Slay the Dragon

CHAPTER 24 - ERYS

The battle didn’t last long as Erys made it in time to help the others end it. They captured those hunters who remained alive and locked them up at the dungeons of the bastion—the rest who were dead they piled up inside an empty chamber. Vahlyr went out ahead to scout if the path was clear towards the second bastion.

Meanwhile, Erys, Forsyr, and Izan stayed inside, sitting in front of the fireplace. Erys paid little attention to their discussion as he was staring blankly at the dancing flames. But after a time, Izan’s sudden call woke him up.

“You also have a god?” Izan asked again.

Erys blinked a couple of times before nodding. A look of distaste was all he could give to the chronicler, so Forsyr answered it himself. “Lord Hylos is the God of Dragons—and the first Hyborn ever existed.”

“I see,” Izan did his thing again on his small book. Erys couldn’t help but watch the chronicler with envy. The sight of him only sparked Erys’ raging fire within.

“Now that I know, it made me wonder,” Izan continued. “If there are two gods in Drava, do you think Hylos is somehow connected to Phlareus?”

“Not that I can remember someone speaking of that,” Forsyr said. “But no.”

“You see, I’ve read something about a legend …” The chronicler put down the quill and crossed his fingers on the table. “I forgot the title, but it’s about the f*******n love between the two gods—completely opposite gods … Phlareus, the sun god and the summer deity of Drava, fell in love with Glaceus, the goddess of winter and the snow deity of Glacia. But their love was f*******n by the Supreme Deus Genia, as it would only result in chaos and tragedy. You see, if winter and summer collide, there is only disorder. The two gods of solstice should not come together, because it will disturb the natural balance of the world—so that’s why Genia sealed their destiny for eternity. But even though their fate had already been decided, it didn’t stop their love.”

“What happened after?” Forsyr asked.

“Phlareus was an immortal phoenix, so it was Glaceus who died. But in every reincarnation of Glaceus, she would always find her way to the heart of her love.”

Erys found himself glancing at the fireplace again. He had trouble listening as his thoughts were all on Mave. He couldn’t believe she would still push him away after trying so many times to save her. And being on the same table with this chronicler, who always stayed close with her, had made Erys more frustrated.

“I’ll stay here and watch the tower,” Mave had replied as she avoided his eyes. “Go.”

“I’ll stay with you.”

“No. I can guard the alarm myself.”

“I can’t leave you out here alone.”

“Oh please,” Mave said. “I’m always alone. Just … just go.”

Erys studied her for a moment. He couldn’t understand her—what she’s thinking or feeling, but he could see the pain in her eyes as she kept on glancing at the crenellations of the tower. Then he noticed her rapier wasn’t with her anymore. He tried to search around, but it wasn’t there.

“Where’s your sword?” He asked.

Mave shut her eyes and tears started to fall down her cheeks. “They need your help in there. Go now.”

“Don’t you need my help?”

“I don’t need anyone’s help,” she snapped at him.

“What’s wrong with you? Why do you hate me so much?” Erys wanted to yell, but he knew better than that.

Mave raised her tearful eyes at him and said, “You don’t understand … you’ll never understand. You don’t know a single thing about me. Now leave.”

Erys didn’t realize he was gazing at the fire for so long until Forsyr called him.

“Is something the matter, son?”

Erys shifted in his seat and shook his head. “Nothing.”

“We were just speaking about the Orb of Phlareus,” Forsyr told him.

“Right …”

Izan gazed around the chamber and asked, “Where is Mave, by the way?”

Erys gave him a sharp glare. “How would I know? You’re the one who’s always been sticking around with her. You tell me.” There was a hint of anger in his tone. It made him mad when he saw Izan treating Mave’s injuries earlier. She would always speak normally with the chronicler, but with Erys? It seemed like she would prefer talking to a monkey instead of him.

“Easy, man,” Izan said. “I’m just asking.”

Erys rolled his eyes. He’s the one who’d always saved her during life and death situations … But why the hell was it easier for her to thank Izan, who had only done less than Erys? Was it because she still did not trust him? Wasn’t saving her life enough just for her to speak properly to him?

“You’re angry, my son,” Forsyr told him. “What’s the matter?”

Erys slammed his palm on the wooden table. “I said I’m fine!” He couldn’t help but raise his voice. His breath quickened with smoke coming out of his nose. He could feel the fire reaching up to his throat already.

Izan looked shocked, flinching. “I think I should leave for now and … and look for her.” He was about to rise from his seat, but then Erys spoke.

“No,” he said as he sharpened his gaze at Izan. “I’ll go.”

Silence followed as Erys pushed the chair back and stood up. He went out of the chamber, wondering what she could be doing right now. She would definitely push him away again. But he didn’t care anymore.

