"All right, dragon... on your feet!"
The dragon growled at Mikhal, using his tail to throw him aside. The guy was completely discarded in his attempt to move Aries. Rising from the ground, he stared angrily at the warrior.
"How can it be so grumby?! Come on, stand up!"
Again the dragon's tail threw him away. Yvaine watched that come and go silently, finishing to treat Alinys' wounds, who had already awakened.
"I should help him" Yvaine muttered.
"Don't even think about it. It'll ruin my fun." Alinys smiled from the corner, then lowering her eyes to her bandaged arm "That smells like Cale's potions."
"Yes, I took it from his bag" Yvaine looked at her when finishing the bandage "In the middle of the way he has a strong tendency to distract himself and look for medicinal herbs."
Alinys looked at her and opened a nostalgic smile. As if an old memory was a friend who brought joy into her life. Raising her purple eyes to Mikhal — who was still trying to make Aries rise up — her mind wandered into the memories of centuries ago.
"He never had aptitude for swordship, but always made a point to watch me training with our father. Our mother taught him to take care of our scratches, even to give us the same scolding when we risked in hunts for our village".
The tender smile and the way Alinys talked about childhood made Yvaine feel even more connected to her master and family. Had never been part of that moment, never seen her master act in such a way before the family, but the way Alinys told it made it seem as if she was there.
And that was too precious for her.
"Argh!! Your dragon..." Mikhal yelled angrily as he rose from the ground after his thousandth pitch "Stay there then! Call attention, enjoy and put a giant watermelon on your neck to be even more flashy!"
The dragon stopped and turned his huge head in another direction. Yvaine also hesitated and raised her head, her starry eyes turned to the path where their master had once passed.
Immediately she rose from the tree trunk, walking cautiously through the forest.
"Any problem?" Alinys asked, until she realized herself "Wait... Riteun?"
Yvaine continued to walk, having Alinys and MIkhail just behind her staring at curious. When the goddess of prophecies stretched her arms out into the darkness of the forest, a moaning and wheezing announced an arrival.
Young Linus bravely carried Cale and the egg. The little boy could barely stand, but did not refuse to release the demigod that was boiling in a sudden fever. When he saw Yvaine with outstretched arms, he went to her with his last tired steps, and the two fell into her lap.
Yvaine hugged them, with a warm warmth as she stroked the human's hair.
"You were brave, my young warrior. Thank you for bringing my master back. Rest for now."
Yvaine's long fingers passed over Linus' eyes, making him fall asleep as if by magic. Alinys approached and looked at her twin, checking his temperature.
"What the hell happened to him? Didn't you say he was just delivering the egg?"
"But they continue with the egg" Mikhal held the ebony egg and stared curiously, sensing a movement of the dragon, which finally rose "Ha! You son of a..."
Yvaine checked Cale's pulse, and then sighed low.
"I feel the energy of Riteun in my master. It seems that he has been blessed."
"What?!" Alinys widened his eyes and bent down, checking the skin of her brother for some sign of blessing "But what the hell... why him?"
"I can hear humans coming. We'd better get out" Mikhail warned, pulling a vine from a tree and wrapping it around his arm.
The threat was clear, especially when Mikhal made a knot and raised his eyes maliciously to the huge dragon.
"Mikhal... no."
He did not listen, did his best to try to tie the dragon with the vine. The dragon roared and used his huge paw to break the vine, as if it were a piece of cloth. Mikhal growled angrily and sighed going to Cale and taking him in his arms.
"Now I'm going to appeal to this dragon's instinct. Let's go."
Without waiting for the response of the other two, Mikhal ran into the forest. The huge dragon uttered a loud roar that shook the earth and trees, raising his huge body and chasing the divine being who dared to steal his master.
Yvaine sighed defeated and just took Linus in her arms before following Mikhal along with Alinys.
"Tsk, he's drawing even more attention, idiot" growled Alinys scratching his neck.
When Yvaine finally had divine energy recovered, at least enough to throw something on Aries, she was able to make his draconic presence... absent. Like a huge blanket that hid that dragon from the world. However, to accomplish such a feat, all her gathered energy was exhausted again, forcing the group to look for a place to camp.
The dragon cornered Mikhal near a river and growled at him until his master was placed on the ground. As long as Mikhal did not take a few steps back, the dragon would growl and threaten some bites.
"You're annoying, you know?! Before you were annoying, but now it's even more so, right?!" Mikhal bufou irritated "At least he's not destroying everything around, so it's a sign that he was well domesticated."
The dragon's tail pushed Mikhal into the river, almost causing him to drown.
