Mega Dragon: Harbinger of Death

A STRANGE SCENT

“Of course I’m aware. But why are you here so early? The ball doesn’t happen for another week,” Ara said. Neither he nor Zenon could be carefree around her. She was the biggest threat to them on Maori after all.

“Relax. I thought I’d come see my friends,” she teased. She hopped gleefully around which only further irritated Ara and Zenon. The other four – Vela, Aroha, Zhiyi and Kiro seemed a little less worried. There was nothing they could do anyways.

“Friend? Says the person that tried to kill us the last time,” Zenon riposted.

“And I told you it was an accident. Besides, if that had worked, then neither of you would be worthy of the titles you hold, right?”

That was how she was. Everything was a game to her and everyone were pawns. She stared at Aroha and Zhiyi with disgusts. She hated the Renoffs and the purebloods even more. They claimed to be the purest druid human bloodline but they didn’t produce the strongest one. Just like the Rales. They claimed to be the purest beast human bloodline but it was the Crofts who produced the strongest beast human – possibly the strongest individual on Maori since the divine creatures went extinct. But she liked Vela. She didn’t know her too much, but she loved that non-Renoffs were outperforming the Renoffs within the capital. Especially at that young age.

“Hello, Vela. Where did you pick up these two?” she said with so much disgust. “This one doesn’t look so bad. Yours?” she said staring at Kiro.

“We were in the middle of something, Yeelva. We will have an apartment prepared for you immediately,” Ara said. He never could stand the sight of her, even as pretty as she was.

“Faster than I can get there? We both know that’s not possible,” she goaded.

“Well, if you had announced your coming, yes.”

“It’s alright. I know you don’t like me being around you, but live with it. Your father seems to like the idea, as do my king. So, we will be seeing each other for the longest time,” she teased. She ran her fingers down his chest and unsurprisingly triggering Zhiyi, but surprisingly Aroha as well. But unlike Zhiyi, Aroha had no fear nor restraint.

She grabbed Yeelva by the arm and yanked it off Ara. “What do you think you’re doing to my date?” she snapped. Even Ara was surprised by her reaction. Were his feelings finally getting reciprocated?

“Oh, are you trying to pick a fight?” Yeelva teased. She knew that Aroha was no match for her, but she would be stupid to start a fight with Ara and Zenon around.

“Try me,” Aroha goaded. There was a fire in her eyes that made even Yeelva so cautious that she jumped a step back. It was the first time in a long while that someone made her retreat.

“What the hell are you?” Yeelva said. She stared at Aroha for what seemed like forever. However, Vela, Zhiyi and Ara were well aware of what was happening. It wasn’t their first time seeing it. Zhiyi had seen her that way several times. Her druid mana was going berserk, just like the time with the wyvern. The question on their minds was, why?

“It’s alright, Aroha. We both know you won’t win, so let’s save this for later,” Zhiyi said as she pulled Aroha back. “I apologize on behalf of my sister,” she added.

Yeelva could see how refined Zhiyi’s druid mana was. She coated herself with it before touching Aroha. A technique that she had learnt from Vela – the same one that Yeelva uses, only one a different level. Aroha’s mana on the other hand was all over the place. It was impressive, however, something else bothered Yeelva. She could see it, but she couldn’t understand it. Unfortunately, she was the only one who could see. Aroha’s mana within herself was taking a form that she had never seen on Maori. The outer parts which were easier to see acted as a cover. Maybe that was why everyone else thought it was not out of the ordinary. But Yeelva could see what Aroha’s trigger was. And she was bent on finding out what it was.

“You spawn of the devil,” she made to move forward but Ara held her hand.

“That’s enough, Yeelva. Don’t make a scene. You know her status in this kingdom,” Ara said.

She bit her lips as she yanked her hand off his grip. “If you think she’s normal, then you all are a lot dumber than I thought,” she said before she stormed out. Ara went with her to make sure she didn’t cause any trouble, and to also prepare a place for her to stay.

Aroha looked a lot calmer. She wasn’t sure why she flared up but she was glad she did. Ara and Zenon were probably being polite for the sake of their kingdoms. Yeelva was unnerving! Unlike with her, if either of Ara or Zenon were to challenge her to a fight, it could mean a declaration of war – which goes against everything the armistice stood for. With her, it would be regarded as a squabble since she never really posed a threat to Yeelva anyway. But why was she so flustered? If she moved the way she did earlier, Aroha wouldn’t even know what hit her before she lost consciousness.

“I have to say, I am so glad you stood up to her,” Vela said after Ara and Yeelva were long out of sight.

“Be careful though. We don’t want her picking interest in you. She can be unnecessarily clingy,” Zenon said before he left. Aroha shrugged her shoulders upon hearing that

“She hates us, doesn’t she?” Zhiyi asked.

