The drake spotted me within seconds. Its coal-black eyes fixed on me, and its mouth opened as it let out a low, sibilant hiss. I adjusted my grip on my dagger, wishing I had brought along a spear, even though both would be equally useless against the beast's scales and dense, magically enhanced flesh.

We stood for several seconds, the beast hissing as I dwelled on mistakes. I pushed those aside, pulling on my core and threading Aether through my body. Muscles twitched, strenghtened beyond my natural limitations.

Slowly, I raised my dagger, dragging the edge along the outside of my right arm. A thin, bloody stream dripped down to my fingers, plopping to the dirt beneath me. The drake shifted, adjusting as if ready to move. Its wood mana had stopped healing its wounds, but it had, in just minutes, repaired enough to step away from the brink of death.

The drake twitched, and I took off running, heading away from the Esttons and deeper into the grasslands. I could hear it charge after me just seconds later, faster than I would like to consider.

Running for my life was not something I had ever planned on doing. It was not quite the worst experience of my life, as my duel against the Aresford monster still held that title, but it was close.

As it turned out, I was faster than the drake. Not much faster, as I had to rely upon my strengthening spell and several castings of Force Step to keep ahead of a starving, near-dead monster, but it was enough.

I ran the beast on a merry chase further and further from the others, all the while knowing I stood on the precipice. If my magic or stamina flagged, if I stumbled even once, the beast would catch me, and I would die. That surge of hatred returned, as did a realization of my own failings.

Leon had pushed me to help kill the drake, but I could have refused. I could have-no, I should have lied or convinced Leon to walk away. But I had not. And the truth was far more frustrating than I cared to admit.

I wanted to see if we could kill it. And now I might die for that arrogant delusion.

It took the beast maybe fifteen minutes before it gave up. Drakes favored quick, brutal ambushes, killing anything that stumbled across their paths. Even in perfect condition, it would have become exhausted in time, and it was far from perfect.

I doubled back when I felt its flickering mana signature fade into the distance, constantly checking to ensure it was not following. It took another half-hour, but soon, I saw my friends, along with about ten other people, standing beside a few sparse trees.

Amelia noticed me right away, breaking from the others. I braced myself for the yelling, but she threw her arms around me and squeezed hard. When she pulled away after a few seconds, she kept her hands on my forearms and remained just a foot away from me with a glare on her face.

"I thought I told you not to do anything stupid," Amelia remarked.

I chanced a smile, "Does that mean you are going to come along next time to stop me?"

"If that's the only way to keep you from trying to fight a drake? Absolutely."

"I did more running than fighting if that helps."

A throat cleared, and we both looked over to see Leon had joined us. My face heated up, and I tried to pull away, but Amelia kept her grip on my arms as she stared at the noble.

"We're talking," Amelia remarked bluntly, and I noticed the ice in her voice.

Leon coughed, "I apologize, but we need to talk about the drake. You lost it, I presume?"

I nodded, "It gave up after a few minutes of chasing. I cannot say where it is now, but I ensured it did not follow me."

Leon nodded and folded his arms over his chest, "We should press our advantage."

"You cannot be serious."

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

I blinked and glanced at Amelia, who glared at Leon with more ferocity than I had ever seen from her.

"Amelia-" Leon began, but she cut him off.

"Vayne had to run off and distract this thing so you and your sister could escape. We did everything right, and it lived. And you want to press our luck? What, are you hoping it finishes the job this time?" Amelia said, her voice rising into a yell.

The group nearby looked over at us, and I placed a hand on Amelia's hip, "Maybe we should-"

She ignored me, pulling away and marching closer to Leon, "We lost. If you wanna throw your life away, feel free. But I'm not going to watch while you drag Vayne into it. He's your advisor, not your slave."

Leon did not step away, instead shaking his head, "I know that, but the beast is half-starved. And its healing ability should be exhausted. We just need to push a little more."

I took a deep breath and said, "Amelia is right. Sophia was our best chance to land a killing blow. Without her, our wisest choice is to retreat, contact your father, and live to fight another day."

Leon met my eyes, then looked over his shoulder, not at the others but further off, towards the town he had decided to protect.

"Vayne," Leon said, "We can't just leave. Please. I know we can win."

That arrogant voice in my head whispered to agree, to test myself, and I pushed it aside.

"If we fight, we will lose," I replied, shaking my head. You wanted my advice before, and I am giving it now. We did all that we could and fell short. If we tempt fate, one of us will end up injured—or worse."

I could see the moment when Leon weighed my words. If he commanded me to help, what would I say? Would I leave him to die? Thankfully, I did not have to answer.

Leon let out a low breath and shook his head, "You're right. I just..."

