Primogenitor
Chapter Ten
Smelling something was the first impression he got... Heavy aroma of old paper...
When his mind rose from a nap, the dragon knew despite the dizziness instantly where he was.
It was welcome, though, since he held on to Cecilia's right boot the last time he had been awake – freezing like usually thanks to Ishgard's cold air. Waiting for her to cure a few homeless children and bringing warm meals for their sickish parents... Coming back to senses in the Astrology-guild soothed his bad feeling to catch a cold, even if the place itself meant a bit of tedium.
Opening the eyes lazily, he saw the maiden.
She was reading a book – the tome lay on the same rustically desk on which he had slept until now. A silky, purple scarf had been placed under him; typical for the considerate Au Ra. She had done something similar in the morning, when she put the blanket over him in the moment she stood up. Midgardsormr hadn't been fully awake then, yet this memory was engraved into his mind. Just as... these 'wicked' things he had yesterday done to her before sleep threw him into insensibility.
The recall of his sin made him blush; looking away from the busy Raen.
His eyes roamed the guild – noticing how quiet it was.
Not many magicians were currently around. They whispered to eat dinner soon in two hours. Considering this, the mortals decided to go to the marketplace, since a side-dish was yet missing. One of them mentioned to be allergic to a specific kale, so the others reacted with small frustration because finding a replacement would be troublesome.
The little group left the building, while Cecilia took the thick text into her hands.
His attention drifted back to her as she leaned now against the backrest. In the shape of a loud hiss, the air left her nose abruptly. It was probably a complicated book, albeit lots of pages had been already consumed by the archmage. There was a trace of chagrin in her mien... Furthermore, familiar maturity of his own kind loomed over her head again... Watching this happening always made the Methuselah wonder, how related Au Ra and dragons might be...
Creaky, the guild's door opened. Directing his focus on the person who entered.
An Astrologian dressed in a long garb walked into the room. Snow fell from the eye-catching hat; confirming the icy weather outside, although no wind blew at the moment. Aforesaid headgear overshadowed the face of the mage. But still he could tell, to which species the visitor belonged, because he noticed a white, saurian-like tail. It was a simple exemplar – not as ornate and slender as the one he was used to – yet quite long. Not, that the dusky-pink hair wouldn't be impressive, too... In two very long strands, it swung through the air. Overreaching the end of the back.
Surely this mage was a woman.
The Astrologian came to Cecilia's desk – indeed a female, who was as large as the maiden. Her face resembled the archmage's, but there were more scales on the cheeks. They spread under the eyes. Mentioning them: There existed also no second iris within the eyes, which were just as antique-rose as the long hair. Plus, this skin of the visitor appeared rather brown than rosy...
Probably this Raen was a bit older than Cecilia, but he couldn't tell for sure.
And albeit his capacity for remembering mortals was still not on a good level, he memorized to have seen her conversing in the last weeks often with the maiden. They seemed... familiar. Comparable to childhood-friends; as much as he was able to grasp the affection. Sympathy between humans showed much earlier blooms than a dragon's trust into strangers would allow.
"I'm so proud of you, Ceci." the woman hummed softly.
The maiden stopped short and looked up from the tome with questioning eyes. She had presumably not noticed the arriving magician... Her quick glances into the guild reassured the Methuselah about his speculation, because the 'sudden' absence of the other Astrologians seemed to irritate her a bit. Nevertheless, she payed immediately attention to her fellow. Studying her pensive.
"Augustine? I thought Leveva would have asked you to travel soon to Sharlayan in order to get some materials for her. At least it seemed to be an urgent business." Cecilia stated unfazed. Happily, a self-confident response followed: "Hah, already done with that! Do not worry. This master-student is quick as a flash. Also, you know me. I could never let her down, after she sacrificed so much for this guild. It's the least I can do in return for the knowledge she gives us Ishgard-amateurs."
The maiden chuckled a little. It was slightly devilish.
"I would never dare to call you an 'amateur'." she said with glistering eyes. The Astrologian smiled and bowed down: "It's an honor to enjoy such a high opinion." "I'm just honest. Nothing more." "Sure, but you could keep that thought still for yourself." the young woman noticed grateful. At first the archmage was nodding with a serious mien, but quickly it softened to an adorable grin.
Her friend stretched the arms a little and took following the large hat off.
While she placed this thing onto a stool, Midgardsormr studied her face attentive. This woman truly resembled Cecilia's physical features a lot, even if the minimal different skin and more scales might distract the beholder partly. He wondered, if the archmage and her friend would look like twins, assumed their tails and hair-color could be identical.
~C~
The dragon frowned, when the Astrologian leaned abruptly down.
She nuzzled her head against Cecilia's right cheek. Like a purring cat would do.
"Are we again flirting with me?" the archmage asked casually with raised brows. This seemed not – in any aspect – to be new for her... The disinterest of her question was alarming for the Methuselah. "Just a tiny bit." ,the woman said lightly, "I know you are not searching for somebody right now. And I would not dare to steal Haurchefant a possible place by your side. He's everybody's darling, after all. Also my favorite old friend in the city. But I DO nevertheless care for your well-being. While you are not in a relationship, there's no need to be alone-alone."
Sighing, Cecilia mumbled: "I'm not in the mood for playing again with other girls..."
"Which is sad, because I enjoy the androgynous part of yours." the Astrologian stated; still so close to that inviting cheek as if she didn't consider leaving this place at all.
'Androgynous...?' the dragon repeated in his mind. Was that how humans thought of the archmage? What a discrimination for this brave life... She was not girlish, like mortals might say, yet she acted always caring towards other people. As a sister would do, actually.
"Ceci, I'm happy that you are who you are. Your heart of a hero is wonderful."
Otherwise motionless, the maiden narrowed her lids, when her friend placed a kiss on her cheek. Midgardsormr, on the other hand, was in two minds about this moment. It was even for an old being like him a thrillingly view to see two mortals of such beauty close to each other... However...
His jealousy burned like a fire in his chest.
In the past, he would probably have approved two women adoring each other, as females were – like the archmage had once stated – in the eyes of dragons the better mortals. That was indeed true... But he could not give his blessing to this, when one of them was the maiden...
Aforesaid one snorted, when the Raen tried to kiss her on the mouth.
With outstretched hands which still held her book, she kept the woman on distance.
"Augustine, exactly that heart of mine the reason why I do rather consider a partnership with a man than a woman. I don't want to be the 'guy' in a relationship. I'm feminine, basta." she uttered sternly. "Hm... If I could be more masculine, would you then give me a chance? At least for a little period? So I could call you 'mine'?" the Astrologian asked directly as children would do. Skepticism visible, Cecilia furrowed her brows anyhow in confusion: "How do I have to understand this...?"
Simultaneously, she and Midgardsormr jerked in shock.
Because the Astrologian simply grabbed the archmage's head and kissed her lips.
"You are precious to me. That's how you have to look at it." ,the magician said straightforward with severe gazes into Cecilia's widened eyes, "Haurchefant cares deeply for you; and knows you much, much longer than I do. So I don't count on luck. All I can dream of is being your date for a while. And believe me: I would gladly be that. Even a toy for you, if you would be the kind of a person who abuses others for fun."
Grinding loudly the teeth, Cecilia stared at her fellow-Astrologian.
"Why has a cute, attractive woman like you nothing better to do than chasing a blockhead? Forsaking carefully considered ideals was never a real strength of mine... How can you seek partnership with such stubbornness?" she wanted to know; anger suppressed.
The insulted one smiled enchanted: "Hihi, good question! Sadly, I have really no idea, why I feel like a metallic screw pulled to the magnet. But that's how it is. And everybody who feels like that for another person is a fraidy-cat when he or she does not stick to this real emotion. We are alive. That's why denying own feelings is awful and wrong."
Midgardsormr twitched as he listened to this tiny speech. His sentiment was probably also based on deep sympathy, albeit he was unillumined which kind of affection it might be. Though he grasped the fatherly aspect, the rest of the dynamic irritated him nonetheless.
He was not as emotional-wise as this woman...
"Honestly, Augustine... This is madness..." the maiden sighed and shook her head with closed eyes. "You are allowed to punish me for my actions." ,her friend said felicitously, "For this last one, additional, you can behead me if you want to." Cecilia snapped the eyes quickly open in realization, but just when she gazed at her senior, it was again too late.
The Methuselah glared shocked at the unabashed woman who kissed the maiden once more.
Both hands of aforesaid traitor lay on Cecilia's beautiful face. The Astrologian forced clearly visible the archmage to part the lips. Anger colored Cecilia's cheeks darker while her lids fell partly down in affliction. But the sweetness within the reckless gesture of her friend would even be obvious for blind humans. The maiden was defenseless against the sign of affection – giving this time in to it. Closing the eyes, she let the Raen demonstrate her fondness.
Their mouths began to dance tenderly with each other.
Midgardsormr sat upright on the scarf – being paralyzed by both jealousy and ecstasy.
He knew about Cecilia's weakness for females – and he could not condemn this weak-point. Especially not, as the maiden thought clearly highly of her senior and vice versa. When true respect connected such women, it was suddenly easy to imagine those dates she had mentioned to be part of her past as a teenager... 'Nothing serious' appeared somehow sweet...
These two here, at least, were obviously close to each other. Comparable to sisters. Both females were like a pair of roses – beautiful and no lie. If there would not be that ugly feeling inside of him, this Augustine could be the first mortal who he maybe wanted to be with the maiden.
She was no Elezen and not too old; no male being, at the most.
She was nothing he would call... a rival.
His corpus was stiff as he watched the passional kiss.
When he heard a tiny moan from the maiden, he couldn't help but groan inwardly. It caught him... There was no escape; he could not even close the eyes for letting them have privacy. The archmage shivered a little – held the book in her hands so tightly that he could hear her nails scratching it. When Augustine's tail-tip brushed over Cecilia like a cascade, her whole corpus trembled stronger. As if she was desperately begging for more or less – he could not say, which one – her right hand released the door-stopper and grabbed the chest of her senior.
