By morning, the air still smelled of smoke. Ash still floated in the sky, though lazily. The attack from the evening before had left many of the villagers shaken. Homes were damaged, roofs torn open, doors broken, and possessions stolen or burned. Some were tending to wounds. Others were helping neighbors put their huts back together. But even more than the damage, there was something more, fear of the unknown.
By midday, the villagers had gathered at the center of the village, the same place where the attack had begun. They had called for a meeting because of what happened the previous day.
The meeting began with soft murmurs by the people, but it didn't take long before the voices started to rise. A woman stood up. "My children didn't sleep at all last night," she said, in a shaky but angry voice. "They kept crying. They said they saw someone make fire come from the air... Is this what we now live with? Sorcery? Is that what has come into our midst?"
Another man joined in, "Maybe the gods have turned their backs on us. What else could explain that kind of fire? That wasn't any normal fire."
"It wasn't just fire," someone added. "It moved like it had a mind of its own. No torch can do that."
The noise from the crowd was growing louder now. Another woman shouted, "We have to find the witch among us! Before more danger comes. If we don't act now, this village will fall!"
"Report her to the king's men!" another shouted.
"Or better still, burn her before she burns us all!" the first woman screamed.
A loud chorus of "Yes! Yes! Yes!" echoed through the village center. Fear had turned to rage. They weren't just scared anymore. They were looking for someone to blame.
That's when Varek stepped forward. His voice was firm but controlled.
"Is that really what we should be worried about right now?" he asked, looking around at them all.
The crowd paused. Some turned to face him. Others grumbled under their breath.
Varek stepped closer to the center and raised his voice. "These weren't ordinary thieves that came last night. Those were nomadic raiders. I've seen what they can do to people, what they did to many regions. These men don't stop. They move from one village to another, burning, stealing, destroying. That's their life. And now, they've found us."
The crowd grew quieter.
"They've marked our village," he continued. "They'll be back. And the next time... we might not be as lucky."
"Lucky?" someone shouted. "People were injured! Homes destroyed!"
"Yes," Varek said, "But many of us are still alive. And ask yourself why. Why didn't they finish us off?"
Nobody answered.
"It's because of that mysterious fire you're all screaming about. Because of that so-called witch, which we do not even know if such is amongst us. Whatever power protected this village last night... It came when we needed it most."
There was a ripple of murmurs again. Some agreeing. Some still weren't sure.
An old man with grey hair and shaking hands stood up. "You speak well, Varek. But let me ask you this, how do you expect a small village like ours, farmers and herders, to fight off such trained, brutal men? What weapons do we have? What strength?"
Varek looked at him directly. "That... is exactly what we should be figuring out. That is why we should be meeting, to prepare. To make plans and not to chase shadows and point fingers at someone who might've just saved all of us."
He paused, taking a deep breath.
"You want to burn someone because of fear? What if you're wrong? What if you chase away the very person or power that kept your children alive last night?"
Then, from the corner of the gathering, Ronan quietly walked up to Aeron, who had been standing at the back, away from the noise.
Ronan looked him dead in the eyes.
"Imagine if they were screaming like this just because of a little fire," Ronan said under his breath, almost whispering. "What do you think would happen if they saw an arrow that burned a man alive?"
Aeron froze.
Ronan continued with a much firmer voice now, "It was you, wasn't it? I saw it. Twice. The fire didn't just come from nowhere."
Aeron didn't answer. He couldn't. His throat tightened. His heart started pounding. He looked away, stepped back once… then twice…
And then he turned and ran.
He ran past the people and the houses. He didn't want to explain. What explanation could he possibly give? He didn't even understand it himself. All he knew was that something powerful was connected to him.
He ran straight towards the cave and as he finally reached the mouth of the cave, he stopped. He gasped.
"What… in the gods' name…"
The entire inside of the cave was scorched.
Black dust coated the ground. Burnt marks streaked across the stone walls. The scent of smoke and ash was thick in the air, though no fire was burning now.
Aeron took cautious steps forward, as his eyes were wide with disbelief.
Then he saw Draco.
He stood in the middle of the cave with its wings half-spread, shaking slightly, like it had tried to fly, or escape. The creature's eyes met Aeron's, and Aeron felt it. A rush of emotion. Fear, longing… and relief.
Before he could speak, the words appeared before him once again.
[FLAMEBOND SYSTEM: STAGE III UNLOCKED]
« Bond Confirmed: Drakeling Imprint Complete »
| Flameborn Companion Linked:
– Species: Drakeling (Silver-Fire Class)
– Name: [Draco]
| Soul Synchronization Level: 20%
| Elemental Channeling: Activated
| Trait Unlocked: Dragon Whisper I – Emotional Transference Enabled
| Affinity Bonus: +20% Fire, +8% Air
| Warning: Bond Link is permanent.
Aeron stepped back. "What… is this?" he whispered. His hands were shaking.
He looked at Draco again, and this time he felt it more clearly, like their hearts had become one. Draco had sensed everything that happened in the village and he had tried to reach him. Tried to help him.
"You knew I was in danger…" Aeron murmured. "You felt what I felt… You wanted to come help me… to protect me."
He knelt in front of the dragon.
"I don't know how this works yet, but… don't put yourself at risk for me again, alright?" he said softly, placing a hand gently on Draco's snout. "Don't expose yourself like that. Not for me. Not yet."
Draco gave a soft, almost sad growl.
Aeron sighed, noticing how the dragon looked weak and tired. Its belly rumbled slightly.
"You haven't eaten, have you?" he said. "Of course… all this happened, and you haven't had a thing."
He stood up. "Give me a moment. I'll find something. Just… wait here."
With that, Aeron left the cave. He slipped past the waterfall and into the forest once more. He thought of catching a rabbit or some wild fruit, anything that could give Draco some strength.
But then… he saw them.
Just ahead, barely visible between the trees, was a group of figures. Dressed in black cloaks.
Aeron quickly ducked behind a thick tree, his heart suddenly racing again. These people… they weren't nomads. No. They moved too quietly and organized. They walked like trained soldiers, with no clumsy steps. Just slow and controlled movement.
"Who are they…?" Aeron whispered to himself.
They didn't seem interested in the village. They weren't heading that way. Instead, they moved along the forest path… toward the main road.
Assassins?
No flags nor armor. Just black robes and blades strapped to their hips.
He crouched lower as he followed them with curiosity. He had to find out if they were doing anything in their village.
"..."
"..."