" Master Jord asked.

"Someone attacked Seraphina and stole her magic aura. She's barely conscious. I want to know who did it." Merlene spoke.

"I did it." Jord said and Merlene's eyes widened.

"You... what?"

"Her powers are getting out of hands and this was the only way of stopping her from causing any trouble until she was married off to some good man." Jord said and Merlene gritted her teeth.

"Why? Why strip her off all her magic though? You know magic energy is life energy of a wizard yet, you went and did that to her?!" Merlene's voice rose and Jord looked at her.

"I know your concern, Merlene. But I haven't completely stripped her off her powers." Jord said, it didn't reduce Merlene's anger though.

"I have simply sealed it for time sake. At the right time the seal will be broken and she will be able to use her flames again." He explained.

"You do know that could kill her, right?" She asked feeling the fire within her boiling her blood.

"She is a strong child. I know she can pull through."

"What if she can't?" Merlene hissed and Jord sighed. He pulled out three sealed letters from his drawer and placed them on the table.

"I've received responses for the marriage proposal." He said and Merlene scowled at the letters wishing they'd burn under her gaze and not even ashes stay behind.

The seals gave off the identities of the guilds they came from; the three fire guilds, two of which once had good relations with Arctic Flames and were far more inferior in status in comparison.

"Have you accepted any of these?" Merlene asked and he shook his head.

"Two of them are the ones who were beaten up by Sera. I'm worried that they might end up exacting revenge or something if I give her to any of them." He said.

"What about this third one?" She asked and noticed which guild exactly it was from.

"Raven Ire! Why on earth did you send a proposal to them?" She demanded as she grabbed that particular letter and ripped it apart.

"Merlene!"

"You can send Sera there over my dead body." Merlene said, the Raven Ire guild was one of the guilds who had a very notorious reputation for bullying their own guild members and some rumors said that they had even killed a few of their own. There were also rumors that Raven Ire was allied with the Dark Guilds who were responsible for the terrorism and other illegal activities.

"I wouldn't have accepted it without you telling, Merlene." Jord said sounding defeated.

"You've sealed her powers, isn't that enough? Why are you still persisting that she should be married?" Merlene asked.

"You know the reason, Merlene. Sera is at your place, right? Let her stay there till we find a good suitor."

Merlene could feel the ground beneath her feet slowly turning black because of the fire that was slipping. She knew talking to him was of no use, he completely believed that Seraphina's marriage was the only way to save her. Finding it completely useless to rely on anyone for Seraphina, Merlene left the guild Hall wordlessly.

The heat waves emanated from Merlene which automatically drove the people on the street away from her. Being the Guardian of Arctic Flames what good had she done. The girl whom she had vowed to protect was just being sent off and she couldn't do anything about it. The thought drove Merlene's anger till the level that she would've exploded. She reached home and found Seraphina still in bed awake but looking as if she was staring off into the space.

"Sera? How are you feeling now?" She asked as she went straight to Seraphina.

"Dead." Seraphina whispered and Merlene closed her eyes resting her forehead beside Seraphina's. Was there any way to save her?

The next day in the guild Hall a wizard with a different magic aura entered making the Fireborn wizards shoot up in alarm.

"Waterborn?" Asilax hissed beside Carson.

"Why is he here?" Fred wondered as the Waterborn wizard entered wearing a long greyish blue kimono and with an aura which made them uneasy.

"Wait, right there." Nerion interjected the foreign wizard.

"Regarding what purpose have you come here?" He asked, the wizard smiled.

"I apologize but I am only to disclose the matter to Guild Master Jord Flameheart. So, are the orders of our Guild Master Ryujin Narumi." The name sent the chills down everyone's spines.

"Ryujin Narumi?" Nerion gasped, "Bu-But why would he send you here?" The wizard smiled slyly.

"I wonder about it as well." He spoke, "Now, may I know where can I find Guild Master Jord Flameheart?" He asked.

"I am Jord Flameheart." Jord announced as he walked out, "Who are you?"

The Waterborn bowed and then straightened up with a smile that would be suited on a snake's face, "Greetings, Master Flameheart, I am Kai and I've come from the guild Oracle Hearts. My Master Ryujin sent me here to deliver his message. Can we have a word in private?"

