Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 129: Night on the Mountain Part 1

Bree’s eyes were trained on the mountain Calamity Lavoshe well into the night, even as darkness spread over the lands she called home and she could no longer discern the edges of the living mountain against the black sky.

And yet still she watched like a hawk - for any and all signs of a disturbance. Her allies were exhausted. It was up to her to keep a constant vigil.

She jumped in surprise as she heard movement behind her, but calmed quickly when she saw it was just Ezra. He joined her in the tall perch, a tower that descended high above the palatial mountain estate she and her father called home.

"You’ve got a whole observatory up here, huh?" Ezra smiled, looking around. "Was wondering where you went off to. Have you had anything to eat yet, Bree?"

She curled her wings around leftover food that was sitting next to her from hours before, ashamed by it.

"Yes," she said quickly. "What do you want? I’m not doing any more rides today."

Her voice cut through him - but he knew her sharpness was not directed at him. The stress in general was eating through her lovely azure feathers.

He sat next to her and looked out into the bleak darkness of the surrounding mountainscape. It was a dark night - not even moonlight shone through the blackened sky.

"I just wanted to thank you again, for everything."

Bree jolted upright, startled by his sincerity.

"Y-yes...well, of course," she said. "We’re fighting on the same side, are we not? We’re..."

"We’re friends."

She looked over to Ezra nervously, but what she saw was nothing but a big, happy smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Friends, are we?"

Her astute eyes cast themselves back to the skies.

"Yes, I suppose we are..." she replied quietly. "Next time I visit the pagoda, we’ll have to catch up as well, hm?"

"Definitely."

She cleared her throat. "Have you talked to Oberyn yet? About his...aunt?"

Ezra leaned back on the bench they shared, peeping around the observatory. "Not yet," he said, his eyes wandering around for something to catch his interest. "He’s pretty exhausted, and..."

Ezra’s expression darkened. The curse mark. It had all but consumed Oberyn’s back, but Ezra didn’t have enough mana left to treat him. After supplying all that power to Rav, Oberyn, and Alcor, he was running on fumes.

"The curse of Asteria?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She reached for the jewel around her neck and began to fiddle with it. "You still don’t know what this is, do you?" she asked, beckoning to her pendant.

Ezra nodded hesitantly. "A Corestone," he said. "But as to what it does...no."

"This is a link between Rav and I. Though I am no Magician, I still naturally generate mana. When I do, it is collected in this Corestone..."

She paused, unsure of how to continue.

"And this Corestone is something Rav can draw from, even from far away. In some regards, I am like a reservoir of mana for Rav. That is why I must visit him as often as I do. So he can re-establish his bond with the Corestone."

Ezra’s eyes widened. "So it’s like a battery, almost? Powered by you?"

She tilted her head. ’Battery’ wasn’t a term used in their world.

"Oh, er...I mean like a storage device," he elaborated.

"Yes. Every Corestone is different - but that is the power of this one. It is all in service to Rav. And I live my life as such - eating a diet rich in mana, training my capacity..."

"You’ve sacrificed a lot for Rav, haven’t you? More than just a brother."

Bree’s eyes fluttered. "My brother," she said quietly, "Was the first to wear this Corestone. I suppose I kept up with it as a way to honor my family’s commitment to Rav."

Ezra smiled, but Bree had something else to say.

"I am all but certain that Rav would approve of this - but even without asking him I make the offer. Ezra. There is a vast amount of mana in this Corestone, powered by my life force itself. Use it to heal Oberyn. Please."

"But doesn’t Rav need - " Ezra interrupted himself. This was the most important thing, Ezra realized. Why argue against it?

"Thank you," he said. "How do I do it?"

Bree removed the pendant from her neck and placed it in Ezra’s hand. "Simply wear it. My mana - the power I’ve cultivated for years, will serve you. Make sure he is well, Ezra. He shouldn’t be suffering so...that vile curse. Nobody should have to be victim to it."

Ezra grasped the Corestone firmly in his hands. "I will heal Oberyn and dispel the curse. I just need a little time. And...well...some less death-defying moments would help, too."

Bree smiled at him. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Go to your man. Do what you can for him. And...although I am sure Rav would not mind..."

"Hm?" Ezra narrowed his eyes curiously.

"Well, perhaps it’s best if we keep this between us," Bree smiled. "Not that I think he’d disapprove - but do you really want Rav to think himself the savior in yet another situation?"

Ezra chuckled. It was his first good laugh since coming to the northern country. In a land as beset by tragedy as this one, it felt inconceivable to find joy...and yet, in this moment, surrounded by friends and loved ones, he couldn’t be happier.

"No, I think you’re right," Ezra laughed alongside her. "It’ll stay our secret, Bree. I’ll get this Corestone back to you in no time."

She nodded and smiled, bowing her head. "Of course. Have a good night, Ezra."

"Before I go, Bree..." he said softly. "It’s been a long day and all...do you think I could - we could..."

Bree beckoned to Ezra. She knew exactly what he was trying to say. Wordless, she pulled him in for a long, warm hug.

He buried his face in her shoulder as her wings wrapped around him, soothing and comforting. He exhaled peacefully.

"Thank you, Bree. I feel better now. Time to go heal Oby, yes?"