Such need was a conflicting view to behold...
The memory of the odd moment in Western Coerthas; in this cellar, reached his mind. He wondered, if he could have over-strained Cecilia in a similar way like Augustine did now to her. In case that... he wouldn't have stopped that touch... Would the maiden have showed him akin vulnerability?
Goosebumps spread over his back when he imagined this picture.
However... Maybe he and the Astrologian shared the magnetic pull to Cecilia, because the woman was just as the maiden related to his kind. The species Au Ra had perhaps not only physical ones, but also mental similarities... At least this would definitely explain, why he felt no explicit wrath when she did something to the precious maiden, what he couldn't do...
Somehow, the Methuselah appreciated the bold actions of Augustine... She brought the maiden to an emotional condition he had never experienced before while watching Cecilia. Thus, the Astrologian was his means to an end... He wanted to know all parts of Cecilia's nature; honestly all...
"I will hit you for this... Going against my will is indictable..." the maiden whispered harshly with partly opened lids, when Augustine let her a short moment to draw breath. Her cheeks were reddish when her friend continued the kiss, but this time the odd-colored eyes did not shut down once more. The lusterless windows to her soul spoke a clear language: She was angered like a dragon.
Midgardsormr felt bad to side with the Astrologian because of simple egoism...
So he lowered his head in candid shame...
~C~
The chimney in the guest-room was in any aspect a nice place for dozing.
Hence, the dragon lay convoluted on the tray which had been installed on the stony construct.
As he paid despite the drowsiness partly attention to his environment, he noticed the changes around him. It became dark outside – the last orange rays of the sunset lightened the chamber. Dinner had been early today; considering the mortal's opinion. Erik was cooking 'nothing special', albeit all adventurers had eaten so much that not a single bite was left in the end.
Aforesaid meal had been especially welcome to Cecilia.
That Au Ra who ate nothing beginning with this... odd conversation with her Astrologian-friend... which concluded in slapping the daring woman right across the face. Since then, the maiden was somehow gloomy and had put her nose nonstop into the thick text. The result to this doing appeared to be tiredness and eye-ache. In other words, she had barely been able to keep the exhausted irises open during dinner howbeit she wasn't sleepy at all.
The dragon wasn't all-knowing, but he was sure this trait respective the book hadn't been healthy. Therefore, watching her finally eating something had calmed him a lot. At the most, because he felt conspicuously blamable for the violation of her dignity through the hands of her senior...
While the maiden upbraided him not at all, he knew he could have done something.
Just because Cecilia didn't say or expect anything, his remorse wasn't unburdened.
Anyhow, she did right now something to relax her body.
But it was not as simple as ordinary rest. She called her off-key actions 'Yoga'. Wearing only short, black-white trousers with small golden sparkles on the black fabric plus a simple, silver bikini-bra, she practiced movements which reminded the Methuselah of Monks.
As she stretched herself amongst one motion, she said casually: "Erik taught me a few exercises which I can combine very well with mine. Albeit his movements come from another culture and have less to do with peaceful training. They are orientated to keep a warrior healthy and flexible. ... Did I tell you? He's actually a Pugilist. His skills with the sword and bow seem also to be not bad, albeit he refuses demonstrating us detailed insight of him as swordsman. I wonder why."
The Au Ra continued her doing.
Meanwhile, Midgardsormr reflected silently on her words. The gruff Hyur seemed to be much more than one would at first expect from him... He was a talented fighter, a formidable executive-chef and not to forget a man from another world... His soft spot for Chocobos plus the maiden as a 'sister' was also a trait as unbelievable as the Marauder himself...
If he would just not disgust the dragon with this awfully uncaring attitude...
The sun vanished now completely from the sky; leaving a dark-blue horizon with its stars behind when no ray illuminated the vastness. Then, only the chimney's fire brought light into the chamber – adding a somniferous effect to that old room. In spite of the archmage who still enjoyed her activity, the dragon felt like losing consciousness...
~C~
A sudden knock on the door prevented him from falling asleep.
Raising the lids partly, he watched how Cecilia went to the wood and opened it.
He shared her surprise manifestly, when they discovered who dared to visit the maiden.
"Augustine. How come you're here?" she asked perplexed as her friend threw her a curve.
Her fellow Raen wore no longer the striking garb of an Astrologian. Instead, her corpus was hidden by an ordinary dress which matched Ishgard's mere population of servants... The two pigtails with their cheeky charisma were also gone by comparison to before. Orderly, the long hair dangled from Augustine's head with some kind of a depressive 'aftertaste'.
"Not to mention your clothes..." Cecilia added – being as irritated as the Methuselah was.
She studied her friend with cynical eyes that revealed her distrust as well as choked concern.
"Can I... come in?" the Raen asked instead of answering. "Sure..." ,the archmage stepped aside, "...albeit it makes no sense how you're dressed. I thought you hated the look of a 'simple woman born to the poor side of the medal'. If I am allowed to quote your own words."
When the door was closed behind her, Augustine made no further step. Was motionless as a statue. The maiden eyeballed her friend repeatedly with a helpless expression lingering in her mien, but nevertheless seemed to find no resolution for the Astrologian's hesitation. Walking back to the spot where she had been practicing Yoga, she placed the fists on her hips and cocked slightly the head to the right shoulder. Her words lacked noticeable patience: "If you keep this silence, sit at least down instead of standing around like zoological specimens. It's creepy – especially for you."
She was hardly containing for herself the sizzling worry towards the fellow.
Midgardsormr could not pretend to despise this. He was appreciating her honesty.
No reaction followed, so Cecilia continued frustrated her exercises. But the quiet woman surprised her as well as the dragon once more. "I wear this clothing..." ,Augustine suddenly explained, "...because I wanted to demonstrate you, that I am not as self-confident as you may think of me... Without the beautiful attire Leveva gave me, I rather feel like an ugly small duck than the person you described today... My self-esteem can't keep up with your pride."
Cecilia didn't stop her motions while she replied: "I do know, that you have this hidden weakness. And I am smart enough to tell, that your rough childhood in this Holy City is the reason for this. Your family was treated like dirt by the lords and ladies, while your neighbors were skeptical because of your scales, so that they hardly trusted you. But for ME, you are a treasure the people just did not notice earlier. If you consider how grateful your neighbors are nowadays for you, wearing a mask does not suit you. Pretend not to be proud – simply be it."
There it was again... Her wisdom resembling dragons.
Or poetical speaking: The burning candle for his moth-yearning.
Augustine smiled softly – sweetly as a naive child – under the encouraging words. The dragon was deeply amazed to see, how much she truthfully resembled the maiden. Her kind happiness was almost as dulcet as the archmage's shy smile.
"I envy Haurchefant. Though I shouldn't as the two of us know each other since I was a toddler... He was my benefactor – my only angel apart from my mother and father... But I can't help it. Instead of being irate that he likes you a lot in lieu of me, I feel jealous when he has your attention. My childhood-friend is blessed to be a favorite of yours." the Raen stated.
Cecilia grinned diabolic for a moment with amused eyes, before she shook her head with an abrupt serious mien: "I do not know, who I should chose in case I decided to try a relationship... All those, who I admire in one way or another, do not... trigger this kind of affection Haurchefant feels. Or... which you feel. I yearn not in both emotional and physical way for a single man, so far."
Listening to this made the Methuselah's heart rattle like several glasses.
He couldn't descry, however, why that was so...
The Astrologian watched the maiden's movements a little before she asked her: "But maybe you are in the end better off with another woman? I mean, that's also a possibility. Perhaps the right person for you has not necessarily to be male as long as everything else matches."
Pausing her doing, the maiden returned to her feet. "Augustine, I really wish I could share this idea, but it's simply not possible. There exists far away from here only a single girl that I would want for such an experiment... but I dare not to take her away from those who love her. Admire her fully... She makes her personal family happy and adores them. She has what I wish to have one day."
Hesitantly, she added: "Also, I know the former life of mine was filled with pure love, so I really... REALLY aim to earn as the person I am NOW another chance of true luck. But that means I must... stick to what I truthfully want for my future."
~C~
The dragon's ears twitched in irritation.
Strong wistfulness dwelled in her words which he had never noticed before.
Augustine narrowed with a guilty expression the eyes. She sensed the sentiment just as he did. "You're sad, aren't you?" ,she asked sorrowful, "Apologies, I didn't want to hurt your feelings. Neither in the guild... It's just right that you slapped me undamped... But I couldn't control myself... You seem so lost whenever this topic comes up." "Well, I am rather impatient." ,Cecilia admitted and sighed intensely, "I don't want to be ingrate since there are people who hold me dear in Eorzea despite so many inhabitants plus adventurers who still detest me for being an Au Ra... A stranger. But... I want still somebody who I can love with my whole heart..."
Cecilia's gaze wandered to the wall opposite to the chimney.
Her subsequent words were much lower than everything else she said before: "Somebody who is not too old for me, so that he won't find me naive, and is neither too tall nor too small so he would match my seize. I have... no possibility under these facts. I don't want to feel like a blue-eyed kid... Nor a boring lady... Yet, waiting patiently is hard, too... It's... painful..."
When she looked down to the ground, Midgardsormr beheld her with a tensed corpus.
Her expression was painted by agony. And this wish of hers a humble exemplar, but indeed all men close enough to Cecilia were much larger plus older... One was even too old for her, even if she said sibling-affection was all connecting them... And beyond, the teenager who she adored would also grow up plus be as tall as all the other Elezen one day. Additional, as Alphinaud was still a scholar, he, too, would sooner than later denounce her as starry-eyed. Not to forget... how she considered this one, specific and awful Hyur as her brother despite their familiarity... Thus...
