1 Reverie

It's everywhere.

The chaos.

The good chaos.

In nooks, in corners, in the niches you can't see and reach. In the sky that's painted with a blue that's so bright. It everywhere. The city overflowed with gaiety. In welcome. Awaiting their ruler and his confidants. Though there were negative chances of them ever travelling through the inn we were in, our room smelled of lilacs and coffee. Service had been sent, the room had been steeped clean. Mattress- though hard on the material at present was wrapped in soft spreadsheets.

Inside and out, everything had been polished to its zenith, I look out of the window inhaling the inhumane respect these civilians carried for their king. For their sarkim.

"I am falling in love with these boots, I never knew shoes could be made for comfort and looks and not durability" Dorin mumbled, lacing up his true love that I got for him, treating him with it had bought the colours back to his words. He wasn't grumpy this morning when he woke up and the food stayed in his tummy as he began to make progress.

Progress on how to defy my plans.

"I enacted the entirety of what information I was able to gather so far. I do not see the point of leaving this place" I suggest direly. Keeping the hostility I felt towards their Sarkim who had a fundamental part in rendering us the way we are at bay. I think of the old man, my parents who I never got to know, the few generous neighbours I had to leave behind and the numerous lives of wilds I was forced to take.

I pity at such fortune.

I was a child and an adult. I selfishly fall into a reverie of innocent happiness only to be shoved back into a reality where I wasn't allowed to afford such nativity. I have reached an age with an experience that doesn't let me stay true to where I belong. I am so much and yet so less.

And all I had was Dorin to lean on.

But stubbornly I lean over the sill of the brick window and refused to meet his stare.

"I need to step out Timo" my eyes traitorously sting when I realise that neither Dorin has been embracing the realness in me. It was for the best though, to be Timo Kasper until I was miles away in the sea - far from the Antarian coast. It could stand a fact that I was the only Heliean girl roaming the streets with my head attached to a neck in this soil. "You can either accompany me, which I would like very much. Or hide in here still. But I am going either way"

I turn as he clips the suspenders on. Civilly smiling at how formal he looked- he visually becomes of one of them when he dresses. He certainly justified their clothing.

"You trim your hair?" I ask, his hand goes to his head and shaved neck.

"Slate helped me" he nods.

"You two seem close"

"He is a fine barber. If he doesn't make it in the trails- a life of grooming hairs it is for him"

My shoulder sagged, a reminder of the promise that I made him. I walk to my side of the bed and grab the brown beret cap. Folding the sleeve of the shirt to its elbow I gesture Dorin with my nose. The smug flex of his shoulder accompanied by a smirk make me regret my decision in an instant.

"You seem close with Slate"

I step on his toes by accident as I passed him. He squeals in pain and I breathe in contentment.

"We wait till he wins, then we return- swaddle our belongings and leave the first thing in the morning" I wasn't ordering him, it was a mutually laid out plan until he came down with sickness, a schedule that was to be executed much before the defectors meddled with our compass. We have to reach the east, to ledras. The sober and tranquil town is the safest pier we could learn and live in till the next preposition we could pocket.

And it's what we do.

The activity is high in Keld and so was my fright. I look over my shoulder more times than I do at what lay ahead of me. The one wise I let my wish walk me to a place- I almost fell in a pond of deadly flowers and met a man who I can't seem to rap out of my head.

Whoever he was, washed me with an essence of known. And it has been lurching my stomach up with dread. I was missing something that should fit the encounter. But I cannot. So i push open the door and tug at the sleeve of Dorin's shirt.

"It looks like a new world outside today" snorting, I greedily absorb the shining desk and bundle of flowers in a ceramic pot.

"They appear to hail their king as much as I do with my new boots" Dorin sassed as we walked out, our strides tapping against the concrete in a calming rhythm. "But there is always something better in future to replace it or in his throne- presumably someone"

***

When you are small, you don't count. I accept as I got pushed and shoved around while Dorin waved ahead to search us a firm opening from where we could see- somehow he managed to get us to the front rows, the iron bars that separated us from the ring digs into my ribs as I hug it with my might. There were no seats though, a cheap ticket is relevant. We were young and stamina shouldn't be something of our concern seeming to the history of how we travelled miles on foot.

It was an underestimation. On my part mostly.

"I might faint" I huff through the chatters that palpitates among us. It has a heartbeat- the atmosphere. It only sizzled for the entry of the most important people. Since Slate wasn't with us - we had no means of knowing who was who. But I know they were important. Their aura brimmed with vital significance.

Dressed in fabrics I hadn't learned the name of, it wrapped the women's skin with translucent softness and flowed to the floor in such delicacy that I knew by its features that they weight nothing and probably felt like a kittens fur on the skin.

For men it was different. Most donned the uniforms of Armin. Sharp and squared. Heavy boots and medals reflected the luminosity around them. They were escorted and seated on elevated ground, from where they disappeared. Most preferably from our eyes, as for them- I believed they could discern every nook of this field if they wished to.

"I am fainting now" I press myself to the short barricade with my dramatics as Dorin rolled his eyes. A grin forms as he shakes his head.

