Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or this world that they are in and I am making no money out of this. I just want to write a sequel to a really good book that I wish had one.
Also, I am using some words from Brightly Burning I hope nobody minds but this chapter begins moments after Kalira's death. Enjoy.
Chapter 2
The last thing Lavan Chitward remembered were flames, swirling raging around him as the dragon inside reared it's head roaring trying to break free.
The small part of his mind that wasn't taken over by the beast that was rage and anguish, held on, trying to buy enough time for the Valdemaran forces to flee.
But it was a loosing battle, as the beast strained against him.
Kalira was dead, there was nothing left for him on this world. It was time for him to move on to the havens.
As he lay over Kalira's body, the dragon unleashed, it was unfettered and free to ravage as it willed. All of his rage, grief, and hatred filled it and gave it a power beyond any nightmare imaginable. So long as it consumed him, he was beyond caring. :Wait for me, beloved. I am coming. But first, I will avenge you. . .: He closed his eyes, gave himself over to the dragon, and set the world, and himself with it, aflame.
But alas the dragon wanted to live, to rage, to burn, and for that it needed its host.
As the world burned around him, the flames barely touched Lavan.
And so, as the fire continued to rage, darkness consumed him.
It was like the coma he had been in after the fire at the Merchants School, but the difference now was that Kalira was dead, and he had no will to live.
And so, he fell deeper and deeper into his coma. Deeper than what was probably. The last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness was the sound of the Death Bell tolling. And the thought that "Herald Lavan Firestorm is dead, now all that was left was Lavan Chitward the firestarter".
When he recovered a little, he was dimly aware as before of everything around him.
After a while a kind lady bent over him muttering to herself for a while and glancing around before she seemed to make up her mind about something, she then put him on a stretcher of sorts. He blacked out for a little and when he next awoke, they entered a house of sorts. Part of it was inside a small cave and the other was constructed out of wood.
When she put him in a bed he didn't really notice, it was when she started to apply some kind of salve to him and, all of a sudden he thought of Kalira. And how it was she who was in need of healing.
And then he remembered that Kalira was dead; and he tried to cry in grief, but the sound that made it past his lips was merely a moan.
Then as the rage started to build up again, it was too much of a strain on his mind. And the darkness of the coma claimed him.
He dreamed he was in the Merchants School once again, although everything seemed different, all the colour appeared to have been washed out.
He was standing in Master Keileth's office, his body ached with suppressed rage.
Only, his head didn't hurt any more than his body, which wasn't normal. He pondered that for a second and decided to ignore it.
He was just getting a lecture from Master Keileth about not picking fights with the Sixth Formers, especially Tyron Jelnack, which was odd because he didn't remember the fight. "I must have blacked out again" he bowed to the master "It won't happen again sir" he managed to say.
"You see that it doesn't young Lavan".
As he bowed and turned around to leave Kelieth spoke again.
"And Lavan, we have a new student starting tomorrow, she will be in your form and I would kindly ask you to show her around and catch her up on the classes". He said it like a request, but the stern tone indicated it was more of an order.
"Of course, sir" Lan glumly replied, "what's her name?" as if he had a choice.
"Kalira" he replied and Lan for a moment got the feeling that he should recognise the name, but the moment quickly passed and he headed back to his class room with Owyn and the other students.
Bracing himself for more torment and bullying that he knew was inevitable.
The next day as Lavan was entering the school he was intercepted by Tyron or as he liked to call him Tyrant and some of his cronies.
Derwit and Loman whom he called Dimwit and Loathsome, Tyron started to speak.
"Well well Scrub, you really don't know how to throw a punch. This should teach you that practicing on us is a very bad idea."
And with that Dimwit and Loathsome started tossing him around.
After what felt like an eternity, Tyrant called to Dimwit and Loathsome, "Okay let's leave him" and as they turned around Tyron gave him one last kick in the gut.
"That should teach you a lesson, Scrub." Tyron said as he and his cronies stalked off laughing, leaving Lan curled in on himself lying on the ground gasping, trying to catch his breath.
When he entered the classroom he took his usual seat with a grimace, his lungs hurt, "but Tyrant kicked my gut, so why are my lungs hurting".
He dismissed the thought quickly and brought out his books and put them on his desk, after a few minutes Kelieth came in, interrupting the teacher mid-sentence.
"Hello Herewan, this is our new student Kalira" Kelieth gestured for her to take a seat.
By chance the only seat not taken was the one on his right so she sat down next to him and started pulling out her books. As she finished Master Kelieth turned and left.
Lan took a quick look at her, her appearance was quite startling she appeared to be around fifteen, with blue eyes and her hair which went down to her shoulders was silver.
He had no more time to look as Herewan resumed his lesson and Lan was once again immersed in his study's.
By the time lunch came round Lan was still sore from the kick that Tyron had dealt to him. When the school bell rang for lunch, Lan got up to go down to the school dining room.
And then paused as he remembered that he was to show Kalira around, and then groaned as he remembered he also had to help her catch up with the rest of the class.
He turned around to approach Kalira but found she was already standing behind him, looking at him expectantly. "Hi I'm Lavan Chitward" he introduced himself a bit cautiously "I'll be showing you around today. Master Kelieth also suggested that I help you catch up with your study's, if you like?".
"Oh, Lan that would be quite helpful, I do believe I am quite far behind" she said a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. They turned around and walked down the stairs to the schools dining room, like a couple of old friends.
Yet Lan got the feeling that there was something really important which he had forgotten, and he needed to remember it, fast.