章 16: The path to hope
After a rapid check, they both realized that they had nowhere to hide from something coming from the sky. Even if they were running fast, they would have to leave the grotto and run on the bridge at the entrance. If they could run fast, they could not run as fast as a dragon. Arja got an idea after memorizing some things about dragons in one of her Princess books. It was said that they were pacifist creatures if they were treated with respect.
She kneeled with both of her knees and lowered her head. She dragged Typhon along. Then she spoke clearly and loudly.
"Lord Dragon, we are seeking a hearing. We didn't mean to disturb you, please, accept our apologies."
They could hear the wind changing direction. Typhon dared to throw an eye discretely and he saw the galaxy going down in front of him. He understood that the whole sky was the dragon... He felt his heart pulsing hard. The dragon was moving in front of them slowly, after landing on the floor he retracted his wings and lowered his head.
The sky was on his neck and belly, the light was shiny all around and it was easy to see in the cave thanks to this. They could hear a powerful voice resonating everywhere in this place.
"I was waiting for you. So long that I don't even remember how long. Arja, ask your question."
Arja couldn't believe the dragon was talking to her, how could he know her name? She had so many questions at the moment but only one could help her to live a peaceful life. She tried to be as calm as possible, her full body was trembling in front of this giant, everything in him was so powerful that she felt she could be ravaged in one breath. Typhon was no better as he started to shake with fear.
"I... Please... I would like to know where the bodies of the team who came to you previously were."
Clyss lowered his head. The dragon seemed sad for a moment.
"Are you sure that is what you want to ask? I understand this is not the time yet for you. Their bodies are there, take them. You can leave."
He showed a place in the cave with one of his claws. The claw alone was of Arja's size and she didn't dare to move immediately. She first tried to say something but what went out was only a whisper. Her voice was so shy at the moment that she barely dared to speak loudly.
"Thank you. We will leave."
Arja took Typhon by the hand and helped him to raise. They rushed to the place designated by Clyss, they took as many pieces of human bodies as they could and they took the direction of the exit. Clyss opened his wings and flew to the ceiling of the cave back where he was before. His voice was resonating.
"We will meet again very soon, Arja. I am waiting for you."
They walked on the path in the direction of the entrance, as calmly as possible, and when they were at a good distance they started to run. It didn't seem that Clyss was following them but no matter what, they couldn't stop to run. That was simply too much, too many emotions for them.
Once they reached the outside they finally took a deep breath. The air was suffocating, the desert was as hot as before and the fresher from the cave made things worse.
They silently took the direction indicated by Zuline to leave the desert. They used the few lessons she gave them to keep a direction in Rika's desert. They had a long way to go to come back to the institution but their heart was light and even if they had the biggest fear of their life, they felt the wind of change in their life to come soon.
Arja was touching her bag, feeling through the fabric the pieces of bones inside and she was smiling. Thanks to this, she would probably be able to have a civil life with the man at her side.
This man who took the time to write her letters for so long, he who made her enjoy life so strongly. She was deeply happy. They had to take one night of rest during the return trip. They easily found a little cave, easy to control and guard for a few hours but, when Arja started the fire to prepare the camp she was surprised to see drawings on the walls. Judging by the damage on the paint it seemed that these draws were there for a very long time.
Typhon came closer and started to study them as Arja was simply watching, waiting for his explanations and preparing some food for them.
"It seems to be the explanation of the Desert's Darkness. Look Arja, there is the representation of another world."
The draw was representing a black ball in the desert's sky. A dragon with a creature on it was flying from this ball to come to the desert. After this, the draws represented the same duo browsing the sky and spreading a black veil on the desert.
The dragon was represented in the cave, led by the creature. The creature left the dragon alone. He was represented in a way that seemed like an abandoned child. The creature opened a portal and went back to its world, leaving a few other similar creatures behind it in the desert.
Typhon said in a low voice.
"It is Zuline. These are her horns. They are refugees from another world, they created the desert with the dragon... And then she left him, this is why she didn't want to come with us farther and why she knew the road so well. She was the one who placed him there."
Arja laughed a bit.
"Do you imagine? If she was there at the creation of Rika's desert it would mean that she is nine hundred years old, at least... "
Typhon seemed perplexed, he agreed with Arja on this point. That would be enormous. Even the elves whom the legends boasted about their longevity could not live so long in these conditions, but after all, they never saw such a race before. Thinking of it, Typhon started to think about the report he would have to write for the general when they would be back. He mostly thought about a way to avoid mentioning Zuline and her tribe... They sat next to the fire, enjoying the sweet warmth of the fire camp. After being so stressed Typhon placed his head on Arja's knees. She caressed his head gently and he fell asleep in no time thanks to this.
After sleeping a bit, they continued their road. Their heart was light and happy, it was with this mood that they came back to the base.
It was late when they arrived. They directly placed the bags of bones in a safe place dedicated to the missions and went to their respective rooms. This evening Arja received another letter.
This one was different from the others, now, it was stated that she knew who the writer was.
She took the letter in her hands and held it tight to her heart, she took a deep breath. Laid on her bed and opened it.
"As the night is coming, my mind left me to be with you. I feel your hand caressing my hair and then I realize you are on the other side of the wall. I cannot sleep. The dream of this life drawn in front of us makes me feel more awake than ever. My dreams cannot be better than our reality.
Tomorrow is our last day. Tomorrow is the end of all this. I cannot wait to see you, this night will be very long.
I love you."
Arja smiled and read the letter many times. She watched the star in the night and whispered.
"Do you see me, little star? It seems that I will have a happy life eventually."
Then she fell asleep after a few minutes staring at the sky and the letter one after the other again and again.
The next day, when she awakened she realized someone was guarding her door.
"Oh Arja, you are awake? I am there to lead you to the general. Typhon had already been taken into the office about an hour ago. Let's hurry."
The guard was a young lady, she had a smile on her face that Arja didn't like. She had a bad feeling about it. Before leaving her room she hid a knife in her sleeve and placed Typhon's letter in her shirt.
As she walked in the corridor she started to have goosebumps. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and when she watched she could see nothing but the light of the sun from a little window. Arja was alert and her heart was ready to leave her chest. She was expecting bad news, maybe she would go back to the cell again? She had the sensation that she would not survive being closed again for so long without Typhon.
Hopefully, that was probably nothing so dramatic. She tried to reason with herself and took a deep breath. Then they arrived in front of the door. Arja felt nauseous for a moment without understanding why she was so stressed. She pressed her hand on the handle and opened the door slowly.
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