The Promise Against the Fire • By RoKnows

What if Kenric never died in the Everblaze?

Hey guys! Thank you so much for visiting! I know (I hope) you will like this Fan Fiction. Now, I won't keep you waiting! Enjoy!

Your fellow Fandom girl,

RoKnows

Synopsis

When the man you love says he love you, the world seams to change and sizzle into a happier, better world. 

But when he dies before you can say goodbye, everything melts into sobs. 

Oralie doesn’t feel anything but sorrow. When Kenric disappeared within the Everblaze, seemingly dead, her heart tore itself away, and she finds herself in a sea of unending sobs. 

This is how it ends. With Kenric going without a kiss farewell, leaving the woman he loves empty. 

But what if Kenric survived? 

What if the fire didn’t swallow him up? 

After all, Kenric made a promise to Oralie—One month, and then we’ll be together. 

Kenric died two days before the deadline. 

But Kenric is a man of his word. 

Chapter One

Oralie

11 hours after the Everblaze.

The tears never stopped coming.

Oralie’s face was wet and red, her body trembling and sobbing, as the scene replayed in her mind, over and over. 

       The inferno of yellow Everblaze that devoured everything. 

The building, fissuring under the unearthly blaze’s wrath. 

The panic that lodged in her throat—clawing, tearing up every ounce of hope. 

But none of that was as terrible as the words. The words that determined everything…

He’s gone.  

No matter where Oralie looked, his was there. His slightly tanned face, warm smile, flaming red hair, and gentle embrace. He would always be there. Reminding her of what she lost. Haunting her with the fact that he’d never come back. 

He’ll never come back. 

       Sobs racked Oralie’s body as she shriveled into her soft pink carpet. Why did it have to be this way? Why did Kenric have to die?

Oralie’s posture crumpled as the memory she had tried to forget since her love’s death punctured her heart… Kenric’s promise. 

Flashback to 26 days and 7 hours before the Everblaze. 

Oralie found herself smiling dopily. She didn’t know what was wrong with her—she never smiled dopily! But her breath was husky, her heart was fluttery, and her chest felt like it’d implode. But, she realized as the memory that made her so exhilarated reran in mind, she didn’t know what right with her. 

She had just been leaving the meeting with all the Councillors, her forehead frowning because of the grave discussions, when Kenric had caught up with her, his thick, red hair waving in the air. 

She stopped, surprised, and her heart racing with excitement. 

If her brain had eyes, it would have rolled them. Pick yourself up, Oralie, she chided herself. Get over it already. 

“Hey Oralie,” Kenric said, smiling wide.

“Um…hi,” Oralie replied, nearly tripping over her own feet. She could already feel her cheeks blossom in pink, even though she had been in front of Kenric countless times.

His eyes suddenly darted to the floor, his hands fidgeting nervously and his teeth gnawing his lip. “I—um, well, you see…” He sucked in a breath, and slowly met Oralie’s azure-colored eyes. “Could I come over to your house tomorrow afternoon? That is, if you’re available—of course.” 

Oralie had managed to stop herself from blurting out ABSOLUTELY and instead substituted it for a mellow, “Um, sure.”

Now, as she sat on her bright rose-colored sofa, she scolded herself for grinning so wildly and thinking her hopeful, fairy tale dreams. Her life wasn’t a fairy tale, as hard as she tried it to think it was. Life couldn’t magically turn pink and cheery and happy, unlike furniture. 

Kenric was probably just meeting with her to discuss… Councillor stuff. Of course it was Councillor stuff. It was always Councillor stuff. 

The doorbell ringed, scattering Oralie’s thoughts. Her traitorous heart fluttered against her will as she peered through the window to glimpse a smiling face and unmistakably red hair.

Kenric. 

She allowed herself a cleansing breath before turning her front door’s knob, unable to stop her hands from trembling. 

It’s just Councillor stuff. It’s just Councillor stuff. 

       “Hey Oralie,” Kenric said so sweetly, so honestly, her heart beat faster. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him, and declare to him that she had loved him since the day she laid eyes on his kind, laughing face. 

Oralie didn’t trust her voice to reply, not sure if she’d burst into tears or do something much worse, so she motioned to the seating room. 

Kenric didn’t help by smiling widely and gracefully taking a seat on her plush sofa. His beautiful eyes scanned her castle. “I really love how everything’s pink,” he complemented nicely. 

“Uhh…you d-do?” she stuttered, surprised. But then again, Kenric had always liked everything she liked. And he always complemented everything she owned… But not in the way it sounded of course. 

Even though she wished it was. 

“Yes, of course!” Kenric confirmed, his mouth twitching into a smile. Creases spread from his eyes when he laughed. 

A bout of shyness overcame Oralie, so she looked down as her face flushed the color of her furniture and pretended to be fascinated with her toes, which were painted a bright fuchsia.