He wanted to talk to her, to know her more, and to understand her better.

The chilling gust of the night wind greeted Erys as he reached the top of the tower. He found her, sitting at the edge of the crenellations, and looking far beyond the dark horizon. Her black hair, untied, was graciously waving with the breeze.

Erys took a deep breath before approaching her. But then he took a pause when his eyes caught a crumpled paper from a distance, so he took it first and opened it.

The paper was the one Mave had shown him last night; he realized. It was the only clue she had from her dark past. Why would she throw this away? Erys folded the paper and dug it into his pocket.

Without a word, he sat upon the crenellation next to her. He could see how high they were when he looked down. Darkness almost faded from the forests over the slope of the ranges. Then he raised his head towards the cloudless skies, giving a clear glimpse of the bright stars.

“Why are you here?” Mave spoke suddenly in a low voice. Her eyes seemed to be traveling far beyond what Erys could see.

“Nothing,” he replied, thinking of what to say next. “How’s your arm?”

“How do you think?”

“Mave …”

“Why are you even asking? It’s not like you care, anyway.”

Erys looked at her worriedly and said, “I care, Mave—“

“Oh please,” she shook her head, “Will you stop making a fool of me?”

“Why? Are you that foolish enough to be fooled by someone like me?”

Mave quickly turned to him. There was still a mystery in her blue eyes—but her exhaustion showed itself more as if she had been crying ever since he left her in this tower. She looked very tired. White bandages wrapped around her left arm and another at her throat, covering the minor cut drawn by that knife earlier.

“I truly care,” Erys told her. “I wouldn’t have saved you if I didn’t.”

“I didn’t ask to be saved.”

Erys rubbed his face. This girl’s as hard as ice. Unbreakable. If only he was hot enough to melt her off, then he could finally see her soft side. But he’s not. Her ice was tougher than his fire, he came to realize.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

“Not if it’s about me.”

“How do you keep on surviving … on your own?” Erys asked her sincerely. “I mean … I saw how independent you are of your life and your actions.” He lowered his eyes to his hands. “Have you … at once in your life … felt so scared that you’ll make a mistake if you decide over a certain matter by yourself?”

He felt Mave staring at him, but he couldn’t look at her eyes now. He didn’t want her to know that it’s about him.

“Simple … I trust no one but myself,” she replied. “This cruel world taught me in the cruelest way how to stand on my own.” Silence followed before she could continue. “And are you seriously asking me if I make my own decisions? Of course. Why in the world would I not? It’s my life … And I’ve no fear of making mistakes. Why would I be afraid when it’s where I learn the most?”

Erys was left speechless, still avoiding her eyes. A strong woman indeed, he thought. He only wished to be normal like her, with no people and no realm to worry about.

“I know why you’re asking about this,” Mave lifted an eyebrow, “Such a little dragon who can’t do anything but depend on his father.”

“I’m no little dragon,” Raeheyrs replied in a defensive tone.

“Of course, you’re not.” Mave returned her face forward, looking at the dark horizon.

“I only wished I could be more decisive on my own,” he muttered. “But I’ll never be.”

“Don’t be stupid,” she said. “Everyone controls their own lives. Everyone can decide independently.”

“But not me.”

“Then you’re stupid indeed.”

“You don’t understand,” he replied. He was a king and most importantly, the last hyborn. The fate of the Draconian Realm depends on him, so every decision he makes must be right for everybody. No mistake must be made. So he had to follow the Lawdras. He didn’t want to remember how his family and ancestors ignored their guidance and ended up dead in the end. Such foolish mistake Erys vowed to never make.

“You don’t know a single thing about me,” he mocked what she had said earlier.

Mave snorted. “Then we better stay out of each other’s businesses.”

“But I do know a thing about you.” Erys curved a slight grin. “A girl who had the most courage to join the dragon hunters … despite her fear of fire … I have to say, I admire your bravery more than the irony.”

“Don’t start. You don’t know the reason—“

Mave stopped when Erys suddenly pulled out the crumpled paper from his pocket. “It’s all because of this, hmm? You got your trauma from what had happened to your village.”

“Hand it over.” She tried to reach it with her other arm, but Erys pulled it back.

“Haven’t you tried overcoming your fear, Mave?”

“I’m warning you. Give it back.”

Erys hid the paper behind him. “Fire is beautiful, young lady.”

“Fire only brings destruction! It only brings death.” She said it as if she’s certain it’s true.

“You’re only saying it because you’re blinded by your fear.” Erys rotated his body to face her. They were now only a few feet in distance from each other. He reached out his hand to her, looked through her eyes, and said, “Let me show it to you.”