The journey seemed to drag the days as if time itself hesitated to follow.
Yvaine walked forward, her cloak swaying with the weight of the magic she supported. The cloaking barrier that hid Aries required a continuous divine effort. Even for a goddess, it was not a light task.
"Is everything all right, Yvaine?" Cale asked, keeping the pace by her side. His voice sounded low, so as not to awaken the beast that was marching a few dozen meters back, between the closed cups.
"Just tired. I need to keep the external perception sideways... make it seem that we are alone. Aries' body emits a too intense draconic pressure" she replied, without taking her eyes from the forest trail ahead.
"And yet we are drawing attention. Gazes follow us." Mikhal twisted his fist, making the breeze cool around the group "There are too many predators here, and none of them natural."
Linus walked between Cale and Mikhal, pressed his coat against his chest, being the perfect keeper for the egg, with such zeal as to hold the secret of the world. He looked up at the forest, still far away, which seemed to murmur under the wind.
Cale, who walked with slow steps, pale face marked by traces of fever. Despite the weak body, his eyes kept the same shade of intense purple, attentive to the dragon just behind.
Aries moved slowly, like an animal guided by smells, sensations and the unique presence of its master. His every step left deep marks on the ground. But unlike before, he did not roar. He only breathed -- heavy, vigilant, feral.
"Will he hold out until the forest?" Cale asked low.
"As long as you stay close, my lord. The bond still anchors him. But if he moves away for too long, he can act on instinct again" said Yvaine with an exhausted sigh.
The group crossed a shallow field before reaching the edge of new vegetation. The transition was almost imperceptible to vision, but the air changed abruptly. The smell of old flowers, moist wood and sleeping breeze took over the senses. Time seemed to slow down.
"We're close." Yvaine stopped and leaned against a purple trunk tree, breathing deeply "The natural barrier of Belice begins here."
"It seems... quieter." Linus whispered. "But, sir... who is Belice?"
Cale looked at the human boy and then tilted his head thoughtfully. How could he explain this to a human boy?
"Belice is one of the thirteen higher gods who rule the world. Your divine throne is turned to dreams" Tighting Linus' hand, Cale smiled singing "If you have good dreams, it's because Belice is looking for you."
The little boy's eyes widened in wonder. Cale came to feel a bitter taste in his mouth for speaking well of one of the thirteen, but could not be hypocritical. Belice was said to be a mysterious but charming goddess. The children of his village were the ones who most recounted their stories.
Perhaps when humans reached adulthood, they would stop dreaming.
"But why does Lord Dragon need to go see her? He needs to sleep to get back to normal?"
The three laughed at the innocent question of the human. Cale looked at the dragon again, and sighed low. But it was Mikhal who answered.
"Belice's territory is a forest that sleeps and dreams at the same time" murmured Mikhal. "If Belice is even here, time may work differently. We need to be careful with our own thoughts."
"Unfortunately we will have to take another route" Yvaine commented "I feel a strange energy around here. It's better to avoid problems."
Before reaching Belice's forest, the group was forced to bypass the reliefs of an old trade route. Ahead, they saw the delicate towers of the Vaelen's city, with their blue-emerald domes and flowery pillars that rose like golden spirals to the sky.
The city, usually known for the ethereal silence of its wind chimes and traveling musicians, was now steeped in reconstruction. Part of the walls were broken. Magic glass roofs criss-crossed alleys like shrapnel, and several guards carried torn flags instead of spears. The smell of smoke still hovering.
"Was attacked recently..." Mikhal murmured, seeing residents collecting rubble with bare hands. Some wept silently, others just crawled away, as if they had lost something more than a home. "I think you brought us to the trouble, Yvaine."
Yvaine walked forward with her hands raised in caution. A local priestess approached, exhausted, with deep eyes.
"We have no shelter for visitors. Go back where you came from."
"We didn't come for shelter" said Yvaine kindly. "What happened here?"
