Primogenitor
Chapter Seven
The sound of glass that bumped into each other woke him up.
Opening his lids somewhat, Midgardsormr stared drowsy at the young girl who tidied the mess up. A soft smile lay on these petal-lips and was reflected by the different-colored irises. Her whole focus lay on the glasses; she never looked up. Also, under all the noise which the bottles made when they landed in a sack, he could hear her humming a peaceful melody. She seemed to enjoy this task honestly, albeit this here was not her home... Letting oneself feel haimish must be an important part of being an adventurer. At least he figured this out as he watched her.
The dragon tried to raise his heavy head, but he was still too tired; his corpus wouldn't allow it. Grumbling hushed, his absurdly long ears twitched in discontent about the grave disadvantages which a baby-like appearance had. This bad joke was hunting him already for too long...
Stretching his limbs, they ached like suffering under muscle-hangover. Even his tail felt clenched. That body was exhausted only because of yestereve's cold air... Laying all night next to a warm fire hadn't prevented the unpleasing aftereffect from occurring...
Midgardsormr growled audible in frustration.
Abruptly, Cecilia looked at him – she had noticed his displeasure.
His eyes widened in pure embarrassment, when she studied him with questioning, unsettled gazes. "Have I woken you up? I'm sorry... You seemed to be sleeping so deeply, that I didn't expect you to regain consciousness only because of a bit glass-clicking." she apologized guiltily. Shaking minimal his head, he mustered the energy to respond: "I was not complaining about thy doing..." He was so ashamed of his body, that it was impossible for him to explain for her the reason of his displeasure. Actually, he never stopped feeling humiliated when he recalled how sinewy his true shape had been. The one, which lay now dead on the cursed Garlean airship-wreckage; useless for not only himself. For this chaotic world, too.
"But you sounded crestfallen... and angry..." she noticed worried. "I am..." his words left reluctantly this excuse of a snout; agreeing heavy-heartedly to her smart detection. The tune his voice made was admittedly rough because of his inner strain, though. It caused the woman to react frightened. She furrowed the brows while her head trembled as if a tiny quake would move it. Concern spread over the facial expression. "Why...? I can't see another logical reason for your-" Cecilia petrified, as if she would have found an answer to her question by herself. Frowning, she stepped to his place right in front of the chimney; kneeling next to him on the ground.
"You haven't recovered – is that why you are in a bad mood?" she wanted to know.
Flinching as much as his body allowed it, he gazed at her upset face. The stare of the jewel was hard to counter, but the crystal was impossible to endure. Her blue iris had the power to inculpate him in a way so agonizing that he could no longer hold eye-contact. Shutting his lids down, he replied slightly desperate: "This body is as shameful unresistant as a real newborn of my kind..."
He heard her snorting. Then, she caused his eyes to swung open with shock, as she grabbed him ungentle with both hands. Lifted him from the ground, so that Midgardsormr was harshly pressed against the upper part of her body. "Okay, that's it. You go to bed and sleep under the blanket until you feel better." ,Cecilia chuntered severely as she carried him through the room, "I won't accept any protest, so don't dare to open your mouth."
Irritation spread over his face; replacing the dismay, when she put him on the cushion like a mother of human kind would do with her child. Anger boiled within the maiden, but she made nevertheless sure to touch him not in a hurting way. Her hands weren't tender while she pulled the blanket over his corpus until it reached his chin, though, yet it was no harmful doing in any aspect. The dragon lowered his lids as he studied her face – marveled the beauty of her mien, which was still despite her aggressive seriousness visible as she corrected the fabric around him.
He felt instantly better, as the blanket was still a little bit warm.
Also, his nostrils noticed faintly her smell which stuck to the gray bedding.
"You stay here, got it? When I'm not present as soon as you wake up, you don't leave this room." the Au Ra demanded with a stern expression. He inclined his head minimal to the right side, while his irises wandered like a lazy cascade over her body. 'Like a dragon-parent...' he thought pleased by her behavior. Probably, the species didn't even matter, because all mothers and fathers in this world expected from their children to rest whenever their condition was absolutely unhealthy.
Cecilia seemed to wait for an answer, because her fists landed with impatient speed on her hips.
A low sigh escaped his muzzle before he responded: "Thou must not worry... I will not go anywhere nor will I leave thee. It is not my wish to vanish."
His promise calmed the maiden clearly. Her eyes became softer, while her furrowed brows relaxed. She nodded plus smiled slightly at him. "Okay, I believe you. Although I wouldn't recommend lies when it comes to someone's health, you know...? It's not only that it would hurt the trust others share with this person, but also it could make things worse for the person's condition." Midgardsormr closed his lids when the girl was finished. As if he wouldn't know this... Yet, it was good to hear, how the maiden thought about this topic. He didn't like such risky lies, either.
Although he was of the mind, that the young ones shouldn't worry about old beings...
"Take a proper nap, okay?" she asked while her feet made minimal noise, so that his attention drifted back to her. Midgardsormr tried to open his eyes, yet it was difficult... His lids raised admittedly slowly; sleep's temptation was calling him insistent. He had therefore a blurry vision when he looked at Cecilia who grabbed the sack full of bottles in this moment.
"I plan to visit the Astrologian-guild after trashing the glass. Probably, it'll take a longer while until I come back... So, uhm, stick to your promise in case you wake early up. If you do anything stupid, you'll receive a punishment which rivals the wrath of you dragons." the maiden said as imperious as she was able to sound while she wasn't driven by anger. Without true ire, she really could not match a leader's acerbity – like Erik usually demonstrated nonstop every day.
