Discovering Love

Years passed.

Ryan and Alia quickly progressed in their training with Diabolico and Vypra. At age fourteen, Alia's skills in common witchcraft and demonic spells were unmatched and powerful, and Ryan was able to perform moves only a professional martial arts and weapons user could. Both were becoming fierce, proud warriors.

One afternoon, Alia and Ryan were doing their usual Tai-Chi to focus themselves and relax their bodies before training when Diabolico entered the room. They both wore sweat pants and black tank-tops and they bowed upon seeing Diabolico enter the room.

"Today, we are going to try a different kind of training. You're going to fight each other twice, but not in the same way. Alia, you will only use magic and Ryan, you will only use your weapons and combat skills."

"Yes, my lord," they said.

Ryan and Alia stood apart from each other and then began to attack with Ryan making the first move.

He thrust his sword at Alia's head, but her eyes glowed and the sword turned and headed back to him. Ryan easily caught it and then launched himself at Alia.

Alia dodged him and then thrust three energy blasts at him. Two, of which hit him while he dodged the third. She then leapt into the air as he lunged for her again and turned the floor to ice, causing him to slip and drop his weapon. Alia then grabbed his blade and held it to his throat.

"You're defeated," said Alia.

Ryan just grunted, "For now. Now, it's time for round two."

Alia got rid of the ice and returned his sword to him before retaking her place in the room and their second fight began. This time, Ryan didn't make the first move, Alia did.

She fired blasts of electricity but Ryan just held up his sword and used them to deflect her attacks and send them back at her. Alia put up a shield, but not one strong enough to fully protect her from the attack; thus enabling her to be partly wounded.

Ryan then began attacking her with punches which she blocked with a small shield and then flung him away with a spell. She then began chanting to bring about a more powerful spell.

Ryan took advantage of the situation to sweep his legs under her feet, knocking her down and cutting off her spell. He then grabbed his blade and held it to her throat.

"Yield," he said, breathlessly.

"I surrender," she said. "But only because you're a worthy opponent."

Ryan smiled, put away his dagger and helped her up as she used a healing spell on them both and Diabolico clapped.

"Excellent work, excellent," said Diabolico. "You've done perfectly. Ryan, your skills in combat are far superior to any I have ever seen. Alia, your skills in magic are unmatched. Such a powerful combination would surely mean defeat to anyone who ever opposed you."

"Thank you, my lord," said Ryan.

"Your praise is well-received, my lord," said Alia.

Diabolico nodded. "Now, go eat and rest yourselves. We will resume training tomorrow morning."

They nodded and then headed down to dinner.

"You fought well today," said Ryan.

"Thanks, so did you." A mischievous smile came over her. "But another minute back in round two and I'd have beaten you again."

"Oh, you would not!" he protested. "I had you beaten and you know it."

"Bah!"

They then burst out laughing as they knew their talk had been merely tease. They continued talking, not noticing how their fingers had unconsciously intertwined with one another's. Although the two had not yet fully realized it, they were falling in love. But neither admitted their feelings until one bittersweet afternoon when they were sixteen years old when Alia needed Ryan's help.

Ryan was meditating when Alia came in and snapped him out of it.

"Ryan, I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me for second?" asked Alia.

"Sure," said Ryan. He got up and carried the heavier of her packages. "What's all this stuff?"

"Most of it is ingredient I'm using for my magic experiments and the rest is more spell books," said Alia. "I'd have used magic to carry it all, but Diabolico says that using too much magic for everyday things will make me lazy."

Ryan chuckled. "You, a lazy person?" he said. "I'll believe that when I see it."

"My thoughts exactly," said Alia. "But he's—oh, dang it!"

One of her things fell off and rolled into Vypra's room. The two teenagers went to fetch it, but it was forgotten when they saw the glowing gold crystal shaped like a burst of fire.

"What's that?" asked Ryan.

"The Crystal of Fire," said Alia, holding it. "It's supposed to contain the power of fire, but no one knows for sure and—ah!"

The Crystal slipped from her hands and shattered. Within half a second, Vypra appeared and she looked furious.

"Which one of you did it?" demanded Vypra, her voice dangerously calm.

"It was my fault, Vypra," said Ryan, before Alia could speak. "I was examining it and it slipped from my grasp. I'm sorry."

Vypra's eyes darkened. "You know you're not permitted to touch my things and you disobeyed that order!" she yelled. A cursed whip appeared in her hands, one Alia recognized. "You're not as valuable as Alia or Impus, so you're going to be punished, human."

Before Alia could act, Vypra had Ryan pinned to one of the columns and his shirt was off. She was whipping him. Terrified, Alia ran until she found Diabolico by bumping into him.

"Alia, what's the meaning of this?" asked Diabolico.

"I'm sorry, my lord, but Vypra—"

"Vypra's done what? Tell me."

"She-she…" Alia quickly told Diabolico of what had happened and he looked angrier than she'd ever seen him.

"Come with me," he ordered.

Alia just nodded and when they came to Vypra's room, she was horrified at the sight before her. Ryan was on the ground shaking, his back a bloody and bruised mess of crisscrossed cursed wounds.

