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DHW

Part 9.3

Stupid decision

Allen:

It was incredible. Who would have imagined that a guy like Ace would get such a gift? Not me. I had just entered room and I discovered Ace on his bed lips sealed with the prince Ulrick and; trying to get some attention a little blue dragon nibbling at Ace's chin. I chuckled to myself. The little dragon turned his gaze in my direction. He was absolutely adorable. He chirped and walked in my direction. I showed him the hand where Kyo's bond had left its mark on my skin. The curious little dragon sniffed my hand for some time then began to rub himself against my palm; making me giggle in amusement. When I tried to touch him he reached back and bared his little fangs. I noticed his claws had traces of blood on their sharp edge. I was surprised. Had he fought already? "Look at the emperor" whispered Kyo in my head. I looked around until I found the emperor trying to wipe his face clean with a towel. He had gotten rid of the blood but the cuts and bite marks were still clearly visible. "He seems to be pretty protective over his rider." I commented. "You have no idea…" grunted the emperor, pointing a finger at the cuts covering his face.

"When did it happen?" I wonder. "¹Probably in the night…"…. But it's not what's most disturbing…" "What do you mean?" "Use your eyes you'll understand."

I was surprised by his words but did as he told me.

Ace wasn't looking at me; too busy kissing with the prince. Was this the disturbing fact mentioned by the emperor? His son kissing a servant? No… not a servant anymore… a dragon rider like me. I felt Kyle's presence by my side. "Doesn't tihs gives you ideas…" he whispers in my ears. "Hehe… only for tonight…" I answered, poking at his shoulder. "It gives me quite lewd ideas too…" whispered a very familial and lusty voice in my head. "Kyo you remember what I told you. If you don't want me to make the bond shrink you'd better keep your lust at bay" I growled mentally. Instantly Kyo shifted. "Err… sorry… just… lost my focus…" "Stay focused this time."

A second later Ace broke the kiss with the prince and turned his face into my direction. When he opened his eyes all my body tensed; my breath caught in my throat as my eyes went wide. Something had changed; something that made a primal fear flooded my senses. I had never felt so terrified, so disgusted buy something. The fact that Ace had no eyes what so ever always made me feel uncomfortable. These two milky white spheres were always disturbing for me; he couldn't see with them yet they seemed to be able to show him something that any average being couldn't see. Every time I felt these two dead orbs glaring at me I felt defenseless, weak, like all his protection, physical and mental alike couldn't protect me from these two dead eyes that seemed to be granted the ability of seeing my holy soul. Now it felt like before however now he had the eyes that fitted this sensation of being constantly observed, pierced to daylight.

I freeze in shock as the two reptilian sky blue eyes go from me to Kyle then come back to me gazing at us in an almost childish curiosity. "So… which one is Allen?" he asks, his brand new eyes literally analyzing us, registering every detail of our face. "It's me…" I answer.

"Nice… and I guess you are Kyle." he added. "Yup… nice to… meet you…" "It's really nice to see you… for the first time. However I had never imagined you would look like that…" "Neither did we imagine you'd have dragon eyes." "Yeah… I don't have a fucking clue of where it comes from." "I just told you it's a dragon's gift…" said Kyo from the room's entrance. "Could you say it again… must have missed something?" asked Ace. "Sure… I said it was the greatest gift a dragon could do to its rider." "How does it work exactly?" "Well… I don't have all the knowledges about it but I know it often happen upon bonding. The dragon becomes in some way part of his rider and vice versa. Some of the dragon's energy is given to the rider… as some kind of gift. Sometime it's to awake the magic capabilities of the rider… or like in Ace's case this energy was put to a… greater use." Kyo seemed to hesitate as he looked at me but finally added in an almost inaudible whisper. "This… gift… can also be given… much later if you want to know." As he said these words his gaze turned in my direction. "But this choice belongs to the dragon and his wise choice shouldn't be under any circumstances influenced by anyone else." "What would you change in me if you wanted to do me the same… gift…?" I wondered, a cold sweat rolling down my spine in nervousness. What could he possibly answer to that? "Oh… I… I think I would make you more… stretchy to fit myself inside you" he rumbled, arousal peaking in his line of thoughts. "Kyo… what did I said about your lust!" I mentally roared. He moved back, vanishing in the corridor. "So… what shall we do now?" I asked, observing the little dragon trying to climb on Ace's shoulder. "As a dragon rider he should be trained as the old customs says." answered the emperor with his usual seriousness. "But… father… isn't it a bit too soon… I mean his dragon is barely more than a hatchling he can't go under…" a bright ball of blue flames flew right before his eyes and ended in a wall. The ball exploded, spewing flames in all direction. The wall and floor near the point of impact instantly ignited. "Fire!" scream the closest guard from the door as a thick black smoke filled the room and flame rapidly spread out., eating through everything they met in their way. A loud bell was ringed as servant carrying large buckets of water rushed in the room. We made room for them as they rapidly took care of the fire. "Fire extinguished sir…" announced a servant with his clothes covered of ashes "It shouldn't… holy crap!" he shouted when he discovered the little dragon breathing tiny blue flames before him. "Yeah… you should stay here in case he decides to set the room on fire again…" grumbled the emperor. "Surely my emperor… I'll just go and fill the buckets again and I'll be…" his sentence was cut short when his metal bucket caught fire; blue flames pouring from inside. He quickly reacted and threw it by the wide open window. It fell in the dark hole below, leaving a black trail of smoke and blue sparks behind. "Damn this little dragon is a real threat to our lives…" "Yes…"

Another fireball missed the emperor face by nothing and vanished in the blue sky. "God damn it Ace control your dragon!" roared the emperor. "Sorry sir." apologized Ace as he managed to grab his dragon's snout and force it shut. His dragon made some adorable muffed squeaks, trying to squirm out of Ace's grasp, his wings fluttering, his small paws kicking in all direction; his tail swishing widely, whipping at everything that came in its range. "Apparently he doesn't appreciate to be interrupted during his play time." commented Kyo, laughing of the dragonet's playfulness. "Yeah… but there is play time and there are more serious time so for god's sake calm down!" shouted Ace, slapping Skye's petite mouth who tried to bite his arm.

"Try rubbing him under the chin… dragons love that." advised Kyle with a smile. I nodded in agreement. Ace looked surprised but gave our tip a try, slowly descending upon Skye's point where his chin and his neck met. The area there was very sensitive I knew it. I knew that Kyo liked it, Tarken too so Skye would be just the same.

I was proud to be right. After just a few rapid circling motions in this particular area Skye calmed down, leaned back against Ace's chest, exposing his belly to the view, purring in delight like a giant scaly cat. "So cute…" cooed Kyo. "Yes… you're right… cutter than you."

Kyo squeaks in protest, backing away with his jaws agape. I could hear Tarken's amused giggles from where I stood.

I turned my gaze to the room's entrance to see Tarken padding away under n hatred filled stare. "Oups…" winced Tarken as he ran out of view. "Come here green slut I'm gonna make you pay for that!" roared Kyo. They vanished in the corridor. The only clue we had on their locations where their stomping footsteps added to Kyo's barks.