"I know," I responded, nodding once.

And I did know.

We set off for the town again, and I tried to ignore the pointed whispers of the hunters and guards who had helped us prepare the trap. I tried to ignore the hopeful looks from the townsfolk as we approached and how they turned to dismay whenever Leon shook his head. I pushed away the sting of failure and guilt, irrational though both were and focused instead on what I could control.

Leon broke away from the rest of us to speak with the mayor, providing what little advice he could to the man. He suggested we get some food and rest, advice no one else seemed eager to ignore. Aside from me, of course.

I ate in just a minute or two, ignoring the uneasy looks Kara shot us and returned to my room alone. There, I pulled out my notes on magic and began combing through anything to progress faster and more efficiently.

My future counterpart would have been able to tear a drake apart by this point. I could not say how I knew, but I did. And the next time I faced one, so would I.

I lost myself in my work, such that I did not notice the commotion downstairs until it grew to a boiling point. Voices, some high-pitched and others low and booming, mixed with scraping chairs, slamming doors, and boots against floorboards. I caught clanking noises and a faint wailing and, for a moment, debated ignoring the whole thing.

Then, I sighed and stood before walking downstairs.

Twenty or so people, mostly commoners, had crowded into the inn. They had formed a rough circle surrounding four figures. The first was a woman in her thirties dressed in the simple clothes of a farmer. She wore cloth pants, a loose shirt, and heavy shoes in various earth tones. They were patched but in good condition, aside from the red stain marring the front of her chest.

Two children clung to her legs, appearing like miniatures of the woman. The boy was about six, and the girl was a few years younger and noticeably smaller. Tears streamed down the children's faces as they shrieked and wailed, and I could tell the mother was only just managing to hold back from crying herself.

The fourth person was Leon, still dressed in the same hunting attire. I could not see his face, as his back was to me, but I could see the rest of our group. They all had stricken expressions, with Simon's mouth open and Amelia looking close to tears.

I walked closer, and Leon must have sensed my approach somehow. He turned, and I saw his eyes were watery and red, his mouth set, and his skin pale.

"Vayne..." Leon's voice was tight.

"What happened?" I asked, suspecting the answer.

"The drake..." Leon's voice cracked, "It attacked a farm...not far from where we fought it. It..."

I glanced at the woman and her children again and filled in the blanks. Guilt cut through me, sharper than a knife and hot as flames. This was our fault. No, not ours. Mine.

Drakes needed to eat. We had taxed its healing ability enough that it was now starving to death. And in my attempts to lead it away from my friends, I had brought it within reach of other, much more vulnerable prey.

This was my fault, more than anyone else's. But all that guilt did not change the cold, hard facts.

I knew what Leon would ask and what I had to do. So, I met his eyes even as he opened his mouth and shook my head.

Leon's expression cracked. He swallowed visibly, then nodded once before turning towards the woman.

"I'm sorry," Leon forced out, kneeling on the floor and bowing, "Nothing I can do will be enough to return what you lost. But-I swear, on my title as a mage and my name as a son of a duke, that I will do all within my power to set this right. I promise."

It was as formal a promise as a mage typically made and dangerous for it. Magically enforced oaths relied upon willpower like anything else, and if you meant one too much, your mana might react.

The woman stared at him, and I could see the three emotions warring for purchase. Grief, fear, and rage vied for dominance, and in the end, the third won.

"Liar," the woman hissed before pulling her children closer and walking away. They disappeared into the crowd, hidden behind several other commoners who glared at us with naked hostility. Leon straightened up, and I could see from how he stood that her words had struck him.

I did not blame them. Leon had already delivered one naive, idealistic promise and had fallen short. While he had plenty of lofty, noble aspirations, that did not change the reality. It was easy to say things would be better in the future when you were not the one who had lost a friend, a neighbor, or a husband.

I placed my hand on Leon's shoulder and leaned in to whisper, "We should leave for home. The sooner we can warn your father, the better. And..."

And the townsfolk would not welcome our continued company. I doubted any of them would go so far as to attack us, but it was not worth chancing. Already, Leon had clear, unshakeable guilt on his face.

It took us just minutes to gather our things, retrieve our mounts, and set off again. Soon, we were heading southward, back to the Estton family holdings. No one spoke, and even Sophia had an expression of clear, unmistakable regret on her face.

Despite my best efforts, I could not push aside the look on the woman's face or the sounds of her children wailing. And though she had not directed her words at me, they stung nonetheless.

Liar.

I would make no promises to a stranger. Instead, I would make one to myself. The next time I faced a beast like that drake, I would not run. I would not hide. It would fall before my blade, no matter what.