Dragonlord

Ep 167. I’m Always Right Here. (1)

Ep 167. I’m Always Right Here. (1)

When the group made it out of Aymeia’s temple, the sun was just beginning to set on the horizon. An orange hue painted the skies, and the sun was just beginning to sink beyond the distant mountains.

 That alone was enough to warrant a surprised reaction from Light.

“Wait…how long have we been in there?!”

When she’d first entered the temple with Serenis and Aymeia, it was already near sundown – and it certainly didn’t make sense that they’d spent less than an hour in the temple.

Hence, the only logical conclusion was…

“A full day, I suppose.”

While Serenis indifferently answered the half, the dragonlord furrowed her brows at the sight of the setting sun. It certainly hadn’t felt like they’d spent an entire day in the Archive.

Alas, the skies told otherwise.

Brushing the thought aside, Serenis quickly stepped forward. Shimmering lights enveloped her figure as the mass of light rapidly expanded, soon shattering apart to reveal a giant white dragon in its place.

She then cocked her head, urging the others to get on – especially Aymeia, who was still holding the black critter in her hands.

“Come. We’ve little time to waste.”

It was time to take the youngling home.

✧   ✧   ✧

As disturbing as their departure from the Archive was, Serenis found herself quickly occupied by other thoughts.

Namely…

‘…So it was Raizel after all.’

With the dragonlord taking to the skies with others in her proper form, everyone else began to process all that had happened at the Archive.

Aymeia was back to being reserved and quiet. With the Reaper’s passing, she seemed to spend most of her time staring at nothing, lost in her own thoughts.

Light was still examining herself every then and there, wondering if anything had changed. Although Serenis had no idea why, the dragonlord merely assumed that the half was making sure that everything was alright.

Karas was back to being limp and exhausted. While everyone else rode on Serenis’ back, Karas alone had to be held in the dragon’s grip to make sure he wouldn’t slide off.

Raizel – or rather, the furry black critter, which Karas confirmed as Raizel – had abandoned the comfort of Aymeia’s hands to ride along within the academic’s coat, poking and biting at him just for the heck of it.

And lastly, Serenis herself reflected on the Archive: what it once was, as well as what it’d become.

‘…I suppose even the summit would change with time.’

During her own era, the World Summit had been named that for a reason: it rested above the star’s highest peak, hidden above a ring of clouds that would never disperse. The only structure that stood within was the First’s temple, and nothing besides.

The clouds surrounding the peak had always served as a boundary between the star and the divinity’s domain. As long as one could traverse to the peak, they could reach the summit; while strange, the area had never been considered separate from their world.

But now, the space had somehow been severed entirely, connected only through these supposed gates.

‘Was this also Felicir’s doing? Or…’

Unanswerable questions continued to linger within Serenis’ mind. The Historian’s existence, the divinity they held, the summit’s change…none could be answered in the immediate moment.

And while she remained lost in thought, time quickly slipped past as the dragonlord made way towards her kin’s nest; when the sun fully vanished beyond the horizon, Serenis spared a brief glance towards the others on her back.

“…”

After noting everyone’s states, the dragonlord soon landed onto the ground – right before a hollow between two pieces of towering, snow-covered boulders.

“…I suppose we’ll have to spend an additional night outside.”

“Huh? Do you need to sleep after all?”

“No, but I’m sure others do – especially you. Lest you fall off during dark.”

“Oh…yeah, good point.”

As Serenis lowered herself to the ground, Light carefully slid off the dragonlord’s back, yawning to herself as she landed on the snow. Aymeia soon followed after, while Karas was quite literally dropped off with the spider in tow.

Lastly, Serenis herself returned to her usual size, picking Karas up on her back before heading into the stone hollow with the others.

“How did you know there was a cave right here? We were literally up in the sky.”

“There was a large space devoid of mana. It wasn’t difficult to guess that it’s a natural hollow.”

“…Uh huh…sure.”

Light rolled her eyes at the dragonlord’s explanation. It wasn’t really something she could replicate…ever.

So instead, the half’s eyes darted from side to side between Aymeia and Karas – or rather, one person who wouldn’t talk to her, and another person who was too tired to talk to her.

Oh, and the spider. Who couldn’t talk to her.

‘And even if she could, I am NOT going near her like that.’

After an exasperated sigh, Light slumped onto the floor with wary eyes, shuffling away as far as she could from the spider Raizel had become. Despite knowing that it was only temporary until they’d arrive at the valley, every fiber of her being was still refusing to go near a spider of her own accord.

‘I miss Ilias.’

Suppressed drowsiness washed over her as Light began to relax. She found her eyes quick to close, making her realize that she’d been more tired than she’d cared to admit.

‘At least we’ll all be home soon…’

As her eyes began to shut, Light examined her own self one last time before drifting off to sleep.

‘…Nope. Still nothing.’

✧   ✧   ✧

Serenis maintained a small fire within the cavern, keeping the hollow sufficiently warm throughout the night. She occasionally pet the spider on her shoulder with her fingertip, who’d since abandoned the professor’s pockets.

But before the night would fully pass, Karas stirred awake, groaning as he lifted his tired body.

The academic rapidly shook his head to wake himself. He balled and loosened his fist several times to check his own aptitude.

Confirming that he was alright, he turned to the only other awake person nearby.

“By the Twelve…have I been out the whole flight? Where are we?”

“Halfway back to the nest. How are you feeling?”

“…Better, actually. Though I’m not sure why.”

“Light shoved a mana crystal into your mouth earlier. Perhaps that helped.”

“Ah…did she? That’s-“

Karas looked around the small cavern, searching for his student.

But much to his dismay, he only found Aymeia sound asleep. Otherwise, Serenis was standing by the cavern’s entrance with the spider on her shoulders.

And Light was nowhere to be found.

“…Serenis?”

“Yes?”

“Where’s Light??”

“…”

For a moment, Serenis refused to give a response. She only stared back at the awoken academic with crossed arms, casually leaning against the hollow’s entrance.

Eventually, she slowly slid out one of her hands, pointing towards a particular direction outside.

“She awoke not too long ago. If I recall correctly, she claimed she needed some air.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“If you’re concerned for her safety, I’ve already examined our surroundings. There aren’t any beasts or the like lurking about. She hasn’t gone far, either – I can sense her quite easily.”

“No, that’s not the issue, it’s…”

“Yes?”

“…Never mind. She went that way?”

Rushing to his feet, Karas didn’t even bother for Serenis to return a verbal response. He made quick note of the direction her finger was pointing towards, hurriedly fixing his coat before following after his student’s footsteps.

And Serenis returned to leaning at her leisure, watching the academic traversing through the snow.

‘…Whatever’s up with them?’