Dawn- An age of Darkness
Chapter 204 - Maybe I Wasn’t As Smart As I Thought I Was

"Bunny buns, get out of the way." I didn't want the cute bunny to die in front of me so I grit my teeth and prepared myself. It was the same bunny we met back in the wilderness. The same brown fluff of goodness: my love.

The dragon howled and prepared to fire an all-out attack. It was critically wounded and I was at a fair distance. Not the best combo. What's worse the cute bunny was right in front of me. If I decided to dodge, the bunny would die but if I tried to take it head-on, I'd probably be the one who'd die. But given the scope of what's to come, dodging wasn't the best solution either. "Here's goes nothing."

I focused mana and concentrated it in front of me. If I had enough force I could block it with my magic, at least that's what I thought. The bunny hopped around like none of this had anything to do with it. I narrowed my eyes. I didn't know if I'd be able to block it or not but I had to. 

Mana swirled in the air, creating small balls of light. They were roughly the size of a water droplet but numbering at least a thousand. I didn't know if this was going to work or not, but I had to try.

But, as I thought I'd soon be charred, my body began to glow. It wasn't my usual light, it wasn't my mana. The light was pale blue. 

Is the gem working all of a sudden? But didn't he say? No, this is…

  It wasn't the gem. It was something else. Last time when I used the gem my body glowed a dark shade of blue and my left hand had regrown but this time nothing like that happened. Whatever it was, I didn't have time to worry about it. The giant holy light in front of me got coated with a blue tint and glowed in a similar light and the air around me felt cold.

Well, that's new.

I didn't know why but I felt nostalgia with this magic. 

Maybe the knowledge Boriosa gave me, finally, started working? I had no idea, really.

The dragon fired its breath and I combined all the small droplets, forming a massive ball. I fired the ball of cold light: it sped ahead, spinning violently. A weird combination but an effective one. The ball cut through the flame- mostly intact- and banged against the dragon's head, like an icicle. Steam sprayed everywhere like mist. The dragon groaned and couldn't open its eyes. 

There's my chance. 

I ran at full force and repeated just like last time, tearing through the flesh. This time ice formed in its wounds and it fell for good. 

I doubled checked just in case. It was totally dead.

If just one takes this much effort… my face went pale. 

But what was that power?

I rechecked the gem. As expected, it was dormant. I looked around. The bunny was gone again and I stopped glowing. It couldn't have been a spirit, right? It was the only explanation I could think of.

But if holy works like light, couldn't I heat up the surrounding as well?

I still didn't understand much about magic and most of my discoveries were through experiments as even Lianne couldn't really tell me much about the holy element. But I didn't have time for experiments. 

However, now I was faced with a dilemma. The dragons and the god were too much for me to confront. But there was another option. 

What if I ran away?

I couldn't just ignore the thought. No, it was a better option, at least for me.

Thousands would die. But, I'd live. 

My friends would die, but I'd live. 

But would I be able to live with myself?

Would I really be able to live with myself?

What was more important? Living a life full of regrets or trying to live without any, though knowing you'd almost certainly die?

Honestly, I didn't know the answer. So, instead of thinking too damn much about it, I thought about my friends, I thought about the people who gave their lives for me, and I ran for the city gates. 

I was confused and bewildered but I had no time to lose. The city was already ablaze. I had to hurry. 

***

The gates were locked and there were no guards this time. I had no chance of climbing up either. 

What am I supposed to do now?

Every second lost might have been catastrophic. People were screaming and houses were burning. I didn't have time to gaze upon a wall in the hopes of someone coming to my rescue.

But then again, how come people weren't running away from the city? How come everyone was still inside?

I didn't know.

I had only one hand. I had to make a decision. I brought out the knife and shoved it into the wall. The decision was made.

It was almost impossible to climb with just one hand but I did not give up: I couldn't. I made small holes with the knife and used them as footing. With sheer willpower, I climbed almost to the top but that was it. The breeze from the ground helped significantly but that was as far as I could go.

My grip started to slip. I'd fall in a matter of seconds. 

I can't even climb a damn wall? How would I save the people?

I grinded my teeth and in a last attempt, I put all my weight into action and kicked the wall with all my strength. It was a stone wall but the stone itself was fairly light. Suffice to say I broke through it and broke some stuff in my own body as well. I was leaking from various places and few people that saw me crawl up from the debris looked at me with awe and shock. 

I breathed but it hurt. I stood but it stung. I smiled but my body throbbed. 

And I just recovered a day ago too. 

At least I got in the city.

I popped a potion open and drank it. It healed the superficial wounds but the deep ones and broken bones weren't all that healed. But I could move around. 

Next time I'll go somewhere where there aren't any of these damn things.

I really needed a long vacation.

***

Screams, cries, roars filled the air. The smell of smoke and burning drifted as well. Burned people smelled the worst. I felt like throwing up.

The dragons never came down. They were above the city destroying everything from afar. The city guards fired arrows and javelins but they weren't enough. Fire was everywhere and people panicked, running around aimlessly in a desperate attempt to cling to their life. And yet, the gates were closed, and no one could get out. It was pandemonium.

  I couldn't spot Dick or Lianne. 

"Hey, you! What are you doing! If you want to fight then get into formation. If you want to run then head north!" A guard yelled at me from behind. It was the same guard who stopped us earlier. He was pretty blunt. But I'd already decided on my destination. It was atop the city, in the middle. The so-called God was up there.  "Hey! I'm talking to you!" Since I didn't reply he started yelling even louder.

He did give me a nice piece of information though. People were running but they were running in the opposite direction, to the north.

I guess people weren't as dumb as I thought they were. But this also didn't mean they were smart either. 

"Sorry but I'm not listening."

I looked for wings. I had to go up. I had to meet the dragon head-on. I couldn't just let everyone die because of me.

He sighed with disapproval. "Suit yourself." He ran elsewhere.

I recognized my surroundings. I'd been here before, with Lianne. I made my way to the store that sold wings. 

It was closed. 

I really didn't like this. Nothing went my way today.

Do I have to break in?

"Daarc!" Jori yelled from a distance. 

A second more and I might have actually become a burglar.