"Well… now that almost everyone as calmed down I think we have more import matters to discuss of." said the emperor with his usual seriousness "I think it's time to decide what we shall do." "It might be a good idea." Approved Ace, cuddling his dragon, his snout resting on his shoulder, licking his neck, making him giggles amusingly. Why Kyo never did the same to me? There was something like a little size difference but I knew he could act as gently as this baby did. Well… Ace now being a dragon rider… it would be normal I think that he moved to where all the other dragons are. There he would receive better training than by staying here." said Kyle. "I agree." approved the emperor. "Do I have my word in this?" asked Ace, obviously nervous about the thing happening without him being involved in the process. "Sure… what do you think about our offer?"

………

ACe:

Were they really thinking about it? Would I have to move to this unknown but famous place they were talking about? It felt like I wasn't in the room as they were taking decisions behind my back. My grip tightened around Skye's chest, holding him tighter like a soft scaly plush. He must have felt my distress because he licked my cheek with a renewed intensity; like the roles had suddenly reversed, like I wa^; the terrified child and he the reassuring presence protecting me from danger. I liked this thought, thinking that we were protecting each other in some way. Even though he had been the only one taking my defense since we unexpectedly met.

I cleared my throat and entered the conversation. I expected my words to fall on deaf ears, not to be clearly heard and create such a long silence. All their gaze turned in my direction. Feeling all these eyes staring at me, awaiting for my lips to open and words to slip away in the wind. I couldn't stand this and lowered my eyes. Now words were missing me, like my tongue had turned into numb marshmallow and my brain had just fled away like "fuck of I'm out of here. Handle yourself alone."

"Well… I… I don't know… I'm not sure it would be a great place for Skye. I mean he is still just a hatchling… although he can already breathe fire." "Don't worry… there is a special place for hatchling there… and you'll never leave his side. And… there they'll be able to react more quickly if something catches fire for whatever reason." "Sounds great… on paper…" I whispered, terrified by the idea of leaving my only real home. "Well… father… I'm not sure it's as much a great idea as you pretend it to be." said Ulrick pensively "To my knowledge there are not that much hatchlings right now.", "I have to admit I haven't seen a lot lately." confirmed Kyo that had unexpectedly come back from whatever place he went. "Of course there are younglings… but… they are more like teens." "In fact… there was no hatching since… almost fifteen years." confirmed the prince Ulrick. "That's… a rather long time." admitted the emperor. "He might feel a bit… lonely there.” confirmed Kyo. I gasped when I realize Kyo had managed to fit his snout and a big portion of his neck in the door's frame. "You're right" mumbles the emperor, destabilized "the choice belongs to the concerned person." "So Ace… what do you chose?" ask Kyo with a gentle and kind voice; his two blue orbs staring at me like they were trying to probe the depth of my soul. I couldn't answer, words stuck in my throat. My eyes went from Kyo to his rider, to his shiny armor, to thlong sheeted sword tied to his waist. Now I could feel the power beating inside him, radiating all around him. He looked powerful, as mighty as the beast he rode, intelligent and clever and he was barely older than me. Then my eyes drifted toward Ulrick; the prince was standing next to me, warmly smiling in my direction, his eyes full of love.

"Take your time Ace… there is no need to rush it." whispered Kyo. "Well… I don't know." I sighed, looking down, my eyes crossing Skye's shiny blue eyes. He chirped happily, his tongue swiftly dashing out, loudly slurping my face. I giggle from the affectionate touch. "Take your time Ace. Take a few days to think about It." softly whispered Kyo "Take all the time you need."

He threw a quick look to Allen who nodded in agreement. "Anyway… I think we should leave now." he said with the same calm "we have other things to tend to."

Allen raised an eyebrow as did Kyle next to him. Allen opened his mouth to say something but Kyo cut it short once again. "Come on Allen… we've got to go…" he growled a bit harshly. Then his eyes turned back to us, meeting Skye's curious gaze again. A smile curled Kyo's lips as he closed the gap between them, his snout gently poking at Skye's small chest. My dragon's petite paws grasped the bulky snout, playing with the smooth scales, his claws scratching their pristine surface.

Kyo puffed warm gusts of air right in the youngling’s face, making Sky chirp happily. I smiled, observing the two dragons as they gently wrestled. Kyo gently shoving Skye back against my lap but the dragon would always come back, jumping on his snout, grabbing it with his tiny claws, nibbling at Kyo's lips or nostrils's edges. Kyo achuckled, amused by the playful childish behavior Skye was showing. A stream of tiny sky blue flames washed over his face. He froze in surprise, closing his eyes to not be blinded by the blazing fire. When he opened them again Skye was smiling in triumph, standing on all four on top of Kyo's snout. Kyo grinned, roughly shaking his body. Sky winced as he glided on the slippery scales, falling over Kyo's snout with a loud squeal. I was afraid that Skye would fall. I reached forward to grab my dragon. Skye was struggling to hold on, his wings fluttering rapidly to maintain him attached to Kyo's snout. "Calm down… he isn't gonna fall of… I'll make sure of it." purred Kyo, making a wide motion to send back Skye where he originally was. Ace observed cagey as the small dragon kept playing with the much bigger one. Kyo slightly opened his maws, breathing deep blue and black flames at Skye. We all screamed in shock as the flames enveloped Skye. My eyes widened in horror, my dragon disappearing in the blinding blazing dark blue stream of fire. "What are you doing! You're gonna melt him down!" as a reply I heard a loud amused chirp. "Doesn't seem to mind." commented Allen. He is right, I feel no pain through the bond linking us both or maybe it came from the fact that I wasn't used to it yet.

Incredibly when Kyo stops I discover Skye in perfect shape, chirping and clawing happily at Kyo's scales. "That's… incredible!" I shout, stunned. "Hmmm… tough scales…" whispered Kyo, smiling in satisfaction. "You are lucky guy Ace. Your dragon is far from being a whelp. He even seems to be… rather strong. You can be proud of him…" whispered Kyo as he let him down on my lap. I gasped as an unbearable heat starts seeping through my clothes "By all the gods he is hotter than the blacksmith's furnace!"

Kyo smiled and turned away. Skye loudly whined, reaching out with his small cute paws like he was trying to grab at Kyo but he was way too far. A loud heartbreaking cry escaped Skye's throat as he broke in tear. I held him close to my chest, cradling him slowly, trying my best to comfort him. He was squirming and sobbing between my hands, like he tried to slip away. Kyo looked back at us and then lowered his snout until it poked at Skye's back, his hot breath billowing between my dragon's small wings. Skye chirped happily, hugging the much bigger drake's snout between his tiny paws, his claws "securing" Kyo in his grip. Kyo just snorted, giving the adorable baby dragon a quick but gentle nuzzle before swiftly escaping Skye's grasp. He whined again and tried to jump on Kyo again. Kyo was much faster to react and pinned the agitated dragonet down with the tip of one of his claws. Gently he shoved Skye back on my lap. "No young one… you stay there… with your rider." he whispered softly, his claw forcing Skye to look up until our gaze meet again. After a second of hesitation the small's dragon equally matched tongue dashes out of his maws, licking my chin affectionately. I giggle and rub his head. Kyo smiles at us and look the other way again.

