"What do you mean you are having a hard time controlling the cursed being? Ravyn, has your spells been failing you at this point in time?" Novak shouted at Ravyn who was struggling with her planned manipulation.
She brought the rounded crystal with her and this is what she has been using throughout the years. As an evil witch.
She looked at Novak with a stare of fright and anxiousness at once. "No! This can not be! Something is ruining the passage of my curses!" She responded as her hands slammed on the table.
Novak taunted her with his deadly stare. "Ravyn, what have I told you when you fail this time?" He held her chin. "If you still don't have any deception planted on this feud, I may have to ask my men to throw in an attack without any of your thoughts." He threatened her.
Ravyn immediately shook her head in disagreement. "No! You can't risk this, Novak! I know what I am doing and I need none of your men to do anything."
Novak almost flipped her table the other way around. "You need to think fast, Ravyn. There is not much time." He left and walked away as he pulled his coat.
Ravyn hissed in frustration as her anger climbed up to her head. As if a volcano was about to erupt. The feeling of killing and slaughtering suddenly haunted her. How could this happen?
It was a little earlier when their side was forging on their guard ready to shield themselves in case the dragon's state backfires, but Ravyn saw soldiers approaching the target. And he saw the man he loathed to see the most. It was the man who subsided Ambroz's curse.
The dragon did burst but she can not control its head or the most suiting description would be that the curse no longer seems to work as it should be.
"Argh! It's because of that filthy ornament. I need to think of another plan. Or else, this would not work!" She exclaimed and went to see what Novak was doing.
She saw the explosion being unloaded and was placed on the carrier of bombs. On the other side, was the other group of conquerors who holds guns and silver bullets. She walked towards Novak with vigour and turned him around to her.
"If that is what you want, then we shall wait for them to attack." She uttered confidently and strike her stares at the men. "Everyone, we are to prepare for war! And we dare not to be defeated by them!"
"No." Novak declined.
Ravyn looked at him in disbelief. "What are you fetching on with this? The goddess is out there don't you understand?"
"Hah! So you are afraid of the goddess. Listen you witch, I am not afraid of who's who, that dragon should be ours no matter what. That is the deal we created. You do the deal properly!" He left Ravyn in utter anger as he finished those sentences.
But not for long, a man came running towards them. "Milady, we hear horses and metals. Someone is approaching us." He was out of breath and was chasing for air.
Ravyn raised her brow on Novak and lifted the corner of her repugnant lips. With her face full of creases and covered with an obnoxious tinge of evil. She was indicating to this man who she was in the first place just using, that her plan would work after all.
"You see, Novak? You should trust me more or you won't ever get to have a part of your deal. This dragon will be ours, once he is close, it's easy to cast more spells on his body." She spoke up and scoffed evilly. "Now, tell your men to ready all my explosions or else you would lose from this battle." She demanded.
Novak came to execrate the peremptory mandamus in the witch's behaviour. He detests how he even awakened this disgusting being. Inside his head, he wanted to tear the woman into ripped pieces. But, he can not do that when he still has not been assured that the dragon is his. Besides, he has more intentions hidden inside his head.
"The creator might change his mind if I befriended her." He whispered to himself. "Ludovic?" He called out to his follower.
"Yes, master?" Ludovic answered earnestly.
"Ready the explosions as I said. We have people to murder. No matter what they have upon their weak hands. They will all die and fall into deep misery, why should they bother?" He coldly said.
"Yes, master."
And so, they wait for the attack to finally arrive at their standing.
—
(Same time said.)
It appears that Ambroz finds it hard to still control the dragon in him completely. His breathing was unstable, his chest goes hell to heaven way quicker, and the smoke coming from his nose insisted to burst all the way without stopping.
"How much time?" The chief asked Theon.
Theon who was currently stroking the dragon's head turned his back to the chief. "I'll keep him calm and while he is, you should all lead them to the witch's standing or else it will go beyond us. We can not miss a chance like this to go to waste." Theon nodded at them to reassure them that everything will be fine with Ambroz.
"Will you be able to hold that dragon?" Luca tried to as again.
Rubin scoffed. "I mean, he was able to do it before—" Rubin was halted by Luca's lethal stare. "Sorry..." He mumbled.
Theon smiled. "I will. Now go! No matter what we need to defeat them!" He exclaimed.
"Soldiers! Ready your stead. We have an unfinished mission to complete." The chief accord and the soldiers went and hopped on each of their horses as they fixed their swords, shields, bow, and the baggage of arrows on their backs.
"H'ya!" Berth Thragon led these men across the deep forest and over to the village. Theon told them where it is located and they received the information quite well.