There was really nobody who could fulfill her plea at the moment...
For a short instant, an unbelievable thought crossed suddenly his mind. But he banished it instantly into his subconsciousness. The only mad thing he could allow was the sadness about the maiden hiding this sorrow, which hunted her all the time, from him. Only this insanity was harmless enough to not alter everything he believed into and to not twist his morales until he lost his reason.
Augustine placed the hands onto Cecilia's shoulders.
"Promise me to search for the right person. Promise me, that you will not lose hope until you find your happiness. And promise me... to give somebody a chance when you feel like your confidence is vanishing. It does not have to be Haurchefant... I really just want you to be not alone. So please, take a hand before you don't find somebody for whom you can reach out." the Raen said.
The maiden stared at Augustine with a lost expression. As if a young woman begged her older sister for advice. Both crystal and jewel shone in repressed suffering. The view alone hurt the Methuselah. "I can't promise anything... There's a chasm inside of my heart... which seems so large and empty, that I fear it might scare everybody away who can't make a wonder happen... I don't want to be unworthy the effort somebody puts into me... I want to deserve the admiration... And I do want to feel a deep connection, too. I yearn for this." the archmage shrived.
It was just briefly, but she glanced with these agonized eyes at Midgardsormr.
He felt the magnetic pull so intense that it made him hallucinate something specific...
Hearing his full name; spoken by Cecilia herself. An imploring tune that stopped his heartbeat.
Augustine sighed and brushed over the maiden's face with her right hand. "I really wish I could be your prince. Or knight. Or whatever would suffice to make you happy. Even if it would be just temporarily distraction." the older Raen stated with a half-confident smile. Midgardsormr could see the following tremble running through the archmage's body under these words. He felt gooseflesh developing on his skin while the Astrologian cupped Cecilia's face softly – showing the maiden those compassion which he himself wanted to give her.
He felt the jealousy eating his senses away, but much stronger was his wish to ease Cecilia's agony. It didn't matter when somebody else did this instead of him... He was after all just an ancient dragon who was too handcuffed by the frontiers of his own species. Too paralyzed by hidebound morales, as if he could unleash this precious mortal...
~C~
A tear glided over Cecilia's face.
When Midgardsormr saw this, he recognized something...
The sound as if something shattered; right there in the chest of his vessel...
Her next words were merely a weak whisper: "Just tonight... Only tonight... I can't give you more... And I won't take ever again this altruism of yours... So be aware of this fact... You are the one and only woman Eorzea's who I accept for a single time..."
Augustine studied her with a worried expression. "Are you really sure? Will you not hate yourself to repeat what you do no longer want to allow?" the Astrologian asked unsettled and did something which tested the determination behind the indirect promise. She let her left hand wander down. When it reached Cecilia's silver bikini-top, Midgardsormr shivered just like the maiden.
"Yes..." came the low, but strong-willed answer. The right hand of her friend glided also down to the extroverted piece of clothing, but slowly glided deeper. "Am I even masculine enough to let you not totally feel like the male part?" Augustine asked with concern in the voice – her expression revealed the nervousness to do something which could hurt Cecilia's feelings.
The Raen's hand paused on the white fabric, but two fingers dared to slip over the trouser-waistband into the cloth's inside; straight under the belly. The maiden gulped audible under the unusual touch of her friend, but nevertheless nodded with lowered lids. Her mien was deadly serious.
"Really, really sure?" Augustine inquired nervous – she was honestly not caring for her own hopes, but for the maiden in front of her. To soothe all doubts or to cause a failure, she went even further. Midgardsormr kept an animalistic groan down and twitched instead, as the Astrologian's hand vanished in the trousers. Afterwards, the maiden closed her eyes for a few seconds with her head tilting backwards – the gesture of her friend seemingly defeating her last reservations.
She drew breath with opened, glistering lips.
Pressing visibly her lap into the physical contact.
Then, she looked again at her friend. This time Cecilia didn't answer – she stepped forward and kissed Augustine directly on the mouth. Her hands gripped the Astrologian's arms in a begging way. He knew now for sure, that she wanted the experience completely... She wouldn't struggle anymore. Her satisfied moan between Augustine's lips was proof enough...
Cecilia allowed her friend to lead her to the bed – or perhaps she sought for losing dominance... Midgardsormr would lie if he pretended to be not relieved about her passiveness, since the fight demonstrated the whole day how much it just hurt her. Giving in would be a remedy for her agony. Even though... he recognized a longing deep down in his heart he couldn't name.
Still, he wished Augustine might make her happy for at least this moment – might give the maiden what an old-fashioned, ancient dragon couldn't do. This here was not exactly what he hoped for; notwithstanding it was at least a piece of redemption for the precious Au Ra.
The blanket covered their bodies soon – their clothes fell after some minutes one by one to the floor, while they kissed each other passionate; nonstop. Holding the other one tightly so that their shapes were pressed against each other. Betimes, Augustine even vanished completely under the fabric, when she lay down onto the maiden's corpus.
Biting his lower lip until it bled, Midgardsormr freed himself from his numbness.
He couldn't stay here; motionless like a stone. He was no mindless toy which possessed neither intelligence nor capacity for remembering. Maybe he could lessen his acuesthesia, so that no sound would reach his brain, and close the eyes for seeing nothing, but he was still alive and awake.
He had to go in order to not overshadow their privacy. Now!
But in the very second he began to stand up...
Cecilia's eyes caught him.
As if she had heard his thoughts, she pleaded him silently to stay – a heartbreaking expression lingering in her gaze; ready to burst through in case he should leave her behind. When he just began to raise his legs, her eyes twitched and tears appeared on the irises.
Once more the hallucination rang in his head – his full name uttered by her.
He didn't know, why she wanted him to be a voyeur... Why she yearned for this crack-brained thing. This was the most imbecilic request of hers... But as he – on the other hand – was a sick watcher who lost his morales and needed to make sure she would find somehow luck, redemption, salvation or whatever it might be... It was impossible to deny her request...
He couldn't forsake her.
To mute his conscience, he reminded himself over and over that he could actually see nothing with the blanket hiding the women's shapes. That he couldn't hear anything as long as he just suppressed by simple force his sense for that specific stimulus. Nevertheless, the dragon on the chimney tried to keep the eyes shut, so he wouldn't hurt their privacy in any way.
Albeit... he gaped sometimes at the maiden's face which poked out of the blanket.
He could hardly not look at it... All the sentiments she experienced now caused her to show facets within the mien which he hadn't seen so far. It was mortal's raw, primal and inviting beauty...
~C~
Midgardsormr shivered.
Paradoxically not because of the cold...
Western Coerthas couldn't cool his active mind off. Not even the occasional, nasty hail could this. Since yesterday evening alias night, he was barely able to focus on anything else but the shocking, yet appealing memories. He was ashamed of his mental weakness, but that must be the fair forfeit after he had seen Augustine in some way as a means to an end. Deserving a restless brain caught in overwhelming impressions, the dragon didn't fight the strong guilt he felt.
Admittedly... It was good to know first-hand, that it had worked out.
So far, the whole day had been a nice one for the maiden – her mood clearly bright.
Those tools she owned for gathering were nonstop used to chop wood, get minerals out of rocks and catch some fishes in the handful of puddles the cold had not frozen yet. Everything accomplished with her fullest joy to be helping out the people who lived in the area. And he, too, was happy to see no frustration on her mien; not important if caused by complicated books or burdensome mortals.
If it hadn't been difficult to oppress the pictures, he would share her bliss.
The dragon noticed barely passing humans when the Au Ra brought all obtained materials to a settlement called Convictory. Flying behind Cecilia, he almost bumped into her back in the moment she talked with the person meant to take the delivery. Probably it wasn't the best idea to follow her instead of sitting on her shoulder... But he couldn't touch her.
Physically avoiding the Raen was a result of his restless mind.
That was so... because he blushed through the slightest, most trivial contact. In the morning, she just caressed his ears – if she hadn't been distracted by a chatter with Augustine, Cecilia would have seen his face becoming dark-red. Additional, his muscles finagled... When she saw her friend off, casually landing on the maiden's head caused him to shiver in the second he inhaled her scent.
Snorting resigned, Midgardsormr stared at the white ground.
He didn't know, how long she talked with the Elezen, but it took only a short instant to dive completely back into his personal penalty. So deep, that he winced in the second Cecilia tapped against his right 'hand'. "Can you endure the cold a little bit longer?" the maiden asked cautiously. Well, his absentmindedness was apparently obvious... The skepticism in her odd-colored eyes practically screamed so loud it was almost audible...
The Methuselah nodded fractionally: "As long as the volley doesn't become worse than the last time it fell from the sky..." She silently studied him detailed for a moment, which made him feel nervous. But still he kept the eye-contact to her – not willing to let her recognize his troubled thoughts. Cecilia's head tilted to the left shoulder: "I ask because I want to go to a place where I can relax after gathering all these materials. Unfortunately, the sky is right above aforesaid spot, so the weather can become a nuisance, nevertheless. You are fine with that? Or...?"
Sighing, he flew close to her face.
Oppressing a flood of pictures in his mind, he replied: "It is acceptable. A risk I can bear as long as you are able to recover." "Okay... This sounds like a too polite 'Yes' in my opinion. Suspicious... However, you're hopefully the kind of dragon who enjoys hot-springs." the maiden uttered and gazed expectant at him. Frowning a little, he needed to admit in secret, that he had somehow prayed in the back of his head for another possibility than this one... Although it was silly to count on another recreational activity, since nothing else would make sense in the Highlands.
A pity, that she was an adult human... A young child would have understood 'relaxing' in the snow in a different way, as much as he knew. Building a snowman... or an igloo, perhaps. Tobogganing.
He pushed the awkward outlook away from his consciousness.
It was necessary to focus on the positive aspect...
