Almira watched as Kitanna struggled to pull off the lid. Dante's cries were deafening to their sensitive ears.
"Can you tone it down? I get that you're suffering but you do not have to be so loud about it", Almira said in a voice loud enough for Dante to hear.
Kitanna stopped trying to push it open, "How about you help me with the lid so we can get him out faster? Do you think he enjoys screaming? He is clearly in agony, you don't expect him to laugh about it".
"He doesn't have to be so weak. It's irritating!" Almira retorted.
"Are you sure you have a heart? Every minute, you make me believe that this journey was in vain," Kitanna seethed.
Almira ignored her and crushed the lock. She pushed the lid open, mentally noting it was unusually hot. Kitanna felt a little stupid for not noticing there was a lock, but she was glad it was open anyway.
"L-Let me o-out p-please…." Dante sobbed. "I'll be good, I promise…"
It was evident from his voice that he was in severe pain. Kitanna took a look inside. Her eyes adjusted in the dark and she spotted him. The area surrounding him shone crimson.
"Is that magma?" Kitanna asked no one in particular. Almira took a look.
"No, stupid. If he was thrown into magma, it would have saved our ears from his piercing screams. Help him out".
"Dante, take my hand," Kitanna yelled into the well. She heard groaning, but her hands were still free. "Come on, Dante. I know it's deep but you need to get up here".
Almira yawned, hungry and bored. She walked away from them, searching for a long stick or twig they could use. When she couldn't find one, she returned to the palace in search of Xander.
After searching fruitlessly for him, she approached one of the guards.
"Where is the Prince?" She asked him.
"He went into the city, your highness," he replied with a bow.
"Come with me then".
The guard followed her without question until they got to the well. A skeptical look crossed his face.
"Get him out," Almira ordered.
"I wish I could, your highness, but it was the King's order. We cannot get him out until the King commands so," the guard replies.
"Why would your king throw his fellow human being into a well? What is it you put down there?" Kitanna asked, without bothering to hide her disgust.
"Hot coal".
"Eyes on me," Almira ordered and he obeyed. The minute their eyes locked, a strange melody sounded in his head.
"Get him out of there," Almira commanded. He sprinted to the palace immediately and returned with a rope.
"We're sending a rope down. Dante, can you hear me? Grab the rope" Kitanna yelled inside the well as the soldier sent down the rope. Almira and Kitanna quickly supported him, when they noticed him struggling to hold the rope.
The man who came out of the well was almost unrecognizable. His tattered clothes stuck to his body in big black patches. He was completely covered in charcoal. Even most of the hair that fell over his face was partially burnt.
Neither Almira nor Kitanna could move. This was the first time they were seeing Dante's body. The soldier dropped unconscious, while Almira took a step closer.
Dante could barely stand nor open his eyes. He was exhausted and hurting. His body had countless burns on them. He swayed in an attempt to move and passed out.
"He… He looks strange…" Kitanna blurted.
"He partied with hot coal, what do you expect? Are you going to heal him or not?" Almira asked.
Kitanna rushed to him and placed her hand on his chest. She hummed a beautiful melody and his body began to respond.
Dante opened his eyes slowly, wincing from a sharp headache. He blinked when he noticed the colored ceiling. Realizing the lights were real, he sat up immediately.
As the duvet slipped off his body, his blood ran cold as several realizations hit him at once. He was no longer in the dark well. This wasn't his barn. He was in a royal's room. Lastly, he was not in any form of pain.
He took a look at his bare body. His tattered clothes were gone. No burns. No scars. Just his usual hairy body. His eyes brewed tears as he shook his head violently, refusing to believe it.
"No… no… I'm already going through enough already. I cannot be a wizard too…. I cannot be a sorcerer… please let this be a dream… " The tears rolled down his cheeks as he imagined all the things the people would do to him.
"I've never seen anyone reject healing".
He froze when he heard Almira's voice. He grabbed the duvet on instinct to shield his disgusting body from her sight. Then he realized he was on a bed. Where he should definitely not be. Confused and terrified, he rolled off the bed, landing on the floor with a loud thud.
His cheeks colored with embarrassment when he heard a soft chuckle. When Dante heard footsteps approaching him, he quickly pushed his big mop of hair over his face.
Almira stood in front of his trembling figure. She took a squat to his level.
"You left my comfy bed on the floor. Do you love suffering that much?" She asked.
"I'm sorry," he apologized because he couldn't think of anything to say. Almira pushed the hair off his face.
Dante quickly lowered his head, his heart pounding widely with anxiety. He didn't know what to expect. A shove, kick or punch?
"Look at me," She ordered, lifting his face with a finger. Dante swallowed thickly, raising his eyes cautiously to hers.
Time stopped. Hearts pounded. Dante's throat bopped as he gulped. Her seafoam eyes held onto his, refusing to let go. A tear escaped his eyes.
He couldn't remember the last time he made eye contact with anyone.
"Your eyes are so beautiful," Almira said softly, unable to look away from the beautiful shade of blue.