As they all leave I can't stop from wondering why Kyo's eyes were watering like that.

………

Allen:

We left the castle quite rapidly; too rapidly. Why was Kyo in such a hurry? When I asked him he just answered "I have important things to take care off." "Can't it wait?" "No!" he had growled defensively. I tried again by a more secured way but my mental injunction bounced against an impenetrable wall of coldness and silence. Even Kaos was trying the same but even his connection with Kyo's mind had been cut. "What is wrong with him?" I asked the demon. He just sighed "Don't know… he kicked me out of here before I could find out." "It's strange… why is he acting so weirdly?" "Dunno… and it's bothering me too..” On the balcony he bent before me in the same cold silence; waiting for me to climb on his back in order to leave. I had barely sat on the saddle that he had already risen into the sky at the speed of a bullet, wind whipping my face as he climbed higher and higher above the city. I held to one of his spikes, fearing that I might fall from his back. His pitch angle was so important that I was wondering how he could even fly like that. We kept climbing until the citzywas nothing more than a tiny blur of colored roofs miles and miles below. Above us I could see the clouds closing in; or maybe it was us that were rushing toward them. The air had become colder, so cold that I had started shivering way before we pierced the veil of white fluffy clouds. Instantly cold droplets of freezing water come raining on my face; freezing on the spot. My fingers lost sensitivity, becoming numb and useless. "So… cold…" I whimpered, trembling on my dragon's back. I pressed my body hardly against his scales, taking in the welcoming warmth of his body. He kept climbing higher until we arrived in an even colder place above the thick cover of clouds. Here the sky was a clear, pure blue clear of any kind of cloud; even the sun seemed to glow brighter. I had no time to observe my surroundings; I was too busy shivering and trying my best to keep some warmth. My armor wasn't helping; it was a great protection against blows, swords, projectiles and other magic attacks but it had one major defect: it didn't bear cold environment that well. The metal had become colder than Ice, joints were almost stuck and asked me to bend my muscles every time I wanted to move.

Ice had started to for on the metal plates, slowly coating me in a shiny white cocoon. Below me Kyo was trembling too now flying straight toward what I assumed was Arshkeligh. "Why is he flying so high? Why is he acting like that?… Damn… it's so cold here…" I mumbled, trembling on his back. I noticed a strange thing occurring inside me. I felt lighter, slightly dizzy. My vision became increasingly blurry, the world started spinning around me. That only then I realized I had trouble breathing normally; like there wasn't enough air for me. I coughed, the few oxygen left in my lungs fleeing. I looked down at Kyo. He didn't look better: his breath was slow and irregular; forming whitish clouds before him, his wing beats slowing down. In the corner of his eyes water was gathering, freezing at the second it fell along his cheek. Was he crying? "Kyo…" I called. "What?" he finally answers. "What's wrong? Why are you acting like that?" "I… I…" as he was about to answer he violently banked left, caught off guard by a powerful gust of wind. "Oh shit!" I shouted clinging at his spike spine. He stabilized his flight, bringing us back to a stable position. "Didn't see that coming…" he whispered. "Anyway… answer my question." "Well… I… I didn't want Tarken to follow us…" whimpered Kyo. "Why?" "I… I just… don't want him to see me like this?" "What? Crying? Dude he has already seen you in more embarrassing situations." "It's not that… well… not exactly…" "Then tell me! Don't keep that for you." "Well… I… I…" In an instant everything went shitty again. Kyo once again banked to the left even harder this time; the angle became so steep that I found myself hanging above the void, holding and balancing over one of Kyo's sharp spikes. "Kyo!" I shouted terrified, putting all the strength I had in holding to the ivory spike; my muscles stiffened to their limits. The banking angle increased a bit more. Kyo was almost flying on his back with me dangling from his back, my hands gliding on the slick surface. "Kyo do something!" I roared, feeling my hands losing their grip, both by this damned cold area and my muscles weakening faster than I expected due to an unknown reason. Finally with a huge relief I saw Kyo do a strange maneuver, twisting his body at a weird angle but managing to come to a more comfortable position. "Damn… that was too close…" I mumble; still afraid, my hands shakiog, never letting go of Kyo's spiked back. "Are you ok?" he asks with a trembling voice full of worries and apologies. "I'm fine… and you…?" "I'm… so… cold…" he mumbled; his jaws clacking together noisily. "Remind me who decided to fly that high? Pfff… stubborn, strong headed dragon…" I grumbled. "Yeah… wasn't the wisest idea I ever had" chuckled Kyo "So… do you want to know?" "When we'll be on a safer place to fly… and warmer too…" "Understood… just leave me some time… to catch my breath…" I waited like he asked, observing the immense sky and the fluffy looking blanked of clouds; quite a bit amazed by how the sky looked purer here. "Eh… Allen… we… we…'ve got a problem…" stammered Kyo. In the mind link I could feel that he was truly worried. "What's wrong?" "My wings… I… I can't move them." He gasped. He was right; since we had recovered from the terrifying banking he had been simply gliding along the wind, not flapping his wings a single time. I looked on my left; my eyes going wide in sheer shock. Kyo's wings were covered of shiny white ice that was spraying everywhere and thickening at an alarming speed. Almost all his wing was covered of it and when I tried to touch it I found it so tough that I couldn't break it. "They're freezing…" I whispered in shock. "Indeed… but… I… I can't move them…" "You can't?" I asked again. "Not a single inch… and… ,it's so… damn cold…" he whimpered in pain. "Can't you make this ice melt?" "I… I can try." He curled his neck until his snout was facing his own wing. His breath; much like mine was forming little clouds before. He crackled his maws open. I could feel the power flowing in his veins pounding in every fiber of his body, converging to a single point. A cloud of thick smoke puffed from his mouth. I expected a stream of these magnificent blue flames of his but not this intoxicating smoke. "Kyo… *cough cough* what are you trying to do?" "I… I can't…" he just whispered "I can't ignite it… it's like my fire has extinguished." We stared at each other in disbelief. How could a dragon's fire vanish, extinguish like that? "Could you… try?" he asked with a trembling voice. "Sure… give me a second to prepare the spell" After something like ten seconds I had the words in my head. I whispered the spell, raising a hand over Kyo's wing. Energy tingled in my palm, ready to cast the spell. I focused all my will on the few words spiraling in my brain with all my will. My mouth opens slightly, the words slipping, light like the wind, a barely audible whisper. I open my eyes, willing to watch the spell take effect. My happiness fades in an instant. In my palm a blue blow radiates but from the blue area; instead of flames I only see black smokes that the winds dissipates. A few strands of blue light manage to form but the constant gust of winds turn them back to nothingness. "It… it doesn't work either." I whispered, so surprised by that fact. My eyes met Kyo's gaze. He was petrified by fear… or maybe it was the ice slowly spreading all over his body. Dread filled his eyes and I was probably not looking any better. I opened my mouth to speak but at the same precise second all hell broke loose upon us. In the blink of an eye everything had changed position. The clouds were now above us and the deep blue of the sky below my feet. A powerful wind blow coming from the side had taken Kyo by surprised. He had rolled on his back. "Oh shit shit SHIT! Kyo!" I roared in fear. "I… I… I… cant…" he mumbled as we started falling. "Oh nooooooo!" I yelled holding tightly to Kyo's back. To my screams mixed his roar as we fell limply like two heavy bags of flesh bones skin and scales toward the ground. We traversed the clouds at an increasing speed. An invisible forces is applying on my chest, pressing me harder against Kyo's back as we speed toward the mountainous ground. From here I can already see t:e deep green of forests, the grey of rocks that from high above looks like a blanked of sharp nails where I'm gonna impale myself.