They were heading off to the village without Theon as Theon stayed with Ambroz for a while. He was trying his best to calm him. The cold breeze brushing through the rustling trees, swiftly caressing the blatant hoarse of the night was not helping quite a bit.
But, he was certain that Ambroz is strong and as long as he was there, this man is invincible. He won't ever give in to the curse.
"Give me a blow if you already handled yourself. We need to catch on ahead with them." He muttered.
The dragon rubbed his scales on Theon's little face and it made Theon giggle. "Well, aren't you a clingy one? You always have been. It seems you already got yourself, where do you want me?" Theon raised his head and met with the dragon's face.
Ambroz tilted his head a bit to the side and indicated his long mouth to his back. Saying he should climb up on his back. The scales and sharp spinal bones were frightening him.
He gulped harshly ad strongly as he stared at it. He looked back at Ambroz and his face was pleading for his touch already.
"Don't look at me like that, I am fine with you in this form but it's still odd. I prefer your face." He admitted and march on to climb up on Ambroz's back. Because it was too tall, Ambroz helped him climb up. "Thank you, that was helpful."
He made sure to settle his hands carefully on his back as he inserted his sword on his stomach belt and prefer using the bow quite more.
"Just so you know, I have a fear of heights, I adore the sky but looking at the ground from up there is a twister in my stomach. What I am trying to say is you should lie low." He tried to tell Ambroz, but as soon as he finished his sentence.
This furious dragon flapped his huge wings and spread them so vast that they have reached the sky in no time. Theon wanted to shout but he remembered that he has to remain his placidity and be complacent upon this event. So he chose to press his eyes close to the world and kept his voice to himself.
He knew they were high up in the sky and he laid his head low and embraced the dragon from its back. He felt the soft grunts of the dragon as if it was trying to comfort him. Trying to convey how he should open his eyes and face this fear of his.
He took a deep breath and stroked the rough scales of the dragon. "Alright, since I will never experience such a rare occasion such as this. I will take on your offer and open my eyes in three... Two... One..." Theon slowly but steadily lifted his eyes to open and what welcomed him was the beauty of the night sky.
It was nearly midnight, and the night sky was picturesque. A black to navy gradient was the backdrop for a full moon— the night sky so clear you could almost see every crater. The moon, a glowing yellowy white, loomed large, surrounded by an ethereal glow.
Millions of stars were sprinkled behind it, a few large ones but mostly a legion of little white pinpricks. Every now and then, a twinkle with a gleam caught his eye. He was amazed and mesmerised.
This was an unfamiliar sight from his land life, where the lights only ever shine through chosen spots, eternally hiding the beauty of the nighttime sky.
He placed his palm higher and above as his eyes dilated the abundance and sheer of this evening. He was so happy that he can almost forget about the feud. The curse and everything else. It feels as if he truly is with Ambroz just romanticizing this view.
"Ambroz, I am glad that I met you. At least if we ever did die tonight. The thought of being close to you is enough to feed my heart. For once is it alright to be this greedy?" He asked and embraced the dragon.
The dragon groaned and grunted.
Theon giggled. "Of course, I am kidding. If death happens then it's not now, there are still things you should experience here and out." He mumbled.
It was serene for a while, they stayed like this and Ambroz was feeling satisfied for a while but he needs to be back to himself. With his bare hands, he wants to desire this being who accepted him. To not lust but love his entirety. He was the reason he chooses to live.
But, not long after, even from above, they heard loud cacophonies rendering both of their ears. Especially, Ambroz who has a keen sense of hearing because of his form. Theon shuddered when he saw how their village was completely taken down and was covered with men working to throw on explosions toward the approaching soldiers which were strategically avoiding every throw with their might.
Theon pointed at the cannon throwers, most likely was used now by a different sort of weapon. "There! You should breathe fire to those people!" He instructed.
So then, Ambroz followed and angled his wings to go fly down the sky. He felts a warm tinge climbing in his coat but was lucky to have this iron suit on. The trembling of his sit was a sign that Ambroz was readying his throat.
"And... Breathe!"
As he opens his large mouth, exposing the canine teeth, huge flames were out and loud as he roared letting it all burst through the men controlling most of the cannons. There were no shouts heard from them, it was obvious that their body was only used. Although, some attempted to shoot bullets at them as Ambroz flew out to the sky again.
Theon looked down. "May you rest in peace." He muttered for those men who were manipulated.
While the soldiers on the ground were fighting their hearts out. Although, for some, they did not take it as seriously in their heart.
Rubin used his sword as he fought one of the cursed followers of the enemy. On his left hand was the heavy shield and on his right hand was the iron sword that was made with max sharpness. He was smiling behind his helmet as he swung his sword.
