Chapter 16: Disturbances
Early Afternoon - Mid Spring : Year 10 : Above The Nest | Home
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"You shouldn't feel anything, but if it feels uncomfortable, tell me." Mother's warm whisper drifted through the air like the voice of a goddess that afternoon—her snout nearing as her breath rapidly cooled. *Crackle*
With my head resting on her paw, she was closely inspecting the cuts on the side of my head, using some kind of magic to freeze and clean the wounds, while Krystallo laid nearby, watching intently.
"Did you sleep well, sweetie? You were only asleep for a little over two years." Letting one frigid breath out after the other, she repeatedly layered my likely ignorable wound with frost.
"Only?" I couldn't really see much though. "Was two years not a long time to reach the adolescent stage?"
"Hah," She was quick to shake her head with a gentle scoff. "Not for you." Bringing her snout close again, she let out another frosty huff before the sounds of fracturing ice reached me. "Considering how long your other sleep was, I was certain you'd be asleep for at least five."
*Tink… Crumble…* Watching what little blood remained simply rolled off my brow as crystal, my curious gleam grew. "Is the adolescent stage dragon sleep normally that much longer than the child stage one?"
Closely inspecting my head, flicking off a few remaining crimson crystals, she had me roll onto my side as she continued, "Dragon sleeps get longer with every stage, but when comparing it to a dragons age, the adolescent stage sleep is always the longest. Or at least when not looking at you."
"Huh? What makes it so long?" *Huff—Crackle*
*T-T-Tink* "It's because of what changes in here." Tapping her wing-spur against the side of my chest, a set of ripples moved through me like I was made of some uniform liquid.
-W..what the…-
Noticing my eyes move toward it, Mother's tail curled with pride. "Did you feel that?"
Puzzled, I nodded with a troubled look. -What was that..?-
"That was your mana." Pulling her snout away, she stayed silent for a moment before tapping my side again.
*Woom* It felt ethereal… Like a liquid that was somehow filling every crevice of my body rippled and recoiled in response to something no other sense could detect. "M..mana?"
"The fuel of magic."
My eyes instantly shot open like a dog reacting to a trigger-word.
"During your adolescent dragon sleep, your reserve forms, your mana becomes accessible, your attribute nodes open up, and to adapt to the denser presence of mana, your body undergoes some major changes."
-Re..serve? Attribute node?- They were things I had never heard of, but not caring whether I could figure out what they were on my own, my mind raced.
Though, it was a truly fruitless effort.
And Mother knew it. "Don't overthink it, sweetie. I'll explain everything soon." Finishing cleaning my cuts, she lifted her paw beneath my head to signal me to sit up before shifting her attention. "Before we move onto the magic lesson though, we need to have a certain discussion."
Feeling the unnatural tension in the air finally ease, I rolled back onto my stomach before finding Mother and Father looking at each other like they were talking in some way I couldn't hear.
Though, just a moment later, with a nod from Father, that changed. "Right, if we could…" He looked guilty, but troubled at the same time. "I'd like to start by apologizing again, Vasilias…" Lowering his head, the steeled air around him softened. "I thought you were a nest raider, and attacked without giving you a chance to speak."
Almost immediately, I felt my chest tighten. "I-It's okay!" He was deeply ridden with guilt and sorrow. "But if I could ask, what is a nest raider?"
Lifting his snout, though leaving it just below mine, he continued. "Nest raiders are dragons or humans that raid nests to pillage the treasures inside. Sometimes for.. other reasons, as well…" His gaze darkened with a palpable disgust as he paused. "Dragon raiders used to only really exist in rumor, but lately…"
Thinning her gaze, Mother seemed to realize something before stepping in. "They're bad people, Vasilias. Your Father was just being cautious."
"A-And I wasn't aware of the changes to your appearance, so I—" Father continued with a tension ripping through him before biting his tongue. "I'm sorry… I hope you can forgive me."
Seeing his snout fall to the ground with a bow, my heart tightened—my wings flaring slightly. "P-Please raise your head, Father! I understand." Pausing to look at Krystallo, Mother, and Father, all glistening like snow and silver, I felt my posture fall. "I know that I'm.. a bit different…"
"V-Vasilias, this matter isn't your fault." Mother jumped in with a stutter.
And Father followed. "R-Right, Vasilias, please don't think being different is a bad thing, in many cases, it's a blessing."
"Exactly!" Krystallo, feeling left out, quickly jumped back up onto my back before climbing up and wrapping herself around my crown. "Brother is warm! I like warm!"
Everyone's tension melted instantly.
"Haha," And taking advantage of the opportunity, Father used the ease to ask something he'd never have another opportunity to, "So, what was it?" It was something he had to ask. "Did something happen to darken your scales like that? Or…"
Shifting my attention back to him, I was the first to nod, but Mother spoke before I could. "He touched that artifact you brought from the Holy Kingdom."
