A Will of Fire and Darkness

Chapter 2

The sky was shades of pink and orange when we finished training, usually we'd stop at midday, but Shade wanted me to get used to wielding the dagger. Ren helped me with my form and challenged me to mock duals, to which he beat me every time.

I walked with Shade to the tavern, he offered to buy me food since we trained extra-long. My wrists and shoulders were sore from the unusual movements I had to use when fighting with the blade. Ren and Mayra went off their separate ways, Mayra makes her own food so she wouldn't come anyway.

When we entered the tavern and I had sat down, I noticed Shade looking at my horns before he silently walked off to the counter to buy our food. I often catch him staring at my wings and tail as well, has something to do with his obsession with his books and his research about the Great Massacre. I've asked him if he would ever visit United Eltrey where one of the attacks took place, but he just replies with the fact that it's become an attraction for other species and evidence of the event would be in a museum or destroyed.

Shade finally returned with my usual order of well-done steak and several bread rolls with sweet butter. "It would benefit you if you ate more vegetables." He said as he sat the plate down and on another plate was a pile of steamed veggies.

I curled my lip slightly. "Eh I know, but steamed? I'd rather eat them raw and be crunchy than have them be warm and mushy," I murmured as I pushed the plate to him. "On a different note, do you think I could start looking for other Eltrey now that I can fight a little better?" I grabbed a roll and put some sweet butter on it.

"No, there is many modifications I have to add to the blade and teach you how to control your lava more." He leaned back and crossed his arms. "Plus, I've told you many times, there's no more Eltrey. They are gone, there has been no trace or sighting of them since the disaster. You know how I feel about you going out with a hopeless goal, you'll get yourself killed trying to find something that doesn't exist."

"But there could be others like me, hidden away, I can't be the only one," I said, leaning over the table. "What if I want to see the rest of the world too? What if I want to go to Narudeik with you, I want to see other people and species, and just maybe find an Eltrey."

"Varia," he raised his voice. "There are many people that would kill to get their hands on an Eltrey, including killing you. You can't just walk into Narudeik thinking everyone will be like they are here. There are evil, heartless people out there that have wings of creatures pinned to frames and scales made into boots. The minute you walk in there you will be a target and if they don't kill you, they'll make you into a pet to be displayed, or worse." He closed his eyes and let out a breath. "I'm teaching you to fight so you can protect yourself in those situations, I only want what's best for you."

I looked down at my claws, studying how the lava flowed. "Then what's the point of living? There's so much out there and just because I'm the last Eltrey I can't live a normal life." I looked up at him. "Shade I can't stay here forever, someday I have to go, I'm sorry but I'm not content here."

His grey blue eyes studied my face, carefully considering his next words. He looked away. "Do as you wish. I won't always be there to guide you, so just be warry and never trust someone at first glance."

We sat in silence as I ate my food and Shade poked at the steamed vegetables. I looked up while I was chewing on the steak. His eyes were distant as if he was having an internal conversation with himself. His grey eyes shot toward mine when he noticed me staring.

I swallowed. "What are you thinking of?" I asked looking back down at my plate.

"I want you to try and summoning practice again," he replied. "I want to try a new technique that might help you."

I took a deep breath so that I didn't start another awkward argument. "Shade, we've tried many times and many ways. I doubt I inherited my dad's power, it's probably full Dark Eltrey trait, me being half doesn't cut it." I tore apart some bread.

I've grown tired of him continuously trying to get me to summon the same power my father had. I never met my parents, but my grandma often told me stories about them. How my mother was the princess of the Fire Eltrey and came here to escape from the fate of royalty, and she found my father in the forest not too far from where she lived. My grandma used to babysit my mom when the king came to United Eltrey for business. Shade found out that my dad was a Dark Eltrey and has since tried to get me to summon what my father once wielded. The only resemblance I have to him is the short, dark, tufts of hair on the side of my head.

Shade stood up from his seat. "Well, I'll leave you to eat. See you tomorrow, Varia."

I watched his coat sway as he walked out the door in a hasty walk. The noise of the semi-empty tavern was all that remained. I ate the rest of my food and headed back home. My town is small, so it wasn't much of a walk. The cool air of the night was still, not a breeze. I opened the door of my house and was about to walk to my room when I saw my grandma sitting in her chair by the fire holding something. I walked closer and saw a small earring that looked like a silver snake wrapped around a stick in her frail hands.

I put my hand on the back of the chair, so I didn't scare her as I leaned over. "Your mother was very beautiful; you look so much like her. She had those bright green eyes and round soft cheeks. Her hair was always so fluffy and a gorgeous brown color. You get the lave from her, she always wore gloves because..." she trailed off.

"Because her flames were so big she burned anything she touched, I know." I finished for her, gently rubbing her shoulder. "Where did you find that?" I sat in front of her chair on the floor.

My grandma held her hand out to me and I put mine in hers. "She gave it to me after you were born, she thought it would scare you as a baby and told me to hold onto it till you were old enough to wear it." She slid the earring into my hand. "I was hoping I would give it back to her one day, but I'm so grateful that you are here so I can give it to you."

Her faded blue eyes filled with tears, the light from the fire glinting in them. My heart stung seeing her recall the memories. Somedays I wish I had met my parents, but I have always been happy to be with my grandma. I squeezed her hand softly.

"I'm sure she's more grateful to you for taking care of me." I said, giving her a small smile.

I waited for my grandma to wipe away her tears and get ready for bed before I went upstairs to my own room. I sat at my desk, staring at the earring. It was quite big for an earring, but the eyes of the snake seemed to be staring back at me. I ran my finger over the cool metal, careful not to melt it by accident.

I set it in the small, wooden box with all my other earrings, gently closing it. I stripped down to my undergarments and crawled into my bed, adjusting the pillows so I was sitting up straight. I grabbed the small piece of wood under my bed that had paper lying on top of it. I tore off the paper that had a scribble of a dragon and tossed it on the floor. I grabbed the pencil on my window seal to the side of my bed.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, recalling all the stories and descriptions of my mother. I looked down at the paper and let my hand guide me. The smooth strokes slowly came together and the image in my head of my mother. Her fiery horns and the fluffy hair my grandma always talked about. Her big round eyes and soft cheeks, the big smile that I was told my father loved so dearly.

When I was done, I yawned and rubbed my eyes, I always lose track of time when drawing. I placed the wood and paper under my bed and sunk down into my pillows. My eye lids became heavy and I hardly even grabbed my blanket before I passed out.