CHAPTER 85: NOW I HAVE USED YOU

It had been two days since Aeron arrived in the nomads’ camp, and he had been locked up the whole time. He could have broken out if he wanted, but he didn’t. If he escaped by force, it would only lead to chaos, and he didn’t want blood on his hands, not yet. If he had been alone, maybe it would have been easier. But he wasn’t alone.

Nyella was locked up in the cell next to his. And for two days, she had been too quiet. At first, Aeron thought she was just being careful, but now, the silence disturbed him. Something was wrong.

"Nyella," he called softly. "Are you still there?"

No reply. He only heard the sound of dripping water in the dark.

"Nyella," he said again, louder this time. Still, no answer.

Then, at last, he heard a weak voice. "I... I can’t talk here. I can barely breathe."

Aeron’s chest tightened. "What? What do you mean? Why?"

"I’m allergic to mud," Nyella whispered, her voice was faint. "The air here is heavy with it. I’ve breathed in too much these past days. My lungs... they’re closing."

Aeron’s heart raced. "What? I didn’t know about that, why didn’t you tell me before?"

"Because there’s no mud around the palace or anywhere we’ve been before, so there’s no way you could’ve known," Nyella answered faintly

Aeron pressed his hands against the wall between them, as if he could reach her through it. "If that’s true, you can’t stay here, Nyella. You’ll die. You have to leave immediately, right now."

"There’s no way out, Aeron," she murmured. "The guards watch everything. And the locks are strong. And you know what I told you before, we can’t afford to start a fight here. Not yet."

Aeron clenched his fists. "Forget the plan. This is your life we’re talking about. Your life, Nyella! We can’t risk it. It’s not worth it."

Everywhere was quiet, Aeron says again, "What is your plan, Nyella? Tell me. If you don’t want to explain everything, at least tell me it’s happening soon. At least tell me you’ll be safe. Please."

Still, there was no answer.

"Nyella?" Aeron called again, louder now.

Nothing.

"Nyella!" His voice cracked. "Say something, anything! Even one word, just so I know you’re still alive. If you don’t, I swear I’ll burn this whole place down!"

Still, no one answered.

Aeron began panicking. He staggered to the door of his cell and began slamming his fists against it. "Hey! Hey! Guards!" he shouted. "Somebody! Anybody, answer me!"

He peeps through the holes and he couldn’t see any guard around. He kept banging at the door.

"Damn it!" He kicked the door hard, again and again. "Hey!"

Still, no one came.

Aeron was becoming angry. He backed away from the door, breathing heavily. "Nyella," he called again. "If you can hear me... answer me. Please."

There was no reply.

Something inside him snapped. He pressed his palms against the wooden door and shut his eyes. He dug deep inside himself, looking for the fire that always came when he called. At first, nothing, he didn’t feel anything.

Frustrated as he was, he pushed harder, gritting his teeth. His heart was beating so fast. Then, it came. Sparks of fire

"Yes..." he whispered.

He focused more, dragging the fire out from within him and forcing it through his hands. The sparks grew hotter and brighter until they turned into real fire. Then they began spreading across the dry wood.

He felt the heat in his body. Smoke filled the air. The door crackled as fire burned it. Aeron stood there, amazed, and his eyes reflected the fire.

He kicked the burning door of his cell and shoved it open. Without stopping, he ran to the last door where Nyella was locked. Fire flared again as he set the wood ablaze and broke it down. Inside, Nyella lay unconscious on the floor.

"Nyella!" Aeron shouted, running to her. He lifted her into his arms and carried her out.

He looked around in panic. He didn’t know which way to run or where to find help, but he knew he couldn’t stop. As he hurried forward, two nomads spotted him and rushed toward him.

"Stay back," Aeron warned. "I don’t want to hurt you."

But the men kept coming closer.

"I said stay back!" Aeron shouted.

Still, they advanced. Aeron clenched his teeth and looked at the ground. Fire sparked from beneath his feet, moving towards the direction of the men.

Before the fire reached them, more nomads appeared from every side, surrounding Aeron and Nyella. Aeron stopped the flames at once. He couldn’t burn every single one of them. He just stood still and held her tightly, as they had been trapped in the circle.

Then, suddenly, Nyella’s eyes opened. She slipped from his arms and stood on her own.

"Now!" she shouted.

From inside the other prison cells, doors burst open. Dozens of figures rushed out, shouting. Aeron blinked in shock, it was the soldiers of Ivarion.

"They’re really here..." Aeron whispered to himself.

The nomads froze in disbelief. They hadn’t expected this. But before they could recover, the Ivarion soldiers had surrounded them too as they surrounded Aeron and Nyella. And from the back, the soldiers began fighting the nomads.

Though they had no weapons, they were at an advantage because it was a surprise attack from behind. And if they attack a nomad, they will take their weapon.

There was loud and heavy noise in front of the prison as the soldiers of Ivarion were advancing and fighting off the nomads.

Aeron, who was confused, turned to Nyella. "What is this? I thought you were dying. I thought you had collapsed...But here you are... did you trick me? Did you deceive me just to get free?"

Nyella looked him straight in the eyes.

"You once accused me of using you, of taking advantage of you, when I never did," she said. "But now... now I truly have used you, Aeron."

"..."