Dragon

1383 Words
Asher’s POV I feel absolutely shattered, like the universe is mocking me. It’s as if I had just gotten Lenora back, only to have her ripped away again, slipping through my fingers like water I can’t hold onto. My heart is heavy, my chest tight, and every muscle in my body feels like it’s weighed down by lead. I look over at Iliana, trying to find some sort of solace in her presence. She stands tall, though her pink eyes glisten with unshed tears, mirroring the turmoil raging inside me. “Why did you let her go?” My voice breaks, though I try to keep it steady, hoping she doesn’t hear the pain that’s boiling just beneath the surface. “Why did you say those things? You know how badly she’s being tortured. You know what he’s done to her.” Iliana’s gaze softens, the hurt in her eyes deepening. I can see that this isn’t easy for her either. “Asher,” she starts gently, taking a deep breath as though steadying herself. “She’s my daughter too. Do you think I don’t feel the same agony? Looking into her eyes, seeing the darkness that clings to her like a second skin—it was more than I could bear.” Her voice wavers as she wipes a tear away. “The things that monster has put her through… I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on anyone, not even my worst enemy.” I feel a sharp pang in my chest at her words, knowing how deeply she must be suffering too. “Then why? Why leave her there? Why let her go back to him?” My frustration bleeds into my voice, raw and desperate. “We should have taken her away, saved her from him, damn the consequences!” Iliana closes her eyes for a moment, steadying herself, then looks back at me. “Asher, it’s not that simple. Draco is… unpredictable. If we had kept her here, if we’d taken her away, he would have retaliated in ways we can’t even begin to predict. And he’s holding onto something—something important to her, something crucial for all of us. If we act rashly, he’ll destroy it.” I clench my fists, my frustration surging as the words settle over me. “What could possibly be so important that she has to risk her life staying with him?” The question tumbles out of me, sharp and biting. Iliana sighs softly, shaking her head. “That’s not for me to say, Asher. Lenora needs to tell you herself, when she’s ready. But understand this: Draco wants her alive, not dead. He may hurt her, but he won’t kill her. Right now, she’s safe in a twisted, terrible way. We need to plan this out carefully if we want to save her properly.” She meets my gaze, her eyes full of sympathy. “I know this is tearing you apart. But reconnecting with you was a huge step for her. She’s determined to come back to you now, Asher. For the first time in two years, she knows that she’s loved.” Her words should comfort me, but all I can feel is the ache of my helplessness. The thought of Lenora enduring any more torment twists my gut. “What can I do? How can I help her?” My voice is quieter now, filled with a sense of hopelessness I can’t shake. Iliana’s face softens, and she places a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll train. We’ll prepare ourselves for when the time comes.” She gives me a small, sad smile before looking over at Leonis, my father-in-law and Lenora’s father, who nods solemnly. Without another word, Iliana teleports us to the training grounds, the air around us humming with latent magic. I blink, trying to ground myself in the sudden change of scenery. Nana appears too, her presence as steady as ever, though there’s a certain tension in her usually calm demeanor. “Nancy,” Iliana calls out, “could you create a dragon simulation for us?” With a simple clap of her hands, a massive, winged serpent appears before us. Its enormous form casts a long shadow over the ground, its scales shimmering in the sunlight like molten gold. Its eyes gleam with feral intelligence, and its wings stretch out, blotting out part of the sky. Carter and Arya arrive just in time to witness the spectacle. Carter’s eyes widen in awe as he takes in the dragon’s massive size. “What’s going on here?” he asks, his voice tinged with amazement. Iliana smiles grimly. “We need to figure out how to take down a dragon—many of them, in fact. They have the advantage of flight, and if we want to save Lenora, we need to overcome that. Arya,” she gestures to the dragon, “could you charge the simulation with some fire?” Arya steps forward without hesitation, placing her hand on the dragon. Immediately, the beast’s eyes ignite with a fierce, otherworldly fire, a blaze of life flooding into it. “So,” Arya says, her voice filled with eager anticipation, “does this mean we’re planning to rescue Queen Lenora?” I nod firmly, unable to stop the grin that spreads across my face. “She hasn’t regained all her memories, but she knows who she is now.” I feel a warmth settle in my chest, recalling the brief moment we had together. “She kissed me.” Carter claps me on the back, his excitement infectious. “That’s amazing, man! I knew she’d come back to you.” The happiness radiating from him is like a balm to my wounded heart, and for a moment, I allow myself to feel the joy of that connection. But there’s still so much to be done. Claude arrives with Siobhan, both looking serious as they approach. “Do we have any updates on Queen Lenora?” Claude asks, his voice filled with concern. I fill them in quickly, explaining everything we know so far. Siobhan listens intently, her expression thoughtful. When I finish, she speaks up. “Removing counter-magic that’s been infused into someone’s body is tricky. Usually, it’s done using a specific item—something that bonds the spell to the individual. If we can figure out what that item is, I should be able to reverse the magic.” Iliana nods, pleased with the answer. “That’s a good start. We’ll need to figure out what the item could be. But for now, let’s focus on training.” With that, the dragon simulation roars to life, its wings beating powerfully as it ascends into the sky. It locks its glowing eyes on me, its jaws parting to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. Without hesitation, I shift into my wolf form, leaping to the side just as it lunges toward me. The battle is fierce. The dragon is enormous, its sheer size giving it a terrifying advantage. But I refuse to be intimidated. I call forth the powers Lenora infused into me, feeling her strength coursing through my veins. I roar, summoning icicles that shoot from my mouth and embed themselves into the dragon’s thick hide. Carter, now in his lycan form, manages to leap onto the dragon’s back, sinking his claws into its flesh. But the beast shakes him off easily, sending him crashing to the ground. Fire erupts from its maw, scorching the earth where I stood just moments ago. I snarl, dodging the flames and calling on Lenora’s air element to lift me into the sky. My body surges upward, and I lunge at the dragon, sinking my teeth into its neck. Though the beast roars in pain, it shakes me off, and I tumble back to the ground. I land on my feet, calling forth the earth element this time. Spikes shoot up from the ground, piercing the dragon’s belly like spears, and with a final roar, the simulation dissipates. Leonis claps his hands, his face full of pride. “Well done, son!” But even as I bask in the glow of his approval, my thoughts return to Lenora. This is only the beginning. We will save her.
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