"Water in general is my preferred element." ,Midgardsormr declared calmly, "The mortals may say, that fire brings warmth and with this trait also life, but it is notwithstanding a destructive force. Every living being could be destroyed when the flames are just large enough. The true origin of life, on the other hand, fascinates me since the first moment of my existence. It's powerful, yet normally flowing in a tamed way. An opposite of mine that I could never forgo."
Silently, he added: 'And there is something in front of me, which is quite similar...'
Cecilia smiled gently. His declaration had seemingly the effect he was hoping for.
"Let's go then, Midgard." that soft voice called happily. She reached out for him; brushed softly with her fingertips over his chin and lower-jaw. His eyes widened, while he felt his cheeks heat drastically until it must be visible. The maiden's brows went up a little as she watched him blush. But she said nothing... This was even worse as if she would straightforward utter... anything...
As he looked down in shame plus unease, her hand retired slowly from him.
~C~
Skeptical sniffing, he stared at a path between the rock-walls.
"Something wrong?" the Au Ra asked as she walked meanwhile to the steaming water.
His eyes glowed in a piercing manner as he responded: "The smell of Yetis is clinging to the stone. They seem to gather here sometimes." In the moment his gaze searched for her, Cecilia nodded, albeit she knelt next to the spring and beheld it as if she wasn't anymore sure about her plan.
"Maybe the big guys are peaceful enough to share the bath when one is willing to not harm them in the second they meet." the archmage suggested while one of her gloves landed on the ground. Placing afterwards her hand into the water, she tested unhurried the liquid's true temperature with a neutral facial expression. Presumably, it matched her expectation.
"I doubt this will suffice. The Yetis in this Highland are aggressive as well as not too gently considering humans. Even to my kind, they demonstrate scorn. Before winter consumed Coerthas, at least, they were known to be as dangerous as they were rare." "So, in other words..." ,the maiden followed his train of thoughts, "...their behavior became worse thanks to the rougher environment. Yetis are surely accustomed to the cold, but they need yet food and warmth just as we people do. Thanks to the never-ending winter, it's hard for them to make sure they survive. Hence, they eat whatever they can get and share not willingly a possibility to keep themselves warm."
He agreed with her: "Exactly this is what makes me worried..."
Imagining such a situation with her made him glare in both anxiety and rage.
"Besides..." the Methuselah trailed off when she stood up. When she began to undress herself.
Recalling the last evening once more, he twitched unpleasantly. It wouldn't be such a difficult action to look away... Since Cecilia's attention was entirely focused on her clothes, no irritated questioning of his action awaited him. But... His gaze was quasi glued to her.
Helpless, he eyeballed the maiden as she uncovered herself until only the underwear remained.
The white fabric might hide her chest and lap, but the rest of her skin and scales was bared under the grey daylight. His corpus was almost paralyzed by this view; his pair of wings close to stopping its motion in the air. He floated clumsily down to the ground in order to prevent a crash-landing, while she stepped slowly into the hot-spring.
Her delicate rosy flesh vanished not completely in the water...
Thus, the upper part of her body poked out of the steaming soup.
His corpus was entirely stiff as he watched her rubbing the tense muscles of arms and shoulders. Midgardsormr was abashed; told himself to not stare impolitely at the Raen, but he couldn't help it... This was simply a beautiful creature... Worth to be marveled every second of her existence.
A smile slipped abruptly over the corners of her blossom-like lips.
"You're always so shy, when I wear not much." ,she noticed while her eyes called out for his own, "Thinking about your age, that's a very odd habit you got. I am just a little girl compared to you. But well... Since you feel uncomfortable, I spare you the view of me taking a bath without clothes. Because I don't want to shock you with my naked body."
Blushing, his head sank down.
"Apologies... I am old-fashioned..." he murmured.
It was over-straining for Midgardsormr, that she was actually informed of his trouble. Meanwhile – with all these strange memories he had collected so far – he was sure she would simply not notice, which embarrassment her permissiveness caused for him... Guessing aforesaid innocent option since weeks made it even worse to realize now, how aware she really must be of his prudery.
He felt like drowning in shame of himself...
"Do you want to join me?" the forthright question threw him out of his thoughts.
Raising his head again, he looked at Cecilia's expectant eyes. It was no challenge and no innocence – it was a mature wish she had formulated. Disguised as a good-mannered, unselfish sentence. Perhaps this was not even supposed to punish his bad humor... She intended to take a bath with him; not for mockery and with full knowledge about his awkwardness.
The embarrassment was so strong, that he turned dark-red like a cherry. Yet, he hesitated to give her an answer, since both Yes and No were pulling on his mind. Over and over, the decision he wanted to make switched to the other side. Therefore, the Methuselah was stuck within himself.
Suddenly, Cecilia uttered: "I'm sorry for the escapade with Augustine. I might have warned you about my predilection, but I think it was still a harsh blow for you to be confronted with that... Above all, I couldn't let you flee..." She was afraid... of having scared him? Of having forced him? He might be an antique being, yet this wasn't what had pushed him out of his personal comfort-zone in the last evening... The fossil he was had rather no idea how to handle mental magnetism...
What to do... with attraction...
"You have... all right of the world to find somebody who matches your needs. I was just... perplexed. Not through the amorous doing of mortals, but because I cared more for your well-being than I had realized until then. You have not done anything wrong." the dragon stated serious while he hid the restless emotion in his subconsciousness.
"If that's true, would you now join me?" she inquired; hope dwelling in her voice. The rosy color of her cheeks became more intense as he watched Cecilia's face undecided. It distracted his insecurity. Oh... OH... So it was not for him alone difficult... With this worry of hers, to be denied, he could not walk the easier path. A gentleman would not turn a lady down. And an equivalent of his species followed this rule, too, even if a mortal should not take the place of the female dragon.
Shyly, Midgardsormr nodded: "I accept the offer."
A beautiful smile spread over her mien; she giggled like a child. It made him chuckle helpless. Closing the eyes for a moment, the Methuselah wondered if this decision would end in regret.
~C~
Impulsive, he wanted to fly to the water.
But amongst the first motion of his wings the dragon changed his mind. Midgardsormr couldn't blindly trust his system as long as it felt slightly numb... Quite uncontrollable. Looking at the floor to avoid the pretty view, he went to the spring. Somehow clumsy, he hopped into the steaming bath – nevertheless not splashing a single drop.
It was a wonderful feeling... His vessel was so tiny, that he was able dive in the water... Something, that grown-up dragons couldn't enjoy... For a short moment, he sank to the floor with closed lids. Inhaled just a modicum of the hot liquid through the nostrils. Prickling, it ran down his windpipe – a pleasant sensation for someone who could breath fire. It allowed him to relax for a moment from his inner strain... Then, he swam back to the surface.
The father of dragon-kind sat down next to Cecilia; on a shallow spot so the water wouldn't cover his shoulder-blades. There, he stared straight into the distance instead of looking to the right side... where she was. He felt nervous to be like this in her near... Not directly after that... happening between her and Augustine... Their moment was less and less burdening his thoughts...
Mostly, the effect of the maiden's skin and scales on him was unsettling... And even more... She was so close to the dragon, that the water-steam couldn't overlay her scent. His sensitive nose recognized her aroma. Plus... her slender tail lay next to him in the liquid; almost touching his own. He doubted that this was a coincidence, since his corpus sat higher than she did...
A fingertip of hers landed on his neck.
The Methuselah gasped muted, because her touch was quasi hitting a nerve in this moment.
Soft pressure which nevertheless nourished his fears. Not the paranoid anxiety – that was caused by his physical death – to be touched by mortals; not this one... But every other worry... as well as anguish he carried deep down in his mind...
Another finger contacted his skin.
Both body-parts warmer than her flesh usually was thanks to the water, they seemed to indulge in their task... Cecilia palpated via them the bare structure of his skin. And just a short instant later... all fingers of her hand joined without a warning. The tips rubbed gently the leathern skin which needed yet to develop scales. They drew slowly little circles on him.
Midgardsormr was entirely petrified. He couldn't even breathe properly. Only one organ of this pitiful corpus did still a good job... The vessel's heart. It accelerated above all the speed...
A short while later, the fingers vanished just in order to return after plunging into the hot-spring. They wandered up along his neck until his right ear was reached. There, the maiden fondled softly the long jagged auricle. Did so without a break. Water ran lethargic down from her skin because of the permanent contact. And flowed into his ear... Obtaining gooseflesh, the dragon widened his eyes – she had never before focused so much on this part of him... To her lax plus incidental caressing, he was somehow accustomed, but this...?
The Methuselah shivered as her fingers glided down. Down to his face... They ghosted unperturbed over his cheek for a moment. Massaging cautiously the darkened flesh. Afterwards, the tips went tenderly over his lower-jaw in order to reach the muzzle. His heartbeat went faster and faster...
It felt like his eyelids were ripped into peaces by shock when she touched his lips.
But... After the first second of horror... A moan not louder as the wind's whisper escaped his mouth. It was a positive contact. Not triggering any fears. No mental pain. Rather the contrary happened... It caused him to feel... pleasance. At the most when she caressed the lower-lip.
He moaned once more. Furthermore... this time significantly longer.
Midgardsormr heard her peaceful smile – the sound it made.
Embarrassed by his audible sign of weakness, he opened the snout and bit into her index-finger. Firmly, his fangs dug into her skin. To his surprise, however, she didn't even twitch under them. Instead, the free fingers brushed soothing over his face. His lids sank; he loosened the mouth's grip. Hesitantly tasting her skin as she didn't pull back. Flesh with such sweet aroma was unbelievable... Just as the fact, that his daring tongue didn't scare the maiden off...
Curious, he provoked her willpower – hoping, she wouldn't find the challenge disgusting.
The dragon tickled and licked the silky skin like a snuffling snake would do.
