Mega Dragon: Harbinger of Death

POTENTIAL

Ara and Vela remained with the subjects in the Croft Laboratorium after Aroha and Zhiyi had left. The Lykan was still a lot shaken from the previous incident but they didn’t worry about it too much. It would get over it sooner or later. The key thing would just be to keep Aroha from the place for the time being. Although, it is also very unlikely that she would want to return. The guards notified Ara of a guest and both he and Vela quickly got to their feet to acknowledge his presence. It was Jerome Leroya; Croft’s Supreme Sorcerer and the King’s left-hand man. He was tall and had a very thin build. He donned a white and red; which was a symbol of his office as the Croft kingdom’s Supreme Sorcerer.

However, if not for how delicate his skin was, he could have been mistaken for being malnourished. His bones poked out from everywhere there were bones. His dark hair was well-trimmed and his red eyes were the only thing that shone on his pale face. Sorcerers gained red eyes when they attain a very high level. It is a sign that they could cast spells without incantations. But there were very few sorcerers on Maori. Even fewer at that level. So, the Croft kingdom took pride in Jerome. And he was still quite young as well. He was in his mid-thirties. There was a pleasant aura about him. His face was always lit up with an intrigued expression. As a sorcerer, he was naturally curious about many things. From people to creatures and many other things as well. He gestured for the two to be at ease. Even Ara had a deep respect for him.

The shivering Lykan caught his attention. Lykans were strong fierce creatures that were no easy to break. There were very few people in the kingdom that could achieve that feat and two of them were before him. But if they wanted to, they would have done so long ago. The Lykan had never bent to them before so naturally, he was curious. “What happened to the Lykan?” Jerome asked. His eyes narrowed as he observed the Lykan further. Every step he took towards the Lykan only caused it to shiver even more.

Ara gestured for him to stop. “It’s in really bad shape. I think it needs some time alone,” he said.

Jerome was more surprised. Who could have done that to a Lykan? It was his first time witnessing something like that. Anything that would make a Lykan react that way would probably have killed it first. That was how tough they could be. “If I may ask, who is responsible for this?” he asked one more time. His interest was at its peak.

“Well, it encountered one of Gero Renoff’s daughters. She went a little overboard. Nothing serious,” Ara replied. If he had a choice, he wouldn’t have mentioned them at all. But Jerome was bound to find out. At the very least, he could lead him towards the direction he wanted him to go. There was no need to publicize Aroha’s condition as well. However, anyone who met her would know instinctively that something was wrong with her.

“They have arrived?” Jerome asked.

“Yes. Last night.”

“I’m guessing the older that did this?” Jerome asked again. He noticed the surprise on their faces. “Oh, the Grand healer mentioned her mana potential once or so. The look on your faces suggests I’m right, however. That’s good to know,” he said.

Vela wasn’t so pleased with the development. Jerome’s interest in the girls would never end there. His curiosity was insatiable. And the girls didn’t need that type of distraction. Especially the more unsettled Aroha. “Yes. They also enrolled in the Healers Nest this morning. I will be personally taking them under my wings,” Vela said, but the feigned smile on her face could not hide the venom behind her words. Jerome understood that. She was marking her territory, warning him to stay away. He had more authority than her so he could ignore it, but Vela was also one of those ‘things’ in the kingdom that he couldn’t figure out yet. So he often granted her special treatments. This time was no different, so he simply smiled back.

“I came to see you about something, prince Ara. Could I maybe have a word with you?” Jerome asked.

“Of course,” Ara replied before impulsively looking in Vela’s direction.

“Oh, don’t look at me. My work here is done so I’ll be returning to the nest now. Have fun,” Vela waved as she left. She was delighted to. Jerome’s nosiness always creeped her out. She would try her best to keep him out of the Renoff girls’ hair too.

***

Zenon trailed behind the Renoff girls as Zhiyi chased after a frustrated Aroha. She muttered so much to herself but Zhiyi could hear so little. Why was she so angry? It couldn’t have been because he refused to fight back. She was sure that Aroha could see the same thing she did. The sadness that hid under that apathetic face and the a***e that gave birth to it. Another one of the numerous sins that the royals would never be able to atone for. But if that was the case, shouldn’t she be angry for him than at him? She clutched her fist so hard that Zhiyi feared that she might hit any one of the people around them.

“I hit him so hard the next time I see him cheerful,” was one of the many curses that Aroha muttered as she stormed through the market. The people around them knew better than to stay in her path. For all the things they cared about, Aroha was not helping the Renoff image one bit. In fact, she was returning the sand to the grave where their reputation was buried. The final touches were remarkable. Aroha was doing such a good job.

