Heart Over Sword-Chapter 278: Journey back to Dunhurst (2)

Unfortunately, nothing happened. Ger focused on himself away from the others for a few hours before he was called over to the camp for some meat and to sit by the fire. He then told the others that he did not feel the cold anymore and didn’t seem to need sleep.

"Ah, you can stay on watch then, lad," Axel joked, but Ger readily accepted. "I was jesting-"

"I will stay watch all night, and when I feel sleepy, I will rest for a few hours. But I don’t think I will need it for a few days," Ger explained to the group as the flames from the fire flickered shadows across his features.

Evanna was leaning into Arawn; his arms were around her waist from behind, but the pair watched Ger warily. Arawn wasn’t one hundred per cent sure if Ger could be trusted after listening to Garrett explain the curse and what could happen to him. On the other hand, Evanna thought her best friend had aged within the short time they’d been apart.

Ger’s physical appearance did not look older. He still looked young, but his eyes seemed to hold more wisdom than before. It was the same as Arawn, who was much older than her though he looked the age of twenty-eight. Although Ger did not say anything, she knew there was more to this than what he told them. Or it was possible that he didn’t know.

When she came into her powers, she wasn’t aware of everything but was fortunate enough to have Arawn teach her. Evanna looked up at him from behind her, and he met her gaze lovingly, leaning down to kiss her softly against the lips. She sighed into him, feeling incredibly grateful and saddened that Ger had to do this on his own. Evanna would assist him, or the Arawn could, but Ger was stubborn and would never allow it.

Evanna continued to watch her best friend as he interacted and joked with Ronan and Axel. It was nice to see him back to his usual self before he confessed his love to her. Minus the curse and the slight difference in his features.

Ger had been through a lot, though, and hanging with friends, even if they were on a treacherous journey back to Dunhurst, just felt normal.

"What are you thinking about?" Arawn whispered beside her ear, heating them from his breath.

"How lucky we are," she whispered and snuggled further into Arawn as he tightened his hold on her and followed her line of sight to Ger.

Arawn did feel lucky to have Evanna in his arms, alive and well.

-

Days went by without Ger being able to transform into a dragon. The group did not put pressure on him to do so; they were happy with the horses that had already got them to the border and were gradually watching as the grey skies and white surroundings became colourful with greens and browns of the grasslands. Here, they remained alert to any monster attacks like before.

Any they saw came towards them only to stop once their sights landed on Ger. He started to walk in front of the group as soon as there were monsters nearby. They stopped any form of attack as soon as they saw Ger and would back away, some whimpering or instantly running away.

On the fourth night of their journey, Ger sat aside in the thickness of the long grass. He’d become increasingly aware of his own strengths and powers, and the time he spent meditating helped the voice in his mind to guide him to focus on what he needed to. Sitting cross-legged, he looked within himself for the icy power he’d been growing from his centre.

His entire being would ripple, his skin shimmering between scales and skin with a feverish state as his eyes glowed.

’In time, this will get easier,’ the voice in his head explained.

’Who are you?’ Ger finally asked.

The voice finally answered his question. ’I am you.’

Ger nodded, accepting what he was told. ’Fine. Now transform!’ He commanded himself.

"Agh!" Ger’s eyes snapped open as the feverish state he’d been in made him nauseous. He leaned over, gripping the dirt with his hands as he started to breathe deeply, trying to stop himself from throwing up. Sweat trickled down his face and made his hair stick to his skin.

"Too hot.." Ger gasped and began undressing.

’Don’t need to strip...’ The voice showed how his clothes wouldn’t be torn in the transition.

Ger didn’t even think about that! He was just too hot!

It was as though a fire was burning his skin! Melting it!

"Ger?" Evanna asked from the campsite. "Is he okay? I’ll check up on-"

"No," Garrett interrupted her. "It is time."

Ger could hear their discussions from all the way here. But now his hearing was ringing, and he clenched his eyes shut.

Snap!

Ger gasped.

Snap! Pop!

Bile came up his throat, but before he could throw up the contents in his stomach, his arm broke, making him collapse to the ground. Agony flared across his body as bone after bone broke slowly, and he watched as his hands grew bigger and bigger, his sight widening as his skin ripped from his face.

"Argh!" Ger’s scream ripped through the land and grew into a mighty roar.

Breathing heavily and feeling fragile, Ger looked at his scaley hands and claws. Slowly, he rose onto all fours, his legs wobbly, his limbs aching.

"Ger?!"

He turned his head to the side and saw Evanna, Ronan, Axel, Garrett and Arawn rushing towards him, wide-eyed. They were so small.

"You did it!" Evanna shouted, grinning. She didn’t need to shout; he could hear her well already.

Ger rotated his shoulders and twisted his back from side to side as he adapted to the weight of wings on his back. He stretched them out, the sensation so strange.

’Time to go home, Evanna.’ His words floated to all of them in their minds. They gaped at him and his magnificence. His voice had aged in their minds and sounded knowledgeable. Evanna noted how it was similar to the other dragon. freewёbnoνel.com

"Home..." Evanna trailed off, watching the grand white dragon in front of them. His eyes were a startling blue, and he looked much healthier than the one they fought. This was Ger. This beautiful, magnificent creature was Ger, and he was going to fly them home.

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