Casen watched the trembling mass of fat and lava that was the lava worm. He and his soldiers had stopped attacking a while ago yet that thing was now half lying on the ground. Every minute it would tremble and release a mournful howl. When they realized that the beast wouldn't harm them, the braver soldiers used its body as a bridge to get to the other side.
The beast just lay there, shivering in pain. When the first three attempts succeed, the other soldiers had a go. That was how the great exodus began.
Sitting in a circle at the forefront, Casen and his lieutenants were playing a game of miniature capture the flag. One of the soldiers had a board game version of the well known activity. Thane being the "dutiful" lieutenant he was, seized it from the poor man and presented it to the general. Half listening to his sermon on rules and war etiquette, Thane proposed that they play it.
Casen as upright as he was, couldn't resist it when his three lieutenants called him forward for a try.
" Your flag has been captured." Smiling, Lyra moved her board piece to capture the opposing teams flag.
The opposing team, Casen and Vesper, both showed no major reactions. Slowly, Lyra's smile faltered. Her shoulders slumped at the lack of enthusiasm. Thane, the flower protector couldn't stand seeing Lyra downcast. Eyes sparkling, he exclaimed. " Wow Lyra, how did you do it so quickly?"
Finally hearing somebody praise her, Lyra beamed. " It's honestly my first time playing this. If you all weren't going easy on me, I'd probably make a fool of myself." Lyra's face flushed as she peeked at Casen, her gaze darting away quickly. She fidgeted with her game piece, a faint playing on her lips.
" See captain. She..." Thane choked on his saliva while Lyra's face twisted a little. They hadn't noticed when Casen and Vesper escaped to study the lava worm." Don't you think it looks like a constipated balloon about to pop?" With a hand on his chin, Casen uttered those words seriously, his eyes alight with interest.
Beside him, Vesper squinted his eyes. " I can see what you mean. But doesn't it resemble a bloated nauseous elephant on the verge of eruption?" Vesper gave his own serious analysis, nodding in conviction.
Elephant? Balloon? Why were the both of them discussing a defeated beast when they were in the middle of a game? Sighing, Lyra pushed the board away from herself. " No disrespect Vesper. But don't you know it's a little rude to just walk out on a game like that? You of all people should know that."
Though Thane only mentioned Vesper, anyone listening could tell he was also admonishing Casen.
Vesper shot him a glance. His brow rose at Thane's obvious defiance. Vesper glanced at Casen, who subtly nodded at him. Turning around, he took a deliberate step forward. Bending his waist, he moved his piece strategically on the board. Vesper's knight piece crossed the lake pushing off Lyra's princess piece before moving to capture her flag.
" On account that it was her first time playing, I decided not to call out her mistake. But since you insisted, I decided to play the game properly. We all make mistakes."
He stressed the last sentence. His gaze shifted between Thane and Lyra. Scoffing, he straightened himself. Leaving only those words behind, he went forward to join Casen.
When Vesper's knight piece began to move, Thane had a sinking feeling in his chest. And now watching him leave, he lowered his gaze not daring to look at the gentle girl beside him. ' I should have paid more attention to the board.'
Lost in thought, he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. The warmth from the hand made him raise his head. He gazed into Lyra's crystal clear eyes that sparkled like polished Amethyst with a lost expression.
" I'm not upset. I know you didn't mean to." The gentle voice brought him back to the present. Relaxing a bit, Thane tried to lean on her shoulders. Skillfully avoiding it, she patted his head while gently pushing him away. She stole a glance at Casen. His attention was still on the monster. She wasn't sure what to feel.
Relieved that he won't misunderstand or frustrated that he won't spare her even a single look only when necessary.
Watching her push him away and focus on Casen. Thane's eyes darkened a little. Supporting his head with his hands, Thane faced the opposite way.
Standing a distance from the lava worms mouth, Vesper snorted. " I can't believe this." Casen bent down, tracing letters in the sand. " I also thought it was just a simple crush. Let's hope it stays that way." Casen's eyes flashed. His voice didn't fluctuate even as he seriously wrote in the sparse orange sand.
