Hey, everyone! I'm back with another chapter, and a lot of you have probably been waiting for this chapter in particular. This chapter, or at least the original idea for it DID actually get split in two, as trying to cram all of my plans for it into one chapter would've made it way longer (and more importantly, would've massively delayed it.) More on that later. Anyways, as always: Huge thanks to everyone who has left a review, favorited, or followed this story!
Idunn's mind was cluttered with all sorts of imagined scenarios as she thought over what might happen when she revealed the truth to Eliwood and Ninian. Clenching her dragonstone, still concealed in the sleeve of her purple dress, Idunn felt herself calm down as she ran her fingers over the marred surface of the gem.
'Just keep moving forward. There's no turning back now.'
That's what Idunn told herself as she put one foot forward and then the next, repeating this action over and over as she drew further away from her bedroom and grew closer to her destination; the royal family's private chambers.
She hoped that Roy would have the sense to bring Eliwood and Ninian to the same location, though considering how poor Ninian's health was it was unlikely that she was anywhere other than her and Eliwood's bedroom.
Ninian…
One way or another, Idunn hoped to have a decisive answer from the marchioness to fill in the gaps in her information. The best case scenario right now was that with the marchioness's information, Idunn would be able to use her draconic powers to heal her completely. The worst case scenario was that Ninian was as in the dark regarding her failing health as Idunn was, and even then the revelation that she was not the only dragon at Pherae would still likely be reasonable enough for Idunn to continue transferring her quintessence to her on a regular basis; a stopgap method that was, if nothing else, a way of prolonging her life indefinitely, though it was far from an ideal situation.
Haste and urgency sped her along as she traversed the castle, and in only a few minutes time she was approaching the doors to the royal family's private chambers.
Idunn stopped in her tracks as the familiar form of Lady Eleanora abruptly exited the closed doors, the older-looking woman's eyes widening as she observed Idunn rapidly drawing nearer.
"Idunn? Oh, Heavens! I'm glad you came so quickly! My son sent me to fetch you- I was having tea with Eliwood when Roy barged into my solar! I had half a mind to scold him for such improper manners, but the look on his face… Oh, I'm getting off topic! Please, enter right away! I don't know what all this is about, but Roy just about dragged the two of us back here as fast as he could. I don't know what's going on, but if there are matters of such urgency that you must discuss with my son, he's willing to hear you out."
"Thank you, I'll… I'll head right in." Wait, was Eleanora coming too? Idunn felt more than a little uncomfortable at that idea. She liked Roy's grandmother, but for the conversation she was about to have, she still wasn't comfortable with more than the most essential people hearing the (partial) truth about her. More than that, if Eliwood and Ninian hadn't told their own son that Ninian was a dragon, what if they'd kept that secret from Eliwood's own mother as well?
Idunn entered the private chambers of the royal family, Eleanora following close behind. The lavender-haired woman felt as if her wildly-beating heart was thrumming so strongly it was shaking her entire being!
The cool, firm surface of her dragonstone, grasped in one hand and still obscured by the lengthy sleeves of her dress helped calm her nerves. It was a new feeling; she'd never felt reassured by the presence of the stone until now.
As the doors to Eliwood and Ninian's bedroom drew ever nearer, Idunn gave the stone a reassuring squeeze. It was odd how something that once symbolized her spiritual corruption was now aiding her in her quest to reshape her life as a benevolent existence.
'Maybe… Maybe it isn't odd at all. Now that I think about it, it's rather fitting. Just like me, this dragonstone isn't inherently evil. The power within may be dangerous and frightening to many, but in the end it's up to me to decide what to use that power for.' Idunn mused to herself as Eleanora brushed past her, opening up the door to Eliwood and Ninian's bedchambers and beckoning her inside.
Well, she had already found herself capable of using draconic magic to help a dragon who had clearly sided with humans; and not only that, but she was determined to find a way to use the power that had been forced upon her to save lives. If that didn't fly in the face of everything Jahn, Zephiel, and her 'creators' had wanted, she didn't know what did.
'If only there was a way to put my powers as the Demon Dragon to better use…' Her discovery regarding how to transfer her own quintessence to another being was one thing, but Idunn was still disgruntled that she hadn't yet thought of anything better to do with her primary powers beyond simply pretending they didn't exist…
Brushing those thoughts aside, Idunn strode through the doorway where Eleanora was waiting. Once inside the marquess and marchioness's bedroom, she immediately took notice that the entire royal family was present. Eliwood was standing next to the large, velvet-padded armchair that his wife was sitting in, her, a questioning but not suspicious look on his face, while Roy was seated next to Ninian, practically curled up in his mother's lap.
