Slay the Dragon

CHAPTER 27 - MAVE

For the first time in her life, her dark world seemed to disappear. The bright stars fell closer, as she could already reach for them and catch one. It was more than she could’ve ever dreamed of. She remembered her time when she stayed in Sunvar City. Faran and her three children, along with her … would always lie down on a blanket over the inn’s rooftop, gazing at the stars once every fortnight. The fun memory made her smile, but she frowned after recalling that incident.

“What’s wrong?” Erys asked when he seemed to notice the change in her expression.

“Nothing,” she said. “I just remembered something … forget it. It doesn’t matter now, anyway.” She wondered how Erys would react if he knew she had killed five men before. Would it change the way he’s seeing her? Would he leave her after? Mave didn’t bother thinking more deeply about it, as she already knew the answer.

Everything rested in silence—only the flaps of Erys’ wings … and their hearts beating loud were heard. Both of them were soaked with the rain. Their wet skin stayed in touch and the warmth of Erys’ body made her recall how he first saved her. They were this close, already feeling each other’s breathing.

Mave had chills. She couldn’t help but stare at those golden eyes … such eyes were like windows that revealed his soul, burning with passion and kindness … Right … He had been too kind to her. She always tried to push him away because she didn’t want to make any deep connections with him. She didn’t want this strange feeling to grow. The moment he saved her the first time, it sparked something within her—a small fire amidst the cold darkness of her body. She was afraid it would develop into something more.

“Mave,” Erys spoke in a gentle voice.

“What?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He avoided her eyes, turning red.

“I’m just fascinated …” she replied. “Why do you have such eyes and wings of gold?”

Erys looked at her with furrowed brows, as if he was not expecting the question. It took him a while before he could answer. “It’s ... a blessing I guess … I don’t know, Mave. It’s a long story.” He pinched his lips afterward. His heartbeat went even faster, she noticed.

“Mave,” he said. “When we go back … there’s something I’d like to say to you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why not here and now?”

“I … I’m not yet ready,” he replied.

Mave slowly lifted her arm and fixed his wet hair backward from covering his forehead. Her eyes went down to his golden eyes, then to his soft lips, wet and moist with the rain.

Erys must have noticed her staring. The lump in his neck went up and down as he swallowed. Then he slowly leaned his face closer to her … until their noses touched.

Mave felt his breath, almost like hot air, brushing on her lips. But it felt good. Her breathing grew faster as Erys closed his eyes, attempting a kiss … but then …

“I’m …” She pulled her face from him and looked away. She couldn’t. She must not. Never.

“Sorry …” Erys whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Mave could not do it. She could never be with someone, as it wouldn’t last forever. She was afraid. Her fear of being left alone in the end took her back to Faran, whom she almost felt like a real mother. She’s the closest person she’d ever had after Rakim’s death. But after knowing the true side of Mave, the woman sent her away.

Mave knew no one could ever accept her in this world. She was just … different. And Erys … he was too kind for her. And she couldn’t put all her trust and all her soul to him. Most especially that he’s a dragon—a beast who shared the same race with the one who destroyed her past. She must keep her distance.

“Do you want to go back now?” Erys asked awkwardly.

Mave nodded without taking a glance.

It was still raining when they landed over the top of the bastion. Mave said she would stay for a bit longer, so Erys went inside to look for the others.

Mave raised her head and closed her eyes, letting the rain shower her face. She was alone again … and lonely. But it was the right thing to do, she thought. No one could ever be trusted in this world but herself. How could they accept her when she couldn’t even accept her own weaknesses? She knew what she was feeling for Erys. But her mind told her to resist, even though it’s harder for her after how many times he saved her and made her happy. She had to … for the better.

“Mave!” Erys’ voice echoed from the stairway.

She turned around, only to find Erys rushing her way, breathless with a worried look in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re … they’re gone,” he said in horror.

Mave stormed her eyebrows as she approached him. “What do you mean they’re gone?”

“When I came down, I couldn’t find them in the chamber. I looked … I looked everywhere, Mave. But there’s no sign of them inside,” he pointed down, “And the second gate was left open when I went to the gatehouse.”

“No … Izan …” She pushed him aside, ran towards the stairs, and climbed down. Her thoughts were racing with her pounding chest. They couldn’t have left the two of them. They wouldn’t continue heading to the third bastion without her and Erys. So something must have happened.

“They must’ve been ambushed or … or … captured,” Erys was panicking. “I don’t know. I left them, I shouldn’t have …”

“Will you calm down?” She raised her voice as they hurried off to descend. But she, too, was panicking. She almost considered jumping down on the edge to reach the bottom instantly.

When they reached the chamber where Erys had last seen them, she found it deserted. The fire in the furnace was out. The table and the chairs were all messed up, as if a fight had happened here. Izan’s backpack was left open on the floor with books and notes and papers scattered all around. Mave quickly knelt and fixed the papers, knowing how important these were to him.

Izan’s drafts were the second half of him, she came to remember. He once said that he had poured his entire soul into these papers so he could someday finish his first book. Mave knew exactly what it felt like to lose something extremely valuable. And she wouldn’t let Izan experience it because of her stupid mistake. Right … this was her fault … all of this. If she had only stayed and taken the watch, she could’ve spotted the hunters and warned the group beforehand.

After keeping the notes, Mave closed the bag and pressed her face on top of it. How could she leave them? She muttered curses, clenching her fists. But she tried to keep herself together, since mourning wouldn’t help solve the matter now. She had to know what happened exactly. Were they stabbed? Killed? No … She knew they weren’t killed directly here, as she found no traces of blood in the chamber. If the gates were left open, then the hunters must have ambushed the two and captured them. Vahlyr must have been taken too. The third bastion was the only possibility she had in mind.

They couldn’t just stay here and wait for the hunters to return with greater numbers. Going back wasn’t also an option. So she finally decided—they had to head on their own and save the three.