The Dragon King's Heart

After packing her final necessities, Laina was ready to go. Since she was heading for the Temple of the Sun, Nyx was chosen to go with her. Thorne traveled with them too. Laina did not pay him a lot of attention. 

His resemblance to Dante had thrown her off from time to time. It almost unsettled her that they looked so similar. She had considered asking him to change his appearance, but she deemed it to be rude for her to ask. 

Thorne rarely spoke unless spoken to. As such, Laina often forgot that he was even there. 

The Oracle sent a unique mode of transport to pick them up. 

As they stood waiting for the pickup, Laina looked from side to side. None of them knew what to expect. It quickly became clear it was going to be a unique ride. Laina was the first to catch a distinct sign in the distance.

"What was that?" she muttered beneath her breath as she looked around, hoping to find the source of the voice. 

Everyone looked around, but none of them could see anything. Just then, a roar echoed through the sky. A burst of flame in the sky caught everyone's attention. 

"Over there!"

In the corner of the sky, a burst of flame appeared out of thin air. From it, a four-legged beast let out a road, transcending the sky towards them. The knights were on high alert, noting the ferocious features of the beast. 

The beast had horns on its head and a mane made out of fire. 

None of them had ever seen anything that could quite compare to it. Laina approached without any fear. Titan, who was by Laina's side, went forward to greet the beast too. 

Upon seeing Laina step forward, the beast lowered its head. 

"Does it want me to pet it?" she wondered to herself. 

Laina reached out her hand. She could feel the heat radiating from the beast. Even as she hovered her hand closer to the beast, she did not suffer from any injuries. She peered to look behind the beast. It was not pulling any sort of carriage.

"There's no carriage attached to the beast? How is her Majesty going to..."

The question was quickly answered when Laina hopped onto the back of the beast. Everyone worried for her safety but once they saw their Queen securely seated, they heaved a sigh of relief. 

Laina gave her final instructions before she bid farewell to everyone who had gathered to send her off. The beast lifted its head and let out a loud deafening roar into the sky before they embarked on their journey. 

She held on tight to its fur coat while enjoying the wind in her face. It had been a while since Laina had experienced the thrill of being in the air. She missed it dearly. It did not take long for the beast to deliver her to her destination. 

Much to her surprise, the Oracle had an entourage awaiting her arrival.

"Your Majesty, welcome to the Temple of the Sun," the Oracle greeted her with open arms. 

The first thing on their list was a guided tour of the temple. Since Laina's last visit, much of the temple had been renovated. She was impressed by the architecture, intricate carvings that lined the walls and pillars, and the hospitality. 

"This is where you will be staying, Queen Laina."

The purpose of her journey was to restore her memories. In order for Laina to be able to do so, she would have to partake in a special ceremony. It would last seven days and seven nights. 

During which, she could not be interrupted. No matter what happened, she must not be disturbed. Any interruption to the ceremony could end in disastrous consequences. Due to its importance, the Oracle took it upon herself to serve as her guide and guardian through it. 

The night before the ceremony, the Oracle sat Laina down. They were deep in conversation when the Oracle requested to see Laina's palm. She did not think much of the request and readily agreed. 

The Oracle held onto Laina's hand, carefully examining the lines on her palm. She whispered incantations beneath her breath. The incantations caused the lines on Laina's palm to glow in a myriad of colors. 

"From your expression, I fear you will be giving me bad news, Oracle," Laina commented.

The Oracle let out a sigh, "I am afraid so, Your Majesty. You used your essence to make the potions for the Dragon King's curse, did you not?"

Laina nodded. 

"Your body has weakened because of it, Your Majesty. I..."

She hesitated. 

"Speak your mind, Oracle. I want to hear the truth."

The Oracle sighed, "I fear if you would be able to survive the ceremony, Your Majesty."

Laina curled her hand into fists. She clenched her jaw as her mind began to spin. Her heart sank. Fearing that she might have offended the Queen, the Oracle quickly bent the knee. 

"My Queen! I do not doubt your abilities. I simply worry for your well-being!"

"Oracle, please, get up," Laina said, as she helped the Oracle back up on her feet, "Thank you for telling me the truth. I appreciate your concern. But this... this is something I must do."

She could see Laina's determination. It was something she admired.

"Your body might be weak, but your spirit is strong," the Oracle placed her hand on Laina's chest. 

The fire that burned in her heart was stronger than any she had ever seen or felt before. Every person's heart was different, no two hearts were the same, and strength came in different forms. 

But there was one component that was similar for all, the heart flame. Depending on the resilience and strength of a person's heart, the color and intensity of the flame would differ. Laina's was unique. 

"The ceremony has many components that challenge the physique of the participant, but what it truly tests is the soul. I have faith in you, Your Majesty.. As long as your resolve does not waver, you will succeed."

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