The Betrayal

Chapter 4

Dilas decided to ride on Hira’s back this time. His heart rate got faster and louder as they approached the Ember Realm. He could also feel the weakness potion begin to kick in. His eyes were getting heavy, his nose was runny, his throat was drier than the Sahara Desert, his knees felt like they were going to collapse, but he was still willing to persist through the pain.

A wave of realization just hit him, he never drank the fire resistance potion, how on Earth, well, how on Relida, was he going to get through the lava!? He thought to tell Hira, so she can turn around back to the castle and get the correct potion from King Eragon. Just as he tried to speak, he felt an invisible hand slapped across his mouth. He couldn’t even utter a sound. He looked towards Tilex who looked back with a sympathetic smile that quickly faded. He noticed something strange. Every time he had wanted help or wanted to talk to his friends, he wasn’t able to speak. Every time he thought about his friends betraying him, his mom being right, the thoughts magically disappeared. They were just taken out of his mind. He did remember one thing though. When Eragon stomped his staff, all his thoughts were reversed. Did he do all this? Was Eragon possibly controlling his mind? No that couldn’t be possible, well, he was literally riding on a dragon in a land above the clouds, so really, anything was possible! What was Eragon trying to hide from him? That Hira and Tilex have actually never been his friends, and they only wanted to use him? But what would they want to use him for? And why could he still think about all this without being stopped by Eragon?

Meanwhile, in Eragon’s palace…

“King has been sound asleep for the past 2 hours now, I’m surprised, I’ve never seen him sleep!”  Whispered one guard to the other.
“Yep. He’s out like a light. I’m not complaining though, at least we get to relax.” He whispered back with a soft chuckle

Back with Dilas

Dilas has much bigger things to worry about than his supposed-to-be friends. He might die today! How was he going to survive through the lava? He tried to think of literally any possible way he could go without dying, fatal injuries were fine, he just wanted to live. Then he remembered, he read a book last month in school, it was called The Legend Of The Phoenix. The book stated that if one obtained a single phoenix feather and mixed it well with water, that person would get temporary protection against heat. Now, he knew it was probably just some random fantasy book... but did he really have any other options? He didn’t know how long “temporary” meant, so he thought to get at least 10 feathers, just to be safe. Well, he can talk to the dragons now, so better put it to good use!
“Hey Tilex? Can I get some water? I’m really thirsty.”
He turned to Hira, silently asking for permission.
“It’s just water, go get some in a bottle for him.” Said Hira, as she motioned towards The Aqua Haven, suggesting Tilex to get water from there.
Now that his water was sorted, all he had to do was find a kind phoenix to lend a couple feathers to him, and serendipitously, he saw one flying around in the distance. He had a plan set. As soon as Tilex returned with the water, he took it. He then started to beg Hira to take him to that phoenix, he said it had always been a dream of his to meet one. His apparent annoying skills came in handy for once. Hira dropped off Dilas by the phoenix and flew to Tilex, so she can get away from him.

“Uhh, excuse me?”
“Oh greetings, my fellow human, how can I be of service?” Replied the phoenix with the most majestic voice he had ever heard.
“Look, I don’t have much time to explain, but I need a couple of your feathers.”
“Oh, do not worry human, I have a few stored in my feather jar.” She passed a head-sized glass jar, full of perfect golden feathers. “Take as many as you wish!”
He took a few, bid adieu to the phoenix, quickly mixed them with the water, and drank the potion. Dilas was a bit taken aback by the phoenix’s kindness, so he was unsure if he had done the right thing, but he had no time to consider anything. He could either be tricked by the phoenix and die, or he could survive. Well, if he hadn’t taken the chance of talking to the phoenix, then he would’ve had no chance of survival. So by getting the-
Dilas stopped himself. All this thinking will have to wait .
Dilas will figure out what was his best possible outcome if he survives the lava, if he doesn’t, then all his efforts will go down the drain.
He was ready.

Skullur’s Lair was a massive volcano. It looked almost identical to the king’s palace. The big lump of anxiety in his throat was gone, and so were the thoughts about him dying. He felt as light as a feather. He was glad the dragons were accompaning him, otherwise he would have not been able to do this task at all, and also they saved him from inconveniences, like hiking up the volcano.
“Tilex~”
Tilex already knew what to do and knelt down for him to get on. He realized he had rode on both dragons twice today. He enjoyed the simplicity of even numbers. They gave him a very pleasant feeling. He didn’t know why, but he just liked them more than odd numbers. Well, the name itself suggests it, odd numbers are, quite frankly, odd. He knew he was trying to distract himself from the task ahead of him. It was not working.

As they reached the top, Dilas in front, Hira and Tilex standing behind him, Dilas had a lightbulb spark atop his head. He only wanted to know if the dragons were actually his friends or not. Although he knew he was safe, the other 2 didn’t know that.
Right as the approached the edge, Dilas stared into the burning orange goop. He looked up to his friends who seemed as if they were caught in a trance.
“No I can’t do it!” Dilas whined in the most annoying voice he could make.
They both snapped back. Now, Dilas didn't know if there really was a vibe to the whole situation, but if there was, it was taken and thrown off a cliff.

“Oh just go already” said Hira, frustrated.
“No! I can’t do it I can’t do it I can’t do it I ca-”
“It’s not like you’re going to survive anyway, just go and try!” Said Tilex, now irritated. He looked at her and motioned to Dilas, silently asking
Should we push him?
Yes! Let’s push him in! She replied, seemingly excited to think of him gone.
Dilas looked up at what he believed to be his friends. They weren't acting like themselves. Who cares how they were acting!? They wanted to kill him!
Just as Dilas was about to whine even louder, he felt a push on his back, he fell into the molten hot lava.

Right as the two realised what they had done, they dove in to make sure Dilas was ok. They knew he wouldn't be, but there was still a little sliver of hope. They watched as Dilas slowly resurfaced.
“You really want to kill me huh!? All these years of friendship for nothing!?”
“No, no, it’s not like that, it’s just…” Hira muttered.
They were feeling too many emotions at once. So confused, yet so happy. So angry, yet so guilty.
They were completely speechless.
“I don’t want an explanation, I have heard enough.”
He couldn’t believe it. His mom was right. His mom had always been right. He felt so guilty. All this time, he thought his mom was just being overprotective, but she was just trying to keep her son safe. He swore to himself that he would always listen to her. Enough about regret, he could regret later, right now he had to get the citrine stone so he could get back to Earth.

He looked everywhere, but he just couldn’t find it. He thought it would be a big floating gem like in cartoons. He thought of giving up, but reassured himself saying it was just a break and sat down on the ground. He noticed a small yellow pebble on the ground and started playing with it.
“Wait…” he said to himself, “is this the citrine stone?”
It did look pretty identical to one and it was definitely hard to find. He couldn’t find it anywhere else, so he thought to take his chances. Now, how was he going to get out?

“Phoenix!” He yelled at the top of his lungs, until the magnificent creature dove through the lava and appeared in front of him.
“My name is Nova, by the way.”
“Nova can you please get me out? I know I’m asking for a lot but-”
Nova cut him off, “of course I can, it’s my pleasure.”

Chapter 4 done :D
A lot more Nova time now :)