Chapter 4

• She turns and tosses in her bed, unable to fall asleep. Everything is so different, going from being a Dragon to being a human. And all she can feel is guilt, guilt for leaving everyone behind. Part of her knows this was the right choice. But the world has changed, and she isn’t so sure anymore.
• She decides to take a walk around the palace—she feels the cold floor beneath her feet. She continues, passing by the different chambers until she comes to a halt; the door opens and a woman exits a room.
• She is slender and graceful—soft lines and feminine. Leona hugs her torso, first time in a while to be self-conscious of her body.
• The woman softly bows. “Dragon Light, welcome.”
• Leona notices that she wears nothing, just a fabric wrapped around her. “Thank you…” she pauses, not knowing her name.
• “It’s Soriene,” she responds. Her eyes are cunning, and Leona can feel a burning hate coming from her.
• As Leona tries to leave, she takes a glimpse inside the room Soriene was—Kaelith. He is there, gazing at the window, his toned body exposed to the moonlight, while he uses a sheet to cover himself.
• She clicks her tongue and continues on. Just as she makes the turn right, where the outer balcony is placed, Kaelith seizes her wrist.
• “What the—” she mumbles.
• “Did you have something to say?” he sneers, and Leona realizes that he must have heard her.
• Quickly, she yanks her hand from him, continuing gazing at the snowed mountains. “For someone who claims he can’t stand me, you stay awfully close.”
• He rolls his eyes. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
• She lets out a dry chuckle. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
• He growls under his breath, somehow her answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Why did you cry back at the tomb?”
• She turns and faces him. “As you wish to keep things hidden, so do I.”
• Again, he doesn’t like her answer.
• He notices her eyes—fox-like that droop just a little on the sides. A pleading gaze that can turn to devious in the blink of an eye. “Right,” he whispers. “Get some sleep.”
• And just like that, he disappears from sight, and Leona is left alone with her thoughts—thoughts she wished she could avoid.
• —***—
• Everyone has gathered to wish them a safe journey. Leona is riding a white horse, while Kaelith holds the reins tight of his black stallion. Celebrations are under way—festivities for the arrival of a Dragon.
• And she wishes she could stay, even for one more day. But every time she tries to enjoy the life she is given, images of Dark and Atlas torment her mind. Deep inside, she wants to escape them and the duty that was bestowed upon her—the one she has had even before her birth.
• She always had a pre-determined fate, and even though she tried to avoid it, she never won. And now, she wonders if coming here was even wise. A brief escape, that only makes her miss what could have been.
• The gates of Valekh open wide, and the sound of trumpets accompany them. The royal family is there, and Irelith is standing, arms crossed over her chest. She is pouting, and it’s clear to Kaelith that she wanted to come. But, he knows that his father would never do that—allow his heir to be put in harm's way.
• And of course he was chosen for this, but he didn’t care, even if it meant traveling with a Dragon; he needs to escape from his prison.
• A woman approaches them.
• Leona immediately notices how different her attire is. Her robes are many layers of soft silk, the outer mantle a pale moon-silver. A wide and tight red sash is wrapped around her waist. On her sleeves, red strings are weaved in a delicate way flowing like water. Her hair is parted cleanly and pulled into a loose, low coil, decorated with thin bone pins carved to resemble fox ears. Beneath her eyes, a thin sweep of black liner and above it, a bold red stroke lifts her eyes.
• But what catches her attention is the long stripes of dark dye resembling tears drawn on the cheeks, starting from below the eyes and reaching all the way down her face.
• On her waist, different colored charms are decorating her belt, and Leona wonders what they all mean.
• “My name is Miyora. I represent the Yurai Sect,” she says, and her voice is soft and lithe.
• “Yurai…” Leona says barely above a whisper.
• “My people serve the fox Goddess—Lady Yuneira,” Miyora explains. “The Goddess welcomes you in this land and will love to meet you.”