Cecilia laughed muted. Like a fairy; trying to bear her amusement down. She failed at this totally... He was deeply relieved she didn't thought again he would be making a bad joke. So, he let willingly go of her when she clarified to want to withdraw from him.
Her fingers dove back into the steaming soup. Then, she gently brushed with the tips of both hands over his head, back and wings. Hot waterdrops ran down his shape where she touched it – she began to wash him. To massage him. It felt so appeasing, that he calmed entirely down. His heartbeat stopped to hammer harshly against his ribcage. Instead, it pounded smoothly like a child's drum, while she caressed him softly. Unhurried; with her right hand all over his back and tail.
Breathing out like a sigh, Midgardsormr leaned his head against her body – a necessity that could not be ignored. Somewhat under the left armpit, his cheek stayed on her warm flesh. Eyes closed, for a moment he was worried, if the abrupt motion was a bad idea. If he would outreach a border... But she didn't push him away. The opposite happened.
Relief spread through his system, when Cecilia's arm framed his shape in an affectionate manner. An odd experience... considering himself. The Methuselah could not believe, how much she had meanwhile sneaked under his skin – how deep she was buried in his entire system. How glad or rather happy it made him... to be unable to refuse this maiden.
Midgardsormr was yet unable to draw a clear frontier, so he was caught in fatherly feelings and this... whatever it might be. But he knew he had lost already against the magnetic pull. He did not want to let this girl ever slip away – he would rather bite his own tail than allowing anything or anybody to steal his place in her life. And he would punish every existence who dared to take her – her bare existence – away from him. Even, if his own kind should then be blameworthy...
He raised minimal the lids, when she pressed him into her direction.
A short look at her hopeful face made him smile curbed. He grew not tired of the childish innocence she could demonstrate... Nodding, the dragon let her pick him up. Her hands were holding him so cautiously like porcelain; the sensation was pleasant as long as it lasted. Then, close to her body, Midgardsormr lay in her arms. A relaxing position for the ancient mind.
However... He wanted more than just being held like a baby... So he slipped out of the 'cradle'. Willingly gliding onto her lap, he studied quietly her surprised mien. She blushed in delicate pink... His enchanted delight because of this sweet view was audible, yet Cecilia saw no mean bantering within it... This was luck... Sharing his joy, she was nevertheless looking like an overwhelmed child in the moment he leaned the whole body on her own.
If he had been larger, it would be an embrace... She was aware of this gesture, he knew it.
Her arms surrounded him carefully while he let his head rest on her left shoulder. He blended everything else but her out from his senses. Lids completely shut. The upper part of the girl's body was so satisfying warm... Her skin under his stomach and chest a complete distraction from even the hot-spring around them... Breathing intensely out, the dragon sipped on her flesh.
"Midgardsormr..."
The maiden's voice was music plus velvet in his ears.
But that she used his full name made him shiver. He was too accustomed to the short version, wherefore already his hallucinations in the last evening placed pressure on his nerves. With that, hearing her saying the complete name for real had an effect on him he couldn't grasp...
Inhaling harshly, his eyes searched for hers. Indirect disappointment awaited him. Yet, happiness. Her lids were closed in delight; caused by their physical closeness. Pushing the strange feeling triggered by her siren-song to the side, the Methuselah caressed her stomach with the left 'hand'. The arms around his corpus twitched, but what really appealed to him were the blooming cheeks. This lush pink. Even on her lips... And the quiet moan from her mouth.
"Cecilia..." he whispered. Causing her to open the eyes.
She looked unsettled as he studied her mien. Was she ashamed of her reactions? If so, why? Because he was antique? Or a completely different species? Did she fear a dragon as old as him couldn't understand a mortal's sensations...? Perhaps he should better make her realize very soon, how unbelievable it was which magnetism bound him to her...
He could watch the Au Ra biting the right corner of her lower-lip before she asked: "Am I... awful for wanting to cuddle like this with you? As long as you can endure it?" Relaxation went through his corpus as he listened to her worry. So she was not embarrassed to admit it... "You have no idea... how glad I am to hear this." he replied softly.
She furrowed her brows: "What can be so nice about being squeezed by a stupid mortal like me? Just as if you were a stuffed animal? You have to be rather annoyed than happy. After all, I cling too much to you... Like an arctium." Laughing gently, he shook his head. "You are not such a plant. And I... welcome your openness. Every attention of yours is... good for my soul."
Midgardsormr wished to tell her, how helpless he was since a while... There was this burning, intense question as what he should label her for his heart... And his chest began to hurt whenever she was not in his near... But apart from his draconic pride to be not sentimental, her beautiful smile prevented him from ruining the moment. The truth he had at least revealed to her seemed to have more weight than he expected... It made the Raen's eyes shine more and more like stars.
Lowering his head plus gaze, the dragon kept an unspeakable relief for himself.
When he huddled his shape tightly against her body, her following words made him quiver: "It's too much to ask for, but please... Can you stay with me? Even if the Dragonwar should come to an end? Even if... Hydaelyn should no longer want you to accompany me...?" Taking a deep breath, he said something he had always tried to keep away from his consciousness: "As long as you allow me to stay by your side... I do not want to leave you. I want to see every second of your existence."
His eyes widened, when he felt a drop on his neck. It couldn't rain in this cold area... Glancing up, he watched how an obviously second tear glided over Cecilia's left cheek. A third one glistering in the crystal. "S-Sorry... I'm just... happy in a silly way. That's all." she apologized with a forced grin. Frowning, he brushed the tear from her cheek with his nose. "You have expected- no, FEARED something else." ,he noticed crestfallen while he eyeballed her severely in self-contempt, "If I was expressing my sentiments more, this would never have been the case."
Just how could she expect him to reply 'No!'... when he adored her so very much...
Her mien mirrored his frustration a little: "It's not like you have to. There's no rule forcing you to give others insight of your head. And some things are clear enough... I mean, I can't read your mind, but you must somehow feel connected when you can endure so much folderol happening in the near of a human. You even stated to trust me. One can also understand this as: You like me somehow."
What an understatement...
Pressing offended his head against her chin, he wrinkled the nostrils. "This sounds wrong... 'Like'... Pah... If I saw myself as a mere ally of yours, it would not be painful when you are not in my near... There are moments in which I detest myself for feeling this sympathy. Because you are a mortal." She held him abruptly so tight he wondered how it didn't break his wings or her arms. "Sometimes, I wish this would be easier... If I can name it: Our friendship. With all these differences between us, dragons seem to be better off without men. But... Midgard... The way you are is worth every; EVERY struggle I have with those chasms. After all... I am... holding you dearly in my heart."
Letting the words a thousand times reverberate in his brain, his head glided slowly down her neck. He didn't stop the unhurried motion until he reached the first bones of her ribcage. There, Midgardsormr could listen to the beat in her chest. A lively rhythm without any rush; telling him she spoke the truth. Realizing this had a strong impact on him... It made his 'fingers' claw desperate into the white fabric on her chest.
Inhaling her scent, the thought just escaped his mouth: "My girl..."
Both hearts pounded stronger in the very second his words had been spoken.
Cecilia calmed quickly down, but he recognized a flood of nervousness consuming his system. Uttering this troublesome phrase aloud for the first time was already a burden, yet this was nothing compared to saying it directly to the maiden... He squinted abashed his eyes.
Without a warning, the maiden lay her face on his forehead. Her lips. They softly moved on him. All his disquietude deflagrated instantly as he realized the kiss. Irritation replaced the nervousness; something like hope tried to take him over. This was a sign he had never dared to wish for...
"And my dragon." she murmured on his skin.
Immense joy filled him up.
~C~
'Mine...'
The word rang every now and then in his mind. Like a little bell...
Since they had taken this bath together in Western Coerthas' hot-spring, Midgardsormr just felt – like Cecilia tended to describe it – connected. In some way also assured of the 'noteworthiness' Estinien had mentioned in Dravania... He was, as the Azure Knight pictured it, indeed owning a piece of her affection. Now simply landing on her shoulder proofed this... She always caressed him when he was in her reach. Endearingly, above all.
While she spent the next two days rotational with Alphinaud and Haurchefant, the dragon's jealousy was less intense than he had experienced so far. Especially when she ogled the teenager. Somehow, the Methuselah tolerated this not only, but accepted it. And he found it surprisingly slowly likeable, that Alphinaud admired him since the events in Ul'dah. At least enough for allowing the boy to pat his wings. Apart from the obvious negative traits, the young scholar was a fine being.
Cecilia's handling of the Fortemps-knight did also not trouble him.
Albeit they appeared closer, he felt not unsettled amongst their interactions. Augustine's words were surely in charge for Cecilia's growing affection towards the Elezen, but meanwhile no burning envy within the dragon was directed against Haurchefant.
If the man had matched her preference... In other words, if he would be smaller...
Midgardsormr could imagine the Fortemps-son to be a good partner. This picture did not entirely please the Methuselah, but it was a possibility he could truly live with meanwhile.
Although... there was something he would find desirable... The sweetness of Cecilia being together with Augustine would match his personal preference. A pair like this could melt his rage to the point where almost no flames would remain. Even if... there was something... he wished for to happen. This thought, however, landed instantly tied up in his subconsciousness whenever it emerged. Foolishness was no characteristic he owned. Naivety especially not.
Also, the question about her future mate vanished into the periods of his slumber, because she and Erik decided in the late afternoon of the second day to help for three days out in Central Coerthas. The other Warriors stayed in Ishgard – or rather Abalathia, as they wanted to help Laniaitte out – and Alphinaud had been persuaded to work with Tataru in the tavern.
Mostly avoiding by day Camp Dragonhead, the two 'siblings' gathered materials for the stonecutters of aforesaid settlement. They did so in the Southwest of both Haurchefant's domicile as well as Whitebrim Front; the later located in the Northwest of the areal. Occasionally, the maiden got also winter-resistant apples and chopped wood for a befriended merchant from the camp. As she did this in the near of the Steps of Faith, the dragon felt nostalgic to see for a longer while the place where he began to realize her honesty... The strong wish to not kill his kind.