Midgardsormr chuckled muted, before he nodded visible.
Truth be told: The Methuselah found it amusing how lovely her threat appeared now to him, after her rampant frustration before had frightened him somehow. Nursing others appeared to be a clear part of his wondrous companion. With that, she would one day fulfill the role of a mother perfectly; he was sure of it. Albeit Cecilia resembled already a good vested daughter, as long as he considered the fact how this young woman cared for him alias an ancient father.
"See you later, Midgard." she uttered gentle as her feet carried her through the door; the pretty face leaning over her right shoulder as she looked one last time at him. The dragon-father answered unrestricted her smile, before his eyes as well as the wood shut simultaneously toneless down. Sinking deeper under the blanket, Midgardsormr inhaled gladly the sweetish scent that resembled peach-blossoms so very much. He had to be honest... It was a relief to lay here.
Cecilia was no longer physically present in this chamber, yet he could indirectly enjoy her warmth and allow her smell to wander through his nostrils. He didn't want to show her his questionable, nonsensical addiction in any way. One of his severe reasons to not share the doss with her, in fact... But he could not deny himself the easement of his urge to feel more personal closeness.
He wondered, how his son Hraesvelgr had managed the bond to a special humane being in the past; long before mankind had betrayed the dragons. Midgardsormr despaired at times of the difficulty, which his little mortal maiden meant... But the love in the heart of his son must have endured a pain with such unimaginable strength, that the dragon-father could never comprehend it completely.
Sighing, he pressed his head and back against the cushion. Breathing out shallowly.
Friendships with mortals... They were already his very own, tough frontier...
~C~
The dragon was dreaming an innocent, sweet mental deceit.
It was far away from reality, but one could die away in this bonniness.
In his peaceful illusion, he was a grown-up, but not yet giant creature of his kind. He lay on a foggy, serene meadow, and gloried in the happiness parents experience in observing their children.
All his seven descendants were there – all yet small and naive. Untouched by the evil of this world. Never harmed by mankind. But he was not talking to them, as they were busy with playing and romping around; enjoying each others presence entirely. Instead, he conversed with an eighth child; the youngest infant that he had not yet with him when he entered this world. A child who originated not from an egg nor from the place where he had been born.
It was a half draconic, half humane being. The rosy-skinned girl possessed a few scales so delicate yet pretty, that she was his most important treasure. A six-year-old lovey who he guarded jealously and wanted to protect much more than her older siblings. Her sweet, docile nature fitted his instinct, so she never opposed him and never left his side. His very own star...
As she had a humane body, she wore a short, silky white dress, which emphasized her fragile shape compared to the rough dragon-children, although it was meant to mantle her distinct vulnerability. When she moved a bit, the fabric's waves around her tiny curves drew light-reflexes on her skin, wherefore it resembled the bodies of fairies. Her hair did that, too, since her long strands were almost white – bright gold that became only close to the tips yellow. If he could give her wings, maybe he would do so just because it would be a beautiful view, yet he wouldn't since he feared these mysterious irises would never look at him again if they could travel freely through the world. This crystal and this jewel belonged to him; him alone.
Moreover, his little Cecilia had almost only eyes for the dragon – rarely gazing at her older siblings, so her attention lay solely on her father. She was smiling at him like an angel and laughed heavenly whenever Midgardsormr told her something funny. She hugged his neck and head when she wanted to show him her affection; gave him soft kisses on his cheeks in order to thank him for his fondness. The child even tried to braid a floral-wreath for him, although the flowers were too small to match his draconic body properly, so she needed more blooms than a human would.
He couldn't stop watching her fragile shape move. He never grew tired of seeing the girl simply being alive and healthy. If there would be anything he could do about her presumable short lifespan, he surely would give up even his eyes in order to share his own, very long existence with her. Cecilia was now just a little child, but he knew she would betimes wither like a flower as soon as the draconic blood in her veins would no longer suffice to stop the humane side from passing away. While he thought about it, he became angry about life's inequity, so he pulled the girl with his tail into his 'arms' and held her tight. She bestowed a worried look at him, but it was swiftly hard to bear her sorrow, wherefore he nuzzled the sweet maiden to scatter her skepticism.
"My little girl... I will always protect you." he told her informal; softly.
She smiled and cupped his face tenderly with her tiny hands.
Her angelic voice filled his ears: "Love you, Papa."
~C~
The words' echo was still jingling in his mind, when his lids lifted themselves lazily.
Midgardsormr couldn't recall, when he had dreamed for the last time so clearly, that he remembered simply everything which his subconsciousness was feigning. With all these pictures in his head, obtaining a proper vision wasn't easy, so his eyes blurred the environment several times. However, he closed them, when he sat his body cumbersome up – feeling dizzy after that much sleep.
A muted groan left his muzzle, while he clawed into the blanket.
"Oh-oh, that doesn't sound good... Are you alright?"
At first Midgardsormr thought, that he must be hallucinating to hear the soft voice from his dream, but then he recognized the mature sound it made. Glancing over to the desk, he saw the archmage sitting on a stool; holding a book in her hands. The dusk's light fell on her face – coloring her skin as orange as some Daylilies appear. Her red eye framed by gold was glowing like a bonfire, while the blue one resembled the sea when the sun quasi vanishes within it.
She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
He resisted the urge to fly over and touch her cheeks just in order to know how they felt like.
'It was a dream. Just a dream...' he hammered the thought into his mind. It was unacceptable to act – to feel like this... Just because of a crazy sweven, he could not let his guard down. A delusion was and would always be only a nice, but unreal idea the passive sides of his brain had created.
