Headed by a Snake

Haelvia of Leopardon slowly stood up. She dragged her reluctant feet to the door and ducked through the doorway.

The damp smell that filled the underbelly of the ship twisted her stomach worse than it already was.

"Elle..."

Tychon looked to her with wide eyes-- like he was surprised she came.

Then... against all her expectations... he smiled.

It was a warm, gentle smile that made Elle's heart thump in her chest.

"I wanted to see you," He said.

The way he said it... the honesty in his words-- it made it hard for Elle to respond.

So... she lied.

"I... wanted to see you too."

Lying was so much easier.

Tychon leaned forward... his golden eyes glowing in the lamplight, "I'd like to speak privately-- in my quarters."

That... no.

Elle couldn't do that. If she were to go, all of her feelings, all of her misgivings would be gone. She'd forget her heart and only listen to her body.

All her body wanted was him... his gentle touch... his rough hands... his hot breath on her neck and him inside of her.

"C-can we talk out here?" Elle turned away, "I... I don't want to leave Coraline for too long."

Silence.

Elle's eyes drifted back to her lover...

He was... disappointed. The look he gave her twisted a knot in Elle's chest.

She wanted to apologize. She wanted to get down on her knees and beg for his forgiveness.

Her actions were unacceptable. It wasn't right.

She didn't even know why... she wanted to hurt him.

"I... see," Tychon frowned.

He took hold of her hands... but not forcefully as she expected. He held them softly... like he was afraid of hurting her.

Tychon was a Gold-Rank Duplicarius... an impossibly strong hero of Tyrion... but in front of her, he was as gentle as a lamb.

"I want you to come with me, Elle," He whispered.

Elle furrowed her brows, "You... you what? Wh-where?"

Tychon closed his eyes.

Something had changed... something in the way Elle saw her boyfriend.

A few suns ago, she would have immediately said yes.

Tychon was her employer-- and more than that, he was the savior of her adventuring company, Guild Metal Wolf.

To an enlisted mercenary, the superior's wish was the same as a command.

So... agreeing to Tychon's requests was only natural.

...It's not like Elle had a real home. If her lover wanted to go somewhere, then there was no problem going along with it.

"You... have a choice, of course," Tychon gulped... "I'm taking a small team back to the mainland. The journey... will be more dangerous than anything you've experienced previous. However, my love... on my honor, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe."

Everything in his power...

That was something... Elle didn't want to believe.

"So... it's not a direct order, Sir?"

Tychon's gaze darkened, the gold in his eyes... seeming to glow brighter.

Elle felt the icy cold chill of danger run down her spine.

For a moment, she was on the battlefield again... looking into the eyes... of an angel.

Sweat was running down her forehead... and her knees shook.

Then... she felt Tycon's hands on her cheeks.

Again, she was safe.

She was with a man... who tried his best on her behalf.

She was with a man that she wanted, so desperately, to put her faith in.

"It is not an order," He sighed... "I... would much rather you remain here... safe with Coraline and the crew. However... it is my sincere hope that you would fight by my side... as an equal... as my partner."

A partner?

Elle pulled away, out of Tychon's grasp, "My partner is Gaheris."

Tychon furrowed his brows... and he took a step back.

That look in his eyes... it was more than disappointment.

He was hurt.

Of course, those words would hurt him.

Tychon had become an important part of her life. She'd revealed her heart and soul to him... and he'd done the same for her.

But... he was different from Gaheris.

Gaheris literally could not betray her.

Tychon... he'd tried so hard, though...

Somewhere deep inside... Elle knew that he was no less important to her than Divine Armor Gaheris...

But... those were not the words she chose to use.

It was... better that way, though.

Elle wasn't perfect. She wasn't even that strong.

She didn't deserve Tychon's trust... or anyone's.

She was just a stupid little girl who fell in love with a Prince.

Tychon wasn't a Prince.

He was a Baron... which, admittedly, was way more aristocratic than she could have asked for.

But... The perfect Prince in Elle's dreams couldn't possibly exist.

Elle ran her hand over the Saronite Protector on her forearm, "I... need at least a week to recover. And... I can only repair Gaheris' frame with the mana-tools and resources on the ship."

It was... a horrible excuse. It was easy for Tychon to transport the materials needed in his spatial ring.

But... that should be good enough.

If he really wanted her to come along... then he'd keep asking.

How much could she possibly mean to a man like him? After all... his words could make centuries follow him without question... or stand down in deference.

Tychon nodded... "If... that is your wish, then I will honor it."

...He said those words so easily.

Elle wondered if... the pain and disappointment she saw earlier was all in her imagination.

Tychon was a cold professional. He was a hero of legend. That kind of person couldn't have such feelings.

He wasn't even human. He was just a snake.

That hurt feeling in Elle's heart... had nothing to do with him.

It was her fault for feeling sad... for giving her heart to a man who couldn't be bothered to love her the way she wanted.

After watching Tychon turn and leave, she re-entered her and Coraline's quarters...

Coraline, as broken as her spine should have been, was sitting up, crossing her arms.

Her pointed ears twitched twice as Elle shut the door.

...Of course.

Coraline was an elf.

She heard everything.

Elle forced a smile... despite her tears, "H-hey. How are you feeling?"

"Talk," Coraline demanded. "I want to know the exact reason why you're f*cking everything up for yourself."