When dusk came, Cecilia always went fishing, while her 'brother' prepared their dinner. Every meal was a masterpiece; in spite of Erik's constant averment to have cooked nothing special. Sometimes, the Fortemps-son checked if everything was alright – he was truly worried, if his friends would not overdo their work. Midgardsormr tended to do the same, but as he was all the time with the Raen, his own concern was soothed by Cecilia's presence. Haurchefant didn't own this luxury thanks to that important position he had been given, so the Methuselah felt pity for the Elezen.
At the most, because he was granted with something, which nobody else had...
Every night since their bath, the maiden invited the dragon to share the sleeping-berth with her.
The nocturnal stops at Camp Dragonhead were no exception. And not a single time Midgardsormr refused the offer. He let the maiden hold his corpus in her arms – not minding her worry to treat him like a stuffed animal. It was indeed a little humiliating, yet he welcomed the physical closeness. Cecilia warmed his sensitive system with that naturally heat she owned, so his muscles were every morning after waking up completely relaxed. Even more... His dreams were thanks to her presence always delightful. Albeit within those, she was the little girl who he called his eighth child.
In the evening of the third day the current routine changed.
While serving dessert, Erik stated, that he planned to work tomorrow for the Observatorium. Strictly speaking: For the local protection-guard. The Marauder stated, that – if she wanted to – Cecilia could already return to Ishgard. But the maiden denied the Hyur's suggestion. She would surely find something to make herself useful in Central Coerthas; there was always a handful of tasks to undertake for adventurers. And despite the never-ending winter, this place contained many important memories she would never want to forget.
With these facts, she couldn't let Erik have all the fun alone. This was out of question. Her 'brother' smiled happily when he heard this – an unusual view. But it was admittedly just a natural reaction... These two were – in their own way – truly a pair of siblings.
Later at night, the Methuselah didn't dream of Cecilia in the usual way...
Imagined her not as his own, half-mortal offspring... Instead of this, his mind pictured the maiden the way she was; with her real age. And himself... as a dragon old enough to be a bit larger than her. Together, they walked over a field of flowers, while she wore still the short dress in white color which his subconsciousness had given her tiny version. The dawn's light perfectly suited her long, gracile legs which danced like butterflies through the blossoms. Her smile solely meant for him was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Under this wonderful view, he succumbed fast to her unobtrusive temptation.
Midgardsormr pulled her cautiously with his left wing to his chest. Holding her in his rough arms; feeling her returning the affectionateness with her tender embrace, the dragon knew that this was, what he wanted at the most... She should be completely his property; and he hers alone.
When she placed a benign kiss on his right cheek, he knew this was the certainty he yearned for. The impression was strong enough to reach in the next morning his consciousness.
Midgardsormr was dazzled by the illusion's answer to his question.
While Cecilia changed clothes, he reflected half-awake on the selfish thought his subconsciousness was normally locking away. She could not be his... own female. A tiny dragon couldn't keep anybody for itself like this. Not to mention, how pointless it would be. He didn't see her as a mate. He was addicted, indeed, but his physical longing had nothing in common with draconic need for... superior control or permanent bonding. Seeing her as 'his girl' was also rather a fatherly instinct than a matter of pride. Maybe also a sign of his jealousy, but still...
He was sure, that the reasoning of his egoism – the agony he felt since a while whenever she was not with him – would never excuse such a claiming of the maiden.
Flying to the window, he stared up to the cloudy sky. Snow fell this morning to the ground.
Would it help to lessen the weight... if he told her, how conflicted his mind was...?
~C~
Skeptical, the dragon eyeballed a troop of soldiers.
This convention was not really what he had hoped for to be Cecilia's task for today...
Hovering in the air, he watched as the group's leader thanked the young Astrologian once more; visibly happy about her decision to help. It was a bit mortifying... Of course adventurers supported this area a lot more due to their positive reputation. Thanks to the ambitious Warriors of Light and Cid Garlond, Central Coerthas had opened its heart a while ago for cooperatively travelers.
Yet, it was still not self-evident to meet those when needed.
The fight against Vishap had been indeed different. The adventurers and their companions phoned per Linkshells; eager to reach as many allies as possible. Inhabitants of this area, on the other hand, didn't have this luxury or at least just very limited. Albeit Haurchefant and also a few more important personalities maintained friendships with several good-natured souls outside of Coerthas, the ill-conceived network was nevertheless recognizable.
Cecilia followed the knights, when they went to Camp Dragonhead's gate.
There was still one man of the group missing, but they wouldn't wait much longer...
For them, nothing had more weight than their task. And even Midgardsormr understood in spite of his malicious joy, how much pressure waiting in this situation meant... Heretics had been located at Steel Vigil in the North of the settlement. Thus, Haurchefant's subordinates were ordered to ensure, that aforesaid place wouldn't fall into the hands of the 'traitors'.
It was an important spot to fight the dragons under the command of Nidhogg's second general, Svara. So, in other words, the civilians of Camp Dragonhead were dependent on this outpost. Although a little ride lay between both locations, great danger awaited the mortals in case they lost the strong-point. If the vigil fell, the next target was their home – including their lives.
The last soldier joined the group in a hurried manner.
Casting Protect on her allies, Cecilia uttered: "As we're now complete and you all got a little shield, I'll switch classes. In my eyes, it's better to attack the heretics at Steel Virgil as powerful as possible. An ambuscade would hardly work since they surely expect us, so I think attacking with full strength has much more benefits. Any objections?"
The Methuselah was surprised whenever he heard her speaking with such obvious self-confidence. Or rather, when she spoke with the charisma of a leader... The head of this troop here, however, seemed not to mind her suggestion: "We are indeed lacking far-ranged fighters today... All Archers we normally have were dislocated to reinforce the unities at Whitebrim Front... Okay. As long as you inflict more damage than we all take, your offensive skills are welcome."
Floating next to her, Midgardsormr had intended to ask, why Cecilia didn't want to heal like usual. After all, her explanation didn't completely suffice in case somebody got injured But she already changed her role in the second he drew breath. When the dragon saw again that embarrassing outfit she wore as both Blackmage and Summoner, he looked with a heated face away.
Her stable body-temperature might be a blessing, yet he was still not accustomed to the revealing, way too sexy clothes. If her black hood could just hide this maddening bra... or her very short skirt would cover at least these bikini-pants... One should guess, that taking an intimate bath with her eased his antiquatedness a bit, but the dragon noticed no change. Sleeping in her arms had also obviously changed nothing, as her terry-cloth-nightgown covered her whole shape.
A heavy sigh left his throat, before the group took off.
~C~
They neared Steel Vigil afoot.
Midgardsormr flew close to her head in the air; avoiding via the dead corner as many sharp gusts as it was like that possible. He felt bad for abusing the maiden as a shield... The weather punished him anyways for this. Sometimes, the wind would emerge with too icy magnitude, so it was nevertheless hard to bear the temperature.
Thinking about it... The cutting air became worse when they traveled nearby a... decent disturbance in the winter-landscape. Next to the road... was a large abyss. The Methuselah could not remember to have ever seen this chasm when he flew in the far away past over Coerthas.
"This place is called Witchdrop." the mage next to him murmured with slight anger in the voice.
Furrowing his brows, the old dragon asked: "I suppose this name has a good reason to exist...?" Cecilia nodded with a serious face. "That 'pretty' hole you see is where people of Central Coerthas are thrown into after inquisitors successfully convicted them for being heretics." the maiden uttered in a poisonous manner. The dragon felt for an instant the need to vomit... Such kind of judgment was disgusting... He could hardly believe, which cruelty mortals knew when it came to one another. Of course he already found their ways at time unacceptable, yet this new example of foolishness executed by humans was wearing down his stomach...
"The innocent do suffer under the heretic's action a lot, but I condemn at the most when one person has to die for the faults of another. Especially, when a heretic dares to turn a peaceful inhabitant willingly into a scapegoat." the maiden told him while her cold gaze was focused on the abyss. Being affected by her words, the dragon could only nod as a response. He had clear trouble to bear the boiling anger in his chest down.
If it had been solely his decision... he would take the maiden away from her kind. His descendants might be consumed by hatred and suffering, but if they all would exclude themselves from the war, they were probably able to recognize the similarities Cecilia shared with them. So, in other words... The Au Ra could find amongst 'pangolins' the peace that mortals weren't given her.
Dragons knew only betrayal because men had taught them the meaning of this word. His kind was not willing to sacrifice another being in order to be not punished for a crime. And while humans tended to bend the truth for their own benefit, his descendants clang to the unchangeable reality.
She would truly be better off with his grandchildren...
The dragon landed on her shoulder, when the troop reached Steel Vigil.
As Cecilia had proclaimed, the heretics were counting on knights to appear. Therefore, the foes had already given their best to ruin Dragonhead's only stronghold as much as possible. But not alone. Ice-monsters aided the sabotage – fast and focused. Through that, one of the important canons employed at the outpost was gravely damaged by Blizzard-spells.
While the mortals fought, Midgardsormr heard that Lady Iceheart had summoned these creatures. And considering their punches against the soldier's metal-shields, those pale-blue giants weren't only good in casting... However, they were controlled by the 'traitors', so presumably these beings were rather mere golems than living existences. At least he felt no souls...
The knights got the heretics only after a while down; Cecilia melted prior to this the monsters with huge fire-explosions, before she joined the men-versus-men-combat. Amongst the confrontation, nobody had to die, but this didn't mean the fight was blessed with a positive outcome.
