The Edelin Chronicles: The Search for Cindias

Chapter 24: So... We Got the Thing... Now What?

My eyes slowly gaze over the landscape as fire pulses through my veins.

Now you'd think; wouldn't having fire pulsing in your body hurt like hell, or at least sting a little? But in reality, I just felt warm, almost like that feeling when you stand out in the sun for too long without sunscreen, but you narrowly avoid a sunburn. You just feel hot, and dry.

I make a small reminder to myself to hydrate after this whole endeavor before I was brought back to reality by the murmurings in my group.

"Where do you think Cindias is hiding?" Helios asks, approaching my side.

"If Kaldoro is probably planning on taking Cindias to Serpenlupus, he'd probably be close to the ocean, I'd think the nearest port city would do," I deduce, before starting to move to where I hope the ocean is.

"Well we won't be able to make it on foot," Julian replies before looking around, "Over there!" he points.

We look in the direction he's pointing, to find a small herd of Arieignis grazing on some grass. I immediately start walking towards them. The others following hesitantly behind.

"Isn't it super difficult to befriend one of those?" Roman asks Julian.

"Yes, that's why only the elite use them; I've never seen a wild herd this close before," Helios cuts in.

That's when I stop myself; what am I doing? I don't know how to tame any kind of animal. I'm the kind of person who'd run if a dog was chasing me. As stupid as it might sound, it's called a fricking fight-or-flight reflex, and most of my life it's been on the fight side, but only to things I know I can control. Not a magical fire ram.

Now you're just making excuses I hear in my head. But this was different, not like the voice of Domiens which was a lot calmer and cat-like. This one's just deep and rough.

Just trust yourself, I'll do the rest of the work. Okay...

I slowly walk towards the Arieignis; where my footsteps in the grass immediately caught their attention. The largest one, whom I'd assume is the lead male of the herd started walking towards me, snorting and dragging its hoof into the dirt.

My heart rate starts to accelerate as it towers over me. But stops, as if waiting for me to do something.

It needs to see you're not a threat, show that you're not a threat. I slowly reach my hand out to its muzzle, it snorts onto my hand, the hot wind breezing past my palm.

It wants something more. Well no sh*t Sherlock, but what. I think you know.

I control a small bit of my magic, to make a tiny spark appear in the palm of my hand. I turn my hand so the palm faces the sky.

The Arieignis slowly moves its head down to look, cocking its head to the side. Before softly snorting on the flame, taking all my willpower to not make it grow or fizzle out.

Seemingly satisfied, it nuzzles my hand, making the fire go out. I move my hand to stroke its side before it kneels. Allowing me to get on its back.

My group tries to approach the herd as well, but I see the male I ride on, step in front of them; eyes narrowed at the group trying to ride his herd.

I softly stroked his fur, soft yet ashen as I whisper to it.

"They won't hurt them, we just need to get to Cindias," it turns to look at his herd, and I feel its gaze look towards me, before silently stepping aside and letting them pass. A pair getting on an Arieignis; Raina & Roman, Julian & Lillith, and Helios & Vesta.