Book 4 | Agent 34 and the Last Gem

Chapter 61 | I'm an Idiot

"Lord Thad," Barjual said to the dwarf, bowing his head in honor. "I believe we have just gathered the help of my previous flight for this upcoming battle,"

"What?" The leader exclaimed. "Pardon me, but what's a flight?"

"A flight is what you call of group or family of dragons. Sort of like a herd of lions. They stick together until the very end. I was previously separated from them after the Battle of the Second Army and presumed that they were dead until the three of us found them up there, flying around meaninglessly. They agreed to help us take down that island,"

"Huh," Thad stated. "I never knew that's what you call a group of dragons. But anyways, that's great! We are for sure going to take down that island. It's just whether or not we can take down Braunick himself,"

"Have more hope," Barjual told him, sneezing afterwards and flames coming out of his large and deep nostrils.

"I have had as much hope as I can muster," he told his old friend. "We will make it to the island in around three hours. Do not attack until we do. You will reach the island first and conceal yourselves until we catch up. Good luck, Barjual,"

"Good luck to you, Lord Thad," The black dragon said. "and, thank you for all that you've done,"

"Thank you as well,"

The dragon took off after the other dragons who were flying towards the island. Before he was completely in the air, he hovered above the soldiers and roared, shooting flames out of his nostrils and into the air. The men cheered as the black dragon whipped around, rain pattering onto his armor and onto the ground, affecting everyone except the Zena's army.

~ ~ ~

"Agent 34?" Ismara tapped him on the shoulder. "Can we talk? In private?"

The elf looked around, liquid appearing in his eyes, and it wasn't the rain in them. "W-where do you expect to talk in private?" He motioned to the thousands of men that surrounded them, all of which were marching to the magnificent giant island floating above their continent of Renya.

"Oh," she said. "Right. There's not gonna be any privacy anymore," The elf looked down at her feet as they marched along. She was trying to avoid letting 34 see her cry. "Agent 34–this is the end, win or lose. I probably won't see you again after this,"

"We will win," he said. "You will see me again,"

"No, you don't understand," she told him, looking up to him with tears glistening in his beautiful green eyes. "You're going with Arenia. I can't get in the way of you two anymore," She turned away, letting the tears fall down her soft cheeks.

"Ismara–" He placed his hand on her shoulder, whipping her around towards him. "Me and her aren't a thing,"

"Don't lie to me," she barked. "I saw you two kissing each other before we left. You are in love with her, Agent 34, not me. Do you know how long I've had something for you?"

The elf didn't respond, he just stared at her blankly. "Ever since the day we met, 34. That day when you came through my castle doors and we just talked for a good portion of the night. That was when I saw something in you, Agent 34, and it wasn't just the gem. I saw a flame burning deep within your heart, a flame that would only extinguish if you were to die. That flame was capable of stopping Braunick. That's why I fell in love with you. You've given me more hope than I've ever had before. You're the reason I joined the Zena and got involved in the war against him. You're the reason I've made it this far, Agent 34, but I'm not going to alter your decision. Stay with Arenia,"

Agent 34 felt the sparkle in his eyes brighten a minute. His hand fell off of her shoulder, the elf pulling away for a minute. He felt a feeling he didn't know he had, a passion for a woman that hadn't been given the appreciation she deserved. If only Agent 34 had opened his eyes then he wouldn't have been such an idiot.

Ismara quickly jumped towards him, letting their lips touch for a second before turning away and running into the crowd of soldiers. Agent 34 stopped marching, the soldiers of the Zena going around him as he stood in the dirt. He touched his lips for a second, wishing the kiss had been longer and he had a chance to enjoy it. The elf sunk to his knees, covering his face in his hands and letting the tears come on their own. How could he have been such an idiot?