"Should I make you some medicine...? A headache-tablet, for example?" the Whitemage asked and raised her eyebrows while she examined him severely. The chuckle of an ill-humored, old man left his throat before he could even think about it. A shameful reaction; likewise in her and his opinion. "I wasn't joking." she stated sobered – confirming his impression of having reacted asininely. "Please, excuse me..." ,he mumbled with closed eyes and shook several times slowly his head from one side to the other, "Thou hast the misfortune to experience me with a 'washy' mind..."
He felt her serious gazes all over his body. It was unsettling. Thus, the corpus' movement stopped and his eyes opened themselves enough, that they could counter her stare. Smoldering visible. Midgardsormr saw, that she noticed the anger in them as her upper part of the body jerked minimal, but Cecilia didn't end these criminative glances she gave him.
"Pardon me, but I was worried about you." she snapped finally and looked away.
His lids made more room for his eyes, as he stared perplexed at her. While the maiden was paying only regard to the book in her hands, the dragon-father let his mind repeat these words a few times. He didn't know, how he should handle her concern anymore when it came to him. At least not now, while he was still affected by his maddening dream...
Meanwhile, the maiden turned over – indulging in the text, as it seemed.
It was an astrology-book, so he could bet she had started the studies of an Astrologian.
Smiling, Midgardsormr left the blanket and stretched himself extensive. The evil glow of his eyes died down a fortiori he watched her reading the tome. Such a diligent mortal she was... Ambitious; in the most positive way. It was more to his liking, than he should allow it.
The dragon's face heated, when his stomach made loud noise.
As sigh came from the maiden as she heard his audible hunger. Not looking up this time, she asked: "Although I'm an Alchemist, you won't accept any medicine from me, wherefore you will not accept the food I made in afternoon for you under Erik's advise, I suppose?" His ears twitched, when the mentioning of a meal reached his brain. Albeit it wasn't because of the pleasing possibility to fill his empty stomach, that he made big eyes like a child of his kind.
"Thou hast... cooked something... for me...?" the dragon barely dared to question.
Cecilia raised her head and fixated the window right in front of her; instead of turning the face into his direction. She breathed sharply in, then held her breath as if she wanted to keep any kind of an unfriendly reaction down. Yet, there was no complete success, because a snort escaped her nose. Midgardsormr knew instinctively, that a dragon would have growled in this moment at him, since she acted too similar to his species as if he could ignore it. So, he wondered, why she bore her anger with such a clear aversion down.
Unsure, if it was the right thing to do, he uttered muted: "I... appreciate thy care. Truthfully."
"Since when?" she responded immediately – insulting his pride directly with her sudden cynicism. He wasn't sure, if he should react to her harsh statement at all, albeit his sense of fairness told him, how adequate Cecilias accusation was. It wouldn't be right to rebuke her... Thus, the dragon stared motionless at the Au Ra. Undecided, how to handle this moment.
It was her, who ended abruptly the dilemma. "I'm sorry, Midgard..." ,she said conscience-stricken with her face lowered down, "I just don't feel well, when I have no idea how I can treat you properly without hitting a nerve of yours... Seeing your irises glow made me realize, how bad I am in reading your mood... This shouldn't end in an argument..."
Furrowing his brows, he stretched his neck into her direction. The temptation was too strong... Hardly to resist... Midgardsormr wanted to hold her face; caress it. He wanted to be as emotionally close to her, as he had been in his dream to this reflection of hers which his brain had created. It was a need that consumed him from second to second more...
"Thou art right... I do not show thee enough, how welcome thy care is for me." he shrived – breaking the silence while he fought his longing. As he watched her with narrowed lids in his tiring and never-ending helplessness, the young woman finally lifted her head again. She turned it to him and answered shyly his gaze. Her face was agonizing to behold, because the irises were fraught with honest guilt – hence it nettled his fatherly instincts plus stung into his sympathy for her.
Oh Hydaelyn... How much he wished for this girl to be a dragon...
"Do your words mean then... that you will eat the food I made for you...?" Cecilia asked slowly. Hope lay in her voice; calling acute for his weak spot until the point was reached, where his pride and awkwardness could not oppress said feebleness anymore. Agonized, he squinted his eyes: "Yes, I will eat thy meal... I would prefer taking care of my stomach by myself and to return thee finally the favor of being nursed, but in this condition, it is not possible... Thus, I accept thy support."
The maiden nodded with furrowed brows; lost in thoughts, as it seemed. While she stood up and walked to the closet, she mumbled: "You expect me to care for you, only because your current body is helpless like a baby...?" Opening the wooden object, she took a silvery plate out of it. Before, Cecilia had cooled the dish permanently with an ice-spell, which she removed now in the second her hands held the plate. Midgardsormr widened his eyes, when he could discover a selection of several small fishes – seafood in general – and a bit salad on it.
"I made this not for you in consideration of your appearance." ,the Au Ra stated and heated carefully the meat with a fire-spell, "Whether or not you're an independent dragon doesn't matter in my opinion. I just wanted to make sure, that you will not starve when you wake eventually up. Although I knew it wouldn't be self-evident for you to accept the food..."
She placed the plate right in front of him on the mattress. The fried fishes and seafood smelled wonderfully – the few, fresh lettuce-leaves looked delicious. Midgardsormr stared disbelieving at all the tasty morsels, which were arranged above all in a pretty manner. Such an exquisite meal should be served to nobody else but him...?
Gulping, he questioned choked off by emotion: "Thou hast... cooked this for me...?"
