Mega Dragon: Harbinger of Death

INTRUDER

The two days that the girls in the capital were days they wished they could forget. It certainly did not go as they planned, but they could now begin what brought them to the capital in the first place – to be professional healers. This time, however, the girls were sure to have their breakfast before leaving for the healers nest. This time too, with the proper entourage. The last thing they needed was a repeat of the last time. And like the last time, they met a queue, only this time, their arrival was expected. Vela had done what Alex had refused to do. The girls ran circles in joy before Aroha snapped out of her delight. Zhiyi took her time to relish in it, however. It wasn’t the first time they had been there. They had been there numerous times when their parents – Gero and Miya Renoff worked there. They had dreamed of being just like them for the longest. It was, however, the first time they had walked in there as adults. If the older healers were still present, they would have danced with them as well.

Vela watched as the girls expressed their utmost delight. She too was delighted. She would get to train two of her idols’ children. It was something she never put much thought into. To her, Gero and Miya would have taught the girls everything they needed to know. And they did. But the healers nest was the real deal, not Juza village. They needed the exposure to grow and the capital would give them just that. Vela was well aware that the girls were better than more than half the healers that were active in the healers nest. But the daughters of the greatest healers in all of Maori could do a lot better. They had too much potential not to. And she was going to make sure that they surpassed even their parents, just as she worked towards doing so herself.

“That’s enough. We have work on our hands,” Vela said. Zhiyi finally quieted down. For the first week, I’ll run you through the basics. I’m sure you are already aware of what they are but I need to assess you again,” Vela said. This idea, the girls didn’t like.

“But you know we are way past that. You’ve seen us in action,” Aroha defended herself. And Zhiyi of course.

“In a fight, yes. Not healing someone. I’m not doubting what your parents have taught you. You could not have had better teachers. But I need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Where you need to improve. Where to assign you to as well. Many things that I have to know by seeing those basics. So please bear with me my darlings,” Vela said as she caressed their heads. She wasn’t much taller than them. Maybe by an inch or two. But it just felt right. Zhiyi didn’t mind, but Aroha was fuming. The seemingly ‘caring’ gesture from Vela was also quite humbling. To Aroha, Vela was more than a superior or a teacher. She was a rival. Vela rubbing her head was translated to mean they were in her care. Which also meant they were weaker than her. As much as Aroha would hate to admit, Vela was some miles ahead of them. She had never seen anyone use the death palm as well as she did. Barring her parents of course. It would be no exaggeration to say that Vela was just as good. Which made her an even bigger target for Aroha. Although it might not look like it on the surface, the same was true for Zhiyi as well.

The girls grumbled as they went through the basics with Vela. First was the suspension of water bubbles with mana. They would spend hours doing this with their parents. Next, they would change their shape. Then they would separate the bubbles into smaller parts and then join them back together. It was an illustration of how the healing process worked. Separating the cells and joining them back was the principle of healing. And it was also the principle upon which the death palm was formed.

“I’m sure you know they are way better than this,” a familiar voice said from afar. It was prince Zenon. He had his usual calm demeanor, with a soft smile on his face. Very unlike in Aroha’s dream. She still couldn’t shake it off. The images rang in her head like a school’s afternoon bell. They were still yet to talk to Vela about it. Both her and Zhiyi had agreed to wait a day before telling her. They wanted a ‘normal’ proceeding to start with. Hopefully, it would turn out to be nothing just like all the other nightmares. Back in Juza village, her nightmares always included her parents and Zhiyi. Now, prince Ara and prince Zenon were included without her parents being involved. So it was safe to say that she was only dreaming of the people around her. So far, it had not involved people she didn’t know. But unlike the other nightmares, she could shake this one off. That was what worried her. And seeing Zenon only reminded her once more.

“Zenon, please leave. This is not your forte,” Vela said without sparing to look at him.

“Now that’s no way to speak to a prince, young lady,” Zenon teased. His smile was a lot wider now.

“Oh, really? Why don’t you come a little closer and repeat what you just said?” Vela taunted. The look on her face gave a different message.

“I’m fine where I am. Thank you,” Zenon replied. He was wise to heed the hidden message. “By the way, your blacksmith friend is here,” Zenon said to the girls.

“Kiro? Why? Did he come to apologize?” Aroha asked without the slightest hint of care.

“No. He broke his arm punching Ara. We brought him here to heal,” Zenon said with so much calmness. But he was the only one who was still calm after hearing what he said. It was easy to jump to conclusions. Someone hit prince Ara? Never in the kingdom had that been heard. He would have been hanged with his broken arm. That much told Vela that it was not under normal circumstances.

