Scarlett stared at the stalls as the villagers crowded the plaza. "Lance, it seems everyone is happy. Huh? What's wrong, you look worried?"
Lance darted his eyes around, searching for Milly, "I am keeping an eye out for that slave driver."
"You mean, Milly?" Scarlett looked to her right, "She is over by Gregson. I think they are talking to the village chief."
Lance froze before slinking off, but Scarlett grabbed him by the collar, "Scarlett, please let me go."
Scarlett sighed, "No, I do not know what is going on, but you need to face whatever is troubling you. And that's that."
Milly looked over to them and excused herself. Before walking over. "Scarlett, Lance, it is nice you two joined in…" Scarlett walked off. "Wait, Scarlett, where are you going?"
"I am going to enjoy my time with the children. You and Lance should have fun without me." Scarlett waved at them as she walked to the children. They ran up to her, dragging her to some of the attractions.
Milly and Lance both turned red as they looked at each other. They quickly turned away, trying to not show their feelings.
"So, what do you recommend we do first?" Lance sheepishly asked.
Milly looked over at one of the stalls, "Why don't we do that, I never got the chance since no one ever was with me before?"
Lance looked to where Milly was pointing. It was a competition where two people had to build a sculpture. Lance closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Sure, why not? It looks fun."
Milly smiled as she grabbed him by the arm. She stopped, looking at Lance. Her face turned a deeper shade of red. "Okay, th-then l-lets go." Lance nodded in agreement and walked over with her.
They went from stand to stand, Lance and Milly enjoyed every moment, the peace and tranquillity that Lance felt made him question if he should go back or stay. Milly brought him some food from one of the stands. She noticed how calm and saddened Lance's expression was.
She sat beside him and looked into his eyes. "You want to stay, don't you?"
Lance nodded, staring at his hands. "Yes, but I know that I am needed out…out there." Lance looked over the mountain ridge. "I want to stay here and be—" He cleared his throat. "Be here with everyone in the village. I actually love being here—the simplicity and tranquillity. I might have only been here since late summer. But yet, it feels as if I—that I just returned home for the first time. I do not know how to explain it other than that?"
Milly pulled her hair behind her ear, "I see, but you are needed by more than just here. Then…" She looked at Lance, "Then once this war is over, maybe you can return. And you could—"
Lance pulled close to Milly and kissed her. She closed her eyes as she leaned in more, Lance but his hand on her knee as she placed hers on top. They then pulled away their eyes locked on each other, dazed in their affection for each other.
Their moment was broken as the sound of screaming brought them back. Lance looked around to see Faremin soldiers rushing the village from all sides. Milly looked around for her grandfather, who was rushing towards them.
"Lance! You and Scarlett need to leave. NOW!" Gregson grabbed Lance by the arm as he dragged him off.
Milly follows close behind as they made their way to Gregson's home. Milly helped her grandfather move some things as Scarlett summoned her weapon. Lance looked down the hill to see the village burning. His eyes filled with rage, but Gregson grabbed him.
"Lance now is not the time. Head to the Groma kingdom and find shelter. Take My granddaughter and head north once you three are clear. This path will take you just south of the border." Milly went to protest as the sound of blood-curdling screams erupted not far from them. "GO!"
Milly began to tear up as Lance grabbed her, "Grandfather no! Please, please come with us."
Gregson smiled as he shook his head, "I am old, but not frail. I will give you and the Ren-Ky time to escape. You are no fighter. Milly, my dear, I wish there were another way, but I would be heartbroken as to lose you."
Milly screamed for her grandfather as Lance dragged her into the passageway. Gregson was smiling as the entrance closed behind them, tears filling his eyes as his face disappeared. Milly kept screaming for him. Lance pulled her close to his chest, feeling her scream in agony into his chest. As he warm, heartbroken tears soaked his shirt.
Scarlett walked over to them, "We must be going, your grandfather's life will be for not if we stay here. Milly, I know it is hard right now, but he wants you to live. And right now, your life is in danger—all three of our lives."
Lance coursed her hair, "Come on, Milly, I want to go back and help him, but I know I will die in vain. You would like it too. Come on, let's get going. Scarlett and I will do everything we can—once we regroup with the others. I promise we will stop this senseless bloodshed."
