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Soldiers rushed down the halls of Elusia Castle, preparing for a full-on invasion of Brodia. Though despite the chaos the knights were flung into, they still found it within them to make way for a lone figure and pay respect to her as she passed. It was hard to miss the woman dressed in ashen clothing with fiery red hair to match. The only living child of these people’s god—as far as they were aware.
Alear brushed the thought aside. This was no time to concern herself with the Divine Dragon’s safety, not as Lord Sombron’s seemingly faithful servant. She ignored the Elusians that passed, trying to focus herself on the search for one in particular. Someone who she much enjoyed getting to know over the past few months no matter how much the woman may have detested her.
The dragon’s brisk pace hastened upon the slightest hint of violet hair, wishing to catch up to the woman. Despite everything she’d been through, a smile pulled at Alear’s lips as she rounded the corner to find the Elusian princess. Much as the Fell Dragon wanted to let her excitement take over, she bit back the bubbling feeling, forcing her voice out in a low, controlled tone.
“Princess Ivy.”
There was a moment’s pause, the atmosphere turning still as the princess’s back remained towards the dragon. Ivy’s shoulders tensed at the call, clearly unwilling to face one responsible for sending her people off to war. Alear didn’t mind it, though. She found it rather endearing, seeing a human in these lands who didn’t simply lay praise at the Fell Dragons’ feet.
Though with that came its own problems. Alear’s smile dropped as the Elusian princess turned to face her, a clear hatred burning in those violet eyes. It always stung to see—Alear wanted nothing more than to close that distance between them, but that anger always held her back. It was a wall, forcing her away from the Elusian. And even if Ivy spoke with grace, choosing her words and tone carefully, she could never hide the truth in her eyes.
“Is there something you require, Lady Alear?”
Ivy’s clipped tone was far from what she used with Princess Hortensia. How long had it been since anyone spoke with a semblance of familiarity or care for the young dragon? No, this was how things were meant to be. Alear could be as bitter as she pleased, but it would not change the fact that they were enemies—they had to be enemies if she were to have any hope of Elusia being saved from Sombron’s clutches.
Yet even then, Alear could not find the harsh words required of her persona. For just a moment, she allowed herself to show through, reaching forward and carefully taking hold of Ivy’s hand. It was a gentleness not allowed of her position, but Alear followed through, guiding the princess’s palm upward before covering it with her other hand, pressing a small ring into soft flesh.
Alear relished the contact for a moment, taking in the feel of Ivy’s hand. It was cold yet soft and smooth. The hand of one who has dealt with little conflict—at least physical. It was far from Alear’s own hands, rough and calloused from centuries of battle. And how Alear wished it could remain that way. If only she could hand over Celica or Micaiah’s ring to keep Ivy further from the battle. Yet those were in the hands of Firene and would be of little use for a siege.
So, Alear settled for the best option she had, finally finding her voice as she kept her focus on the hand engulfed in her own. “If you are to invade Brodia, then you’ll need the strength of an Emblem. This is the Ring of the Sage Lord.” A smile threatened the dragon’s lips, knowing Leif would keep the princess safe. “He will protect you in the battle to come.”
Her voice threatened to break, not wanting to part with an Emblem—a friend. But Alear knew she could trust Ivy. She had to trust Ivy. So she let go, letting her hands slip away from the princess as she stepped back. When the dragon looked back to violet eyes, there was confusion there. She’d been too soft. But it felt nice to let her mask slip even the slightest, no matter how temporarily.
If anything, Alear wished for a world where they could have been allies, both fighting on the side of the Divine Dragon. But that could never happen. Not so long as she was Sombron’s daughter.