Chapter 61: A life is a life

Givontair:

I can no longer smell the bear. A part of me doesn't want to come to terms that someone must die for me to heal. Another part of me doesn't care. I am often afraid of that part.

From being abandoned to fend for myself ever since I hatched, to now, when my inner dragon whispers that I should be the king of the dragons. This part of me is hard to rein in. It is hard to not listen to the promise of ultimate power.

I glance at Erik, who is sleeping under a tree. Bundled up in a cocoon of blankets, he doesn't look capable of so much as harming a fly. Yet, he has a prophecy hanging over his head as well.

I sigh, and then go to sit by Erik. The boy doesn't stir, as I wrap an arm around his shoulders, and bring him close. Elias is a little to the side, speaking with Norrix. Must be nice, for them to be unburdened from prophesies.

I hear footsteps. My nose twitches. It is just Nate and Sorix. When they come out of the tree line, their clothes are muddy, and their hair is ruffled and sticking to any which direction. Yet, both of them are smiling.

As I wait for them to come over, I wonder if it is the correct thing, to sacrifice the bear. A life is a life, no matter who possesses it. What right do I have, to take one?

I am not given much time to ponder, as Nate reaches me. Sorix comes to me soon after, and deposits a bear, which is barely hanging onto life, at my feet.

"We can do the ritual whenever you are ready," Sorix says. He glances at Erik, and adds. "Maybe not here. It is a bit disturbing, for such a young boy, to watch."

I nod, and stand up. Even in my human form, I am still stronger than the average human. I pick up the bloody mess, that is the bear, and begin to drag it away from the camp.

As I pass by Elias and Norrix, I wave at them, to get their attention.

"Go and keep watch over Erik. Don't let him come to us, no matter what you hear," I tell them.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Norrix asks. I can understand his doubts. It is not every day that a Dread Lord performs a healing ritual. The Dread might sabotage it. For all I know, I might end up losing my tail.

"There is no other way," I do my best to smile, but Norrix's face doesn't soften.

"If the Dread Lord maims you, I will set him ablaze," Elias says. Sorix snorts from behind me.

"The Dread Lord heard you, elf. Honestly, you can really hold on to grudges, can't you?" Sorix asks. Elias rolls his eyes at him.

"You might have convinced everyone else that you were just manipulated, but it will take more time, to convince me. After all, if you were following the Dread's plan to the end, you would have attacked sooner," Sorix chooses not to argue.

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He just turns around, and leaves. I look at the Dread Lord's back, and rush after him. Elias doesn't so much as call us back to him. Yet, I can feel him going to Erik, with Norrix in tow.

When we reach a clearing, I place the barely conscious bear down on the ground. It gives out a low whine. I try to think about all the people who got lost in this labyrinth during the years. Yet, I still pity the dungeon core.

There is no denying the mana of the beast. Dungeon cores grow in power in two ways. They accumulate gold and other precious items, or they murder for extra mana points. With how strong, this bear is, and considering that the labyrinth is almost without an end, I can guess just what sort of dungeon core this one is.

"This is going to hurt," Sorix warns me. "You better shift in your dragon form."

"Ok, let us get this over with," I glance at Nathaniel, who seems uncertain. I go to him, and place a hand behind his neck. "A kiss for good luck?"

He smiles at that, and lets me bring him close to me. He kisses me, as if he will never get the chance to do so again. Does he know something about the ritual, which I don't? No, Nate would have told me. Of that, I have no doubt.

"Do I also get a kiss?" Sorix asks, as Nate and I break our kiss.

"You have many months ahead of you, to reach to that point," Nate says, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, come on!" Sorix whines. I go to him, and give him a peek on the lips.

"There, now do the ritual," I tell him. His fingers travel to the spot that I kissed, and he gets a dreamy smile.

"Just lay down next to the bear. Maybe, turn into the smallest dragon you can turn into?" Sorix asks.

"A drake, then," I agree with him. The shift is a bit painful because my tail is still healing. In my drake form, I wobble and lay down next to the bear. Sorix takes out a dagger, and then stabs the bear.

It is so weak, that the only thing it can do, is give out a whimper. Next, Sorix approaches me with the bloody dagger.

"I am sorry," he says, and then stabs what is left of my tail. I hold my maw closed, even when I begin to feel the burning, that comes with a quick regeneration.

I watch, transfixed, as the bear begins to rot. Its mana comes to me, and rebuilds my tail. No matter what my self-control is, I still can't help but howl, when the tip is being regenerated. Not that it is any more painful than the rest of the tail, but because if I don't howl, I will bite out my tongue from the pain. 

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