Milly nodded in his shirt, "Okay, let us get going then." Her words muffled in Lance's chest.
Lance pulled her close before pulling her off his chest, he smiled as tears filled his eyes. Milly stared at him, seeing that he was feeling the same emotions as her. He wiped her tears as they walked past Scarlett. She stared at them as she took the rear, using earth magic to close the path behind them, in intervals.
Milly fell back to Scarlett. Scarlett stared at Milly, "What happened before…before the attack?"
Milly went red as did Lance, who glanced back at them. Scarlett's twinkled, "Wait, you two—no? Really?"
Milly closed her eyes, "Just drop it. We just had a moment, and we…" Milly's voice softened as she stopped and thought of their kiss.
Scarlett grinned as she looked at Lance, "Well, well, Lance you seem to have been busy with Milly and tell me what stage—"
"Scarlett! Enough!" Lance bellowed. "Just mind your own business and leave us out of it right now!"
Scarlett smiled devilishly, "Lance, from what I have seen of you and women, you brush them off, but how did you and Milly fall in love so quickly?" Scarlett's expression became serious. "I thought Lovell and Luna were the only ones to have it going on? But you and Milly? This is ludicrous? Love like this, I thought it was for fairy tales and theyans? Not people like us?"
Lance stopped, "What about Hunter then? You like him? What if he feels the same?"
Scarlett sighed, shaking her head, "I get what you are saying, but that is different. We have gotten to know each other more than you two. Besides, I might have feelings for him now, but who knows when that will change, and I like another man?"
Milly turned away to think about what Scarlett said. Lance walked back to them. "True, but I know that something like this felt impossible. I know I only know Milly for a short time, but the feeling inside me is strong and primal. I cannot explain it other than that."
Milly stared at Lance; she had felt the same way. Scarlett gritted her teeth, "Lance, listen to yourself! In what world does that mind of yours come from!? This is fleeting. I might have joked earlier but for your sake and Milly's. Don't go down this path. Look what happened to Lovell! He was killed because he loved someone!"
Lance gripped his hand tight, blood dripped from his grip. "I know that! Scarlett, I know that what Lovell tortured him, but things are not the same between us! Look, we need to keep going. We can discuss this more once we are out of this place and get to safety." Lance turned away.
Scarlett opened her mouth to protest, but Milly touched her arm and shook her head. "No, let it be for now. I know where you are coming from, but sometimes, we feel and experience things beyond our comprehension. For Lance and I, I think—no, I know that we saw something that the other contributed to within each other. Our love is primal, due to the fact we are both dracoman—even if Lance is only a quarter. Dracomen and theyans are two of the oldest races in our world. My parents met similarly as Lance and I—just not with the village being destroyed."
Scarlett looked at her then at Lance, realizing that what she was saying made sense. Theyans and Dracoman were the first two races to walk the world, and they might share similar primal qualities.
"I am sorry, it's just—I don't want Lance to suffer like Lovell and Luna did. Lovell being a mortal being a Luna—well, a goddess."
"Milly touched her shoulder, "Your heart is in the right place, yet the matters of the heart are a mysterious wonder. No matter what race one might me—pure breed or not?"
Scarlett nodded as they moved on. Lance waited for them as he found the exit. They all walked out, seeing the canyons below, snake around like a maze.
"We are going to have a long trip to any Dracoman village." Lance looked around and noticed a dragon heading their way. Lance squinted and recognized the dragon. "No way, grandfather?"
Scarlett smiled in relief as Aaron flew over. He landed and transformed into his humanoid form. "Scarlet, Lance, thank goodness you two made it out unscathed. A masked man told me that I was to rush to this location and that the Faremin forces were attacking a village you two were staying in."
Lance explained their situation to his grandfather. Aaron listened to Lance and then turned to Milly, "Young dragoness, your grandfather was a dear friend of mine, and his loss will be felt threw the entire kingdom. But as of now, we must head to King Fafnir. He might listen to reason to your grandfather's old plea to help in this war?"
Milly looked up at Aaron, her eye filled with sadness and joy as she nodded. Lance walked over to her and hugged her. Scarlett watched with Aaron. Letting them comfort each other before they left to see the King.