She folded her arms and nodded slightly into the direction of the plate. Her face was a stony facade. "Don't talk. Just eat." she said deadhearted. His ears vellicated, as he looked from her to the plate; hesitating. But his stomach alias instincts took quickly control over his mind. Then, he grabbed one of the fishes and bit deeply into the flesh.
His eyes widened themselves, when a taste descending from heaven glided pleasant over his tongue. She smiled as his irises searched in positive shock for hers; said chuckling: "Don't forget I had help. Without Erik's advise, you wouldn't find it half as good as you do now. Hopefully, you can savor thanks to him this work of a clueless little dilettante." Her mood had been lightened, as it seemed. At least, the icy atmosphere melted just as quickly as the fish in his mouth...
The morsel went down his throat indescribable smoothly, while he gazed still nonstop at her face – full of embarrassment. "I must... thank thee for this..." All words left him right within the midst of his concession, so he lowered his head down and took the next bite. The maiden laughed muted, which 'tickled' his ears pleasantly. Glancing at her, he watched how she went back to the desk plus grabbed her book. The text caught her instantly again as she sank down on the stool... Midgardsormr wished for a moment to have her unshared attention, yet he was abashed to think about the possibility itself. Shaking his head, he continued the meal.
After the last bite had entered his stomach, he yawned intensely.
Cecilia hummed with a sound that revealed her delight; she answered his curious peering instantly. "You're sated, I hope?" the girl asked smiling. He nodded shyly; let his lids sink down, as he found it embarrassing how happy his satisfaction made her. This joy nettled his subconscious too much – he memorized the crazed dream anew... Thus, he avoided any eye-contact with her; looked sighing at the mattress. If she would be his daughter... he wouldn't feel so awkward now, correct...?
The maiden took the plate away from the bed; her free hand brushed his ears softly. Albeit he was not accustomed to it, this time, the touch had instantly no negative effects on him. So he gazed again at her. She refrained from him and walked to the door – surely she wanted to bring that plate to the kitchen in order to wash it. Nevertheless her eyes studied him tenderly while her hand landed on the doorknob. Her irises shimmered in a way which slowly intoxicated the Methuselah...
"Thy dinner was wonderful..." he whispered overwhelmed once more by her care. It was not because of politeness, though, that he admitted this fact. The dragon sensed simply, that she deserved his open gratitude... Cecilia stepped out of the room, while she said: "That's good to hear. If you want me to cook now and then for you, just tell me, okay? Because I would gladly do this." She bestowed a sweet smile at him – he could barely nod under her sparkling eyes.
When she had closed the door soundless behind her, Midgardsormr breathed sharply out.
"That is too much..." he mumbled shakily, hence all these impressions were over-straining him.
Flying to the desk for a bit diversion, he took a short glimpse at the open book-pages. Indeed, it was a fascinating tome, so he lay down on the piece of furniture in order to read the text a bit. Ah... Once, he had learned the common font of mortals in order to understand their strange writings... Hard to believe, that he could make use of his dusty knowledge again...
When the maiden came back, he was just finished with comprehending the last sentences on the second open page. As he hadn't recognized the door's movement, he looked now up in wonderment when he noticed her presence. Cecilia, on the other hand, gave him a confused gaze, so he lowered his own driven by shame.
It hadn't been his intention to read a lot in this door-stopper without her permission...
He just had forgotten his resolution while indulging in these fascinating written words...
"I didn't know that you're interested into books." she stated with a gentle pitch in the voice.
Confusion spread over Midgardsormrs face as her words affected him. The meaning behind them. His 'misbehavior'... It did... please her...? If so, then why would he rather welcome her anger instead of the happiness he could behold now in this humane mien? Why was he afraid of her delight...? This aversion was not logical... Yet it was there.
He twitched, when the Au Ra came to the desk and placed her right hand next to him on the wood. Reflexively, his lids shut themselves in order to hide the Methuselahs emergent timidness. "Usually, I am not... Thy grimoire just made me curious..." the dragon replied and convolved into a perfect circle; increasing the distance to that warmth-emitting hand. With this action, his body-language demonstrated a dismissive stance – a cold shoulder, like mortals might describe it...
Following, he felt her sad gaze on his face. She understood his gesture... And these odd-colored, never restricted irises were therefore silently begging for redemption... As he couldn't stand their expression for too long, Midgardsormr responded quickly through the corners of the eyes. Indeed, her facial expression showed corrosive misery when he examined it expressionless.
A sigh left his half-opened muzzle. "What am I supposed to do with thee...?" he asked muted; afterwards not jerking when she smiled abashed and caressed his long ears gently.
Cecilia sat down on the stool; not moving her hand away from him. She wanted to continue reading, yet this contact seemed to be more important to her, as she looked only at him... The dragon eyeballed this strange maiden for a moment without blinking, before his lids sank again completely over his field of vision. Tiredness had caught him again...
Her fingers slipped slowly from his ears, when his consciousness did obvious the same to his mind, so he forgot all pride as well as morale via his sleep-drugged request: "Let thy hand stay on me..." She hesitated, but before he fell asleep, she caressed uninterrupted his head.
~C~
In the following three days, Cecilia was busy with her Astrology-studies.
But the new spells she learned were not the only reason which brought her to Ishgards streets whenever she practiced them. It was for the homeless who suffered under illnesses and injuries, that she left the warm guild-building or the lively guesthouse. The archmage gave her best to ease their sufferings – at the most for the children, who returned the affection she gave them after overcoming their first distrust. Albeit it might be helpful, that the all-beloved, illegitimate Fortemps-son was keeping her company whenever he could.
Haurchefant seemed to be popular under the paupers and children of all social classes.
