In the Midst of Chaos

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"Wake up. We're leaving," a hard voice said. Melora opened her eyes, startled to see Phyrgan yet again towering over her, except this time, a stoic expression on his face. His hand was not outstretched to her, leaving her to help herself up. The imprint of her body remained in the ground, as did his a few meters away from hers. She ran her fingers through her messy hair and felt the butterflies come underneath her like a seat and lift her into the air again.

"I guess I'm walking then," he grunted, picking up his backpack and swinging it over his shoulders.

"Phyrgan, wait..." she called after him. He continued walking briskly away from her. It was only when she heard a small shuddery sigh that she realised what he was doing. "Come here."

He showed no sign of changing his direction of path, his stature taunt and stiff. The footprints he left behind were constant and unhesitant.

"Phyrgan."

He groaned and turned around, his face shocking Melora. It was screwed up as if he was in pain, a slight redness around his eyes. "What do you want?"

She allowed the butterflies to let her down and walked towards him slowly, stretching her arms out. "Come here."

Phyrgan obliged. Melora wrapped her arms around him and let him bury his head in her shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, her letting him cling to her as if his life depended on it. "I can't lose you."

His words were so quiet she nearly missed them. "You've only known me for a couple of days."

"And you know more about me than anyone else in the world beside my grandmother."

"We need to do this. For Saldar."

"Forget it. I'm not putting you in danger," Phyrgan spat angrily.

"Please, Phyrgan. For me if not for every other person alive in Saldar." She could see his resolve crumbling. "I need your help. We are supposed to do it together."

Melora held out her hand in front of her, palm facing up, waiting for him to take it. He hesitated. She sat back down into the ice butterflies, keeping her hand outstretched.

"Fine," he snapped, taking her hand and climbing onto the butterflies to beside her, never letting go of her hand. "But don't think I like the idea of it one little bit."

"I never asked you to like it. I asked you to help me, which is what you are going to do. Therefore, you are complying with my request. And for that, I thank you deeply," Melora said.

All she got in reply was a reluctant humph.

It hurt that he was barely speaking to her, but she knew what had to happen to stop Elavier, and there was only one way for that to be done. Yes, it sounded vicious, but the only way to contain his thirst for power was to kill him.

"How much do you know about animals?" Melora spewed in rapid speed.

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean, can you hunt predator-like animals? I was just thinking that I could try and get him to turn into and animal you can hunt and in his altered form you can kill him. Does that make any sense?" she hurriedly spoke her idea. "Elavier is not stupid, though this whole thing would be a lot easier if her was. He won't shift into any animal which is common prey. If we can catch him off guard and kill him in a form he doesn't expect, all this will be over a lot faster."