"I swear I would kill you scumbags with my bare hands if I was allowed to!" the troop-leader said loudly while he passed the handcuffed enemies in favor of checking the canons. The Elezen seemed enraged to the bones – it was surprising, that he didn't let his anger run amok. However, the damage caused by the foes was indeed noticeable. Albeit just the mentioned canon required obviously a complete repair, the others would surely not last as long as originally planned. Cracks were visible in the whole iron; the material resembling rather glass than metal.
Shaking his head, the leader added resigned: "It can't be helped anymore... We have to fix this ruined thing." With that, he tapped slightly with his left boot against the most pitiful object; triggering a loud noise coming from the iron's largest crack. Per Linkshell, he called afterwards for a carriage, while Cecilia and the other men tried to get some information out of the enemies. Unsuccessful, sadly. The heretics remained silent like graves.
~C~
"How about this: I guard the transport and you others go ahead?"
The maiden's suggestion frustrated Midgardsormr. It was so damned cold...
But obviously, it was the only right thing to say. The arguing knights stopped straining the nerves of their head; becoming quiet as they hopefully waited for his agreement. The leader, nevertheless, asked politely: "Is this truly okay for you, young Miss? These two Chocobos are surely strong birds, yet even they will take a while to pull the canon back to Camp Dragonhead."
Cecilia smiled gently. "It's okay, really. I want to help you guys, after all. Just look at our captives – you must throw them soon into a prison or else they will be Popsicles on these two horses. … Honestly, when other tasks still await you at home, this unplanned heavy-object-transport should rather be overlooked by me than you. I can handle this, trust me." she explained self-confident.
The knights seemed happy, but the dragon wasn't glad at all.
Glancing at the vehicle, he was surprised the wooden toy could actually stand the canon's weight... A barrow of a carriage... If the two 'ostriches' would pull too much, these big creatures were surely able to tear the vehicle apart...
Still occupying her shoulder, the Methuselah watched as the soldiers mounted the armored horses they had called via little pipes. The Raen, too, took a seat – next to the silent carter. It was an older, rawboned Hyur whose hair turned grey on the sides; probably he was not very talkative thanks to the cold. His greeting seemed very forced through the clacking teeth. Midgardsormr could just sympathize with this sign of feeling chilly...
His sympathy counted for other aspects of the unknown man, too. It must be an indigent person... The Hyur was covered by a cheap, long coat in brown color as well as worn trousers plus old boots. He sat on a big blanket that looked like poorest fabric had been used to weave it. Yet, he seemed not to be somebody who complained about his fortune, since his eyes demonstrated still kindness.
It was odd to realize, that the dragon slowly started to like humankind again...
Thanks to the heavy canon, the adventurer and carter were the last persons to leave the vigil.
The Chocobos couldn't keep up with the fast horses, so the knights and their convicts quickly vanished from the field of vision. Albeit the weather was partly the reason for this… The snowfall became worse. It turned into a slight winter-storm.
Wrinkling his nostrils, the dragon huddled against the maiden's neck.
"Too cold for you, hm?" she asked compassionate and caressed his back.
He really wondered, how she could stand the temperature always so carefree. Especially with this... experiment of an outfit. Without hood, boots, gloves, skirt and this somewhat-of-a-fine-pantyhose, she would wear practically just a bikini. Still, her body created so much heat, that her bare presence acted like an oven. Above all, his perplexity about this trait vanished slowly the more time he spent with her. A fortiori he could enjoy simply staying with Cecilia, the less he questioned her odds. Every queerness, to be straight. He was meanwhile completely accustomed to the maiden.
Pressing his head into her hair, he noticed only marginal, how the peaks of highest buildings in Camp Dragonhead appeared slowly on the horizon. The snow was falling right into their faces thanks to the sharp wind, yet it was not for the frozen water that his eyes had trouble to do their job. They could anyhow function properly if he would just focus on them... But his mind got distracted by the pretty face next to him. The beauty answered now and then the silent call of his gaze; rewarding the dragon with a lovely smile when her attention lay solely on him.
As her irises concentrated for a longer moment on Midgardsormr, he leaned his face closer to hers. The snout contacting her cheek, he deeply inhaled the Raen's scent. A soft kiss breathed on her skin. Cecilia blushed visibly under his gesture in clear embarrassment. Nevertheless, she didn't flinch in the moment he once more kissed her flesh.
"Just like a dad..." she murmured gently. This mention appealed to him because of these dreams about her little doppelganger. Actually, he would experience strong joy to be called 'dad' by her... Nonetheless there was... something deep inside of him, that rejected the chains of fatherhood.
And this something made him wander to her lips...
His nose brushed tenderly over the rosy skin.
Cecilia's eyes widened; the heart in her chest pounded louder. He wondered, if the carter heard it... "Midgardsormr...?" she whispered with darker cheeks. As she spoke, he stared lost in thoughts at these petals right before him. They glistered; were damp... Her soft voice was like warm honey; more than he had ever caught when she spoke to Alphinaud or Haurchefant... The maiden's breath beclouded his mind with its sweet aroma of peaches as she exhaled...
He leaned closer...
Sudden impact of aggressive magic interrupted the moment.
Midgardsormr clawed reflexive into the maiden's 'clothing' while both of them as well as the Hyur gave sounds of displeasure. Those Chocobos were louder – screaming in agony as the heavy-loaded carriage was pushed from the street. Next to the Witchdrop, carter's vehicle came to a still-stand; everyone affected by the assault. Its quake had even damaged the dragon on Cecilia's shoulder. Such intense power paralyzed his nerves; they hurt despite slight numbness. His little vessel wasn't resistant enough to endure greater forces like magic or unnatural shakes.
In his paralysis, he noticed still how the Hyur looked panic-fueled around. The man was helpless; innocent thanks to his carrier... Cecilia, on the other hand, found as a skilled adventurer the cause for their bad situation instantly. But while she reached out for her mage-scepter, the motion's tempo was too slow – she had also taken graver damage by the strong shock-wave.
At lightning-speed, the enemy used this obvious chance.
The heretic with four monsters in tow fired instantly another attack at the transport. An explosion – large and powerful enough to throw the carriage over the edge. All of them tumbled into the abyss; the two humans and both birds, that canon and the old dragon. But Midgardsormr couldn't behold this happening anymore with a clear vision. The concussion was too intense for his tiny corpus. While gravity forced them into the chasm, he lost track of simply everything.
Cold darkness surrounded him as he fell down...
~C~
'Argh...' was the first sound his mind gave.
The dragon came slowly back to senses; greeted by cold snow underneath his body.
He had no idea, how much time must have passed meanwhile... There was still the storm's howling, though it didn't reach him here, in the Witchdrop. But hours flew quickly by, in the worst case – after all, the troop had left Camp Dragonhead this morning. Of course he could tell it was daytime, yet the grey light was minimized to an extent where bating the eyes didn't help. Growling, Midgardsormr needed to fully open the lids for obtaining a nevertheless diffuse view.
Aforesaid ones widened, certainly, when he noticed his situation.
He lay between wooden splinters; small as well as big ones. Large enough to pierce his wings or little enough to turn him into a reversed hedgehog. Slowly sitting up, his corpus protested against the movement. However, he was still lucky to be only minimal injured. The wounds were naturally ripped open wherefore they bled a little, but no bone seemed to be broken. Indeed... Being a dragon was a blessing – even when one had yet not developed scales and suffered under frost.
Clumsily, the Methuselah raised his shaking body.
Gazing around with a blurry vision, the first thing he saw was a corpse.
The carter was dead. His legs and partly the lower part of the main-corpus had been crushed; bruised by the iron canon. It had probably killed the man in the second they hit the floor together, albeit the man's age was probably reason enough to rather not survive the fall. Strangely, the Hyur had a peaceful facial expression with closed eyes... As if he had no regrets...
Just like their owner, the two Chocobos lay on the ground. Near to the carter, they had been spared by their heavy transport-object, but in lieu of that were killed by massive carriage-leftovers. Looking at them, the dragon gulped muted... It was ironic luck to have crashed into the abyss – considering their injuries. They would normally have attracted carnivores such as snow-wolves in the meantime as they bled a lot... The red liquid already discolored their plumage, so it appeared mostly orange-red than ordinary yellow.
Abruptly, the meaning of tumbling into the Witchdrop reached his brain.
Realizing every single death, sudden anxiety gripped Midgardsormr's heart. It made him experience ice-cold fear; flooding his system with panic he had never before carried in his consciousness. Where was the maiden...? What did happen to her...?!
Walking tremulous around – still weakened by the impact – it took a moment to find her.
She lay on her back as if somebody had placed her carefully into the snow. Right between splinters and two of the vehicle's wheels. By a hairbreadth spared from death. Just like for Midgardsormr, some kind of guardian-angel must have shown more mercy than for the other three beings...
But appearances were deceiving.
Cecilia looked like a sleeping beauty, yet the Methuselah's overhasty relief vanished instantly when he noticed her faint heartbeat. Touching her face with a quivering 'hand', her normally warm skin was nearly cold as snow. Her petal-lips purple with a tendency to blue. Widening his eyes in horror, he understood, that she could die on him in the cold if he didn't do anything.
Anything...? He couldn't do the most necessary measure! Pulling her out of this chasm was some kind of interference that his state as a watcher didn't allow at all! But if he didn't help the maiden, everything was over for her...! There must be somebody who rescued this valuable child...!
Panicking, the dragon tried to fly out of the Witchdrop.
His strength could hardly keep him in the air; the weakened wings carried his hilarious tiny corpus only cumbersome over the abyss. In the distance, he saw apparitional a knight on a horse amongst the snow-storm who rode into the camp's direction. Not caring for consequences, the dragon called – screaming for help as loud as he could.
But his lungs couldn't drown out the noise of the sharp wind. They were above all soon defeated by the silencing effect which falling snow had. The cold participated in the misery; weakened his body until the wings couldn't endure his weight anymore and his heart obtained not enough oxygen.