Scarlett stared at the stalls as the villagers crowded the plaza. "Lance, it seems everyone is happy. Huh? What's wrong, you look worried?"
Lance darted his eyes around, searching for Milly, "I am keeping an eye out for that slave driver."
"You mean, Milly?" Scarlett looked to her right, "She is over by Gregson. I think they are talking to the village chief."
Lance froze before slinking off, but Scarlett grabbed him by the collar, "Scarlett, please let me go."
Scarlett sighed, "No, I do not know what is going on, but you need to face whatever is troubling you. And that's that."
Milly looked over to them and excused herself. Before walking over. "Scarlett, Lance, it is nice you two joined in…" Scarlett walked off. "Wait, Scarlett, where are you going?"
"I am going to enjoy my time with the children. You and Lance should have fun without me." Scarlett waved at them as she walked to the children. They ran up to her, dragging her to some of the attractions.
Milly and Lance both turned red as they looked at each other. They quickly turned away, trying to not show their feelings.
"So, what do you recommend we do first?" Lance sheepishly asked.
Milly looked over at one of the stalls, "Why don't we do that, I never got the chance since no one ever was with me before?"
Lance looked to where Milly was pointing. It was a competition where two people had to build a sculpture. Lance closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Sure, why not? It looks fun."
Milly smiled as she grabbed him by the arm. She stopped, looking at Lance. Her face turned a deeper shade of red. "Okay, th-then l-lets go." Lance nodded in agreement and walked over with her.
They went from stand to stand, Lance and Milly enjoyed every moment, the peace and tranquillity that Lance felt made him question if he should go back or stay. Milly brought him some food from one of the stands. She noticed how calm and saddened Lance's expression was.
She sat beside him and looked into his eyes. "You want to stay, don't you?"
Lance nodded, staring at his hands. "Yes, but I know that I am needed out…out there." Lance looked over the mountain ridge. "I want to stay here and be—" He cleared his throat. "Be here with everyone in the village. I actually love being here—the simplicity and tranquillity. I might have only been here since late summer. But yet, it feels as if I—that I just returned home for the first time. I do not know how to explain it other than that?"
Milly pulled her hair behind her ear, "I see, but you are needed by more than just here. Then…" She looked at Lance, "Then once this war is over, maybe you can return. And you could—"
Lance pulled close to Milly and kissed her. She closed her eyes as she leaned in more, Lance but his hand on her knee as she placed hers on top. They then pulled away their eyes locked on each other, dazed in their affection for each other.
Their moment was broken as the sound of screaming brought them back. Lance looked around to see Faremin soldiers rushing the village from all sides. Milly looked around for her grandfather, who was rushing towards them.
"Lance! You and Scarlett need to leave. NOW!" Gregson grabbed Lance by the arm as he dragged him off.
Milly follows close behind as they made their way to Gregson's home. Milly helped her grandfather move some things as Scarlett summoned her weapon. Lance looked down the hill to see the village burning. His eyes filled with rage, but Gregson grabbed him.
"Lance now is not the time. Head to the Groma kingdom and find shelter. Take My granddaughter and head north once you three are clear. This path will take you just south of the border." Milly went to protest as the sound of blood-curdling screams erupted not far from them. "GO!"
Milly began to tear up as Lance grabbed her, "Grandfather no! Please, please come with us."
Gregson smiled as he shook his head, "I am old, but not frail. I will give you and the Ren-Ky time to escape. You are no fighter. Milly, my dear, I wish there were another way, but I would be heartbroken as to lose you."
Milly screamed for her grandfather as Lance dragged her into the passageway. Gregson was smiling as the entrance closed behind them, tears filling his eyes as his face disappeared. Milly kept screaming for him. Lance pulled her close to his chest, feeling her scream in agony into his chest. As he warm, heartbroken tears soaked his shirt.
Scarlett walked over to them, "We must be going, your grandfather's life will be for not if we stay here. Milly, I know it is hard right now, but he wants you to live. And right now, your life is in danger—all three of our lives."
Lance coursed her hair, "Come on, Milly, I want to go back and help him, but I know I will die in vain. You would like it too. Come on, let's get going. Scarlett and I will do everything we can—once we regroup with the others. I promise we will stop this senseless bloodshed."