"Lady Idunn, whatever is the matter? Roy didn't say what it was, but it sounds like you have something of great importance to share with us."
"Er… that is…" Feeling flustered now that she had effectively put herself on the spot, Idunn felt herself floundering. Drawing in a deep breath and hoping that her frantic nerves would calm down, Idunn uttered the phrase on her mind; so simple to say yet holding so much weight to it.
"I… I believe I can cure Ninian, Lord Eliwood."
Idunn wasn't sure what kind of response she'd been expecting, but her heart sank as Eliwood's usually friendly visage turned into a scowl uncharacteristic of the man. Ninian's own face scrunched up in confusion, and the pale woman stared at Idunn with rapt attention.
Eleanora, sensing tensions rising in the room, strode past Idunn and gathered the confused-looking Roy up from where he sat next to his mother.
"Come along, Roy. Lady Idunn has important matters to discuss with your parents."
"I want to stay!"
"Now, young man. Don't fret, everything will be fine, and I'm certain you can spend time with your mother later today," Eleanora stated, forcefully but not unkindly. The former marchioness shared a look with her son and his wife; who nodded his approval to take Roy elsewhere for the time being. Once it was just Idunn, Ninian, and Eliwood left in the room, the marquess turned back to her.
"That is… if that is a joke, Lady Idunn, it is neither funny nor appreciated. If there was a cure for my wife's condition, we would have found it by now."
"I'm not joking! I… I can save her! I know I can!"
"Lady Idunn… I appreciate the enthusiasm, but Ninian's illness isn't something that can be treated by normal means."
"Peace, Eliwood, Idunn. She means no harm. But… I must admit, I am curious as to why you believe so strongly in yourself, Idunn. Forgive me, but… it has been a long time since I have dared to allow myself to hope for salvation…"
What words could she say to assuage Ninian and Eliwood's concerns? This didn't seem like a hole that words would dig her out of, and on that matter Idunn feared her own lack of confidence when speaking may only make things worse.
To that end, perhaps a demonstration was better suited for proving her point.
"L-Lady Idunn?"
"What are you doing?!"
The tall woman brushed past the shorter, red-haired man, placing the hand not holding her dragonstone on Ninian's shoulder. Ninian's eyes widened first from shock, then from bewilderment as she felt a rush of something washing over her, before…
"N-Ninian?!"
"E-Eliwood… I feel… I feel better," Ninian breathed, amazement plainly written on her face as she stood up from the chair unaided.
Then the look passed, and the amazement turned into confusion, and she turned to stare at the much taller woman.
Beside the two woman, Eliwood stared in shock as his wife's skin lost it's pallid hue, and energy seemed to fill his wife.
"Ninian… this is just like the other day! Then- Lady Idunn was responsible?"
"So, I wasn't imagining things," Ninian mused, before her red eyes sharpened, and an expression Idunn never would've imagined the other dragon capable of appeared on her face.
Wariness.
"The castle already knows you as an elder magician of formidable prowess, Miss Idunn. So… how is it that you know how to manipulate quintessence? I cannot lie, I feel better than I have in months, but… even if it means being able to stay at my husband's and son's sides, I cannot accept a life extended by the suffering of others!"
Idunn wasn't sure exactly what Ninian was referring to, as she was merely using her own quintessence as fuel to fan the embers of Ninian's own fading energy, but it sounded like there was a very dire misunderstanding brewing.
"I… I am afraid I do not understand what you are saying. I was merely imparting some of my quintessence upon you." Some being a vast understatement, but her words were no less truthful.
Ninian's eyes narrowed, and Idunn found herself on the receiving end of a rare suspicious frown from the marchioness.
"That shouldn't be possible. For a d- Er, I mean; the amount of quintessence it would require just to grant my health a temporary boon would be astronomical!"
For a human, sure; though Idunn wasn't sure how a human would even learn of ancient draconic magic in the first place. As a divine dragon, her life force eclipsed that of all other living beings, and furthermore she had been created to be an ever-full wellspring of life, so running out, or even running low on life energy simply wasn't something she had to be concerned about.
Eliwood, who had been observing the two women, had moved to stand protectively behind his wife. Though he was unarmed, the stance of his legs and the positioning of his arms made it clear that he was ready to shield his wife behind his body at a moment's notice.
Not that it would've made a difference. If Idunn had intended to harm either of them, no amount of protection would save either of them.
