The Forbidden Light [BL] Chapter 5: Dragon’s Charisma, Golden Tears

Gari was enjoying the rabbit leg they had hunted just monts ago.

The soothing crackle of the fire and the stars glittering above in the embrace of nature filled Shion with a sadness he couldn’t quite na.

He didn’t know where this lancholy ca from. Or perhaps – deep down – he knew perfectly well, but lacked the courage to admit it to himself.

Not today. Not yet.

Gari suddenly stopped eating, as if struck by an unexpected thought.

"Wait, but who’s going to rule if you, Prince, left the palace?"

"Well, I’m glad you worry about such matters, but there’s no need. My sister will take my place."

"Huh... hold on, you have a sister?!"

"I understand your surprise. She isn’t a well-known figure. Though I get the feeling she’s trusted by the court more than I am."

Why am I even telling her all this? She’s just a guard who... ah, never mind.

"Boss..." Gari’s voice trembled. "You won’t fire after this, will you?"

"Why would I?"

"Because I really screwed things up! You have no idea how hard it is to live as a half-dragon," she said and let out a heavy sigh. "Damn, I would kill for good beer right now. Could help a lot, talking would be much easier."

Shion didn’t answer. The prince wasn’t sure how to react.

Should I keep my distance? Scold her and remind her who I am? On the other hand, maybe this is a chance to better understand how ordinary people live...

"You people up there have it easy," Gari went on, speaking as if to an old friend, not to a prince. "I grew up in the woods. When I was old enough to move to the city, I had to learn your customs from scratch. I tried all sorts of jobs, but sooner or later they kicked out. I was either too big, with my wings and tail getting in the way, or too strong. And to top it off, I can be clumsy sotis – so I figured I might as well make that my strength. You can’t imagine how happy I was when I got the ssage saying I got the job! And now what? I already blew it, right on my very first opponent."

"Considering your first opponent was literally a god, you did fairly well. At least you didn’t die – that’s sothing," he replied in a calm, monotonous voice, betraying no emotion.

Gari laughed, bright and genuine.

"I didn’t know you had such a sense of humor, boss. But failure’s still failure, no matter how you look at it," she said with a touch of sadness, then lifted her gaze to the sky.

anwhile, Shion stared into the fire.

I wish I could one day feel warmth like this... and comfort. To be in the very heart of the flas, without burning, just feeling its heat and finding peace, he thought with sorrow.

"Boss," Gari spoke again, "you’re not much of a talker, are you? I could never last sitting in silence that long. One of my life goals is to always have soone to talk to. Add a stable, decent job, going out for a beer once in a while... and I don’t need anything more," she said smiling honestly. "And what about you?"

"Hm?" Shion asked, visibly confused. He got too lost in his own thoughts.

"I’m asking about your goals, boss. You know... long term, what do you want out of life?"

My... goals?

Shion had never really thought about it. His whole life was controlled by the curse – he fought it by bearing the pain. He had always put all his energy into searching for the key. Now that he was found, Shion had to save him at any cost.

What should I even tell her? The truth is...

...I want to be able to express my emotions. I want the gods to stop tornting my family, and for people of my country to live carefree lives.

I want calm, happiness... and a little warmth, just like everyone else.

But I can’t admit that to her. No – I can’t admit that to anyone.

These dreams must be buried within , like the suffering I have felt since the very first monts of my life.

"Peace," Shion finally answered after a long silence.

"That’s it?" Gari asked, surprised.

It’s for the best. The less she knows about , the better.

"Actually, that suits you, boss," she said with a wide grin. "You’re the quiet, mysterious type. Probably explains why you’ve already had dozens of marriage proposals, huh?"

Not that many, actually – but I rejected them all. Soone like could never create a happy family.

For now, I’d rather focus on my goal, now that I finally have a real chance of breaking the curse. Everything else can co later.

With the faintest trace of a smile, Shion nodded to her.

