Chapter 38: An Outstretched Paw
By Dardarax
Disclaimer: I, Dardarax, do not own Spyro, Cynder, the Temple, Warfang, or any other character or place belonging to the Spyro Franchise. Several of my characters are featured in this chapter, they just so happen to be dangling off of this cliff, hanging for their dear lives in anticipation of whatever is about to come next. So, go see if they've fallen to the bottom!
It was difficult to avoid noticing the stares as Voltlyn and Wintra strode down the hall together. Voltlyn smiled through all of it, but she could already hear the whispers and gossip beginning to rise behind her, and she could imagine the thoughts running through the heads of every single dragon who stopped to gawk at the pair.
It had to be far worse for Wintra, though, who shifted and glanced about, her shoulders sagging even as Voltlyn did her best to keep her spirits up. At least Wintra was responsive when Voltlyn talked about all the interesting things they could do together, unlike Lyrith.
Also unlike Lyrith, Wintra had at least enjoyed the Galleria, even if it turned out she had a few old enemies there with grudges. Voltlyn supposed she should have seen that coming, but at least she had been able to talk them down for now.
And more importantly Flaresse and Typhia hadn't seemed to have realized Wintra's past.
Voltlyn smiled and glanced back at the pair, who were still bickering behind them, though about what Voltlyn didn't know. Wintra was trailing behind again, slowly letting the two overtake her so that she'd be at the back of the group and be less noticeable. Voltlyn frowned, and with her wing pulled Wintra back up to the front, despite her mutter of protest.
"Oh don't be like that! Skulking and sulking just isn't like you at all!"
A sigh escaped her and she glanced over to Voltlyn with narrowed eyes, just barely visible through her mask. "Stop telling me who I ought to be," she said. Then Wintra's voice softened and she glanced over to one of the groups of onlookers by the windows. "I'd just rather not be noticed right now."
Voltlyn nodded, even though she didn't agree. This was the time to be noticed. She had made amends and she should let everyone know. She shouldn't try to hide her redemption. How could anyone judge her poorly for doing the right thing?
Yet another mob of people came through the halls, only a few of them students, and Voltlyn sighed in frustration. Even though the wildfire had subsided most of the townsfolk weren't eager to head back. The Temple was a big place, but even it could only fit so many people, especially in the common areas. And with so many people around it would be almost impossible to find anyone.
Though that wouldn't make Voltlyn give up.
Voltlyn rounded the corner into the first servant corridor and peeked about. It was just as packed as the previous hall, but at least everyone was moving and there weren't any loiterers blocking the way and making things silly. It wasn't like standing around when hundreds of people were moving about was comfortable!
Voltlyn slowed, but thanks to the new wave of people wasn't quite able to stop. "So, Typhia, Flaresse, this is where your rooms will be?"
The two paused in their conversation to look around, seemingly startled at where they were. They had been really into their conversation!
Typhia cleared her throat and stepped forward with a nod. "Yes, quite. We're staying here for now, though this fool here will be moving to the guard barracks once she's done her trials," Typhia said, as she gestured to Flaresse.
Flaresse snorted. "Fool? Hah! You're the fool whose staying in the spot with cramped quarters! I get a bunk in a nice large room!"
"A room full of other dragons!"
"Yeah, and what's the problem with that?"
Voltlyn glanced to Wintra with a wry smile and a roll of her eyes as the two started bickering once more. Wintra met her gaze and smirked in response. Voltlyn relaxed a bit at the sight of her grin, and looked down the hall once more.
They followed Typhia and Flaresse over to their new chamber and let Typhia show them around for a bit, but soon Voltlyn noticed Wintra's shuffling in the corner and asked to go. Typhia and Flaresse should get their belongings together. Voltlyn and Wintra would meet up with them at sunset at the usual spot.
Wintra let out a relieved sigh as they stepped out of the room, and Voltlyn glanced over to her with a raised eyeridge.
"You're still not comfortable around them, are you?"
A snort escaped Wintra and she shook her head. "I'm still not entirely comfortable around you either." The ice draken glanced around at the many people in the hallway.
A grimace creased Voltlyn's muzzle, though she did her best to hide it. She strode up and bumped Wintra's shoulder with her own. "Oh don't worry about it. I'm getting pretty comfortable around you now! You'll get used to me soon enough!"
A smirk appeared behind Wintra's mask as she rolled her eyes. "I better, since I don't think you're going to leave me alone."
"Nope!" Voltlyn said with a snicker. "Now come on, let's go find Thunder!"
Wintra shrugged and turned down the hall, leading the way to Thunder's room. "I'm not sure why you want to do this."
Voltlyn eyed her as they turned the corner and headed up the stairs towards the student chambers. "Why wouldn't I? I forgave you, so I should forgive Thunder too. You did say he was sorry."
"I did, but he's not the sort of guy who'd say it even if he does feel guilty. You'll probably get a face full of door the moment he opens it, after which he won't leave his room for another day." Wintra eyed Voltlyn with a cocked head. "He doesn't know how to handle guilt, since he rarely lets himself feel it."
"And that's why I have you here!" Voltlyn exclaimed with a cheery grin. "You know him better than he knows himself! Together we can make him happy again!" With a sly glance Voltlyn met Wintra's eyes once more. "Besides, having him around might help make you more comfortable. And it'd be a good chance for you two to start hanging out again."
The look Wintra gave Voltlyn was not one of confidence. "And I'm still not sure why you want that. But I appreciate it none the less."
Voltlyn beamed and nodded, and then turned her attention to the crowds ahead, so they could weave through the packed halls.
It took far longer to get to the male corridor than Voltlyn had thought it would. Squeezing through the gaps in the crowd was hard enough, but with all the movement in and out there were long periods were no progress could be made at all. Eventually Wintra stopped her at Thunder's door, and sat down upon her slim haunches.
Voltlyn looked the big stone door over with a frown, still panting from having to squeeze her plump body through the crowd. "So… do you think he's in here?"
Wintra shrugged. "He's either here, or he's in the gym. Those are the only places he goes besides the kitchen now that the gang is broken up. The kitchen is empty, and with the crowds this thick a drake his size isn't going anywhere, and certainly not to the gym which is so far away."
"So he's most likely here then," Voltlyn said with a relieved sigh. Wintra shrugged again.
Voltlyn nodded and stepped right up against the door. "Well, we might as well give it a try." She lifted her paw, hesitated, swallowed down the lump that formed in her throat, and knocked as hard as she could.