This conversation was quickly moving in a direction starkly opposite where Idunn wanted it to go. Why the mentioning of quintessence had provoked such a hostile response from the royal duo, she didn't know, but she clearly needed to calm them down if she was to have any hope of saving Ninian!
"Please! Be at peace, both of you! I mean neither of you any harm! I-I see that my usage of quintessence has come as a shock to both of you-"
"That is certainly one way of putting it, Lady Idunn."
"Then, if you two would like to know why I know how to use draconic magic… perhaps this will explain why." Idunn stated, drawing in a deep breath, before revealing the hand she'd had concealed in her sleeve.
As well as the precious gem clenched tightly in her fist.
Eliwood stared dumbly, not fully comprehending what he was seeing.
But Ninian…
Ninian's red eyes grew as round as saucers, and a soft gasp left her lips.
"That is- L-Lady Idunn, is that what I think it?"
Idunn swallowed nervously, and despite being taller than the other two people in the room by a noticeable margin, she suddenly felt very small as they scrutinized the dragonstone in her hand.
"Yes, it is. This is my dragonstone." Rolling the gem in her hands over, exposing the burnt, cracked surface for the Pheraen royals to see, Idunn pressed on.
"As for how I know how to manipulate quintessence… It is draconic magic, and as a true dragon, a pure-blooded dragon… it is something that comes quite naturally to me. I will admit, I do not fully understand what has weakened a dragon like Ninian so much, but I am confident that I can heal her."
The sudden, shocked intake of air must've come from Eliwood, as Ninian was still staring in disbelief at the gem in Idunn's hand.
"This… I don't… w-what?" The poor woman looked like she was going into shock, staggering backwards as Eliwood moved to support his wife, preventing her from collapsing entirely. Instead of falling down, he helped her slide back into the chair she'd been sitting in previously.
"I understand that my presence must be causing no small amount of alarm for the two of you, but please rest assured the enmity held by my kin towards mankind is not something I share. I have no intention of reviving the millennia-old feud between our kinds."
"That… that is certainly a relief to hear. But… truly? Are you truly a dragon like… like me?"
"Ninian! Are you sure telling her is wise?"
Ninian smiled softly at her husband's concern.
"I am sure of nothing, Eliwood, and all of this is still… well, I am still having trouble believing that this is truly happening, but… the proof is before my eyes. Weakened as I am, there is no doubt that I am seeing a dragonstone again. Even if it does look… rather worn… I… I believe that telling Lady Idunn the truth about myself is the right thing to do, given that she has shared with us such an important secret of hers. And I do believe that if she truly intended on bringing harm to anyone here at Pherae, she already had ample opportunity to do so."
"Worry not; as I said I have no intentions of causing harm to anyone here. And though my dragonstone is damaged, it will not impact my health at all. I believe it may prevent, or at least inhibit my ability to transform into my true draconic form, but… Pherae is a peaceful land, and I cannot see a future where such power is needed." With that done, Idunn placed the dragonstone into a pocket on her dress. Though it hung rather heavily against the fabric, it was at least not too conspicuous.
The marquess lost the edge of wariness that he'd had up till now, nodding at those words.
"Yes, that's true… Please, forgive me for my suspicions and lack of hospitality, Lady Idunn! While both Ninian and myself have our reasons to be suspicious of someone capable of wielding quintessence, I believe that I was too quick in jumping to an untrue conclusion. Yu are not the first wielder of both elder magic and quintessence Ninian and I have met, but that is a story for another time. All the same, I wish to apologize for daring to suspect you of any foul deeds. After all, were it not for your intervention, Ninian and I would've lost Roy already! As the marquess of Pherae, I humbly extend a warm welcome to you once again. Please know that you are welcome at Pherae, regardless of whether you are a human or a dragon. Though… I find myself curious; how exactly did you come to Pherae in the first place?"
Gently gripping the dragonstone in her pocket, Idunn thought over how best to respond to the marquess's question.
'There's still a lot that I don't want to tell them. A lot that I can't tell them. But… I suppose giving a vague answer is better than no answer at all.'
With that in mind, Idunn began to speak.
"I… I was asleep for a very, very long time. It was not until recently that I woke up. It was not by intention that I came to Pherae, merely good fortune. The same good fortune that guided me to Roy in his time of need."
'I do feel bad about having to obscure the truth from such kind people, but it's not as if what I said was a lie... After all, I've only been awake for less than a decade. Compared to 1000 years sealed away, it's only been a short while since I was unsealed...'