Milly nodded in his shirt, "Okay, let us get going then." Her words muffled in Lance's chest.
Lance pulled her close before pulling her off his chest, he smiled as tears filled his eyes. Milly stared at him, seeing that he was feeling the same emotions as her. He wiped her tears as they walked past Scarlett. She stared at them as she took the rear, using earth magic to close the path behind them, in intervals.
Milly fell back to Scarlett. Scarlett stared at Milly, "What happened before…before the attack?"
Milly went red as did Lance, who glanced back at them. Scarlett's twinkled, "Wait, you two—no? Really?"
Milly closed her eyes, "Just drop it. We just had a moment, and we…" Milly's voice softened as she stopped and thought of their kiss.
Scarlett grinned as she looked at Lance, "Well, well, Lance you seem to have been busy with Milly and tell me what stage—"
"Scarlett! Enough!" Lance bellowed. "Just mind your own business and leave us out of it right now!"
Scarlett smiled devilishly, "Lance, from what I have seen of you and women, you brush them off, but how did you and Milly fall in love so quickly?" Scarlett's expression became serious. "I thought Lovell and Luna were the only ones to have it going on? But you and Milly? This is ludicrous? Love like this, I thought it was for fairy tales and theyans? Not people like us?"
Lance stopped, "What about Hunter then? You like him? What if he feels the same?"
Scarlett sighed, shaking her head, "I get what you are saying, but that is different. We have gotten to know each other more than you two. Besides, I might have feelings for him now, but who knows when that will change, and I like another man?"
Milly turned away to think about what Scarlett said. Lance walked back to them. "True, but I know that something like this felt impossible. I know I only know Milly for a short time, but the feeling inside me is strong and primal. I cannot explain it other than that."
Milly stared at Lance; she had felt the same way. Scarlett gritted her teeth, "Lance, listen to yourself! In what world does that mind of yours come from!? This is fleeting. I might have joked earlier but for your sake and Milly's. Don't go down this path. Look what happened to Lovell! He was killed because he loved someone!"
Lance gripped his hand tight, blood dripped from his grip. "I know that! Scarlett, I know that what Lovell tortured him, but things are not the same between us! Look, we need to keep going. We can discuss this more once we are out of this place and get to safety." Lance turned away.
Scarlett opened her mouth to protest, but Milly touched her arm and shook her head. "No, let it be for now. I know where you are coming from, but sometimes, we feel and experience things beyond our comprehension. For Lance and I, I think—no, I know that we saw something that the other contributed to within each other. Our love is primal, due to the fact we are both dracoman—even if Lance is only a quarter. Dracomen and theyans are two of the oldest races in our world. My parents met similarly as Lance and I—just not with the village being destroyed."
Scarlett looked at her then at Lance, realizing that what she was saying made sense. Theyans and Dracoman were the first two races to walk the world, and they might share similar primal qualities.
"I am sorry, it's just—I don't want Lance to suffer like Lovell and Luna did. Lovell being a mortal being a Luna—well, a goddess."
"Milly touched her shoulder, "Your heart is in the right place, yet the matters of the heart are a mysterious wonder. No matter what race one might me—pure breed or not?"
Scarlett nodded as they moved on. Lance waited for them as he found the exit. They all walked out, seeing the canyons below, snake around like a maze.
"We are going to have a long trip to any Dracoman village." Lance looked around and noticed a dragon heading their way. Lance squinted and recognized the dragon. "No way, grandfather?"
Scarlett smiled in relief as Aaron flew over. He landed and transformed into his humanoid form. "Scarlet, Lance, thank goodness you two made it out unscathed. A masked man told me that I was to rush to this location and that the Faremin forces were attacking a village you two were staying in."
Lance explained their situation to his grandfather. Aaron listened to Lance and then turned to Milly, "Young dragoness, your grandfather was a dear friend of mine, and his loss will be felt threw the entire kingdom. But as of now, we must head to King Fafnir. He might listen to reason to your grandfather's old plea to help in this war?"
Milly looked up at Aaron, her eye filled with sadness and joy as she nodded. Lance walked over to her and hugged her. Scarlett watched with Aaron. Letting them comfort each other before they left to see the King.