"Am I the only one you are such a child with?" He asks leaning and shouting at my ears. I look around in search-

"Where are my parents who spoil me with adoration?"An eavesdropper frowns at our exchange, when I hold his stare with a clown-like grin he looked away -crept by it.

"That was a dark one" Dorin nudges me with his shoulder as I doubled on the bar.

"Keep me alive if you could. We just have each other to-

A flap of bird-like wave catches my attention. It was Slate from the opposite end - he had spotted us. And he appeared handfully happy about that. With him I see his family, his mother filling the arrow holster on his shoulder while his father was combing his hair. He was dressed for the cause in a leather vest and light shirt. His boots reached his knee and I suspected it hides his weapons well.

I waved back squinting as he mouths something-

"I am next"

Is what I read.

Immediately I turn to Dorin-

"Slate is next," I say.

"Where is he?"

I raise my index pointing-

"There, a slight to the right"

But before we could take him in- he moves away. Paving a way for the participant behind him. And quite like that, we were staring at Castlena Birch. In her teal hooded cloak and ever sweet details, it was rather hard to miss who she was.

Beside her were Noon and Night. Both dressed as civilians. In gown and tunics. And so was him. Chief Caelum.

Next to me, Dorin grunts a horrible profanity that conformed the catastrophe. They had their eyes on us - as if they were anticipating this scene to unfold. I tug at Dorin's sleeve once more when Castle handed over her number slip to an attendant.

"She is going to fight" I look at the elderly woman beside me as her face wrinkled in confusion. I was short of strength to look at Dorin and how apprehensive he looked. He was turning white as a sheet while they both glared rigidly at each other. "Dorin- cease looking at her" I advise staring ahead. Picking up static of echoed voice- loud and clear, it carries over us all.

It licks away any form of nuisance and chatters, plunging us into an even quietness. I could hear breathing if I tried.

The person who spoke to us from the shadows, unseen to our eyes had a quick edge and friendly tool at his disposal. It rang from every direction as I look around to discover the base behind it. And when one cannot- it's to blindly believe a ventims genius.

"The art of welcoming is a practice that's aged, I understand all well that's it's a rude gesture by an announcer as plain as me. But I cannot seem to employ any fair and justifying words suitable enough to commute the beauty of my beloved kingdom. Our dignitaries and associates, fellow friends from lands of pearls and sea had respected and loved the realism of Antar for centuries that went. It's your second home. We are a family ashore- a centre where you sight knowledge, faith, bravery, affluence and- even love"

Since I had been a person of learning, I realised they had solemnly trekked clear from mentioning war, banishment, spineless leaders and unnatural breeding of monsters. In fact it's something that should've been mentioned first.

And then he streams on a journey of his kingdom's richness, perils and success of their troops and legions, and its cultural heritage. I locate Castle once again and she looked elsewhere, scanning her cool gaze over a woman's attire- probably criticizing the fashion to keep her nerves at stake. It pained me to hold a stare with her- what were her thoughts before agreeing to this?

But thoughts require brain. And I pitifully doubt she has been using hers.

"I will kill them if she is forced to do this" when the claps thundered and Dorin declared openly, I realised that the torturous addressing had ended and they announced Slate willow as their opening contestant.

"If you know her the manner I do in, you would know that none can make her do what she doesn't desire"

Like make her like you- you teacup.

"We are still leaving after Slate, Dorin," I say, my voice a failure in course to convince him when I can't do it myself. Yes, she betrayed us, but we abandoned her with a bunch of strangers too.

"You and I, we know that's not what's to happen"

I don't answer. I couldn't bring myself to cheer when Slate won as we had planned. We wait- for a long long period watching some dangerously impressive acts with tightening, skin healings and gravity defying velocities. It became a nonchalance to see new and powerful contenders whose skin seem to be made of stone and steel. Nothing penetrated through them. Though Slate had a much easier opponent, an angry bull, his tricks and feat were out of the blue. Witted and brave.

Slate was a fighter. He had worked for this day. So when he made his way over to us- I forced a laugh and congratulated him with a pat on his arm. After thanking me he waited for Dorin to do the same, it never came. So we shared an awkward posture as the entirety of our attention diverted to watch horridly as Castle took to the center- the announcer publicizing her name.

It was happening.

She was in honesty going to sacrifice herself for this cause. Her hood falls and her brunette, braided hair comes into view.

"May I ask if everything is alright? You both look-

Slate begins.

"No" we almost scream in a beat. Gaping as she took a solid stance, I griped on the fence with an effort that stopped the flow of my blood. I hoped for a small something to crawl out of a cage- suitable enough for her. Maybe a laughable pony with evil horns. But none of that happens.

Not with the assured position she stood in with a sword pleat to her waist.

"Is that a lion?" Whispers Slate. Though we had seen disastrous of forms- it was strange to see a lion to have been testified for a girl who was so small and unskilled-

And then I remembered the goals of shots she had fired when we escaped Ivyaki.

"Even I didn't receive a lion" mused Slate lightly with a chuckle.

