Vividity part 2

At the unexpected requestion Yugo looked to Anua, who'd hung back behind them and stood just in front of the divider. He knew the old Eliatrope was weak. Anyone could see that, but he felt he deserved to see just what kind of place he'd been transported to. He was relieved that the Eniripsa caretaker didn't protest.

Anua flew over to Qilby's side and gently lifted him up to a sitting position, being careful not to do so too quickly, lest his head swim, "Easy now."

Qilby swayed in place, realizing just how weak he was. That could be a problem. In any case, he sat in place for a time before finally attempting to use his legs. Just shifting them felt like he was attempting to move a chunk of solid lead. Instruction between his head and body was apparently disjointed and faulty. Not helped by sheer physical weakness.

"Can you walk?" Anua asked softly.

With a deep breath, Qilby responded, "We shall see..."

Tentatively, he pushed off the bed and landed on his feet. The simple contact of feet meeting solid floor caused him to sway dangerously. This forced Qilby to accept the aid of his caretaker, who caught him before he could fall. It felt utterly humiliating-Goddess he was weak!

"If this is too much..." Adamai began unsurely, now having reservations of the short trip outside, "maybe you should wait."

The young dragon's worry was put at ease when Qilby smiled faintly, in a manner akin to that of an elderly grandfather. His voice was sure but held a slight waver, the effort it took to stand showing, "I shall be fine, Adamai. Merely," he took a steadying breath, "finding my feet."

With the steadying aid of this being, still unknown to him, he managed to settle his trembling frame. Once done, he pushed himself forward a few steps, each one feeling only slightly stronger than the last. After a few minutes of regathering his coordination, or at least enough of it to be passible. Qilby sighed and nodded, "I believe I am capable."

Wearily, he looked to the twins, "If you'd be so kind, I'm not familiar with the way."

Yugo had been watching wearily, unsure if this had really been okay to allow him to try. He trusted the decision of the Eniripsa to allow it, but he couldn't help but be uneasy now. The reassurance from Qilby's smile and words settled him, and his worry continued to subside bit by bit as Qilby found his balance. Yugo perked up at the request, and now more certain he'd be fine, looked to his dragon twin. At a simple look he was sure Adamai was good with it too, back to Qilby, "We can do that."

At a normal pace, as casual as they could go, the twins led the way across the lightly hued wooden-tiled floor towards the exit to the balcony. As they headed towards the offensively bright light, Qilby's eyes lingered on the youths before him. His mind focused on the predicament he'd found himself in. It had been some time since he'd been at a loss for what to do. He'd long gotten used to working with the monotony that perpetually surrounded him. The only thing working in his favor right now was the routine loss of their past. But echoes always remained and he had no clue how loud they'd be. Only when they revealed themselves would he find out.

They could be nothing. Or, troublesome. He'd have to wait and see.

When the curtains are pulled back, Qilby was forced to squint against the brilliance of the sun. He was left waiting to adjust and then, once his aching gaze could focus once more, his jaw dropped. His eyes widen in shock at what he saw: an utter explosion of color and vibrancy, a sheer volume of life spanned before him. Beyond the leaf curtain held open by Anua and one of her aids, was a large open view of the beautiful, lush Sadida forest and kingdom. Far out into the horizon was a sea of treetops cradled between a mountain range. Large wreaths of white clouds sailed by in the sun touched, rich blue sky. Without a care for the grand scenery, vibrant orange butterflies and dragonflies flittered and buzzed past the grass carpeted balcony.

Slowly, Qilby walked out as if in a dream and simply...simply took it all in. Gone was the burning wasteland. Not a trace of it even so much as scarred the landscape, as if it'd never even had happened...

Behind him everyone filed out. Kindly, Amalia sprouted a flower and large enough to be a chair. White petals and dark green leaves arranged to support the back. At the center were white fluffy seeds. Almost literally staggered by all that he sees, Qilby takes the seat given to him gratefully, settling down to simply process it all as his sore eyes remained locked on it all. Unable to look away, as if worried it'd all disappear if he did.

"Wow, he looked pretty amazed huh?" Adamai remarked to Yugo.

He nodded, "Yeah, things must've changed a lot."

Now that the center of attention was out in daylight, Ruel blinked in surprise at what he saw. Qilby looked aged yet, somehow, still younger than expected. Face worn from time but carefully, gracefully so. The Enutrof hummed and stroked his beard thoughtfully, "Well how about that? Fella doesn't look his age, does he?"

