Sky's Resolve 1

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CHAPTER 22

Azra's eyes dimmed at the tree but he kept the words that ached to pour out of his lips within.

'Hmm, the divine tree is always partial to her. Why not show me first?' He pondered within himself.

"I can hear your thoughts, Azra. The divine tree is not partial."

"The fact that you can hear my thoughts is proof enough that she is partial," he cried out, contorting his face into a frown.

The young lady shook her head at him before leaning back a bit and placing her left hand on the tree and rubbed its bark.

"Ignore him, Astra."

Azra's shoulders slouched as he heaved out a deep sigh. Keeping his eyes narrowed, he trailed his gaze from where her hand lay on the tree, down to her body and then her face.

Something about her union with the tree was something the others couldn't understand.

Ever since they broke off from the main branch in the kingdom, she felt a certain pull to that place and that was where she met the divine tree.

At that time, it was nothing but a small plant. But the moment she touched it, it grew in height shocking Azra who was with her back then.

Since that time, it grew in her presence, getting strength from her magic and before any of them knew it, Astra became the big tree she sat upon presently.

It no longer needed her energy to grow but provided for the village instead. However, it showed her glimpse of the future before he, a seer saw it sometimes.

This was what caused his jealousy whenever he saw her pampering the tree or when the tree did so instead.

"What did you see exactly?" Azra inquired.

His eyes remained narrowed at her as he studied her face properly, looking for that cue that hinted something was wrong.

"The Aisle of Drakenflame still stands."

"And?"

"And soon, I would be needed. Soon Drakenflare would be what it was meant to bewith his true king ruling us once more. No more dissiparity and favouritism while the others suffer."

"Since you know, I bet you are happy?" Azra inquired.

A small smile lit up her face as she twisted her lips to the side a little. "That depends."

"On?" Azra instantly questioned before taking a step forward.

"If he is a ruler who still cares for his people as he once did. If he is better than King Jared."

His brows knitted at her. "Are you really banking on that?" Azra inquired.

"And why shouldn't I?"

"Sky, look…" She turned about on the tree and in one swoop jumped down to meet him.

"Yes? I am listening."

"This may be different from what the stories said."

"No. Not what the stories said. My Great-grandmother lived for a long time and she told me stories of old, not folktales that have been mixed up in time. The real Dragon King was truly good."

"And he changed," Azra completed for her.

"True. But such change doesn't just happen overnight and there was no way he could have concealed his true self from the fellowship of the twelve."

Not agreeing with her words, Azra shook his head at her. "You do not know people."

"No. I may not so much but I trust my instincts. Besides, the Aisle would have rejected him as King the same way it did the current monarchy."

"So, what is your point exactly?"

"That, people don't just change without a reason. Something must have gone wrong. The Dragon King wasn't one who had a maddening thirst for power and blood. I must know the real reason why."

"I am afraid letting you do that is out of the question," Azra stated, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

The look in his eyes instantly changed into a protective one as he dared to go against her.

"Azra…" Sky called out in a warning tone. Her eyes dimmed at him as well, sensing his defiance. "This is not up for questioning."

"It is now."

"Why?" Sky inquired, using a much more authoritative voice.

"Because, upon being released, his first mission was to prove the ancient tale right. He did not care for his people and burnt them down."

Hearing his reason, a subtle smile formed around the corners of her mouth as her lips slightly pulled back to the side.

He had a point but things were more than that.

"You do not know, do you?"

Azra's brows snapped close together as his eyes narrowed at her, watching that grim smile that held foreknowledge and mischief in them.

He had grown up side by side with her. So, he knew what most of her facial expressions meant and instantly, he let out a dreadful aura in turn.

He did not plan on allowing her win this one. For her sake no.

If she was to prove stubborn, it was his duty to stop her and make her see reason by any means necessary.

"Know what?"

"If you get sealed for thousands of years, using various spells, warlocks magic, sealing techniques while in deep rage and fury…" her voice trailed off as her eyes fluttered slightly.

By the time she returned her gaze to him, she straighetened her back as a dark glint flashed in her eyes. "Perhaps you would kill the realm instantly after breaking free."

After saying those words, Sky noticed how the look in his eyes changed from disapproval to one filled with intense confusion.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I didn't know you to be slow-witted, Azra. What do you think I mean?" She questioned, folding her hands in front of her chest, mirroring his pose.

"Meaning he awoken with such rage."

"Go on."

"And not because of the fact that he wanted to?" Her smile broadened, including her dimple as she blinked in acceptance of his guess.

"Hell no!" Azra blurted out without a second thought, forcing Sky's lips to tug downwards and the smile that lit her face seconds back, instantly disappeared.

"What?"

"You cannot tell me that for ten thousand years, he was not angry at being sealed."

Sky's brows arched up but rather than stopping him, she let him finish instead.

"The more I think about it, the more I see the truth. He was bad. He has always been bad. I do not believe he has good in him after what he did upon waking up."

Sky shook her head as she facepalmed her forehead openly.

She had made him guess so he understood the situation but, in the end, he got it all twisted.

However, while her mind pondered on what to do to him, she heard a loud sound.

POW!

Shocked, Sky dropped her hands at her side hurriedly. Her gaze swept straight in his direction as he released a sharp yell.

Staring at him with unblinking eyes, she watched the young lad scratch his back with so much force, that she was sure a good mark was going to be evident later on.

Howbeit, with her concern for his back, something caught her eye as she noticed where the trouble had come from.