Councillor Kenric cleared his throat, a ghost of a smile still on his face. “But… that’s not what I’m here for today, Oralie. I mean, I’d love to keep complementing your house and all, but…”

“I suppose you’re here to talk about yesterday’s Councillor meeting, then,” Oralie muttered, her coyness evaporating as she struggled to keep the bitterness out of her voice. 

Kenric’s face softened. “No, I’m actually not.” 

Oralie blinked slowly and her heart beat faster. “Then why…”

He suddenly stood up from the pink-clad sofa and strode regally and confidently towards her, never losing eye contact. 

Oralie’s heart was now beating, hard, rapidly, and uncontrollably. Her chest quivered as Kenric approached closer, until he was very close. 

“Why did I come, Councillor? Why did I come today?” 

Oralie knees swayed at the fierceness of his gaze. “I—I don’t know.”

“You don’t?” Kenric gave her a small, toothless smile. “It’s because I’m here to tell you something I should have a long time ago. Years ago. Something I’ve been too afraid to tell you, until it came to desperate measures. I know we’ve been friends, but I—” He caught himself. “I’ll quit stalling now.” He reached down and brushed his hand across Oralie’s cheek, making her face redden and tingle. His emotions blasted up as excited, sweet, and… compassionate. Kenric tucked a strand of Oralie’s blonde hair behind her ear. Her chest felt ready to explode, but nothing was compared to the words he spoke. 

“I love you, Oralie.” 

Chapter Two

Oralie

A blast of emotions hit her all at once. Oralie’s knees wobbled, her chest heaved, and her vision blurred. 

The man she loved had just said that he loved her. 

Nothing mattered more to Oralie. That may be selfish, considering the conflicts that were threatening their world, but it was true. Honest. And all she wanted. 

She voice, frayed and trembling, could barely whisper a reply. “I…” she squeaked. 

“I know.” Kenric gently combed her hair, his brilliant eyes softened and sincere. “I know you…feel the same way. I notice things…at least when it comes to you.” After a moment, his face flooded red. “Not in the weird way of course.”

Everything seamed too unreal… like her fairy tale had finally happened. But another question bit her throat. 

“How long?” she murmured softly, her voice struggling to stay afloat. 

Kenric looked down, chewing his lip again. “Since forever… I couldn’t… I felt like I’d be leaving my duty as a Councillor. Love is banned in the Council, so…”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Oralie sighed. “But what changed your mind? It is still banned…”

Kenric looked up, and when he met her eyes, he smiled—managing to make it look both sweet and straightforward. “The world’s changing. It wasn’t the peaceful place we wanted it be. It’s…chaos. And I’m not sure how long we’ll stay in the world. There’s been so many close calls…” He tenderly cupped her cheek. “Oralie, I want to be with you before it’s too late. Before one of us doesn’t make it.” 

She melted into his hand, tears of unspeakably joy welling in her eyes, and breathed, “Me too, Kenric… more than anything else in the world.”

His lips curved into another gentle smile at her words. 

“But how long must we wait?” Oralie asked faintly, half afraid of the answer. 

He kissed her forehead. “I’d wait the world for you, Oralie. I have been waiting. But I think we should wait just a month. Just a month to organize things, and allow time to prepare two new Councillors. And then…” 

“I’ll be yours,” Oralie finished, her heart swelling with love for him. 

“Yes,” Kenric promised. “In just a month. But I’ll visit.” He gave her one last embrace, kissed her hand like a true gentleman, and then his beaming face left. 

And he was gone. 

Back to the present, 10 hours and 54 minutes after the Everblaze.

Just a month, he had said. Just a month until her life would had been full. Happy. 

But then—the fire. Then the roaring, angry Everblaze swallowed up his life like it meant nothing. She could still see Fintan’s smile, beaming pride and arrogance as he took the person that mattered to Oralie most in the entire world. 

Since forever, he had said. She had loved him since forever too. If only they had found out earlier. If only they realized that healing Fintan was idiotic. If only Kenric hadn’t been the chosen telepath to monitor Sophie and Fitz. If only. If only.

Oralie let out another sob and let her bones scrunch and slouch into the cold, uncaring floor. 

But then arms wrapped around Oralie, brought her back to a sitting position, and urged cleansing water down her throat, against her will. 

The bronzed face of Councillor Liora slowly cleared to focus, kind, but stern and heavily concerned. When Liora caught Oralie’s eye, she wrapped her into a warm, gentle hug. 

“Oh Oralie, I’m so sorry…” she comforted. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this.”  

Oralie wept into her friend’s shoulder, pain etching her every action. 

Everything hurt. 

Everything was wrong. 

Kenric was dead. And that made Oralie realize just how much he meant to her—and just how little everything else was compared. 

Chapter Three

Kenric

7 hours and 12 minutes after the Everblaze.

Everything hurt as Kenric slowly peeled back his eyelids to stare at the cruel, blurry world.

His legs were buried under tons of rubble, and Kenric felt nausea curl in his chest when he realized they were probably broken. 

But he was alive. 

