The Dragon King's Heart

Tears flowed down their cheeks as they shared another embrace. After a short chat, both of them were a little calmer. But there was something more to it. While Laina having learned the truth was shocking, it was not the reason she had pulled Laina all the way to the study room. 

But Margaret did not know how to explain it. Through her eyes, Laina looked as if she had regained parts of her powers from her past. Powers she did not have before she had gone to the Temple of the Sun. Could the partial restoration of her memories bring back some of her powers?

Realizing what Margaret referred to, she quickly caught her up on what had happened during her time at the Temple. Including, the vial that she had taken. Upon hearing the explanation, Margaret understood. 

"That vial contained a portion of your powers from another life," she pieced it together carefully, "That explains it then."

"According to the Oracle, I will only be able to use it for a year. So I will have to use it wisely." 

Putting the pieces of the puzzle together, Margaret realized something. 

"Doesn't this mean you might have the ability to break Dante's curse?" she asked. 

Laina lit up, she had not considered that before. 

"You... you might be right. It's worth a shot," if she was able to remove the curse, it would no longer be a burden on Dante. 

It would also increase the chances of them seeing one another again. Laina clutched the Soulium Locket Dante had given her. She carefully removed it and held it in the palm of her hand. Since it contained a piece of his soul, she was sure the curse would reflect on it too. 

Laina hovered her free hand over the locket and closed her eyes. She furrowed her eyebrows as she began to chant an incantation. The locket floated in the air, glowing brightly as she continued chanting. 

When the light dissipated, a rose-shaped symbol appeared before them. It seemed to be made out of light. The outline of a rose was surrounded by thorns. Upon closer inspection, Laina realized there were two roses, intertwined together. 

"This... is the curse?" Margaret gasped. 

This was the first time she had seen it in person. 

"Seems like it," Laina replied as she inspected it closely. 

"Are you able to lift it?" Margaret asked. 

Laina clenched her jaw, "I... I'm not sure if I have enough power to do so. It's a strong one. But..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the glow began to dim. The locket landed softly on Laina's palm while the symbol of the rose disappeared. She could feel the cold temperature emanating from the locket. 

If this was a piece of Dante, it meant Dante's body temperature was even colder. After she put it back on around her neck, she clutched it tightly in the palm of her hand, allowing a small flame to surround it, hoping to bring it a bit of warmth. 

She did not know if it would reach Dante in any way, but it just felt right to do so. Turning her attention back to Margaret, they realized they had another issue on hand. Without Dante being physically present, how was Laina going to attempt to lift the curse off him?

As the Oracle had said, the powers in the vial did not give Laina the ability to enter the Celestial Realm. Even if she did, there was no guarantee it would work. Furthermore, they weren't even sure if Laina's body would survive in the Celestial Realm. 

Remembering the shape the curse had taken, an idea came to mind. 

"How did I not think of this before?" Laina lit up, "We just need Thorne!"

As soon as his name left her lips, Thorne appeared right before their eyes. This startled Laina and Margaret, causing them to almost leap out of their seats. 

"For Kinshearth's sake, you scared me!" Margaret exclaimed while rubbing her chest, taking in deep breaths of air. 

"My apologies for scaring both of you, you called for me?" he said while placing a hand over his chest and taking a deep bow. 

Laina cleared her throat after she gathered her nerves, "Yes, thank you for joining us. Please, take a seat."

She proceeded to explain her theory to Thorne. 

"You got it right, Your Majesty. Indeed we are linked. If you're able to lift the curse through me, it will affect my master as well."

Laina lit up, this was great news! But from Thorne's expression,  she sensed something was amiss. There was something he knew that he wasn't saying. 

"Speak your mind, Thorne," she urged him. 

Thorne took Laina's hand into his. He clasped his hands around hers and closed his eyes. Laina could feel the cold temperature from his hands. Just like the locket, if this reflected Dante's body temperature, the curse had worsened since they last met. 

After a while, he released her hand from his. 

"Unfortunately, you do not have enough power to lift the curse permanently."

"What? How could that be?!" Margaret could not help but gasp in shock. 

Laina fell silent as her eyes widened in surprise. Deep down, she already knew this might be a possibility. But she still wanted to give it a shot. She had said it before. For Dante, she was willing to do anything. 

She also caught on to the meaning between Thorne's words. 

"You said permanently. What do you mean?"

He knew Laina would catch on to it. Based on his explanation, the amount of power she could lift the curse for a certain period of time, but not forever. That was why he said she could not light it permanently. Temporary was still possible. 

Laina subconsciously touched the locket again. Thorne did not keep the information from Laina either. He informed her what Dante had done recently, including the fact that he had ascended the throne as Emperor. 

Margaret knew immediately what that meant. She could not understand why he would do that. 

"Why would he do that? Ascending the throne means he won't be able to come back to Gaeia. That would break..."

".... break the promise he made to me," Laina finished the sentence. 

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