Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 137: Bargain ()

The first crack of dawn stirred Neveah awake and her hand lifted up to wipe the dregs of sleep from her eyes.

Neveah was not even certain when she had drifted off to sleep, her mind was clouded with exhaustion and it was hard to think clearly with the pain from her wrists and neck,

Her knees also felt numb and all Neveah could remember was that warm feeling that drove away the cold and biting night wind after a heavy rainfall.

’Xenon...’ Neveah thought, recalling the presence of the wild black dragon by her side right till the moment she had drifted off to sleep.

As a beast of flame, his being exuded an intense warmth and having him so close had been quite like having her own customized fireplace out here in the open courtyard.

A large and imposing black fireplace that was so terrifying on the outside but with a heart so tender,

Neveah was certain not many would agree to her opinion of Xenon but truly, all she had seen of the black dragon was nothing like everyone said of him.

’Between Xenon and the rest of them, they need to have a rethink about who truly is wild...’ Neveah thought.

Neveah’s eyes finally fluttered open, she squinted slightly to let her eyes adjust.

There still remained that comforting warmth and a small smile settled on Neveah’s lips as she turned around,

However where she was hoping to find Xenon gazing down at her or slumbering as he sometimes would, be it in human or dragon form,

Neveah instead met a pair of mismatched eyes and silvery white tresses that belonged to the Dragon King.

"Why is it you?" Neveah grumbled in annoyance, her smile dropping completely and a blank expression taking its place.

King Jian stood at the edge of the platform, his hands crossed behind his back and his stance as regal and noble as always.

He exuded an aura that was so majestic, Neveah could not help feeling it was just wrong.

’How could one have such a cruel and cold heart yet appear so cultured and civilized?’ Neveah wondered as she stared up at him.

To have chains ready for her just a short moment after being accused...the level of eagerness to ruin Neveah was just unbelievable.

As though he knew Neveah’s thoughts, King Jian passed her a chilling cold glance.

"The one you expect to see is not here." King Jian stated in his characteristic cold tone.

"I see that." Neveah murmured in response as she moved her gaze away from the Dragon King, she instead settled to stare ahead of her.

"To what do I owe Your Grace’s esteemed presence?" Neveah asked when King Jian did not speak afterwards.

"Three days were granted to Kalia and same was granted to you, a day has rolled by. Have you nothing to say?" King Jian asked.

"There was never anything to be said. I have said all I need to." Neveah replied blankly.

"You must be confident... confident in Xenon’s favor..." King Jian stated.

Though his tone did not change, Neveah could understand King Jian’s accusation.

"Xenon’s favor?...It is interesting indeed." Neveah began as she glanced up at King Jian.

"Yet my pride does not allow me to be confident in anyone, or accept any favors from your kind."

"Whatever happens at the close of these three days is my own fate, I will not burden another... I also will not be the reason Xenon taints his scales to battle you...Your Grace." Neveah replied calmly.

King Jian’s gaze narrowed at Neveah’s words.

"You know it, that Xenon cannot save you. And yet, you are so confident?" King Jian asked suspiciously.

"The ultimate end is just death, is it not?...In my world, death is not such a big deal." Neveah replied with a hollow smile.

"Do you truly have no fear of death...or you have already made your own plans?" King Jian asked.

"I did nothing wrong, and I am fully aware you persecute me only to satiate your distaste and distrust of me."

"There is nothing and no one that can save me from your darkness...Your Grace. Why must I bother making plans?" Neveah asked with a scoff.

King Jian did not respond immediately, just staring at Neveah with narrowed eyes for a long while.

" Lord Everon pleads to save you and vows to seek a method to restore Kalia to health... Menarx sought out Xenon and spoke of your chains to him yet he believes I do not know of it."

"... Xenon has taken flight in rage, perhaps he would battle me if he lingered anymore, do you believe my concerns lie with the molt scales alone?" King Jian asserted.

"You consider me a threat to those you value, for that... I must die, guilty or not. So why bring me here in the first place?" Neveah asked.

"It was the first time he asked something of me...be it loathsome to me or worse, he sought my help..." King Jian replied, trailing off at the end.

Neveah blinked, momentarily taken aback by King Jian’s honest response.

"Xenon will not stand against you for me, Your Grace. Was it not clear enough back in the cave? Because it was to me." Neveah assured, a mirthless chuckle escaping her.

"If you wish to live, you should give me a reason not to kill you then...two days is all you have." King Jian reminded as he headed away.

"The Lady Kaliana, Xenon values both mother and child...as does Menarx and Lord Everon, as do you. Do you all truly plan to wait upon providence for the two days left?" Neveah asked.

This had been on her mind for quite sometime, it was not as though Neveah’s death could bring back mother and child if anything untoward happened to them.

If they died and Neveah died too, was that some sort of consolation for the loss?

"Half my keep is out seeking an answer... providence? Your life is the only one left to that." King Jian replied blankly.

"I do not believe in providence or fate, Your Grace. If you do not wish for your trusted ones to take my side, then this situation where I am in need of saving... has to be rectified."

"You have offered a wish to whoever can save the Lady Kaliana... this wish, can I trust that you will keep your word?" Neveah asked with a raised brow.

"A King never breaks his word." King Jian replied.

"Very well then, I am willing to offer you a way out...a way where you do not have to be the villain, I will be that instead."

"I will return to you your trusted ones and completely disappear from their minds..." Neveah trailed off.

’And their lives too...’ Neveah added in her thoughts.

"In return, let me decide my own fate. I will save your nephew and the child’s mother too...at any cost." Neveah decided.

Neveah was not certain why she was even making such a bargain, she had decided to do nothing initially,

But Neveah realized, if she remained the damsel in distress then there would always be those trying to play hero.

Xenon... Menarx, these two were valued by the Dragon King. The more they took her side, the more trouble she would be in, that was just the way it worked.

And so, Neveah had to save herself...by her own hands. From this accusation and from the Dragon Keep itself.

Freedom in exchange for the lives of the Dragon King’s nephew and the child’s mother, Neveah did not think it was an impossible exchange.

And if she failed to save mother and child, regardless of if she tried or remained kneeling here, doing nothing and awaiting heaven’s decision, she would still have to share the same fate as the mother and child.

"I have summoned a council of riders, you shall stand before them and they will judge...if your words can be trusted." King Jian replied after pondering for a moment.

"And you cannot make that judgment yourself?" Neveah asked with a raised brow.

"I know my judgment. I cannot and will never find you trustworthy, princess." King Jian stated blankly.

"These words of yours, I shall remember them. Ensure you always maintain the same energy, Your Grace."

" Detest me and distrust me always, just as you do now." Neveah said with a low chuckle.

King Jian passed a glance over his shoulder, a complicated expression in his eyes as he regarded Neveah quietly for a moment.

"I do not think you came to me just to stand and linger here till I said something of my own volition."

"Whatever made you decide to hear me out?" Neveah asked suspiciously.

"He asked it of me..." King Jian murmured in response as he strode away.

Neveah stared after the dragon king for a long moment, she was not certain why, but she had gained a new understanding of him today.

"You must have lost a lot of people...to be so fiercely protective of those you have left..." Neveah murmured to herself, shaking her head slightly.

Each dragon was bound to have their own story, a reason they were the way they are...but what did it matter? Who did not have a story?

It most certainly was not Neveah, for if there ever was one with the darkest tale of a horrifying past...

Neveah could speak of two lifetimes worth and an entire lifetime ahead, since even at this very moment, she was yet to find... peace.