"I suppose it's not important to question how you came to Pherae, not when you've done nothing but good for us. I-I… if I'd had to bury my child… I d-don't think I would be able to go on living…"
Turning her head to look back at the marchioness, Idunn could see that there was nothing but inviting warmth on Ninian's face.
"I am eternally grateful towards you, Lady Idunn. You saved my child's life, and for that you will always be welcome at Pherae. If only you had arrived at Pherae when I was in better health, Lady Idunn. I would have loved to have given you a tour of my favorite places within Pherae were eye in better health… It is a terrible shame to finally meet another dragon after so long, only for me to not have the strength to properly welcome you to my home… To tell the truth, even now as I repeat the words in my mind, I still am having trouble believing what is happening. But the fact that you have a dragonstone, when in this world only a handful of people even know what they are, is proof enough. That, and it explains why you are capable of wielding magic I had thought lost to this world."
Idunn still felt somewhat nervous, but with the tension in the room having been alleviated before it could turn into conflict, she felt considerably more confident then she had 10 minutes ago.
"About that… please remember my reason for coming to speak with you both today. It is my belief that with my aid, you will, well… not have to remain in such a dire condition for long."
It seemed that in the heat of the moment, with their attention being enraptured by the revelation of Idunn's true heritage, both the marquess and marchioness had indeed forgotten Idunn's purpose for coming to them this day!
Eliwood staggered back, grasping the back of Ninian's chair to keep himself upright, while an expression of shock appeared on his wife's face.
"I-I… Lady Idunn, I appreciate your kind words, but… to ask so much of you… even if it is your own quintessence you are gifting me opposed to being stolen from others, I could not possibly ask you to risk your own life just to extend mine. I am so very close to the end… and forcing you to drain your own life force just to preserve mine for a while longer would be wrong…" The words were quiet, but Idunn could tell from the shakiness of Ninian's voice that despite her words, she was daring to start hoping that the ray of hope she was experiencing was genuine.
'She's worried that I'd be expending too much of my own quintessence to keep her in a stable condition. She thinks that I would risk killing myself to save her… but I can hear her voice wavering.' Idunn thought back on the conversation she'd had with Ninian the other day. The truth was, Ninian was terrified of dying. Not because she feared death itself, but because the thought of leaving her family; leaving Roy without a mother was a concept that frightened her to her very core.
'She's trying not to show it, but now that there's even the slightest chance that she might not die so soon, her mind is starting to waver.'
"Lady Ninian, please be at peace. I have… a considerable amount of quintessence. At the very least, I have enough to keep you stable without having to risk my own wellbeing. You are already feeling better, are you not? I do not believe it will be of any trouble to me to support you like this, even for a prolonged period of time."
"Ah! T-that's right… but how? Nils… when we would share our quintessence with each other, the one giving it away would be severely weakened. But you don't even seem to be out of breath."
Both Eliwood and Ninian looked at her in no small amount of wonder.
"Er… I suppose you could say that even among dragons, I am particularly powerful… And to speak bluntly, Lady Ninian, with your health the way it is, all it takes to improve your condition like this is a portion of quintessence so small it may as well be inconsequential."
"I-I see… and please, call me Ninian. With such a revelation you have shared with us, I feel that continuing to speak formally would be a mistake. But… a-are you truly sure? C-can you really save my life?"
'Her voice is trembling again.'
"Yes, I have no doubt that I can."
For a moment, Idunn worried that she'd said the wrong thing, because Ninian's red eyes started to water and her lips quivered, and Idunn feared that the poor woman was about to burst into tears.
There was a rush of movement and then all of a sudden a pair of strong hands seized hers. Looking into Eliwood's eyes, Idunn was met with the sight of a desperate man clutching with all his might onto the lifeline that had been thrown to him.
"Idunn… I don't know what to say… But if you can truly save Ninian… I- no, all of Pherae will be in your debt!" The marquess of Pherae looked like a man possessed, and Idunn couldn't blame him. He and his wife had spent the last twelve years preparing for this outcome, believing that no force, whether divine, human, or natural in nature, could save his wife. And now, in the very last months of Ninian's life, out of nowhere, a miracle had blessed Ninian. Idunn watched on, silently observing the rulers of Pherae as the reality of the situation sank in. Eliwood moved away from her, walking over to his wife's side to clasp her slender hands in his own. By Idunn's grace and aid, Ninian had more vitality, more energy than she had in months, and her sudden surge of good health was plain to see with the naked eye.
