Aren bites into the apple. He is sitting on the roof of the inn. The Renasir and the Dema are talking. He can hear bits and pieces, but he can't make sense of what they are speaking about. He can't understand the Dema tongue or the spirit beast. The only person who can understand the whole conversation other than the Renasir is the blonde girl.
He senses the Mirins approaching toward the inn. He wonders what the Renasir will do now. Should he steal her away? He has the strange urge to steal his Renasir away. The woman who belongs to the chosen one. She's the key to find the Harbinger. He should take her before the Mirins try to control her.
His mother has always been suspicious of Mirins. They wield the forbidden knowledge like the double-edged sword. One cannot tell when they turn their back to the light.
He glances at his hand. The red mark hasn't disappeared. She already has a man. That's unacceptable. The last Renasir belongs only to the true wielder of the holy fire.
Inside the room, Damin wonders why he has to answer this Harbinger. The Dark God seems completely under her control. The Dark God has recognized the Harbinger as his only woman, family, and a friend. Is it because the Harbinger carries his heart? He has been too late in finding the Dark God.
"I have taken an oath." He reveals the mark of the oath on his right shoulder. "I will protect the Dark God with my life."
"Mogrok?" Kresi glances at Mogrok for confirmation. Mogrok can see that it's genuine. However, Mogrok has made up his mind. This Dema has the blood of his betrayer father. He cannot be trusted.
"Master, I don't trust him."
Deia is about to say something. Suddenly, there is only fire in front of her eyes. White fire trying to swallow everything in its way.
She blinks her eyes and looks around. How much time do they have?
"We have to run." She yells, "The inn is going to be on fire."
"Huh?" Kresi is surprised. "What did you say?"
"Fire." Deia looks up at the ceiling. "It's already happening."
The white flames arrive like the waves of the ocean. It surrounds them in the room in less than a second. Kresi grabs Kyo's arm and pushes him behind her.
"The holy fire." Damin hisses loudly. His eyes darken. "The chosen one is here."
"What should we do?" Deia screams. "We are going to be burned alive."
Kresi sees that the way to the window is clear. They can escape by the window. The moment she opens the window, a pair of arms grab her by her waist. She screams. Kyo runs toward her. The white fire blocks his way. Damin pulls back Kyo before he could get burned. It only takes a moment. Kresi is dragged into the darkness before Kyo can grasp her hand.
"Master!" Mogrok hollers frantically. His master has disappeared. The inn is still intact. The fire is completely gone. There is no sign of Kresi.
"Where is my sister?" Kyo pushes away Damin and looks down the window. He can't sense his sister anywhere around him. He clutches his chest. He can't feel her existence. "Who took my sister away from me?"
Deia is startled when she hears a knock. She opens the door reluctantly and sees two men with golden eyes and regal robes. They step inside the room wordlessly. There is a Dema. A frantic looking spirit beast. A seer. And a young man.
"Has she been taken away already?" One of the men sighs. "The chosen one abducted her before we could arrive."
"He will bring her to us. He can't use her without the initiation." The second man eyes Kyo. The boy has a dangerous look on his face. The room is getting colder by the minute.
Kyo turns around when he hears the words. They know who took her. He walks to the man and grabs his neck. "Who took my sister?"
The first mirin struggles to breathe. The second mirin starts chanting. Kyo glares at him darkly. A single thread of dark ehr flows out of his index finger and stabs the second man's throat before he could finish his spell. The chaotic dark ehr smashes all the bones inside that man. The man falls on the floor like a broken doll.
"Where is she?" He grips the first mirin's throat harder. "Who took her?"
***
The scent of fire. Where? I can't open my eyes. My head feels sluggish. It's cold. Someone covers my body with a blanket. Who? I grab that person's hand. It's not Kyo's hand. Then, who? Where is Kyo? Where I am?
"I am sorry." The person whispers to me, "I brought you here before they could get to you. I want to know you better. You are my Renasir. I can't let the Mirins brainwash your mind. You should be prepared before I take you to them."
I remember the fire. What is this psycho talking about? My Kyo is fine, right?
"The potion will wear off after two hours." The person lays down beside me. "I had to use extreme measures to bring you here. The Mirins were almost at your doorstep. I didn't hurt anyone. Your friends are fine. I want to have a conversation with you. Don't hate me for this."
I feel his fingers tracing my face. "You look like a Mirin, but you also don't look like one. You have so many expressions. Your eyes are alive. You also smell like a human. I don't find you repulsive."
I find you repulsive. Stop touching my face, Kid.
He shifts closer. I can feel his gaze on my face. "My name is Arenyr Starfire. You can call me Aren. I am the chosen one. I wield the holy fire. You are my Renasir."
"..." This is not how I imagined meeting someone who is also a risk for my existence. If he finds out that I am also the Harbinger, I am dead. Damn!
"Why did you take such a long time to make an appearance? You didn't grow up with Mirins. That's why you are different." He touches my lips with his finger. "Your skin is warm, unlike those cold Mirins. Is it because of me? Why is there another man beside you when you are my Renasir? He seems quite close. Have you been kissed by him?"
Why does he call me his Renasir? Does he think that I am his possession? What the hell is going on? I want to move, but my body won't listen.
***
If he says that he has fallen for her at first sight, will she believe him? He has imagined her in a lot of ways before meeting her for real. The last Renasir. The girl of the prophecy. She is totally different from his imagination.
She wants to find a charm that can repel men. He also wants to put that charm on her. So, she can repel all the men other than him.
Already got another man? If she has grown up with Mirins, that wouldn't happen. They would have reared her as the perfect Renasir for him. But, he wouldn't like that. He doesn't want a person who can hide her emotions. He can't trust people like them.
He's the chosen one from the prophecy. She's the last Renasir from the same prophecy. He needs her. There can't be another person who can make her heart waver. He would make her realize that she belongs to him.
Aren presses his lips on her lips. He smiles when he hears her rapidly beating heart. He sucks her lower lips softly. He leans closer to her ear. "Want me to do more?"