The noise of the knock barely sounded over the constant noise of the crowd, but she did faintly hear it ring out in the chamber. Wintra shifted beside the door and tilted her head, as if listening for something.
She nodded just a moment before the door opened. "Yep, he's here."
Voltlyn started, and turned away from Wintra to face the door as it swung wide, revealing Thunder standing behind it.
He was just as big as she remembered him being, his massive muscular frame towering several heads taller than her, his lightning bolt shaped horns thrust forward over his brow with a heavy dark yellow colour that matched his belly. His electric blue eyes flew wide.
A wan smile cracked Voltlyn's face and she lifted a wing and waved up at him. The door slammed shut with a boom right in her face, causing Voltlyn to yelp and stumble back, bumping into several dragons behind her.
Beside her Wintra snickered. "Told you so."
Voltlyn grumbled and rubbed her snout, which thankfully hadn't been hit, though was very close to being so. "Well that was rude."
"Let me handle this," Wintra said with a grin, sitting up and pushing Voltlyn to the side with a light shove. She turned to the door, cleared her throat and then hammered on it as forcibly as Voltlyn, though she kept at it for much longer.
"Hey, fat-ass!" Wintra shouted, loud enough to cause the people around, who had already stopped at the slam of the door, to turn and stare. "Open up this door now! The boss wants some words with you!"
A frown touched Voltlyn's face. "Boss? I'm not your boss?"
"Shh," Wintra hissed, not glancing over to her. "Just wait."
There was quiet for a moment, with even the hall falling silent. Then the door opened up a crack, and Thunder peered around with wide eyes. The sight of the giant cowering made Voltlyn burst into giggles.
"W-Wintra? I… what are you… boss?"
"You dumbass," Wintra said with a snort as she shoved her body against the door, forcing it open and pushing Thunder back a step. She strode inside with a snort and a flick of her head, a gesture for Voltlyn to enter. "You can't go slamming doors in the faces of ladies!"
Voltlyn hesitated only a moment before stepping in hesitantly, not wanting to be shut out again.
The door closed behind her a second later and she let out a sigh of relief, glad she got her tail out of the way. Then she looked around. Thunder's chamber looked exactly like she had suspected it would.
The chamber was simple, without any real decorations aside from the drapes and the gold coloured cushions of his bed. The chamber was cluttered, but not messy, and there were stacks of books and piles of homework all about the desk and various weights and exercise tools placed all about the chamber in strategic locations. It was the sort of room that looked like its owner spent way too much time in.
Wintra stalked past Thunder and glanced around with a sigh, her eyes fixing on the stacks of plates and half-eaten food on the desk. "Come on Thunder, I thought we talked about this. Eating in your room makes it stink!"
The enormous lightning dragon snorted and lumbered over to sit down at the table. He moved Wintra aside with one paw, causing her to slide along the ground despite her obviously resisting, before he settled back on his cushion. He glanced at Wintra, his gaze fixed firmly away from Voltlyn.
"I like the smell of food in my room. Makes me hungry enough to want to leave occasionally. Better than that perfume you always use for yours."
"But it gets so gross after the first day!"
"It doesn't stay more than two days here. Now why did you barge in?"
Wintra rolled her eyes and moved to sit across from Thunder. She flicked her head and gestured to Voltlyn. "That's not the question you want to ask, dumbass."
Thunder's gaze briefly shifted to Voltlyn, and she perked up to wave, only for Thunder to jerk his head and fix all his attention on Wintra, his eyes wide.
"No. I think that's my question."
Voltlyn glanced to Wintra with strained eyes, but the ice draken had already begun speaking, a groan colouring her voice.
"Ugh, I barged in here because you were being an inconsiderate jackass. Now hurry up and apologize to her, I know that's what you want to do. Then again, you are just a big hatchling coward, so I get why you can't even look at her!"
Thunder's eyes narrowed. "I am not a hatchling… or a coward!"
Wintra smirked. "Prove it."
The burly drake open his muzzle and then froze. He sat still for a moment, his eyes always just on the verge of flicking over to Voltlyn, only for him to catch himself.
"Ancestors curse you," he said with a groan, his shoulders sagging. Wintra giggled.
Voltlyn straightened as Thunder turned to face her, his whole body tensing. Voltlyn smiled as brightly as she could. She didn't want to ask him to say sorry, it didn't seem right. But if Wintra was certain that was what he needed than she'd let him say it before she forgave him.
Thunder sat still for a moment, his jaw clenched as he looked into Voltlyn's eyes. His eyes were distant yet searching. It was a look she had never seen on him before.
"I…" Thunder took a deep breath. "I should have caught on sooner. I should have knocked that bastard's head right off his shoulders too. I didn't. Sorry."
Voltlyn beamed. "Apology accepted!"
Thunder glanced up at her, his brow furrowing. Voltlyn felt her smile waver as he did not speak, nor move. He didn't look surprised like Wintra had, yet…
Off to the side Wintra shifted as well, her head tilted as she looked at Thunder. She was the first to speak. "Are you alright?"
"No."
Both Voltlyn and Wintra blinked. No?
Thunder sat up from his cushion and he turned away, shaking his head.
"No," he said again. "I'm not okay. And you didn't forgive me."
Voltlyn frowned. Of course she forgave him! She just said it aloud!
Wintra groaned. "You're so dense! Were you not listening?"
"I was," Thunder said with a snort. "But she doesn't mean it."
"I do mean it!" Voltlyn declared, standing up with a pout. "I just want to put all of it behind us and start fresh!"
The big drake turned back to her, his eyes narrowed. "You may think you mean it, but deep down you don't. It's too easy, and nobody forgives people like us in an instant."
Voltlyn sat back, her brow knotted together as she stared up at Thunder. Wintra had been like this too, though she hadn't been in denial so much as confused. Why couldn't they believe they'd be so easily forgiven? They'd been jerks, sure, but they'd done nothing unforgivable.
Wintra stepped forward and tried to push Thunder back into his cushion. She strained against him for a moment, but the large dragon didn't budge. She gave up, harrumphed and continued as though she hadn't failed to budge him.
"Thunder, I think she is actually genuine. Remember, this is Voltlyn we're talking about. She always had that naive innocence about her. I don't think she's capable of grudges."