Thanks to Idunn's quintessence transfusion, Ninian's skin had lost the deathly pale hue that had been lingering for the last few months, her eyes seemed more alert, and the woman herself simply put seemed more energetic.
The last time Idunn had transferred her quintessence to Ninian, the marchioness had remained in better health for several days before relapsing. This time, Idunn had given significantly more of her quintessence, in the hopes that the increased amount of quintessence transferred would correlate to a longer period of good health for the marchioness.
The more time she had to work on a permanent solution, the better! Idunn watched as the full gravity of her revelation sank into Eliwood and Ninian, and the cyan-haired woman clasped her husband's hands in her own, smiling up at him joyfully.
"Eliwood… I… I feel better than I have in months! I didn't think such a thing was possible, and yet… oh, t-this is a dream come true!" This time, the sight of Ninian's eyes watering did not alarm Idunn, for she knew that these were tears of joy rather than despair.
"I know, Ninian. It's a miracle! I-I truly thought that at this time I would be preparing to say my goodbyes to you, and yet… like an Angel, a savior has arrived to protect you!"
Idunn turned her head away from the marquess as he embraced his wife, trying to hide her suddenly warm cheeks from view.
'I don't think I'd call myself an Angel. But… to hear people speaking of me so highly does feel strangely good.'
"I'm glad for both of you, and that I did not arrive at Pherae too late to be of service."
"L-Lady Idunn, this goes beyond merely doing a service for Pherae-"
"I am very grateful for your kind words, but my work is not yet done. I wish to save Ninian, and not just because she is a fellow dragon like myself. The two of you welcomed me into your home, gave me a place to stay and friends to care about where before I had none… And… I do not think my heart would bare it if I allowed Roy to lose his mother without trying my very best to save you."
"Idunn… thank you…" Ninian was crying now, though even Idunn could see as the marchioness wiped at the tears that were streaming down her cheeks, that these were tears of relief rather than sorrow.
'I don't understand how Zephiel could shun mankind the way he did. The simple act of helping another person and receiving their gratitude… I do not believe I have ever known anything more satisfying!'
Despite that, Idunn knew she still had much to do. Giving Ninian a fighting chance at living didn't matter if she didn't advance past this point.
"If you don't mind me asking, Ninian, what… what happened that made you like this?"
"Pardon? What do you mean by that, Lady Idunn?"
"What I mean is… well, you are a dragon like me. Were you grievously injured at some point? I struggle to think of just what could be responsible for sapping your health away so drastically."
"I-I don't understand. The air here is like a toxin to us. Surely you know that as well?"
"It's… what?" Toxin? That was news to Idunn. Where had Ninian learned that from? No, more importantly why was the air of Elibe dangerous to Ninian but not her? The marchioness spoke as if it was a universal truth and not an opinion.
'Is there something dangerous about the air on this continent? No, that… that doesn't make sense. Jahn never once said anything about the dragonkin being in danger living in Elibe, and knowing him, he would've preferred to live as long a life as possible, if for no reason other than to lord over the humans he deemed beneath him.'
And then there was herself; Idunn had by this point been awake, unsealed, and free from the Dragon Temple for nearly eight years now, and not once had she been in anything other than perfect health.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. The air of… all Elibe is poisonous?"
"Y-yes… to dragonkin, staying here saps our life away. Surely you knew that?"
"I didn't. But… it has been a few years since I awoke, and I have never experienced any adverse effects from living on Elibe."
"What? That's… are you sure?"
Here the conversation between Idunn and Ninian reached a lull, with Eliwood watching silently. He had nothing to contribute to the conversation at this point, and was looking just as lost as his wife.
'Is the air of Elibe dangerous to the dragonkin? Jahn did say that we were greatly weakened after the Ending Winter occurred, but he never indicated that we were in any danger.' Idunn mused to herself as she pondered the marchioness's words. At most, Jahn had stated that the Ending Winter had made it impossible for the dragonkin to permanently maintain their dragon forms. At no point had he indicated in even the slightest that there were other problems the dragonkin faced in the changed environment of Elibe.
'No, regardless of the facts, whatever they are, the important thing is that I now know more about what has happened to Ninian.' Idunn reasoned. Afterall, debating the why of the matter was much less important than uncovering the how. That was a debate that could wait until later.
"I would like to speak more on that matter with you later, Ninian. But… could you please describe how long you have been living in this, er, toxic environment for?"
"O-oh, yes, of course! I-I too am confused as to why there is confusion about something that should be fundamental, but that can wait for another time. Like I said, the air of Elibe… breathing it in has been like ingesting tiny amounts of poison, very slowly, but over a very long period of time. It has been a little over twelve years since I came to Pherae with Eliwood, and before that I was… only in this world for a year beforehand."