*

Aya, dressed in a richly decorated pink gown and with her intricately styled hair by Maldie, who had worked on it for hours since dawn, entered the throne room.

She gathered everyone she could: ministers, soldiers, generals.

"Forgive for calling you under such unusual circumstances," she spoke with confidence, her eyes sparkling with determination. "My brother has set out on a mission to retrieve the key stolen by the gods. You have known him as a reasonable ruler, never influenced by his emotions. Prince Shion left you with a heavy heart, but he could not abandon the key to his fate. As his only close family, I will take his place in his absence. Does anyone wish to object?"

Aya gazed over the hall. She noticed that several ministers and nobles looked at her with disdain – not because they were her enemies, but because they could not bear the thought of being ruled by a woman.

Yet none of them dared oppose her. None of them had enough influence to bring the rest together in protest.

"My lady, if I may," Khai said, stepping forward with a humble bow. "Don’t you think this mission is suicidal?"

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Khai voiced what many were already thinking. So even believed the prince wouldn’t return.

"You need not worry for your ruler. He left fully prepared."

"Even so, he will be fighting the gods themselves!" shouted soone from the crowd, unable to hold back their emotions. "There’s no way he can win! This sounds like sothing out of old songs or myths!"

"Well," Aya said with a faint smile, "if he makes it back, you’ll have the chance to compose another in his honor."

*

Haru was shaking from fear and crying.

Among the clouds, the only thing that kept him company was the wind.

Harsh, piercing, rciless wind. His teeth chattered from the cold, and his body trembled even more.

I can’t believe a single eting could change my life this much...

Before, I lived peacefully. Boring, but peaceful. Why did I have to beco the key?

I’m weak. I can’t defend myself or fight. I wouldn’t even call myself a man - I’m pathetic. All I can do is silently beg for soone to save , because I have nothing else left. Shouldn’t the key be soone... stronger? Soone... who isn’t ?

Will Shion even be able to find here?

No, I must believe he will. Maybe he’ll co with an army...

But wait, should he really abandon his nation and duties... just for ?

No! He has far more important things to deal with.

"M-maybe it’s b-better..." Haru whispered to himself, "i-if I j-just d-die here."

Exhausted by the cold and despair, Haru drifted into sleep.

He dread of Shion.

They stood facing each other in a adow. The air was heavy with sumr heat.

The prince was so close to him...

Shion? Have you already co for ?! No, I’m still up here among the clouds, so this has to be a dream, right? Or maybe... maybe I’m already dead?

Without a word, Shion walked up to him and tenderly placed his hand on Haru’s cheek.

It was so warm, so pleasant to the touch...

"Sh-Shion..." Haru whispered his na, his face flushing with excitent and shyness. He pressed his own hand against Shion’s.

Shion smiled, as if to say that everything would be all right.

And then, the dream shattered like a broken vase.

Haru looked out toward the horizon of clouds. Sohow, he felt a weight lift from his heart.

Should I take this as a sign? he wondered, his gaze drifting across the sky.

*

Shion and Gari woke up in the morning. The prince dread the very sa dream as Haru.

Shion’s hand gripped the hilt of his katana.

My right hand... the pain is gone.

So this is what a normal body feels like?

This weightlessness without tornt... it’s so beautiful, he thought as they marched on.

"So what’s the plan, boss?" Gari asked.

"We’ll start by destroying every shrine of the wind god, one by one. I told Aya to order my n to do the sa. His strength will weaken, and eventually he’ll have no choice but to answer the challenge," he replied, firm and sure.

Haru, it was only a dream... yet your touch made feel sothing completely new

Could this... be fate?

They marched further through steep mountain paths until they reached their first target: a shrine of the wind god.

They expected only a priest or perhaps a few worshippers.

But the god had already decided to pay them a visit, as if he saw through their plans.

The deity, looking bored, sat upon the roof of the building.

He gave them a bold, half-mocking smile.