I chewed on my lower lip, willing myself to stay still as the lion lunged at her. She was quick to dodge - witty to keep her focus trailed on a path where she suspected it would pounce. It happens for a minute- then dance of two. Before she brings out her knife as the lion raced to her and manages to slice slit through him. The crowd erupts with a cheer.

"She is smart, she is attempting to tire him before the action" I look over Slate to notice a trail of blood dripping through his nostril as he immediately pushes a pad of rag through it.

"Apologies, I may not look my best at present" he mumbled "I even lost a chunk of my hair"

There was a sudden cry and we both looked toward the cause. Castle was on the ground, a tear in her pant. Bloodied by her calf. She skidded back- pressing her palm to the surface. Her efforts were in vain as the lion booted her by her shin, there were gasps and no aid. She was being stalked by deadly prey while they all watched. While we watched.

But not for long. Before she was graciously injured Dorin hoisted himself up and threw himself into a prospect. Heads turned and he wasn't ignored. In his introduction hoots and applause explodes. They probably think of him as a kind scout who on his feet, decided to help a damsel.

Only the sooner he came on to radar- two more lions joined them.

And instead of locating a weapon and trifling as a duet Dorin drives to her and helps her. In the midst of it, I busied myself with the probability of them having a happily ever after with both resting undere concrete of a cold grave, six feet preferably.

"Dorin" I yell the warning as he tilts in time with a lighter in hand. He lits it up when two of the new lions darted at a relentless speed. But before they could reach him, he lets the spark touch his palm.

And then it was a burst of flame cocooning them underneath.

His arms, him and Castle, were unharmed when they emerged through the dying roof of flames and light, smoke and soot pattern his shirt and her cloak, but nothing else.

I should be surprised, I indeed was appalled at what had I just witnessed. Spellbound at my friend who had managed to defend themselves without a weapon.

He went in unarmed.

He knew he didn't needed one.

He knew he was one.

For years I had been pestering him to discover himself like a dummy and he knew it all along. He kept himself warm in Ivyaki- he grew herbs of crucial humidity. He always started the fire on frozen nights.

And now, it's evident. He wasn't merely a product of resisting cold. He was a manipulator of fire.

He was melting cold.

A rare strength, treasured more than diamonds in the society Antar.

And after hiding it his whole life- he gave it up in front of thousands of eyes for Castle. I steal a glimpse of Caelum- he looked proud. Crazed. And so convinced of it.

But that wasn't enough-

Not when they were circled again and smarter this wise, they can't be at three places. Castle was bleeding, wounded and slumping. They weren't enough.

"Why aren't they halting the trails?" I desperately resort to Slate who frowned with fear dilating in his gaze.

"They don't do that on the last day" he paused "It's why no one ever unprepared or powerless steps on the radius today"

They weren't it. They were nowhere near trained for this menace and brutality. My toes sink in my boots when they both fought to keep each other alive. All futile-

It's then I couldn't hold it any longer- I scramble around to discern Slate's arrow cast and bows intact on his back and ushered him to lend it to me.

Initially he archs a brow, then an alarming note lights his stare.

"I am not letting you do that kid" he tucks it away from me "You have a long life to live and you are inexperienced. Since Dorin might die today- you are my responsi-

I kick him. On leg. Outing his balance as he fell. People formed a chain with displeasure to get away from him. I grabbed whatever arms I could and wore them on my frame before he could reconcile. And then i was ambling towards it- with the bow stretched and arrow guided. My shot penetrated through an eye of lion. And other on the leg.

I am not killing you.

I defend my motives.

I had promised to not kill their kinds. Internally I begged for them to accept defeat. Go away. Leave us. It wasn't much to ask when they were willing to go.

And then it was empty. In remain to three of us mortals.

And it only meant one thing.

We wait for an Instigator with the value of my intervention.

It shouldn't be much, I was as equivalent to a twig grown in barren drought. But nothing commenced for a complete minute. I was breathing harder, my mouth parched and my eyes lowed on the tunnel from where the conflict always crawled from.

I could sense the glare from Dorin behind my head, uncertainty seeps from me as Castle took a stand next to me with Dorin to my right.

The audience now displayed their confusion and desperation, only to die it down as a shadow of dirt fluttered by the mouth of canal. It was a sound of something breathing.

I angled my bow higher, positioning my legs. A click of rifle from Castle. A sheethe of sword from Dorin.

Everything was too quite. To prep to be credible in the scene.

And then it happens.

An umbrella of skin and bones, digs it's steps out. It's sunset eyes hollow and unnerving cascades out, it's scarred jaw, tight and grey teeth bared. If the size of it's face had failed to fool me, it's long neck, wide body and magnificent tail coils into view, thrusting any of the strategy I had out of the window. It hoists itself up on it's two legs, his crown reaching for the skies.

I take a staggering step back as the surrounding gasped in terror and shock.

It made an implication. None were prepared for this.

It spreads it wings and shrills a show of fire.

To ruin me, it stood there with fury and fervor.

This should be a farce. A hoax. A night mare I must be struggling to wake up from.

Only that it wasn't.

I preach, again and again and again to accept that I

was standing before a magnificent Dragon.

And it stared right back at me, claiming me as its equal.

P.s Unedited.

I am so tired.

But I am also not it.

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