Voltlyn shifted uncomfortably at that, Tirren's image coming to mind, along with a twist surge of rage at her stupid pretty face. She took a deep breath, swallowed back the bile and resumed her smile with a sigh as all the things she'd seen were pushed onto a distant branch of her tree.
Thunder snorted. "And why are you even with her right now? Aren't you ashamed about what happened?"
"Of course I am you dolt!" Wintra said with a sharp whisper as she cuffed him lightly across the head with a paw. She lowered her voice even quieter, though Voltlyn could still make out her every word. "I went to apologize to her a few days ago. She forgave me instantly too. Believe me, I was just as baffled as you are, but she made a good case of it. Now accept the forgiveness and move on with your life."
Voltlyn sat up and strode over to Thunder, and gave him a friendly bump on the flank with her shoulder. Thunder jumped and whirled to face her, eyes wide. Voltlyn managed to not flinch back, a feat which she congratulated herself at as for a moment she was certain he'd hit her.
"There's nothing to be sorry about, Thunder. You never did me much wrong, and I can't blame you for not catching on when I actively hid it for so long. Still, if you want to apologize I'll forgive you." Voltlyn glanced over to Wintra with a wan smile. "But if you won't accept that, can you let it go and come hang out with us? That way you won't be sulking about anymore. Wintra's worried about you, and really misses you."
Thunder blinked and glanced over to Wintra, who snorted and tossed her head. "I never said I missed him. I just want the dumbass to stop beating himself up over something he couldn't know."
Voltlyn smirked and glanced over to Thunder with a raised eyeridge. Thunder looked back into Voltlyn's gaze and rolled his eyes knowingly. Wintra caught sight of this exchange and huffed again, turning her back on the two.
"So Thunder, what'll it be? You going to come hang out with two fine ladies and enjoy the first fallen snow? Or are you going to whine like a baby and huddle under your sheets?"
"Fine!" Thunder grumbled as he turned to the door. "How can I refuse if you put it like that."
Wintra looked back to Voltlyn, her eyes gleaming behind her mask. "There, it's all settled. Ancestors, I never thought this stubborn oaf would listen, right?"
Thunder snorted, and Voltlyn giggled.
"I'm just glad he's willing to listen. It's a relief we can all make amends."
"We'll see," Thunder said as he strode towards the door. "I'm still not sure I believe you."
"Then I'll just have to prove it!" Voltlyn declared as she strode out with Thunder. "Let's do something fun together!"
Wintra stepped up beside Voltlyn, her cocky smirk having finally been returned. Voltlyn knew spending some time with Thunder would help her out!
"Do you have anything in mind?"
"Nope! But we can figure it out together!"
Over her shoulder Voltlyn caught sight of both Wintra and Thunder glancing at one another with raised eyeridges. They shrugged and picked up the pace, walking with Voltlyn down through the crowded halls, with no plan in mind.
The sunlight was painful to Typhous's eyes as he stumbled out of the pub. Ancestors, what time was it? It was clearly morning, but how late? Typhous sighed and glanced around, searching for a water trough to dunk his head in. Why had he let himself fall asleep at the pub again? He had a room back at the Temple! And a room rented at an inn.
Oh, right.
Typhous let out a sigh, winced at the smell of his own breath and rushed over to the nearest trough. He took a few moments to gulp down several dozen mouthfuls of water and scrub his face. It helped his headache a bit, but not nearly enough.
Blinking rapidly to adjust his eyes to the light, he looked around Darrowlight to get his bearings, only to notice a strange sight. Dozens of gold coloured dragons wandered throughout the town, weaving through the crowds, entering shops and speaking with passersby. Typhous blinked and squinted, wondering if it were just a trick of the light. He didn't remember there being so many light dragons here, or so few other people. The small crowd shifted away from the golden dragons as they wandered about, and Typhous followed suit, his eyes narrowed only half out of suspicion, and half to limit the amount of sunshine that could reach his eyes.
Eventually Typhous managed to pull his gaze away and looked down at himself with a grimace of disgust. Well that scarf was ruined, as was that cloak. He'd never get the stains out. It seemed all his jewelry was missing too, though Typhous couldn't make himself angry about that. He had more, and he had been sleeping all night in that shitty place. It was remarkable that only the coin in his coin-purse had been taken, and not the purse along with it. It was a nice coin-purse, and probably the only thing from his outfit that wasn't unwearable anymore.
Typhous glanced up to the Temple and gave himself a moment to let his vision clear. He had been drinking a lot recently. Was Lyrith a bad influence on him? It had all started with him. Though his father also had been pressuring him to drink, and far more often than Lyrith had.
Typhous winced. No doubt they both were worried about him. They probably should be, given Typhous had no memory of the night at the pub.
Hopefully the guards would let him in. He certainly didn't look like a student in his current state.
Stretching his wings Typhous took off, flapping up over the houses of Darrowlight, to spiral about and soar towards the walls of the Temple. Typhous shut his eyes and let the wind blow past him. He inhaled deep and felt the wind inside of him stir at its touch. It was good to be off the ground again. It almost let him forget all that happened. In the infinite expanse of the sky, all troubles seemed so far away and utterly meaningless.
With an exhale Typhous let his magic loose, catching hold of the wind and bending it to his back. It caught his wings and cushioned his body, gently rising him upwards, past the other dragons and towards the clouds. The wind blew all about him, caressing the scales of one of its blessed children, and Typhous felt a smile touch his muzzle for the first time in days. When he opened his eyes he caught sight of dozens of dragons below him, flapping hard to fly upwards even a few meters at a time. They seemed so far away already. What was it like, to know the wind but not be able to touch it? To ride upon its currents but have no control over where it took you?
Typhous sighed. At least up here, he had control.
Thankfully the Temple Guard let him in without harassment. They seemed focused instead on the light dragons outside the walls, and in the camp far outside Darrowlight. When had that gotten here? And there were so many citizens inside the Temple walls? Why was everybody from Darrowlight up here? Did it have to do with the big black scar of land that stretched across the landscape? Yes, Typhous had been out of it for two or three days – he couldn't remember – but that all of this was quite a change!
Typhous flew over the walls without incident, and noticed the Guardians there, gesturing frantically to the guards. Deep down in his numb chest Typhous felt the urge to go over and investigate, but even had he the will to do so he wouldn't look the part to be seen by the Guardians. He was a mess.
He flew up to the window of his bedroom, taking a moment to remember exactly where it was. He unlocked it, stepped inside the messy chamber and then made for the bath installed in the corner. At least now he wouldn't smell.
