The Dragon King's Heart

"Dante? Dante!" Laina called out his name as she opened her eyes.

She wanted to sit up but realized there was an arm over her chest. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her forehead. Laina looked up a little as Dante stirred awake.

"Laina?" he muttered softly.

Laina kissed him on the cheek before snuggling close to his chest. She could feel the pain and aches all over her body, but it was significantly less than when the wounds were first inflicted.

"You're awake," he whispered groggily.

Dante was about to remove his arm around Laina but she held it down. He smiled to himself as he tightened his hug.

"That's better," Laina whispered back to him.

Laina placed her hand on Dante's chest. She could feel his heart beating.

"Are we dead?" she asked softly.

Dante chuckled, "We're alive. We made it to the hot spring cave all thanks to Titan."

As if on cue, Titan came up to the couple, nuzzling his way between them. Laina made sure to give him lots of love too. After all, if not for the Solar Mastiff, they might have died in the cold.

"Look who's back!" Marius called out while waving his hand.

Coming through the gates were Dante and Laina. After recovering in the hot spring cave for a few days, they realized it was time for them to make their back down for the Log Day celebrations. They made a quick pit stop in Luzernia to purchase some last-minute gifts before heading back to their home in the forest.

Since their trip down the mountain, Dante and Laina had not spoken about what they had promised. Neither of them brought it up, knowing it was not the right time for them to do so.

"How's everything?" Margaret came up to ask Laina as they embraced.

"It was eventful," she replied.

Margaret could tell there was more to her reply than she was letting on. She wanted to follow it up but hesitated upon seeing the look in Laina's eyes. She looked like she had a lot on her mind.

"I'm tired, I'm going up to rest," Laina muttered before silently heading upstairs.

Dante, who was only a few moments behind her, hurried up the stairs to catch up with her. Margaret grabbed him by the arm and pulled him aside.

"Did something happen?" she asked Dante while looking into his eyes for an answer.

Dante hesitated for a moment. Margaret tightened her grip on his arm.

"What happened?" she asked.

He looked up the stairs, watching as Laina walked towards the bedroom. He knew he had to do something. Dante wriggled his arm out of her grasp.

"I'll take care of it," he said reassuringly to Margaret before hurrying up.

He did not give her the opportunity to stop him for a second time. From the way both of them were acting, Margaret began to wonder if her fears were true. But there was no clear way to tell. All she could do was to wait and see.

Just as Laina was about to close the door behind her, Dante appeared. He entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"Dante-" he did not even let her finish.

He brought her to the sofa and sat her down.

"We need to talk," he said solemnly.

She could hear the seriousness in his voice. Laina knew too. At that moment, she wanted to pull away from him. For the last few days, Laina's heart was filled with worry. She wondered what Dante would do. After all, he never wanted her to find out that he was cursed.

"If you're going to erase my memories of me finding out... I won't let you," she said firmly as she curled her hands into fists on her lap.

There was a long pause of silence between them. He could not deny it. It had crossed his mind to do so. Ignorance is bliss. That is what some might tell you.

Knowing of Dante's impending demise from the curse would not bring Laina any peace or happiness. Based on those criteria alone, it was a good enough reason for him to do so.

"I cannot deny that it had not crossed my mind to do so," he said carefully, watching Laina's expression as he continued, "But I want to know something."

She looked up at him.

"You want to know how I found out?" she asked, reading his mind.

He nodded.

She looked into the distance as she let out a sigh. There was no need for her to lie about it. Laina explained how she put the pieces together. How she found out crucial pieces from the Oracle and the Temple of the Sun.

"You went to the Temple of the Sun?" Dante was surprised.

"Yes," she replied, before continuing her explanation.

When she finished her explanation, they sat in silence for a while. Dante processed what he had learned. Laina held her breath while waiting for his reply.

Dante grasps Laina's hand, causing her to jolt in her seat.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I should not have kept it from you."

Laina turned to him. She folded her arms as she looked at him.

"Were you honestly planning to keep it from me forever?"

Dante did not respond.

She had tears in her eyes, "Was I only going to find out when you are dying in my arms that it was time for us to say goodbye?"

"No. Laina. I..." he did not know what to say.

Nothing he could think of would console her. For the first time, in a long while, tears flowed freely from her eyes. She wanted to pull away from him, to walk away from the conversation they were having.

Laina was afraid. Afraid for what it meant for their future. For the longest time, she had refused to face the truth. Confronting Dante about it pushed her over the edge. She could not keep her emotions hidden any longer.

"I didn't want to hurt you."

Laina shook her head. She pounded his chest with her fists, "There is nothing you do that will hurt me, nothing."

Dante held onto her wrist, refusing to let go, "Yes there are."

He cupped her face lovingly. She rested her face in his hand, looking straight into his eyes.

"I can't live without you, Dante, I can't," she repeated as she shook her head.

"I think about all these scenarios where you're no longer here and I can't. I just..." Laina buried her face in her hands.

Dante placed his hands on her shoulders. He embraced her, hugging her tightly. He rubbed her back.

"You can.. You'll be fine," he whispered in her ear.