The Elezen was famous for supporting little humans plus derelicts with meals and clothes, wherefore the maiden he favored earned automatically the respect of those young and poor lives. They had also heard from the self-proclaimed fan of the Warriors, which heroic tasks Cecilia and her companions had to fulfill, so they acted impressed by the simple sound of her name.
Yet, it was only for her docile nature, that the children developed aforesaid true affection. This and Haurchefant's loving eyes on her – these irises which screamed silently at the whole world, how dear to him this single Au Ra was.
Midgardsormr watched everything from the maiden's shoulder.
He could tell, that the knight's emotion towards her was pure and innocent.
Also, Haurchefant was even investing a few hours into keeping the promise he had given to her. When she had cooked that meal for the dragon, the man had spent the whole free-time which he had gotten on that day with her in the hostel's kitchen. As Midgardsormr rather accidentally learned about this occurrence, a hint of jealousy crawled through his chest for a while.
Because of an unknown reason, it made him also crestfallen, that she hadn't told him this information in the mentioned evening. No vow might bind her to him, yet the simple fact she 'concealed' something from him did truthfully harm his ambition to trust Cecilia. The dragon found this oddness within his mind preposterous and tried to ignore it – with all the might his willpower could develop. After all, this trait was similar to those weak, humane creatures... Their natures... And he did not want to be comparable... But still, his disappointment was despite the hilariousness a true sentiment he experienced.
He wondered, how a bit jealousy could irritate his given personality like this.
When the archmage was not distracting him via her studies or social actions, the Methuselah thought about this strange attitude he felt deep down whenever he became jealous. It was not common for him to have such emotions. Although there had never been a reason ever before to feel such discontent... In his crazed dream, he might have guarded the little Cecilia whom his brain had created with such presumptuous selfish greed, yet it had been his fatherly instinct which led him to this behavior...
But the instinct which controlled him now inwardly was quite different. And he was worried, which direction this feeling might take in the future, as he was entirely uninformed about it.
~C~
A snowball flew just a few centimeters next to him through the air.
Nostrils wrinkled in anger, the dragon leaned himself closer to the maiden's neck – searching for a sanctuary as he wasn't interested into getting hit. Those mortal children and their silly games... Midgardsormr found it honestly ridiculous, how any citizens could toy around with something which should remind them, that they had to freeze every single day...
"Be careful, kids! Or else my patient here will have an injury additionally to his flu!" the Au Ra called laughing, while she medicated an older man with some pills she as an Alchemist had created. The children reacted embarrassed; lowered their heads instantly: "S-Sorry, Mademoiselle Shirone! Won't happen again!" She smiled gently at them, when nervous glances reached her colorful irises, so the small humans continued appeased their innocent game.
Shaking his head in incomprehension, the Methuselah hovered from Cecilia's shoulder – aiming for an elevated windowsill to take there a safely seat. He doubted the trustworthiness of the children... Doubted it a lot. They acted too frolicsome, as if he could take them by their words.
Albeit he was rather busy with realizing something else...
How much did he disrelish the sound those mortals made... when they addressed the maiden with her surname... This 'Miss Shirone' or that 'Mademoiselle Shirone' – these phrases displeased him; made his ears twitch whenever they fell. It was not only for the young ones, that he felt this way, though, wherefore he was perplexed by this oddity.
But.. The Au Ra's given name, on the other hand... It was proper. Beautiful. He might not use it, yet he enjoyed it when her friends called out for the archmage. He sometimes wished to join the choir, in fact, as he wanted to know how it might roll over his tongue. Last night, he had even dreamed, how he was nursing again the little version of hers; whispering her name softly...
In Hydealyn's name, just what was wrong with him...?!
A sigh escaped his throat, when the maiden was done with the medical care.
'Please distract me from my thoughts...' Midgardsormr pleaded full of hope in his mind, when she switched back to her Astrology-class. And as if she could hear the request, she began to walk – gazing up to him in order to make sure, that he would follow her. An unremarkable smile glided over his muzzle; honest gladness flowed within his heart, that she released him from his concern. So, he flew right behind her, when she continued her usual stroll through the Foundation.
A few minutes later, a group of teenagers appeared within sight.
Cecilia stopped in front of these beings, who were not yet completely grown up Hyur.
Their doing was, what caught her curiousness immediately. And for somebody like her who seemed to develop interest for the most trivial things, it would rather surprise the dragon if she should not indulge in the view which this bunch of mortals offered.
The young men were exercising the handling of sword and shield. Practicing with wooden replicas. Although it looked gauche in Midgardsormr's eyes, who had seen true knights on the battlefield, those boys gave obviously their very best to train reflexes and strength. He could somewhat understand the maiden's fascination... Albeit he knew, that young humans without a royal title or noble ancestry would have no bright future in Ishgards hierarchy.
For a few minutes, the young woman watched the boys until they decided to take a break.
She congratulated them on their ambition, which made the men blush in abashment, as they clearly knew who she was. "B-But no, a Warrior of Light shouldn't praise us..." the bravest boy responded, which she refuted with a blitheful smile. "Go and get yourselves a warm meal, will you? So you all will stay as healthy and strong as you are now." she said; hands folded close to her face, which was looking more rosy than usual since she wore an attire similar to snowy owls.
The men blushed even more under the pretty view she meant – something, which Midgardsormr couldn't judge, as he himself felt affected by her... Politely, the boys bowed deeply to the maiden, before they picked their bags plus wooden tools up; seemingly antsy by her curiosity. Her eyes lay without pause on them, while they got their belongings, and did not even let go of those mortals, when aforesaid ones made their way home.
How could she care so much for these strangers, he wondered...