Father's eyes instantly shifted though. "That headache cube?"
Mother nodded promptly.
"Headache cube..?" I knew they were talking about the tesseract-like cube I had touch, but somehow that name made my head spin. -What kind of name is that..?-
Little did I know, it was perfectly fitting. "It was an artifact I selected as my reward for helping a human kingdom with a dungeon raid, back when I was disguising myself as a human adventurer to explore the world."
-Disguising yourself as a human?- My brows instantly furled. -Why would you ever want to do that..?-
But I kept the question to myself.
"It was an artifact from the Golden Age that would give you a headache if you looked at it too closely. No one knew what it did or what it was made for, but I took it because—" Snapping his eyes to Mother as he caught his tongue, he grew flustered before continuing in a hurry. "W-Whatever the case, it was called 'The Crystal of Heaven' because it was found in rubble that fell from the sky thousands of years ago."
He.. wasn't telling the whole story… It was obvious.
But... -'Crystal of Heaven'..?- I was too caught on the name, and origin. -And it came from space, no less?- Just briefly questioning it made my head spin with theories.
But it was far too soon to know if any of those theories had any semblance of basis.
And well, perhaps subconsciously knowing that, long before I could even pick a direction to theorize in, another question graced itself upon me. -Now that I think about it…- "Where is Ilios?"
Father's expression washed with confusion almost instantly. "Ilios? You mean Feng—" He didn't get to finish his statement though.
As if hearing something we couldn't, his eyes shot open and snapped to Mother, only for her to turn to me as if nothing happened.
"Ilios is in the forest." Speaking warmly, she held a calming tone. "Ever since he evolved, he's been routinely venturing out. I'm sure he'll be back before sundown though. Don't worry."
"Evolved?" A curious curl passed down my tail as I looked up at her with a curious gleam.
"I'll explain it when it's time for your lesson on mana and magic."
My eyes widened as I excitedly began tapping my paws against the ground like a child on Christmas morning.
"But for now, there are some things I need to discuss with your father… Privately."
Almost immediately, the air around Father stiffened and darkened—as if by reminder.
And not failing to read it, I scooted myself a few meters back to give Mother room to get up.
Which she wasted no time doing—standing with a stretch and a shudder. *Rustle… Flutter* Though despite looking for it, she never motioned us up as well. "If you two could stay out here for a moment, your father and I will be right back, okay?"
-Huh?- "We can stay outside on our own?"
She was quick to nod without any burden of worry. "Just come inside immediately if you feel something is off, or see anything in the forest."
"And—" Jumping in as he stood up as well, Father's tone turned stern. "If you see a dragon, even at an altitude where they look like a speck, run in and tell us immediately."
Not understanding why he was asking that, Mother's expression darkened.
But all I did was nod firmly. "Got it."
Though, his statement seemed to make Mother a bit uneasy.
Giving the woods and sky above one final look though, she turned and wasted no time motioning Father inside.
At first, I was sure she was going to break the news about Fengari to him, and seemed to want to give him some alone time when she broke it, but every moment they spent walking toward the door, the purpose of their private talk seemed to shift.
Until…
"So, what happened..?" Opening her mouth the moment Father's head got through the barriers at the entrance to the Nest, her voice escaped quieter than a ripple in the breeze. "To assume Vasilias was a nest raider… If I didn't know you better, I'd think it was just a blatant excuse…"
It was obvious that I wasn't meant to hear anything, but regardless.. I listened close…
Even as Father's expression blended into the darkness of the hallway.
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- Zachari ~
"It's become a serious issue as of late. Not because of people raiding nests for money, but to kill those inside." Speaking through a growl, the steaming water within the fountains lining the hall rippled. "Government officials and high nobles have been the targets."
Tension instantly shot through me. "What?!" It froze me in my tracks. "Don't tell me…"
But looking back, Osto simply gave me a heavy nod. "The half breeds started a rebellion.. and it's a far more serious matter than we assumed it'd be."
Half breeds were essentially the offspring of dragons that mated with 'lower creatures', such as humanoid species. To be brief, they were smaller, weaker, and didn't live as long as pure dragons, but matured much faster, and had the ability to lay two clutches as opposed to one.
Over the course of history, they had been viewed in a distasteful light by pure bloods, and were quite discriminated against, but had grown increasingly coexistent in recent years thanks to their rapidly growing population.
Or at least.. seemed to be… "The attacks have been extremely widespread, and by the looks of things, are backed by someone with power and influence no half breed has.. not just in Bahamut, but across the humanoid continents as well."
My gaze thinned as a troubled whip rippled down my tail. "Have humans been involved?"
He nodded again. "Leander," One of the most important figures in the draconic government, "reported attacks on nobles nesting as far out as the mountains of Doseon…"
-Doseon?!- It was a humanoid nation all the way up near the North Pole—a frigid and desolate place considered extremely safe to nest in. "A group of humans raided a nest all the way out there?"