It was of little surprise to Zhiyi and it made her worry even more. It was the same way she started back at Juza and that was how she slipped into the abyss that she often took solitude in. Quickly, she had no one who wanted to be around her and the more they left, the angrier she got. Zhiyi believed this was the source of Aroha’s anger and not some inherited rage from the druids. That was the reason she was still speaking to so many people in the capital. It was a fresh start even though it was a bad one. But there was still time for retribution. Even if Aroha wouldn’t be accepted by society, she at least needed a group of people that she could find solace. Just like with her and her parents back at Juza. Unfortunately for her, her family in the capital; the Renoffs, were more likely to earn her scorn than anyone else. Except for the blacksmith they just left. Zhiyi decided to attribute Aroha’s crankiness to hunger. Neither of them had had breakfast and noon was charging at full tilt towards them. They had to head back, but they both had no idea the path to take. They had long strayed off the path they were familiar with. At the same time, they both came to a halt. Aroha had come to that realization as well.

Zenon noticed as well that the girls didn’t know their way back. Of everyone in the capital, they were probably the only ones who didn’t know the way to the Renoff Manor. “You don’t mind me accompanying you home, right? Zenon asked politely.

“Ah, yes. Not because we’re lost or anything. We just feel a lot safer with you around. That’s all,” Zhiyi said.

Zenon rose an eyebrow. Safer? The same people who beat up all those guards? If anything, the people would be much safer with him around them because he could stop them from beating anyone up. Or just Aroha. Zhiyi was the calmer one. He was certain that Aroha was the one who dragged them into that mess and that Zhiyi had no choice but to follow her big sister. Poor Zhiyi.

“Of course. I’m right behind you,” he said. He didn’t tell them, but they were already off the route to the Manor for some time. That was what prompted him to believe they were lost. But why was Aroha so stubborn? What would it take for her to admit that they were lost? And her sister had no choice but to play along. Poor Zhiyi.

“Right. It’s this way,” Zhiyi said as they continued walking forward. Aroha pinched her and Zhiyi pinched her right back. At that rate, it would take forever for them to get home. Surely, it was better for them to ask Zenon, so why was Zhiyi lying about it all?

Zenon watched the girls from behind. To him, Aroha was pressuring Zhiyi to lie some more. He knew they were going the wrong way. Sooner or later he would have to tell them. Not for Aroha’s sake but Zhiyi’s. She had to lie to protect her sister’s ego. Surely, if it were only her, she would have asked for his help. But she had to side with her sister even if it could put her in trouble. Just like how they got into the trouble he met them in. Poor Zhiyi.

“It’s actually that way,” he said, pointing to the left. They could finally end all the hoaxes.

“Ah yes. Sure. That’s what I meant,” Zhiyi said as she looked at Aroha. Her expression was one of duress, but yet again, Zenon misread it.

Such sisterly love. Zenon admired the sacrifice that Zhiyi was making for her obnoxious sister. Having two other brothers, he knows how annoying older siblings could be. They would make him take the blame for everything when they were all little. He was sure that Aroha was the one making her say all those things. Poor Zhiyi.

But Aroha only kept quiet because Zhiyi made her do so. She was trying to leave an impression on Zenon and being lost would not help their cause so much. Poor Aroha.

***

Kiro stared after them as they left his horizon. Why wouldn’t they leave him alone? He wasn’t involved in their business in any way. It was for that reason that Kiro didn’t make weapons. They would surely attract attention from the knights and royals because he would never do shabby work. But still, there they were at his door refusing to go away, promising to come back. If he truly did, if Zenon came back for him, then he would leave the kingdom. He wasn’t going to be a royal’s plaything. And he would take out anyone who tried to stop him. He may not like to fight back, but it was never because he was weak, but because he was afraid of his strength. And yet, the royals misused theirs to oppress others. The thought of it sickened. The Renoff girls were no different. Hitting him just because he refused to let them in. It was his shop after all.

Kiro had one hand on his anvil and another on his furnace. He was so lost in his thoughts that he forgot how hot the furnace was. After a few seconds of placing his hand on it, the heat finally reached him. The pain made its way through the cloud of thoughts that rained over his head, and not even them was cool enough to allow him to ignore the burning furnace. He quickly retracted his hand. It was scalded but it would heal with time. It wasn’t the first time that he got burnt. It came with his profession. But one thing that would surely never heal was the anvil upon which Kiro’s hand rested on. Without knowing, he had distorted its shape with his grip. His print boldly on it like it was cast that way. What was a solid piece of unbendable iron had made way for Kiro’s insane strength.