II - Sigh of Smoke

Chapter 54 - Awaken

Concerning Sigh of Smoke updates:

They're going to be coming around really slow :( I have a plan for them, but I am only troubled about the execution. Since school's started again (I'm in my final year of highschool! What stress!) updating the sequel to BoF is difficult time-wise. I think I'll be done before Christmas (if not Halloween), but I'm sorry that the new chapters are coming up a little slower, especially since there's not much left D: Writing comfortable, natural dialogue has been eating away at me. English class this semester is WILD and I'm realizing how wrong I've been approaching many of my written work-which is a total deviation to what I was allowed to do in grade 11 and 10. So I guess I'm a little overwhelmed :P At the end of the book I'll have a little announcement to make in another end-of-story author's note, so "stay tuned" for that xD

Plus I think I'm getting too taken by a possible romance between two specific characters *cough cough* so I'm going to tone myself down before I get carried away HAHA Oh My God (doesn't mean I will stop throwing those little moments in tho LOL)

dedicated to barrej1 for all the support in votes :D

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-Lucan Worshire-

Nervousness filled him in every passing second, and to ease it he wrung his hands like a pious man at the grave of his gods. The dreaded question of which strike would be Atlanta's last, remained prevalent in his mind in a thickening fog of worry. Even so, Lucan didn't doubt his faith in her.

So when Atlanta twisted King Cragon's sword from the man's shallow grip, relief washed over Lucan in such a way that his sigh startled Aleksandra from her transfixed state. Ignoring the younger girl's curious brow, he found himself watching the unanticipated conversation between the King and his loyal servant unfold. No one could have predicted this very moment-not even the wisest of Seers.

King Cragon himself had torn his chest open to give up his heart. He was surrendering himself to the Dragon's cause with a willing voice.

Atlanta however, was of the opposite. Her already broken word seemed to float through the air, ". . . What?"

The air shook with disbelief and confusion as the now by standing Zarkarians looked to each other. Voiceless conversations transpired in their blazing gazes, clicks of the tongue chattering about the room as they realized that their King-the man they had sworn themselves to when they were first able to hold words on their lips-was giving up.

"Atlanta," King Cragon started, straightening himself even though it looked painful. His gaping chest throbbed and pulsed, the sinews of his skin twisting about in the quick adjustment to his posture. "Take your prize."

A shiver rippled the crowd. Then-

Clang.

Atlanta dropped her sword, the blade of it clattering upon the stone. The handle of Malantha still remained in her shivering grip, pommel barely hanging on the tips of her fingers as the steel shimmered in the waking dawn. Pale blue eyes grew wide as feverish flesh turned three shades to sickly. The breath of hers alone was quickening as-with the faintest movement-she shook her head.

"My King," she whispered. "I cannot."

Then Cragon's eyes flashed, sending Atlanta's stance into a slight stagger. "You can, and you will."

The girl shook her head again, firmer and with more conviction. Even so, her empty hand twitched upward, open to catch the loosening organ. Her body swayed a little in nausea, lulling into a hazy unbalance as Cragon's heart clenched in a fluttered rhythm, anticipating her grasp.