"You were… what?"
Ninian paused, an awkward look on her face. The cyan haired woman looked back towards her husband, who gave her a comforting smile.
"Go on, Ninian. There's no need to keep the Dragon's Gate a secret from Lady Idunn. Out of everyone in the world, I'd say she alone deserves to know of it's existence."
"Very well, Eliwood. Miss Idunn has a right to know of it."
Know of what? What were the marchioness and marquess talking about?
"Roughly thirteen years ago, my brother Nils and I crossed into Elibe by way of the Dragon's Gate. The Dragon's Gate is an ancient temple on an island to the south of Lycia… and the gate itself is a portal that connects Elibe to another world.
'What? That… that's impossible!'
Evidently the look on her face matched the shock in her mind, because Ninian quickly spoke up again.
"I know it sounds unbelievable, Miss Idunn, but it is the truth. And unlike many others, I have proof that there are lands beyond Elibe on the other side of the Dragon's Gate. I lived for… many, many years in peace, far beyond the reach of anyone from Elibe. The air of that world was clean and pure, the magic in the world stronger than that of Elibe. While it wasn't strong enough to allow us dragons to maintain our true forms perpetually, it wasn't toxic to us like the air of Elibe."
Idunn's mind was whirling. Another world? If Ninian's words were to be believed; and Idunn had no reason to doubt the marchioness, dragons lived in peace and prosperity.
'That's right. Now that I think about it, I remember Jahn cursing the other tribes who refused to stand with the Fire Tribe. My own kind, the Divine Dragons… the Dragon's Gate Ninian speaks of must have been something they created, or at the very least had a hand in creating.'
It seemed that after giving Ninian a world-shattering revelation, the marchioness had responded in kind for Idunn. But as much as she wanted to spend hours and hours questioning the marchioness about the wonders of a world where dragons like them could live in peace, Idunn knew she that everyone present was better of waiting for a future date to discuss such a thing.
"Then what you are saying is that your health problems began when you left your old world, crossed the Dragon's Gate, and entered Elibe?"
"Yes, that's a simple way of putting it. Although the truth is that I was not born in that other world. I was born here in Elibe, over 1000 years ago, shortly before the Scouring began. My brother and I fled across the gate alongside many other refugees seeking to leave Elibe rather than get caught up in fighting."
'That gives me much to think about… and it also means that Ninian is much older than I previously thought. Though she's still not any where near as old as I am, she surely must have lived a fascinating life! To think, I spent 1000 years sealed away in the Dragon Temple, while during that same time Ninian was living alongside our kin!'
While fascinating, it circled back to the same problem that Idunn was trying to avoid. Namely, that while interesting, it felt like it was making her get sidetracked.
Thinking back over what Ninian had told her, there was something that stood out as being very odd.
"Lady Ninian, I must confess that I am at a loss as to why your health has suffered so much in Elibe. I hope this isn't rude of me to ask, but is there anything else that might have played a part in why your health has suffered so greatly?"
"I myself have been wondering that. Not that I doubt my lovely wife's words, but… well seeing you alive, well, and in perfect health makes me wonder if this 'sickness' doesn't effect every dragon the same. You said it yourself, Lady Idunn, that you were powerful even amongst the dragonkin." Eliwood spoke up, a thoughtful look on his face.
"I had thought it a universal truth, that staying in Elibe was akin to a slow death, but… perhaps we were too quick to flee Elibe to truly understand the changing environment." This was Ninian, the cyan-haired woman musing softly as she took Eliwood's hands in her own.
Idunn was about to speak up, before Ninian continued speaking, and Idunn cut herself off, not wanting to interrupt the marchioness.
"That being said, there is another reason my health has suffered so greatly in these last twelve years, and I have hesitated to bring it up as I did not want to dishearten you…"
"Please, if you have any other information, I implore you to share it with me. Even if it is difficult to speak about."
"Very well… When my brother and I first entered Elibe through the Dragon's Gate… our dragonstone was taken from us."
'Our dragonstone?' That statement alone was puzzling to Idunn, as she had never heard of dragons sharing a dragonstone. To use a comparison she'd already used multiple times, dragonstones were closer to one's organs, and people didn't share organs. Still, she kept quiet and allowed the marchioness to continue speaking.
