The morning mist hung thick over the cliffs of Kurogane, streaked with the faint glow of the Ninja Festival lanterns still drifting in the sea breeze. Kael squinted at the horizon. Something small moved atop a craggy outcrop, almost shimmering.
"Is that… a bird?" he muttered.
Loki floated beside him, rolling his glowing eyes.
"Bird? That… is probably a small cosmic apocalypse waiting to happen, yes."
The figure waved timidly. Wings barely half-grown, tiny claws clutching a brush. His scales shimmered like a night sky filled with stars. A long, absurdly ostentatious name appeared in the air as he exhaled:
"Auralis Caelumbra Nyxtherion Solvaeon Ithrakar Velorum Astryx Eidelion Threnody of the Seventy-Seven Silent Stars, First Son of the Gallery Beyond the Firmament, Bearer of the Lullaby That Ends Wars, Heir to the Chromatic Vault, Wandering Scion of the Unfinished Masterpiece… but you can call me Grey, if you like."
Kael blinked once. Twice. Then shrugged.
"Grey it is."
Grey bowed, tail curling politely. His paintbrush left glowing streaks in the air as he waved. "I… I'm sorry if I'm disturbing anything. I just… I wanted to travel. To see the world. To paint it."
Necroptor barked a laugh, pacing. "TRAVEL? SEE THE WORLD? MASTER, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO CONQUER—"
Grey's tiny voice interrupted softly, "But… why conquer it if you can experience it instead?"
Instant silence.
Kael covered his face with one hand. Loki squeaked in frustration. Necroptor shrieked something about dignity and destiny. Fjorn tilted his icy head, watching Grey with quiet amusement.
"Also," Grey added, sheepishly, "I… I like singing. I hope that's… okay."
Kael froze.
"…Singing?"
Before anyone could respond, Grey opened his tiny maw and sang a soft, almost trembling note. It drifted over the cliffs, a lullaby of stars, of waves, of gentle winds. The sound touched everyone present. The Concord scout ship they had just passed fell silent far out at sea. Birds perched nearby dozed mid-flight. Even Necroptor's chaos clones blinked and slumped like wet sacks.
"Oh… I'm sorry," Grey said. "I didn't mean to—"
Kael groaned, grabbing his head.
"You're coming with us."
Grey's eyes lit up. Wings fluttering, he skidded down the cliff, brushing the glow from his paints onto the rocks. He tripped, fell flat, and laughed nervously. "I promise I won't break anything… intentionally."
Fjorn snickered.
Ylva whispered, "He's… kind of perfect."
Loki muttered: "I refuse to interface with that… cosmic menace."
Necroptor growled, "WHY ARE WE BRINGING THIS TINY APOCALYPSE ONBOARD?!"
Kael smirked, holding out his hand.
"Grey, welcome aboard Stormbreaker. Let's see how much chaos you can make… politely."
Grey took it carefully, brushing his brush along the deck in nervous excitement. "I… I'll do my best to… contribute."
As they sailed away, the cliffs of Kurogane shimmered faintly, as if the stars themselves were curious about this tiny winged dragon now voyaging across the seas.