Barely. 

But he was alive. 

Kenric closed his eyes against the racking, excruciating pain that exploded under every fraction of a movement. But once his eyelids thumped over his eyeballs again, the nightmares flared to life. 

The Everblaze, unafraid to tear him limb to limb. 

Fintan’s brutal face as his power lunged for victims. 

And the realization, which was somehow calming, that Kenric would have to sacrifice his body in order to save everyone else. He wouldn’t have done it any more enthusiastically if he knew he would survive. But… that definitely was a nice surprise. 

Well… once pain stopped. 

And once he pulled himself out of his rocky conflict, which was evidently going to hurt. 

But Kenric tried. He stabled himself with his burnt arms and tried to tug his legs away. When that hurt too much, he tried to lift the wreckage off, but that was harder, especially in his position. 

It took an hour for Kenric to manage to pull out his legs, and by then, his forehead was slick with murky sweat, his backbone ached, and he wanted nothing more than to curl himself into a ball and sleep. 

But first, he needed to do some much-needed self-care. With shaky hands, he ripped a piece of his garment and used it as a bandage to pressurize his chest, which was bleeding under the work he put himself through. Then, using the surrounding rocks to stand himself up, Kenric tested to see if his legs really were broken.

It was a dumb idea. Of course his legs hurt, but that didn’t tell him much. However, his left leg he was sort-of-able to balance on, so Kenric took that as a hint the bones weren’t severely damaged. His right leg, though, was so weak he toppled face-flat into the ground, and in doing so, also scraped his hands from the rocks. 

Kenric let out a rickety sigh through gritted teeth. How on earth was he supposed to walk around?

Like an answer to his prayers, voices sounded north of him, barking hasty commands. Craning his neck, he could just barely hear their loud conversations. 

“Search all parts of Eternalia. Find any hints on where that murderer could be now. And…” The male voice wavered. “See if you can find the body of…Councillor Kenric… if he's not… burnt.” 

At first, Kenric was relieved. They would find him. And they would heal him. And then… 

       A realization hit him. 

Once they found him, everything would go crazy. THE MAN WHO SURVIVED THE EVERBLAZE! COUNCILLOR KENRIC—THE ONE WE THOUGHT WAS DEAD! And then… he’d never get a chance to do the thing he needed to do the most. The thing that was most important, above his health and everything else. 

Keep his promise. 

Kenric was a man of his word. And he wasn’t going to break the most important promise he ever made. 

With that pep-talk in mind, Councillor Kenric heaved himself up and hurriedly limped away, unsure how he’d manage to reach his destination without anyone finding him, but determined. 

Determined to say goodbye to the woman he loved.

Yes, I really just ended it like this! But don't worry—I'm working on the next chapter as we speak! Thank you so much for viewing, I hope you enjoyed, and stay tuned!

Chapter Four

Oralie

15 hours and 46 minutes after the Everblaze, night time. 

Oralie had finally managed to convince Liora to leave, promising she’d be fine and would just be sipping tea and reading books without any drama. 

Her tears had finally dried after all. She had sobbed it all out, confessing to Liora just about everything—that Kenric loved her and she loved him. Everything, except Kenric’s promise, and she simply had told her nothing about their plan to quit being Councillors. 

That memory was her fairy tale, and it died with him. 

Oralie, too tired to conjure anything, slumped her way to her (yes, pink) kitchen and boiled a pot full of water, because she knew she’d drink it all. Once it was done, she poured it into a mug, dipped in a tea bag, and dragged herself back to her living room, brandishing a 5000-page fictional novel she had been planning to read. 

Oralie didn’t know how she managed to get her body and brain to work together, but somehow it happened. 

Everything… just felt so empty. Like the world had no horizon, no matter, no ground. 

It was like she was endlessly floating in air, staring at the world and wishing her tears—or something—would come back to show that she cared. That she really, really cared. 

But before something bad could happen, Oralie flipped open the green, worn leather cover of the novel and delved into a different world that no matter its twists and turns, deaths and betrayals, it would always seam more perfect than her own life. 

11 books and 23 mugs of tea later…

After reading the exotic tales of so many varied characters, Oralie had been able to push Kenric out of her mind for four, wonderful hours. 

But as soon as pulled away from the books, and stared at the wafting, curling steam that floating off of her untouched 24^thmug of tea, she was reminded of the Everblaze that consumed her happiness, and finally the tears rolled down her cheeks again. 

Not the thick, rapid ones that made her face swollen and her chest heaving, but the unendurably sad tears that took their time rolling down her pale cheeks and off her chin. 

Suddenly it felt like she trudging through an endless pool of tar, sinking and flailing as it drowned her.

There was nothing she could do to save Kenric. He was dead. And she was hopelessly lost. 

5 hours before sunrise

Sleep was hopeless when all her nightmares consisted of hissing, chortling blazes and the agonizing cries of the man she loved, burning. 