"Not only that, but it took… considerable energy to cross the Dragon's Gate. When my brother and I arrived, we were forced into human form, and with the loss of our dragonstone… Well…" Ninian paused, an uncomfortable look on her face, as she looked nervously at her husband's face.
"To tell you both the truth, I never fully recovered from that incident. The only exception was when… Bramminond…"
Idunn didn't know what Ninian was speaking of, but she understood the gist of what the much shorter woman was saying. And that name… It sounded strangely familiar! Unbidden, the image of a tall, robed figure, dark magic swirling around them, popped into Idunn's head.
Shaking her head to clear the thoughts away, Idunn focused on the important facts that Ninian had given her.
"Ninian… is it true? Have you truly felt that way all this time?"
"I… I am afraid so, Eliwood. I did not want to trouble you, as there was nothing you could have done. But even after Bramminond, er… brought me back… without my dragonstone, I was never able to truly recover my strength from crossing over the gate, and then from opening it again."
'A dragon with no dragonstone? I didn't think such a thing was possible…" Idunn mused.
As she thought over what she'd just learned, she found her thoughts twisting in both worry and awe. To think that Ninian had lived all this time in such a condition…
Her own dragonstone was damaged but still very much capable of performing its current primary function: safely storing her power. But to have no dragonstone? Idunn didn't want to think of what would happen were her full power allowed to run wild with no receptacle to store it in.
'I don't know if I would've lived nearly as long had our positions been reversed…' Images flashed through her mind; Roy and Eliwood smiling brightly, welcoming her with open arms. Ninian was truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. If Idunn had been gifted a life as happy as Ninian's, she too would've fought tooth and nail to keep it.
What would happen to a dragon who lost their dragonstone? Idunn felt that Ninian's condition should've been the answer to that question, but the more she learned from Ninian, the more questions she had.
But those questions could wait till another day. One thing was clear to Idunn; that regardless of the holes in her knowledge or the uncertainties Ninian's information had revealed, the marchioness was suffering because she lacked a dragonstone.
And that was… something she could fix?
Idunn's mind whirled. She could create war dragons as effortlessly as breathing; and those empty husks possessed dragonstones ready to use.
Was the solution to saving Ninian truly that simple? Was creating a war dragon and taking it's dragonstone all she had to do to save Pherae's marchioness?
No, that didn't sound right.
For one thing, Idunn wasn't sure if just taking a dragonstone from another dragon and giving it to Ninian would've worked in the first place. A dragonstone was an extension of one's being, and Ninian's body and soul might flat out reject a dragonstone that wasn't literally meant for her.
That, and…
'I know they aren't truly alive, but… the idea of creating a war dragon with no purpose but for me to take it's dragonstone… I could not do such a thing. Not even to a war dragon.'
Idunn knew the pain of living a life meant to serve one singular purpose. It wasn't an existence she wished on anyone or anything.
Realizing that the marchioness was probably waiting for her to respond, Idunn marshalled her thoughts into a coherent sentence.
"I see. Thank you for telling me this, Ninian. But please rest assured, I am determined to see you healed completely, and I will not rest until I have found a solution!"
"Miss Idunn… That's so kind of you! But… you've already done so much for me! And this… This is quite a bit different than treating a wound from a spell or weapon. I-I don't want to send you off on a hopeless cause just for my sake…"
Idunn winced, knowing that Ninian's words were completely accurate. She could treat an injury just fine, but what Ninian suffered from- what she'd been suffering from for so long was more like an injury of the soul, rather than an injury to one's body.
But if she was able to create war dragons that had their own dragonstones… was it a stretch to assume that she couldn't also create dragonstones without also creating an accompanying war dragon?
Idunn didn't want to say anything right away on the off chance that she couldn't. The last thing she wanted to do was give Ninian false hope, especially after raising her spirits already.
"Please, my lady, I can see that you are deep in thought. Do not trouble yourself any more at our expense today. The gift you have given us is already a treasure beyond value. I-I truly thought I would have to spend today readying myself to say my final goodbyes to my dear Ninian, but with your intervention that fate has been completely averted! And though I cannot claim to know how this draconic magic of yours works, you are promising to maintain these, erm, transferences of life force, for as long as Ninian needs them?"
"That is correct." It was a little more complex than that, but Eliwood clearly understood the core concept of her quintessence manipulation.
The marquess let out a shaky breath, a slow exhale that seemed almost like a gasp, and sank back into an armchair behind him. His wife followed suit, and Idunn watched as twin looks of disbelieving joy spread across the couple's faces.
"Ninian, do you know what this means? You're going to live! You're going to be alright!"
