{My first mistake was to think of chaos and domination for my wishes were created. Sometimes I feel cursed.}
….
Sharen leaned on the table, throwing his weight on it. His breaths became rushed and his heart beat faster.
"It's magic, isn't it?" Narene's question only added to his stress.
Sharen turned his head slightly. "Yes."
Narene fell silent, a prompt—he decided—to get him to explain more. He sat on the chair before saying, "I have never seen anything like it before."
He had never seen any form of magic so powerful. The only magical beings he'd ever had contact with were Haklarans—except for the red and orange cored mages in the villages and he knew that they weren't capable of weaving such spells.
Sharen was apprehensive. His heart beat thumped against his rib cage as he considered the extent of the danger that besieged Samak. He had never fought another mage and he had no idea what level this person was on but there was one thing he knew:
The people of Samak were looking up to him to help solve the issue. He had stupidly given Khlen that hope. What else could he have done? The whole village was in panic and he found it a chance to calm them. He now regretted his choice for he knew no way to solve the problem.
"You can stop it, right?" Narene stepped closer to him.
Sharen felt his heart squeeze again. She—of all people—had great faith in him. Why wouldn't she? He had publicly advertised his 'powers' in front of her. He swallowed his bile and nodded slowly. "I can help but we need to locate the sorcerer."
"How could there be a powerful mage out there that hasn't been captured by the Shattered Knights?"
Sharen said, "There are plenty of people who hide their magic. Just like you."
"But isn't the Holy Emperor supposed to find them?"
"The Holy Emperor is dead."
Narene's expression warped as if she had heard the worst heresies spat in her face. Sharen didn't blame her for the reaction. A lot of people would consider him crazy for saying that out loud.
In the end—probably out of respect for him as her teacher—she said, "The Holy Emperor is immortal. He's ruled Ramary for 500 years!"
"He has ruled for 500 years," Sharen nodded. "Has anyone ever seen him in the recent years?"
Narene hesitated but shook her head. "No."
"Then he's dead," Sharen said, his emotionless voice rising slightly. "If the Holy Emperor lived, then he would've fought these Haklarans with the same magical powers he used in legends to heal the land."
If the Holy Emperor lived, he would have helped Dulhe. He would've stopped Khlatus. He would've stopped the madness a long time ago.
Narene lowered her head slightly. "What do you think this sorcerer wants with Samak?"
"I'm not sure." Sharen said that yet, in his mind, he knew they were after him. The village openly praised him as a Hero and it was even a surprise that no one had come for him—not even the Shattered Knights.
Then a strange feeling crept up in Sharen's body making his stomach tighten and flutter. His heart skipped several beats and he whipped his head over, looking at Narene who stood a few metres from him.
He stood abruptly, swallowing a lump. How had he never realised that Narene was really beautiful before? How had he missed those big, brown eyes? How had he missed those soft lips? How had he missed that curvy body?
Covered though it was, he could still make out the outline of her flesh now that he looked at her through the faint lights that filtered through the opened shutters.
Sharen's heart began to beat faster and his mouth became dry. Without a thought, he closed the distance between them, stunning her with a kiss that came as swiftly as it was passionate.
Narene stood there frozen, her hands by her side. She didn't resist neither did she respond to the kiss. The shutters in the room rattled as the wind blew against them.
Sharen pulled away, stumbling away. He held up his hand and turned away from her. He was panting heavily and breathlessly. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry!"
Narene shifted uneasily in her place. Sharen cast her another look and caught her stunned face. His mind was boiling and he had to look away again. "This has never happened to me before."
Narene was still silent. This further agitated Sharen and he sat down again, still avoiding her gaze. He said, "Narene, tie me up!"
"What?" Narene reacted at last, her face showing concern. "Why?"
"Because," Sharen gritted his teeth, forcing himself to sit still and not jump on her. "I'm not normal. Something is wrong with me. I'm not usually like this!"
"What is wrong?"
"I don't know. I feel strange and I have this sudden urge to kiss you." He said quickly. "Quick, tie me up before I do anything further."
Narene hesitated. "But…"
"No buts!" Sharen glared at her. Even while glaring, he still found her charming and her body screamed for him to take her. There and then. Sharen turned his face away again. What he couldn't see couldn't harm him. "Something is wrong with me!"
It was magic. It had to be. Someone must have cast a spell on him. Was it the same person who killed off the animals in Samak? Why would they cast a spell on me?
Just to be sure, he thought, 'System, do you have any idea what's wrong with me?'
**Your body is experiencing the usual desires of a normal man**
The system's response did little to ease his worries and even worse, Narene still stood, frozen in her place without any intention of tying him up. "Narene…"
Another hurried banging came at his door, shaking the door at the hinges. Sharen gasped, turning to the direction of the banging. 'What's it this time?'
"I'll get that."
Narene went to the door and opened it. A villager burst in, his body trembling and sweaty.
Sharen pushed himself off the chair and gave the man a careful look. "What's wrong?"
With a shuddering voice, the man said, "There's trouble, Hero. Samak is doomed!"
Sharen felt cold shivers form on his skin. He swallowed another mouthful then asked, "What is it?"
"Shattered Knights," the man said in a quivering voice. "They're here!"