Meeting him in a Dream by Kuichi Zai (best book clubs .TXT) 📕

        "I need to take my route here, it's the quickest way to go," Kaelum reasoned.

        "Very well, if that is so. I will escort the both of you out of the forest," said he.

        "That is very much appreciated, but may I ask why?"

        "I haven't met anyone like you or more specifically someone from your special bloodline for decades, and it would be a waste to not let it last longer," he answered to which Kaelum got confuse. What does he mean by that? He has no idea what the hell the dragon was talking about. His bloodline was not very special at all, at least that's what he thought.

        He really didn't care about the history of his family nor did he take any interest in learning it.

        "You won't try anything bad, are you?" Kaelum asked, he had to be careful around Zal. Zal is pretty much a powerful creature, sure he can take him, but there is a 50/50 chance if he will defeat the dragon or get defeated by the dragon.

        "You think lowly of me human, But I am pretty much loyal to your ancestors and nothing has change till this day."

        Kaelum nodded and took Zal's offer.

        "But first, let me change myself. I don't want to scare the lady again," Zal said to which Kaelum got confuse. "What does he mean by that?" He thought.

        Zal slowly inhale and exhale, he positioned himself in a crouching position and began changing, after the slow process of changing he was now in a human form, well almost in human form. Almost, because his ears were pointy ad his eyes were like that of a reptile. "This is the best I could do," he said.

        Kaelum was surprise. He didn't know that dragons could turn and shape-shift themselves into human. No wonder the people thought that dragons are extinct. They have no idea that dragons are very well might be living with them.

        "I didn't know dragons could shapeshift?" Kaelum asked.

        "Only the ones that are within my status, the others couldn't."

        Kaelum nodded and turn to Zal again staring at him, "You should probably find something to wear. We have a girl with us."

          Zal was birthday suite naked. He looked at himself and nodded.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

        Heylan was being carried, but by whom? She could feel herself swaying in that person's arms. Slowly she opened her eyes and was met by a bright light. She groaned as the suns rays hit her eyes. She was not prepared for a blinding sight. Her eyes slowly adjusted to its surrounding and she was now directly staring at someone.

        That someone stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Heylan. Good. She was now conscious.

        "What happened?" she croaked.

        "She couldn't remember?" Kaelum thought.

        "You hit your head on something hard and fainted."

        Heylan whip her head to the direction of someone she had never seen before. "Who are you?" she asked curious. She was looking at Zal. He was wearing a cloak, he looked like in his 40s and his hair was blonde almost white in color. He stood taller than Kaelum by a few inch, and she could very well tell that he looked different.

        "My name is Zal milady, I am merely a guide to your destination."

        She nodded at him unsure. She turned her head back to the person carrying her and blushed. She was still in his arms, carrying her like a princess.

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

        "Just follow this path and do not stray, you will reach the end of this forest and you'll be heading to the capital in maybe a whole day of walking," Zal said guiding them. 

        "You're not going with us?" Heylan asked.

        "No Miss, I cannot go anymore further than here. I am bound to this forest and need to protect it for this is my home," he said simply and nodded for them to go on.

        "Thank you for guiding us," Kaelum said. He had been awfully quiet the whole journey, and not once did he tried to make a conversation. 'Was something bothering him?' Heylan asked to her subconsious.

        Zal nodded and left them.

        After Zal left. They started walking on the path where Zal told them to go. Heylan couldn't take Kaelum's silence and tried to speak, but what will she say? She tried searching in her mind for a topic when Kaelum spoke breaking the silence.

        "Why so quiet?" 'really? He was asking her that? weren't he the one who has been quiet all along?'

        "Uhm,.. weren't you the one who was quiet?" she retorted.

        He gave her a confuse look. "I was?"

        She shrug her shoulders and proceeded on walking.

        They have been walking for hours now, and still no civilization in sight. Heylan was now panting dehydrated and hungry. She was now tired and hungry. Where the heck is the capital?

        "I can't do this anymore! i'm tired, thirsty and hungry!" she exclaimed.

        Kaelum just stared at her. "We should rest, if you can't take it anymore. Since it's getting dark, i'll just get some firewood and maybe something to eat." he offered. Heylan just nodded in agreement.

        Heylan was rubbing both her hands up and down her arms, she was obviously cold. Kaelum walked towards her and took of his cloak and put it around her. "Here," he said simply and left to gather some wood and maybe for food. They still have a day to get to the capital and it was already night time since the sun has already set.