"Vypra, what have you done?" growled Diabolico.

Vypra actually looked terrified. "Diabolico, he—"

"I don't want to hear of it!" he interrupted. "You were told not to harm the boy or use one of the Forbidden Spells on him! You disobeyed my orders!"

"Master, please, I—"

"YOU ARE NEVER TO USE THAT KIND OF MAGIC ON HIM AGAIN OR PUNISH HIM WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!" shouted Diabolico. He turned to Alia who was helping Ryan to stand. "Alia, tend to Ryan while I punish Vypra. Neither of you will train until he has his strength back. You will have your turn to punish Vypra soon enough, I promise you."

"Yes, my lord," said Alia.

Ryan's left arm was around her as she helped him walk into his bedroom. Jinxer brought Alia her dropped packages, but she could've cared less about them. All she was concerned about was Ryan.

While Vypra was being punished by Diabolico, Alia tended to Ryan's back. He lay face down on his bed with his shirt off. She tried many spells to remove his wounds, but nothing worked. She rechecked the Forbidden Spells and sighed. She'd have to do the best she could, with or without magic. She bit her lip in worry when she felt the heat rising from his body. He had a natural fever he'd gained from his wounds.

Quickly, she placed a cold wet rag on the back of his neck and then gently wiped his back with a warm, wet rag before making a poultice of healing herbs. Alia noticed that he'd fallen asleep and she gently shook his shoulder to wake him.

"Ryan?"

"Hmm?" he said, slightly muffled by the pillow.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but I've got to apply this poultice and it's going to sting," she said. "Just stay awake for a few more minutes and then you can go back to sleep, okay?"

"Okay."

Alia bit her lip and took a deep breath. Gently as she could, Alia applied the poultice and bandages to his wounds. Ryan didn't cry out in pain, but once or twice he tensed at the stinging effects of the medicine and his breathing was ragged as he grabbed the sheets in his hands. Neither of them spoke while Alia did her work until she was finished.

"You're done," said Alia, breaking the silence. "You'll have to rest for a week to get your strength back and wait for your fever to break, but you'll be okay. According to the book, the scars will only go away fully if Diabolico is destroyed as he's the Master of the Demons, and I can heal them somewhat if they reopen or burn, but that's all I can do, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's fine," said Ryan.

She stared at him and just about lost control over her emotions. She was racked with guilt and sorrow because of Ryan's pain.

"'Fine?' Fine? You nearly got yourself killed for something you didn't even do! It was my fault Vypra's Crystal broke, not yours! I should've told her the truth."

"And you would've been hurt instead. I couldn't let that happen."

"Ryan, nothing would've happened to me. They don't hurt me for a reason and you know that. If you'd let me talk, you wouldn't be hurt right now."

Alia shut her eyes as she began crying. She furiously tried to wipe her tears away, knowing such a weakness was shameful and would be scorned if seen by the other demons. But the tears kept coming and soon she gave up. Then she heard Ryan groan. When she opened her eyes, she saw he was sitting up and wiping her tears away gently with the pads of his thumbs.

"Shh, shh, don't cry, Lia. Please, don't cry for me," he murmured.

"How can I not? You're wounded and it's my fault."

"It is not your fault and I'll heal soon enough. These scars are only a fraction of what I'd bear for your sake. I'd die for you."

"You-you'd die for me? But…oh, gall, Ryan, why? Why would you do that for me?"

"Because I love you, Alia," said Ryan.

Alia's breath caught in her throat as she touched Ryan's face. Never before could she recall anyone saying they loved her, not until now.

"You really love me?" she asked.

He nodded. "Any time I'm not with you, it hurts. When you're by my side, I feel stronger, I feel like I can be the man I want to be. With you, I feel so much love I can't tell you. I love you, Alia."

In that moment, Alia realized just how much Ryan meant to her. She would bear his pains and she'd sacrifice herself if it meant his safety. "I love you too," she murmured. "So much, I can't even begin to describe it. I love you."

Without anymore hesitation, the two of them shared a very passionate kiss that expressed all of the love the two of them shared. Ryan's hands tangled themselves in Alia's hair as he pulled her closer to him and Alia's arms snaked around his neck. They broke apart only to breathe until Alia lay beside Ryan as he wrapped an arm around her as they slept.

Ryan and Alia continued courting each other for many a moon after that night. When they weren't training or sleeping, they were together. Sometimes, they just held each other's hands and were silent, enjoying the moment in ways only they could. After nearly a year, with the help of Jinxer, Ryan had a gift he planned to give Alia at the right moment.

On their seventeenth birthdays, Ryan and Alia were in her room talking and gazing out of her window, watching the lights and shadows of the Cavern dance. Alia had no regrets regarding her relationship with Ryan, but she was afraid and she had yet to tell anyone of what it was she feared. She was so caught up in the view that she spaced out for a moment.

"Lia," said Ryan, startling her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she lied. "I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me. I know you too well," said Ryan. "What's bothering you?"

