Page 73 of Crown of Flame
“We may have won the battle against Aldris,” I continue speaking. “But I fear that the war will exceed even my lifetime. What then? What if what we’re fighting for doesn't even matter? What if they keep coming and-”
My lips are sealed by a passionate kiss, one that brings reassurance and much-needed warmth in this weather. Cinis gazes into my soul, enveloping me in a feeling of safety, that somehow everything will work out exactly as it’s supposed to.
“Serena,” he says, softly stroking my cheek. “Perhaps those wretched beings will return, or perhaps they won’t. But if they do, I promise you that we’ll be there to fight them together. I’ll fight to my last minute on this plane of existence in defense of the humans.”
“Oh Cinis,” I sigh, feeling the anxiety leaving my body with every passing second. “You always know just what to say, don’t you?”
He smiles.
“I am learning what it means to be human, thanks to you.” He takes my hand and we continue our stroll. “You are my reason to live here in this world, or in other words, you are my world.”
I blush and laugh, biting my lower lip as I turn away for a moment in embarrassment.
“You speak like a word weaver.”
“A word weaver? Is that some type of magic with words?” he asks.
“It kind of is, in a way,” I say. “Maybe I ought to show you how to read, then I can teach you how to write a poem.”
He expresses his interest in the creative aspects of humankind as we stroll onwards. The weather eases as the sun peaks its yellow head above the clouds, hanging moderately above the horizon in the far distance.
We talk about what I could show him, from food to entertainment, and culture to old legends, all of which he is eager to find out more on.
“I don’t know where I want to begin,” he says.
“Well, we’ve got all the time in the world,” I reply.
“Serena, do you think you’ll miss your old home?”
I pause, realizing it has been quite some time since I gave thought to the camp where I used to reside. It’s then that I get an idea, and it blurts out of my mouth so quickly that Cinis recoils in confusion.
“What was that?” he asks.
“I said we should go to the human camp where I once lived. I want to show you where I came from.”
“Hmm,” he mutters. “Will that be a good idea? How do you think your kind will react to me?”
I laugh.
“Probably with bewilderment at first, but when they learn of what you’ve done for them, they’ll welcome you with open arms. This world is so full of cruelty that any kindness to humans is a pretty big deal.”
He turns to face the horizon. I join him, resting my head against his shoulder.
“I will do it,” he says after some time.
“You won’t regret it.”
A wave of ease washes over me as the sun drops ever so slightly. There’s still plenty of daylight left for us to enjoy. I soak in the sights and feel the warmth of the sun’s rays kissing my face.
Knowing the man by my side is committing to this forever brings me peace like I’ve never experienced before. Even if the possibility of trouble lies ahead, I can at least-
“Wait a minute,” I blurt, my voice shrilling with horror. “What in the hells is that?”
I spot a plume of black smoke thickening as it crawls into the sky. I know that smoke, and it’s not from a campfire.
“That’s coming from the direction of… Oh gods…”
“It must be dark elves,” hisses Cinis.