“Well aren’t you preemptive,” Vela said. It might have been obvious because of Yeelva’s obnoxious attitude, but she detested the Renoffs. The claim of being the purest druid humans made her furious. Her only respite was that she was the strongest of all the human druids. Even the fabled Gero and Miya Renoff were beneath her. She knew very well who Aroha and Zhiyi were. She knew a lot about their family even though she detested them. She just had to know. As much as she would hate to admit it, she learnt a lot form the research done by Aroha’s parents. She always thought they would have been so much more if they were not so interested in healing others. She was the polar opposite of a pacifist – a warmonger was what she was.

Seeing her developed the girls made her irate. But seeing Aroha possess something that was beyond her comprehension made her beyond furious. Her eyes were set on her and Vela, Ara and Zenon were well aware hence his warning. They just needed to hold out until after the ball. Yeelva wasn’t stupid enough to go after Aroha, especially on Croft grounds. And after the ball, she had no reason to stay. They would at least make sure of that.

“But we haven’t done anything to her,” Aroha said.

“I think Kiro here understands a bit better. Whatever the reason was that he hated nobles had nothing to do with you two. Yet, you were caught up with it. I don’t know exactly what stemmed her hatred for the Renoffs, but she is also a huge admirer of your parents,” Vela said.

The girls were stunned. “Then why?” Aroha asked again.

“She’s special because she’s on top. But both of you are special because of the family you were born into. Do you understand now?” Vela added.

Aroha had never really given it a thought. She was born into this life of privileges and she never knew anything else. Same with Zhiyi. They had been riding on the coattails of their parents all their lives. That was why they desperately wanted to be healers so they could finally stand on their own. It was their chance to step away from their parents’ immense shadows.

But their lives were so much better than most. Vela for example was a gifted druid human. But because she was not born a Renoff, she was barely accorded her due respect even after rising to the rank of vice grand healer – the same rank Aroha and Zhiyi’s parents occupied. Yeelva probably suffered a similar case. The Aiwans were not of noble blood, but there wee a family of druid humans. Yeelva’s rise to the very top of Maori was the only reason they were recognized. Otherwise, their name would have been lost along with many other mix-breed families.

Although it could be argued that Miya and Gero made the Renoff name bigger and a whole lot more important, the Renoffs had always been regarded as nobility. They had always been a family of gifted healers because of their pure bloodline and as such held a great importance in Croft kingdom.

“As a person who has dabbled long in hatred and revenge, I can only give you one advise. Watch your backs,” Kiro said before leaving as well.

It was a long walk back to the Healers Nest. They would have to return to the Renoff manor a few days before the ball so they had to relish in the time they had away from it. They did not miss the manor in any way.

In a way, Zhiyi was glad that Yeelva was present in the capital. With someone as powerful and perceptive as she was, the enemy was more unlikely to make a move. And if they did, they had a better chance of dealing with them once and for all. It was a win-win. Perhaps that was what king Reagan Croft was aiming for. He might not just be a stubborn king after all.

She wished their parents would attend the ball but she was certain they wouldn’t. There had been many balls in the capital all the time they were in Juza village and their parents never once attended. They might see it as a chance to visit their children or they might be worried that it was too soon to be coming to see then. She was certain that Aroha would act out if they came. It was looking bleaker the more she thought about it.

As they walked, Aroha caught a whiff of something that made her choke. Before she knew it a memory ran through her head again. It was a memory she had hoped to forget.

***

The girls ran as fast as their feet permitted them to. The skies were filled with even more wyverns this time. It confirmed their worst fears. Zenon had fallen. And amidst all the wyverns that roamed the skies was one that she remembered all too well – the wyvern that spoke to her! It was strange, but its presence brought a sense of calm. Amidst the rancor around her, that was most the most soothing moment. For her alone, however. Zhiyi was still quite a mess.

“What are you doing here, my lady? It is still too early for you to be here,” the wyvern said. But like last time, only Aroha heard it. Its words were even more puzzling this time. The entire atmosphere was puzzling. They were running heedlessly with no certainty that safety lied ahead of them. But they ran nonetheless. This was no time for riddles. Aroha had enough on her plate, but a royal wyvern was not the type of creature you would throw a tantrum at.

So, she spoke calmly. “I don’t understand,” was the only thing she could utter that was not fueled by anger. Only desperation.

“For all our sakes, I hope you never do,” the wyvern said. And like their previous encounter, it left Aroha with a mystery she had no hope of solving.

***

While she relived this dreadful moment, well aware that it was a dream, Aroha clutched her chest as she fell to the ground. All attempts to call her passed over her head.

“Aroha! Aroha!”