Jord eyed his guild members who seemed on edge and then at the wizard, "Alright. Come on in." He gestured towards his office.

The Waterborn wizard eyed the glaring wizards with a smug look in his eyes as he walked inside the office and the door closed behind him.

"What is it that Ryujin wants from me?" Jord asked once they were alone.

"He sent this for you." Kai pulled out a scroll from the sleeve of his kimono and handed it to Jord. Jord unrolled the scroll and blinked in surprise as he read what was written inside.

"Are you serious?" Jord exclaimed as he read the entire thing.

"Certainly." Kai answered, "Elder Master Bernard himself asked Master Ryujin for this alliance."

"Master Bernard did..."

"You can take your time to decide, Master Flameheart. Our Master said he doesn't want your guild but he wants the conditions he specified in the scroll to be fulfilled." Kai said and Jord once again looked at the three highlighted conditions.

"First: The use of magic will be forbidden for Miss Flameheart,

Second: Miss Flameheart would treat the guild members of Oracle Hearts as her own family members and treat them with kindness and respect and,

Third: Miss Flameheart would never see her father or her guild again."

The third condition was like a knife in his chest. He would never see his daughter if he accepted this proposal. Jord had heard a lot of things about the Oracle Hearts's young Guild Master Ryujin Narumi. He was quite strong and a young age of twenty he had managed to gain the King Tier spells, sooner or later he'd be an Emperor Tier as well. He was the second person from the Waterborn wizards who had the title of King Tiers while none of other Wizard races had any young King Tiers. If he had accepted the marriage proposal with Seraphina then, maybe it was alright to say yes. Ryujin was said to be a respectable man and he was kind to his guild members, if Seraphina was married to him she would live a good life.

With a heavy heart Jord gave his answer to Kai and the messenger grinned.

"My Master will be delighted to hear this. Prepare the bride to be sent to Coralisle within four days." Kai said and left the office. Jord still held onto the scroll.

***

Celia stood near Naomi as she was giving her measurements for the dresses that were especially being made for her to wear in the Dragon's land.

"Raise your hands a little, Princess." The woman taking her measurements said and Naomi rose her hands more, Celia found it annoying as Naomi was just being treated as a sacrificial animal and she was completely fine with it.

After the tiring measuring session Naomi plopped on the bed and Celia stood near the foot of her bed.

"Why do you still have a long face, Celia?" Naomi asked as she looked at Celia.

"Because whatever's going on seems like a farce to me."

"It's not a farce, Celia. It's marriage preparations."

"You are supposed to be sent there and your marriage will take place without the presence of His Majesty and you would never see him or this place again." Celia clarified a bit to sharply which made Naomi sigh.

"That's... alright if they stay happy."

"Stop." Celia sighed, "Stop being like this. It's suicidal!"

"Celia." Naomi sat up with a determined face, "Ever since I'm born I have been showered with lots of love and kindness from all the people here and now when I get a chance to repay them you ask me to stop being like this?"

"Protecting your family is suicidal? Tell me, if you had been in my place would you have refused for the only source which could help the entire humanity?" Naomi's words made Celia shut her mouth.

"It is not only about me, Celia. The fate of humanity is based on this marriage so," Naomi turned away, "even if I don't want this marriage. I'll have to do it and I will do it." Celia failed to notice the tear drop that slid down Naomi's cheek as she turned away.

"Fine, do as you please but don't expect me to enjoy the freedom gained by your bondage." Celia left the room and Naomi closed her eyes lying back down as she let a few more tears escape.

After a while there was a knock on the door and the guard announced her father's arrival. She quickly got up from the bed and dried her eyes. King Theodore Van Campbell entered and the doors were closed behind him, Naomi dipped in a graceful courtesy and he walked up to her.

"Good evening, Father." Naomi spoke softly.

"Naomi..." Theodore sighed, Naomi noticed that he wasn't wearing his crown as of now.

"Is there something you want to talk about, father?" She asked.

"Yes," Theodore replied heavily, "It is regarding your marriage."

