CHAPTER 20: POWER ATTRACTS ENEMIES

Nyella slowly opened her eyes. Her head still throbbed, and her body ached, but the sickness had reduced a bit. She looked around, her vision adjusting to the dim light. There was a single torch burning on the wall, and beside it, someone sat there quietly.

She shifted slightly, and the figure turned.

"You’re quite the sleepyhead," Aeron said with a small smile.

That voice. The memories rushed back. She remembered all that happened.

"How long was I asleep?" she asked.

Aeron tilted his head. "Well, as you can see, it’s midnight."

She got up. "I have to leave. I need to go, now."

Aeron frowned. "Not in your state."

She tried to push herself up, but pain shot through her arm and shoulder. Her head felt like it was splitting in two. She gasped and nearly fell.

"You see?" Aeron said, then gently caught her. "You can’t go anywhere like this. You need rest. Let your body heal."

"You don’t understand," Nyella muttered. "I have to go."

"I get it," he said softly, "but think for a second. What if those men are still out there? What if they’re waiting, just to finish what they started?"

That silenced her. She didn’t want to admit it, but he was right.

She sat back down slowly, closer to the torchlight. Then, in a low voice, she asked, "Why did you help me? You don’t even know me."

Aeron looked at her, surprised. "Do I need to know someone before helping them? I saw someone who needed help. That was enough."

"Thank you," Nyella quietly said.

Aeron blinked, he was indeed taken aback. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "You’re... you’re welcome."

He smiled, almost shyly.

She looked at him curiously. "How do you know that thing? What did you call it again?"

"You mean Draco?" Aeron asked.

"Yeah, that. Draco."

Aeron exhaled. "It’s a long story. And funny enough... you’re the only one who knows about him. Not my mom, not my friends, no one. Just you."

Nyella tilted her head. "Your mom? Friends? So... you have a family?"

"Of course," he chuckled. "I’m not a cave creature."

She looked around the cave. "Then why are you here? Alone, at night?"

He shrugged. "I don’t usually stay out this late. My mom went out for a trade. She won’t be back until tomorrow. And... well, I saw you needed help. Maybe even some company."

Nyella looked at him differently now. Softer. "You’re a strange one."

Aeron smirked. "Takes one to know one."

She smiled faintly, then turned her eyes toward the dragon.

"This Draco... what is it exactly?"

"A dragon," Aeron said proudly. "He breathes fire."

Nyella stared at the creature in awe. "Who would’ve thought dragons still exist? I always thought the legends were just bedtime stories."

"You know the legends?" Aeron asked, surprised.

"Of course. I was well taught. My father’s rich, so... education wasn’t a problem."

Aeron nodded slowly. "Well... that explains a few things."

"I’ve actually heard stories," she began with a low voice, as if sharing a secret. "Stories of a certain House... One that’s long forgotten. They say that House once ruled with dragons. A beast so mighty that it bent kingdoms to their knees. They dominated the skies, the land, everything. Until the dragons started going extinct and with them, the House fell."

Aeron blinked. "I’ve never heard that before," he said. "That’s... sad. To have everything, and then suddenly nothing."

He paused, then added, "But... I saw Draco when he hatched."

Nyella turned quickly to look at him, surprised. "You were there? When he broke out of his shell?"

Aeron nodded. "Yes. I didn’t expect it, honestly. But I was there. Right in front of him."

Nyella stared at him for a moment, like she was trying to see into his soul. "That means... you’re bonded to him."

Aeron shook his head. "No. Don’t say it like that. I don’t own him. We’re... friends."

Nyella tilted her head. "In the old legends, dragon riders didn’t just know their dragons. They tamed them and ordered them to do whatever they desired. So automatically, you own Draco.

Aeron frowned. "But that’s not how I see it. He’s not some wild pet I can just order around. He has thoughts and feelings. I’d never force him. I told you... He’s my friend."

Nyella nodded slowly. "I get that. But sometimes, even with friends, you can convince them to help you. That’s all I meant."

Aeron gave a little smile. "Alright. Fair point."

A moment of silence passed before he asked, "Those people from earlier... the ones that attacked us, do you know who they were?"

Nyella exhaled. "No. I’ve never seen them before. But it doesn’t shock me. My family has many enemies."

Aeron hesitated. "Does that mean your family is... evil?"

She gave a small laugh. "No. It means we’re powerful. When you rise too high, someone always wants to pull you down. Power attracts enemies."

She glanced at him. "You might not realise this yet, but you’re powerful too."

Aeron looked away. "Me? No, I’m just... me. I’m no one."

She pointed toward the dragon in the distance. "He felt you. Knew you were in danger. And he came. That’s not normal. That’s not luck. That’s power. And one day, if the world sees that, they’ll come for you too."

That made Aeron uneasy. He glanced back at Draco. "But he’s just... my friend. I don’t want power if it brings enemies. I didn’t ask for this."

Nyella looked at him for a long time, and then, suddenly, she smiled. It was soft, genuine, and unexpected.

Aeron stared at her. He said to himself, She even looks more beautiful when she smiles.

Then she asked, "What’s your name? I never got it."

"Aeron," he replied. "Just Aeron."

She nodded. "Nyella."

He smiled. "Nice to meet you, Nyella."

"Likewise," she said, and smiled again.

That smile made something flutter in Aeron’s chest. He reached into his bag and brought out a small bundle wrapped in cloth. "This isn’t much," he said and handed it to her. "It’s just some dried meat. I know it’s not what you’re used to... but it might help. You’ll need your strength if you’re planning to travel tomorrow."

Nyella accepted it with quiet gratitude. "Thank you, Aeron."

He nodded. "And you should rest too. It’s going to be a long road ahead."