"More than one. There was a large military effort that targeted about half a dozen nests."
A bitter taste drenched my mouth instantly. -They really do have someone big backing them then…- "I assume the elders have passed an order already?"
"Indeed." His gravelly tone darkened as his snout fell. "If anyone unauthorized wanders close enough to get a look at the nest.. don't let them leave."
My eyes sharpened like a blade. "Got it..." -So that's why he told Vasilias to keep his eyes out…- Looking past Osto, out at Vasilias seemingly talking with Krystallo, I felt my wings tense.
However, I had no reason to worry just yet. -No one outside of our family's most trusted friends know where this place is…-
And of those trusted few, not one was swayable by any amount of money or power.
-Though.. caution is key…- Contemplating putting up some runes to hide the doors of the nest with light magic, I turned to Osto, "How long will you be staying here? Did you just come to deliver the order?"
He was quick to shake his head. "I was instructed to stay for a year to help protect the Nest and keep my eye on Toria's trade route off the coast. After that I'll need to go back, both to deal with this fiasco, and rework whatever it happens to change about the festival."
"Haah… What a pain…" Passing a heavy sign, I tried to ease my nerves. "I wish Mother hadn't assigned you the festival matters… It's going to make you miss Vasilias and Krystallo's most valuable years..."
He was quick to agree with a similarly stressed sigh. "I made the worst first impression I could, as well… At least I have another chance with Fengari." Trying to ease his nerves, he resumed his walk.
But… "About.. that…"
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- Vasilias ~
Eventually losing the ability to hear their conversation over the noise of the forest canopy rustling in the wind, I returned my attention to the field, laying my head down as my eyes moved across the sky in search of even the tiniest black speck. -Or well.. a speck I don't recognize…-
Finding my gaze moving between various local bird species—flocks of dove-like 'perigans' migrating from the west, and huge cranes and gulls patrolling the oceans—my mind wandered. -A revolution amongst dragons, huh…-
It was something I had never really considered happening. Mother had briefly explained the existence of the draconic continent, Bahamut, to Krystallo and I, -But to think they have a government complex enough for something like that to happen… And for humans to be involved, no less…-
I was in no position to really begin questioning any of it, however, as my eyes moved between birds, I couldn't help but wonder. -What kind of family are we for us to be the target of those kinds of terrorist attacks…-
Not that those questions would ever lead anywhere.
As time ticked by, an hour, perhaps two passed in a flash. Krystallo had practically fallen asleep on my head, and while I was still keeping my eyes on the sky, I was getting a bit drowsy too.
However, that wasn't going to be the case for much longer.
Not even an instant later, when the sun reached its highest peak in the sky, I heard something. *Snap…* The crunch of a twig.
Snapping my widened eyes to the edge of the forest, my exhaustion vanished in an instant.
Something was.. looking at me…
Feeling something akin to a chill tickle the back of my neck, my body tensed—my claws furling to dig into the soil as my pupils thinned to needles.
However, that was the moment I found it… Within the darkness of the forest, two glistening.. almost sparkling golden orbs were set on me.
Eyes… Not blinking.. and not moving…
Until…
*Flicker* Pulling my attention up with a twitch of movement, my eyes landed on two tall, pointed ears, and the sight of white fur revealed itself from the shadows.
It was a massive wolf, almost three meters tall, staring a hole into me with a skin-crawlingly intelligent look.
But that was the moment I muttered, "Ilios..?" And the sharp, almost predatory glint in his eyes vanished.
Lowering his head and slicking back his ears, he weaved through trees before bolting across the field and slamming into my face.
*THWUMP* "UwwwaAAH!" Getting knocked off my head, Krystallo flailed before hitting the ground, and jumping up to find Ilios hanging off the side of my head, furiously licking me as his tail kicked up a plume of dust.
"Haha, it's good to see you again, buddy." Lowering my head so he didn't have to literally hang off my head to lick me, he jumped back before spinning, jumping over my snout and running circles around us. "Pfft-"
The stresses that had just been digging into me just a moment prior vanished in an instant.
"My goodness!" As if his puppy energy were contagious, I was quick to jump up to play, lowering my stance with my tail happily swinging high.
"Mmmmh… How come Ilios never gives me kisses like that?" Shooting me a grumpy pout, Krystallo stomped her paw before Ilios bolted, zipping a circle around me before plowing into her like a truck. *THUMP*
As if having understood her, he drowned her with licks, making her coil her head back and forth in an attempt to escape before he jumped off to size me up again.
"Hahaha, seems like Ilios begs to differ." Seeing him getting ready to dart again, I readied myself.
However, the moment he bolted—my stance falling to jump out and catch him in a game of tag—Mother stepped out of the nest, and everything slammed to a halt.
*WOOSH—* Ilios cutting a little too close and tripping over my claw. *fwip-TH-TH-THUMP*
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