CHAPTER 47: 44: ROWAN LE VANE. [2]

Rowan had an almost euphoric, stupid looking smile stretched on his lips as the light of the explosion finally died out. His vermillion eyes were a little hollow from the pain he suffered, his hair now dishevelled from the aftershock of the blast. The sleeve of his arm was singed, smoking a little as flames licked the hem of the cloth.

Yet, he couldn’t help but be a little satisfied.

It had been so long.

It had, truly been too long.

He exhaled heavily, studying the aftermath of his attack.

All that was left in front of him was scorched earth glazed by molten lava as the fumes from dying lumber wafted into the air. There was a pungent, sulfuric smell that assaulted his nose, most likely because of the burning rotten flesh, and the dark puss that was the gravemites.

It was a scene of total, utter destruction.

He inhaled.

Ahh...

That felt so good.

It had been a long while since he had gotten to blow out such a load.

He took a moment to take in the bliss.

Then the pain caught up to him.

He clenched his chest as the wings sprouted from his back flickered and vanished, the aura emanating from him dimmed down into nothing. The pain felt like his soul itself was being torn apart, its intensity so great that Rowan momentarily lost consciousness.

He swayed where he stood, finally letting oblivion take hold of him as he landed on the dry cracked ground with a painful thud.

***

"So we’re not in our country anymore?"

The voice was muffled, too quiet to reach his ears. It was hard to make off the gender of a person, but one thing he was sure was that the voice sound like it was in shock.

Rowan scrunched his brows as he focused more on it.

"No..." Another voice sighed, this time a man. "This is somewhere far east, on the outskirts of The Forbidden Grove."

Rowan inhaled sharply, trying to make sense of the words.

What were they talking about?

They were at the party weren’t they....

Then his mind caught up with time, and everything that had just happened.

His mind had tried to erase the pain, which hadn’t worked because Rowan was already too used it.

He squinted, prying his pricking eyes open as the night sky came into his view, the stars swimming around his blurry vision before finally settling in one space.

He blinked a couple of times as he remembered how he had momentarily loosened the seal on his soul, using the leaking mana for a single shot to wipe out the hoard of gravemites.

"Oh! You’re awake!" The androgynous voice exclaimed.

It was Edward Myrvale that first noticed him awake.

The others turned their attention to him too.

A moment of silence.

Then,

"Do you need anything?" It was Aria, her voice casual even after what had just transpired.

Everyone else had a sight uneasiness written on their faces as they saw Rowan struggling to sit up.

He looked at them for a short while, considering what he was supposed to do that now more people knew his secret.

Aria had already known, but he could trust her no matter what. He couldn’t say the same about the rest of the people here.

He let out a tired sigh.

"I wish that you would all keep today’s events a secret."

Edward just timidly nodded, Selene didn’t show any reactions. And Calen, he gave Rowan a rather curious look.

"So what was that?"

Rowan shot Calen a look, trying to scare him away from looking for a answers.

Calen didn’t flinch, nor look away.

He clicked his tongue.

"Do I really have to?"

Calen just continued staring at him.

Finally giving up under that heavy gaze that made him a little uneasy, Rowan clicked his tongue again and turned towards Aria.

"Your highness, may I?"

Aria gave him a nod.

Rowan took a deep breath.

"I’m not completely a human-"

"Are you a dragon?" Edward Myrvale interrupted him midway, looking spooked by what his own mouth had just uttered out loud.

Rowan turned his eyes towards him, and Edward shrunk under his gaze, his face turning a light shade of red from embarrassment.

Rowan couldn’t help but let the corner of his lips curve upwards.

Cute...

He shook away the thought, still smiling as he spoke.

"Yes, I’m half dragon. My father was a dragon."

Edward gave him a weird look.

"Dragons are real?"

Rowan titled his head in confusion.

"Pardon...?"

"I mean!-" He shook his hands in panic. "Dragons are supposed to be these mythical creatures right? I was surprised you were one... its not like I’m saying I don’t believe you... but still...uhmm... you know?..." He grew silent when he realised that everyone was staring at him.

Then someone chuckled.

It was Aria, who walked up to Edward and sat next to him, patting his head as she spoke.

"Yes, dragons are real. Now that’s not important is it?" Her voice was so soft, softer than Rowan had ever heard in the 10 years he had spent with her.

Which felt a little weird... and a creepy, if he had to be honest.

He had never seen Aria be like this to anyone, even to her own parents.

What the hell had happened to the ru- cold and calculating princess!?

Giving Edward a warm a look, Aria turned to Rowan and the rest, hand still on Edward’s hair, though her voice turning a note sharper as she addressed the three of them.

"We seem to be in quite the predicament."

Rowan straightened.

"Does anyone have any idea what happened back in the palace?"

Lady Selene just shook her head.

Calen pondered something for a long moment before speaking.

"The Order of the Eclipse?"

Aria nodded. "Correct."

She paused for a moment, letting the tension hang in the air.

"It seems that I was the target, unfortunately, the four of you ended being caught in the cross fire."

She gave them a deep bow.

"I apologise."

"Your highness!" Calen tried to stop her.

"Shut up Rowan we’re not in the castle anymore."

He turned his head and pouting a little.

"There are still too many people here you know..." He muttered.

Aria shook her head in disbelief, and then got up from her seat, walking towards rowan.

She kneeled next to where he was sitting on the ground, and took his hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Your seal is withering again." She said without looking up at him.

"I can fix it myself you know?" He squinted his eyes.

"Just shut up and sit still."

Rowan muttered a curse under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, your highness."