Ava

18 - You are the Best!

Ava sighed as she laid flat on the ground after an exhausting training with Casix. For the past few days, both him and Black have been training her non-stop, physically and mentally. Earlier today, the centaur made sure she was able to strike the targets that he had set up using own her bow and arrow that he had made himself. On the other hand, Black continued to prepare her mentally despite her objections of fully shutting off her mind from the dreams that she’s getting.

I still strongly feel like those weren’t real and are just plainly dreams. I really think they’re my memories. But what I can’t understand is, I can remember everything that had happened to me ever since I woke up in that haystack 20 years ago. I was still a child then. There’s no way I’d forget situations where I get to have my wings or that I have to escape something. 

She thought deeply. 

Could it be the future? 

Why is she seeing the other Ava?

I also don’t recognize the place. 

There were too many questions swirling inside her right now. And she wanted answers. Then she remembered the fountain. The Feline Fowl had mentioned a magical being who can actually lead them to the fountain. However, that magical being is not currently dwelling here in the north but the south. 

“Such a pity.” She blurted out, a bit annoyed about the circumstances. 

“What is?” A dark voice asked as she looked up to see Black walking towards her. “I see your done with your training.”

She nodded as he proceeded on sitting on a nearby tree.

“You want additional training for today?” He asked and she immediately shook her head.

“I’m exhausted. I need a break.” She replied and that made a corner of his lips go up.

“So, what were you thinking just now?” Black asked. He’s truly a man of few words but he’s different when it comes to her. He doesn’t understand why he’s so drawn to this woman. And he can’t help but ask because for some reason he couldn’t read her at all.

Maybe that’s why. He thought.

“The situation and circumstances. Now that we finally found our way north and still haven’t found another clue which can lead us to the fountain of life. Then comes a hope but then it crashes instantly as soon as Juno mentioned that the magical being who can help us currently lives in the south.” She replied and sighed deeply. “Don’t you find it absurd?”

“Indeed.” He answered. 

He was then quiet after he said that word. Sometimes, Ava can’t also spell him out. 

He doesn’t even give his own input on the issues. Maybe he just really wants to drain me dry thus he just agrees to whatever or wherever I choose to go. She assumed and pouted. 

Then automatically, her hand went up to her pendant. It’s been a habit that she can’t get rid of. Whenever she feels agitated, that particular gesture somehow calms her down. She recalled her dream again and her mind began dissecting it section per section.

If it’s truly in the future, why don’t I have my necklace? 

Would I somehow lose this? 

Ava looked down and carefully observed the pendant of her necklace. It was just a simple block of petrified wood. But to her, this is more special than any of the other necklaces made from gold or precious stones. At that moment, she remembered the black hole that engulfed them. According to her memory, the other Ava whispered something to her necklace which created that black hole. She was wearing the same necklace as what she has now.

Could it be that I can also use this to make a black hole appear? She asked herself.

And so she suddenly bolted up. She wanted to try it. Maybe, maybe that black hole can be the answer to her questions.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try.” She whispered and sighed. 

“Try what?” Black butted in and looked at her blankly. 

“This.” She replied and showed him the pendant of her necklace. “According to my memory, I just whispered something to this pendant and the black hole I was telling you about appeared. And that’s where the two of us entered.”

Black tilted his head to the side. He knows that this woman is very smart as she picks up and learns very quickly. But sometimes, she thinks that she’s also quite dumb for mistaking her dreams as real. 

Did she really think that those dreams and hallucinations she’s having is true? He asked himself and pondered. 

‘They felt like memories.’ That’s what she said. 

Could it be her real memories?

But I specifically asked her follow ups questions and she said that she remembered everything since she was a child. Then that wouldn’t make any sense unless those dreams she’s having are visions of her future.

He contemplated deeply. It’s not that he doesn’t believe what she says. He just finds the situation bizarre.

“What are you thinking?” Ava asked curiously. Black really had this habit of falling silent and thinking all by himself after she tells him something.

“I was thinking about your wings. If that dream is truly real, then how come you got wings? I have lived for a very long time but I have never heard of any Zmeu who eventually got wings. You are half-blooded dragons but your human features are more dominant. Zmeus are humanlike in all possible aspects except for your precious flaming bloods. Though your bloods make other creatures powerful, it doesn’t give you powers that you can use yourself.” He replied honestly and Ava knew he was right. And he has every right to be skeptical.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try. I just need to recall the words the other me whispered and copy them and see if this pendant had powers that I never knew existed. Then maybe I can go and get answers to my queries in that black hole.” Ava insisted. She’s been thinking about it ever since she had that daydream. 