"E-Eliwood, I…" Ninian sniffled loudly, and embraced her husband tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. Ninian could see Eliwood's shoulders shaking as he turned away from her as well. It seemed that the marchioness wasn't the only one who had been brought to tears.
Idunn herself paused, feeling moisture trickling down her face. Raising one hand to wipe away the tears that had sprung up, she contemplated the warm glow she was feeling inside herself right now.
She had never known contentment like this; the joy of being able to use her powers to spread life rather than end it.
But her task wasn't complete, not by a long shot. What Ninian and Eliwood were thanking her for was essentially keeping Ninian's health sustained purely by her constant attention and care. She wasn't about to disrupt their happiness by telling them that she hardly considered this 'alright,' after so much suffering and preparing for a fate they had long thought unavoidable, Idunn was content, for now, to allow the Marchioness and her husband a much-deserved reason to celebrate. And of course, while Idunn had no issues with aiding the marchioness in such a way, one transference of quintessence at a time, it was still far from the permanent solution she was seeking. And now, at last, she had a definitive goal to work towards. She could've pondered endlessly on the specifics of what such a situation entailed, but breaking the problem down to it's most basic level made the problem seem shockingly simple. Ninian didn't have a dragonstone, and therefore needed one. That was all there was to it, in Idunn's mind. She was confident that any other issues that arose could be dealt with through other applications of her power.
Seeing the duo before her- the red-haired human and the cyan-haired dragon sharing a tender, tearful embrace, Idunn decided it would be prudent to give the couple some privacy.
Slipping away and quietly exiting the door to the marquess and marchioness's chambers, Idunn headed for another room down the hall where she could hear Eleanora's voice, speaking in hushed, gentle tones.
It was high time that Roy and Eleanora received good news for a change. Like, Eliwood the two had been watching as Ninian's health steadily declined for so long, but no longer.
There was only one message that they needed to hear. Idunn didn't need to bother them with any unnecessary details or other facets that she hadn't quite worked out- she would reach a permanent solution for keeping Ninian healthy. Nothing would stop her from reaching that goal!
Ninian would live. His mother wasn't going to leave him. To Roy, that was the only thing that he needed to hear from Idunn.
So, the obvious thing here is that while this chapter can safely be called the 'climax' of act 1, it definitely isn't the resolution to act 1. The original idea for this chapter was that everything (Idunn revealing her nature, discussing Ninian's condition, and finding a permanent solution) would've all have occurred in this chapter. Long story short, I ended up about 5000 words in and still wasn't anywhere close to the resolution, so I figured that it was for the best to leave that out of this chapter. Otherwise it would've been hopelessly rushed, and all of you deserve better than that. The final question- how Idunn can heal Ninian- will be resolved in the next 1 to 2 chapters.
In the end, I'm not all that happy with how this chapter turned out, but it's at least a lot better than the original draft. I hope you guys enjoy it all the same. Oh, and before I forget- there will be a lot more talking between Idunn, Ninian, and Eliwood regarding Idunn's past. Idunn's very intentionally trying to gloss over it in this chapter, mostly because she wants to focus entirely on learning more about Ninian. But again, this is far from the only time Ninian and Idunn will talk about each other's true nature.
At least the progress hear fills in the pieces of the puzzle that Idunn's been lacking. Now that she knows why Ninian's health has declined, it will (in theory) be easier to fix. Well, I know what's coming next, and most of you probably know (or at least have an idea) of what solution Idunn will come up with. Eh, it's not like I'm bothering to hide it at this point.
That's all for now, aside from a few last random thoughts.
I don't play FEH, but I think Idunn's resplendent/legendary art (or whatever that alternate is called) shows her as being an interesting mix of Demon Dragon and Super Chicken... Uh, I mean 'Divine Dragon.' In theory, I guess that means if Idunn distances herself enough from her nature as the Demon Dragon, she'll eventually regain the ability to turn into a Dragon Chicken.
It's interesting thinking about what that means for this story, because it's not the direction Idunn is going. I think it's said (or at least implied) in that FEH version of her that she's trying to distance herself entirely from her past as the Demon Dragon, whereas in this story she's accepting it as a part of her (the desire to use 'bad' powers to do good, in other words.)
Lastly, Idunn's reflection near the end of the chapter, about not wanting to create a war dragon just to steal it's dragonstone was inspired by one particular support conversation from the rom hack this fic was inspired by. I think Idunn and Ein/Aine/Ain (how do you spell his name) only have one support conversation in the entire rom hack, but... it was one of my favorites.