She studied the boys no longer as they vanished, but her attention had switched to something else. Midgardsormr followed the direction of her gaze into the distance, because serious worry glimmered in her irises. It was a mystery to him, why her mood should change so drastically...
Cecilia looked at a child.
It was an Elezen; so small and fragile that it would never survive without the help of others. A girl, presumably, because there was long, blond hair which framed the sleeping face. She sat on the cold, stony ground while her back leaned tired against the wall. Although this picture was not new to the two of them, something must be wrong, since Cecilias eyes widened in shock.
The archmage walked slowly to the pitiful being with an expression on her face which the dragon had never seen before in her mien. She knelt wordless down and began to wand the little Elezen; starting with her forehead and cheeks. When she checked the chest – the heartbeat, her lids fell partly down, so that the long lashes darkened the irises. Their expression became gloomy... A few seconds went by without another movement, but then, Cecilia blinked finally. And the dragon was confused to no end, when he could suddenly watch silent tears leaving her eyes.
Careful, he neared the mage and sat next to her left side down. For a moment, Midgardsormr was caught in the view to see her mourn the loss of a young life without any sound. Never had he beheld a mortal crying with the dignity of an higher being...
"Hast thou... known this child...?" he asked muted. She shook her head slightly: "No, Midgard... No, I don't know her at all..." Irritation spread over his face. "Then, why art thou sad? She was not even from thy species..." he noticed puzzled. "Because I can imagine how she might have suffered. How much pain she must have endured in the coldness. Empathy and pity are not dependent on the origin of a creature. Or do you think I could allow you to accompany me if I wouldn't be able to grasp the loss dragons feel when we mortals kill your brethren?" she responded and looked at him with a stern gaze; tears still gliding over her cheeks.
Midgardsormr stepped backwards as confusion and distrust leaded his body.
She glared at him just like an angry dragon would do. It didn't matter, that the right eye was bordered with gold and the other was ice-blue as a crystal. The wrath was nevertheless intense. Yet, not everlasting like the emotion of his kind, because the irises became again sad when she gazed once more at the dead girl. Her hands wandered to the peaceful face; caressing it. Cecilia cried stronger while she whispered: "I could have helped her... I could have found a way to let this girl enjoy a happier life... There's no reason why this innocent life had to die..."
He was entirely speechless.
The death of an unknown child let her suffer to such an extent, that he couldn't tell the difference between the loss of a friend or the one of a stranger. Did she feel this way, because it was a young, harmless life which had ended abruptly...? But: Did mortals really have such powerful emotions? They were so unreal with their short lifespans... And they cared not truthfully for each other.
How should one who didn't learn anything from tragedies truly be empathetic...?
~C~
The cold breeze made him shiver.
But he couldn't return; not now, while he waited for any kind of information...
Midgardsormr sighed and repositioned himself on the streetlight. What an egregious fool he was... Leaving the tavern without informing Cecilia had surely been a mistake... His promise given a few days ago was turned into a forthright lie...
But he simply had to act, when he noticed in her absence, that a bunch of significant knights planned something. Something involving Hraesvelgr's brood, perhaps... There was no other option left than following them. He wouldn't have been able to detect them willingly in the large Ishgard. Not as powerless as he was; caged in his puppet-disguise... Hence, he had floated all the way up to the Pillars behind those unknown mortals.
And when the men were vanished into the building right before him, only a half-opened window in the first floor allowed the dragon to eavesdrop their words. Trying to crawl through the gap had been a waste of time – and staying on the sill would have been a parlous idea... So he sat now here, on this lamp, and listened to the crack-brained ideas the knights spoke, while they waited seemingly for their head; their leader.
Sighing, the dragon wrapped his wings as much around his corpus as possible.
If he would been used to the human's way of measure the clock-time-adjustment... How long might he meanwhile stay on this streetlight? Was his companion already finished with the shopping-tour which Tammy and Tataru had begged her to join? Had she returned meantime to the odd guesthouse in order to notice his absence...? Was she worried about him...?
Midgardsormr jerked, but not because of the cold.
'Why? Just why do I... care?' he thought entirely over-strained.
Yet, he could not reflect on his unusual train of thoughts anymore.
An older Elezen in expensive-looking clothes waltzed into the building which the dragon observed. Skeptical, he payed attention to the sudden silence of those knights, who had been before boisterously and bubbly. It took just their following, formal greeting to realize, that the newcomer was indeed their leader.
This yet nameless aristocrat, for whom Midgardsormr had broken his serious promise to Cecilia, was apparently not an important man, since he was no descendant of the city's four royal families. Albeit he must have stronger influences which reached even one of the two aggressive houses, because the man's self-assuredness was obvious.
Plus, considering the fact how the knights reacted politely to him, his rank was surely high enough to make the notorious inquisitors private tools for his wishes... Presumably, the heads of his enemies would roll in the moment he expressed the suspicion of them being heretics...
Midgardsormr was instantly disgusted by this man.
As the Methuselah listened to the following conversation, it sounded like a shrewd plan to convince Count Durendaire of a necessary assault on the dragons living in the Churning Mists – unimportant, to which brood they belonged. As the 'pangolins' were attacking the folk of Ishgard from day to day more frequently, a pre-emptive strike would be suitable, as it would be a sign of rigidity.
But the thought went even further.
Before the heretics could become a nuisance in this affair, it was top-priority to chase and imprison them as soon as possible. Otherwise, they would surely interfere under Lady Iceheart's leadership who had foreseen other plans of Ishgard in the past. This aspect of the mortal's plan would probably play at the most into the hands of Count Durendaire as well his relatives, as this royal family was widely known for having a private hatred on the city's traitors.
