I watch him walk out. My eyes focus on the rigid set of his shoulders. I make to follow him.
"Don't bother. Let him go."
I turn to him.
"Some battles are best fought alone".
"I know Claw. He'll rip him to shreds before he could even come near. Claw is unmatched, a worthy rival of the demon queen. Xian Xi is signing his death sentence".
"You care about him? I would have, he's good when he wants to be, but he keeps replacing my liquor with herbal teas. That is unforgiveable by my standards".
"I see good in him. But, more importantly, I need him".
I leave. I can feel the mentor's drunk gaze on my back.
As I pass along the hall, I hear laughter. Laughter sounds strange in this barren amd cursed place. I become curious. I move closer to the door and place my ear on it.
"-they were screaming louder than a dragon would squeal. Besides, there was too much steam for me to see anything tangible".
Then, the door opens and I fall forward. Strong arms reach out to grab me.
"I have a fancy for torturing eavesdroppers". Rames, the dark-haired guy with one silver eye and one gold eye.
"...I was looking for Xian Xi".
"No need to lie, he's not here. You can come in".
I start shaking my head but he grips my hand firmly in his cool one and pulls me in. I look down at his hand and awkwardly try to untangle his fingers.
"Speak of the devil. What brings you here, to the den of hungry lions?"
I can't remember the name of the speaker.
I turn to Rames.
"Can I talk to you?"
One of them stands up.
"There's no private conversations here, talk to all of us".
I take a seat beside the quiet guy that is holding a traditional guitar.
"I'm worried about Xian Xi..."
Everyone bursts out laughing.
"Worried?" More laughter.
"He-"
They're all still laughing.
"He's going to get himself killed!" I yell in frustration.
It all goes silent for a while, then everyone bursts out laughing again. Another round? If they're going to turn me into a laughing stock, then, I'd better leave.
I try standing up, but the guy beside me quickly pulls me back down.
"They're just messing with you."
I wait for the laughter to die down. When it does, they all wear serious expressions.
"Xian Xi is always trying to kill himself. All of us are. Can you be more specific?"
"No. I need to know all that you know about him. It would help me approach him better".
"Xian Xi hates to be the subject of gossip. Go find someone else to ask". Kaven, the one with very long black hair says.
I stare at the golden seams in his white robe.
Kross, crosses one leg over his knee, props his elbows on his knee and leans his head on his wrists.
"What exactly do you want to know?"
"What you know".
"We actually know very little. He had no family, he is from a cursed generation and is extremely powerful."
I blink.
"Extremely powerful?"
"He defeated Jakota without putting much effort, and Jakota is regarded as unbeatable."
"What skills did he use?"
"He was mainly using combat skills. He is very fast. We don't really know his power".
I remember when he woke me up with a jolt of electricity. Also, Claw's story had said they are Dromes.
I don't know much about Dromes, but I know they're supposed to be extinct. His power is rare, but I don't know what it is.
The system shows with a timer for my next nightmare. Time has passed so quickly.
I need to find Xian Xi.
I get up and start running. I'll check his room first, if I can't find him, I'll go to the Common room or check the library again.
I reach his room and open the door. What I see wipes the floor from under my feet.
---
Fang is sitting on the bed. Both of her legs are tied to the lower bedposts while Xian Xi is busy tying her hands to the upper bedposts.
Both of them turn to look at me.
Xian Xi is not smiling in the least.
"What are you doing here?"
I look at my timer, the clock is running out. Four. I walk towards Xian Xi. Three. I grasp his arm. Two. He tries to pull away. One.
We fall into the void. The look on Fang's face is priceless.
Xian Xi does not know what he is getting himself into. It's not my job to save him, but I can't let him go down that path, for the sake of my own sanity.
Once you are hers once, you are hers forever. It's like you sign a forever contract with the devil herself.
We fall to the rocky ground. I roll away from him with the speed of lightning. I wait for him to lash out at me, to make some hurtful and derogatory comment.
He just remains silent. I dare to look at him.
"Thank you".
I blink, hard.
"For what?"
"For saving me from making the biggest mistake of my existence".
"What are friends for?"
"Friends? Are we friends now?"
"Yes, and you cannot refuse it".
He remains silent.
"I'm sorry about your brother". I say quietly.
He does not look up.
"I've met Claw. He's every bit the handsome, arrogant Demon Lord".
He looks up at me, his piercing blue eyes shimmering with tears.
I feel my own eyes begin to water. Slowly, his hair changes from shiny black to shimmering white.
"How did you meet him?"
"I was...the Demon queen's ...slave. He was a frequent...visitor. So were some of the others".
I avoid meeting his gaze.
"How are you still sane?"
I contemplate his question.
"I'm not sane. I'm not insane either"
"Your in a void, then. Drifting between both sides".
I ask the question I have been dying to ask.
"Why does your hair change colour?"
He grins.
"My hair follows my emotions. I never tell anyone this, it exposes my powers".
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to". I say to him.
"Gorhms are supposed to have only white hair, but I am a Drome, as you found out. We are bound to natural elements by a curse. It is inherent in our blood. Our powers are based on emotions. When my hair is white, it means I'm at peace with the elements. I can use my cursed power however I like. When my hair is dark, it means I have offended the gods of the elements, either by lying, or bad deeds. I can't use my powers when my hair is dark".
It all makes sense now. He had kidnapped me, so his hair was dark. That's why he was weak. His hair turned white when he had been honest with me.
"Your secret is safe with me".
"And so is yours".
"What do you know about Claw?"
"He is very arrogant. I've never seen his true demon form before, but I can feel his aura from miles away. His gaze alone makes me melt".
"He was like that in his past life. Yumi always said that he had the predatory look of a soul tiger."
I hear the sound of people marching towards us. Our little moment is ruined. When I look closer, I realize that it is everyone in the Imperial army that I killed.
I step back.
Xian Xi looks at me with wide eyes.
They keep coming closer. All their eyes are black and lifeless. Guilt weighs on me. Xian Xi was right about one thing - facing your fears is the hardest thing to do.
I can't kill them a second time.
I turn around and run.