Chapter five: A quest's end…..
Nate gets up only to wince as he tries to put weight on his one leg so he keeps it raised off of the ground. He begins limping towards the crystal.
Mihael gets up only to look beside him where he sees blood. He turns worriedly to Nate seeing him weakly limping towards a crystal.
A little in front of the crystal unable to touch it since there is a gap between him and the crystal.
The armored person makes it onto the pathway to the crystal as he slid down carefully to get there. He watches for a few moments before moving forward to move around to the side though neither Nate or Mihael notice as the armored person stands in the direction Nate's back is facing.
Mihael races over to Nate only to fall to his knees by Nate's head and though he is facing the direction of the armored person he doesn't notice him. He reaches over bringing Nate's head into his lap as he looks worried and scared for the other.
Nate blinks his eyes open to half way weakly and he stares at the crystal that is no longer projecting any images except any reflection that can be seen through it's own soft glow.
There is a shimmer in the crystal for a moment that causes a small sparkle to appear in Nate's eyes for a second or two.
The armoured person watches this go down as he still has his sword drawn just in case. He stands tall in pride of a mission or well quest well done.
Nate lets his eyes slip closed.
Mihael watches in sadness and slight horror hoping that this just can't be the end.
The cut pun area of the brooch that is keeping the brooch attached to Nate, by being attached to a scale or two, is weakened and finally gives up holding the brooch's weight.
The brooch falls off no longer being securely held on and it falls to the floor causing the jewel to break; as it hits the ground at the right angle to do so.
The crystal glows a touch brighter for a moment.
In that moment Nate is surrounded by light blue light as the two humans watch in surprise as Nate is being transformed.
Mihael blinks in surprise and his expression turns to surprise as this happens.
Nate is turned back to his human self with the wounds being healed by the crystal and the crystal makes sure he is dressed in his normal attire.
The crystal goes back to how it was glowing before when Nate is human once again as the light around Nate vanishes.
Mihael is now cradling Nate in his arms as best as he can do as Nate is laying on the ground other than the upper part of his body Mihael is holding. He stares in shock at the fact he is now holding a beautiful male in his arms.
The armoured person is frozen at shock at Nate's transformation.
Nate begins to awaken and blinks opening his eyes to slits for the first few blinks then he blinks opening his eyes to half way. He looks up to Mihael meeting his gaze as their eyes lock on to each other. He blinks again but keeps his eyes half open still and he smiles at Mihael.
The armoured persons sword clatters to the ground catching the attention of Mihael and Nate who turn in surprise as the armoured person drops the sword. The armoured person falls to be on the persons hands and knees lowering the persons head causing the helmet to fall off and to roll a little away.
The helmet stops rolling after only getting a little away from where it first hit the ground.
Mail looks up with slightly messy hair due to the helmet and he looks upset as well as apologetic at Near. His eyes make it look like he is so upset at himself that he could cry. "Nate... I'm... I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."
Nate sits up in surprise, Mihael moves in time to avoid a collision with his chin and Nates head, as he stares at Mail. He reaches a little out to Mail only to stop and bring his arm back to his chest.
A small spark of anger igniting in his eyes.
He turns away angry and upset as a gesture of defiance as well as rejection.
Mail blinks in sadness but he blinks letting his face fall to sadness and understanding before lowering his head slightly.
Nate turns to look to Mihael sharing a smile with him.
Laura suddenly flies over and lands between the three while staying where the three can generally see each other. She noses the broken jewel towards Mail then raises her head with a snort as she stares at Mail expectantly.
Mail realizes that this is the mother of the baby he had slaughtered. He spares a final glance to Lauran before lowering his head in acceptance of whatever punishment he will receive.
Lauran leans down and using some of her magic mixed with some of the magic from the crystal that she gets from it to do this, she breathes a small bit of flame to go around and on Mail.
Nate and Mihael watch to see what will happen as Mail is not screaming as he would if he were burning.
Mails body glows and his size begins to shrink until the flames die out along with the glow. He raises his head with a dragon chirp now as a child dragon that looks like the one he murdered if the child had been male and his jewel as well as eyes are the same shade of green from his former human self's eyes.