Fear takes a hold of my heart, squeezing it painfully. Is it how I am going to die? I close my eyes, praying every divinity I know to save us. But my calls stay unanswered and futile and we keep falling faster and faster. Kyo's frozen wings extended to their full span do a great job of slowing us down but not enough to save us. I wonder can he move them at least by now. But the pain shouting throug bond tells me the opposite. "Forgive me…" he whispers, mentally crying in despair. The wind around us becomes stronger "balloter" us in all direction as the ground closes in rapidly. My hands weakens, the large spike slipping between them as the increasing acceleration force pulls us apart. We can only stare at each other, mentally saying good bye before fate claims our lives.

………

Owen:

"Are you done preparing your potion?" grumbled the deep voice of Voire in my head. "It's almost finished… give me some time. If I make a mistake now it could blow to our face." I huffed, focused on a series of alembics, piles and canisters where multicolor liquids flow. The whole thing is constantly warmed by a magic fire that never fades, fed by Voire's almost infinite energy. I haven't slept in the whole night; too busy hunting and gathering the needed ingredients for my little plan. Now a strange mix of leaves, herbs, dead animals splayed opened and minerals is exposed before me. The preparation is complex and difficult, the mixed products highly unstable and requires a perfect timing to ensure the success of the process. Even the slightest flick of my finger could make everything blow up. The cave in which I've decided to install my small laboratory would do such a great catalyst in the case of an explosion. Maybe the mountain above us would even collapse, destabilized at its basement. But we don't want it to happen do we? So I use extra caution to make sure everything goes smooth and without problem. "Do you think it will be enough?" asks the same deep voice in my brain. "I'm sure. I know what I'm doing Voire. Do you doubt thq?" "No… it's just… it looks so small." he whispers mentally, pointing a claw at a gourd where a yellowish liquid comes drip slowly. "Of course for a dragon everything looks so small" I grumble, brewing the content of a bowl before adding it to a small caldron. "No I mean… even for a human… it looks… ridiculously tiny." "I don't need a lot" I explain, kneading near a small table to collect a few leaves "I don’t want it to last forever. One day or two is enough so a few droplets by person are enough." "I see… it's you the magician after all." "Finally you admit I'm the best in magic!" I shout happily. "No… I admit you're… some… sort of good at brewing your little potions… but saying that you're the best in magic I'd rather have my heart cleaved from my chest. You can't even pretend to rival with me!" "And I never said I would…" I grumbled.

"Anyway… I'm gonna have a little fly around; my wings feel quite stiff after staying here for hours. Do you want to come?" "Nah… go have your fun I have to finish this." "As you wish." he grumbles, leaving the cavern "Enjoy your little chemistry". I smile as I see in a corner of my eyes his large blue frame walks away. I enjoy the silence when he has gone away, leaving me alone in the cavern. Our relationship had always been tricky and complicated, made of roughness, held back feeling of different nature, old hatred and regrets crippling our heart and soul but beneath of these layers of old feelings there was some affection; we cared about each other and only wished the other to be safe and in a good shape. Our past were `blurry, full of mistakes and regrets, of fateful events that we'd rather forget and keep hidden but in some way they made the bond between us stronger, much stronger than any dragon rider with his beast, a bond too strong to ever be fully broken. I was proud of that small particularity, both because it pissed Voire off and I loved to make him angry and because it made us a bit special and even closer to each other. I had seen this kind of deep bond in other human and dragon couples only a few times, the most recent being last night.

This black dragon and his rider hadn't left my mind; they had become like an obsession to me; an obsession so invasive that Voire couldn't make me change subject. I couldn't stop thinking about this old bastard of a demon hidden in such a young and promising being. What were his plans? Why using this drake as a hiding spot? Why the fearsome and mighty beast I remembered was now hiding his presence, even diminishing his own aura on purpose?

"What mischievous plan are you preparing Kaos?" I sighed, caressing a long chain tied to my waist. The surface looks and feels old and rusty, out of use but no one knew what power it held. It had been a heavy price to pay too; a lot of alliances were broken, falls promises and lies crafted in the good old way; the price to pay was heavy yet it was worth it. Old friends and loved ones were lost forever but once again it was worth it. "Owen… you should come out…" advised Voire in my head, drawing out of my deep thoughts. "What do you want?" I grumbled mentally. "You… you should come… and see it by your own eyes…" he whimpered. His tone was strange; different. It wasn't in his habits to call out like this. And… in his tone… was it a glimpse of panic that I caught? Was Voire, the mighty mountain that nothing could make flinch in fear? It sounded weird even for me. I get up and quickly walk toward the entrance of the dark and narrow passage. When I emerged out of the darkness it was to discover my own dragon standing in the cavern's entrance, totally immobile, his neck extended to its limits, staring at the clear blue sky. "So… what is this so important thing you wanted to show me?" "Look… up…" he stammered in my mind. I followed his petrified gaze. At first I saw nothing beside the immensity and peacefulness of the sky basking in warm daylight. Only the whitish and puffy clouds passing by, carried by the breeze troubled the calm azure sky. There was nothing unusual in here so… why was he scared like that? "Hey… Voire… what do you see? There's nothing in here dude…" I grumbled, scrutinizing the sky in search of what he kept glazing at.

"There…" he simply murmured in my head, showing me a mental picture of what he saw. In the blue sky I could now see a black point in the blue uniform immensity. I had been passing over it at least a dozen times without noticing it and he had caught it in an instant. ¹I whispered a quick spell, my eye sight increasing exponentially to match my dragon's own. Now I could clearly see the outlines of something. It was still too far to be clearly distinguished but it was coming down really fast. "What the hell it that thing?" "I don't know… but I don't like this." "It's strange… it almost looks like a… like a… like… no it can't be a…" "Dragon!" yelled Voire in my mind; his voice so loud that it stunned me for a second, enough to make me lose my focus. I lost sight of them but the last frame stayed in my head, showing the black form of a dragon falling from the sky at a high speed. It took me a minute to recast the spell and regain enough composure to maintain it. When I found the black dragon again he was spiraling down toward the ground, his wings held in an awkward position. "They're frozen… his wings are frozen" gasped Voire, showing me the cocoon of shiny ice covering the two large wings. "Oh no…" I whispered. I was helpless. They were falling and I could just watch. "Hold on… I see something else…" mumbled Voire, giving me a live feed of what he was seeing. Our shocked gasp echoed in the silence of the valley. "A rider!" we shouted at the same time. "Oh no… we can't let them fall like that?" "I agree but what do you want to do?" "He doesn't seems that big… maybe I could catch him and slow down his fall maybe."

