Nyssa leaned first on the rocky wall, then let out a strained exhale. She heaved for air, with adrenaline, anxiety, panic all settling down on her.
Oren sat a distance clutching his shoulder where the arrow had grazed. It didn't hurt much, he just hoped it wasn't poisoned.
Feeling Nyssa's gaze, he turned sideways to see her big green eyes staring at him, her lips were trembling, and she hugged her knees.
His eyes stayed on her for a moment, and then he outstretched his hand that held the fire. She blinked, but then scooted closer to him.
Her eyes went to him again, and he took her hand and placed it beneath his hand.
His eyes never left hers and after a few seconds, she gasped and her eyes went back to their hands. She could feel the warmth of the fire sleep into her palm and when she slowly pulled away, she suspended a ball of fire too.
She was astonished and then a smile broke out on her lips, followed by a chuckle, then a hearty laughter.
She was so happy. She was manipulating fire!
She laughed till tears fell from her eyes. She forgot herself for a moment, just seeing her able to control the element, manipulating it to any shape she wanted just from her mind.
And then when she realized where she was again, her eyes met Oren's softened ones. He felt this sense of fulfillment, just seeing her happy.
He smiled. "You're more capable of things than you think, Princess."
She smiled again, but this time overwhelmed by her emotions. Pain, grief, worry and anxiety and she broke down in heavy sobs.
Oren immediately took her into her his arms, patting her back softly.
"It's okay," he whispered soothingly, "We did it. We did."
They stayed like that for a while before Oren realized she had fallen asleep. He sighed then placed her gently on the ground. He used his cape as a supporting tool for her head.
As he watched her vulnerable, soft, tired, sleeping figure, his mind took him back to when he and his friend Eugene had attended the Kingdom Harvest Fair. They were able to get a front row view of the Procession of the Royals to the dais.
They watched intently, till Nyssa walked in. The whole crowd cheered and screamed in excitement.
"Our moon!"
"Your Highness!"
Nyssa looked up slowly, her beautiful eyes falling on the people who were gathered before her and then, she smiled, waving at them.
The crowd's cheer erupted more.
"Our Princess!"
Oren had watched her calmly. She was just thirteen that time. He noticed how his friend had admired her so much that he immediately turned tomato red when the Princess had lifted her face.
"I will become her knight. I will protect our Moon with all my life!" He had vowed.
Oren said nothing, just stared at her. He had felt an involuntary tug at his chest but he ignored it. It was useless anyway. He was an illegitimate unwanted son. He was not even worthy to touch the Princess' shoes.
He was seventeen at that time, and decided to just focus on his art of trickery and being able to steal without being noticed.
Now five years later, here he was, talking to the Princess, hugging her, laughing with her. How ironic life was.
He stifled a chuckle. He, who thought he would never be able to make the Princess look at him, or even know about his existence, now sat with her.
His lips twitched and then, he faced forward. The promise to save her wasn't solely because Eugene had told him, it was also his personal wish. Even though he never voiced it out, Oren cared for her more than his own life.
Laying his life down for the girl who stole his heart, was an honor.
As the hours passed by, they became more comfortable in the cave around them. Water dripped somewhere in the low light, and the faint sound of bird chirps could be heard.
Nyssa slept curled against the cavern wall, with her knees drawn close. Her fingers still clutched a fold of her torn gown as though it were an anchor. Exhaustion had claimed her and she didn't even know when she had fallen asleep.
Oren lay a short distance away, flat on his back. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling in uneven rhythms. His body ached in places and he breathed softly, trying to numb the pain. Fire magic always left scars, even when it saved lives. Especially then.
That was why the element wasn't meant to be used often. It was so powerful. But beneath the soreness...he felt something.
It was not the erratic flare he had felt in the forest, this was one was more like a hearth that had been tended in secret while he slept.
His closed eyes snapped open.
For a moment, he only listened. He wanted to be sure, not just relying on a 'feeling.' Nyssa's breathing was slow, but steady. The cave remained undisturbed and there were no alarming sounds.