It's obvious that Lauran has changed Mail from human to a child dragon, the same age as the one he slaughtered, to take the place of the one he killed.
Lauran moves around only to lower her head picking Mail up by the scruff then she begins to head away. She stops by the helmet only to use one of her front paws to knock it hard enough to fall down to the bottom of the inside of the mountain.
If you fell down there you would most definitely die and the way to go down there is to walk off the path to the crystal or the ground the crystal is on.
She then continues a few more steps before spreading her wings taking off.
Mihael turns to Nate. "Come. We should get going." He says as Nate turns to him. "But can I ask who that was?"
"An old love interest. Before I was turned into a dragon I held affection for him." Nate tells Mihael. "I turned into a dragon after I put on the brooch he gave me which must have been from a dragon possibly a child. However after I was turned into a dragon he found me and attacked thinking that I was a dragon who killed me or eaten me or something. That dragon that took him away could have been the mother so she wanted Mail to suffer after he probably killed her child so now he's lost the one he loves and he now must spend the rest of his life as a dragon. He didn't love me enough to realize what had truly happened or see that it was me until I was transformed back."
"Ah." Mihael nods. "Alright. Well then let's go. I'm sure he won't be needing his horse now. So we can use it."
"You'll take me home?" Nate asks.
Mihael nods with a smile.
"Then will you stay with me?" Nate asks.
Mihael blinks in surprise. "You want me to stay with you?"
Nate nods then places a gentle kiss to Mihael's cheek. "Yes. Unlike Mail you didn't try to attack me or anything. You decided to help me out all the way to the end. That's why I'm hoping you'll stay with me."
Mihael blushes then smiles. "Sounds good." He accepts.
This makes Nate smile.
The two get up and glance to the great dragon council.
The great dragon council turn away and head into the shadows behind them seeming content with how things played out.
Mihael takes the lead and soon they are climbing up the way that they slid down from though now Nate will never be a dragon again instead being able to live as a human once more.
Nate's foot slips almost making him fall but Mihael reacts quickly and grabs Nates arm since they are almost side by side.
"You ok?" Mihael asks with his eyes on Nate.
Nate nods looking at Mihael. "Yes. Thank you." He gets a good grip again to continue.
Mihael lets go of Nate and they turn back to what they are doing as they continue to climb.
Once they reach the top they stand there and look at the horizon as the sun is almost set.
"It's supposed to be a full moon today. That'll at least help with the lighting." Nate says.
Mihael nods. "Yes. It will." He says in agreement.
The two begin moving once again as they head down the mountain; they first climb down by using the spiral path but when they realize that'll take too long they carefully climb down like how they climbed up.
Once they reach the bottom it's almost dark so they look around for Mails horse heading to the area they saw it.
"Oh yeah isn't Mail a member of the guards?" Mihael asks.
"Mhm." Nate nods. "Well he was. He's now off to live as a dragon."
"So you live in the city?" Mihael asks.
"Yes I do." Nate confirms.
"Ok." Mihael says not bothered by it.
They find the horse and approach it.
Nate moves forward only to raise a hand to pet the horse. "Hello Cloud." He greets the horse.
Cloud snorts in greeting.
"Cloud?" Mihael raises an eye brow.
"Apparently it's a character from Final fantasy." Nate explains. "Mail did enjoy video games when he had the time to play them."
"Ah." Mihael nods.
Nate turns to Mihael. "Have you ever ridden a horse before?" He asks.
"A few times in a controlled environment. My father would teach me to ride when we had some free time when neither of us had work to do and when he could catch me before I snuck off to check out the magic book." Mihael lets him know.
"Ok. I'll get us there then. Climb on behind me." Nate gets up and grabs the reigns.
Mihael moves and carefully moves to get on behind Nate. He settles in as Nate moves forward to allow this as they squish together on the saddle as best as they can. He places his hands on Nate's shoulders.
"Let's go Cloud." Nate says and gently taps Cloud's sides with his heels making sure it's hard enough to get Cloud going.
Cloud gets moving and Nate pulls the reigns getting him to turn around only to start galloping off in the direction they came to head home.