Chapter 280: Dragon In You (Ch.280)
The sun had risen high above Forest Tajmaé and it’s rays were cast over the gathering grounds where a long anticipated event was soon to hold.
It was the set ti for the tournants of the Nord and Gypsy nymph clans, the two clans who still observed the old ways of the blooming season.
And though the druid nymphs no longer observed these ancient laws, they were duty bound to honor the invitation from the other clans and bear witness to the tournants.
All the nymphs from the three clans had gathered in the largest clearing in the heart of the forest.
The clearing was large enough to fit over a thousand nymphs and there were large trees barricading the clearing from all around.
The trees were so large that they could not be considered regular trees, enriched by the magic of the nymphs, they grew to towering heights and their branches were large enough to serve as a resting place for the nymphs.
Hundreds of nymphs were already seated on the branches, watching down in anticipation as they awaited the beginning of the tournant and there were many others perched on rocks around the edges of the clearing.
This clearing was the most secluded part of Forest Tajmaé, a gathering ground that was well hidden in the deepest parts of the forest where all tournants of the blooming season were held.
The tournants were considered a sacred event, a show of strength blessed by the Creator before the bonds of the blooming season could be consolidated.
It was also a chance for nymphs to stake their claim on the prizes of the season who had rejected a bond with their intended.
The blooming season had seen many tournants, but the anticipation for this tournant was far greater than it had ever been and the reason for this was the battle for the High Maiden’s prize.
Word had been spread around the clans, this ti, a claim had been staked to the High Maiden’s intended and this claim was not made by a nymph, no nymph would be so daring.
This ti, the claim was made by a light blood...a child of the dragons, the very dragons that had subdued the Fae race and Nymph kind under their rule all those centuries back.
As would be expected, there was a deep hostility that had been passed down through generations and to most, this battle between nymph and a lightblood surely held a greater aning.
A short distance away, concealed within the close of trees, Estelle stood, gazing out at a small lake.
In the ti it had taken to prepare the tournant grounds, the challengers had been given the ti to prepare for the battle to co.
But Estelle had nothing to prepare and so instead, she had just wandered off.
Estelle had walked for only a short ti, following the sound of water as she always did when she could not find her way and this had led her to a small clearing where a clean stream flowed by.
The clearing was nothing special, yet the richness of nature all around it reminded Estelle of her clearing back in Fort Blazed, the place her mother would always take her.
That clearing held such a special aning to Estelle that being reminded of it stirred a dull ache in her heart.
"I have been silly... would I get a chance to make this right?" Estelle murmured to herself as she lowered herself to a seat, picking up a small rock and tossing it into the stream.
The ripples that spread across the water surface were oddly calming, or perhaps this was just the serenity and peace that ca with knowing one faced a decisive mont in life.
"I have trained, for many years. However, I find myself wondering if my own strength will be enough... magic against a sword?" Estelle continued, laughing to herself quietly.
"At least my kin had their terrifying claws, their bladed teeth and fire...all I have is...well just ." Estelle said slowly, tossing another pebble into the lake.
"I am not scared, it would be a disgrace to my bloodline to fear a nymph...but this anxiety that cos with knowing I cannot afford to lose? That is what burdens ."
"If I fail, Dante rightfully becos hers. She will bond him and he will never get the chance to make a choice..."
"Dante could not afford to have another broken bond, not after the severing. Even if he is unwilling...he would not survive it." Estelle murmured quietly, the re thought sending a chill of terror running down her spine.
"I am the only one that can protect him now and I am willing to do whatever it takes, but I am no dragon. Will it be enough?" Estelle asked doubtfully,
Estelle was not certain why she was admitting to all her fears even when there was no one to answer her, but there was sothing about this clearing and the familiarity of it that made her feel at ease.
As much at ease as one could be when about to battle the High Maiden of a nymph clan.
"Is this how it feels to have the fate of another’s life resting on you? Is this how difficult it is for father... and the other dragon lord with thousands and thousands of beings to protect?"
"To be a dragon lord is much more than just having a dragon, I get that now. It is just Dante I have to protect and my hands won’t stop trembling..." Estelle trailed off at this point, heaving a quiet sigh.
Estelle had always hated being born a woman, because it ant she would never have a dragon and could never lead her people as her ancestors had.
"If things had gone differently...if I had taken that offer, gotten a dragon and Jason... would I have been happy?" Estelle asked herself, though she already knew the answer to it.
"I doubt you could find the answers you seek staring into the stream like that." Lord Farren’s voice interrupted Estelle’s thoughts.
"How long have you been listening to ?" Estelle asked, realizing she had been too deep in thought to sense Lord Farren’s approach.
"Not long. I cannot help but see that you do not truly consider yourself a dragon." Lord Farren pointed out as he moved closer slowly, the dried leaves crunching beneath his feet.
"Dragons have dragon sides, I do not." Estelle pointed out the obvious.
"I do not have an ounce of magic and I am not of this race, but if anyone ever told
I was any less nymph than they were, I would hit them across the head with my cane." Lord Farren countered.
Estelle sniggered, passing Lord Farren a look.
"So do you never feel... like you do not belong? Like everyone else is this amazing force of nature and you are just... you?" Estelle asked curiously.
"Child, I have dedicated my life to my clan. My every breath and every step for my clan, so even when I do feel... inadequate, I remind myself that I give as much as everyone else." Lord Farren replied with certainty.
"How do you know that? How much does everyone give?" Estelle asked again with a sigh.
"All that they have to give, child. All that they are and so do I, in all my human glory."
"I just do not give my service in the sa manner as they do. Not with magic, or spells or singing to trees... I give my service in the way that I can and I need no one to tell
how great my worth is."
"You do not see any nymphs limping around with a cane and a foot in death’s door, yet keeping an entire clan prosperous and in order. It is sothing only I can do... this human clan leader of the nymphs." Lord Farren said with a smile.
"You do not see any dragons here to save Dante. It is sothing only you can do... because you happened to be here for him at this ti, right when you need to be."
"Now point
to the dragon doing that?" Lord Farren asked.
"There’s none..." Estelle replied with a small smile.
"No, there is one...you." Lord Farren replied, nudging Estelle with his cane.
"I do not know so much about the words you have said, but I do know the sworn duty of the dragons was never bound to their dragon side. Rather it is their natural instinct to protect and safeguard... and I see that in you too."
"So you may not have scales, large killer teeth, bulging eyes or be as large as a mountain...but there is dragon in you, child."
"And today, it ca right out and told the High Maiden of a Nord clan that it would not give away what belonged to it."
"Now it is the set ti. You must take that dragon and go rain it’s fire down in that clearing...how was the battle call said again?" Lord Farren asked.
"Fire and blood!" Estelle hissed out, her eyes narrowed fiercely as she got up to her feet.
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