Chapter 30 - Sleep

I instantly shuddered and stepped back at the words that were just uttered. My heart sank and the world around me felt like it was falling apart. When West Ourannos is destroyed? Surely not.

"No…No way…Is there a better way?" I asked, my voice hoarse from the desperation. I saw Aurora behind me hugging her knees with a horrified look on his face. Volt on was in a corner, looking down solemnly. "Can you at least reverse the damage?" I face Gaia and asked once more.

"I can reverse the damage caused to the land." She said, then hesitated. "However, I cannot reverse damage caused to the infrastructure that the people built." I looked down bitterly. It appeared we had no choice in the matter either.

"Although, master, if you are swift enough, you might be able to save most of the country. Tomorrow, I predict the earthquakes will be powerful enough to open a fissure in the ground. This fissure will lead you straight to the cavern that I am being held. You will most likely find my disgusting human captors there. If you dispatch them swiftly, and awaken me, you will be able to save most of the country." It appeared we had no choice. I wanted Gaia free and Ourannos to be safe. But I had no choice but to wait until tomorrow.

"I understand…" I said bitterly. I looked back at the fading image of Gaia's head. Remembering her gentleness from awhile ago, I reached out to touch her head, forgetting she is but a energy projection. I felt a tear drop from my eye seeing her leave. I will save her. "I will save you Gaia. That is a promise. I will see you very soon."

"Thank you, my benevolent master. I await the time i get to server the Progenitor of Dragons once more." She said her last sentence as the energy dissipated from the room. I felt another streak of wet tears fall from my eye, looking away in sorrow. I had to do this.

"5 am." I said sharply. Aurora got startled from my serious tone. She looked at me. "We will get up at 5 to wait for that hole in the ground. Then, we are going after Gaia." Aurora nodded. "I will tell my parents about our arrangement. I will also spend the night here if you don't mind." Aurora said nothing to reply, only nodding. I held up my right hand and Volt returned to me, the gauntlets fading from my hands. I walked up to the guest room without saying a thing.

I pushed open the door, walking over to the cushioned seat next to the window. I sat there, staring into the setting sun. I had not realised how late it had already gotten. I could have sworn it was morning not long ago. I called my parents. They were definitely beyond worried at this point. After a few rings, they picked up, their voices panicked. "Kaler?! Are you ok? Where are you?"

"I'm fine Mom, I'm at Aurora's." I said to calm them down.

"Oh…good…what a relief." I could not help but smile.

"Mom, Aurora and her parents were kind enough to lend us one of their jets to escape tomorrow. The flight is at 7am. We should be at the airport by then. I'll see you there."

"Oh my…That girl is always so sweet. Convey our eternal gratitude to her for us Kale."

"I will."

"You are staying there right Kale? Have fun. But not too much fun." Her last sentence had a bit of a mischievous undertone. I rolled my eyes and laughed at my mom's cheekiness

"Mom, please…" I said while chuckling. I hung up swiftly and went back to blankly staring out the window. The number of thoughts in my head were near infinite. So many thoughts wanted their turn to be processed and pondered, that I ended up thinking about nothing instead. A knock on the door grabs my attention away from the on set of dusk.

I turn to the door which was opened slightly, only to see an adorable little girl with light blue hair poking her head through like a bunny that just came out of it's hiding place. Seeing this, I could not help but smile. I signalled her to come in and she opened the door a bit more and lightly walked toward the window seat. She sat across from me and hugged her knees, staring at me with her piercing blue eyes.

Usually having Aurora look at me like this would make my heart flutter. It would make me nervous and sweat a swimming pool worth of sweat. Right now, I could only think about Gaia, and how to help her. "Are you still thinking about Gaia?" She asked out of the blue. I suddenly looked back at her when she asked. She was nervously rubbing her feet together and hugging her knees tightly. Her legs blocked the lower half of her face, I could only see her adorable eyes that were almost pleading with me.

I could not help but smile. "I was. I'm scared," I admitted. She sighed. I didn't understand it. Was she disappointed with my answer? Was she tired? Both? Or something else?

After what felt like minutes of not saying anything, she finally said something. "Don't worry, nothing bad will happen. We will help her." My sorrow was lifted by what she said. I let myself smile at her, looking out the window again shortly after. A million and one things still ran through my mind.

"The thing is…"I started. I turned back to her, but my eyes were still looking outside, "I don't-" I felt something grip onto my shirt and I suddenly felt a force pull me forward, like I was falling. My body leaned forward and I suddenly felt something touch my lips. Something soft, and warm. I realised that Aurora was really close, every detail on her gorgeous face was right before me. She was…kissing me…again… I felt my body heat up and all my worries melt away. Nothing mattered at this very instant. Just me, the girl I love, and the lack of distance between us.

My arms automatically wrapped around her body, pulling her closer to deepen the kiss. I never wanted this moment to end. The world around us felt like it revolved around us. I felt something wet prying my open my lips and I gave way. Her tongue danced around my mouth, claiming every surface possible. My legs turned to jelly and my stomach and heart wanted to explode from the euphoria. I returned the favour, pulling her closer.

I suddenly felt a cooling sensation on my lips. That sensation soon circulated through my entire body. My body became lax, losing energy. I suddenly felt my muscles relax and my eyes flutter and close shut, the world around me descended into darkness. The last thing I remembered was peeling away from Aurora, fall onto her soft lap and seeing her bright face smiling at me like the sun.. I heard her mutter, "Sleep."