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17 • LARICE
HER WHOLE LIFE, Larice always feared the curse inside her. Every time she panicked, her heart rate increased, causing her blood flow to surge, forcing the curse to outburst. She couldn’t control it. However, at the very least, she had a hint of how it worked now.
“I still don’t get it. How in the world can you think my blood is an Empyreal Weapon?” Larice said as they traveled through the depths of the pine forest, going north. They’d taken a quick stop in the Rath Village earlier to have their late noon meal before they went on.
“Look, I’m not a hundred percent sure if it is, okay?” Estevan adjusted his glasses, looking down at his notes. “I’m just saying—it’s the closest one we can connect to in speaking about magic. You see, a whole lot of these weapons exist in this world too—shoes, necklaces, rings, horns … even wings—“
“You’re kidding,” Larice turned to him with a look of disbelief, “Wings?”
Estevan grinned on
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A Symphony of Frost and Flame 18 • RAEHERYS
TALL, WHITE, COMPRESSED—birch trees surrounded the small houses of Rath, the warm light of sundown painting the leaves with greenish-gold. Busy villagers became much busier as the skies grew darker. Raeherys found himself amused, observing several men chopping logs, women passing by with both hands supporting the jug on top of their heads which, he believed, contained water. Horses dragged big, wooden carts filled with more logs and fruits and animals from the forest. So this was the way these humans live … so simple, peaceful. The sight of human children helping their parents made Raeherys recall the little dragons who used to play in the meadows of Draconi … and the rest of his brethren who labored in harvests and mines. He never knew humans could also have such a livelihood. However, the image of the burning house refused to fade from his mind—the village where he and Fetyr had caused that fire. With regrets returning to suppress him, he hoped that
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 19 • LARICE
STUPID … SHE WAS SO STUPID. Larice couldn’t believe she just wasted her time with these beasts … these … stupid liars—especially that Raeherys. She had thought she would find a clue from him about the truth she was seeking, so she had agreed to talk in here. But it all turned out—he only gave her lies. A war? A whole thunder of dragons flying here? Did he think he could fool her by making such excuses? Did he think he could stop her from going to their isles? Not a damn chance. No one could stop her from getting what she wanted—because from what she had learned after leaving Shavath, no one could control her life but her. Larice strode towards the table where Estevan and the other beast had been seated. They appeared to be discussing a serious topic, and she hated to break it. “Settle the payments. We will go now,” she told him, her tone hinting no patience. “Huh?” Estevan lifted his head, eyebrows questioning her as if he didn’t seem t
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 20 • RAEHERYS
THE SUN ROSE AT ITS PEAK when Sevyh told the group to take a break. The entire morning they had traveled south, leaving Rath Village before the light of dawn touched the heavens. A long walk it had been. And it was just about time for their noon meal. Raeherys, however, found no liking on the food they had brought. The round and light … thing, which they called a flatbread, had no taste at all—too bland it was—he could not even describe the texture in his mouth when he chewed it down. He had grown used to eating dragon fruits and finelities and berries from his isles—roasted fish and meat and all. They settled at the end of the pine forest, where they could spot the Shajara Ranges ahead of them. Sevyh suggested they should wait until nightfall. A lot safer it would be for them to climb the ranges in the dark. Raeherys sat upon a large boulder, watching Larice and Sev spar with their swords under the shade of an oak tree. In the meantime
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 21 • LARICE
LARICE KEPT ON LOSING every single round. Why? She was too distracted by those eyes … those stupid, golden eyes staring at her. Seriously, what’s his problem? It made her extremely conscious of her face, wondering if something was wrong with it. Every time she caught Raeherys watching her, he would avoid her eyes immediately and pretend to look at the skies, while speaking with his older friend or father or whoever that old man was. She swore she would stab those eyes with Gray Viper if he wouldn’t stop staring. Sweat trickled on her face, down to her neck as her breath shortened, her throat drying out. Larice had been sparring with Sevyh for several rounds now, as she wanted to master her ability in creating ice weapons. So far, she could already cast much quicker than before. She also found out that it must come with two conditions. One, her blood flow had to be fast enough, as the quicker the blood flowed, the easier and faster it would be f
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 22 • RAEHERYS
TWILIGHT FELL INTO DUSK, and they began their climb on the Shajara Ranges, with Sevyh leading the group. Raeherys found the carved stairs almost similar to the ones in Volcron, except that the steep path here zigzagged over the course towards the top. Too dark it was, however, for these humans to see, so they had to go slowly. The chilling breeze of nightfall blew colder and stronger as they ascended. Pine trees and spruces and cedars filled the slope of the mountains. Raeherys could not avoid looking up ahead at Estevan, who was helping Larice. It made him frustrated all of a sudden. He could not point out why, but somehow he hated seeing them together. And he hated she was still avoiding him while staying close to that chronicler. Earlier that time, a broken step of the stairs made her foot to slip, causing her to fall backward. Good thing Raeherys behind caught her by his arms. “Are you okay?” She immediately backed aw
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 23 • LARICE
LARICE HASTED THROUGH THE LONG TUNNEL to go after the scout. She must not let him reach the left tower. “Those stupid beasts!” Larice whispered, panting. What was he thinking? Or was it his father who had told him to attack? After all, as what she had noticed so far; he was like a puppet, following whatever his father would tell him to do. Dependence was only for the weak. Those who could not stand on their own should’ve stayed as babies, sucking their mother’s teats. Larice chased the hunter, entering the left archway at the end, then through a dark, narrow tunnel, then a few turns of left and right, until she reached the spiral staircases leading up to the top of the tower. But the scout wasn’t there anymore when she searched around. He could’ve not been that fast enough to reach the top. Larice listened carefully. The piercing clangs of steels echoed from the gatehouse. Other than that, she could hear nothing else except her strong p
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 24 • RAEHERYS
THE BATTLE LASTED LITTLE LONG since Raeherys and Sevyh had made it in time to finish the hunters, claiming the bastion as their own for tonight. The ones who were alive they captured and locked up at the dungeons of the bastion—and the rest, who were dead, they piled up inside an empty chamber. After stealing all the captives’ money, Sevyh ventured out ahead to scout if the path was clear towards the second bastion. Meanwhile, Raeherys, Fetyr, and Estevan stayed inside to wait, all seated in front of the fireplace. The woods crackled. Raeherys stared blankly at the dancing flames, paying little attention to their ongoing discussion. But after a time, Estevan’s sudden call awoke him. “You seem troubled, man,” said Estevan. “You okay?” Raeherys shifted his blank gaze at Estevan. A look of distaste was all he could give to the chronicler before facing the fireplace again. “Carry on. I’m listening.” “Okay, so since we’re talking about gods,” said
A Symphony of Frost and Flame 25 • LARICE
A SUSPICIOUS GAZE WAS ALL she could give to Raeherys, wondering what he wanted to achieve by holding her hand. But if he ever planned to blow even a tiny spark of ember at her, she swore she would push him off the edge—if not, jump off herself—no second thoughts. When Raeherys asked her again, she pursed her lips, glanced at his hand upfront, and then returned her gaze towards his face. “I’m not stupid, beast,” she said. “I know what you’re trying to do.” Raeherys gave her a puzzled look, blinking his eyes—but when he realized what she’d meant, he sighed. “I’m not going to burn your hand, I promise.” “I don’t trust you.” “You don’t trust anyone.” “Then why are you still asking?” His golden eyes became serious, looking straight at her. “I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m only asking you to hold my hand for a second.” Her eyes fell to his hand once again. Nervous. She had never held a guy’s hand for so long. The last tim
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