Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 82: Rav’s Offer

Ezra laid in his bed, groaning from deep gash across his torso from the Crystalbug.

Rav hovered over him, inspecting the wound carefully while Oberyn sat on the other side of the bed, fraught and worried.

"Well, you’ve probably already realized this, Ezra...but you’re going to die."

"Shut up and heal me," Ezra grumbled.

"Fine, fine," Rav said hurriedly, rolling his eyes. "You can’t let me have any fun."

He worked his healing magic clouds into Ezra’s wound to patch him up - the fluffy magic served both as healing ointment and gauze against a flesh wound.

It took the seasoned sage only a few minutes to seal Ezra’s wounds. As he finished his work, his fingers grazed somewhat longingly against Ezra’s chest.

He pulled his hand back quickly as he did - catching himself and frowning for just a moment before collecting himself.

"Ah...sorry," Rav said quickly.

"Did I die back there in the cave? No way Rav just apologized for something..."

"Shut up," the catboy hissed back. He clacked open his fan and rose to his feet, turning away.

"It seems you’re in good enough spirits to make jokes, so I trust the pain had subsided some?"

Ezra put his hand on his side. His wound stung, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

"Yeah. I’m alright."

Rav nodded. "Well, then. Oberyn, might I steal you for a while? Please - join me in my den."

"M-me?" Oberyn gasped. He had been zoned out completely - simply staring at Ezra with worry. "What about?"

"You’ll have to come follow me to find out, hm? Don’t worry. You’ll be back in plenty of time to chat with your man before bed."

Oberyn glanced from Rav to Ezra, his eyes wide and uncertain.

"It’s okay, Oby. I don’t mind being alone for a while."

The Nephilim nodded. "If you insist, Ez."

Oberyn lingered for just a second longer than he had to, squeezing Ezra’s hand like he wanted to say something more - then turned to follow Rav.

Rav winked before snapping his fingers. The puff of cloud beneath him lifted higher and slowly floated off toward his den.

"Can’t I get a lift too?" Oberyn groaned. "It’s been a long day."

Rav bellyflopped onto the cloud. "You’re far too young to need something like this. Use your legs!"

"You’re only a few years older than me!" Oberyn reminded him.

He followed after as Rav floated toward the den. The cloud vanished as Rav passed through the doorway, and he landed deftly on his feet, taking deliberate, measured steps toward the back of the den, his white tail swishing lazily behind him.

"Oh, my Calico Herb," Rav purred, grabbing a nondescript package from the coffee table and tearing it open. As he fussed with it, he cleared his throat and tilted his head toward Oberyn.

"A gift from Bree," he said with a knowing smirk as he opened the package. But enough about that. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about."

He held a bundle of his Calico Herb and a small crystal device. When Rav flicked the Arcanic to light the bundle, a thin trail of pale smoke spiraled upward. The scent hit immediately - minty, sharp, with a faint sweetness that tickled the back of Oberyn’s throat. Rav took a deep inhale and blew the smoke away before continuing. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"You heard Deek mention some military issues up at the border, right?"

Oberyn thought back to that morning. She had said something about a famine.

"Yeah," he replied. "Refugees trying to come from the north country. Something about a famine? And the Asteria government doesn’t want those hungry people crossing the border."

"Hah, yeah. That’s one way to put it." Rav took another inhale, blowing the thick, heavy smoke to the side. His eyes were already starting to look a bit red and glassy.

He held out the Calico Herb, gesturing with it. "Need a hit?"

Oberyn eyed it with suspicion. "No, I think I’m good."

"Suit yourself. Probably wouldn’t work on you anyway. Never met anyone besides other cat Ferin who enjoy it."

Oberyn sat beside him on the couch, putting his feet up. "So, you’re going to investigate, aren’t you? Ezra already told me that much."

Rav set the Calico joint in the ashtray and curled up cross-legged on the couch, turning to face him.

"That famine they’ve got going on... it ain’t natural," Rav said, his tail slithering back to retrieve the Calico and bring it to his lips. "It’s the work of a Magician. Or maybe a Harbinger. Can’t truly say for sure without ’boots on the ground’, hm?"

Oberyn eyed him cautiously, unsure of where Rav was going with all this.

"You’re going to the northern country, then," he said. "I know. And you probably want me to just..."

There was an awkward pause. Rav’s ears tilted downward. He took one last hit of Calico before flicking out the flame with the tip of his tail. The smoke unfurled as lazily as Rav, drifting toward Oberyn, sinking into the cushions, clinging to the walls.

"I don’t mean for it to be so morose. I can’t very well leave you to fend for yourself now, can I? There’s still so much to train you in - we’ve only just started Mana Breathing! So... I was going to ask if you..."

Oberyn’s eyes widened.

Rav blushed. "Well, we can continue your training while investigating the famine. So if you’d... like to... you can come with us." He fidgeted with the tip of his tail, trying to mask the vulnerability behind his words.

"I’d love to," Oberyn said without hesitation. "But..."

Rav looked visibly delighted. "We’ll leave as soon as Bree gets back. Shouldn’t be more than three days. Oh - you were about to mention something about Ezra, weren’t you?"

Suddenly, Rav’s cat leapt up onto the couch, landing on the back cushion and headbutting Oberyn. He hardly ever saw her - Stella didn’t like humans, so she was always scarce when Ezra was around.

Rav glanced at the cat. "Now, now, Stella. Go catch some frogs and leave Mr. Oberyn alone."

The cat trotted off casually. Must’ve been napping under the couch.

Rav’s eyes lingered until she was gone.

He stretched his arms and tail toward the ceiling before flopping backward into the plush pillows.

"You’re worried that Ezra already told you no, aren’t you?"

Oberyn’s eyes lidded downward. "He thinks going is too dangerous for me."

"You are a Magician who’s to be trained by the Great Sage of Clouds! Who’s the one who returned from the Crystalbugs unscathed? That’s right, you. Not Ezra. So I simply must insist you join us, regardless of what Ezra thinks."