The only thing that helped her was gurgling down herbal tea and devouring the words on books she never had the time to read before. Now, it somehow felt like all her time had been engulfed up by grief… but coming back when she distracted herself. 

It was the same the next morning, a day after… that happened. Her sub-conscious made up rules for her: Read. Sip tea. Distract. Don’t think about Kenric. Don’t think about Kenric. Don’t think about Kenric.

       If Oralie had risked thinking about it, she would have been proud that she distracted herself for a whole day, just sipping tea and reading books and not thinking about Kenric. She was doing so well until Liora called her imparter. 

Oralie, her mind overflowing with a flowery fairy tale from her latest read, answered cheerfully. 

“Hi Lio,” she greeted chirpily. 

“Lio…? Nevermind.” Liora’s face that filled the screen still looked concerned. “So… you’re doing well?”

Oralie beamed. “Why wouldn’t I be doing well? The grass is green and the sky is blue and the sun is bright yellow…” She sucked in a breath. “Yellow… yellow… oh my gosh.” Liora’s mistake triggered the cries her heart had been holding and Oralie’s composure melted into goo amidst the myriad of fluffy pillows.

Councillor Liora’s eyes widened with guilt. “Oh…oh Oralie. You forgot. Hang on, I’m coming!” 

This somehow got Oralie’s attention, fogging away the visions of fire and death. “N-no. No. Please don’t. I’m f-fine.” Before Liora could protest, she added quietly, “I’m good, okay? I need to… settle this by myself.” 

Her friend let out a very reluctant sigh. “…Okay…but promise me you’ll call if you have any trouble, promise?”

“I promise,” Oralie whispered and hung up before Liora saw the tears trickle out of her eyes. 

2 hours before sunset, a day after the Everblaze.

No matter how hard she tried, Oralie couldn’t manage to hide under the book world again. She couldn’t manage to focus—everything was too blurry, too harsh, too cold. 

Like living in a desert of ice without any blankets to curl under—exposed and freezing.

But then she heard a knock. 

Followed by a bunch more, until her house was filled with the clattering of knocking. 

Desperate knocking that eventually slurred down, but didn’t stop. 

Oralie whipped herself away from her nightmare-etched thoughts, her eyebrows burrowing in confusion. Why is Liora being so frantic?I told her I was fine. 

       If…it is Liora. But who else would it be? Oralie, clad in soft, rose-colored nightgown, hustled from her chair and to the door, her eyes scanning through the window curiously.

But it wasn’t Councillor Liora’s bronzed, lean body and waterfall of braided hair, but…

A man. 

With red hair littered with dust and soot. 

Oralie felt like she got punched in the gut. Her body quivered so badly she nearly toppled over, but she grasped her door’s handle and stabilized herself against the migraine that was cutting her brain into a zillion pieces. 

No. No it couldn’t be. 

 Exhilarated, baffled, and petrified for her life, Oralie turned the handle. 

The door hit the wall with a clang. Oralie gasped in sharply as she examined a man, covered in burns, leaning against her front porch’s railing heavily. 

“Kenric?” she breathed, unable to trust the world anymore. 

He gave her a tired, lopsided grin. “Miss me?” 

Then he crumpled to the ground.  

----  

MWAHAHAHA! Answers to your questions:

1: Yes, I just ended it like that, with butterflies in your stomach

2: Yes, I write fast ;D

3: No, I'm not that evil. I'm not going to *really* end it like that. But stay tuned for more chapters!

Chapter Five

Kenric

2 days after the Everblaze.

The moment Kenric’s eyelids fluttered awake, Oralie slapped him. 

His cheek reddened with the imprint of her hand and he stared at her, confusion and hurt welling in his eyes. Oralie never slapped people, much less Kenric. 

“I’m sorry,” Oralie said, her voice snappishly out of character. “But how could you do that to me? Leave me in the puddles of my own sobs, thinking you were dead. Dead, Kenric. You can’t… I can’t…” Her fragile hands shook as another tear rolled down her pretty face. 

Guilt blossomed in Kenric’s stomach, especially when he noticed that Oralie had treated his burns and wrapped his right leg in a makeshift cast. He was also lain atop the sofa he had sat on the day he told Oralie he loved her. Kenric gently cupped her lovely face, hoping she’d let him. She stared at him icily, but beneath that was something deeper—a cyclone of anxiety and aching. 

“I’m the one who should be sorry. You have a right to slap me.”

Oralie closed her eyes, more tears trickling down. “N-no…” Her voice was shaky. “I don’t. Y-you couldn’t stop yourself from sacrificing yourself and being the hero.”

He smiled sadly, though it hurt himself to. “I couldn’t stop myself from saving you.”

Oralie swallowed hard and turned away, blinking furiously. Her pale fingers struggled to adjust his bandages. 

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Is everything okay?” 

