Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 121: Tienna Point

"I’m the Magician of Crystal."

Marxie beat her long, pink eyelashes as she stared knowingly into Ezra’s heart. Her ever-present smile widened as he took her hand in his and shook it.

She blushed and turned her head from Ezra slightly, the wide brim of her hat covering her face. Pulling her hand away from the shake, she withdrew some lip gloss and quickly applied it, popping her lips together and giggling.

"Mmm, much better," Marxie said. Her voice had an ethereal quality to it. It was clear, passing through the air as if nothing could interrupt it. Piercing. If she spoke quietly in a crowd, surely everyone would fall silent.

She tipped her head back up, exploring Bree and Ezra up and down with an ever-curious smile, one that flickered and grew whenever she detected a new interesting detail about them.

"Ooh, you’re a man possessed of some interesting powers, aren’t you?" she queried, making a cute pose and clapping her hands together. She stood on one leg and swayed back and forth, her demeanor excited and expectant of an answer.

"Er...something like that," Ezra said, talking through his teeth. It wasn’t something he was excited to share.

"How amazing. You must be here to cure the famine, hm?"

Ezra narrowed his eyes. "Yes, but..."

"How did I know? Hehe, a woman has her secrets. Maybe we can help each other out. I’m here for...other reasons, but these people are suffering."

Marxie clicked toward the Hungry she’d turned into crystal. It was still there, perfectly motionless.

"I’m here about that mountain. The one off in the distance. With a flat top, see?" Marxie pointed out a craggy black cylindrical tower of rock nestled in the mountains.

"It’s a dormant Encephalim. I was hoping to learn something about it."

"That mountain is an Encephalim!?" Ezra gasped. Though he had a visible reaction to the news, Bree didn’t bat an eye.

Ezra whipped his body to face Bree. "That’s where Rav and Ezra are!" he exclaimed. "Isn’t your family up there, too!?"

Bree blinked slowly. "A thousand years ago, the Magician of Ice received their destiny to vanquish Lavoshe, the Encephalim Calamity. But the Magician of Ice could never kill Lavoshe. It was all he could do to seal Lavoshe here in the northern country, and place the mountains under a constant storm of ice. Frozen as he is, Lavoshe can no longer cause any harm. But should the pall of cold ever melt, Lavoshe will erupt again, and this land, Asteria, the Wild Lands - they shall be torched."

Marxie crossed her hands behind her back and swayed back and forth as Bree spoke. "You’re quite informed," she said quietly after Bree finished explaining the Encephalim mountain to Ezra.

"My father was a Magician of Ice," Bree stated plainly. "And my family kept watch over Lavoshe for many years. We still do, though my father has long passed."

Bree tucked her wings in close. "I thought you were here for the famine, Magician of Crystal. Have you truly come just to seek counsel regarding Lavoshe?"

"Of course. It’s my destiny to defeat the Encephalim Brain, after all."

"Encephalim...Brain?"

Marxie gave Ezra a quick wink. "Nothing for you to worry about."

Marxie started to walk away, but before she left earshot, she called back to Ezra and Bree. "There’s a horde southeast of here. Someone’s gathering those things." She gestured toward the crystallized Hungry. "I promised someone important that I’d guard the village, so I’m a bit tied up at the moment. Maybe you two can figure out something to do?"

At that moment, Marxie vanished from view, a puff of shimmering crystal dust all that remained where she was standing seconds ago.

"A horde...but we can’t do anything without Oberyn and Rav. Not against an army of those things."

Bree nodded. "I could pick them out from the air, but it would take too long, leaving me open to counterattack from their leader. We don’t know what sort of powers they might have."

Ezra looked toward the mountain again, unease ravaging his mind. "But then...what brought Rav and Oberyn to that mountain, if not the famine?"

A chilly wind blew through the two of them as they stood in the street. As Ezra stared at the mountain in the distance, he noticed the sun beginning to dip in the sky.

"I hate to say it, but we might have to overnight here," Ezra advised.

"I agree. With a night of rest, I should have enough energy to fly us both up to the peak."

Bree and Ezra found a nearby inn, and made arrangements for the night. The innkeeper seemed pleased to see them - or to have any customers at all. The famine had brought the town’s economy to a grinding halt - and visitors were already a rare sight in this far-flung corner of the world.

"Agh," Ezra said, sitting down on a stiff mattress as he threw his boots off. He laid down on the bed, his arms over his head, staring up at the ceiling. He was anxiously thinking about Rav and Oberyn.

There was a light knock on his door, and Bree stepped in. She’d just settled in her room as well.

"I wanted to share with you, Ezra. I just felt Rav burn through an incredible amount of mana. He must have fought against another Magician, though I am confident he was the victor. But...I’m quite tired now..."

As Bree spoke, she collapsed in Ezra’s doorway. He bolted up from the bed and rushed to her side, lifting her head and holding her upright.

"Bree!" he called in an attempt to rouse her. She opened up her eyes partway, her attention fixed elsewhere.

"Sorry...between the flying and the...drain on my stamina...I must be a little more tired than I thought."

Ezra helped Bree back to her room, and laid her down in bed. He tucked her into the blankets and turned off the light for her.

"I’m right next door, just call me if you need anything."

Bree croaked something back at Ezra, but he couldn’t quite understand. Before Ezra stepped out of the room, Bree reached her wingtips out to him and pulled Ezra close. She had something she needed to say.

"Being so close to Rav...it’ll never get easier for me," she stammered, her voice quiet and void of energy. "But I am here for you, Ezra. You too are bound to a Magician - have given up your freedom on his behalf. We understand each other in a way few others ever could. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Ezra’s mind flashed to Oberyn and Rav. Even Decoy. They were his treasured allies, but Bree was right.

Still, he didn’t fully understand the depth of her connection to Rav. Why did his use of magic affect her so?

"Rav treats us as equals. And that is why I work as hard as I do on Rav’s behalf."

And finally, Bree told Ezra the one thing he needed to hear that day. "We will see Rav and Oberyn again," she stated, not a moment of doubt in her voice. "So rest easy. Clear your mind of darkness. Purge your body of fear. For soon Oberyn will have need of you, and he relies on your strength. If we falter, so too would our Magicians."

Ezra held Bree’s feathers in his hand. He carefully contemplated her words and thought about them through his own perspective. "You’re right," he said after some time.

"But never forget, Ezra. Most importantly. You’re not a tool. You deserve your own happiness, and your own independence."

Bree’s words nested themselves in the back of Ezra’s mind, overtaking his every thought.

Bree closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. "I have walked your path. If you ever need to talk, I’m here."

Ezra found himself similarly drawn to an early slumber, and retired to his own room once Bree faded into her dream world. He laid down and, tired as he was, found it difficult to sleep. He tossed and turned, fighting his inner battles. His own insecurities and fears.

It felt alien, sleeping in a bed that was not his own, without the man who he’d fallen in love with. As he stared up at the dark and dreary ceiling of the inn, alone in a town haunted by the Hungry, he made a promise - both to himself, and to Oberyn.

"Tomorrow," he said aloud, his voice causing cold fog to form in the shadowed room.

"I’m going to find you again, Oberyn. No matter what."

It had only been half a day without his Nephilim - half a day too much. But he had faith that Oberyn was still alive, and fighting his own battles - whatever they might be.

And, if there was any solace, he’d just encountered the Magician of Crystal in Tienna Point - the biggest threat to Oberyn was far from him - for now.

"Oberyn..." he said one final time, before sinking into slumber.