Cradling the babies in his strong arms, Chibi playfully swiping at his thick brown mustache while Grougal slept atop his head, Alibert chuckled teasingly at his older friend, "Not often you meet someone older than yourself, hm?"

Ruel gave his friend a cynical remark, "You're such a charmer, huh?"

After a while of no response, Adamai flicked his tail and tilted his head in concern, "Um, Qilby? Is everything ok?"

Drawn out of his thoughts by the inquiry, Qilby gave a long and almost wistful sigh, "It's... it's just that the world has in fact changed..." His voice trailed out for just a moment, memories passing through his line of thought, "so very much." He turned his gaze to the trees. They themselves were a beyond telling sign. The breed familiar yet not. "So much time has passed. It looks very different than when we first arrived here." Inwardly he felt himself twitch. "It reminds me so much of our world..."

At first, Yugo though he meant the land of Sadida, but soon after he was corrected and he subsequently was left shocked. They…their people weren't from here, the World of 12, at all? Confusion mingled tightly with curiosity to learn more, get answers to solve his confusion. Yugo stepped forward, but it took him a moment to steady his words, "W-world? Our world? This isn't our world?"

Qilby looked at Yugo a moment, eyes suddenly looking very tired. Either his age or his weakness hung beneath his eyes. He dipped then shook his head faintly, "No Yugo. In fact, the Eliatrope people and their dragon brothers were born very far away from here." Qilby lost his focus on the group before him, becoming distant as his mind faded back to so many years and so many travels.

"Far, far, far away. Up there, beyond the sky." His golden hued gaze turned towards the stars as he explained, almost feeling himself drift as he did so, "Out there, far away are other worlds, other stars and there's an infinite number of them, greater than the gains of sand in the desert."

Yugo could only stare on at what was being told to him. Adamai stood trembling. Both of their eyes transfixed in pure awe. Qilby continued, "As for our world," he took a deep breath, images of a perfect world, peaceful, serene, resplendent…entrapping, "ah, if only you could remember it. If only you could remember the arouras colored like Dofus, the scent of the flowery oceans," a pain sprouted in his chest, "and the song of the dragons..."

As fantastical as it was, to Yugo it all sounded so correct. Somewhere inside, he knew it was true. To think he was first born out in the stars, was that why they'd felt like they called to him at nights?

Alibert found himself stunned by the information and looks to his friend Ruel, "To think, our little Yugo comes from another world. I always knew he was special, but this is far more than I ever imagined."

"I get it!" Tristepin, amazed by all he was hearing, excitedly exclaimed.

Eva sarcastically waved it away, "Oh sure, and I'm a Iop."

Entirely ignoring the rest of the group, Qilby went on, "We lived in harmony with the dragons, so much so," He looked up to the newborns, yet didn't appear to actually be focused on them, "that we became united at our very births." After a moment, to seemingly catch his breath, Qilby remembered a time long since gone. The time with his family, when they were a family. "Our people were ruled by the Council of Six. The first six that lived in the world." He smiled at Adamai, "Though, I really should say the twelve."

Adamai's wings buzz happily as he looked back at him.

Now, Qilby found himself at a crossroads as he looked at the two brothers...This could go so many ways. So much banked on just this small portion of information. He felt a twang of irritation at the company, one wrong step in any road he chose, he'd not be easily able to take it back. Qilby closed his eyes and thought to himself, what to do?

A flash of red. A flash of blood. Qilby gripped the sleeve of his missing arm with a stiffened breath.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and sighed, feigning to recall his place, "Ah, the 12, Chibi and Grougaloragran were the cleverest of us. Together they forged the Eliacube."

Adamai, eyes wide, looked back to their two infant brothers in wonder, "What! Really?"

Yugo gasped; they were the ones that made it? As he thought back, Grougal was the one that had guarded it, up until it was lost during a natural disaster as he slept.

"That's right." Qilby affirmed. He returned to his recital, "Mina and Phaeris had the gift of wisdom, and with it they solved many quarrels between their brothers. Glip and Baltazar were passionate about teaching and passed knowledge on to our children." He sighed, as if taken by the memory, "Ah, Goddess it was so wonderful to watch Nora and Efrim play in the fields without a care in the world. And you, Yugo and Adamai, the two adventures always seeking thrills. The mighty defenders of our people..."

