NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Departure
Then, Aura looked at both of them one after the other. She had said, "They will conduct the test tomorrow. We move at daybreak."
Nero clenched his fist and nodded with a serious expression. He accepted Aura's words with resolve. Later, Aura excused herself from the three-stool seat. She headed upstairs, going into her separate room.
The place was alive with folks from Eldengrove. They were either old men, youngsters, or women. The seats were set in the same proportion - three stools centred by a round wooden table.
The mix of smoky and aromatic scents of roasting meat filled the air. And of course, the earthy and woody aroma of oak wine. A group of people argued. Their voices screamed, and wine jugs clattered as the innkeeper packed them.
The woman had a brown scarf wrapped around her forehead, securing her hair in a compact manner. She went from one table to another, packing wine jugs and at times took a few seconds to polish the wine tankards.
Zmey rested an elbow on the table. He turned his head, glancing here and there at the people in the tavern. 'As usual for those hellishly loud bastards... Can't they keep things down here?'
They arranged the seats in two rows, with each row having no more than ten. A corner wasn't illuminated by flickering sconces, unlike where most people were. Zmey, lingering a little, assumed he saw two figures sitting there.
Rustic wooden beams supported the ceiling. Behind the bar, at the end of the medium-sized tavern, was another man polishing a tankard as well. He stood behind stacks of barrels and bottles on the shelves. Bundles of dried herbs hung from the rafters.
Places like this were generally noisy, like in Orin Stonewood's life back then. And the main source was those godforsaken rugged men. They engaged in card games, dice games, and arm-wrestling matches.
For real, these three activities were alive here too. Zmey glanced at the next row, eyes glued to a huddle of people. He couldn't see through them despite lingering. But their arguments told him what they were up to.
A man with a deep voice let out a fierce scream. "I saw that! You slipped a card from under the table!"
In contrast, a more aggressive one lashed back in the next second. "Shut your trap, old fool! You're sore because you're losing! Check my hands if you don't believe me!"
Zmey looked far beyond this, seeing another huddle of people.
"Your luck is as rotten as your breath, friend!"
"Funny, coming from someone who bathes in ale!"
Zmey shook his head with a serious expression. Then, he turned his glance at...
His mouth gaped in surprise. "Oh...?" His body twitched as the base of the wine jug struck the table with force. It clattered. Nero's face had grown both moist and red. He clenched the jug's handle with such force that his thumb fingernails dug into it.
He hiccupped.
In the next second, Nero's head dropped downwards. Zmey caught that and suspended his head, in mid-air, in time to stop Nero's temple from hitting the table. Sweat in his hair oozed onto Zmey's palm.
For no certain reason, Zmey reverted his hand. Nero's head finally jabbed against the table, splattering wine from Zmey's jug.
"Now, I can get you inside without feeling like someone has used me."
Zmey stood from his seat, inching closer and wrapping Nero's hand around his neck. Nero's body moved in sync with his slow motion.
They ascended the stairs, leaving behind a group of different varieties of people. In no time, Zmey had got him into the sixth room out of ten. That was their room, whereas Aura's own was next to theirs.
Zmey sighed as he dropped him on the bed. He clasped his waist with one hand, rubbing the back of his neck with the other.
'Rest well. One or both of us might die tomorrow during the test.'
The sun had forced itself out of the horizon. It hung high above the thick clouds, casting dull light on the lands at daybreak. Between every corner, alley, and intersection, the silence lingered like a departing friend.
The sound of brooms sweeping across the floor broke the silence after a few seconds. Noises of animals like hens and birds filled the air. The hissing of nocturnals vanished with every ticking second to full morning.
A black, roughened boot, able to shine if polished, stretched out from a corner. In the next second, Nero appeared from that corner, tucked in a v-necked baggy shirt. A belt tightened around his waist, wearing ashy knickers.
Following him was Aura, dressed in her white lotus gown, a common sight. It was as though anything named dirt feared her, thus staying away from a far distance.
Lastly, Zmey trailed Aura with little distance between them. He wore the same dressing style as Nero, although he wore a red shirt.
"The Sanctuary... it shouldn't be any further from here, I guess," Zmey whispered, more to himself, his eyes looking here and there.
Aura looked at the thick brown paper in her hand. On it were arrows pointing either right or left in a consequential manner. In a nutshell, it looked like a path layout. Arrows pointed in directions that seemed to continue from where one had ended.
She looked leftwards, where there was a narrow alleyway. She pointed there and said, "If we take a left now, the next path leads to our destination."
"Let's go on then," Nero said in a simple tone. Instead of acknowledging what he had said, Aura glanced back first. Nero frowned in silent wonder. Was she waiting for the guy's approval or what?
Aura locked eyes with Zmey.
Before she could talk, Zmey said: "I understand your concern. We will leave you behind now as it's dangerous for you to go somewhere like that."
She offered a gentle smile. "Your adaptability is very commendable. Everything about you is."
"That guy should be the one receiving such a compliment," Zmey said, gesturing towards her. She turned around, but to her surprise, the guy wasn't there anymore.
He must have already taken the alleyway. Zmey continued as she glanced back at her, "Remember this, Aura. I have my greatest trust in you..."
At that moment, Aura gaped. Her chest tightened. A wave of astonishment washed over her, unable to avert her stare from him.
Zmey placed a gentle pat on her shoulder. He grinned.
"... Let's sit next to the pond in the Infernosphere one day, singing as we always have done from our young ages. Act as the voice of the emperor for the next few months or years.
I promise to devote my entire time to Earth to get stronger. Trust me, I won't die in the trial because of my dreams!"
He gave a final smile. He removed his hand from her shoulder. And then, he straightened his back. Aura's firm gaze followed his rise.
"... I will do whatever it takes to remain alive, even if it means making someone else carry the burden..." Zmey ascertained.
Aura's instincts kicked in. "Ei... why would you...!?"
Before she could finish talking, Zmey had already walked past her. He descended into the alleyway. Still, Aura pressed on, clenching her fist.
"It's true that you have to stay alive. But you should as well try and protect who's worth protecting..."
Zmey's deep voice cut through the air. "I told you... the life of a hero sucks. I don't want such.
I wish to survive without doing pointless things, unlike a hero."
As he continued down the alleyway, he waved at her, "See you in some months from now. I will return as my old self for sure."
Aura felt her chest tighten as she pondered what might come over Lord Zmey soon. If he ascends to power soon, would he immediately delve into dark magic?
And absorb life forces to counter the side effects of the practice? Or would he rise back as the ruthless Western dragon, killing over five thousand lives again? She hoped not.
She wished in silence that he could confront his past self now. Maybe he could reflect on them too. A strength could overwhelm him during any full moon. So, he could overcome the pain of the curse. She hoped so. Thinking about the pain of the curse made her heart ache.
What a struggling warrior Lord Zmey was—she wondered.
"Aura Drakeborn will leave now. Wishing you success, Lord Zmey!" she said aloud, her fist pinned to her chest. Tears streamed down her face.
Zmey had a swooshing sound behind him. He sighed. Somehow, his heart ached. He sighed.
His face grew sour.
He sighed again. "I hope I won't give up soon. And that I won't get close to anyone. From now on, I will take on this new identity as Zmey Ashbane. May the heavens guide me through. "