"Bright idea… but how are you going to do that?" "Well… a good timing should do just fine…" mumbled Voire, losing himself in complex calculations. However before he could finish something awful happened. In a sun beam we saw the human and the dragon separate, going in opposite direction while falling at an increasingly high speed. "Shit! Oo time to waste… I'll take care of the human… you… find a way to make this big guy and softly!" ordered Voire. "Hey don't…" before I could answer he had vanished in the sky in a powerful wind blow, his wings flapping rapidly to make him climb higher and higher. It was always like this; when he had something in mind it was impossible to have him letting go of it. I couldn't protest, only watch as he flew toward the falling pair, rolling on his back to expose his belly and caught the human in between his paws. "Nice job…" I greeted him. My eyes slowly drifted toward the other one. "Of course it's me who has to take care of the heaviest…." I complained, staring helplessly at the falling black drake "how am I gonna catch you?"

I look around, in search of something that could help me solve this out. My eyes finally fall on a pile of rocks. "Could do something with that." I kneed on the ground, applying my hands on the floor. Instantly I sensed the rhythmic pounding of an ancient energy flowing deep beneath the earth in an invisible network made of veins of pure magic. I whisper, my voice becoming deeper as energy separated from the main flow in tiny streams of crackling sparkles that soon came in contact with the tip of my fingers. I shivered from the light tickle of magic flowinh through my body. I waited patiently until I had gathered enough. I stopped my low whispers for a brief second, cutting the strengthening river of energy invading every cell of my being. "Perfect… now… the hard part…" I grumble, giving the skies above a quick look. The dragon was still falling spinning around as he gained speed. "How did his wings didn't break of already?" I mumble, scratching the back of my head. I take a few precious seconds to observe him. And then I see; I see what's hidden beneath the shell of his scales the dark serpents of smokes hovering, crawling in his guts, the whole thing forming like a second slithery shadow that followed him a mere inch away in his fall. "Kaos…" I hiss. Instantly I'm not tempted to catch him anymore; more to let him fall and splotch on the floor but I must know why he holds so dearly to this dragon. In a corner of my eyes I see Voire roughly and messily landing on the edge of a cliff. After shaking himself and stumbling on his paws he raises a thumb claw in my direction. "I've got him… nice and safe…" "How is he going?" "Cold, trembling, pretty much passed out but otherwise he'll make it out without a scratch. But you should tend to the other before it's too late." "Yeah yeah… I'm getting to work… just… give me a second." I look one last time at the falling drake. By now he has passed the highest mountain peaks and seems to slightly slow down; but it's still far from enough to save him. "Well… looks like it's time for me to act…" I close my eyes again, my hands merging with the soil, or maybe it is the dirt that is like attracted by my skin. From my hands energy burst freely, piercing the earth like thin worms digging their way beneath the surface. Soon my palms became the starting point of a large circle that extended outward, spraying on the rocky soil. The thing was a large circles traversed by large lines made of blue flames converging to my position. Several other circles came out from my palms, adding to the first one, dividing the original circles in several smaller concentric circles. In the zone created even smaller circles that filled with hundreds of ancient glyphs. A smile curled my lips; the circle was ready; I could feel it in my guts. "Now it's time…" I grumbled. The circles around me started to glow of a darker aura, blue slowly turning to black, blazing with a new glean as they rose toward the sky like they wanted to devour it. All the time I kept mumbling foreign words under my breath, my eyes shifting to black as snakes of black energy slither around my hands, climbing along my wrists, arms, feet, legs, going for my head. The earth moved beneath me, crackling and breaking; tendrils of energy spurting out from the circle's edge, lashing at the piles of rock I noticed earlier. When the tentacles touched them they instantly melted, turning into black goo impregnated of magic. The soil around me undergoes the same treatment until I'm standing on the last piece of land in the middle of a large black gooey lake. "Here we go…" I huff; grimacing from the constant drain. I shout out loud the last word of the spell. Instantly the ground begins to shake around me as the liquid becomes solid then burst toward the sky. As the top the large solid pillars stretch in what looks like a huge palm. Large protrusion formed from the edges of the new palms, looking like fingers. I looked up; the dragon was still falling but I was rushing straight in his direction. "Can't save someone without puttion on a show" grumbles Voire in my head. "Shut up… I've almost caught him." "I see that… although… nice invocation…" "Thank you…"

………

Kyo:

I can't believe it. Is it how I am going to die? Everything is spinning around me; my wings are like two heavy and cold rocks dragging me to the ground. I've lost all hope; just looking at the ground as it closes in rapidly. I close my eyes; I don't want to see myself collide with hard stone. "So… is it how it's gonna end? Falling from the sky… by my own fault?" I sob "Was I such a foul?" "No… no… not at all." whispers Kaos with a gentle mental nuzzle "or maybe… yes… yes… quite a HUGE fool… but it's not time to slap your bitch ass. First help me save you." "What can I do? My wings are just two ice blocks." "Then help me unfreeze them!" roared Kaos. "Why don't you want to survive?" Asked Kaos in shock. "I do… I do…" I sighed in answer "but… I don't know if it's still worth it…" "Why are you saying that?" "I've only been failing and doing mistakes over mistakes again and again." "We all do mistakes… I've made quite a few myself. One of which was to decide to live in your body!" "You know what is the only relief I get in death?" "No… and I'd rather…" "At least I'll be freed of you… I won't hear your annoying voice barking at me all the time." "Oh don't worry about this." hissed Kaos in reply "even in death I'll still be there to remind you of your stupidity. So… instead of whining help me getting us out of this mess you put us into!" I shook my head in disbelief; how could he be still fighting when there was no hope left? We would soon impale ourselves on a mountain peak or be broken into tiny pieces when we'll impact with the rough mounanous terrain. "Fine…" I finally let out "what do you want me to do?" "I don't know… help me at least!" "Great… that will lead somewhere…" I grumble. "Hold on! I feel something" suddenly shouts Kaos. "It feels like… black magic… like someone was… summoning something…"