"Hah! So even dead bodies are cursed and trained to fight, not bad!" He commented as he panted slashing the enemy's head. "Oooh, I can do this all day without worrying about my flesh." He joked.
Luca who was keeping his distance while using his bow to attack enemies that are still farther away from them. "Could you be a bit more mindful about this? Seriously, I don't even know where you get your wits from." He grunted and shook his head while still targeting enemies.
Rubin who was stepping ahead laughed. "Luca, if you're too serious with your life, you will die early and never enjoy it. I suggest you go on and live the best of it." He said.
Luca scrunched his nose. "What are you even saying, hey watch out—"
There was a man behind Rubin with a guy who was shooting at them, but before the bullet can even pierce their flesh. Rubin used his skills to block the bullet with his sword even though he was facing Ambroz.
"What? What confidence do you have, huh? You were too down in the swamps when we were training. How come these skills are attained, huh?" Luca looked so confused.
Rubin chuckled. "Oh, Luca. There is this thing called favourite. And you, are the least favourite one that I wish to train with."
Luca rolled his eyes. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you. But, anyways, focus on your front, knucklehead!"
The chief neared the two and stared at them malignant in the eyes. They were both taken aback. "You lads should cooperate, this is not like your training. There is a witch in the front and a man who looks suspicious enough. He does not look human at all, this is your first mission and I instruct you to go for its head." The chief then left and the two looked at each other while still fighting as they stared at the front looking for this suspicious man.
Turns out the suspicious man was indeed suspicious even at the first glance.
"What a horrible hairstyle. I bet his mother never told him that." Rubin commented. Slashing heads after heads still.
"I'll give you a good one, I bet he doesn't even have a mother," Luca exclaimed and hit another enemy through its head.
Rubin had a good laugh. "You should joke more even if does not fit you at times."
The two goes on with their fighting. As Novak frowned at the disaster these soldiers caused them. The cannon was not working and they swiftly blocked it whenever they had a chance. Novak clenched his fist.
"Where is this witch? Why is this happening?" He complained.
Ludovic answered, "She is inside the very dwelling, master. With her crystal on controlling our men."
"I shall demand her to present herself, this madness is not in our favour. Where is the plan that she has been sorting out? Go now, Ludovic!" He shouted and Ludovic followed without any hesitation.
Meanwhile, Ravyn was busy creating spells trying to control the dragon. With few modifications, it will surely then work. The man was with the dragon and it pesters her to see the curse is being manipulated by this human being.
"Curse that white witch! Curse them all!" She shouted as her voice went coarse. "Wait for my wrath, they shall!"
It was hard enough to control the men but controlling the dragon was a feisty one. Her spells alone were brushing off her fingers. Slowly, his men were now truly lifeless. Their heads were shredded and no more of her spells could fix that. Now, her only lineage to persevere was the men from Devreon's kind. Soon after they were being used as well, their bullets refilled and back as the soldiers dropped down. Sadly, not all of them were able to avoid it and it hit their knees and some were hit in their stomach.
The chief had to call for a retreat for some of them while the strong ones were able to fight back. Gladly, the shields were truly indestructible. They manage to block the bullets one by one while the soldiers shortened their gap on them and were able to execute these beings.
Not long after, inside the witch's dwelling. She cussed all her voice out. Everything was crumbling in front of her and all of them were changing the flow of her plans. Next in line was Novak, who was coward enough to face the soldiers but was acting mighty in front of her.
"You witch! You said this was all going according to your plan! You were confident with the invasion. But now you lose with these fretting kinds?" The anger in his voice echoed through her ears.
"I did not expect there would be more of them! Their shield is beyond me!"
"Shields or so, you are weak! You are bestowed as one of the flawed creations but truly you are the weak above all of them!"
She twitched when she heard that. One after the other, her men was starting to decrease and the cannon were burned to pieces as the flames continued to burst from the dragon. All of this echoed inside her head and made her remember how her mother used to brutally abuse her. Slashing her pale skin and calling her the weak one amongst their sister.
And as these memories showed up, a sentence from the past resonated in her ears.
"You are weak!"
"You are weak!"
Kept echoing.
And with this, her violet eyes shone through the opaque dwelling, her hands lifted, and she moved her hands as a huge blow came out from her power.
All of the ones affected by it dropped to the ground and even the dragon collapsed. Theon was lucky enough that the height was a bit low at that time.
But, all of this happened as the witch, Ravyn, finally snapped and her true power came out into the dark.
"You think you overpower me?! You have no right and no place within my power. Not you filthy soldiers, you scoundrels from my curse, dragon, and not you Novak!"
———————
ABYSSCESS