The blazing energy Calix extracted from Keliyah's lips was more intense than anything he'd ever experienced.
When he tried to pull away, feeling as if he'd burst into flames if he held on any longer, the girl clung to him with sleepy whimpers. Perhaps, she could feel the effects as strongly as he could.
That's good, he thought, slumping down beside the bed. He wasn't sure how much fire was left in Keliyah's body, but with as much as he'd taken from her, she should be able to return to normal soon.
As he stumbled toward his study, knowing he needed to expel the power from his body before he suffered the same fate as his late father, the emperor wondered how Keliyah had gotten to such a state.
Was it because she hadn't been using her powers? No, in that case, the flames should have remained dormant. This situation was more like she had been repeatedly igniting the fire in her blood and then leaving it trapped inside.
"Ugh." Calix grabbed his throbbing head as he rummaged through one of his desk drawers. "It's not here."
He didn't have the energy to wonder where the precious item had disappeared to. He had to find a replacement as soon as possible.
Before he'd even taken three steps away from his desk, however, the Dragon Emperor collapsed to the floor, completely taken by the same mystery fever that had afflicted Keliyah.
When he opened his eyes several days later, he found himself lying in his bed, Ira sound asleep by his side clutching his hand.
pαпᵈα-noνɐ1·сoМ "Ha?" the emperor grunted as he tried to shake his hand free from his advisor's iron grip.
He'd been close friends with Ira for nearly two decades, but to think the standoffish man would actually be so affectionate as to clasp his hand at his bedside like a worried lover was a bit much.
As he wiggled his fingers around, he discovered that Ira wasn't just holding his hand. To be more precise, the man was holding something round and smooth against his hand.
Upon closer observation, he discovered the object was one of the faux jade necklaces peddled by a ring of criminal merchants months ago. Through investigation, they had discovered that the stone, while similar to jade in looks, was similar to a moonstone in composition.
Had Ira been clutching this stone here in hopes it would purify the emperor's body of the fire the same way a moonstone could?
"Ah, Your Majesty," the advisor yawned, slowly sitting up. "Fortunately, it seems that this thing did some good, after all."
"Perhaps," Calix replied, wincing as he suddenly became aware of stinging pain all over his body. "Or perhaps not."
"I've instructed the librarian to retrieve a moonstone," Ira went on. "Though, I haven't heard back from her. That fickle woman. I shall send someone to-"
"No, I'll go check myself," Calix groaned, pushing himself up.
The sooner he got his hands on that stone, the better.
Ira rolled his eyes and stood up with a sore, "Whatever you say, Your Majesty."
Unlike Thane, who still seemed to argue with Calix over things like this, Ira had long since come to terms with his emperor's belligerent personality.
After changing into a clean shirt, Calix immediately set out toward the library. The palace workers he passed on his way were all shocked to see the emperor up and moving in such a terrible state, but none dared utter more than a polite greeting.
Just when he had finally reached his destination, he was stopped by Keliyah's voice floating out from under the library door.
'Are you saying that this was done purposefully?'
The poor girl sounded like she was nearly in tears.
'Isn't it so much fun to back that man into a corner and watch him squirm?'
The other voice belonged to Lila.
Just what was that woman playing at? It was easy enough to guess what the two were discussing, but why would Lila take credit for the death of Keliyah's comrade when it was clearly Soren's doing?
The emperor grunted in pain as he tried to force his mind to think.
Whatever. He would get rid of this cursed headache first, and then worry about what Lila was up to.
With a huff, he stepped into the library.
"Lila."
Within a few minutes, the woman was being dragged out of the room by several guards, instructed to hold her somewhere until Calix could confront her properly.
"How long do you really think you can hold onto a toy that doesn't belong to you?" the woman taunted quietly as she passed Calix.
A toy?
No, Keliyah wasn't like a toy. She was like a lovely little bird that flew away every time Calix opened her cage.
Even now, before his eyes, his little bird was trying to escape, chasing wildly after Lila.
No. If she left again now, she might never come back. He had to stop her.
"I'll make you happy," Calix pleaded, crushing his golden bird in his arms. "I'll be so good to you, so stay here with me."
Keliyah flinched in his grasp. "E-excuse me?"
How could he make it any clearer? He wanted her to stay with him. Contrary to Itzae's warning years ago, he must have already grown dependent on this girl's affection. Even the thought of her leaving him was suffocating.
Momentarily, he thought his strange feelings may be due to the fever raging through his body. Even after he'd found the moonstone Lila left for him, though, he still couldn't shake his longing for Keliyah.
When he learned that she'd flown away again, this time ending up in the one place the emperor couldn't reach, he wasted no time throwing his honor away to go retrieve her. Making a powerful and dangerous enemy out of his kinsmen underground didn't scare him nearly as much as the idea of his pretty bird locked in Soren's cage.
Soren was only taking the bait that had been dangled in front of him, yet Calix was livid.
And so, in a move that couldn't be described as anything less than absolutely crazy, the Dragon Emperor charged into Subterra to get Keliyah back.
In spite of the promise he'd made in earnest to appease the Subterrans after his ascension to the throne.
In spite of everything he owed his former mentor who'd negotiated that promise on his behalf.
In spite of it all.
It wasn't even about her golden hair and intriguing powers anymore.. He just wanted Keliyah.
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