After a solid half an hour soaking Typhous stepped out, only to feel his stomach rumble in objection. He'd been ignoring it for hours now. It had to be past midday!
Typhous paused only to pick up his only unwrinkled scarf and wrapped it carefully about his neck. It looked like he'd need to do another big laundry day tomorrow. It had been weeks since he had it done.
Straightening his back, Typhous stepped out into the hall and glanced around as imperiously as possible. He had to look confident, even if nobody cared. His stomach growling did make that difficult, however. Hopefully there were at least a few leftovers.
There seemed to be far more people at the Temple today, many clearly not students, though there weren't any of the gold dragons around. Good. Typhous didn't need any more stress worrying about if they were spying on him.
He turned the corner quickly, his stomach growing more impatient, only to slam right into someone solid. Typhous bounced back, his slim and fail body ricocheting off of the much sturdier dragon. A familiar musical voice cried out in surprise.
"Gah! Can't you watch where… Typhous!?"
Typhous groaned, blinked a few times, and then focused his vision, only to get a face full of Tirren, in all her gleaming polish and gold jewelry. She had rushed forward, eyes wide as if examining him. Typhous groaned and felt his shoulders slump, all his confident posture gone. He had hoped to have at least a little time between seeing his friends and getting back home. Didn't seem like that would be his fortune, though.
"Thank the Ancestors! We were so worried!" Tirren exclaimed, moving forward to give him a brief hug, wrapping her wings about his neck. Typhous blinked, glancing at her in surprise as she stepped back with relieved smile on her face. "Where were you? We looked everywhere!"
Typhous shut his eyes and groaned. "I was away. I needed privacy. Sorry I worried you."
She tilted her head, her eyes misty and brow furrowed, but she didn't pry further. Instead she sat down and gestured Typhous to do the same. He did so after a moment, conscious of his objecting stomach.
"There isn't much food left in the kitchen, Ty," Tirren said with an apologetic smile. "It's actually getting cleaned out now." She grimaced and place a paw on her stomach. "I went in to grab a snack on the go. I was in a rush to find Lyrith and forgot to eat at lunch break."
Typhous groaned. He should have suspected as much.
"There are some restaurants down in Darrowlight. I could treat you if you-"
"No. No thank you. I just came from there," Typhous said with a groan. "Besides, I don't look well enough for any restaurant. All I deserve to eat right now is a half-cooked squirrel."
Tirren's frown deepened and a pang shot through Typhous's chest at the sight. He was making things worse, like always. Of all the group he was always the most useless. Tirren was strong, intelligent and a diplomat, Igneous was powerful, Sleet was a genius, and Lyrith was a smart and skilled. And Savron was… Savron. What did he have?
They didn't need him.
"Oh you deserve better than that!" Tirren said with a grin, sitting up to nudge Typhous with her wing. "Come on over to my chamber. I've got some snacks there. I always keep a few around for long study sessions." She paused, her brow momentarily darkening. "It's a bit of a mess though. I had an unexpected… visitor."
Typhous managed to muster up the will to shrug, but little else. With a groan Tirren moved over, pushed Typhous to his paws. The wind dragon grumbled as she moved him, but didn't object further as she guided him down the hallway, into the female corridor. Food was food after all, and he couldn't say no to that.
Tirren spoke as they walked, her voice full of an unnatural amount of pep. "Ancestors Ty, you're certainly grumpy today! Did you sleep badly? You look exhausted."
After a moment of silence Typhous shook his head. "I'm not grumpy. Though I am tired." Tirren glanced at him with a raised eyeridge. She hadn't bought it. It had always been hard to lie around her and clearly that hadn't changed.
Then again, she had never been that good at hiding her own feelings either.
Tirren's room was as neat as he had expected it to be – far neater than she had let on – and Typhous as certain that, any other day, he'd fawn over the various trinkets and bits of jewelry she had. Tirren always was the second most stylish member of their group. Typhous focused his eyes to turn his gaze to her vanity mirror as Tirren shut her door, and thought back to the few interactions he and Tirren had. Nearly all of their conversations had been about outfits and the like, at least when outside of the group. Among the group they had talked briefly about the adventures, but always in the context of Savron.
A sigh escaped Typhous as he took a seat on one of the pillows Tirren gestured to. How much did any of them know about each other? They called each other friends, but save for a few small cases they were really more a group of acquaintances than friends. Typhous talked with Zindy occasionally but almost never sought to spend time with her outside the art galleries. Typhous winced. He'd completely forgotten about the Galleria a few days ago. The club members would be on his ass for that. Danrah and Vash he avoided, Sleet was friendly but they never really talked, and he hardly ever spoke with Tirren. It was certainly the same for all the others too. The only glue their group had was Savron.
He had only realized it once he had already lost him.
Typhous glanced up to Tirren's face, and noticed that she had started talking to him, about some vague topic like the weather or something, to soften him up to what she would ask him shortly. He took the offered jerky and waited, munching as she spoke at him, but not so much as nodding to her words.
As he ate Typhous watched Tirren's pleasant expression crack, her words going unheeded as Typhous ate away. She tried a different tactic, asking about here he'd gone, but still he didn't reply, and he face grew increasingly aggravated.
Finally, she said what was on her mind, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Ty… I… I'm sorry about what Sav said. It isn't true, not at all."
Typhous bit down on the jerky too hard, causing a flash of pain to race through his muzzle, though it felt oddly numb. He shut his eyes, to stop them from burning.
The words from his throat came out in a croak. "You should be."
Typhous felt Tirren flinch at that, but it didn't help.
After a moment Typhous felt Tirren's paw settle on his shoulder, and he opened his eyes. He hoped he had his tears under control now.
"Ty, I'm worried about Savron too. We all are."
Typhous snorted but glanced away. "Clearly not enough."
Beside him Tirren groaned and grabbed hold of Typhous's shoulder, turning him firmly to face her. Typhous tried to avert his eyes, but Tirren turned his head with a knuckle of her wing to force him to look at her.
"Typhous, taking this out on me won't change anything!" Tirren said as she shoved her face right up to his. "Yes, I pushed Savron away, but what other choice did I have? I'll admit it was a mistake and it didn't help him, but will blaming me really change anything?"