Additional, the Count himself justified his high status through his loyalty to Archbishop or rather Pope Thordan, so that another reason existed why he would listen to the aristocrat. The heretics challenged the authority of the church – therefore the Pope's authority – and Durendaire would do whatever it took to protect this symbol of power.
Memorizing all of this, Midgardsormr was glad to be unremarkable in this puppet-shape.
His left ear stretched in concentration, he was slowly crestfallen how less information the remaining members of the Scions had obtained during their stay in Ishgard. They would have never noticed this secret plan... Albeit he admitted, that Alphinaud and Tataru could hardly do any larger, noticeable steps, as such would draw distrust on them.
Not to forget, that the Warriors were busy with supporting every bagatelle that needed a true hero. He wouldn't be surprised, if the malicious knights would later seek for them to do the dirty work... Adventurers were perfect errand-boys for the inquisitors – taking advantage on their wish to help would surely resemble the picture Midgardsormr had about Ishgard's benefited citizens.
It was wondrous, why Erik as the Warrior's leader tolerated any exploitation...
~C~
The nobleman's oration lost its importance.
But while the humans conversed now about trivial things that had nothing to do with the dragonwar, Midgardsormr felt unsettled deep down in his mind. When he considered all of this... Would it be his duty to inform Hraesvelgr about this merciless plan...? Not, that any of the descendants knew about the certainty, how their ancestor had returned to life... Yet, could the father of dragon-kind... Could his consciousness allow such mortal cruelty to happen without interfering...?
He twitched abruptly.
Humane noise was suddenly filling the air.
Puzzled, the Methuselah looked from his lantern down at the street – unable to grasp this event.
It took a moment, until he realized, that a child was running around; screaming something with such a high pitch in the voice, that he barely understood it. The few royal Elezen plus servants outside beheld the little being with furrowed brows and wrinkled noses – he shared their irritation at once. Assuming, this girl was searching for... a pet or puppet, she was definitely not discreet in her doing. The striking loud tune of hers resembled the shrieking of several big bird-exemplars he knew...
All of a sudden, she ran to his streetlight when her eyes had recognized him.
She neared the metallic object in a hurried manner, which was unsettling. The dragon's wings folded themselves close to his body, while his ears sank a bit down. He wasn't sure, if it would be necessary to attack her, so he eyeballed her hand when she lifted it. Human children loved throwing stones or in general small things at other creatures...
He stared confused at the young Hyur, when she simply pointed with her index-finger at him.
"There he is! There's Mini!" she shouted loudly with a determined expression.
'W-What...? Mini...?'
Another high-pitched voice screamed: "You found him?" A boy, seemingly. In the distance, Midgardsormr could see another small Hyur with short hair – hazelnut-brown colored like the girl. Perhaps they were siblings... She turned her head into his direction and replied with her noisy tune: "Pretty sure that this doll is Mini! Go and get Ceci – I take care of him meanwhile!"
The boy nodded visibly, before he ran obviously down to the Foundation; in a hectic movement.
"Don't dare to leave! You hear me?! Ceci is worried about you!" the girl reproached the dragon. Amongst her speech, she wobbled with her finger that still pointed at him. Like an adult might do while scolding a child. It would be amusing to contemplate, if he wouldn't be disgruntled.
So Cecilia was indeed searching for him... But why these children, too?
Not to mention... Why this awful nickname...?
Supposable three minutes passed, until Midgardsormr's little overseer stopped gaping at him.
"It IS him, right? RIGHT?" she asked loudly, when the boy returned with the archmage in tow. Looking shortly at the dragon, the Au Ra granted the young humans a grateful smile. "Aye, you two have detected my precious puppet. I'm so glad he's no longer lost." the Astrologian said with a tune as appeasing as panpipes could be. Sadly, it was only meant for the children...
When she looked again at him, her face appeared gloomy. Not directly angry, but crestfallen. Perhaps he would have succumbed to her feelings, but the fact how she had involved other humans in her search dissatisfied the Methuselah. If she would have waited for him in the tavern – or would instead rummage alone through the streets, there had been no place for any exasperation within him. Midgardsormr could have shown her all grief he felt for breaking his promise; enduring any kind of punishment she might have considered to be adequate for his indirect misconduct.
But as the crystal and the jewel gazed at him in the way they did...
He refused this manner of concern which the maiden felt.
~C~
Limp like a bag, his corpus hang in the air; only held by her hands.
The dragon spoke not a single word to Cecilia, while she carried him back to the guesthouse.
It was not only in order to emphasize the lie, though, that he would be only a harmless toy. Actually, he wasn't in the condition for uttering anything. Apart from the fact, that her ridiculous action did truthfully hurt his pride... He was too angry as if he would even want to communicate with her.
Midgardsormr hated it to be treated like a baby... This body was enough penalty...
Just because he had done a single ego-trip – without telling her about it – didn't have to mean automatically the inclusion of other mortals... If he would not be paralyzed by this strange situation, nothing would stop him from turning around and biting into her upper part of the body. Her usual, slowly maddening distrust into his goodwill was strangling him more and more, because he didn't want to be encouraged to despise humankind to a greater extend than he already did.
The stinging smell of booze whipped his sensitive nostrils when she opened the tavern's door.
Ignoring the bad aroma as good as possible, he endured for another moment the embarrassing fact to be carried around like a puppet. His patience was little, yet he did not move one muscle before she entered her guestroom. Then, he bit her left hand slightly, wherefore she loosened the grip around him. Slipping out of her fingers, he landed graceful on the floor – not even glancing at her, when he immediately increased the distance to the Au Ra.