Oren then sat up slowly feeling the warmth spread through his body. It moved when he moved, coiled when he focused, responding not with resistance but recognition. His breath caught. Did this mean…?
He lifted his hands with his palms facing each other, and concentrated. The air around him shimmered and space itself bent, just slightly, like a veil stirred by an unseen wind.
Oren's eyes widened. "No way," he whispered.
Nyssa stirred at the sound of his voice, her lashes fluttering as she woke. She pushed herself upright, wincing faintly. Her body still ached a little.
"Oren?" Her voice was rough with sleep. "What is it?"
He turned to her, eyes alight wonder and excitement.
"I feel stronger," he said. "The onyx's effects are gone."
She frowned, concern furrowing her brows. "Are you hurt?"
He shook his head. "No. It's the opposite." He hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "I think we can teleport."
Nyssa froze. Her eyes widened, but then narrowed with disbelief. "Really?"
"Yes." His voice trembled despite his effort to steady it. "Just that I can't go too far, I guess."
She stared at him as though afraid the reality where she found herself in might vanish.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked gently.
Nyssa's excitement faltered. Her lips pressed together, with all her emotions flickering rapidly across her face.
"Is…Trontine far?"
He smiled. " A bit, but not too far."
"Then, take me to Trontine."
Oren inhaled slowly, and then nodded.
"Just to see," she added quickly, her voice softening. "One last time."
He stepped closer and took her hands. They were cold. But his was warm, something she knew…and liked.
"Hold on," he said. Nyssa's eyes went to him and in the next second, there was a zap.
The world stilled. Nyssa felt the lurch and brief terror of being nowhere and everywhere at once. Wind rushed past her ears though there was no wind. She could see light, but she didn't know where it came from.
It was as if she was floating in space, and then – her feet touched solid ground.
She gasped. They stood atop a crumbling watchtower overlooking Trontine. Her kingdom, or what remained of it.
Smoke stained the sky, dark plumes curling upward. The once bright colored buildings stood broken and hollowed, their roofs collapsed and walls scorched. Places where banners once flew proudly, torn remnants hung limp and blackened.
Below them, she noticed a movement and then, she saw chains. Nyssa's breath hitched painfully. Oh no...
Her people knelt in lines under armed supervision from Damon's men, their
backs bent and their heads lowered.
Children hauled baskets too large for their little frames. Some cried, while some were mute. Elderly men scrubbed blood from stones with trembling hands. Elderly people…elderly people!
The men pushed some heavy metal-looking machine and the women seemed to be tilling the ground. Soldiers barked orders, with their cruel smiles and laughter.
Nyssa's body shook. Her people…were enslaved. Their magic was probably nullified too. Nyssa staggered back a step, one hand flying to her mouth.
"No," she whispered. "No, no, no…"
Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen if Oren had not caught her. She clutched his shirt and tears fell freely on her cheeks.
"I failed them," she sobbed. "I couldn't save them…I couldn't do anything…"
Oren followed her gaze and his jaw tightened as fury burned through his veins.
Damon couldn't be more wicked.
"You survived," he said quietly. "That matters."
She shook her head with grief wracking her. "What good is surviving if this is the cost!"
He knelt with her, forcing her to look at him.
"Nyssa," he said, voice firm but gentle, "listen to me."
She met his eyes, feeling her body shatter.
"You are the only hope they have. The last Royal remaining."
She gulped and her breath stilled.
"You're alive," Oren continued. "They don't know that yet, but it's true. And as long as you breathe, Trontine isn't lost. Do you understand that?"
She looked back at the city, at the people bowed beneath chains, at the ruins of her childhood and her crown.
She hiccuped and then, broke down again. She understood Oren...she really did. But... wasn't he putting too much faith in her?
Something hardened inside her grief, as she stared more. Hatred and anger. She had always felt them before, but it tripled this time.
"They think I'm dead...just like mother and father..and Gav," she whispered.
Oren nodded. "I would think the same too, if I didn't know."
Nyssa straightened slowly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Her sorrow remained, but something else seemed to stir in her chest and her eyes went to Oren.
"How can Damon be defeated?"