The Shadow Within Me

Chapter Twenty Six - Safe

Crystal Raine Meadows 

It took a while until Jenny calmed down, some of the guards and officials that's been protecting the gates towards the Diamond District were getting stressed out because of her.

They even thanked me for consoling her. I wonder how long she has been trying to escape the grasp of these guards?

"Hey," I offered her a bottle of water, "Have you calmed down already?" I curiously asked, but she didn't answer me as she accepted that bottle.

She looked so deep in thought, so I nudged her shoulders and pulled her back from reality, "Hey, I'm talking to you," 

"Y-Yeah, I think so, I just can't help but be worried about him," she anxiously said, so I nodded before sitting right beside her.

"I understand, but you have to be in your presence of mind also, you don't want to worry him more, do you?" I claimed, so she just bit her lip before nodding at me.

"Rowen is probably busy saving his family or friends in that District, he'll come to see you after he's done, of course, he's safe so don't worry," I reassured her, I haven't seen Rowen yet, but I know that he'll be fine.

He's one of the skillful human dragons I know aside from Calyx and Liam, together with the student council.

"T-Thank you for coming here, Crys, I really appreciate you being with me right now," she gave me a small smile, so I reflected on it.

"Of course, I wouldn't let my best friend burden this alone," I beamed, so she just chuckled before heaving a deep long sigh.

"I saw Liam a while ago, he's helping to stop the lava flow so I asked him to look for Rowen either, but he hasn't come back yet," she informed me, so I wondered for a moment.

That's right, Liam's an ice dragon, he can help stop the lava flow that's still moving in the center of the Diamond District.

"I just hope they'll stop it before it fully consumes the whole Diamond District," Jenny added, so I just nodded at her.

"They will stop it and we could trust them in doing that, for now, we just have to help everyone that we can either aside from letting others worry about us," I suggested.

"Plus, I also need to go home later or else, I'll receive an earful from Ate Kathy," I added worriedly, so she just shook her head at me.

"I also saw Calyx saving others a while ago, he's a pretty strong guy though his attitude is a mess," Jenny claimed, so I laughed.

"We both heard that he's the number one strongest human dragon in our University," I admitted while playing with my fingers.

"Oh? Is Crys blushing right now?" I could feel Jenny raise her eyebrows, so I averted my eyes on her.

"I-I'm not! D-Don't talk silly Jenny," I stuttered, great, I didn't sound really convincing at all and that really sucks.

"Hm? You're acting weird lately, Crys, and it feels like you're not opening to me towards a lot of things that's been happening to you," she claimed, so I shook my head at her.

"There's nothing to talk about, Jenny, I always tell things when I'm troubled," I insisted before looking at her, she looks like she doesn't believe me.

"We're friends Crys, I want you to know that I'm always here for you if you need someone most especially if you want to cry, you don't have to burden anything alone, I won't judge you," Jenny reassured, so I sighed before giving her a small smile.

Jenny is really such a nice friend, she's a little overprotective, but that part is what makes her really special to me.

"Thank you, Jenny, I'll always keep that in mind," I gave her a side hug, so she just laughed before messing with my hair.

A few people entering the main gates of the Ruby District captured our attention and revealed to us a few people with injuries and other flying dragons that carried unconscious people.

They probably came from the Diamond District and will probably take shelter here, "Come, let's check if Rowen is there," I invited Jenny, so she immediately came with me as we paced over there.

After we got there, the sound of misery and pain surrounded my ears. I couldn't even bear to look at others who had their skin burnt from the lava.

"W-Would someone please take them to our nearest hospital as soon as possible, or just give them some first aid to ease the pain," I pleaded with the guards, but they just scratched the back of their heads.

"As much as we want to, we can't easily take them there because we have to wait for specific orders from the Leaders," the guard replied, so I furrowed my eyebrows at him. Why can't they take them there that quickly? Why are they waiting for them? Jeez, they're letting people suffer this long. 

"W-Why not? These people are in pain, you can't just let them suffer like this any longer," I sighed before fixing up my sleeves. 

They're still waiting for the Leaders of the District to come and help, or even give them orders, they shouldn't lean on them that much. They should take action that counts in this kind of crisis.

"I-I'm sorry milady, but we just have to wait for orders, we're not sure if the nearest hospitals are even prepared," the guard claimed, so I almost glared at him.

Hospitals will always be prepared for these kinds of scenarios, they're just stalling and taking up too much time.

"Just help me find some herbs, I'll do first aid here right now if you don't want to take them to the hospital," they looked surprised at what I said, but I'm glad they took notes of what I needed.

I studied tending wounds a lot, science, and everything related to human anatomy. I also wanted to help myself sometimes because I know I have this sickness where I don't know if I could get rid of it.

Jenny looked proud of me as she looked for Rowen on the survivors, unluckily, she hadn't seen him and just helped others on finding some herbs.

I consoled other people who are still crying because of trauma and pain. I almost wanted to cry with them but I had to help them ease the pain.

