Chapter 6: Fire-Breathing Dragon (Part 3)

"Eli?" she asked curiously. "Is that you?"

There was something in Eli’s red eyes that Sophia couldn’t grasp. He seemed to want to tell her something but he chose not to. Instead, he said, "Yes. This is my original form.”

Sophia failed to formulate another sentence. Eli’s human form took her by surprise. The longer she gazed at him, the more describing him as handsome sounded obsolete. His raven black hair reached his shoulders in a messy nest and he had that seemingly perfect sculpted face that Sophia only saw in magazines back in her apartment. And his voice… it was not the same booming, bass voice when he was in his dragon form. Instead, it was in a baritone and manly tone of voice.

Her heart fluttered in her chest and her stomach tried to tie itself in knots. Sophia had never seen a more attractive man in her life and her cheeks heated up against her will. How could she focus on him in this form?

Sophia understood she was acting like a love-struck teenager. She had a task to fulfill and its difficulty increased if she ogled at Eli like a horny brat. Yet brown eyes couldn't shift from him.

Well, this just changed everything, Sophia thought as she blinked a few times to pull herself out of la-la land. Then she remembered something.

“I-I thought you can’t transform back to your human form?” she accused. “That was the reason why I offered to help.”

Eli stared at her before he sighed and looked away. Was he disappointed about something?

“I told you this is my domain. I can do what I want here and that includes my ability to transform back to my human form.”

"Oh…” she said in a dumbfounded tone. “So... what do we do now?" Sophia questioned, trying hard to keep composure in her voice.

"Your magic is already unlocked in your heart, but now it needs to flow in your magic channel," he answered. "I will use my own to help it circulate through its paths."

"So, you're going to jump-start it?"

"Yes."

Sophia paused, a question she had earlier popping into her mind. "Can you tell me why I don’t have such ability? I mean, do you have any idea?”

Eli put his hands back inside his shadowy cloak and tilted his head, his deep red gaze remaining focused on her. "Magic is a power a Knight used in battle. The stronger your magic, the more powerful abilities you possess. But in your case, your magic was restricted from any kinds of battle."

"So, what would be my magic for?"

Was he talking about defensive magic? Sophia only knew a few defensive magic because Caiden was a Knight who was using one. His defensive magic can take an attack like a shield and absorb it in his channel before bouncing it back towards the enemy. She knew defensive magic was an awesome ability but it had its own drawbacks, too. However, Caiden discovered his ability just like any other normal Knight. Why couldn’t she use even just a shielding technique?

“But magic is a weapon, no matter what ability you gained.”

Eli nodded. "This dimension was created using my magic, Void. As I have mentioned earlier, Void is an ability only my family can use because of large magic instilled in our magic channel.”

The young woman wondered if his family’s magic was like Zain’s. Her interest was piqued on the possibility of her mastering magic. The day's events were unreal and hard to process.

I need a nice chamomile tea, Sophia thought, her mind exhausted as she took one more sweeping glance over the surrounding area.

"Come," Eli's tranquil voice called, and he turned away seconds later.

Sophia followed him as an invisible strand connected them together. They moved through the desolate-looking area until a group of trees appeared in the distance. Sophia squinted and noticed the leaves were ebony like the clouds; the trees' branches and trunk were the same color — as red as the sky. The foliage held beauty in its own eerie way.

Markings that matched the little stars in Eli's pupils lined each one in a unique pattern. When the pair reached about ten feet away from the trees, the black markings slithered into a shape Sophia couldn't describe. It reminded her of the symbol on an abandoned house near the Knights Association.

Eli stopped walking and turned to face Sophia. He sat down and motioned for her to follow. She obeyed with caution, not sure what to expect.

"I will use my magic to help yours flow in the channel and then we will work on controlling it," the former dragon said, locking eyes with her. He held out his palms. "Place your hands on top of mine."

The brown-haired woman reached out to rest them on her captor's, her hands covering them with a touch as light as a feather. His skin radiated a comforting warmth, Sophia ventured to say almost relaxing. She also realized how soft his palms were. Not a hint of calluses lined them, and Sophia couldn't stop her fingers from softly running against his skin without awareness of her actions.

Eli watched as the girl fixated on his hands. Gaea insulted him by sending such a woman to him. His tormentor warned Eli before he transformed him of a woman who carried the key to his freedom within her; Gaea’s choosing, of course. Eli discerned Sophia's arrival because of the circumstances Gaea laid out.

She knew her name and a little more concerning her personality traits. Gaea believed Sophia had the potential to develop powerful magic and be an asset to him after the Void unlocked it. The queen told him his Void’s magic flow would enhance Sophia's own and her strength would rival the strongest Knight in history.

Eli hadn't discovered why Gaea required another powerful being under his wing, but it was not his business to decipher her motives. He desired freedom from his dragon form and the cave; nothing else held importance. He had to be freed or else he wouldn’t be able to get his revenge.

But this was insulting. Why this girl, of all people?

Still, Eli couldn’t ignore the pain in his chest and it raised his guard. The former murderer of his family recognized this woman may be the cause, but what purpose did it serve? The soft flutter placed him in an unusual calm disposition, an unwanted reaction to a foolish woman. Many women coveted his attention before his imprisonment, but he never had this sort of reaction except to one. He studied her earth-tone eyes without a word, chestnut brown-colored hair catching his attention next. Even in the dimension of the Void, her hair shimmered in the unnatural light, giving it a silky appearance.

