Page 43 of Heiress of Fire

Beacon approached him. “I believe you can do this, brother.”

Davina climbed the mound, approaching Ron who stood dumbfounded, watching as the others walked down the pathway to Castellum. Right now, he needed her to be there for him.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Vivi,” he said quietly.

“Of course you can,” Davina said with a smile.

He shook his head. Davina reached for his cheek which he was quick to lean into, as if he found comfort in her touch. “I know you can.”

“I think I know where to go,” Ron informed.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

Ron then turned his head back to the Forest.

“There?” Davina asked.

“When I looked down, I felt a pull to the abyss. I feel it right now. It’s trying to get me closer to the edge,” he said.

“Then let’s go.” She grabbed his hand.

“No.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Something’s wrong with me,” Ron sighed.

“Don’t say that,” Davina said.

“Then why do I hear the fiery mountains of Auris, the lakes of Neptulus, and the fields of Basalt calling my name?”

Davina felt her blood go cold. This must’ve been the reason why he seemed so upset. Was that why he stuttered when he was told that he was next to find his armor?

The King said that they would have to go where their powers originated. Ron was born in Mistral, his parents were Mistrans, yet the heat that manifested in his hands indicated those of Auris and now he felt a calling to the other islands.

“How is that possible?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied with a shrug.

Ron’s eyes set over the dark cliff within the Forest. Behind the entry line, dark gray swirls appeared from the harsh air currents.

“I will go wherever you go,” she said and looked into the pool of brown and gray that were his eyes, reaching for his hand. “We are in this together, until the end.”

He squeezed her hand gently. A way of saying ‘thank you’. He sighed before they paced down the hill and past the division line, never letting go of each other’s hands.

The wind immediately clogged up her ears as she crossed the line into the Forest. She wouldn’t complain this time because she was doing this for Ron.

She knew she’d regret being this close to him later, yet she wasn’t going to worry about it now.

Her hair began to fly everywhere. With much struggle, she tried to tame her flying mess of hair. Hopefully, her struggle would lighten Ron’s mood. She turned to Ron who had his eyes fixated at the edge of the cliff, she felt a bit stupid for trying to be funny when he wasn’t even looking.

As they neared deeper into the dark forest, the darkness from the edge grew. His eyes never removed themselves from the abyss.

Davina wondered how Ron would pull himself back up. All she could do now was trust that he would make it out of there.

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