The Dragon Castle:
Kai-stern sighed as he finished listening to the report that Tetheus gave to the Dragon Lord. Rath had previously given a similar report, then said he was tired. He had left quickly, giving everyone present reason to be concerned.
"Highness, I'm going to go check on Rath." Kai-stern said, as he stood up from a tall backed chair, and walked out of the room, into a wide corridor. He was surprised to see Rath standing right outside the door, his eyes looking at his hands.
"It feels… weird. Seeing everyone again." Rath said, his voice quiet.
"I guess it does, after over a month of being imprisoned by Nadil. So, why didn't you ever tell anyone about her?" Kai-stern wondered out loud, as he leaned against a pillar, and looked over at Rath.
"Long story." Was his only reply, but his hands clenched together into fist as they fell by his sides.
"I've got plenty of time."
Rath sighed, his eyes looking over to Kai-stern's friendly face. "Let's wait until the other officers, and Dragon Knights are around, okay? I don't feel like telling it twice."
"Alright, I'll wait. But… Rath? You know, I'll still be around to listen if you ever need to say something. You don't have to do everything on your own."
"Hmm, I'll keep that in mind, Kai-stern." Rath replied, as he felt the weight of his Light Dragon Amulet on his chest.
In the meeting:
"You were gone for over a week. I don't think you should immediately return to your duties, Tetheus. " Lykouleon said kindly, as his green eyes surveyed the state Tetheus was in.
"Your tired, bruised, battered, most likely nearly starved, and just in general, been through a harsh ordeal. You need rest." The Dragon Lord continued, trying to get his point across to his Black Dragon Officer.
" I know, but when it does come time for battle with the demons, I'm going to be there. Lord Lykouleon, I said before that I'd help you, so long ago when you first offered to help me. I've still yet to pay you back for saving, and sparing my life." Tetheus said, as he ran a bloody hand through his dark hair.
"How were you treated? By Shydeman and Shyrendora, I mean?" Lykouleon asked, trying to change the subject. You don't owe me a thing, Tetheus.
"It seems they weren't above attacking, but only as long as Nadil was nearby. At such times that he wasn't present, others did the duty, not them. I haven't figured them out, not yet."
Journey's road:
Entrance to Mirate Forest:
Cesia and Rune had been traveling a boring road, and the long bouts of silence weren't helping one bit. Cesia smiled when she finally saw the overgrown entrance to Mirate Forest over the next hill.
"We're almost there!" She exclaimed happily, as she ran the next few feet ahead.
Rune stayed behind, his sword out, ready to face any other demon attacks. When he saw Cesia run up, without even a warning, he scowled, and hastened his pace.
"Don't run off like that!" He said, when he finally neared her, his hand clenching his sword hilt with renewed vigor.
Cesia turned around to smile, then noticed his fierce tone, and frowned.
"Why not!? I can take care of myself, you know!"
"That may be true, but in Mirate Forest, one misguided step could mean death. The few plants that do grow here, they aren't normal. They aren't even nice. They don't like travelers, and others who have gone after their kind get choked to death! You have to be careful. Stick close, that jewel the Dragon Lord bestowed upon me will help in this winter wasteland, but it's usually only for one. So, promise you'll stay nearby!" Rune yelled, his worry for safety overriding anything else.
"Okay okay, I promise I won't run off. Now let's go in!" Cesia said, her patience thin. She then proceeded to walk into the entrance, and as her foot stepped under the arch, she let out a scream, and quickly scrambled back.
"What's the matter?" Rune asked, somewhat bemused by her reaction
"Way to COLD!"
For a moment, she stared at Rune as if he was utterly insane. He had burst out laughing when she had spoken her last word.
"What's so funny?" She demanded, as she slowly stood up.
He chuckled a bit more, then drew out the dark blue stone, and brandished it in front of her face.
"That's what this is for. To deal with the onslaught of never ending snow. Think your still prepared to go in there?" He whispered, his eyes gazing at the entrance.
"Maybe." Cesia said, trying to gulp down her fear.
Krylancelo note:
Did you like? I'm happy that some people like my story still! Thanks everyone who reviewed the last two chapters. See, I stopped neglecting Rath. Couldn't do that for long anyway, he's way too cool!
I'm happy I wrote something for this, it just took a while.