“What if it’s a trap? What if you enter that black hole and eventually give way for the Demon God to use you?” Black asked and she sighed. He’s right again and she asked herself that question already. “You don’t even want to part ways with the shard anymore, woman. What if you’re slowly being lured by it and your thinking is already affected?”

“You said I was doing great on my lessons. You should know very well that I’m still sane and stable.” Ava reasoned.

“You are. But you keep limiting it the moment I ask you to shut down those dreams.” Black countered.

“Fine. There’s only one way to do this then.” She finally said.

“That is?” Black asked.

“I won’t ever stop the urge to try it. You may not understand but like I said, those felt like memories to me. And I wanna try it.” Ava started which made the man in front of her frown deeply. 

So stubborn. He commented deep inside him.

“You have to come with me.” She continued and that made his brows go up. “That’s the only way we can be sure that it’s not a trap. And if it is, then you can save me.”

“You think so highly of me, woman.” Black scoffed. “If it is indeed the Demon God who’s luring you, do you think I even stand a chance?”

“Yes!” Ava exclaimed and nodded aggressively like she was really sure about it. “You are the most powerful creature I have ever encountered and I think you will stand a chance.” 

“Hah!” He blurted out and scowled. “You just want me dead, don’t you?”

“Not at all! I believe in you.” Ava replied sincerely and somehow the sincerity in her eyes when she said those words moved him. “You are the best!!!”

“What?” Black asked out, a bit overwhelmed for the praises he just heard.

Ever since he came to this world, this is the very first time he’s ever been praised by someone. And he doesn’t understand the emotion he’s feeling at the moment, looking at her while she says those words. Considering that he doesn’t even know this woman’s name. But then her words made great impact within him.

“I said you the best!” She repeated.

“How am I the best?” Black asked with a hinge of amusement.

“You’re powerful. You killed hundreds and thousands of Peace Keepers in one go.” Ava started to praise him. “Then you slashed the majesty’s army with ease, you healed my open wounds, you killed the pseudodragon even though the centaurs said that they can’t die, you know a lot of routes and guided as we travelled underground, you’re a powerful mage who turns into a cloud of black smoke, you’re smart and you still look good even if you’re over a hundred years old.”

Black felt happy deep inside while hearing her praises with the exception of the last part.

“You make it sound like I’m too old.” He commented.

“You are old. A century of living in this continent. You are blessed with long age.” She emphasized and he scowled.

“I’m still young for my age. Even dragons can live for a thousand years.” He countered.

“Hmmm. Good point.” Ava said in agreement. “Fine. Then you are old for a human age but young for a dragon’s age.”

“What about the centaur?” He asked out of the blue.

“Uhm, second best?” Ava unsurely commented. 

“And your other friend?” Black asked further.

“Who?” Ava asked with her brows knitted together. “Alvis?”

“No. The other friend you mentioned before.” He replied, looking at her intently. “Back in the cave.”

Eli. She immediately thought.

“Oh, you mean him? Eli?” She asked and Black did not miss the sudden hint of sadness in her eyes when she mentioned his name. 

“Oh he has a name.” He replied and nodded, repeating his name. “Yes. Eli.”

“He’s human, silly.” She answered and smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “He’s just an ordinary human.”

Black felt another wave of mixed emotions inside him. She said with her own words that this human was just ordinary but these words from her still made him extra special.  

“Like I said, you are the best, Black!” Ava exclaimed again when she noticed his silence.

He then looked at her and she just grinned like a fool.

“Fool.” He voiced out. She’s indeed a fool for believing so. They don’t even know anything about this demon god and his powers.

“I’m not. I’m actually quite smart.” Ava commented. Then she went to tug on Black’s arms. “Let’s do it.”

“You said you’re exhausted.” Black said, emphasizing her reason for declining his additional training earlier.

“But this is different. It’s not a training.” She contented.

“Still-“ He started.

“Please. Let’s do it. You’re the only one I can trust. Come with me.” Ava interrupted. “If you don’t, I’m still do it, Black. With or without you.”

“Are you sure about this?” He asked seriously after sometime.

He got a bit confident with her words but he is still skeptical. He knows that if it’s truly a trap, then he’s endangering her and himself. And he doesn’t want that.

“Positive.” Ava replied.

“Don’t you have a death wish?” Black asked and she shook her head. “Because if you wanted to die, just let me have your blood right now. It’ll be a waste if you’d die in vain.”

Ava pouted deeply. “I’m not yet planning to die. Besides, the deal is to help me with my mission. So no, nobody dies today.”

“Fine.” Black finally agreed and looked around. “But then we can’t do it here. If it’s true, then it will surely attract a lot of power and this place it near our cabin. We should go somewhere a bit farther.” 

“Alright.” Ava agreed. 

***