“No! Of course it’s not,” she reeled on him, her eyes puffy, red, and wet. “Y-you just arrive on my doorstep after I-I think you’re d-d-dead a-and you’re… y-you need a physician.” Her eyes flashed with determination. “I’m calling Elwin. N-now.” She started to weakly reach for her imparter, which was on a coffee table next to the daybed Kenric was on.

He blocked her with his arm. “Oralie, please—”

“No, Kenric, I WON’T!” she yelled with more anger than he’d ever heard from her before. Kenric’s eyes widened at her ferocity. “You might… I WON’T LET YOU DIE AGAIN!” In a manic lunge, the imparter was in her hand. 

Kenric recoiled, alarm in his eyes. Oralie never got upset… well at least not screaming and yelling upset. She was always quiet. This meant one thing… Oralie was very, very, scared.

He tenderly rested his burned arm on hers, wincing slightly. Her eyes flashed with impulsive resolve. “I promise you can call Elwin. But not now,” he whispered gently. “I need to be with you before everything goes crazy. Please. I… We’ve been waiting a lifetime.” He lightly brushed a finger across Oralie’s cheek, her face stunned. “Please.” 

Oralie bit her lip, clearly conflicted. Then she threw the imparter onto the ground with a loud thump. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Look at me with those cute, wide, begging eyes.”

A chuckle escaped his lips. “Why?”

Oralie sighed. “Because I can’t say no to that… or to you.” Her pale, delicate face bloomed with color. “But you have ten minutes, and then I’m calling Elwin,” she snapped, jolting back from her shyness with firmness in her tone. 

Kenric felt a laughing smile spread across his face. “I love how you get all protective of me.”

“Don’t waste those ten minutes, Kenric,” Oralie warned, but he could tell it in her curious, longing eyes she didn’t want him to stop. 

“It’s impossible to waste a second when I’m with you,” Kenric said quietly, tucking a strand of her curly blonde hair behind her ears. Oralie breathed out with a squeak in the back of her throat. “I’d die for you again, you know.” 

“You don’t have to,” Oralie murmured. 

“But I will.” Kenric stared into her beautiful, faintly teary azure eyes. “Today was the deadline you know. Today was the day we were supposed to quit being Councillors and be together.” 

She looked down. “Can we really leave the Council like this? With them scrambling and searching and prone to make rash decisions?” 

“I’ve thought of that. And I realize no decision is going to be perfect. We will be scrambling for a long time, and I don’t think us “soft” Councillors are going to help much with changing decisions. We will help, but not solve the problem. And don’t you think what our world needs most is a little love right now?” Kenric searched her eyes and saw the eyes of a caring, exquisite woman who put everything in front of her own desires. “Don’t you think we deserve a little love right now?” He channeled his emotions to his hand, fueling his love and compassion and softness and sincerity so that Oralie could feel just how much he loved her. 

She stared at his hand, her fair expression etched with a gasp, her jaw somewhat dropped. 

A question tugged at Kenric’s mouth, and before, he had been much, much too scared to ask it. But he had been preparing for decades. He was ready. Swallowing down the hesitations forming chaos and nausea in his stomach, he leaned forward and breathed warmly into Oralie’s adorable face, “I love you to the stars, Oralie. Do you love me?”

She gazed down into his eyes, wonder, thrill, and shyness in her unblinking blue eyes. Cautiously, breathlessly, she bent on her knees to be face-level to him, and closed her eyes as a final tear slid down her face. Not one of fear or grief, but one of utmost, utterly peaceful joy. 

“Yes, Kenric… I do.” 

       And then he kissed her, slow, sweet, and breathtaking, to make up for all the time that was lost between them. Kenric had been waiting so long to finally hear Oralie say that she loved him in her own words, it made his chest swirl with butterflies and passion and soul. His heart finally felt full. 

When they pulled away, Oralie’s cheeks were slightly pink, but her signature shy smile was shaped into her face, with overwhelmed ecstasy highlighting her every features. 

For five minutes they just stared at each other, wondering what to do next. 

Then Oralie let out a breath she was holding and shook her head, her pink lips curved in a sighing smile. “You really need a physician.” Then she clutched her imparter and dialed for Elwin. 

---

You're so welcome I didn't end it on a huge cliffhanger. And I apologize that this chapter wasn't as long as the others, but I didn't want to stretch it out. But don't worry! There's more to come and there's still lots of trouble ahead of Kenralie (sorry, but what's a good story without a conflict?).

Until the next chapter,

RK

Chapter Six

Oralie

24 minutes later

Oralie made Elwin promise not to tell anyone before he glimpsed at Kenric. She warned him he’d be surprised. 

Elwin still gasped. “But you’re… everyone said…”

Kenric gave him a shrugging smile while he was collapsed on the couch. 

Elwin huffed out a breath. “This’ll be a fun story,” he said before forcing Kenric to swig a fizzing neon green elixir that smelled like apple cider and mint. Apparently, it did not taste like that. Kenric gagged. Then Elwin began to treat the burns that were distressing Kenric’s body.

