Dawn at the Wild Rift (Book IV)

Chapter 10

Magical City...

"So, what did you come here for exactly?" Lylia asks as she sits across Harley.

The genius mage gives up on fixing his messy hair after Lylia pounced on him the very moment he entered the Swan Castle. He is supposed to be there for only about 10 minutes but Lylia is simply hard to deal with that it took him 20 minutes to calm her. For him, she is not just a peculiar black mage. She is also a total headache.

That aside, he straightens his back and meets her gaze.

"I have a favor—"

"I'll do it! What favor though?" Lylia interjects, even without letting Harley finish. Judging from his formal approach, she could tell that he wants something from her. And since she owes him for saving her from her lonely and dark place, she is willing to lend him a hand.

"I will be going back to the Enchanted Forest together with Zilong and Freya. Since you are knowledgeable about black magic, I would like to ask for your assistance, not just in translating some ancient scriptures but also in finding the dragon tamers," Harley replies.

Despite having a lack of information about what the dragon tamers are, Lylia slams the table with both hands and leans towards Harley. With eager and sparkling eyes, she responds, "I'll help! Even if danger lurks around the corner, if I can be of help to you, then, I am more than willing to help!"

Her quick response is a shock to Harley even though he already expected before that she'll do the favor. She seems to trust him too much despite knowing each other for a short period of time.

"Then, I'll come tomorrow to fetch you. Let us both go to the Great Dragon's temple first before entering the forest," he states.

Seeing the anxiousness in his eyes, Lylia bites her lower lip as she accompanies him outside. She is hesitant if she asks what's going on about him but she's also afraid that she might press a wrong switch and Harley would be irritated by her nosiness.

As she watches his back while he leaves the castle, Lylia shakes off her fear and runs towards him. She holds both of his shoulders and looks into his eyes.

"Everything will be alright. I don't know what you're anxious about but if you need anything, I'll be here," she claims.

Harley's eyes widen as he stares back at her. Not only Lesley had sensed that something is off about him but even Lylia could tell. He can hold back his swirling emotions when he was with his sister but now, it seems to have got out of his control.

Without a word spoken, he pulls her close for a hug. Of course, Lylia is caught in surprise since Harley usually doesn't initiate this kind of action. But as she feels him tightening his grip around her, she could tell that he is trying to carry his burdens alone and all she could do that moment is to hug him back. They stayed like that for a while until Harley lets her go.

"Thanks," he simply states before leaving the premises.

As he gets closer to the Vance mansion, his every step feels heavier than the previous ones. After encountering the vampire woman at the Enchanted Forest, he was mad as hell but he thought to pardon it since it has happened a long time ago. Mr. Nero is also gone so probably, his parents wouldn't fight any longer. He isn't worried about his father's opinion of his previous actions involving the matter that he joined the VENOM squad and even fought against the army of their city. But his top concern is how to face his mother. He knows that she is ten-folds more of a worrywart compared to Lesley and for sure, his reckless actions made a huge impact on her. He didn't know how to properly face her.

He couldn't bring himself to open the two huge wooden doors right in front of him. His hand feels the coldness of the doorknob as he tightens his grip on it.