The Dragon's Kiss

The Dragon's Kiss - Chapter 84 - EIGHTY FOUR: Piles Of Questions

“It’s not strange. It took just over a century to develop a complicated mirror system that could bring sunlight down from the surface.”

Kel glanced over to see Soren standing next to her instead of the freckled girl.

“If anything,” he continued, “it’s an architectural feat.”

“…Where did that girl go?” Kel asked, looking around.

“You mean Alaia? Her job is finished here, so she went back,” Soren answered.

“Alaia. I see,” Kel replied, straightening up. Turning to the man, she added, “So what is it you want from me?”

Soren smiled, reaching for a piece of her hair. Even in the faint scattered sun rays, it shimmered splendidly.

“I think this is our first meeting in which you didn’t greet me with a stuttered ‘you?!’,” he remarked, ignoring her question. “How refreshing.”

“Enough,” Kel responded coldly, brushing his hand away. “Answer me.”

Chuckling, Soren retracted his hand. “Before that, what about you? What is it you want from me?”

Caught off guard by his question, Kel carefully studied the man’s expression. His lips were tugged slightly to one side in his usual smirk, but his eyes weren’t flashing the way they usually did. 

What was he playing at this time?

“I don’t want anything from you,” she finally answered, turning her gaze back to the rows of tiny sprouts. 

“Are you sure about that?” Soren responded in an amused tone. “You usually have piles of questions for me.”

He wasn’t wrong. Generally whenever they met, Kel was always wondering who he was and what he was doing. As of late, those two questions had also been joined by Kel wondering how he managed to find her. 

This time, however, one of those questions was already answered for her.

Soren, or Lord Soren as Alaia had referred to him, seemed to be the leader of this underground settlement. If not that, then at least a person of importance. He wasn’t just a magician from the street or a well-connected nobleman as she had once suspected.

As for the other questions, they were no longer important. She already had a pretty good idea of what he was doing. It seemed the whole goal of this community was to find Halrad’s heir and take over the continent. Additionally, she didn’t particularly care how he managed to find her anymore. Much bigger concerns had suffocated her interest in that topic to a mild curiosity. 

Of the many new questions circling around her head, only one was speakable.

“Where is this place?” she asked quietly.

“Alaia didn’t even answer that for you?” Soren shook his head in feigned disappointment. “Such a lousy tour guide.”

“She did tell me. It’s just…” Kel trailed off. Despite the girl’s explanations and tour of the facilities, Kel’s confusion had only grown. The more she learned about Subterra, the more she realized she didn’t know.

“Why don’t you come with me?” Soren grinned. “I’m sure I can satisfy some amount of your curiosity.”

“I would appreciate it if you did,” Kel hesitated, “but I’d prefer to talk here.”

“You still don’t trust me?” Soren teased. “I’m hurt.”

“Can you blame me?” Kel scoffed. “I don’t have a tendency to trust kidnappers.”