Typhous inhaled sharply, words building up in his throat, only for him to let them all out with a long breath as his shoulders sagged. He glanced away, his vision blurring over as he pulled himself from Tirren's grip. She wasn't wrong. And he didn't want to blame her for it. But she didn't understand; she didn't care for Sav like he did. She'd gotten all of Savron's attention all of the time. Sav flirted with her, joked with her, and asked her to go on more adventures with him. But she always threw it back in his face, slapped him and belittled him. Yet he always still went for her, even though he knew it was hopeless.
Tirren never was there for Savron, not like he was. How could she claim she cared as much as Typhous did?
Beside him Tirren shifted, her expression dimming as she watched him grumble and mutter. Typhous's gut twisted, but not nearly as much as it had that day it had all gone wrong.
Typhous spoke after a few moments of silence, his voice hoarse from how thick with bile it had become. "If you really cared about Sav, you'd have gone and talked with him sooner."
A sigh escaped Tirren and she settled back, her eyes shut in defeat. "You're right. I should have gone sooner. I just… I just hadn't realized how bad it had gotten." She turned away, her shoulders sagging. "But I couldn't face him. I'd have just made things worse, you know? Can you really blame me for being upset after what he said to me?" Tirren met Typhous's face with misty eyes. "You know how that feels, right?"
Typhous's jaw clenched and his eyes snapped shut to keep the tears at bay. Savron's face appeared before him, and his words echoed in Typhous's ears: Why are you here? Nobody wants you. Deep in the walls of his chest his heart shriveled just a little more. He did know what it was like. Though Tirren couldn't realize just how much worse it was than that.
"We can talk about it, if you-"
Typhous snorted. "No."
Tirren winced again, and Typhous glanced away.
Uncomfortable could not describe the silence that fell between them. It scratched at Typhous's scales, making them itch and crawl as if dirt was being rubbed against him. Great, he already felt dirty enough, he didn't need that feeling making it worse.
Once again Tirren broke the silence, though her voice lacked all the confidence that she had once had, a fact that that stabbed once again into Typhous's chest.
"I suppose you'll want to see Lyrith again soon. He was so worried about you, you know? He searched well past midnight looking for you."
Typhous shut his eyes even tighter. He had? That didn't seem like Lyr at all. Did Lyrith really care about him that much? Yeah they were friends, but Lyrith was still always so distant, even when he talked about his past. Why would he spend so long searching? Some of the tension left Typhous's chest, but his heart still was clenched tight in the vice of Savron's jaws.
Tirren's voice grew brighter as she spoke. "I didn't know you two were so close. I didn't really think about it until recently, but you two have been hanging out a lot, haven't you?" She smiled, her bright fangs flashing. "I admit I did a double-take when I saw him studying with you and chatting. It seemed so unlike dour Lyr to speak so cheerfully with another drake. I figured at the time that you two were just doing a project together, but I'm guessing that's not the case." She leaned in close and draped a wing over his back.
Typhous's jaw clenched and he shrugged her wing off of his back. "Why does it matter to you?"
A groan of frustration escaped Tirren and she rolled her eyes. "Because we're friends, Ty! I'm friends with you, you're friends with Lyrith, I'm friends with Lyrith! But Lyrith's always secretive, you know. So he never brought you up much when we hung out. I'm curious, that's all!"
Typhous restrained himself from barring his fangs. She was hanging out with Lyrith too? But she wasn't as close to Lyrith as he was. They couldn't be. Not unless… Typhous's stomach clenched. Was Savron right? He looked back at Tirren, his eyes going wide as he looked her over. Had they really slept together? The thought left a cold stone in his stomach. Could that be the reason Lyrith had hung out with him less often recently? Was he losing Lyrith to Tirren too? Why did she always get all the attention and not him? Why did everyone want her and not him?
"Tirren," Typhous said, interrupting Tirren midway through her next pointless line. "You slept with Lyrith, did you? You lied to us."
Tirren's paw smacked across his face almost the moment he finished those words, and Typhous stumbled back, flat onto his rump. He blinked for a moment, bright lights flashing in his vision, and then he shook his head. When it had cleared he found Tirren looming over him, all pleasantness from her face gone. Typhous felt his stomach shrink several sizes and he backed up, stammering.
Tirren spoke first. "So what if I did, Ty?"
Typhous paused, his whole body freezing at that. Did she just…?
She didn't give him a chance to form his thoughts as she stood up to tower over him. "Why does it matter to you if we did or didn't? Either way it shouldn't matter."
Typhous's eyes narrowed and he stood up to face her. "Because you lied to Sav! You made things worse!" So it was true. No wonder Lyrith had been spending so much time with her. Why hadn't he told Typhous? Why had he kept it a secret? Why was Lyrith paying her so much attention instead of him? Weren't they best friends? It wasn't fair!
Tirren turned with a huff and took several steps back, so there was some distance between her and Typhous. Good, that way she would be less likely to slap him again.
"And what did you expect me to say? He was accusing me of being some… seductress! Would agreeing with him actually help? All that would do is confirm in his twisted mind that I'm a monster. If anything that would have made him worse. Do you really expect me to let Sav try and ruin mine, and Lyr's, reputation in front of all our friends?" Tirren snorted and shook her head. "Besides, the two of us had an agreement, and admitting to it would break that agreement."
Typhous glared over at Tirren, his jaw clenched tight. Yet some of the fire died in his gut, despite his best effort to keep it burning. He spoke with as much venom as he could muster. "Agreement?"
Tirren snorted. "Yes, agreement." A sigh then escaped her, her shoulders slumping. "It got complicated. To put it simply we regretted it the morning after."
Typhous blinked. They regretted it? The fire flickered out completely. So they weren't together?
A flush crossed Tirren's face and she shuffled beside Typhous as she refused to meet his quizzical gaze. "We were drunk, sad, and angry, and we just wanted some company. It was stupid of us, but we couldn't help it. After it all we agreed that we couldn't let that become a foundation for a relationship, so we promised one another we'd forget about it and move on. We'd try to become friends without that in our past." Tirren shook her head and chuckled. "And then this happens. Well that's what we get for being stupid enough to do it outdoors. Another mistake on our parts."
Typhous's throat was dry and his voice rasped when he spoke. "So you two decided to hang out after that, to start fresh?"
Tirren nodded.
A sigh left Typhous in a rush, and his shoulders sagged. Without the fire he was once again empty. It wasn't as bad, but even still, why did Lyr have to hook up with Tirren of all draken? Why was it that every friend Typhous ever had seemed drawn towards her more than they were to him?