I looked down; searching for the source of the magic emanation I was feeling too. "Found it." I hiss, keeping my gaze as much as possible in the same general direction. On the ground far below a large blue circle is painting itself on stone. "Strange… I've only seen such summoning circles once… and it was… *gasp* oh no… oh no not this!" "What's wrong?" "We're so screwed?" "Why? What's happening?" "I know who these circles belong… and it's not good for us…" "Why?" "Do you remember the guy I told you about?" "Yes… I remember" "Well… it's his doing." My eyes widened as a cold wave of fear washed over my body. "We're in so much trouble…" I winced in distress. "Oh you have no idea. The treatments he can put us through are far worse than death." I gulped down noisily, watching in terror as the ground turned a deep mat black. "What can he be doing?" "I don't know… but I don't like this… Not one bit." From the bare earth suddenly rose a geyser of semi-liquid blackness. It formed like a column getting taller and taller with each passing second. The top became flatter, wider like a large platform on top of which I could distinguish him. The more it grew the more it looked like the arm of some sort of monster. "Oh no… brace!" shouted Kaos as the thing sprang in our direction. I shut my eyes as tight as I could, stiffen all my muscles, preparing for a rough contact. I gasped in surprise when instead I sank into some sort of thick goo. It belt like water but in much thicker. I sank in it; the thick substance absorbing all the kinetic energy accumulated during my fall. It felt almost like a soft and safe landing. However I quickly realized I couldn't breathe in it. Every time I tried to swallow only more thick goo flooded my lungs. I choked on the vile thing. Weirdly enough it had an earthy taste… like it was made of clay or dirt mixed with rocks. "What the hell is that thing?" I couldn't ask myself further questioning as, both from the impact and the drowning feeling I passed out.

As my spirit drifted in the limbs if unconsciousness I could feel my limp body rise again toward the surface. Light flooded my half lidded eyes as I emerged. The last thing I heard aside of Kaos' constant screaming was a simple sentence whispered ,with a caring tone. "I've got you…"

………

Allen:

The warmth of the morning sun, the contact of grass still wet from the dew against my chilling skin slowly made me open my eyes. It felt like I was lying on something comfortable, basking in the sun's radiation heat. When I opened the light flashed inside, blinding me. I covered my eyes with my hands but the light still managed to get through. Something came blocking the view; something big enough to hide the sun. "Clouds maybe…" I thought. Slowly the light aggressed my eyes faded away. I watched the pure blue of the sky above me. Pure… well… not exactly. Something was different; a darker area just above me; partially hiding the sun. It looked like… scales… deep blue scales. It took thee a long time to realize what I was staring at was simply the neck of a dragon. A huge dragon by what I could see. I gasped, jumping on my feet in fear. The sight was frightening. I was close to tiny compared to the dragon; my head barely above his ankle. I made a few steps back, trembling in shock and fear. Suddenly my right foot touched no more solid ground. I opened my mouth to scream but no sound came out. I felt myself falling backward, falling over the edge. As the same instant; with an incredible swiftness, one of the dragon's paw slips behind me, holding me in a soft embrace of scales and claws. I'm pushed in the other direction, stumbling on my feet before falling head first in the grass right before the dragon's sharp claws. A loud chuckles coming from above makes me raise my head, spitting the grass I had somehow managed to eat. I roll on my back, crawling away with my eyes still attached to the bulky blue frame. What does this dragon wants? Is he about to harm me? For some strange reason his face looks familiar to me; like if we had already met before. A strange, unusual and very powerful presence tries to enter my mind. Is it friend or foe? "Oh god… what can I do? Kyo doesn't answer to my calls; Kaos is as silent as a tomb… for a change… and I'm alone… facing this dragon that could so easily crush me. Damn… look at the size of those claws… could cut me in half with one swipe." I mumble, trembling like a leaf. "However… he… prevented me from falling…. And… apparently… I own him my survival. Maybe… maybe he isn't as bad as he looks like…" I hesitate; shall I let him enter or should I keep my distances? "Oh… I'm gonna regret this." I sigh. I open my mind with caution. In an instant a thundering storm of a mind invades mine. I flinch in surprise, trying to contain the flood but it's useless. In a second all my walls are broken, leaving me defenseless against an unknown mind that overcomes mine with ease. "Calm down young one… I'm not gonna hurt you." grumbles a deep voice that echoes in every fiber of my body "if I had wanted to kill you… do you think you would be still breathing?" "You make your point…" I admit, wiping all the sweat forming on my forehead. "You can even think yourself lucky. I f I hadn't been here… well… you would have looked like a really nice pile of flesh and bones on the floor.” "*gasp*… does… does it mean I own you… my life?" "Sure you do young one…" "May I know the name of my savior? I think it could make it easier for me to great you for this action." "It would be my pleasure young one. My name is Voire but don't thank me for saving you. I'm not doing it for the reward or the fame… it's just the pleasure of helping a fellow rider. Instead may I know your name too?"

"Well… I'm Allen." Even though he sounded gentle and nice overall I couldn't deny the growing sense of fear inside me. The tension between us waas increasing with each passing second. "Enough diplomacy…" he finally hissed "we both know that we know each other am I right?" "Sadly…"

He was right; now I remembered him so well. I could see like it was happening before my eyes the last' night unexpected encounter on the edge of a cliff on a freaking narrow path. "So… what are you gonna do now? Are you gonna kill me?" "No… if I wanted you dead we wouldn't be having this little talk right now. My intentions were not to kill you after saving you… they were simply to save your life." "What do you earn by doing so?" "That young one is none of your business." "Well then… what do we do now? Do we stare at each other for eternity or will you tell me where my dragon is?" "The answer to this question is simple… look behind you and you'll find out by yourself." I grimaced; I didn't like the smile he threw to me, it was seeping trickery and malevolence. I imagined I would find Kyo dead or agonizing, turned into a mess of shattered bone; and flesh. Nothing could have prepared me to what I discovered instead. "What the fuck is that!" I yelled, taking a few steps back. Before me stood a large solid black column that seemed to have erupted from the bare stone in the deep valley below. It was taller than the highest peaks; dominating the lands with its sheer height. "Where does that thing come from? Ft wasn't here yesterday." "Well you could say that it is… what your kind calls a rider's doing… my rider's doing to be more precise…" "Ok… but… what did ,he used it for?" "Don't be stupid… I know you are a smart guy so use your head and you'll get it." "Then… I guess he used this… piece of crap… to save my friend. Am I right?" "Absolutely?" "Great… however where are they now?" "You'll have to ask him." "Who?" "My rider silly." "And… how do I do that? You don't think he'll hear me from there?" "Of course he won’t. But I think I can bring an answer to that to. May I show you?" "If you don't mind." "I'll oblige… just give me a moment." I wait; my eyes glued to the huge blue creature; waiting for something to happen. I'm… quite delighted to hear another loud voice in the dragon's head. "How is he going?" ask Voire. "He has passed out… probably from the impact… but beside that he is fine. I'm bringing him to the ground right now. How is the rider going?" "He is awake… pesky and annoying as any human is." answered Voire. "Hey I heard that!" I shout, not realizing soon enough that my words are also heard in the mind conversation. A loud laughing voice fills my ears yet no one is physically laughing." "Don't offend our friend Voire. As I told you countless time that humans are full of resources; more than you imagine." "Yeah yeah… you always pretend that but I'm still waiting for such a surprise." "I'll prove you wrong… soon…"

The conversation kept going on but I quickly decided to ignore it, looking at the slowly shrinking pillar of dark material. After an eternity of waiting the pillar has vanished, replaced by a large lake of black material where it used to be. In the middle of the dark immensity stands a man I've already met before with, near him Kyo laying on his side with two huge ice blocks as wings. "Poor Kyo…" I sigh, sorry for him. "Do you want to see your friend?" asked the dragon that had moved toward me, crouching by my side. "You bet your ass I'd love." "Then… go ahead he is so close." "Yet so far…" I reply pointing at the cliff a step ahead. "I'm not in the mood for some rock climbing." "Neither do I…" grunted Voire. "Would it be too much if I asked you to carry me to him?" "No… it wouldn't be."