"Hello there, this would be really painful for a moment, but bear with it alright? We have to remove infections," I calmly spoke to that middle-aged guy that has a burn on both of his arms.

"Will it hurt? I feel so numb right now that I don't even know what to feel," that man weakly replied, so I bit my lower lip before nodding.

"Yes it will hurt for a moment, but after this first aid I'm about to do, it will help ease the pain," I reassured, so the man just sighed before nodding at me.

I heard him cry and shout because of the pain, it's too unbearable to see but I have to look at him. A little while later his voice subsided as he just continued exhaling a lungful of air.

After I'm done with him, I used all the herbs those guards found for me and helped all those people who were in pain.

Jenny got busy for a moment as she called a few ferry dragons to take these people to the hospital. I'm thankful that she's here with me. It helps take some stress away despite all the misery and pain that I've been hearing.

I kept circling that group of people and didn't realize that I was that exhausted after I finished helping them all to subside the pain.

"There," I wiped my forehead using my arms, "You should feel a little bit better later," I gave that lady a small smile, she has a burnt on her leg.

"Thank you so much," she teared up before reaching out towards your hand, "May I ask what's your name?" she curiously asked.

"C-Crystal Raine Meadows," I smiled before asking her to rest and was about to leave when I tripped over some rock.

"E-Eep!" I gasped when someone grabbed my waist, his warmth felt so familiar that I didn't realize that he helped me stand up straight.

"You were roaming around without a problem a while ago when I'm a bit far from you, but when I decided to come closer you fell?" I flinched after hearing that familiar voice.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" Calyx coldly asked, so I furrowed my eyebrows for a moment.

"Why the heck would I do that?" I taunted, but I was not looking at him, so I heard him scoff, is he offended or is he laughing?

"Why won't you just face me woman?" he complained, so I flinched before gulping. Why am I always nervous around this guy? If not nervous then annoyed or mad?

I slowly turned around and saw those red glinting eyes looking at me intently, "Y-You, what are you doing here?" I nervously asked before looking at his well-being.

He has some scratches and a small burn on his arms, but all in all, he looks fine and well. I don't know why I felt so relieved.

"I just got here to drop off injured people and you? What are you doing here aside from helping them?" Calyx coldly asked, so he's been saving a lot of people ever since we separated ways a while ago? I don't know why I smiled, so I shook my head.

"N-Nothing, consoling a friend, she's worried about her mate," I explained while playing with my fingers.

It was quiet for a moment and I could feel that he's looking at me intently like he's asking me for something. Am I reading him right or does he want some first aid too?

"U-Uh do you want first aid?" I curiously asked. Surprisingly, he casually nodded his head at me.

"A-Alright, come here and sit down, you didn't have the worst wound but it's better to treat it to prevent the scars," I suggested and started using the remaining herbs I have on his scratches and burnt.

I thought it was weird that he wasn't showing any signs of pain because his small burn wound looked worse. But it's weirder that I could feel him looking at me intently as I tended to his wounds, it's starting to make me feel anxious.

"T-There, you're done," I mumbled before standing up, my eyes met his pairs and I couldn't help but admire those red glinting eyes.

"Everyone received first aid, may I ask who did this?" I flinched before staring at the front where I saw Mr. Kyle Van Hughes, the Leader of the Sapphire District.

I was lightly pushed by Calyx from my back, so I glared at him, "This woman did it, Kyle," Calyx replied, so he looked at us and I was reminded of Peter Hughes.

"They're brothers, if you're thinking they look the same," Calyx coldly explained before he left casually. Wait a minute, I didn't ask him that jeez.

"Hey! I told you to call me with respect! You're lucky I know your sister!" Mr. Kyle complained to Calyx, but that guy didn't mind him, so he just shook his head before approaching me.

"Greetings, I'm... you must already know who I am don't you?" he asked because I probably don't look confused at all, so I smiled before nodding at him.

"Yes," I politely bowed my head at him, "I am familiar with you, Mr. Kyle, and I..." I bit my lip before scratching the back of my head.

"I-I did the first aid for these people, I can't bear seeing them in pain," I honestly said, so he smiled at me as he nodded.

"Thank you for that, I appreciate you doing that for our people, we'll take it from here, you can go home," he sincerely said, so I hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Crys! Crys! He's safe! I finally heard from him!" I heard Jenny approaching me, I almost wanted to laugh because she didn't notice that I was talking to someone.

I motioned my lips on my side to inform her, so she immediately got what I meant and bowed her head, "G-Greetings, sorry for my rudeness," Jenny sincerely apologized, so Mr. Kyle just chuckled.

"Don't be, you may go home, we'll take care of things from here," he glanced at me once more before smiling, "Thank you again for helping our people," he beamed as he bid us goodbye.

"Woo, I got nervous there for a moment, let's go and see Rowen!" she invited, so I just nodded and allowed her to drag me.

A lot of people thanked me on my way out of that crowd, I feel slightly embarrassed and thankful at the same because I know that they'll be alright.

"There he is! Together with Liam!" Jenny beamed as she sprinted over there and I jogged to catched up on her.

To be continued...