Why her, Gaea?

Eli shoved any thoughts of the female in front of him away and focused on the task at hand. He did not have time for hesitation. His return to his original form surpassed all distractions.

"Place your hands flat on my palms," Eli instructed. The serious expression on her features pleased him. Sophia's honest interest allowed him to focus.

Sophia inched her fingers across his smooth palms until they were at the start of his wrists. "What happens now?"

"My magic will force your magic channel to flow," Eli explained, his eyes locking with Sophia. "It will take a few moments. However, it will hurt."

The brown-haired woman bit her lip at those words. She had a high tolerance for pain, but that didn't mean she wanted to test her limits. "Is there a way to prevent it?"

"No. It depends on your magic type if it will hurt or not."

The woman remained quiet and looked down. When she lifted her head, Sophia said with determination in her voice, "Okay, go ahead."

Eli closed his eyes and when they re-opened, the dragon slit galaxy-like pupils appeared and she realized it matched the stars on the trees earlier. Sophia zeroed in on the shapes of the stars, hypnotized until a shock of pain coursed through her body.

She let out a small cry as fire inched through every muscle fiber in her body. Her nerves jolted like live wires and a flame hot enough to melt concrete poured through her. Sophia grit her teeth, refusing to remove her hands from Eli's, set on surviving the agony engulfing her. After a few moments, the searing heat lessened to bearable than soothing. Sophia let out a slow breath and cracked open her eyes. As she assumed, Eli watched her without a sound escaping his lips.

"Is it over?" Sophia's voice sounded hoarse to her ears.

Eli nodded and Sophia smiled with satisfaction at those words. Sophia pulled her hands back from her captor and marveled at the cool, flowing sensation in her body like a stream moving inside her. Sophia figured it must be the magic energy Eli mentioned.

"What now?"

The male stood, and Sophia followed suit. "Now you must learn to control your magic. Once you understand how to manifest its power, I will teach you how to fight."

Sophia cocked her head to the side and raised a brown eyebrow in confusion, the young woman asked, "Why do I need to learn to fight when I'm just supposed to help free you?"

Eli walked away without checking if Sophia followed. "You will learn in due time."

Sophia wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and trailed after this stranger once again. She watched his long hair billow like silk with every step. This man was keeping her as a hostage until he ensured the freedom she promised. She frowned at her own contradiction: Sophia offered her help first, putting herself in this predicament. Then again, the alternative sounded... abrupt. The threat of death looming over her meant she remained a captive. The only reason Sophia wanted to help him included saving her own ass.

Eli turned around on a dime and took a step toward her, almost causing a collision between them. Sophia huffed in annoyance. "What are you doing?"

He didn't respond. Without realizing it, the young woman searched those now obsidian eyes as dark as his hair. Her keeper’s gaze analyzed her without breaking their trance. Curious brown eyes studied his features intricately. His skin, free of blemishes and facial hair, his lips thin and a little dry. His eyebrows were dark and complimented his long lashes. Eli's neck was slender, his Adam's apple visible just a little, and the lines that outlined his throat curving until they met his collarbone.

"You're very attractive," she murmured, more out of observation than infatuation... she defended.

Eli kept his composure, but his mind churned. That same fluttering impression he got earlier flickered within him. All doubt of this woman causing it fell away.

His expression hardened. He would not allow it again. Gaea planned this; as a queen who can instill pain without even existing in this era, her magic allowed her to detect what caused someone pain. Sophia must be in that vision. Eli had no interest in her reasoning. He learned his lesson about opening his heart centuries ago.

This girl in front of him hadn’t been in his presence for centuries of being imprisoned and yet he had such a response to her? Gaea must be manipulating him, an understanding that infuriated him.

Sophia let out a little gasp when Eli leaned forward, his eyes reverted to blood red and the little stars whirling in his pupils. That same jerking feeling took over her body and when it stopped, even though she was still dizzy, the sensation didn't hit her as hard as the first time. The heat of the cave washed over her and sweat poured down her brow. When the dizziness didn't subside, Sophia realized she was about to pass out.

I need to drink water, she thought as her strength failed her. Her vision faded to black for a moment and when it focused, the dehydrated woman realized she lost her ability to stand yet she hadn't fallen.

"You need to keep your fluids up or you will be of no use. Working with your magic will tire and exert your body to its limits. To stay healthy and able to use your magic, you need to triple your normal intake of water."

Sophia leaned her head back and saw Eli. He reverted to his dragon form and his tail stopped her from crashing into the hard, stone floor. Sophia took a deep breath, got to her feet, and swayed as she tried to maintain her balance. The dragon's tail stayed wrapped around her waist and refused to release her.

"You are not stable enough to walk without assistance," Eli explained. "You may fall unconscious again."

Sophia gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks for your help."

"Do not mistake it for compassion."

Something about his words stung but Sophia ignored it. She had this unusual feeling for Eli from the moment she saw his human form. She couldn't describe it, but she gathered they would understand each other enough to have a regular acquaintance before the end of their time. It would benefit them if they planned to spend a month within each other's vicinity.