The Immortal | Prequel Story |

Chapter 35 ~ Evacuation

Nightfall came slowly, daylight edging away into the twilight. Mallen immediately ran out as soon as he saw doves approach the cave half an hour later. Mallen collided into Írásom's arms, holding her tightly, as if afraid to let her go.

Iérti stepped out of the cave and watched them embrace, feeling a pang in his heart in that he was unable to embrace his own wife. He turned away and started heading towards Mallen's settlement, choosing to walk rather than turn into bats.

After making sure the people were safe and that they had everything they needed, Iérti went with Mallen to the northern part of the land while Írásom remained to look after the people. Iérti was unsettled to see another dragon so close, but Mallen compelled Vostok to allow them to pass.

Vostok snorted as if to say, No need to compel me. I already know your familiar face. Mallen apologized, smiling while petting him.

Mallen showed Iérti everything – the ships, the library, the tunnel, even the mystical water. "Everyone thinks all of the mystical water is burned up, but in reality, I've kept some of the mystical water for myself," said Mallen, showing the large container.

Iérti's eyes widened at the source of their creation, the source of their very existence to the land. Mallen set it back in place, leading Iérti outside. They stood just outside the door, looking out at the ships in front of them.

"This is an instance where I'm grateful for your sly, cunning manner," said Iérti. "I'm so glad you brought these ships to life. We need them now more than ever."

"Írásom killed two dragons," Mallen told him. "And you killed the third one. There's no urgency."

"The urgency is still there," Iérti said in disagreement. "There are other dragons out in Dragon Valley. Ones that can come out of hiding at any moment. Vostok is a nice dragon, but the others are not as nice. I fear there may be much more than we've accounted for, given the amount of time they've been hiding in Dragon Valley. Even the three of us cannot compel all the dragons in the land; we can only compel a few at a time. They are much more difficult to compel than humans and vampires. The land is no longer safe for humans and vampires alike. We have to leave before the land starts teeming with dragons."

Mallen glanced at the library, then at Iérti. "We're truly leaving this planet, aren't we?" he said, his voice wistful.

"Yes," Iérti said softly, his eyes still on the ships. "We need to move on from the past and go forward in the present, no matter what the future awaits us."

Meanwhile Tavaly had reached the northern part of the land and quickly hid inside one of the ships as soon as he heard Mallen and Iérti talking with one another. He remained silent in the dark, in awe of the ship he was in. It was vintage yet modern at the same time. He hoped they wouldn't sense his presence, though Tavaly feared Vostok more than Mallen and Iérti.

Tavaly suddenly felt the ship move, startling him as he peered out a window. The other ships were moving too, rising from the ground and sailing in air just a few footsteps above the ground. Tavaly carefully walked around the ship, looking in other windows to see what was going on. He saw Mallen holding a fairy wand, willing the ships to travel towards his settlement.

I'll take this ship, Tavaly thought, intending to steal one of them for himself. He went to find where the control panel was. He sat in the pilot's seat, his eyes scanning over the funky looking screen. It was as flat as a board and had digital buttons on the side.

Tavaly dared not touch anything, intending to figure it out later once he made his escape. Can't leave without some stores, if there's any still left. I don't want to starve while I'm going to who knows where. He was curious to see how Mallen was going to organize the move to another planet.