Kai-stern sighed as he finished listening to the report that Tetheus gave to the Dragon Lord. Rath had previously given a similar report, then said he was tired. He had left quickly, giving everyone present reason to be concerned.
"Highness, I'm going to go check on Rath." Kai-stern said, as he stood up from a tall backed chair, and walked out of the room, into a wide corridor. He was surprised to see Rath standing right outside the door, his eyes looking at his hands.
"It feels… weird. Seeing everyone again." Rath said, his voice quiet.
"I guess it does, after over a month of being imprisoned by Nadil. So, why didn't you ever tell anyone about her?" Kai-stern wondered out loud, as he leaned against a pillar, and looked over at Rath.
"Long story." Was his only reply, but his hands clenched together into fist as they fell by his sides.
"I've got plenty of time."
Rath sighed, his eyes looking over to Kai-stern's friendly face. "Let's wait until the other officers, and Dragon Knights are around, okay? I don't feel like telling it twice."
"Alright, I'll wait. But… Rath? You know, I'll still be around to listen if you ever need to say something. You don't have to do everything on your own."
"Hmm, I'll keep that in mind, Kai-stern." Rath replied, as he felt the weight of his Light Dragon Amulet on his chest.
In the meeting:
"You were gone for over a week. I don't think you should immediately return to your duties, Tetheus. " Lykouleon said kindly, as his green eyes surveyed the state Tetheus was in.
"Your tired, bruised, battered, most likely nearly starved, and just in general, been through a harsh ordeal. You need rest." The Dragon Lord continued, trying to get his point across to his Black Dragon Officer.
" I know, but when it does come time for battle with the demons, I'm going to be there. Lord Lykouleon, I said before that I'd help you, so long ago when you first offered to help me. I've still yet to pay you back for saving, and sparing my life." Tetheus said, as he ran a bloody hand through his dark hair.
"How were you treated? By Shydeman and Shyrendora, I mean?" Lykouleon asked, trying to change the subject. You don't owe me a thing, Tetheus.
"It seems they weren't above attacking, but only as long as Nadil was nearby. At such times that he wasn't present, others did the duty, not them. I haven't figured them out, not yet."
Journey's road:
Entrance to Mirate Forest:
Cesia and Rune had been traveling a boring road, and the long bouts of silence weren't helping one bit. Cesia smiled when she finally saw the overgrown entrance to Mirate Forest over the next hill.
"We're almost there!" She exclaimed happily, as she ran the next few feet ahead.
Rune stayed behind, his sword out, ready to face any other demon attacks. When he saw Cesia run up, without even a warning, he scowled, and hastened his pace.
"Don't run off like that!" He said, when he finally neared her, his hand clenching his sword hilt with renewed vigor.
Cesia turned around to smile, then noticed his fierce tone, and frowned.
"Why not!? I can take care of myself, you know!"
"That may be true, but in Mirate Forest, one misguided step could mean death. The few plants that do grow here, they aren't normal. They aren't even nice. They don't like travelers, and others who have gone after their kind get choked to death! You have to be careful. Stick close, that jewel the Dragon Lord bestowed upon me will help in this winter wasteland, but it's usually only for one. So, promise you'll stay nearby!" Rune yelled, his worry for safety overriding anything else.
"Okay okay, I promise I won't run off. Now let's go in!" Cesia said, her patience thin. She then proceeded to walk into the entrance, and as her foot stepped under the arch, she let out a scream, and quickly scrambled back.
"What's the matter?" Rune asked, somewhat bemused by her reaction
"Way to COLD!"
For a moment, she stared at Rune as if he was utterly insane. He had burst out laughing when she had spoken her last word.
"What's so funny?" She demanded, as she slowly stood up.
He chuckled a bit more, then drew out the dark blue stone, and brandished it in front of her face.
"That's what this is for. To deal with the onslaught of never ending snow. Think your still prepared to go in there?" He whispered, his eyes gazing at the entrance.
"Maybe." Cesia said, trying to gulp down her fear.
Krylancelo note:
Did you like? I'm happy that some people like my story still! Thanks everyone who reviewed the last two chapters. See, I stopped neglecting Rath. Couldn't do that for long anyway, he's way too cool!
I'm happy I wrote something for this, it just took a while.