{HIATUS} Éternel: Between Two Worlds (#3)

xiiii. Flamekeeper

No soundtracks this chapter! It's pretty filler, to be honest, but it does give some deeper insight into Maya's emotions and regrets, along with the current situation of the hunters, so I advise not skipping.

Enjoy this art of Levi's beautiful eye of which I could not find the source for because of the cesspool of the internet where nobody credits anybody and I tried to find the artist for 30 minutes but miserably failed :)))

I did find some naughty art of Levi tho and I may or may not have subscribed to that person's Patreon. maybe. maybe not. oops.

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A breath of relief flew past my lips as I removed the bandages from my fingers, the previously charred skin at my fingertips now fully healed. It had been less than two weeks since I discovered my ability to control fire. Axel guessed it was activated by my anger and shock after seeing a dragon die by a hunter's hand that had reminded me of a loved one. But without guidance, this new power could be catastrophic.

Axel advised me to contact Prince Zuko of The Reach, since he was from a bloodline of firebenders and therefore would most likely be able to guide me. Thankfully, Zuko agreed to help and set time aside for today to visit and help me over the course of a few days.

Although I felt I was ready to learn how to control my powers, I was also completely terrified. I just let my chaos loose for the first time and ended up burning an entire village and the island it was built upon. Even when I told Prince Zuko what happened, he said he had never heard of such an intense power before.

The people of The Reach originated from an ancient line of benders who were able to manipulate the elements. Only those who were born with the original bloodline could be trained in elemental bending, though this wasn't restricted to royalty. There was an entire school for bending on The Reach, though now firebending was the most common.

Prince Zuko was one of the people born with the ability to firebend, as well as his uncle, who taught him. And now, Prince Zuko would be teaching me.

"Hey."

A sharp voice rang out from behind, nearly startling me off the bed. I turned around to see Levi standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame, a sheet of old paper in his hand.

"What are you doing out of bed?" I huffed, standing up to walk over to him and lead him back to his room, when he suddenly walked into the room, shutting the door behind him. "Levi-"

"You're wanted," Levi said simply, shoving the paper into my hands. I turned the page around, my eyes immediately landing on a portrait of my face under the word WANTED in Draconian. "Half a million."

"Virsallo has this much money?" I asked, slightly taken aback.

"He has enough to pay a half-dozen bounty hunters this amount if each of them brings a part of your body. Look, we need to come up with a way to keep you safe," Levi sighed, taking the wanted poster back and setting it down on my vanity. "I already asked Mileena to fortify the sentries and appoint larger dragons. I can ask my brother to send over a group of soldiers. We have enough rooms-"

"Levi, calm down. You shouldn't be worrying about this," I said in a soft tone, grabbing Levi's hands to quiet him. Levi looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face. After a few seconds, his eyes widened slightly, then narrowed again.

"I'll be your bodyguard again." Levi turned around to leave when I stepped in front of him and pressed my hands against his chest, pushing him back.

"Woah woah woah. You can barely even walk down the stairs. Plus, Tashi said you need to be on bed rest for another few weeks-"