The woman narrowed her eyes without seeming convinced, but the presence of Yvaine was divine, and it did not take long to be recognized by the woman. The relief that blew in his countenance seemed to remove any alarm from his expression.
"Thanks to Keonna, the help arrived... Forgive me, we have just suffered an attack coming from mercenaries. Usually they stay away from the city to rob tourists, but for some reason they have invaded our houses and shops in search of pilgrims."
Linus had a shock and hid behind Cale timidly. The boy's reaction did not go unnoticed by Cale, who observed him silently and coldly. Then he looked around, trying to stay composed.
"That's strange. Why would they come after pilgrims..."
"I don't recommend that you stay here. If you reach the goddess's arms, please tell her we need help urgently. All communication channels have been cut off and we are practically exiled."
The dragon, who until then was quiet among the trees outside the city, released a gutural growl that reverberated through the broken buildings. The ground shook.
"My lord!!" Yvaine called, but it was late.
Aries took a step, his eyes fixed on Linus with growing restlessness. Yvaine's divine aura of restraint failed for a moment, and only that instant was enough for the villagers to run in panic, believing that a new threat had arrived.
The master raised his tired purple eyes. He pulled Linus further behind him and then glared at the dragon.
"Sit down."
The dragon hesitated, the bright green eyes fixed on Cale. There was a moment of tension where any wrong move would mean destruction. Moving his hand, Cale hoisted the dragon's muzzle, which calmed down and allowed Yvaine to continue to cover his presence.
"We'd better leave now" Mikhal held Linus and looked around "Or they'll start treating us like invaders—"
A huge dragon came resting near them. The strong wind of its wings almost throw the others away. Cale covered his own face, being lucky that Yvaine created a small barrier to protect them.
The figure was as big as Aries, with golden and opaque scales that referred to theiodesmos. This second dragon landed with elegant brutality. The wings flashed like thunder, throwing dust and leaves into the skies. The immense paws stuck themselves on the ground of the destroyed city, cracking the stones under their weight.
Its scales did not have the same brightness as those of Aries. They were an opaque gold, aged gold. Yet their presence was even more imposing.
"Ah, great. Another dragon" Cale murmured grumpy "If someone else has a dragon, can bring. Let's all destroy the forest with these big boys in a dance of joy."
The newly arrived dragon bowed his head, eyes of amber watching Aries coldly. A low sound, a sort of muffled and harsh roar echoed from his throat. A provocation.
"Something tells me that this is not a dance of joy" muttered Mikhal, watching the curious interaction.
Immediately Aries raised his head, roaring high and angry, advancing devastating the trees around in a gale. His wings flashed once, throwing him forward like a golden ray towards the intruder.
"No!!" shouted Yvaine.
She raised her arms, invoking a barrier of light between the two dragons, but the fury of Aries broke it like glass. Fragments of divine energy burst through the air, causing Cale to stumble and fall on his knees.
Cale stuck his fingers in the chest, where the bond was burning, the divine presence of Yvaine stabbing him together. It was like trying to hold a thunder with bare hands. His body sweated and writhed, with Linus holding him and Mikhal looking after Yvaine.
"ARIES! HEAR MY VOICE!" he yelled, but the roar of anger covered the call.
The second dragon did not move. He just fixed his paws and stuck his gaze on the theiodesmos, bearing the impact of the attack without retaliating. Just observing, as if analyzing.
Yvaine stood in front of Linus, protecting him with her own body. Cale staggered until approaching Aries, and in a last effort, touched his paw, letting his energy flow through the bond.
"Enough... it's over. Look at me, little dragon. Look..."
Aries' breathing began to slow down. The wings lowered. The tension in his muscles slowly subsided, until he finally stopped.
The second dragon moved, and a golden light ran through his body. Scales dissolved in shiny dust. Wings recollected in hot steam. And there, standing among the ruins of Vaelen, appeared a tall man with brown skin, golden eyes and braided hair that touched his shoulders.
His eyes stared at Aries calmly.
"No more scandal, pup."