Treasures of Andalia Chronicles: Ring of Flames

Chapter Twenty Eight: Victory isn't Always Sweet

AMARIS

The undying flame of determination in my heart burned brighter than ever. The unwavering resolution became my strongest ally. I wore it like a cape on my back. Full of pride. I looked ahead as I took the first step towards the cave. Then the rest followed suit.

The white dragon led us to the Dragon Queen's chamber. I took a glance around, descending deeper into the darkness. There was a part of me that wanted to turn back but I knew that I had reached the point of no return.

It was either die or save a whole kingdom from destruction. Fortunately, I get to pick the latter. Though I wasn't the one who made the decision, I couldn't be more glad.

Everyone was quiet as we paced ourselves into the darkness. I walked behind the dragon and beside Trisna. We left Luxys with Tellarion since he fell asleep again after sobering up, while Val and Rihaan followed our trail. Their distance from each other was farther than I anticipated. I guess the tension between them hadn't disappeared yet.

When it was becoming difficult to see, they both produced flame from their hands simultaneously, glaring at each other, competing for the brightest flame.

I glanced at them now and then, making sure they're not trying to kill each other while my eyes were on the front.

Rihaan still avoided me after the dispute we had. I still found it unbearable to see his face. But what he said was right. We were both using people for our own gain. We weren't that much different from Caius. We were all deceivers in our own way.

"Can you see in the dark? Uh...what was your name again" I asked the white dragon.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself earlier. Pardon my rudeness. You can call me Mylaera, the warping dragon," she chuckled, introducing herself. "And yes, I can see in the dark. Dragons have superior eyesight than most creatures. We can see up to five miles."

"That's so cool," Trisna praised. Her eyes glinted as Mylaera told her facts about their kind.

"My dad rarely comes to see me so I barely know a thing or two about dragons," she frowned.

"I assume you are the child that Luxys fathered?"

"Yeah. My mother, Czarina, was an assassin commissioned to kill the crimson dragon, and that's when they met."

Mylaera chortled. "Seeing that Luxys is still alive, and you have grown quite well. I'm guessing they hit it off after that meeting."

The smile on her face turned sour, puckering her lips. "I'm just going to skip the part where they made me but yeah, they got married after a few weeks."

I chuckled.

They were immensely engrossed in their own world. Their chattering faded behind my back when I noticed Rihaan and Val started arguing. I was just about to meddle when I heard a whistle coming from the deepest part of the cave, calling out to me.

I stared at the darkness beyond us. They were too busy to notice I've stopped. The light slowly got out of my reach. My sight was in total darkness. I reached out my hands through the dark, hoping I would find a wall to lean on. I suddenly felt a pair of hands tapping my shoulders.

Recoiling in horror, I jumped one foot on the ground.

It was Val, looking at me with a puzzled look in his eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked.

I took a breath. "Yeah. I thought I heard somebody call me."

The others soon arrived to get me, and they glanced at the back, scanning the entire place but the only people here were us and, Mylaera—she's a dragon so she doesn't count. Besides, I know her voice. It wasn't her.