Tirren finally turned back to him, her expression strained. She extended a paw towards him.
"Look, I'm sorry I made things worse with Sav, and I'm sorry if you feel like I'm intruding on your friendship with Lyr. Things have gotten complicated recently and I didn't intend for any of this to happen. Are you able to forgive me?"
Typhous stared at her paw for a moment, his jaw held tightly shut, his legs planted firmly in place. It took all his effort to nod and raise a paw to grab hers and shake it. The motion helped relieve some of the tension at least.
He couldn't let himself feel this way, it was revolting. And if Tirren was going to become a close friend of Lyr's, then he'd have to accept it. Lyrith was the only friend who seemed to care about him, so he had to care right back.
Tirren beamed as he took her paw and shook it. "Thanks Ty. I don't want to lose another friend because of all of this. I'll go get you some more snacks and leave you alone for a bit? I get the impression you're not that interested in talking to me right now."
Typhous sighed. "No thanks. I… let's just go and find Lyr. I should talk with him too."
Tirren nodded. "Sounds good. He'd be relieved to know you're alright."
Together they stood up and made for the door, Typhous leaving the leftover jerky behind. He wasn't hungry anymore. They strode out, only for the crowd to nearly sweep him away. Tirren grabbed Typhous just in time to pull him out before the rush of bodies towards the landing pad pulled him away, and Typhous gave her a genuine smile of thanks. That had been terrifying!
"What the…?" Tirren muttered as she watched the crowd rush by. "I don't recall anything special going on today."
Typhous nodded. Even though he had lost track of what day it was, he was certain nothing special was happening. Then again he had also not realized all those light dragons had shown up either.
Tirren's gaze snapped to someone in the crowd and she waved to him. "Burnam! What's going on?"
Typhous followed her eyes towards the gossip monger red dragon, who paused in the midst of the crowd and waded over to them.
"Tirren, Ty! Big news!" He exclaimed with that big grin of his. "Spyro and Cynder just showed up at the entrance! Apparently something bad happened and they're all roughed up! Come on!"
Typhous perked up and glanced over to Tirren, whose face turned dark. They met eyes, nodded, and then joined the crowd. Lyrith could wait.
Why did they have to come now, of all times?
Savron's roar shook the cavern, a blast of raw magical energy rushing out of him, splintering the stone beneath him and knocking Lyrith flat onto his back. The white groaned, pain throbbing through his body as he struggled to rise. Through his narrowed eyes Lyrith could make out only a thick cloud of dust, and the two figures of Cynder and Spyro standing at the entrance, their eyes wide and muzzles agape in horror.
He'd been so close. Why did it have to go so wrong?
Through the dust the glowing black figure of Savron emerged, white light streaming from his eyes and mouth. His sneer was etched across his broken face like a jagged line of shattered glass, and purple mist billowed out from his muzzle and snout. The sight sent a shiver skittering down Lyrith's scales, and for just a moment he was a dragonling again, standing before bullies twice his age and thrice his size. Then Savron's gaze turned away from Lyrith, towards Spyro and Cynder, purple flame shooting from his nostrils.
"Of course you'd come. You two could never just leave me well enough alone! I want to live my own life, but you are always interfering and messing things up! Well I'm sick of it!"
With a hiss Lyrith pulled himself up to his paws and took several steps back, all but dragging his body away from the trio. Spyro's eyes briefly caught him, and he saw a grimace touch the elder purple's face, but Lyrith did not meet his eyes. Instead the white focused his attention on getting over to Igneous. Whatever was about to happen, it would not end well for either of them, but especially the unconscious and dying dragon.
Behind him Lyrith could just make out Spyro and Cynder speaking, begging Savron to stop, and that he could come back to them, but Savron's voice quickly overrode theirs.
"Go back? Why should I? All you've done is treat me like shit! I'm just a baby to you, too stupid to know anything! I'm not going back to that life, and none of you will make me."
"Please don't say that! You know we love you! Why else would we have-"
"Lock me up? Treat me like a criminal? Yes, that's love for you!"
Lyrith glanced quickly over Igneous and let out a sigh of relief. Good, he was still breathing, and his wounds hadn't reopened.
"Now let me go. I'm going to make my own life."
"Sav, we can't do that, not when you're like this!"
"Like what? Crazy? Or perhaps you mean enlightened, now that I see you for what you really are, you frauds of parents!"
Lyrith winced as Cynder spoke, her voice broken. He didn't have to look back to know there were tears in her eyes.
"Sav! I will count to five! If you don't… if you don't come back we'll…"
"Do what? Kill me? Some parents you are. No, I'll give you to the count of five to step out of my way, or I'll show you that I'm not a child any longer. I'm ready to make my own way in life. Five…"
"Sav, please…"
"Get away from me!"
With a roar of rage Savron hurled himself at Spyro, fire erupting from his muzzle. Lyrith flinched away as a bright clash of elements erupted before him, earth and wind meeting Savron's fire. A snort escaped Lyrith's muzzle and he glanced around, hoping to find a place where he and Igneous could hide.
This couldn't really be happening, could it? Lyrith glanced back, to double check, only to be nearly blinded by an explosion of purple fire, lightning and red fear energy. Amidst the whirl of power Lyrith could just make out the purple and black figures dancing about, avoiding attacks and launching some of their own. It was difficult to make anything out through the haze of smoke, and Lyrith's own blurring eyes.
The chamber shook and Lyrith groaned, looking down at Igneous. Dammit, could he even move Igneous in his state? A bolt of lightning streaked past, and struck the ground a short distance away. Lyrith cursed and grabbed hold of Igneous. He didn't have much of a choice.
It took several tugs before Lyrith found the strength and purchase to actually pull the red dragon, but soon he was dragging him away, moving behind the still standing wall of stone he'd been impaled on. Hopefully with that as cover they would be relatively safe, so long as there was at least a little distance between them and the wall. Being buried in rubble certainly wouldn't help either of them.
A shower of ice shards hammered the ground and Lyrith clenched his fangs and peered out around the wall to see what was going on, only to duck out of the way as a glowing purple boulder hurled by. How had the battle not ended yet? This was Spyro and Cynder, fighting together! Even if Savron was corrupted he couldn't be a match for them! Cautiously Lyrith looked around again, this time not poking his whole head through.