After a moment, Elwin spoke. “I wonder why you ask me, Councillor Oralie, to treat Councillor Kenric, when there’s much more experienced physicians that normally treat Council members.”

“Well, you’re a great healer for starters,” Oralie’s delicate voice responded, “And… we figured you’d create less of an uproar.” 

“This is quite an uproar. When everyone finds out that a Councillor didn’t die after all—”

“That’s why we’re not going to tell everyone,” she said quietly. 

Elwin turned to her. “What did you say?”

“We’re not going to tell everyone. Kenric and I are… leaving the Council. Well, I’m leaving the Council, because everyone else thinks he’s dead.” Oralie moved beside Kenric and he took her hand. 

Elwin breathed in, shocked. “Why not just tell them the truth?” 

“Because times are changing,” Kenric’s deep, handsome voice answered. “And on the Council, Oralie and I are restrained. It’s time we go under the radar, staying in touch with the people who fight for our cause, but hiding from the Council’s view. In time, it might be right to reveal my identity, but for now it’s too much for our gentle, Elvin minds can process. And…”

“You want to be together,” Elwin guessed. 

They nodded. 

“We need you to keep this a secret,” Oralie pleaded. 

Elwin sighed. “Of course, but it’s not going to be easy. Who else will you tell?” 

“Possibly no one,” Oralie testified. “But, if you’re not eager to keep it by yourself, we could tell one other person.” 

“Who?” Elwin paused his healing to glance up at her again. 

Oralie and Kenric exchanged a look before she replied: “This might surprise you… but Councillor Bronte.”

“Councillor Bronte?” Elwin repeated, very much startled. “I’m sharing the same secret with Councillor Bronte?”

“Believe me, it was Oralie’s idea,” Kenric snorted. 

“Bronte may be a brat sometimes, but he knows how to keep a secret,” Oralie countered slowly, “And he understands this more than you may think.” 

“What does that mean?” Elwin and Kenric demanded at the same time. 

“Just what I said. But that’s not what you a should be focusing on…” She drew in a nervous breath. “How long will it be before Kenric’s healed?” 

Elwin flashed a purple orb over him. “I’d say he’ll be fully healed in one month, but his skin will stop burning in a week. His leg, however… I assume he’ll be on crutches for a month as well, but when he drinks a bone healing elixir that is nothing less than painful.” 

“One month?” Kenric repeated as Oralie squeezed his hand gently. 

“At least. If you drink twelve elixirs a day and spread this balm on your body every day.” 

“Is that yeti pee balm?” Kenric gaped, crinkling his nose as Elwin showed him the cream. 

“Possibly.” 

“I’m not using that stuff. It’ll take me forever to get the smell out!” 

“Too bad you don’t have a choice,” Elwin said, smirking slightly as he watched Kenric squirm. 

“Thank you,” Oralie said softly. “I’m sorry we had to bring you into this.” 

Elwin gave her a sympathetic smile. “It’s the least I could do.” He dumped the bag of remedies into Oralie’s arms. “Make sure he completes my instructions, and… good luck, you too.” 

He gave an acknowledging bow, then left with the considerate smile still on his face. 

Oralie collapsed onto the blush-colored couch, a sigh written on her face. “I suppose we should tell Bronte now.” 

“Which I’m so looking forward to, by the way,” Kenric muttered.

“Please be kind to Bronte, Kenric,” Oralie implored. “He will be doing us a huge favor.”

“I don’t see how he will,” Kenric disagreed lightly, grazing his hand over Oralie’s arm affectionately. “But I’ll be kind… only because you asked.” 

She offered a tired smile. “We are because, I feel like someone needs to tell our friends that we finally were together if we somehow can’t tell them ourselves. And it’s convinent if we tell Bronte so I can have someone to vote for my resigning. I figure it’s not going to be easy.” She sighed. “I suppose that’s the best I’ll get out of you, though.” Kenric massaged her hand as she clenched her imparter and requested for Bronte.

Councillor Bronte’s grumpy face and pointed ears crowded the imparter’s screen. His eyebrows were arched with surprise. “Hello, Oralie. How unexpected.” His tone was bored, but behind it was a hint of pity. 

She breathed in and out. “Yes, and its only going to get more confusing. There’s something very important that must be shared. It has to be kept a secret. Would you come over to my place now?” 

Bronte looked downright stupefied, but he nodded his ancient face and hung up.  

Twenty minutes later the doorbell rang and the door opened to an extremely puzzled Councillor Bronte, though curiosity was engraved in the wrinkles of his face. “I hope you weren’t exaggerating how desperate your situation is, because I don’t have an open schedule.” 

Oralie sucked in a breath. “It’s about Kenric.”

His tight features softened a bit. “We are all grieving for the loss of a Councillor. Especially such a heartwarming, insightful, valiant, and resilient one such as Kenric.”

“Well, that’s the thing… Kenric’s not dead.” 

