Fatal Encounters

Oleandra was seated in her room. In front of her was a wooden desk. Plates coated with animal fat were neatly placed on the desk. She meticulously laid the petals of the blue morning peach on the fat-covered plate.

Repeating the process a few times produced a type of fatty oil called enfleurage pomade, the first step in extracting the purest fragrance of the blue morning peach flower.

After using the flower, Oleandra put its seeds in a small silver container. The events of the day before flashed through her mind. "Makarios Benoni, I can't believe I accepted his offer."

Far away from the castle, Makarios was walking through a forest with a wide grin hanging on his face. "Come Spring, that pendant will be mine, an actual ancient relic! Maybe this will be enough to complete my plan." Makarios fantasized.

He was on his way to the place he had called his cave for a few months. He was fulfilling his end of the bargain: to bring Oleandra the perfumes within the ancient ruins. She would lend him her blue pendant for a single season in exchange.

Returning to the area where he had been transformed from a dragon to a man, he first noticed an oddly placed misshapen boulder.

"I was wondering where Little Seventh had gone off to," Makarios mentioned as he turned toward the small boulder. "My greatest creation, a magical spell that was brought to life, and even you were turned to stone…"

Makarios placed his palm on the stone. "I made you; I will free you. Hold on for a few more months," he whispered the last part.

Makarios gently picked up the boulder Little Seventh had become and hid it between bushes. He moved his attention to the entrance of the ancient ruins. When he was a dragon, he had no use for the treasures or items in the ruins until now.

He entered the ruins and quickly walked out with two cases filled with glass vials. He had also retrieved a small treasure chest.

After Makarios walked out, he turned to look back at the ancient ruins. Without hesitation, he kicked the stone wall of the entrance.

A loud thundering boom echoed through the forest as if a stick of dynamite had gone off. The stone entrance to the ruins collapsed. Makarios's kick was like a cannonball that smashed right through the weathered stone.

A warm streaming sensation began flowing down his leg. Looking down, Makarios saw the cause of the sensation.

Blood was dripping from his right leg onto the grass.

"These bags of bones are too damn delicate." He grumbled before shaking the blood off. Picking up his loot, he began walking away. A short distance from Makarios, a pair of figures quickly approached.

They looked at the collapsed entrance to the ruins and then at Makarios and noticed the blood dripping from his right leg.

"Big bro, that guy is injured and dressed in jewelry." a small shirtless man spoke to a much taller and heavier man.

The taller man's face was concealed by a paper hanging from his sun hat, covering his left eye. He pulled out a bow from his back and replied to the smaller man. "Yes, it seems he found the ancient ruins everyone has been talking about. His companions probably died inside. Looking at his injuries, he must have barely made it out alive himself,"

Drawing his bowstring back. The man aimed at Makarios.

"Stop walking and hand over everything you're holding," the duo shouted.

Until he heard the command, Makarios had failed to notice the figures standing a small distance across from him. Curious, he placed the cases and treasure chest down.

Makarios then crossed his arms as he noticed the arrow aimed at him. "You think a stick and some string is enough to kill me?" He redundantly asked before pointing his right finger at the taller man. "Perish," Makarios whispered. However, nothing happened.

Seeing Makarios pointing at him, the taller man released his arrow. The arrow flew with deadly accuracy straight towards Makarios's head.

Makarios reacted in a fraction of a second by moving his head. The arrow flew past him, barely licking the side of his cheek and drawing blood.

"I missed!" The man cursed before drawing back another arrow.

The shorter man pulled a small knife from his back and ran towards Makarios.

Another arrow flew toward Makarios. This time, it was aimed at his heart. However, Makarios had enough time to react. His right snatched the arrow from the air, snapping it with ease.

The taller man stared in shock at the inhuman reactions of a man he had judged as an easy kill. His younger brother was headed towards the hidden monster they had run into.

The taller man shouted as loud as he could. "Maury, stop! Get away from him!" His words failed to reach his younger brother.

Maury was faster than most, a perfect assassin in all aspects. He was only a few feet from reaching his injured prey. With knife in hand, Maury moved like a leopard. He leaped towards Makarios, the sharp edge of his blade aiming for his neck.

Maury's movements seemed too slow for Makarios. Makarios could feel the young assassin's focus—his intensity and killing intent concentrated on him alone.

With a smile, Makarios pulled his hand back. With blinding speed, he plunged it into Maury's chest. His hand was like a spear ripping right through Maury's chest and erupting out the back, gripping a beating heart.

Maury looked down at the arm penetrating his chest. He tried to say a word, but only gurgling sounds came out. Blood cascaded out from his mouth.