The door fell shut, while he sat down in front of the chimney.
No other sound filled the air. It was a silence which fortified his wrath.
Midgardsormr stared at her from the corners of his eyes – irises burning like fire.
"Mini...?!" he spat the fake-name at last with disgust. It was all he could say; still choked by anger. Cecilia shrugged unperturbed, as if nothing had happened before: "Yeah. Mini. The kids just wanted to know your name. I couldn't tell them your true appellation, of course. Nor the short version of it which I use to address you. So, I simply used another term with 'M'. If you had been a human being, I would have given you naturally a proper name. 'Midge Luminae', for example."
Her explanation was serious. The severe opinion was written in her irises.
Shaking his head, he looked at the fire in front of him. Unbelievable, this mortal...
He heard her footsteps – the way she neared him slowly made him inconspicuously quiver. "Midgard, please, don't be upset. Your disappearance just frightened me, so I asked the kids for help instead of waiting a little bit longer for your return." she uttered melancholy; guessing his thoughts plus reacting to them once more with that precision he found so incomprehensible. But her voice had simultaneous a velvety undertone which lurked in her anxiety. It was alarming him. The call... of a humane Siren. Reaching out for his weakest spot – his fascination for her.
The dragon felt how his corpus stiffened.
When Cecilia sat down by his left side, the warm gaze of the jewel caught his attention.
"I'm trusting you a lot. I know you will not leave me without informing me about your decision." ,she began open-hearted, "And that's why I was worried about you when you weren't in the tavern. This city is the one place in Eorzea where dragons are in deadly danger. If residents should ever, EVER realize that you're no puppet... Midgard, I- … Please, don't do solo-actions anymore here. Do whatever you like in the other places of Coerthas, but not in Ishgard."
Her request was so simple. And she did not even beg him brazen-faced like Erik had done before in Camp Dragonhead. Cecilia was not pleading for him to stay nonstop by her side. She only wanted, that he didn't wander around alone anymore – for his own sake. Not hers.
His skin felt like gooseflesh under her right eye. The red iris which looked like a dim dragon-eye; framed by a golden circle. But a shiver ran down his spine, when he noticed the expression of her ice-blue, somewhat not humane iris. The crystal shone like a tiny sea – far away from normal eyes which mortal creatures possess, because suppressed tears couldn't reflect the light of a fire like this. The mirroring of an ordinary mortal would be yellow-red, while hers was white-blue. As if the sun stood directly over his beloved Silvertear Lake.
"Thou... hast my word..." he whispered helpless; keeping barely a strange desperation down.
Her emotions were effecting him a fortiori he saw this maddening crystal. All of her was calling out for him to lose the control over his adamantine will, but this eye did that at the most. He truthfully... wanted to ignore the draconic ways. He wanted to forget the sin mortals had committed. Her call – unimportant if she knew consciously about it or not – was strong; Cecilia's innocent sympathy for the dragon a magnet so large that it was painful to refuse it.
Midgardsormr inhaled sharply, when she smiled shyly as a response to his promise.
Brows furrowed, he couldn't look away from her face, as he noticed the slightly darkened color on her rosy cheeks. She tried to believe in his words – that was written all over her mien. And the hope which she gained from them made her minimal blush; a delicate view to behold.
He didn't know, where he should position this girl in his ancient mind... She could be as reserved as his own kind – act in a similar way. But when her humane innocence emerged, Cecilia seemed to be a sensitive being who tried to believe into the good within every creature...
Turning his head away; forcing himself to look at the fire, he felt once more that strong impulse. There was this urgent need to hold her face, although he didn't grasp, why he even hungered for it. Why he wanted to feel her skin under his 'hands'... Touching her like this would be nothing else but betraying all morale plus pride he owned.
Glancing at the Au Ra, he noticed how she watched the chimney, too.
Adult as she was, he couldn't claim now, that she would be directly a little daughter for him.
All hidden tears had left the crystal – instead, the wish to believe into his promise glistered there. With this, he wavered, if he should be worried about her sensitive side or not. She seemed... strong. For a mortal creature, at least... For her own kind, she probably had a strong will.
A loud knock on the chamber's door disturbed his thoughts.
"Hey, Ceci, would you mind helping me a bit in the kitchen?" Erik's voice boomed into the room. Narrowing his lids, the dragon kept a snort down, while the maiden stood up. "Of course! Go ahead – I follow in a minute." she replied cheerful. The Hyur gave a pleased 'Okay.' before he went away; leaving the Methuselah again alone with the archmage. While Cecilia threw a block of timber into the fire, Midgardsormr shook his body a little in order to mentally drop his puzzled sentiments. Afterwards, he flew gracefully onto her shoulder. The maiden grinned, when she noticed his weight, and caressed minimal with her right hand his ears.
"You want to join me?" she asked friendly; the possibility clearly welcome to her.
Nodding, the dragon stated veridical: "Albeit I am not hungry, I want to watch thy doing." "Hehe, that's fine." ,Cecilia giggled like a fairy, "But you should really try to eat more often, Midgard." Sighing, he shook his head with closed lids about her soft complaint. "Thou will never give up, won't thee..." "Never." she reassured promptly – a mischievous grin on her lips as she watched him in the second his eyes opened again. It was truly a delightful sight in his opinion...
When she sought distracted for the doorknob, his long tail brushed unscheduled over her back.
It made her blush a little – and resulting, him, too, because this meant she liked his touch.
Gazing at the floor, the dragon stayed on her shoulder, when she walked to the kitchen.
