Swiftly, I get on my feet and into a fighting stance. The dragon turns its head to me and our gazes lock once more. I’m not standing down, and neither is the creature. We stand like this for a few heartbeats.
“I don’t want to kill you.” The words tumble out of my mouth of their own accord.
It’s true, though. Despite the threat it poses to my life, and having to do it to win the trials, I don’t want to harm this creature. The dragon cocks its head and blinks slowly, as if it can understand me.
I wish I could open my mind and heart to it so the dragon could see my intentions are true. Unfortunately, that’s not how things work.
The dragon’s jaws open to spew a white flame bolt at me. I grab the Kond powder pouch in my pocket. Right as the dragoninhales, preparing for the attack, I open the pouch and toss the powder right into its throat.
The creature chokes and screeches as if in pain. It wiggles away from me and takes off into the wind. My soul cries for it, as if by hurting the dragon I hurt myself too. It’s a weird experience.
Shit. For a moment there I really thought the creature understood me.
I’m a fool.
An arrogant enough fool to believe that I, a mere human Decarios, can find a way to win against the dragon without spilling blood, when generations of powerful fae Ezkai have all had to slay the creatures to win their place as Ezkai General.
I draw my bow and pull the string.
The dragon is flying away, so I don’t bother shooting it. Instead, I inspect the rocky clearing where multiple fights are taking place. The black rocks are covered with blood and littered with dead bodies of dragons and Ezkai.
My stomach churns.
I don’t notice I’m searching for him until I see Daegel swinging two long swords in a fight against a forest-colored dragon. Something in my chest twists. He’s moving swiftly, and each swing of his sword is calculated. But is it enough to win?
The dragon he fights has a few slashes on its leg, and one over the left eye. My heart beats like a drum, and I ready an arrow. The dragon strikes with its tail at Daegel’s feet and he stumbles backwards. I inhale a sharp breath. The dragon roars, and the smoke rises from its nostrils. Daegel’s back on his feet, but he’s not fast enough.
I act before I think about it.
The arrow whizzes through the air and hits the center of the dragon’s snout. It screeches with pain and shakes its head. That’s enough of a distraction for Daegel to close the distancebetween them. He’s merciless when he slashes the dragon’s head off its neck with one sword, and sinks the second one right in the middle of creature’s chest.
Confusing emotions swirl inside my chest. I’m relieved Daegel lives. I’m weirdly aroused by how powerful and graceful he is in the fight. And I’m equally heartbroken to see the severed dragon’s head at his feet.
Daegel glances over his shoulder. His gaze finds me immediately, as if he knows exactly where to look for me. The dip of his chin is the only acknowledgment he offers, but it’s enough.
I feel the presence of the black dragon behind me before I hear the flap of its wings. I whirl on my heel. The creature is back, flying fast towards me.
The dragon doesn’t strike me. It circles the boulder above my head, roaring once in a while.
“I don’t want to kill you!” I scream to the wind, desperate for the dragon to understand me.
Please, please, please.
The dragon whirls around and over in the air and roars again. With a heavy heart, I draw my bow and point an arrow straight at the dragon.
“Don’t make me kill you,” I murmur and the wind rips the words out of my lips.
After making one last circle above my head, the dragon lands a few feet away from me onto the boulder. I steady my feet, grounding myself.
The dragon’s gaze is scorching hot. Yet, it doesn’t attack me.
Please, don’t make me do this,I cry out in my mind, as if the dragon could hear me. Maybe the spirits of the gods can answer my pleading and spare me from having to end the dragon’s life.
The dragon’s hot breath caresses my cheeks. All the hair at the back of my neck rises. I inhale, and draw the arrow. Our gazes lock once more.
I’m ready to strike, but I don’t. The dragon huffs and shakes its head. My heart pounds in my ears. I don’t know what’s happening, but I know that I won’t kill it.
It’s not right.