“Why exactly did you put him up to it?” Vela asked with every bit of displeasure she could muster.

“So like you to figure that much out,” Zenon teased. “I recommended that Ara took him up as a student. Ara went to see him for himself and he agreed. The punching thing was more of a test. He was rather reluctant to be under Ara’s wing. Can you imagine that?”

The shock this time was even greater than the last. It was well known that Ara was not looking for a student. While Zenon was, his standards were inordinately high. Yet, he found someone he deemed worthy, but not himself? And to add insult to injury, he refused an offer from Zenon and Ara? That was too much. Vela was sure such a person did not exist. She was eager to meet Kiro, although Aroha could not say the same. However, she had little choice when Vela decided their course of action.

“Let’s go see this friend of yours then,” Vela said. She hushed Aroha before she had a chance to object. Somehow, she saw it coming.

“How is Kiro?” Zhiyi asked. That was the only show of concern anyone offered. Somehow, the news of Kiro hitting Ara made the fact that he broke his arm pass over their heads.

“He shattered his arm completely. But with his beast blood and the healers’ help, he should be back to normal in a day or two,” Zenon replied.

Aroha wasn’t surprised that Zhiyi would show concern for someone who refused to help them when they needed his help. Of the two of them, Zhiyi received the most damage from the incident but someone, she was the one who let it go. It was her idea in the first place. But Aroha felt worse about it. She had no regrets about stealing the horses. It was certainly worth the fun. But it was only their second day in the capital and she was already failing to protect Zhiyi. It angered her. Much more than Zhiyi noticed. And all that anger was channeled to Kiro – the one who refused to help. But if Zhiyi was going to let it go, she would give it a try. Especially now that Ara had decided to take him under his wing. They were surely going to be seeing him often.

“Okay then. Let’s go.”

***

Ara and Zenon parted ways when they left Kiro back at the healers nest. While Zenon went to visit Vela and happened to stumble upon the Renoff girls, Ara returned to the Croft Laboratorium. He spent most of his time there those days. Somehow, he felt more at peace with those creatures than with the humans outside. There were not many people he cared to be around. While that number had increased by three in the past two days, it was little compared to the number of people he had to interact with. He was the prince of Croft kingdom after all. It was worsened with the fact that his father couldn’t be around people for too long because of his ever-oozing menacing aura. Ara and Jerome – the king’s left-hand man and the kingdom’s sorcerer supreme had to cover for the king on many occasions. Although Ara himself has rarely available as well. But there he was, back at the Laboratorium he wished he didn’t have to leave. As he got to the door, he caught a whiff of a very familiar scent – Jerome Leroya.

Jerome walked out to Ara as they both met at the entrance. “You’re back already? I heard you were taking the day off,” Jerome asked.

“I changed my mind. My student is not back in full shape yet,” Ara replied. Jerome was one of the few he felt at ease talking with. He, just like Zenon always had a clear calm air about them. It made them easy to talk to.

“Ah. I wondered if that was true. I guess it is. I look forward to seeing the man deemed worthy by Ara Croft himself,” Jerome teased.

“Oh please. It’s not that serious. But you will meet him. If not to introduce you two, but to test him. I have a very interesting plan for him. With how much you have always wanted me to get a student, you deserve that much,” Ara said.

Jerome could see the delight in his eyes as he spoke. Even though Ara had often denied wanting a student, he looked very pleased to have found himself one, and from the look of it, one that met his standards.

“Just let me know what you need. The kingdom could use another fine warrior,” Jerome said. And he meant every word of it. Ara was the most powerful person in Croft kingdom if not all of Maori. But he was sparsely ever in the kingdom. There were a lot of other strong warriors as well, but in the event of a major catastrophe, the kingdom would need Ara present. A warrior that was personally trained by Ara would do much to relieve him of that pressure, especially when he becomes king. Jerome had always clamored for this but in the past, Ara seemed very uninterested. He had even gone through the trouble of picking out suitable candidates himself. None caught the eye of either Ara or Zenon, so he was really looking forward to meeting the man that the two had picked themselves.

Their conversation ended rather quickly and Jerome was soon on his way. Ara grinned as he walked through the aisles when he picked up the foulest of scents. How it got past him and Jerome was a mystery but one thing was certain – he was an enemy.

“Aren’t you quite the unfortunate being?” Ara snapped.