Qilby looked at Yugo, his curious and wonder filled eyes so vastly different than as he'd seen them prior. Hardened by war and the weight of so many harsh choices. Choices of a man driven by heart. The last look of rage directed at him, now only a memory and replaced with such childish trust. Something about the fact made him uneasy and a strange ache worked its way into his chest. It lingered on the fringes of his mind urged him forward and he slowly bowed his head as he spoke, "It was- the greatest honor, for me and my sister, Shinonome- to serve as your advisers...my King."

"Huh-!?" Adamai's smile vanished and he gaped in shock.

"W-what?" Eva exclaimed eyes widened.

Tristepin's jaw dropped, "Wha-Yugo King?"

The surprise was unanimous throughout the group. However, Yugo was possibly more floored than anyone else. His enamored listening effectively stopped by this new bombshell that hit harder than the fact he was originally from the stars. Adventurer he could believe but-a king? His memory held true though, Yugo hadn't misheard, "King? Me?"

Initially floored, Amalia thought about it for a moment. Almost more to herself, she noted, "That would explain why he's better behaved."

Ruel nudged Alibert with his knobby elbow, "Well how about that? What's that make you then, huh?" He paused, thoughtfully wondering aloud, "Hm, what's that make me?"

Alibert scratched the side of his head, "I knew I said he was special, but this is a lot more than I could've ever imagined." He peered down at the babies he held, now realizing they were both essentially royalty as well-at least to some degree by extension. The prod and following questions led him to look to his fellow Enutrof with a wry smirk, "Already wanting in on the royalties, hm?"

"Hm?" Ruel, pulled from his pondering grinned and wheezed out a chuckle, "Maaaybe. With a king as a son, maybe you can pardon my tab?"

Alibert chortled as Chibi tugged at the end of a mustache tassel, "With what treasury? I may have hung up my shovel-but I'm still an Enutrof."

"Eh, man's gotta try." Huffed Ruel.

As the two Enutrofs bantered, Adamai was still awestruck by what he'd just heard. His wings buzzing nonstop to the point he gained liftoff and hovered above the ground. "Whoa. My brother? King of the Eliatropes?" He couldn't contain his exuberance and exclaimed, "I can't believe it! A king!" Adamai turned around midair, he had to be sure, "You're serious, right? Qilby-" His hyper mood faltered. The elder Eliatrope had slumped forward. Adamai blinked before trying to get a response again, "Uh... Qilby?

Yugo had still been processing, finding it difficult to grasp the title he'd found himself with now. He only caught back up to reality as Adamai attempted to press Qilby further. He looked up and saw his elder's worn eyes had closed. It seemed the strain had caught up to him but judging by the slow and steady breathing, Yugo wasn't concerned, "Looks like he's passed out."

The sound of a hearty chuckle drew Yugo's attention back to the gathering. King Oakheart seemed pleasantly accepting of the information. His huge hands on his hips and a welcoming smile on his bushy face, "Well then, I knew we'd learn a lot today. But I'd not expected the anointing of a king."

Before Yugo could even respond, he felt the strong, stout arms of his twin wrap around him. His high energy had returned full force, "This is so way cool! I'd have never guessed!"

"King Yugo." Eva stated as she dipped her head down to looked over the young boy with an amusedly scrutinizing smile. "How about that? Never saw that coming and yet I'm not entirely surprised!" She beamed warmly, "You really are something, Yugo!"

"I've been helping a king on his quest?" Tristepin looked wholly pleased with the discovery, as he posed himself proudly. "Perfect for a hero such as myself!"

Yugo could only grin sheepishly under all this adulation, he was feeling a little flustered now. Unable to find the words to respond, he laughed uneasily. Gratefully, a question occurred to him. He readily took it and looked to his brother, "What about you then?"

"Huh?" Adamai was confused briefly before he caught on, "You mean what's that make me?" He released Yugo from the hug and tapped his chin thoughtfully, "Gee, I didn't even think about that. I don't know."

As Adamai pondered the question, Tristepin got a question of his own. He turned to Qilby and hummed, apparently puzzled, "What about him? What's he do?"

"He advises. Hence "advisor"." Rubilax dully explained.

The guardian looked down to his sword, asking, "You can have a job just giving advice?"

Rubilax shrugged his hilt, "Basically."

Amused by the conversation between the two, Eva shook her head, "Don't be getting any ideas now, PanPan. That's all anyone needs is some advice from a Iop brain."

"Iop philosophy is great advice-most just don't get it." Tristepin retorted with a snort. "But not be a knight? No thanks. Sounds boring."

"Whatever you say PanPan." Eva giggled.