• Leona gasps. “M—meet m—me?”
• “Yes. She has taken interest in you, child of Atlas,” Miyora continues. Leona looks at her right where Kaelith is. She has never heard of these people or this Goddess, wondering if anything she says is true or just a lie.
• “She’ll meet you is Everlune.” Miyora removes two of the charms that are fastened around her waist; a white with golden weaves and a red with silver weaves. “These are charms called nairoku. They will help guide and protect you in your journey.” She proceeds to give the white to Leona and the red to Kaelith. “Keep them close—they need to be wrapped around somewhere on your body.”
• Leona decides to wear hers as a necklace, while Kaelith reluctantly coils it around his hand.
• “Follow my lead,” he says as he gallops outside of the city gates and into the wild.
• —***—
• The wind is like razors blades against her skin, but she doesn’t mind—she has missed this, even the pain. So much has changed, but one thing is clear in her mind; the north is mostly abandoned. With a kingdom so prosperous, Leona was certain that she would be able to find more people, villages.
• But nothing.
• “Where is everyone?” she wonders. Kaelith growls beneath his breath, refusing to make small talk with her.
• “Really? This journey can take months. You’re seriously going to ignore me?” she asks, and he nods in response.
• She shakes her head and decides to ride faster than him; she can’t stand his attitude.
• “Wait—” he yells, but the blizzard is enough for his voice to get lost in the wind. “Arrogant,” he thinks to himself, as he kicks his heels—the horse surging ahead.
• Minutes turn to an hour of him snapping the reins, trying to find her. His patience is wearing thin, and a thought passes his mind; to leave her behind.
• He shakes his head, refusing to act selfish.
• “Leona!” he shouts, hoping the wind will carry his voice this time. And before he gives up, a sudden burst of energy is seen from afar.
• Kaellith rides to the destination of the blast, as fast as the horse can carry him.
• Through the snowfall he sees them: three men circling her, blades drawn, their dark cloaks whipping in the wind. And in the center—Leona.
• The flames pulse from her palms like living things, scorching the snow at her feet.
• One of the attackers lunges.
• Leona twists, thrusting her hand forward. A burst of fire erupts, bright and furious, throwing the man backward.
• Kaelith dismounts, revealing his sharp blade. Quick on his feet, he avoids the man’s sword from piercing his ribs.
• The prince yields a step, then another, letting the man think that he is winning. When the next strike comes down, Kaelith catches it. He slides his blade along the opponent’s, sending a shocked jolt up the man’s arm.
• The rogue slashes wildly, desperate. Kaelith ducks beneath the swing, and with one final blow, he cuts the man in half.
• As he turns around to face his new opponent, he sees only burned corpses; Leona has defeated them all. He wonders, how a powerful creature like her managed to lose from him, when she can create such devastation?
• “What did you—” He tries to speak, but Leona’s gaze—devoid of warmth—holds him into place.
• Leona lifts her hand, shaping raw flame into a bow of burning light; a fire-arrow forms on the string, and she releases it in a bright streak that cuts through the air.
• Kaelith ducks, fearing the arrow is aiming at him; but this was never the case. A man tried to sneak up behind him.
• He turns and breathes heavily, seeing the rogue falling to his death.
• “What the hell, Leona?!” he screams. “You could have died! I was looking for you for an hour!” He rubs the inner corner of his eyebrows. “Did I piss you off so much that you had to leave me behind?”
• Her gaze warms up and she frowns. “I—I didn’t leave you, not for that reason. I would never—”
• “Then why…”
• “I—I felt danger. I just wanted to check it out because… it was just a hunch. Next thing I knew, I was lost,” she reveals.
• “You could have told me—”
• “And you would have ignored me,” she cuts him off.
• Kaelith takes a deep breath, flaring his nostrils. “You’re right… I would.” He leans closer, lips parting slightly. “Next time, tell me. I promise, I’ll listen.”