Glancing at him briefly. Vesper shook his head. He poured his attention on the lava worm instead of trying to decipher his leader's actions. " I think His Majesty is responsible for bringing her here."
Casen arrested his motion before returning to his note in the sand. " His purpose?" His muffled voice sounded from below. Vesper scanned his surroundings before leaning in. " Marriage Alliance." His whisper travelled to Casen's ears like a death sentence.
Casen halted his movements again this time introspective. " Avoidance rate?" Vesper leaned back. " Thirty percent." He dusted off the non existent dust from his shoulders. " Low. Thought so." Vesper stifled a cough. " Reason?" Casen gestured for him to come closer, pointing to the words in the sand.
" gnisirpu moned?" Vesper's expression turned into one of puzzlement. " Backwards." Casen dropped those words standing up. " gnisirpu moned. Demon uprising?" Vesper's eyes lit up when Casen gave a curt nod in response to his answer.
Using his foot to swipe away the traces, Casen dusted his hands. Beside him, Vesper groaned, his fingers tangled in the wild cascade of his fiery hair, a few loose braids unraveling down his back. " Your brother really wants to milk you good. Doesn't he?"
Casen's eyes blurred and his body gave a shudder. Distant memories attacking his mind. Shaking it off, he responded. " For my worth? Every last drop."
" Doesn't he realize you're human? " Vesper's fists clenched. For as long as he had known Casen, he had also come to learn of his past. Knowing each incident was a burden. Thankfully he had to bow when speaking with the King or his anger would have been regarded as treason.
" To him I'm just a plaything used to relieve himself. The first person to call upon to finish the dirty work and tie up loose ends." Casen gave a dismissive shrug, his tone still calm.
Vesper's body relaxed as he turned to face his general. His eyes flickering with words unsaid and his mouth failing to convey that. The awkward silence swallowed them both.
" Sirs, may I have a word with you?"
A gentle voice shattered the silent atmosphere. Just as the voice arrived, Casen and Vesper both turned their heads to the person who interrupted them.
Standing before them was a tall young man. Though by dragon standards, he would be rated average at best. Sweat-dampened strands of sandy blonde hair clung to his face. His face was a mask of calm, but his tense body and worry filled eyes betrayed his inner feelings.
His gentle demeanor and ethereal appearance invoked pity in most. Vesper's heart involuntarily softened as he noticed the boy's fluttering blood soaked robes. Stepping forward, a gentle smile transformed his serious features.
" What's the purpose of your visit, Healer Evan? As an elf, I don't think you are suited to be on the battlefield. " His gaze lingered on the boy's lean arms that held not an ounce of muscle. Tracing his gaze, Evan took a step back. Head lowered, he spoke. " My lords are aware my people are favoured archers. I am more than qualified to join the battle. "
Taking a deep breath, Evan continued. " But that is not my reason for coming here. I'd like to report a missing person."
Vesper stared at the elven healer for a few minutes, his expression unreadable. Evan's heart tightened as he awaited his response. Casen watched the both of them from behind. His eyes bearing undisguised hostility towards Evan.
Two different states bore into Evan. His breathing grew heavy under the weight of their stares but he remained standing. Sensing Casen's hostility, Vesper burst into laughter. This successfully shifted the attention to Vesper, who was inwardly breaking out in cold sweat.
' Why is Casen staring at this boy like that? If others didn't know better, they would think the healer had committed the worst atrocities.'
" Disappearance on the battlefield is nothing new. Please return if you have nothing else to report."
The boy's face took on a shade of red. Anger or something else , Vesper wasn't sure. Nor was he prepared for what the boy said next.
" General Casen. Is that also what you think? The person missing is Alexia! I thought she meant something to you, but if she did why the heck did you not realize she was missing?"
At the end of his words, the Evan's voice choked up as he blinked back tears. Casen froze.. Vesper's heart sank, freezing over.
' Is it too late to run away?'