It was still difficult to see anything thanks to the constantly flashing lights and billowing smoke, but bit by bit Lyrith started to make out the figures behind it all. Savron raged like a storm, whirling about and attacking in seemingly all directions, aiming for the two large figures that constantly circled him. The two heroes were looking for an opportunity to close in for a flank, but never found one. Spyro and Cynder worked in unison, lunging and pulling back, blasting with their power in short bursts to try and set Savron off balance so they could lunge and pin him down. But each time they got their claws on him, he twisted away, ice making his body slick, or shadows swallowing him to help him escape. They could not catch him.
Lyrith groaned. Well that explained it. Of course the two couldn't catch him: Savron was the only one who could go all out in this fight.
The young, darkened purple's eyes met Lyrith and with a snort he shot a shard of ice towards him. The white jumped and pulled himself out of the way, just barely ducking in time to avoid losing an eye. Savron was really trying to kill them!
Behind the wall the sounds of battle continued, clash after clash of power and claws resounding throughout the chamber. Throughout it all Lyrith sat, still and silent, his body clenched as he hoped to go unnoticed. He could only wait and see what happened next. There was absolutely nothing he could contribute to the fight. He was useless.
Lyrith tasted blood in his muzzle, his fangs clenched so hard that they dug into his gums. Deep in his bowels fire smoldered and his legs ached to jump into the fray. He'd caused this. Savron had only gone insane because of him. He'd believed Igneous had betrayed him because Lyrith had been there, and he had gone berserk only when he came to the conclusion Lyrith had lied to him again. Had he not come this far Savron would have just continued his adventure and perhaps gone home. Had he turned back after saving Igneous then perhaps none of this would have happened.
And now he sat there, cowering behind a wall, utterly helpless to do anything to fix what he had caused. Why was it that every time he found himself in these situations he could do nothing about it? He had been cut off from the others during the war and kidnapped. He had not been able to join the fight against the blood dragon with his friends because of his injuries. And he had been helpless to stop that blasted sorcerer, Jaxar, from killing all of the other injured!
He hadn't been able to save Malicina.
He was useless. Now, and like every other time! Why was it, that even when he got powers of his own that he couldn't help when it mattered most?
The white curled up on the ground, wings covering his head, claws digging into his skull and his eyes shut from the pain of it all.
A tap on his leg pulled him from his thoughts. Lyrith's eyes snapped open and he jumped to his paws. Who was that?
For a moment he thought Igneous had woken up, but a glance in his direction revealed him still to be unconscious. There was another tap on his leg, and he glanced down to find his gauntlets had pulled free of his claws, their straps had unbound themselves from, and their blades lightly poking, the white scales of his legs.
Lyrith blinked, shook his head and looked down again, wondering if he had gone insane and was suffering delusions from using too much of his life. The gauntlets scraped back and gave a quick wave, before setting before his paws once more.
Nope. He was still seeing it. So, he was unconscious and dreaming, huh? Well it seemed even in his dreams he couldn't escape the battle of Savron, which still invaded his senses with relentless screaming of curses and insults.
The gauntlets shifted, their claws tapping, only to reach forward and jab painfully into his paws again, causing Lyrith to yelp. He blinked away the tears of pain and glanced down at the blood drawn. Alright, so he wasn't dreaming after all. What was going on?
The gauntlets lifted up to support themselves on their blades, and then moved in what Lyrith could only assume was a shrug. The white dragon almost snorted in laughter at the sight, before the image of Igneous lying half-dead a short distance away, coupled with the screams of rage behind him drowned out all amusement.
Lyrith groaned and clutched his head with his now uncovered paws. This was all too much. He would have difficulty handling seeing his gloves move about on their own on a good day.
The gauntlets sat still for a moment, just long enough to make Lyrith start reconsidering his senses again, before they darted about the corner, as if to peek around it. The white watched them, glad for at least this tiny bit of amusement to distract him from his inability to sit up and help with the fight. The gloves turned back and clenched into fists and made clawing motions, before pointing back around to where the sounds of the battle between Savron and his parents raged.
A frown touched Lyrith's face. They wanted to fight? A light presence touched upon the back of his head, a hazy image of claws ripping flesh and battering faces. The claws jumped up, going barely a few centimeters before falling back down. The presence touched upon Lyrith's mind again, of him flying through the air to do battle with wyverns back when he had saved Sleet and the others during their stupid venture a year ago.
Lyrith's voice was barely a croak. "You can fight for me… but you need to fly?"
The gloves dipped down in what vaguely resembled a nod. They scurried about on the ground towards him, and poked his leg with their claws gently, making a show of trying, and failing, to claw at someone while also struggling to support themselves on the ground.
Lyrith snorted in irritation and pulled his paws away. They certainly looked pitiful down there. "But how am I supposed to make you fly? Throw you?" he pondered aloud, deciding to humour his growing insanity. He must've cracked back when he realized how useless he was here! Heh, well he certainly had a crazy imagination, thinking up something as stupid as his gauntlets coming to life to fight for him. At least it'd make him feel like he actually contributed something. Might as well give it a try. But how?
The gauntlets stopped, slumped, and then gestured to Igneous. Lyrith followed, his frown deepening. Another hazy image appeared, of him pressing his paws to Igneous and forcing Life Force into him. This one was much clearer than the images before. Did he breathe life into the gauntlets then, by accident? Lyrith stirred, the rust clogging up the gears of his mind flaking away to let it churn more smoothly. He could do that?
The pair of metal paws nodded again.
"And you think I can make you fly if I give you more Life Force?"
They nodded once more.
A frown creased Lyrith's brow. Teach them how to fly? They didn't have wings! So how could they fly? Lyrith huffed and bonked himself on the head with a wing knuckle. Then again, they could move without muscle or bone. Who was to say they couldn't fly too? The impossible didn't really seem that far off anymore.
The wall he and Igneous cowered behind shook as an explosion hit it, and Savron laughed.
"You call… yourselves… legends? Hah! Come on! This can't really be all you have!"
"Just stop Savron, please! We don't want to get serious! We don't want to hurt you!"
"Then let me go!"
A bright flare of fire lit up the chamber, causing the remaining crystals to flash with blinding brightness which forced Lyrith to shield his gaze.
Well, this seemed like his only real chance of contributing something to the fight. Even if it wasn't him, he could at least lend an extra set of paws to help Spyro and Cynder subdue Savron, in a very literal fashion.
"You're certain this will work?" Lyrith asked as he looked down at the gauntlets. They twitched in a way that Lyrith could only assume was a shrug. Perhaps it was possible. Well, he had already begun experimenting today. He might as well continue. He just hoped that this wouldn't kill him.
