Betrayal

"It's the strongest fire barrier, and that's why we only have three attempts, if you fail to open it after your third attempt...it will explode the cave." Draven remarked with a grave expression. He couldn't afford to fail after waiting for this day for more than a decade.

Hearing his words, Rhea couldn't help but question, "Who the hell cast such a spell at the entrance?" But there was no reply from Draven, she glanced at him and noticed his strange complexion and deathly pale lips. She couldn't help but wonder again, how on Earth did his essence end up in Birhhan and in this cave? The legend book never mentioned taking his essence.

Rhea narrowed her eyes at Draven in suspicion, "Wasn't it said that you were killed with a spell that would cast away your soul forever? Then how come you even survived it? And your essence, how did it end up here? If your dragon essence is really sealed behind this cave, then why wasn't it mentioned in the book of..."

Before Rhea could complete her words, Draven sharply glared at her. He then said, "Why do you seem to believe so much in what the book says? Haven't you ever wondered that it might all be a lie?"

Rhea frowned, as she pondered on it, she couldn't help but wonder why she suddenly had doubts. Even though everyone else accepted it without question, she was beginning to have her doubts about the legendary book at this moment. Besides, Its storyline was vague and complicated, it only made sense after Azure had made it clear to her in the library. Moreover, the book had failed to mention the presence of the dragon essence in this location. As a result, Rhea was intrigued and eager to uncover the mysteries hidden inside the cave.

"Tell me what to do to break the fire." She said, now feeling a bit confident and eager to see what was behind the barrier.

"Use your double spikes, make sure not to stop shooting at the barrier until it cracks open." He instructed.

Rhea nodded, she took a deep breath and elevated her hands, causing an abrupt drop in temperature. Powering up her double-layered spikes of ice, she assembled them in front of her, then swung her hands behind her and released them towards the barrier. The sound of their impact echoed loudly throughout the surroundings. After a few moments, the barrier began to split apart in the center, emitting a peculiar smell emanating from within the cave.

Draven was the first to quickly step inside. In an instant, she couldn't see his figure anymore, but heard his resounded voice from within, "Hurry, get in."

As Rhea saw the fire barrier beginning to reassemble itself, she clenched her teeth in frustration and quickly lowered her head to follow Draven in front of her.

Upon entering the cave, they were immediately enveloped in complete darkness despite being just a step away from the entrance and unable to see anything around them. The barrier made a resounding thud as it sealed itself shut again.

Rhea's heart jolted at the resounding sound. Damn it! If she died in here, she'd make sure her ghost hunted this dragon for life!

"Let's go." She heard Draven say, "Follow the sound of my footsteps, and make sure not to touch anything. Not even the walls." He didn't have the slightest bit of hesitation walking further into the darkness. It was like he was confident that Rhea wouldn't retreat and would follow him into the darkness.

Well, he was right. She dared not fall behind with his warning of not touching anything. She was hot on his tail. Rhea listened to the sound of his footsteps and walked into the unknown darkness. It was strange how she felt some kind of connection with this dragon. Even though she didn't want to involve herself with him, some part of her wanted to be anywhere he went to.

Just like this situation, even though it hadn't involved curing Rinus, she wouldn't have been able to leave the border town without helping him.

How strange...

Rhea clenched tightly to the necklace around her neck as she followed behind. If it wasn't for Draven's footsteps leading the way, she feared she would've begun to panic by now.

"Have you been here before?" Rhea asked softly, "You seem familiar with the paths despite the darkness."

Draven didn't say anything, however when Rhea thought he wouldn't reply, he spoke, "No, it's my first time... I can smell my essence, so I know my way."

Smell his essence? Like a dog? Rhea thought, but she didn't voice the words out, she suppressed the urge to tease him because she could feel the emotions in his voice.

She recalled the last time they came to the cave entrance, the barrier had affected him just like it did earlier before they broke in. She'd also noticed the sweat on his forehead, and could tell he was enduring some pains.

Everyone knew that a barrier was meant for defense, but this barrier was strange. It seemed to make Draven feel pain, while she felt nothing. It was clear that the barrier was meant to keep him away.

But his essence was hidden away in the tail of the cave, and was guarded with several fire spells. The person who hid it here was protecting it on a comparable level, it was like the person was trying to keep away evil from breaking free...