This answer I have to admit surprised me; I never imagined he would accept and there he was, getting in a better position to let me climb on his back. "Come on… hop on." Even If I still had doubt about the dragon I did as told and jumped between two spikes. He didn't took flight; there was no need to; he just jumped over the edge, deployed his wings and gliding along the wind toward the ground. I could see the grass closing in rapidly beneath us. I thought he would make us land softly on the grass. I was so wrong. He shook violently, making me tighten my grip around the spike before me. "Hey easy!" In reply he violently banked left then right. I lost grip and fell. The contact with the dirt was rouge; I rolled on the floor, losing all awareness of where I was. I ended in a kinda awkward position, lying against a bolder of rock with my fet above my head. A nearby chuckle made me look aside. There, crouching near Kyo stands a tall man dressed in black clothes. From where I'm standing I can only see his long black hairs. "Voire… it's not a way to treat a fellow rideq…" "He just fell of…" protested the dragon in both our mind "beside… he was getting kinda heavy."

I glazed at the blue dragon angrily, just to see him licking his claws clean of an imaginary stain; throwing me a wicked smile. I grunt as I scramble on my paws. I wipe the mix of dirt and grass sticking to my armor before coming closer. Kyo is lying on his side, eyes hazy and half closed, his body limp and weakened, his breath shallow but regular. "How is he doing?" "Pretty fine… I told you; he just passed out from the force of the impact. The real worrying thing… well… it's his wings… look at that! They're definitely not in a good shape." grumble the guy, poking at the thick ice layer on Kyo's wing "Damn… what did he had in mind?" "I'm still asking myself the same question." "I've already seen dragons try the same adventure but flying where you did is simply putting yourself and your dragon in danger." "Never asked him to do so; I just climbed on his back and hop; in an instant we were up there." "Head strong huh?" "You have no idea?" "I guess he will be punished for that afterwards?" "Yep… he deserved it anyway." "Well… let's tend to his injuries before they get worse." As we come close a new presence in my head wipes away the strong mind of Voire. I stumble back, hit in full force by a sheer might of a familiar spirit. "*gasp* could have warned me before…" I grumble. "Sorry… " huffed Kaos with a snarl "It's just that… when I saw this guy… I couldn't hold my nerves. I need to warn you of something: don't trust this guy! Don't trust a word he say; don't listen to his voice. He is only a vile creature and a wicked mind gifted with a serpentine tongue." "Do you know I can hear you from there Kaos" growled the guy, pointing a dagger hidden underneath his coat in our direction. The blade was sharp, made of a black metal covered of ruby red veins where pounded magic. The thing was coated of some sort of oil that dripped from the edge. "*gasp* Crap! How?" "Forgot to kick me out of the conversation and beside… I'm an expert of sneaky approaches you remember?" "Sadly… I do…" grumbled the old demon "What do You want then?" "Depends of you… but first let's tend to your little… protégé’s injuries."

It was only then I realized that Kyo was awake ananxiously staring at me, his eyes pleading for help. The guy sheeted his dagger again and casually walked to my dragon. I was stunned, left here mouth open, incapable of saying a damn thing. I observed as he crouched near the frozen right wing, holding a small pickaxe and an even smaller pick. He examined the surface for some time before sticking the pickaxe in a crack. "Wait!" roared Kaos, appearing next to him "What are you doing with that?" "Well… breaking the ice." he answered with the same calm and assuring. "And do you really think I'm gonna let you do that?" "If you have another option tells me I'm eager to know." "Well… I don't know… let me think…" Kaos remained silent for some time; I could feel the tension increasing between the two former friends as they dueled with their two boiling with anger gaze. A smile curled the smoke made demon's lips if they could be called so. "If I remember right you are a great spell caster… a mage whose powers go beyond imagination." "Of course; I have quite a reputation to keep." "Then… why don't you use your incredible powers to heal him instead of using all these crappy instruments?" the guy simply burst into laughter right in Kaos' face; making the demon stare in surprise with his maws agape. "Do you really think I'm that stupid Kaos?" The demon kept silence "Do you think I'm a foul? You should know me by now… as much as I know you. I know what vicious plans you're preparing in this wicked mind of yours." "No… there's no… plan…" stammered Kaos. "Don't lie Kaos it doesn't do you any good."

Kaos lowered his eyes to the ground "We both know what you were planning. You thought you could stab me in the back while I was helping your… new acquaintance; waiting for me to be busy, weakened and exposed to strike… like you always do." "No… no… I protest…" "Shut up filthy liar! Your plan would have failed anyway because you forgot two things." "Which are?" "Me first… I always keep an eye for the rats like you… and two…" "You forgot me…" hissed Voire that had sneakily approached us from behind. "You see Kaos… I know you too well… I've spend enough time close to you to know you in deep." "No no no… Owen… you'd better keep your mouth shut on that." "No… keep talking… it's getting really interesting." murmured Kyo's voice. "Finally you're awake!" Shouts the guy named Owen with a happy grin. "Well… in fact I'm awake since… quite some time but please keep going; don't stop at the juiciest moment." answered Kyo with the same smile, crossing his forelegs in front of him. "Well… I think he didn't tell you that once I was in their dimension I did quite a few things for him… among which was pleasuring him." We all froze in shock from the revelation; our gaze turning in Kaos's direction. "You have no idea of how many hours… days… weeks I spent worshiping his cock." "My my Kaos… you hid us quite a lot of naughty things about you…" purred Kyo; amused. Kaos was staring at his smokey paws, his smoky form going through a massive change; turning an even brighter red with each passing second. "Should have seen him back then… he was almost begging for me to pleasure him." "Just shut up…" huffed Kaos "and do your thing." "It's embarrassing isn't it? A demon forced to look away because he is ashamed of his own lust." Kaos only snarled, looking away while trying to keep some composure. "And to answer your question I won't waste a spell on your… friend…" "Why?" asked Kyo as surprised as us all.

"Simply because I'm not one hundred percent sure it will work and also because it would cost me a lot of energy for an unsure result. So I prefer to use good old methods." "Very well… I understand what You say… but I still have doubts about the well-founded of your technics. Not that I doubt about your skills but… I'm note confident with… having you hammering this pick so close to my wings…" whimpered Kyo in distress. "You don't have to worry I won't hurt you and trust me I'm a professional." "If you say so…" whispered Kyo "Don't let this guy harm me… he is insane…" he lightly whined through our bond.

