Chapter 64

~Calea~

Being so close to Kamari's inner circle sometimes made her on edge. Aneth didn't worry her, but out of the corner of her eye, she would see Nye or Koa side-eyeing her. She didn't know how to compromise with them. 

Calea believed that getting some kind of footing would make it easier when one of them finally dethroned Aneth. She watched as Kamari played with her daughter. She was on all fours, and so was Ignis. The little one had grown so fast. Ignis resembled Nye, no doubt; she was stunning. 

"Fussy little whelp. She bit me." Ryuu sighs as he sits beside Calea. Ryuu holds up his arm, showing teeth indentations. Calea gently takes his arms, waves a hand over it, and heals the wound. Ryuu chuckles.

Calea raises a brow, "What?"

"I would have healed on my own. The bite didn't bother me." Ryuu smiles and then frazzles Calea's hair, "Such a cute little thing you are." Calea shoves him playfully, he grabs her by the waist and pulls her into him, his chin laying on the top of her head. She never thought she'd be in this kind of position in her life, but wasn't it the most fitting one for her? She never felt at home anywhere else. Kamari wasn't only her friend; she was family. As she watches Kamari play with her daughter, a lump grows in Calea's throat, and she realizes she can't bear Ryuu's children. Calea knew Ryuu would take the throne one day, and she would be right along with him. 

She didn't know if it was the right time to talk about it.

"Your mind is a flurry of questions, little minnow." Ryuu's voice vibrates at the top of her head. Calea lets out a sharp breath. "Why are you in my head, Ryuu?"

"You won't say things out loud, Calea. It seems I have to yank them out." She could tell Ryuu had a cheeky smile, but Calea's mind and heart were fighting each other. "I can't bear you children–"

"Whelps." He corrects.

Calea sighs, "Yes, Whelps." 

Ryuu stands up and gives her his hand. "Come," Calea stares at it and then takes it. They walk towards a more secluded area. Calea senses something Ryuu isn't telling her. "Are you alright?" 

"Shh," he places a finger to his lips as they walk towards hedge, Ryuu gets to his knees, Calea does the same, he opens a part of the hedge making a little window he geustrures for Calea to look through and when she does, she sees a glowing Shade flower. Calea sits back on her heels and looks at Ryuu, "Did Mael do this?"

Ryuu shakes his head, "No. This has the scent of my mother. Somehow, she claimed the land without knowing it." If this was true, how could Kamari not know she did such a thing? Ryuu sits on the grass, "My mother's heart is here." Ryuu places a hand on the land, "But mine," he sighs, then shakes his head. "Is not."

Calea's lips parted slightly at Ryuu's words, "You don't want to rule Nivilia?" She sits next to him. Now that she thought about it, no one asked Ryuu if he wanted this kind of life; it was placed upon him. Ryuu twirls a flower between his fingers, "I don't want to live closed in. I want to see things and swim in waters humans have never seen with their own eyes. I may be my mother's firstborn, but I am not the last." Ryuu looks at Calea with a sincerity that makes her heart melt. That's what she loved about Ryuu, he was so open, he never had anything to hide from her. Ryuu smirks, "I hope you weren't planning on being a Queen."

Calea lets out a chuckle of relief, "Oh Goddess, no." Ryuu leans back on his arms, his eyes softening, " I know you love my mother, but you don't have to stay here, Calea. You and I can venture out, Nivillia is home. We will always be able to come back." Calea feels her heart fill with warmth. Everything she ever did was for Kamari or the Kingdom, but was it truly what she wanted for herself now? The thought of seeing the world with Ryuu made her feel excited. There were things she hadn't seen yet but never had the option to do. Not until now. And if there was one thing she knew for sure, she would go anywhere with Ryuu. Calea places a hand on his chest, "You where my heart lies, Ryuu; I'll go anywhere you go."

Ryuu's hand covers hers, and in an instant, he pulls her into a passionate kiss that melts any doubt or worries. It only solidifies what she already knew. Calea parted from him, placing her forehead on his. Ryuu caddles her the back of her head, "Remember when I told you something called me to Nivilia?"

"Yes. Veldon."

"No."

Calea's eyes slightly open, and she gazes into his, her brow furrowing slightly. Ryuu caresses her bottom lip with his thumb, "No, little minnow, it was you." Calea's bottom lip started to tremble; now it all made sense. Why was her connection to him so strong from the beginning? Was it the pull she couldn't rip herself from? Was it all because she wasn't meant to? Ryuu is her soulmate. "I want to take you away from here, Calea. You've seen too much horror, so much loss; let's not let the rest of our lives surround it." Calea sniffles, and a slightly relieved chuckle slips through her lips. She nods her head. 

"You're right. We should live for ourselves." It felt strange saying those words. She wasn't used to it. She had served others for so long that she didn't know how to save herself from it. In the end, it led to memories she wished she could burn away. She cherished the good ones, but she felt change was near. Calea praised Kadea for bringing Ryuu into her life because she didn't know if she could ever break away without him.

"And about having my Whelps. I don't want them." Ryuu says as he wipes tears from Calea's eyes, "I adore you as you were made, Calea." She never heard such beautiful words in her life. It made her wish she had met him sooner. Calea wipes her eyes, and her attention is brought back to the flower. "Are you going to tell your mother about what you found?"

Ryuu stays silent for a moment. "I am not sure. This thick grove hides it well. I wouldn't have found it if I didn't feel the odd feeling when I drew near it. The others may not feel its presence, but I find that a good thing." Calea looked back to the flower; it beamed and glowed with so much life. It made her think of Kamari, and it made sense that something manifested out of her love for this place. "Are you telling her anytime soon? About leaving and not being the Dragonborn?" A twitch of a smile pulls at Ryuu's lips.

"I talk to my Father first."

Calea's gut clenches. "Oh Ryuu I don't know if that's a good Idea…"

"My pride is important to me. Telling my mother first wouldn't go over well with Father. Despite what you might think of him, he is," Ryuu pauses momentarily, sifting through words, "Sensitive with not knowing what's going on with me first."

Huh, she would have never believed that, but from what Calea had seen recently, Koa embraced Ryuu more than his pride members. Calea just prayed it wouldn't backfire on her.