He tumbled back into the chasm.
Panting, Midgardsormr landed via a handful of reserves save on the icy ground. Albeit it was good to not again lose consciousness, he felt unspeakable powerless in his current disguise... If he could, his own antiquated decisions would instantly end in a trashcan in favor of the Raen. Getting her out of the Witchdrop was all he could think of; no aftermath mattered.
But in the end, he had not yet accumulated enough energy to make this pitiful body larger. Switching to a height similar to ordinary dragons was for now an option he didn't have. Mostly, because his true strength lay inaccessible in the corpse resting on that damned shipwreck.
If Mor Dhona would just be a little bit closer...
Shaking his head in desperation, he knew all wishful thinking didn't help.
He crawled back to the unconscious girl. Her face under his 'hand' seemed to be now even colder – breath and heartbeat so faint he could almost not hear them. His 'fingers' went down to her neck. The shell-white scales felt brittle under his touch; the normally strange, welcoming heat of her skin not even here anymore. He was afraid, the inner injuries might be more grave than he had expected. If her organs were damaged... she could die only because of the bleeding inside of her body.
The open wounds he could see weren't drastic, but there were dark stains on her flesh...
Blood, blood, blood...
The simple scent of the red liquid in the air let his mind run amok; the images in his head accelerated his heart's frequency. Dragons drank their prey sometimes dry just as mortal creatures consumed water, so he knew very clearly what those injuries did to such soft shapes.
Hoping for anything helpful, he looked anxiously around. The Methuselah noticed carter's cheap, yet thick blanket amongst the destroyed carriage. If he could bring that ownerless object to her, perhaps it would shield the maiden from the frost... Buy him a little bit more time...
He flew despite his body's achiness over to the wooden fragments and tried to pull the fabric out. But helpless as the dragon was right now, he couldn't even retrieve it from the heavy leftovers. Although a mortal child might have the physical strength to do so, his baby-corpus couldn't muster the needed power. Especially not in the icy environment which restricted his muscles.
Beaten, he returned to the maiden's side.
Only now he noticed something in the snow next to her... It was the linkpearl which she often used to stay in contact with her Warrior-friends and other allies... Picking it up, just a short glance was all he needed to understand that this thing would never again do its job. Angrily for a short moment, the dragon threw the pearl away. Wherever it might have landed, the sound resembled shattering...
This tune brought him back to his sorrow; let him touch the Au Ra again.
She was so terribly cold... It made him realize, that there was nothing left for him to save Cecilia... Quivering, his face manifested visibly the expression of a true toddler in deepest desperation. Then, Midgardsormr broke down in tears; cried a river. His nose buried in the cove of her neck.
He couldn't take it...
Everything happening so far had been for nothing.
All positive as well as negative thoughts towards mortals he had developed on this journey were already in vain... Only to imagine this: With time passing by, perhaps he would even have found a way to accept Erik as long as Cecilia was just there... As long as she was by the Methuselah's side. But that was now not more than a picture in his brain; becoming grey and blurry.
It was only a matter of minutes to lose the maiden forever...
How... Just HOW...?!
How could Hydaelyn be so cruel to torture him like this...?!
Why did the Mothercrystal manipulate him back then on the damned wreckage in the first place, when the Raen's destiny was such a wasted death...?! For what harebrained reason had the goddess sought for a proof of his loyalty, when her bait alias pawn in this 'game' was in fact not more to her than a mere SACRIFICE...?! Which meaning had a chosen child AT ALL...?!
… … …
Her grace...?
Reflecting on the Mothercrystal, it suddenly hit him like a knife. Made him leap up.
There was one remaining possibility left to protect his precious mortal from the cold claws of death. One last chance. Not through the hands of others, but by his very own strength. All he had to do was being ready to put Cecilia's life over simply everything else. Including his own existence.
Touching the maiden's chest, Midgardsormr sent a direct prayer to Her grace via the sealed gift within the chosen child as his medium – the Echo he had locked away with his own power. Concentrating with closed lids, he implored Hydaelyn to work a miracle. He knew she didn't have enough force to do so whenever somebody begged her, but this case was different. Deserved it. Because... For this wonder – favor, he was determined to give his immortality up.
If Her grace would help him to save this one chosen child, all his draconic power in this vessel as well as the corpse in Mor Dhona should belong to Hydaelyn until the very last spark would vanish. Even the remnants of his own gift... The last drops of the blessing she had once granted to him when the Crystal welcomed the dragon in this world... He was even willing to sacrifice them.
Sensing Hydaelyn's response – noticing her doubt, his voice rose muted in honesty.
"If it just sufficed to make sure Cecilia survives... I accept any shape thou bestoweth upon me. Every single pain I will maybe face in the aftermath is still worth to save her life. I do not fear death when the time comes, because I am old and have even seen now a wonder that makes me feel slowly reconnected to humankind. Just one more day by the maiden's side is all I selfishly pray for. Looketh into my heart – thou won't find a wish more pure than my longing to see her alive."
His head tilted backwards when he felt the holy will flooding his corpus.
Squinting the eyes tightly, the dragon groaned as the Crystal stripped his powers off.
A faint smile flitted over his face. "I thank thee wholeheartedly." he whispered relieved.
When light seemed to consume his bare existence, for a moment Midgardsormr lost consciousness.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Note
I'm usually not typing artist-comments when it comes to my written creations.
Due to overdoing such texts already in consideration of YouTube (remixes) and DeviantArt (drawings), I normally prefer to let my stories speak for themselves.
But I guess making an exception here would help to understand why the story will slightly change from here on.
Before I began writing this fanfic – before it even appeared in my head at all – I was slightly upset that the stories I have access to didn't seem to feature Midgardsormr. A la: Not at all. As if the character didn't play a part.
In case his name appeared, it was the most of what I could expect from the author. Otherwise, the dragon-father was practically non-existent.
In winter 2016; actually not much time before the first chapter was finished/published, I got inspired by a song to this text-mess named 'Primogenitor'. (Ironically, not the track from FFXIV's 'Before The Fall' Soundtrack.) Listening randomly to several tracks on my mobile-phone, the song 'Man's Road' by America ran in my ears.
As I tend to have an active 'head-cinema' which becomes triggered by music, if you want to describe it like that, imagines hoped through my mind that were unsorted Final Fantasy XIV ideas. The strongest impression featured Midgardsormr – walking through a snowstorm; being forced to accept a fate that proud dragons would normally never chose.
Ergo: Walking the path of humans.
This picture got stuck in my head plus grew larger until the point where I decided to write the story down.
In fact, the text was never planned to be that long or take so much time, but after the first chapter was complete, I developed more and more ideas thanks to being somebody who loves details. Also, I wanted to highlight Midgardsormr's slow change of heart considering mortals – and that even he is just a living being who disapproves things as well as yearns for sympathy/friendship/etc. like everybody else.
Anyway, the next chapter will finally feature the scene which caused this whole fanfic to exist.
Thus, the events in that text-wall are planned to act as a wearisome march for Midgardsormr – at the most mentally; but also emotional. He will be entirely out of his comfort-zone. Additional, the Methuselah has to suddenly interact with mortals who still make him uneasy, since he looks no longer like an ordinary doll/puppet/minion. Awkwardness on his point of view can be expected to one-hundred percent.
Call me cruel to throw a pitiful ancient dragon into the 'rumble' of mortal's idiocy, but I truly wish Square Enix would have given him more character-growth in Heavensward than just these little moments in which he appears within dialogues. (Albeit I am glad that he got in Stormblood at least a role considering the Omega-story.)
In conclusion – which is some kind of spoiler here, perhaps – I want to express why I chose the shape for Midgardsormr that can be finally 'seen' more or less soon.
It couldn't be a Chocobo-form, for example, since this would still give him limits which impede a journey on a mortal path. Imagine a talking Chocobo – probably same effect like a speaking doll; silly people would probably want to burn Midgardsormr instantly for heresy. And as I want him to interact with others, this eliminates every possibility apart from races who can actually talk.
But putting him into the body of a Beast-Tribe-member...? Although I love all species we have so far in the game, that would also not work. Thanks to Ishgard being a cluster of blockheads.
So, thinking about the choices left, it would appear to be a good idea to come up with something that matches the Heavensward-scenery, right?
Well, I tried the idea of an Au Ra shape. I really tried.
And the result was a clear 'Nope' in my head. It's not only that I can't bring myself to like many male Raen-/Xaela-designs. It's also about the trouble which the species itself must have in Ishgard. The Holy City was harsh to our beloved Darknight-quest-related Sidurgu Orl, so I think socializing with mortals after already losing trust into them could be troublesome for Midgardsormr when he possesses a scary/frightening body.
I simply don't think he would be able to act as tough as Sidurgu. Standing out like male Au Ra do because of their large shape plus fierce faces could truthfully not help him to feel well amongst humans. He would appear like a nervous, bumbling guy with scales to Ishgard's narrow-minded society – and that's counting for his thoughts plus behavior, too.
With that being said, how about Elezen? They live after all en masse in Coerthas, right?
Uhm, at first they are tall and already quite present. Compared to the naive, strange Warrior of Light who Midgardsormr favors at the most, he would still not seem to fit into the group with WoL Carlos the Blackmage, Alphinaud, Haurchefant and Estinien being around. Aymeric is also important even if he doesn't have much reference in the story so far.
And focusing only on the Methuselah's personal background: I doubt he would want to look like those who betrayed his kind. Probably, if he was caged into such a body, he would rather go to hell than wasting only a second in an Elezen-body.
With these aspects, I hope I don't let down or rather crush any hopes for some epic Au Ra action or smart Elezen exhibitionism. These choices would have created a more dramatic outcome no matter which one of them, but I guess I aimed on purpose for 'nothing special' in order to match rather smaller details than create an extra rift amongst the story-telling.