        Heylan didn't know that she fell asleep as she was waiting for Kaelum. She could feel someone stroking her cheek. Was she dreaming? Slowly she opens her eyes to someone staring at her. Silver and amber eyes staring back at her. She held her breath at their close proximity. What was he doing? 

        They just stayed there, staring at each other. She could feel her heart skip a beat. Memories of them at the water came rushing back.

        Her first kiss...

        She turned crimson. Kaelum closed his eyes. 'oh my gosh! is he gonna kiss me?' she thought frantic. She could feel her heart now raising as if competing in a marathon. Slowly she also closed her eyes ad leaned closer, but feels nothing. What just happened?

        She opened her eyes and saw Kaelum walking away and towards the fire. 

        "The food is done," was all he said.

        She nodded still flushed. What was going on in his mind? She swear she could never understand the guy. One moment he was playful and teasing, next moody and grouchy, and then quiet and reserved. Can someone help her decipher the guy?

        “I can’t believe we’re finally here!” Heylan exclaimed with excitement evident in her eyes. The capital was not what she expected. Everything in the Capital was beautiful, no pollution and was very echo friendly. Kaelum glanced at her for a brief moment and proceed in walking. He was going to take her to the palace and leave her there while he proceeds on his mission. He was sure that the people in the palace are kind enough to take her in, and they might just be able to help her return to her world.  He was going to leave her, and if he gets too attach to Heylan, it will be dangerous for her and for him. It’s better if she stays away from him and not get involve with his problems.

        “Let’s go, I’m going to take you to the palace,” he said with indifference. Heylan just nodded and follow him. “He’s been acting indifferent and strange lately. What got in his mind?” she asked herself.

        She glanced at Kaelum and saw those beautiful eyes of his. “I never thought that I’d see anyone with eyes that has different colors,” she sighed and immediately she confronted him. He stop mid in his tracks and stared at her with a questioning raise of one brow. “What’s wrong?” he asked her. 

      "Why do you have different eye color?” she suddenly blurted out, although that wasn’t what she was going to intentionally ask him. Taken aback, he just stared at her. She was fiddling with her thumbs under his scrutinizing gaze. “I’m born with it,” he answered, although there is a reason why he has silver-blue eye, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

        "This place is so beautiful," she sighed. Kaelum nodded, he could agree to that. Fostaus really is a beautiful kingdom, unlike his current kingdom. His kingdom used to be as beautiful as Fostaus or even more, but apparantly everything change in just the span of time. He wish he could go back to the past and make things right and should have never did what did.

        "I wonder if Neveth is as beautiful as this," she spoke. 

        "It was, maybe even more beautiful than this kingdom here. But its all in the pass now..." Heylan stared at Kaelum confusion evident in her eyes, Kaelum's expression is as if he is remembering something from the past. "Has he been there before?" she thought.

        "Kaelum, have you been to Neveth? It looks like you know the pla--..." she stopped her sentence when Kaelum gave her an intense look. "I mean--... uhh.... you look like..."

        "Yes, I've been there before.... " he said confirming her thoughts. "Let us not talk about this, we need to find an Inn for us to stay for the night, then we go to the palace tomorrow," he said ending the conversation. Heylan just nodded and followed him.

         After a few search of the city, they found a suitable Inn for the both of them, it wasn't pricey and the rest of the Inn they went through were full. This was the last one that still have a vacant. They entered the Inn making the door bells ring in the process letting the workers know that they have customers. They make their way towards the counter.

        "Good evening Sir and Maam, welcome to Jamie's Inn what can we do for you?" the lady in the encounter asked glancing to the both of them, then she shifted her eyes towards Kaelum a little longer. When she glanced back at Heylan her expression turned to disspointment. "What the hell's wrong with this girl?" Heylan asked herself. Clearly she didn't like Heylan. "Was it because of my outfit?" she wondered. She could feel the other peoples stare at her. Must be her different outfit from they'res. 

        "Room for couples?" the lady suggested. Heylan wasn't listening to the lady earlier and didn't hear that there were no more rooms available due to the many travelers in the place. Apparantly there was going to be a big event in the Kingdom.

        Heylan was about to correct her when Kaelum cut her off, "Yes, that will do." 

        "If you don't mind me asking, are you two? You know.... together?" the Lady couldn't help but ask, she felt envious at Heylan for having Kaelum with her.

        "N-noo.. we're not---!" Heylan said while at the same time