Tuning out the idle chatter, Armand kept his stern gaze squarely on the Eliatrope now known as Qilby, before shifting it to Yugo. This was... unexpected. What did this entail in the long run? A new king had arrived in the World of 12. A king has people. Lots of them. Looking back at Qilby, he wondered how many. Armand turned back to Yugo, voice evenly inquiring, "This is an interesting turn of events. What will you do with this knowledge?"

Suddenly put on the spot, Yugo was left at a loss, he shook his head, "I... I don't know. This is so much. And I don't know the first thing about being a king."

"Isn't that what he's for?" Tristepin chipped in, gesturing back to the unconscious Qilby.

"I thought you weren't going to advise?" Rubilax chimed with dry wit.

Tristepin was left confused, "I'm not he is."

Seeing his joke went straight over the Iop's head, Rubilax rolled his eye.

"Maybe, there is something to it after all." Eva remarked, much to Tristepin's continued confusion.

Regardless of his unintentional "advising" Yugo realized his friend was right. Now with what he'd just been told, the adult Eliatrope's guidance would be paramount. Otherwise, he wouldn't know what to do. He'd always trusted his instincts, but with people's lives…he wouldn't feel right about just winging it. Even as young as he was, Yugo felt he was too young for this. He'd do what was needed of him, but with this- he needed help.

"We still don't know where the rest of our people are." Yugo began, eyes on his new sleeping advisor. "Qilby will be able to tell us what happened and what to do. So, we have to wait for him to recover."

"Of which he needs to get back to doing." Anua interjected briefly as she fluttered over to her patient. With the help of an aid, she carried Qilby back towards his bed.

To lift some of the pressure, Adamai playfully punched Yugo on the arm, "Hey, don't worry about it! We'll figure things out, one step at a time! Qilby sounds like he knows a lot- and if he was your adviser, we've got all we need to figure everything out!"

Yugo laughed at the nudge and nodded, "Yeah, we already have more help than we did before. "He really does. We were lucky to pull him..." He held a pause, "from wherever he was."

Adamai followed after the Eniripsa with his brother, watching as Qilby was placed back onto his bed. The dragonette frowned now that his condition was apparent again as he laid there. Qilby hadn't been awake for a long time but already his body had given out. Concern seeped into his voice as he thought aloud, "I wonder though, he looks pretty bad off. Was that because of something that happened or...?"

A troubled look gathers in his large eyes, focused on the point of his concern he left his words unfinished.

While Anua treated his fellow Eliatrope, Yugo turned his eyes to what Adamai was focusing on: Qilby's missing arm. He knew that had to have been extremely painful. Yugo felt a twinge of unease again. Hopefully, that hadn't been because of them transporting him here. If it was, he didn't know how to go about asking without coming off insensitive. All he could say was, "Whatever happened, he's being treated now."

It was enough to put Adamai at ease and he nodded, "All we can do is wait it out now. But at least we won't be going stir crazy having nothing." He looked back to Grougal and Chibi, still being held by Alibert who stood off to the side of the room, out of Anua's way. He headed over, peering at them with inquiring curiosity, "So, you guys made the Eliacube?" He looked a bit perplexed by the idea, "That's really something else- wonder why Grougal never told me..."

"Yeah, that is weird..." Yugo agreed. He looked to him, recalling something, "Didn't you tell me that he took such long naps that he ended up forgetting things?"

"Oh yeah!" Adamai laughed. He scratched the side of his head, bemused by memories, "He was pretty bad about that. I guess being old didn't help much neither." He shrugged it off with a smile, "Still really cool to know!"

Recalling how clouded the old dragon's eyes were, Yugo recalled he could barely see his pupils. While they were within the hidden Eliatrope temple, Grougaloragran had admitted his memories were confused. Faintly, he wondered just how old he had been.

"It sure is." Yugo replied. He stilled some, seeing Qilby soundly unconscious and unresponsive to the treatment being given to him. Now they were left waiting for him to wake up, once again. They had been given a few answers but now there was even more to ask. They were left ever eager to learn more. Though, at another time. Yugo looked to his twin and softly said, "Let's let him rest."

Silently, Armand watched the twins leaving with Alibert with increasingly troubled look. There was a lot that this would bring in the long run, whether it good or bad he was truly unable to tell. A young king and dragon with such a powerful artifact? How could he even begin to imagine what that would bring later down the line? He furrowed his grassy brows and pinned his gaze on Qilby, once awake, he'd have plenty more he'd need to answer.