Page 48 of Ava's Love of the Dragons
She placed a hand on his scales, which gleamed purple. "We both know they're not nearby at the moment. But if they show up, you can come to me immediately."
He sighed, sounding for the first time since his transformation like the dragon child he technically was at two weeks old. "I don't like it when you're sad."
"But I need to deal with it and learn to fight, otherwise I don't stand a chance against Elora. See you later." She patted his belly—she couldn't reach his head anymore—before starting her climb. Effortlessly, as if she hadn't spent two consecutive days inhard combat training, she scaled the cliffs and sat down on the edge. With her legs dangling over the abyss, she took the bowl of soup and began to eat. The soft clinking of the spoon echoed through the night. The sound kept her company, like a friend.
Kilian was a good trainer, as was Master Clark, so she wouldn't shirk the exercises. But at least in her free time, she wanted to avoid him, even if that time barely amounted to an hour—excluding sleep time—because of the hours-long training.
It felt good to look into the night, to observe the vastness of the landscape and gaze at the stars. However, since looking at the firmament immediately made her think of the dragon fighter, she averted her gaze and bit into her bread.
She heard the sound of footsteps, then turned around quickly and froze. Kilian stood behind her, also holding a bowl of soup and a slice of bread.
"Looks like we had the same idea." Smiling, he sat down beside her.
"Why don't you find another cliff then?"
When their eyes met, they both had to grin—which was not good at all, so she turned her attention back to her stew.
"Because the most beautiful view is here."
Her cheeks reddened, yet she looked up. There was a hunger in his eyes that her loins immediately responded to. Better to change the subject before they did something rash. She tilted her head towards the cliffs.
"The mountain dragons live up there, right?"
He nodded. "It's one of the last retreats because no human can reach it. That's why we hid Draco with them."
Surprised, she raised an eyebrow. "He told you his name?" But then she waved it off. Why was she still surprised? After all, he had immediately told Kilian that she had returned as soon as he'd found out. "I never thought dragons were such gossips."
Kilian's lips curled slightly. "He's worried about you."
"That's not surprising, because I'm no less worried about him."
"You don't need to be. Everything will be alright."
She shot him a casual look. "Because you'll soon marry the princess and save the dragon world?"
He nodded seriously and calmly. "I'll do everything in my power to ensure a safe future for all of you."
She believed him. "Why are you sacrificing yourself for everyone else?"
He took a bite of his bread—perhaps to avoid answering? But she didn't change the subject, looking at him expectantly until he had swallowed the bite.
"It's my duty."
"I see. And in this world, the individual life counts for nothing compared to the greater good." Inevitably, she thought of Rob, who had tried to kill her out of a similar understanding, but she pushed the thought of him aside. She didn't want the conversation to ebb away, nor did she want to take out her frustration on Kilian. His sacrifice was so much greater than hers, for she didn't have to marry someone she didn't love.
"Where are you from, anyway?"
A relaxed expression spread across his face that she had never seen before. "From the south, south of Talus. There, the days are longer, the air warmer, and the people happier. My parents owned endless fields of lavender and olive trees. They produced the best oil and even sold it at the royal court. Those were good, carefree times."
He took a deep breath, as if smelling the scent of his childhood. At the same time, a melancholic expression appeared on his face. Ava couldn't blame him. The description sounded so idyllic that she wished she could have experienced that time too.
"What does a child do in a land full of dragons and magic? Did you go to school or did you have to work early?"
A smile flitted across his lips as he scooped up a spoonful of soup. "I was in school, played pranks with my friends, and tried to find dragons."
"Was it your dream from childhood to be a dragon fighter?"
"It's a great honor, and every child knows that. But no, it was never my dream. I always wanted to be like my father. He whistled all day, turned his face to the sun, and told me lots of great stories. He and my mother loved each other, danced at village festivals, and spent evenings together under the starry sky. When the harvest was over, he would drive his cart to the royal court and return with the most exciting things. In my eyes, he was the happiest man in the world."