Alinys smiled from a corner as she sat next to the twin, staring at Mikhal rising from the river.
"This will never lose its fun."
---
When the night finally spread across the sky, the group had huddled around a bonfire. Alinys took care of the twin brother and the human boy, who was now roasting fish he caught along with Mikhal. Aries, still in his dragon form and hidden by the power of Yvaine, slept wrapped in the middle of the forest.
Mikhal approached the stream and bent down to fetch some water. The cold breeze stroked his warm face, but not so much that it bothered him.
It was a somewhat troublesome peace after such a hectic day.
"I thought you would stay in Bortoise to watch the rise of Jandiana, Mikhal."
Yvaine's question caught Mikhal off guard. He raised his head slowly, and opened a soft smile masking his sudden tension.
"Ha... haha, I even thought about saying hello to Jandiana, but I don't think she's in the mood to see me."
Yvaine looked at him silently, those starry eyes reflecting the mystery that Mikhal hid perfectly. She tilted her head slightly, lowering the tone of her voice in that secret conversation.
"Your brother was there, wasn't he?"
Mikhal's shoulders became tense, and his smile suddenly seemed sadder.
"I don't know... But it is likely, he usually represents our father in events like these" murmured Mikhal, who upon noticing the look full of comfort coming from YVaine, soon tried to smile "Don't look at me that way, miss. I'm all right."
"I know how much you love your brother. I thought I would talk to him, if it wasn't for Guyel's sudden attack."
Mikhal did not answer, and just dipped the wooden bucket in the river, taking some water.
"Anyway, how's your master? His fever down?"
Now was Yvaine's turn to seem more worried. She looked towards Alinys, who finally managed to talk to Linus by teaching him how to roast a fish on the fire.
"No. The curse of cowardice is fighting against Riteun's blessing. The grace of a higher god always carries his divine aura. To my master, it is like a poison."
Mikhal touched the water to freeze more, and dipped a piece of cloth in it.
"Did the boy mention anything else?"
"Just said that my master repeated a lot about the dragon's home. I can only imagine he is referring to the cradle where Aries was born."
Mikhal twisted the cloth and approached the fire putting the cloth on Cale's forehead, which became increasingly red. It was clear the discomfort of the boy, who snorted and grumbled as if he had difficulty breathing. Surprised, he raised his eyes to the goddess.
"Place where Aries was born... that means... see Belice?"
Yvaine agreed silently, and Mikhal can only make a brief grimace. Poor Cale Arkalis.
Alinys looked up at both of them and then put her arm over her knee.
"Are you thinking of going to meet with Belice? I don't think it's a bad idea, if my opinion makes sense here."
"It would be the safest for us to find a way to bring back Aries. And also about what to do with this egg" Yvaine agreed "And you too can rest, Alinys..."
Quickly Alinys shook her head.
"I need to go home and find my parents. They still don't know about Cale's return. And considering that Riteun gave his grace to my brother... then soon Kevhorn will appear."
The mere mention of Kevhorn's name made Yvaine and Mikhal tense. The silence was palpable, with countless possibilities cursing their worried minds. Alinys recognized those looks, and shared the same feeling.
"You're right. The higher god of divine laws must come after my master, mainly because he is a fugitive from his exile. The help of master Gaspar will be welcome."
"What about you, Mikhal? Do you intend to hide and wander around as usual?"
"Tempting idea, I admit. But I am unable to leave a young lady dealing alone with an immense dragon, a fainted demigod and a little human boy."
Yvaine bowed her head, and her divine presence enveloped Mikhal in a gentle embrace. He knew, by intuition, that he should continue on the journey with them. Not to help Yvaine, or to be lost. But because it was his destiny.
Opening a frank smile, he agreed with his head.
"You don't have to use your gift that way, Yvaine. I'm a knight when a lady asks me for help."
"In that case, I am grateful to accept such an offer."
And so they spent the night camping. Cale woke up in the morning, managing to eat some fish stew and river water. But the fever did not give. At least he was able to say goodbye to his sister, and make her promise that they would see each other as soon as possible.
"I'll go home after I bring Aries back. I want to see our parents..."
"Frankly, you really are mom's baby, hm? Not even after all that you leave her apron aside."
"I think I have the right to be a crying baby for a few centuries."
Mikhal watched the brothers get along so well. Always teasing each other, but always embracing and smiling in an enviable family intimacy. Even though he watched from afar, Mikahl could only envy what he could never have, even if he wished hard.
Turning a small flower between his fingers, he faced the void silently.