CHAPTER 40: THE ART OF SWORDSMANSHIP [3]

"How are you really doing?" Nyella asked softly.

Something in her gentle tone got to Aeron’s frustration. His chest was still tight from his earlier argument with Varek, but hearing her voice, really hearing it, made him pause.

He blinked, as if he was realizing for the first time that it was her. Princess Nyella. He hadn’t seen her in so long, not since the end of the war. And now... here she was, standing in front of him, alive.

"I’m... surviving, your highness" Aeron finally said, as his voice was now calming down. Then he smirked faintly. "Isn’t that what you are? Your Highness? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to call you?"

Nyella laughed softly. "Not for you," she said, shaking her head. "You just call me Ella, like you used to."

He couldn’t help but smile back. "Alright... Ella."

Nyella tilted her head. "How’s Draco? How’s he doing?"

At the mention of his dragon, Aeron’s expression lit up. "He’s been more lively than ever. And guess what? I can now fly with him whenever I want." He chuckled. "This bond... It’s crazy. I can feel him, even when I’m far away."

Nyella’s eyes softened. "Really? Then take me to him."

They began walking to the cave which wasn’t so far from them. As they walked, Nyella glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I never thought you’d take sword training seriously."

Aeron snorted. "I didn’t either. But then... Mr. Varek happened."

"Oh?"

"He told me they’ll come for Draco. If I want to protect him, I have to be strong. I think... the way he said it scared me more than the thought of fighting."

Nyella nodded slowly. "I’d like to say I warned you, but... if you hadn’t appeared with Draco that day, we wouldn’t have won the war. And I probably wouldn’t be standing here talking to you."

She looked ahead, her eyes were distant. "So... thank you, Aeron. For saving me. For saving this kingdom. You are our hero. And even if the people don’t see it yet, even if they never say it... I know it. I know you are."

Aeron chuckled as if he was embarrassed by the praise. "Everyone who fought in that war is a hero. Not just me." He grinned. "But I’ll accept the compliment."

They walked in silence for a moment, and halfway to the cave, Aeron remembered something. He slowed to a stop.

"Wait," he said and turned to face her. "The day before the fight... at the cave... You did something."

Nyella raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You kissed me."

"And?" she asked.

"What was that?" Aeron asked in a soft voice.

Nyella looked at him for a long moment, then glanced away, as if the trees suddenly became very interesting. "You can call it whatever you want," she said finally, "but... it was a goodbye kiss. Back then, I didn’t think we’d both meet again."

Aeron’s chest tightened. "But we did and we’re both here. Together. So..." he hesitated for a moment. "What are we now?"

Nyella’s lips curved into a small smile. "Friends."

"Friends?" Aeron repeated, tilting his head.

"Friends," she confirmed, before stepping ahead and continuing walking toward the cave.

Aeron lingered a moment and watched her walk. "Friends, huh?" he muttered to himself, smirking faintly, and then jogged to catch up with her.

Just then, they reached the cave, and Nyella walked up to Draco, who was right there. "How are you doing, big guy?" she said gently, with a playful voice.

Draco blinked once and tilted his massive head, as if studying her.

Nyella smiled and reached out. "The savior of Ivarion," she murmured as she placed her palm against the warm scales at the side of his face.

Aeron leaned on the cave wall, folded his arms, and watched with a grin. "He likes you."

"Really?"

"Of course," Aeron replied. "It’s like... he respects you. I think he remembers how fiercely you fought in the battle."

Nyella’s hand lingered on Draco’s scales for a moment, then her eyes shifted to Aeron. "Speaking of the battle... You remember the incident?"

Aeron looked with wonder. "Incident?"

She stepped closer to him now. "You remember when I was circled?"

Aeron’s voice dropped. "Oh, that moment. Who would forget? I was terrified, you were surrounded on all sides by enemy soldiers. I thought..." He trailed off.

Nyella nodded. "And you remember what happened then?"

"Of course," Aeron said quickly. "A massive fire erupted around you. It burned them immediately and gave you a breather."

"Exactly," Nyella said. "And tell me... who caused that fire?"

Aeron blinked and then looked toward Draco.

"Stop looking at him," Nyella said firmly. "It wasn’t him. He wasn’t anywhere near me. He didn’t even see it happen. But you did."

Aeron’s eyes narrowed. "Wait... are you trying to say it was me?"

"I’m asking," Nyella replied with an unyielding gaze. "Was it you?"

The cave became quiet except for the faint sound of Draco’s breathing. Aeron’s mind flashed back. "Speaking of fire..." Aeron began slowly, "...that wasn’t the first time."

Nyella’s brow furrowed. "Go on."

"It happened in the village too, when we were attacked by those nomads..." His eyes widened a little, even as he spoke. "That really was me. The fire... it came out of nowhere. I didn’t even think. I just..." He looked at her, almost afraid of his own words. "Nyella... I think I can blast fire."

Nyella’s expression became brighter. "Tell me exactly, did the fire appear from nothing, or did it come from somewhere else?"

Aeron thought for a moment. "It wasn’t from nowhere. It... it came from an already existing fire. But then it multiplied. Like it exploded and spread everywhere."

"That makes you not only a Dragon Rider," she said slowly, "but also... a Pyromancer," Nyella said quietly.

Aeron let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "But I don’t know how it happens. I don’t even know when it’ll happen again."

"You have to try," Nyella said firmly as she stepped closer to him. "If you can control it, you won’t need a sword to protect anyone."

Aeron looked at her uncertainly. "So... I have to learn to wield fire myself?"

"That," Nyella said, "seems to be the only chance you’ve got here, either you learn it or master the sword, but whichever it is or both, you have to be very fast."