The more they walked into the cave, the more Rhea could feel the strange pull of magic. "The spell here is very powerful...the person who cast it must be one of the top leaders of flame." She murmured.

Draven didn't reply. However, Rhea continued, "Um...you said the story of the book of legends isn't true, and I'm beginning to see some truth in your words, since you're right here and the book said your were killed, and you said Alina failed to kill you..." Rhea drew her words out, she probed out of curiosity and desire to gossip, "Was she the one who sealed your essence here then?"

Draven's steps came to an abrupt halt, causing Rhea to also stop before colliding with him from behind. After a lengthy silence, he spoke in an indifferent tone, "Indeed. The tales depicted in the book are fabricated. They do not portray the actual events that took place."

Rhea's heart was like it had been lit aflame, for the love of wanting to hear the story from him, she hurriedly stepped closer to Draven, "Really? Then what really happened on that day?" The curiosity in her voice couldn't be missed.

"I'm not in the mood." Draven dismissed her curiosity and resumed to walk forward.

However, how could Rhea give up when she could hear the legend from the victim himself?

"Come on, don't be greedy with the story. Tell me while we walk inside, I won't sell your story out. I promise!"

Promise her foot!

She couldn't easily let it down. This story was related to the infamous Alina, a woman who everyone had looked up to in the capital. But If Rhea could get Draven to tell her his part of the story. She'd make a fortune by selling it. She did not care if it would spoil the infamous Alina's image in Birhhan. Money was more important to Rhea than some idol.

Rhea lightly coughed, she squashed the greedy thought filling her mind and urged him, "I know you've spent all these years keeping this in, but now that I know your real identity, it's fine if you tell me the story as well. I won't judge you for anything you did in the past, I promise."

Draven stopped walking again, but this time Rhea didn't stop on time, her chest bumped onto his solid back. "Ouch!" She rubbed her chest while glaring at his back as if he'd see her.

Damn! It hurts. Is this person body made of rock?!

Draven had stopped walking, but he didn't make a sound, and resumed to walk forward again. His deep voice resounded in her ears, "It's not a story you'd like to hear."

Rhea scoffed, "Try me."

"Are you sure you want me to tell you?" He asked.

"Of course. And I want you to tell me nothing but the truth."

The dark cave was silent for awhile. His deep voice rang out again, "A century ago. I fell madly in love with her, to the point I was willing to make her my queen despite the laws of the dragons not accepting a human. I cared for her, I was willing to go against my own kind for her sake... unfortunately, her intentions weren't the same as mine. She had a whole different plan from the sacrifice I was going to take for her..."

Although, it was Rhea who wanted to hear the story from him. But she hadn't expected to suddenly feel a piercing pain in her heart when he started to talk. The feeling was strange, it clutched her heart tightly.

"She was only with me from the start to take what she wanted. So on the day of a full moon when we were to be bound by marriage..."

Rhea's mind suddenly went back to her nightmare for some reasons. She saw the large moon, the unknown figure. It seemed like she was plunged back into the dream, she saw the scene play before her eyes.

A woman in a white dress. She'd seen the woman in countless posters in the capital. Alina. She stood with a fire sword in hand, a triumphant glint in her eyes. Rhea saw as she thrust her sword into his lower chest. The pain, it felt all too real for Rhea who was only watching.

'My dear Draven...It's because I never loved you right from the start, all I ever wanted was your_

That was all what Rhea heard before she was snapped out of the scene by Draven's voice in front of her.

"She betrayed my trust."

Immediately he said those words, Rhea could feel his emotions and pain, but before she could sympathize with him. Draven suddenly pulled her towards him,

"She stabbed me just like this!"

The moment those words dropped, Rhea only felt something cold in her lower chest. Draven had taken advantage of the fact that she had let her guard down and was absorbed in his agony, and with a swift motion, he'd plunged his dagger into her flesh, piercing her lower chest. 

With a splushing sound, he swiftly withdrew the dagger. The wound caused an immediate outburst of blood, which gushed out and spilled onto the ground.

Rhea's eyes widened in disbelief as she pressed a hand on her lower chest. She felt the warm and sticky blood on her palms. Then the pain shot in slowly making her legs give out underneath her.

Hell and damnation, she'd been stabbed...!