Bronte sighed, shaking his head. “Yes, I know you might believe that, Oralie. Sometimes—”

Oralie frowned. “No, I’m not hallucinating. See for yourself.” She moved out of the way and pointed her arm in the direction of the living room, where Kenric was lying with a smug expression on his face. 

“Hello, Bronte. I love how you described me! ‘Heartwarming, insightful, valiant’, and… ‘resilient’, was it?” 

It looked like all the blood and oxygen was slurped out of Bronte. His jaw went slack. “But… you… the Everblaze…” he stuttered. “Everyone thinks—”

“—I’m dead?” Kenric offered. “We need people to think that.” 

“Why?” Bronte demanded hoarsely, his face still drained of color. 

“Because it’s time that we change with the flow of the world and slip under the hawkish eyes of the Council,” Kenric answered simply. “And we needed someone to know.”

“And you chose me,” Bronte added with a smirk. 

“I didn’t,” Kenric grumbled. 

“Enough,” Oralie commanded wearily. “Yes, we need people to think Kenric is still dead. And, also, I’m resigning from the Council once Kenric is healed.” 

“Ah,” Bronte said, “So you two are finally—”

“—Which means that we need you to tell no one that I am alive, unless we give permission,” Kenric interrupted as Oralie’s face turned a fetching shade of bubble-gum pink. 

Bronte’s ears twitched as he considered this. After a moment, he grunted and said, “Yes, you have my word. Your secret is secure with me.” He blinked his old, watery eyes. “Is there anything else I might need to know?” 

“No,” Oralie replied. “Thank you, Bronte.” 

He nodded, and started walking towards the exit. Then he paused, and turned around, his eyes so soft, Oralie could scarcely believe it was Bronte. 

“Thank you for trusting me,” he said, swallowing hard. 

Oralie smiled. “Of course.” 

A ghost of a smile passed over Bronte’s face before he regally departed. Kenric watched him leave like he couldn’t imagine what he was seeing. 

Letting out a relieved breath, Oralie reached for Kenric’s hand, needing reassurance. Kenric twined their fingers, sparking a series of fluttering up her spine. 

“What do we do after this?” Kenric asked softly. 

“After you heal…” Oralie bit her lip. “I tell the Council I’m resigning.” 

--- 

I'm really excited to write the rest of this story! I'm so enjoying weaving Kenric into the story like he never died. I'm imagining at least two more chapters until this thrilling novella is finished. Hope you enjoyed!

-RK

--

Chapter Seven

Oralie

3 days after the Everblaze.

“Ugh, what do they put in these things to make them taste so bad?” Kenric groaned as he forced himself to chug a midnight blue elixir that was constantly fizzing.

“Some of them are okay—but the others?” 

Oralie shook her head. “Why don’t you just stop complaining?”

“But I have to drink twelve. A day!” Kenric whined. 

“You act like you’ve never had an elixir before.”

Kenric shrugged, or at least tried to, as his shoulders were stiff. “I’m usually quite healthy.” 

Oralie’s imparter jingled a tune and she reached for it, an exasperated smile on her face. 

“Who is it?” Kenric queried before gulping another elixir down his throat and muttering, “Seriously! Did Elwin only chose the bad-tasting ones?” 

“Liora,” Oralie replied, frowning slightly. “I better take this in another room or she’ll hear you complaining.” She stalked out hearing distance of the living room and accepted the call. “Hi Liora.”

Councillor Liora smiled. “Hi Oralie. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” 

Her eyebrows scrunched. “Oralie… you missed Kenric’s Wanderling planting.” 

Oralie’s hand slapped over her mouth. Oh no, her brain fretted as she scrambled for an excuse. “I didn’t mean to, Liora, just with… his death, I was too occupied… I must’ve missed the invitation.” 

Liora nodded, though she didn’t look completely convinced. “So it seams like you’re okay now? The Council really needs to have twelve Councillors right now…” 

“Don’t worry, I’m ready to be a Councillor.” Until Kenric heals, Oralie thought, but she didn’t add that. 

“Good, because…” Liora wrung her fingers and her face darkened. “Something happened at the planting. King Dimitar arrived, and, that human girl Sophie Foster, she…”

“She…” Oralie pressed, her heart pumping, afraid that Sophie had caused some trouble. 

“She tried to read Dimitar’s mind,” the Councillor hissed, clearly upset about the ordeal. 

“Oh no,” Oralie whispered, shaking her head. “Don’t tell me he caught her.”

“He did,” Liora practically spat. “And now that girl has ruined the treaty.” She took a breath to calm herself. “We need you to meet at Councillor Emery’s castle for a meeting to discuss her punishment.” 

“Now?” 

“In ten minutes.”

“Why don’t we wait to elect for a replacement Councillor?” Oralie suggested weakly, her brain fuzzing with the knowledge of how much trouble Sophie was in.

“We don’t have to wait to discuss ideas, but the new Councillor will help decide the final decision.” 

Oralie forced herself to think on the positive side and started to nod slowly. “I’ll be there,” she promised before she hung up and Liora’s furious face cut to black. She stumbled back to the living room, feeling sick. 