She sighed; silently liking and disliking how he could always see right through her like that. "In three years, everything we've been working for will at last happen. We'll take our revenge and reclaim what's rightfully ours."

"But—?" he prompted.

"Ryan, I'm scared." She'd said. She'd actually admitted being afraid. Such an act of weakness was not permitted, except when they were alone. This was one of those rare times when Alia's hardcore shell of strength and Amazon warrior-like fierceness was removed and her softer side came out.

"What're you scared of? I'll take care of it," said Ryan.

"That's just it!" she said, frustrated. "You keep taking on so much for my sake and you shouldn't have to!"

"Alia, I take on all that because I love you and because it's my choice," said Ryan. "I know you'd do the same for me. You have on several occasions."

"But how much longer can we keep living like this?" murmured Alia. "How much more pain can we take on one another's behalf until one or both of us is destroyed because of our feelings? What if the humans manage to defeat us and all we've been working for and cherish is lost, including you? I can't lose you, beloved." A few tears escaped her before she could stop them.

"Alia, look at me," said Ryan. He lifted her chin and her brown eyes met his blue-grey ones. "Whatever happens, you are never going to lose me. I swear it." He wiped away her tears and then held her close as he began to sing.

Ryan
No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you
Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here with you, beside you,
to guard you and to guide you…

Nothing would ever harm her as long as he was around. From the very beginning, Ryan had made it his sworn duty to protect her. She was the reason he held on despite all he'd gone through growing up. Without her, there was no telling what would have happened to him.

Alia
Say you love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summertime…
Say you need me with you now and always…
Promise me that all you say is true
that's all I ask of you

Ryan
Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You're safe, no one will find you
Your fears are far behind you…

Alia
All I want is freedom,
a world with no more night
and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me…

Alia held onto Ryan's hand, never wanting to let go. While she did want revenge against her father, she was more content just to be with Ryan forever. What was it about him that brought out her gentler side? With him, she didn't have to be the fierce dangerous hybrid warrior that all were depending on. With him, she didn't feel afraid. She felt stronger, braver and truly loved. In that moment, her fears were quelled and she no longer worried that she might lose him.

Ryan
Then say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime
Let me lead you from your solitude
Say you need me with you here, beside you…
Anywhere you go, let me go too
Alia, that's all I ask of you…

Despite Ryan and Alia's gratitude towards Diabolico for caring for them and their serving him, all they wanted was a life with each other. If they were both normal people, maybe they could've had so much more than just their life at the Skull Cavern being raised by demons. But would it have any difference in slightest?

Alia
Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime...
Say the word and I will follow you…

Both
Share each day with me,
each night, each morning…

Alia
Say you love me…

Ryan
You know I do…

Besides their quest for revenge, there were two things they were absolutely sure of: they were in love and needed each other, and that was all they truly wanted from one another. They were like two sides of the same coin. They were the one thing they could never be without, not ever.

Both:
Love me – that's all I ask of you
Anywhere you go let me go too
Love me – that's all I ask of you…

Alia kissed Ryan passionately as he spun her around his arms and then Ryan got down on his knees as he pulled out a small ring made of titanium with twisting leaves and tiny diamonds engraved in it.

"Alia Lamia Daemin, will you marry me?"

"Yes," said Alia. "A thousand times, yes."

Ryan smiled and slipped the ring on her finger as he spun her again before kissing her passionately once more.

When they told Jinxer, Diabolico, Loki and Vypra of their decision to marry, Jinxer applauded, Vypra smiled, Loki cheered and Diabolico nodded in approval."

"Your union is supported by all of us," said Diabolico. "Such a powerful bond could make a very large difference in everything. You shall be wed at moonrise tonight. It is your birthdays, after all."

"Your blessing and approval is met with gratitude, my lord," said Ryan, as Alia bowed in respect.

That night, Ryan and Alia wore special robes for the ceremony. Ryan's robes were black and Alia wore dark blue with silver and had her hair in delicate curls. A pyre stood beside them as their demon guardians watched them.

Ryan grasped Alia's right hand as she held it tightly.

"The hand fasting of Ryan Mitchell and Alia Daemin shall now take place," said Vypra. "Ryan, is it your wish to take this woman as your wife for all of eternity?"

"It is," said Ryan.

"Alia, is it your wish to take this man as your husband for all of eternity?"

"It is," said Alia.

"Then exchange your gifts your vows," said Vypra.

"Alia, henceforth, I vow to love and protect you for all eternity," said Ryan. "All I have to offer you is my word that I shall never ever abandon you and my love for you will never die."

"Ryan, henceforth, I vow to love and protect you for all eternity," said Alia. "My gift to you is this—" Their hands glowed and suddenly Ryan felt stronger. "I give you a bond of my creation that will allow us to share in each other's strengths, feelings and thoughts forever."

"Then by the power vested in me, you are sworn to each other as husband and wife for all eternity and beyond," said Vypra.

As she spoke, a silver chain appeared and tied Ryan and Alia's hands before it disappeared, marking their eternal bond of marriage and linking them together for all time. The two of them kissed and shared a wedding night filled with such happiness and joy only they knew.