To Love A Villain

Chapter 233: The Golden One

>>Pen

I saw myself-my mother to be exact- eating the dragon’s heart.

As she stuffed her face with raw meat, the last bit of the dragon’s life left his body

"I curse you human," There was blood pooled on the ground, "You will pay for this." His voice was so thunderous even in its last moments, it sent a shiver down my spine and I woke up

***

I breathed heavy as a headache consumed my mind, it was so bad my world began to spin

Ah

So this was when she was pregnant with me.

...

Why am I seeing this though?

Because of the dragon? Because he cursed me? But what’s the curse? For me to have these agonizing headaches?

Each time I dream of the dragon my mind is on fire. I find myself feeling strange, acting strange and per the words of my mother, she sometimes finds me in a trance. But I don’t remember it.

I grabbed my head as the pounding in it continued.

I can’t do this any longer! I have to talk to Mom! I removed my hands from my head and then grabbed the blanket to throw it off but as I grabbed the brown colored sheet I noticed something that made me pause.

What’s this? I noticed the black colored magic around my hands

...

Then I sensed something inside of me, something inside of my head, eating at it.

***

>>Valenor

The training was strenuous.

I who had never held a sword before had started to become too familiar with the sensation of a blade in my hands.

"The thing you’re about to encounter is absolute evil. It can not be redeemed." I stood in the witch’s room. She had one designated to her in the Royal Palace, "The bringer of death will bring death to all if not dealt with." The room was thick with the scent of herbs and smoke. As I stood there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the walls themselves were watching me. Shelves lined the circular room, cluttered with ancient books, glass jars filled with strange powders, and bottles of liquids that glowed faintly. A large wooden table dominated the center, covered in half-written scrolls, quills, and crystals that pulsed softly with energy. The floor was black marble. with silver symbols etched into the stone in a spiraling pattern. They glowed faintly, their meaning lost on me, but I could sense they were not idle decoration. They held something—power, protection, maybe both.

In one corner, a cauldron simmered, its contents bubbling softly, shifting colors as it brewed. I caught the scent of something earthy, familiar but strange, mingling with the burning lavender that hung from the ceiling.

"Yes," I nodded and then sighed internally.

She has told me the same thing so many times.

"Remember what I told you last time?" She asked. In the shadows, I noticed a raven perched quietly, its dark eyes fixed on me

"Yes, that this entity can take the form of someone I hold dear and they will do so to manipulate me." A shudder went down my spine as I recalled that.

"It will deceive you too but do not let it."

"Yes," I answered.

An absolute evil...huh... I wonder what kind of thing it actually is? What’s its true form?

***

>>Pen

"I just wanted to live..." Mom and I sat across from each other in the kitchen, the table between us.

"Was the dragon all you could find?" I stared at nothing in particular, "He told you not to eat him." I saw it clearly in my dream. He was begging her not to eat him, "You lied to me saying it allowed you to do so." I used to flaunt proudly about it as a kid.

"I’m sorry," She had her eyes on the ground in shame, "It was going to die anyway and was an easy prey." Her voice was weak as she made her excuses, "And I needed something that could provide enough nutrition. What could have been better than a dragon?"

"..." It wasn’t going to die. He said he could regenerate, heal, if his heart remained intact. I recalled the gruesome dream. His torso was torn but he was desperately trying to keep his heart safe since it was exposed, yet mother lunged at it and took it out.

I did not know what to say back to her. She ate because she wanted to keep me alive.

"What did it curse you with?" I asked after a long silence.

"..." Mom shook her head, "You don’t need to know."

"Why not?" I was angry at her but at the same time I couldn’t take it out on her.

"All you need to do is stay here, with me," She raised her head to look at me, "That’s all you need to do."

I stared back at her, slowly crumpling the paper I had in my hand, over my thigh.

It was the paper that held the advertisement for recruitment of members for the hero’s party.

Val’s party

***

Training was harsh today as well. I rubbed my muscles as I stood in one of the rows of the Royal Library. My build had changed quite a lot over time. I’ve grown a lot taller and my muscles are pretty solid as well.

Through all this tough time, my only solace was getting letters from Pen and hearing about what’s happening back home.

I don’t know what the Royal Witch saw in her vision for me to choose me but I keep getting a bad feeling about it.

All the people around the witch and she herself keep telling me I need to be careful.

I picked out a dictionary and flipped through the pages.

"The great evil will stop at no cost," She said, "A saint will not be born for centuries, so kill the thing before it evolves." A shiver went down my spine as I remembered standing in her room, listening to her.

Aurelia...

I searched for the name.

Aurelia...

Pen told me we should name the country Aurelia. For months I didn’t get any time to come to the library and see the meaning. But I’m finally here.

Aurelia...

Ah. Here it is!

I pointed my finger on it.

’Aurelia - The Golden one ’

My expressions changed to that of slight surprise. Then I smiled as I softly touched a lock of my hair

"She thinks I shine like gold?" My gaze softened and a soft smile spread across my face, "Aurelia," There was a soft bubbling feeling inside of me, "It’s a nice name," I whispered to myself.

I turned my face towards the big vertical window, the shine from the setting sun making its way in.

I want to see her soon