“What’d she say?” Kenric wondered warily.  

Oralie flumped down on the couch with a sigh. “You now have a Wanderling in the Wanderling Woods," she said. "And… Sophie violated the orge treating by reading King Dimitar’s mind. I’m supposed to meet at Emery’s residence to discuss her punishment.” 

Kenric gritted his teeth. “That isn’t good. We know the Council won’t be easy on her.” 

Oralie nodded wearily. “I’d better leave now before I arrive in the heat of the argument.” 

Kenric kissed her hand, sending reliving reassurance back into Oralie’s heart. “Be safe, my dear, and be quick! I’m not sure I’ll survive with just me and my elixirs!” 

“I will,” Oralie promised, a small laugh extending on her face.

----

34 minutes later... 

Oralie arrived with her cheeks flushed red with anger. Her breathing wasn’t quiet like usual but rapid and wobbly. 

Kenric sat up on the couch, his eyes wide. “What happened?”

Oralie tracked in circles in front of him before Kenric tenderly grabbed her hand to make her stop. 

“Nothing’s official,” she whispered. “But one of the punishments they considered was…” She swallowed and blinked with difficulty. “…An ability restrictor. They already have a Technopath working on a prototype.” She suddenly broke into sobs. “A child, Kenric! We are shaming a child for a mistake. A-and the only people of the Council who didn’t seam against it was Terik, Bronte, and I.” Kenric held her as she tears dripped down Oralie’s face. 

“It’s not decided yet,” Kenric comforted. 

“I’m n-not sure. The C-council… they’re poisoned by terror. Maybe… I shouldn’t resign after all. What if—”

“The Council is going to be stupid for a while, Oralie,” Kenric cautioned her, tracing a finger over Oralie’s shaking palms. “And as horrific as it may seam, there’s not much you can do.”

“But—”

Kenric folded a thread of her white-blonde locks hair behind her ears. “Oralie, do you know why I never resigned from the Council to be with you a long time ago?”

“No…” she said quietly. 

He stared off in the distance. “I believed that I needed to hide my feelings for the sake of our world. And while that’s true, I realized that by trying to shatter what I felt, I was shattering that part of my heart that made me whole, and made me myself.” Kenric held Oralie’s chin and forced her to look at him. “When I tried to conceal how much I loved you, Oralie, I didn’t feel anymore. I didn’t care. But when I brought you back into my heart, then I was happy, and the person I am.” He wiped off a tear that ran out of Oralie’s wide eyes. 

“But what if I stay on the Council, and not tell them we love each other—” Oralie pointed out softly. 

“What I learned is you can’t hide the great love you feel toward your significant other. Love shines through. Always. The gravest mistake I made in my whole life was waiting to be with you, when I could’ve been with you the entire time. To believe that by shunning my love for you was helping our world, I was really killing myself.” He stared genuinely into her azure eyes, so intensely but so filled with love it made Oralie’s heart burst at the seams. “You can still love me while being on the Council, but being a Councillor will divert your heart and desires. I’m not saying it’s impossible. It shows loyalty. But it’s hard. And unnecessary. And…” His breath tickled her face. “We already tried that, and we know how that turns out.” 

Kenric was right. When Oralie had loved him on the Council, her heart felt stretched in all different directions. And her heart wasn’t in the job. When she thought she was serving her people, she really was ripping herself apart. 

Oralie unexpectedly kissed Kenric, her affection for him churning in her chest in an inferno of formidable emotion. Kenric kissed her back, and Oralie felt his love surging into her, making her feel the happiest she ever felt.  

When Oralie pulled away, a smile was on Kenric’s warm face. 

“See… Even in the harshest of times, there can still be love,” he whispered. 

Oralie intertwined their fingers. “I love you Kenric. So, so, much.” A wad of emotion that was balled in her throat cracked her voice. 

Kenric pressed his cheek against her forehead. “I love you too.” 

----

3 weeks and 4 days later…

Elwin stopped by to check on Kenric and confirmed that he was indeed very healed, but he still needed to take it easy. 

Once he left, Kenric jumped up and down. “Finally! I can move again.” 

While Oralie was elated he was finally cured, her stomach was knotted with worry. For the past three weeks, she had stayed on the Council, suffering when she realized how intolerably disillusioned the majority of the Councillors were. They had constrained a young girl’s ability and labeled her Talentless, and threatened to Exile the entire innocent family of Dizznees, all out of fear that citizens wouldn’t take them seriously.

But now that Kenric was healed, it was time for Oralie to stop living a lie. 

“What is it?” Kenric asked, noticing her discreetness. 

She inhaled and exhaled before answering, “Today, I’m going to retire from the Council.”

---

I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing (which is a lot, to clarify)

All I can say is that the story is (obviously) turning out quite long, but I promise I'm keeping it interesting. Bye4Now

-ROOOOOOKNOOOOWS