The heaviness settled in Naomi's chest as she sat down with her father on the armchairs.

"You must have heard about the Second Prince by now." He said and Naomi nodded. She sure had heard some really bad things about him from all her maids who said that the Prince was Satan's spawn and was extremely rude, arrogant and merciless.

"I believe all of those are rumours created by those who fear Dragons." He said and Naomi tilted her head to one side.

"The dragons are kind beings and in exchange of this marriage they are ready to provide us with everything that could help in our growth." He said with a greedy spark in his eyes, Our? Where was our when she wasn't there?

"You will depart from here in four days and stay there from then on." He said, "I'll come visit you often." He smiled and Naomi smiled back, she knew that smile was false, she knew that her father might not come to see her, just as Celia had said.

"This marriage will be the best thing of your life, child. Trust me." He said as he laughed. Naomi sensed the false laughter and the greediness hidden beneath it.

"Certainly, father."

"You have the fate of entire humanity in your hands, my child." He said and Naomi clasped her hands.

"I understand, father."

"My dear daughter." Theodore said as he took Naomi's hands in his, "Oh, how happy I am!"

"Me as well." Naomi replied.

"Oh, well. You won't be going there alone. I'll arrange a maid to accompany you there."

"As you wish, father."

"My precious child." Theodore smiled widely as he squeezed her hands in his and then left the room happily.

The tears that Naomi struggled to hide now broke free and flowed down, there was no choice. It wasn't only for her father's greediness, it was for those who lived in conditions worse than Naomi could imagine.

"I'll do it." Naomi whispered as she walked over to her bed and lied down, "I'll marry him."

"I'll be his bride. I'll take everything that he throws at me. It's for my people. It's for entire humanity. Their fate lies in my hands. If I don't marry him everything will be gone..."

***

The black strands danced as the cool breeze passed through them, he rose the cup filled with sake up to his lips and took a sip watching the bright full moon. The black kimono that he wore contrasted against his milky white skin and his eyes seemed like the serene blue lakes. Sitting outside in the verandah facing the cherry blossom tree with a small pond and a compound wall he felt rather peaceful. Ryujin Narumi aging only twenty two was a young man who had taken up his duties and responsibilities as the Guild Master of Oracle Hearts. His great magic and caliber had gained him a reputation across the countries.

Ryujin was quite surprised when his predecessor Elder Master Bernard had suddenly shown up a day before with a marriage proposal for him. He would've been less surprised if it were of a Waterborn girl but the proposal he brought was of a woman who was quite notorious for creating disasters wherever she went. The Flame Queen of Arctic Flames. He had clearly refused to even have a look at the proposal but after Master Bernard's continual pleads he had seen the proposal and after pondering over it for a while, he came up with three conditions.

Firstly, Ryujin couldn't let that Fireborn run freely around using magic and destroying the peace of his country so, he decided that she would be forbidden from using her magic. That would keep the people from getting hurt and help the others approach her even after her being from the Fireborn race.

Secondly, as he had heard that Arctic Flames was a guild which always erupted in the barfights within the guild members, so he doubted if they had any sense of familial ties among them. If she came here and started fights among his guild members then it would weaken his guild and that was clearly unacceptable for him. So, the second condition Ryujin decided was that she would treat his Guild members like her own family; with respect and kindness.

Thirdly, as he had learned from the other Elders that the Guild Master of Arctic Flames was responsible in his daughter turning out like this. Now, if he wanted to tame The Flame Queen then he'd have to keep her away from her past life and all the people who could coax her back into her destructive behavior. That would create a chaos, so, the third condition that Ryujin placed was that, she would have to cut all the ties with her father and her guild and she could never return to her birthland after marriage with him.

The last condition on a general view was quite cruel but Ryujin didn't want to let chaos running around his town in the form of his wife. The Flame Queen had quite a reputation which even he feared till some point, and if he could then he would tame her for the good of everyone.

"It is for everyone's good." He whispered as he took another sip watching as the pink cherry blossom petals rode on the wind swirling before him and then flying away.

"What a beautiful night!" His delightful smile only added grace to his beauty.