The white dragon took a deep breath, reached down to his core and tugged on his life. It pulled away, and a surge of sickness washed over him. He was strained to his limit. But he tugged again, forcing it out and through his body. Once he had a good grip, he poured it down into his paws, and placed his paws upon his gauntlets.
A faint white glow shone about the steel, brass, and gold armour, and he felt the two gauntlets shiver on his paws. Lyrith shut his eyes and imagined himself flying.
The wind blew against his face as he soared among the clouds. He dipped and dived, flapped his wings and propelled himself forward. He hovered above the streets of Warfang, and he zipped between the mushroom stalk branches of the swamp outside the Temple. His heart rose in his chest at the memories, counteracting the squeezing pain that came from pushing his life so hard.
The gauntlets seemed to resist the life, though not because they were unwilling, as he felt them shake in his grip with anticipation. Slowly, too slowly, Lyrith could feel the power seep into them. It was like pushing a brick through sand, at first seeming easy, but the further he went the harder it became. But the sand did give.
Then the connection of his Life Force faltered and the gauntlets pulled out of his grasp, yanking themselves free to fly off his paws and hover before his eyes. For a moment he just stared, his eyes as wide as his muzzle. The gauntlets whirled into motion, spinning about and soaring through the air, propelled somehow without any wings. They danced for a moment, before pausing to hover before Lyrith, dipping in an odd bow.
Lyrith tried to speak, only to realize that his muzzle hung open and wouldn't close. He blinked but found he had barely the strength to open them again. Why was there so much noise and light again? It hurt his head so badly. He was so tired. How was he even standing? Lyrith shook his head, only for the motion to knock him off balance. The ground rushed up to meet him, only for a pair of paws to catch him and gently lay him down upon the ground.
The gauntlets gave him a pat on the shoulder and then floated back up where Lyrith's eye level had been moments before.
Lyrith tried to open his muzzle again to speak but the gauntlets were already gone.
Savron stepped out into view, a blast of purple energy forcing Spyro and Cynder back a step.
"Are you… finished? It's clear you can't, or won't fight me… properly… so just let me… go free."
Spyro shut his eyes and shook his head. "We can't, Sav. Not when you're like this."
Purple smoke escaped Savron's muzzle. "I knew it. Well than, I'm just going to have to finish this here and no-"
The first gauntlet smashed into Savron's face, causing him to stagger backwards with a cry of surprise. Both Spyro and Cynder jumped, their expressions causing Lyrith to giggle, the white just able to make them out through his darkening vision.
"What was-" Savron howled, turning to try and find what hit him, only for the second to smack him from the other side, the metal talons drawing blood. Savron let out a howl and spun about, sweeping the area with purple tinged flame. The gauntlets shot up into the air, avoiding the attack, only to come down on either side of Savron's head with a solid 'whap!'
The purple dragon staggered back, Lyrith almost able to make out the stars floating about his head and in his eyes, before he shook them clear.
"What the fuck are these?"
Savron was silenced once more as one of the two gauntlets punched him square in the muzzle.
Spyro and Cynder stood quietly for a moment, watching the floating gloves, utterly dumbfounded. Lyrith's helpless snickering only grew louder, a fact which he quickly came to regret as pain lanced through his chest. Finally, the two looked to one another, nodded and move to flank Savron while he was distracted.
The young purple swiped his claws at the gauntlets, trying to catch them or knock them out of the air, but each time his claws just barely grazed them, only for them to zip out of the way and claw him once more.
Spyro and Cynder pounced, and with a sweep of their paws and Spyro's tail Savron was sent tumbling to the ground. The elder purple moved to pin Savron down, only for the younger to shake the chamber with a roar.
"No! This is the last straw!"
A thunderclap hurled Spyro across the chamber. Lyrith's dimming eyes flew wide and he hauled himself to his paws and threw himself with the last of his strength out of the way, just in time to avoid Spyro landing atop him. Cynder hit the ground at a roll across the chamber, and the gauntlets clattered against the wall and ceiling, though they caught themselves before they hit the ground.
Savron rose to his paws, covered in long scrapes, his breath sharp and full of black and purple smoke.
"I'm done. Fuck all of you. Fuck you mom and dad, and fuck these stupid gauntlets. But more importantly, fuck, this, cave!"
Green energy swirled around Savron and he lifted off of the ground. Stones rose all around him, hovering in the air. Lyrith groaned and shut his eyes.
Oh, Ancestors, if you're listening, if Lyrith survived this he'd make the most out of what little life he had left in him. He hadn't been able to take Typhous out for lunch to cheer him up like he'd wanted to. And he really should properly apologize to Voltlyn. He hadn't even heard Tirren's stories yet, though that wasn't the only thing he wanted to do with her. Hopefully he'd get another night with her like the one they'd shared. There was still so much to live for. If only he could get up!
But his body wouldn't listen. Everything felt numb. The world slowly went black, his consciousness fading. Through the haze of green light and the blackness surrounding his vision he saw the gauntlets wiz towards him and Spyro and Cynder rise. He could just faintly hear their voices through the static, though he couldn't make any of it out.
Then, with a roar, Savron unleashed his earth fury, and everything went dark.
Dardarax's Characters
Flaresse, Thunder, Typhia, Voltlyn, Wintra
Burnam, Tirren, Typhous
Igneous, Lyrith, Malicina, Savron
Hey everyone, sorry for the day late chapter! It took me a little longer to edit this one than normal. That seems to be happening a lot recently. Sorry, I'll try and get it done sooner so I can post it on the right date.
Anyway, this chapter got a few major changes right before posting which was part of the reason it took a little longer than before. xD One of them was the Gauntlets. They were originally supposed to talk. That turned out hilariously, but after it rendered Rurik-Redwolf almost speechless at the tonal whiplash - and if you know Rurik, you know how hard that is to do! - I decided that it really needed to be changed. I wasn't sure it was working anyway, and so I did the sensible thing and made them not talk. Not sure why I didn't just do that originally, but oh well!
I've also been getting a lot of writing done recently, as I have taken up the NaNo challenge, though only to try and get 50,000 words written by the end of the month. It's helped me get some of the larger chapters done with for the future, so I was able to keep up with my schedule. Hopefully I won't need to change it to three weeks again.
Speaking of which, Chapter 39 will be published on December 2nd! Thanks for your patience!