I stayed silent, observing as all the others did as Owen… if it was truly his name kneaded near Kyo; a look of concentration on his cold face. Kyo was obviously tense and nervous; heavy drops of sweat falling from the edges of his snout. Re was trembling like never before, apprehending what the human standing near him could do. I gulped heavily as Owen padded the slick icy surface, examining it with caution. "Ahh… there it is…" he whispered, pointing at a tiny crack in the whiteness. He lodged the pick in it, giving a few light hit on top of it with his hammer. The ice began to crack around where he had planted the pick, forming a giant web over Kyo's wing. "Looking good…" he grumbled, hitting the pick a few more times, making the web of cracks expend. Kyo flinched with every hit, grimacing more and more in pain or fear I couldn't tell. The only thing I knew was that he was afraid. "Could you stop moving like this!" shouted Owen "otherwise I'm really gonna hurt you…" Kyo squealed pitifully, biting his lower lip until blood leaked on his chin. "Calm down… it's almost over…" grunted Owen, petting Kyo's trembling snout with a gentle hand. With one last smack of the hammer on the pick the ice broke in thousands of small pieces. To the deep cracking sound mixed a high pitched scream of pain as Kyo quickly retracted his frozen, chilling wing. As he did so I noticed deep wounds on the leading edge. "What's that?" "Frostbite…" grumbled Owen, examining the closest one. His finger brushed against Kyo's scales. A sharp cry of pain escaped my dragon's throat as he quickly pulled away. "Pretty sensitive" I say, hugging my friend's scaly snout. Kyo is silently sobbing, burying his snout in my chest armor plate. "Could you stop moving like this I'm trying to work!" Roared Owen, throwing the pick in the grass. "Chill out!" I replied defensively "don't you see how he is suffering?"

"Not my problem…» huffed Owen "but if he keeps moving like that he'll only make his wounds worse." "Easy for you to say…" whined Kyo, throwing the human hatred filled gaze." "Don't be mad at him" interrupted his dragon "our wings are maybe the most sensitive part of our anatomy and none of us like to have them injured or touched like that." "If you have a better ideas say it!" "In fact I do…" purred Voire with a toothy smile "but I'll need you to hold perfectly still. Can you do that?" asked Voire, turning his gaze in Kyo's direction. Kyo vigorously shook his snout negatively. "I know it hurts but if we do nothing it will become even worst. I think you don't want to lose a wing." Kyo just made a strange muffed sound before extending both wings. "Much better… now be kind and keep this position." said Voire as he slowly stepped toward Kyo's still frozen right wing. He lowered his snout until his nostrils touched the ice coated leathery membrane; his moist breath billowing the so sensitive limb. "What is he gonna do?" I grumble, tensing in anticipation. Blue flames slip from his parted lips, caressing the semi translucent ice until it turns into water in a small zone. We all stare in disbelief as he increase the strength of the fire stream, soon turning all ice into a warm water that pools underneath Kyo's wing. He purrs in delight, enjoying the sensation of another dragon's fire upon his sensitive body. "Warm…" he moans, squirming out of my grasp. Before it has a chance of injuring him the stream is cut short, leaving Kyo with an intact wing bathing into warm steamy water. "See… wasn't that difficult" "Thanks…" answers Kyo, gently nuzzling the blue dragon's chin. "And you couldn't do that earlier?" asked Owen with an annoyed sigh. "Nope" "Why?" "Because I love to seae you struggle…" chuckles Voire with a devious smirk. "Hmpf… should have known…" grunted Owen, crossing over his chest.

"Instead of arguing over which methods was the greatest could you finish what you started?" growled Kaos. "Sure… it won't take long anyway… I think a good healing spell could take care of that." mumbled Voire after analyzing the many wounds. "Fine…" sighed Kaos in relief. "I'll take care of it… as long as you give me a hand." he answered pointing a finger at me. "Ok" I answered. "Perfect… come near me and I'll tell you the words you'll have to say."

I kneaded near him, opening my ears attentively as he spoke in the ancient language we used for spellcasting. My eyes shot open and my jaw dropped when recite the spell for me. "Why such a look of surprise? It's just a simple healing spell. Have you even been trained at least?" "I've been… but… not to such a level." I admit. "Dude even a rooky can do that!" shouted Owen in disbelief "are these humans such fools in magic?" "Don't criticize you have thousands of years of knowledge in this brain of yours." hissed Kaos "no one has had the same gift in quite some time." "Well then… we'll have to do with your pour knowledges… just fucking great." "Hold your tongue…" hissed Kyo defensively "I'm grateful but I won't spare your life if you keep insulting my rider." "Chill out… I apologize ok?" "I prefer that." With that said we got to work under the piercing gaze of Kyo that didn't even blink an eye. Energy flowed from the tip of our fingers as we whispered in union, the wounds rapidly closing before our eyes. I don't know how long it took, how many minutes we spent mumbling magic filled words but in the end the wounds were reduced to tiny whitish scars. "Ah… already looking better…" I sighed. "Yes… but I'd rather advice you to finish your voyage on the ground." advised Voire. "Yes… your wings are healed but they're still fragile after such a misadventure." confirmed Owen. "Hmm… already heard that somewhere…" snorted Kyo in response. Kyo stood up, inviting me to climb on his back for the rest of the travel. "Human spell casters are still really shitty trainers" growled Owen, staring me with disappointment "If you want to get to the highest level of mastery you'll need better trainers…" "Hey I've just started one month ago." Owen simply grumbled something in ancient language foreign to me. "Well… I think it's time for us to leave…" interrupted Kaos, cutting short the discussion.

"Yes I think we agree on that…" confirms Owen. Kyo agrees with a quick nod. "However Kaos… you own me quite an explanation…" grunts Owen, pointing the same dagger at the smoke demon. "I… own you nothing…" spat Kaos in defiance. "Oh you do… you own me your survival and the life of your… new acquaintance…" "Hey I heard that!" Roared Kyo angrily. Owen only raised a hand, a black glow taking his entire palm as he pointed it in our direction. "And don't forget… I healed your friend… but what I did… I can take it back whenever I want." The glow on his paws shifted to red as Kyo's scars did. He winced in pain, bowing deeply. Kaos bared his fangs… or what should have been fangs, glazing with blazing like fire eyes at the human. "Fine…" he finally reluctantly hissed. "Perfect… but now isn't the proper time for that. Go back to your home and rest dragon…" he shout, looking directly at Kyo "You'll need all your strength…" his eyes became cold and turned back to Kaos "and you don't forget we'll meet again. Don't try to hide or to run… I'll find you anyway. We will meet again… where or when I don't know… but when I'll come I expect to have the truth from your mouth."

Kaos mumbles something in his demonic language to which Owen answers in the same inhuman dialect made of guttural sounds and hisses. The next second Kaos has vanished, the smokes and fumes forming him wiped away by the cold breeze.