Feeling the texture of the beating heart, Makarios clenched his fist. Maury's heart exploded into a meaty mess. His body instantly fell limb.

Maury's older brother was frozen in place. No words escaped him after witnessing his younger brother's brutal death. Although he felt grief for his brother, he felt an even greater fear that compelled him to drop his bow and flee in horror.

Makarios looked at the escaping man. "Oh no, you don't," he said as he picked up the knife Maury had dropped. With little effort, he threw the knife at the head of the man who had shot two arrows at him.

The sharp piece of steel flew like a bolt of lightning. Immediately, it made contact with the older brother's head, splitting it like a watermelon hitting the ground.

Makarios wiped his blood-soaked right hand with the clothes on Maury's dead body. He then picked up the perfume cases and his small treasure chest.

Makarios gave one last look at the pile of broken stones that was the entrance to the ancient ruins.

The sun was still high by the time Makarios made his way back to the castle. As he entered the gates of Nidorei, he was no longer bleeding from his right leg. The gates allowed a slow stream of people through, giving the guards time to vet the people going through.

As soon as Makarios walked through, one of the guards reached out to another, stopping him from questioning him. "The princess sent a white-haired adventurer to retrieve perfumes for her." the guard explained.

Makarios entered the Kingdom Nidorei. He walked through the stone roads and looked down at his hand. Maury's blood had reddened his skin. "After I complete my side of the bargain, I need to find a place to clean myself up."

Makarios made plans as he continued walking. He arrived at the same tavern he had been in the day before.

Oleandra, seated by a table, stared at Makarios, carrying the two cases of perfumes as if they were nothing. "His right foot is covered in blood, and so is his right hand. Was he attacked?" Oleandra observed.

She stood up and ran over to assist Makarios, but he shook his head and gently placed the perfume cases down. "If you want to help, order me some hot tea," Makarios suggested before sitting across from Oleandra.

Oleandra laughed at his request but stopped after noticing a small cut on his cheek. She did as he requested and ordered a cup of tea for the two. She peered over the two cases filled with ancient perfumes. After seeing not a single broken glass vial, she turned towards Makarios.

"Did he fight the dragon I scared away?" Oleandra pondered, "Are you hurt?" she bluntly asked.

"Why do you care? I completed my side of our deal." Makarios incisively said.

A server came by and placed a hot cup of tea in front of their table.

Oleandra looked down and softly touched her blue pendant. "Yes, come spring. I will hand over my ancient relic to you until the season ends," she assured him of her word.

Makarios smiled.

Taking a sip of his tea, he plotted his upcoming months. "Until then, I should focus on establishing a foothold in the human world. Little Seventh will have to wait a short while."

After a minute alone with his thoughts, Makarios realized that Oleandra was still sitting across from him. Her dark brown eyes were quietly observing him.

"What is it?" Makarios asked.

Oleandra quickly shook her head, "Nothing." She then turned towards the perfume cases. "Can you please help me carry them?"

"Well, you did order me a cup of tea. I suppose I can help you a little longer." Makarios said before placing his right foot on his left knee and getting comfortable as he sipped his drink. He expected her to grow frustrated, but Oleandra patiently and quietly waited.

He sat there, as calm as a still ocean, leaving the world to wonder when the waves would come crashing down.

Since she could remember, Oleandra had not cared much for taste, touch, sight, or sound. Where her nose went, she followed. Normally, she would be rummaging through the vials of perfumes as she waited for Makarios to finish.

Instead, she remained seated in her chair, gazing at the man across her.

"He looks like he just finished fighting a bear to death. Yet he doesn't seem to have a care in the world." Oleandra watched Makarios drink his last sip.

Softly, Makarios placed his cup on the table and stood up. He walked over and picked up the cases with ease. "Lead the way," Makarios announced.

Oleandra put two copper coins on the table for the tea and stood up. The two walked out of the tavern. Oleandra shared the best shops of Nidorei as they made their way towards the castle. Upon reaching its grounds, Makarios handed the cases to a castle guard.

Makarios took one last look at her blue pendant before walking away.

Looking at his leaving figure, Oleandra shouted, "Wait, my father is hosting a party in a few days. We're celebrating the final full moon of the harvest season. You're invited to come if you want."

Makarios paused and pondered momentarily, causing Oleandra to add, "There will be plenty of tea to try."

Makarios's eyes slightly lit up, but still, he was hesitant. "Is she trying to lead me into a trap? It doesn't matter. These people can't hurt me even if they tried," he mused before accepting Oleandrea's invitation.