Chapter Text
I always thought I had loved the cliffs because of its natural beauty. The sights, the sounds, the smells. Ah, how foolish I had been.
When Kyia came in with the Zeltora guards, I knew I had been wrong. It was her. They were meant to find her there.
And I was meant to see her.
Oh, how beautiful she is. Her skin glows like a thousand suns with her golden draekon bond. Her hair, soft like no other, and a deep warm brown like the trees I've heard grow outside Meya. She wasn't overly done like everyone else here.
She was simple, and it was a sight to behold.
I almost want to stay here and watch over her while she sleeps, barely alive as she was when they found her.
I could, but I don't want to scare her more than she already is.
'Kyia, you stay here while she sleeps. Call me in when she wakes up, please.'
I walk out, tearing my eyes from the peacefully slumbering girl. My friend voices her complaints but stays nonetheless. I know she is as worried as I am, whether or not she doesn't want to play babysitter.
Outside the door, I hesitate. Should I leave? What if something happens? But would lingering out her door be no less creepy than staying inside?
Torn, I sit against the wall, leaning my head against it. I feel a strange responsibility to help her. I've never felt that before. It's silly, I don't know her.
Minutes pass, maybe hours, until I hear faint voices. I stand up, my hand on the door handle hesitantly. Should I give her a second?
I can hear Kyia inside; she sounds confused. The girl, however, seems perfectly at ease. I can't quite understand her, but her muffled voice is soft to the ears.
The decision made, I push the door open and step outside.
Apparently, she was not as relaxed as I thought. The girl grabs Kyia, and in a blaze of blue glory, an ice blue blade appears in her hand, engulfed in a similar colour of flame.
She says something, and it's the oddest thing.
Though I can't understand her melodic language, she says my name.
As if we were old rivals, the word is infused with fear and spite.
Even so, like a schoolboy, I long for her to say it again.
Snap out of it, Aven. Her sword is on fire. It's magnificent, I've never seen anything like it. Unless....
I have no time to ponder, as Kyia skips away from the panicking girl and to my side.
The girl speaks again, hurt in her voice. She calls out to Kyia, then says my own name in a voice of venom.
Fiery sword aside, I wrap an arm around Kyia, concerned eyes coming her way.
'Did she hurt you?'
Leaving Kyia no room to respond, the girls hands shake, and she steps back, her voice oddly betrayed.
Neither of us understands, yet I feel a strong urge to comfort her. However, before anyone can act, my brother walks in. As always, here to get me out of situations.
She says his name as well. Perhaps she's seen it in the news.
He walks over to me and Kyia, his expression quizzical yet calm.
'It appears I have missed the introductions.'
A smile tugging at my lips, I nod, 'It appears we did too, brother. As always, our fame precedes us.'
'She may know of us, but I've never seen her before,' Kyia chimes in, shaking her head. 'And I would remember, given that she shines with the binding of a draekon.'
'That is indeed curious, as is the weapon she wields,' I respond in a murmur, my gaze fixing once again on the sword I have seen only in fairytales. 'That's no normal blade. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was–'
The girl interrupts in a scared whisper, looking between us as if piecing together a puzzle of which she is missing half.
How desperately I wish to comfort her, but the words out of her mouth are of no more meaning to me than the growl of a Sarnaph.
'What language is it that she speaks?' I ask my brother, my gaze trapped on the girls face.
'It's the common tongue. It would seem she is... confused.'
Kyia snorts at the obvious explanation Roka provided.
'I don't need to understand her language to see that, Roka. The poor thing looks terrified. And she likely has reason to, since we found her half dead at the base of the Golden Cliffs.'
Kyia is right. The girl is likely on edge because something traumatic occurred. If I can get her to calm down, maybe she will open up.
I step forward, my arms raising in what I hope is a placating manner.
'It's all right, you're amongst friends here.'
My attempt to coax her forward clearly is not successful, and only leads to her scrambling back until her knees press against the balcony railing, saying something that sounds vaguely like a threat.
Stars above, that does not look safe. I should get her away from there.
Preferably when the point of her fiery sword isn't directed at my chest.
My opportunity presents itself when a loud roar thunders from above. Her hands clap over her ears in shock, moving her sword away.
I rush to grab her, get her away from the balcony's edge.
Seemingly, she has other plans, and I startle her to direct the sword at me again and scramble away.
Right over the balcony's edge
Nonono, stars, what have I done.
I force my frozen legs to push me to the railing as fast as I can.
I don't want to watch her die. Please don't die.
I must've made fate happy because a black mass shoots from the sky and catches her, sailing straight up.
Of course, her draekon bond. I'm too relieved to kick myself for my stupidity.
Watching the draekon fly away until I can't see it through the clouds anymore, I run a hand through my hair and sigh.
Then and there, I promise myself that won't be the last I see of her.
1035 words!!
The last time I tried to publish it, the whole thing deleted to I made sure to save the whole thing to clipboard this time.
Let me know if you like it, and I will try and get the next one out as soon as possible.