A Curse and A Kiss - Volume 1

17

The Libuen couscous, despite it looking rather confusing, as random vegetables and pieces of meat laid on top of it without any semblance of coordination, was a really satisfying meal. The princess had read about it in a few books, but had never been 'adventurous', not even with food; trying something so simple yet so new made her mentally confirm her choice to discover more of the world and live in it for real, now that she had Verina to share it with.

As the witch tried to calm down, they talked a bit about that past the dish was a token from: having fled Libue in a hurry during a coup together with the daughter, Verina's Grandmother had slowly found her place in Tardeburgo, learning to sew and starting a family there. As her child grew and found love, she and the new family took care of the small, future witch together.

It was around that time that the Great Awakening began. Emerging from their forgotten cocoons like summer cicadas, a hundred dragons, sealed underground for millennia, came back from myths and legends to feast and destroy, repeating a millennial cycle of life and death. Tardeburgo, and Verina's parents, were victims of the first wave; it wouldn't be for revenge that, less than twenty years later, the Violet Sorceress would close that endless story, but Verina always thought it to be some funny prank of Destiny she would never get.

Living with her grandmother, Verina started showing herspecial abilities early; self-thought, at age 6 was already helping the village rebuild; using her skills this intensely at a young age sure helped develop them further, until the time came for her to study it for real at the University. Until the age of 15, when she left Tardeburgo, everything she knew of the world were the stories the grandmother told her. Being raised by her for so long, it became difficult for the young girl to leave the nest, and say goodbye to her grandmother; they would meet again, from time to time, only after the Chrome Dragons' demise.

When she reached the Stygian Library, the woman was 23. Forty years later... Only a few in Tardeburgo knew her personally, and her only family had passed many years prior. She decided to restart a simple, little life in her hometown, to recover from the accident, and with that became the unspoken protector of the whole region.

Verina recounted her story with a nostalgic expression, holding the princess' hand on the table. How lucky, she thought, that the princess was left-handed: they slowly ate together, forgetting about the world around them, which never stopped being loud and chaotic.

As the story ended, their meal did too. On their bowls, few grains remained.

As Verina stood up, she noticed with the corner of her eye someone approaching. She initially thought it could be Sotero; she was surprised to find, on the contrary, a random, flimsy man, visibly drunk.

The young traveler, with rosy cheeks and a dazed smile, was trying his best to keep his spine straight, as he got closer to their table «You two look pretty lonely, ladies..! Why don't we have some fun toge-»

In a matter of seconds, a few events occurred, simultaneously: a crackling sound and a purple light seemed to irradiate from under Verina's table; Kara stood up, feeling a burning sensation squirm on her back; a pair of big hands took the man from his shoulders and pulled him back vigorously, making him almost fall on the ground.

«Do you have a bloody death wish?!» said one of the man's friends to him, breathing heavily; he was just as intoxicated, but he apparently had a better understanding of his surroundings. As the others from his table arrived, they seemed pretty anxious in their alcohol-induced panic.

The Witch moved closer to the group, with narrow, flaming eyes that looked at them from above like an evil child in front of an anthill: «Death is not something I administer lightly. You are, nonetheless, lucky to have reasonable people at your side.»

Kara moved quickly at her side, as one of the companions firmly shut the drunkard's mouth with one hand. Sotero, witnessing the commotion, left his duties and ran to intercept the two, positioning himself between the women and the rest. The guards, now aware of the danger, followed suit. The rest of the inn held their breaths, feeling the air become sharper and their hair move upwards, controlled by unknown forces.

«Verina...» said the princess, taking the sorceress' left hand in hers gently.

«...» the witch closed her glowing right hand, with an unexpected snapping sound, similar to a broken cembalo string; the light expired, the atmosphere seemed to turn back to normal. «I'm tired.»

Verina left without another word, dragging the other girl with her. The silent hall turned rapidly chaotic once more, between those who continued as if nothing had happened and the concerned protagonists of the incident feeling their hearts ready to burst out of their own chests.

The two women walked for a couple minutes in the dark of the night, while the soldiers, slightly tipsy, followed at a distance, trying to remain vigilant, remembering for a moment their task.

Kara squeezed hard the witch's hand, enough to let her turn around and finally look at the princess. The darkness wasn't an enemy of hers: with her magic, she could distinguish the lovely visage of the girl, and at that sight her heart throbbed, feeling sudden guilt.

"I'm sorry" was thinking Verina, before being stopped by a small, sweet kiss on her lower lip -having the princess slightly missed the mark because of the dark.

«That was... amazingg.»

«...Pardon?»

Kara moved her hand uncertain, until she finally found the other's cheek. Her expression was unmistakable, but to be sure Verina lit up a small red flame with her fingers. As it danced lightly on her nails, like a trapped firefly, the witch felt her saliva dry up, looking at the princess confused.

«Princess, this isn't the reaction you should have...» said the woman, feeling her own fire ignite inside. «You...»

«I...» Kara moved closeer, touching her with her body, now leaving the other's hand and reaching for her waist «...felt your heart... Your electricity.»

Verina, almost losing balance, instead of going backwards instinctively pulled her closer, feeling her heart ache in desire.

«I want to feel you even more.»