An Enemy of My EnemyA Slayers Inversed one-shotBy Majo-chan Author’s Notes: Hiya everyone. This one is slightly out of order, but it does kind of fit in, sort of…As usual, forgive all OOCs, even though considering it’s an alternate universe story, so everything’s OOC…Oh, and angst. I think it’s a pretty good dose of it this time…And maybe a bit of comedy too. ^_^ ** The velvety midnight blue of the sky was studded with diamond-like stars, but at the moment he was not interested in the aesthetic beauty of the night. In fact, he was more intent on hiding behind the pure black of the shadows the roofs cast on the ground. Slinking…he hated slinking around. It smacked suspiciously of cowardice, and his clan was known for their pride in their bravery. If it was up to him…he stopped the thought right there and smiled bitterly. If it were up to him, he would be home right now. Home, arguing with the Elders. Home, listening to his mother’s loving but slightly disapproving lectures. But home was a cold, frozen-over crater. Home was gone after what seemed like forever, but was actually only a few hours. Home was the air painted red with blood and filled with screams and smoke. Home was gone in a blinding flash of blue-white light… As if to remind him, the smooth black metal (wood?) in his hand warmed slightly. Immediately, he squished down the anger. The last time he had let that out of control, his world was incinerated in the blink of an eye. And even if he kept it controlled this time, the light would give away his position immediately. I’ve survived this long…I refuse to throw it all away in a moment of anger… The almost alien weapon quieted in his hands as he pressed himself closer to the wall and he took a few more steps. With any luck he would be able to make it out of this town… the warmer climes were less sparsely populated than the homes he had came from and he would be able to find a crowd and disappear into it. The air was cool but he didn’t feel its bite. After all…he was used to both the grueling heat of the desert and the unforgiving cold of the arctic. The ground was slightly wet under his foot as he carefully left the shadows and started making his way toward the outside of town. All this time, he carefully thought about nothing except the act itself. Not who was hunting him, not why…otherwise he would never make it out. His shadow was only slightly darker than the ground, and he was grateful for the moonless night. He wasn’t sure what deity to thank, though. The events of the past few days had changed his faith in the Dragon God forever. Funny, how fickle a thing like faith is, when it was supposed to be the one unchangeable thing in his life. The unshakable pillar of his faith had crumbled without much resistance in a few horrifying hours. So much for faith. I was stupid to have believed anyway. Honor…integrity…loyalty…so much for believing that those were universal traits shared by all the dragons on this earth... A sound caught his attention and he stilled, his grip on the black bow tightening instinctively. That was a footstep…He could feel his heart speed up as he turned his head carefully to search the darkness around him. The buildings loomed as black, rectangular shapes against the night, an occasional angle of a roof cutting into the dark, star sprinkled blue. Nothing moved in his field of vision except for a few wind stirred blade of grass and … There! All thoughts of stealth flew out of his head. From the way that shadow moved, they were obviously very aware of the fact that he’s here. So he did the only logical thing he could. He bolted. In a way, he was almost glad that they had found him. He didn’t like running and fighting for his life, but he would prefer battling it out rather than slinking around. The ground pounded beneath his feet, only slightly louder than the alarmed shouts of his pursuers. The air rushing by his ears, through his hair, seemed even louder than that, and louder still was the faster beats of his heart as he ran. He heard the metallic clank of weapons as they gave chase, tall, shadowy figures pulling themselves out of their various hiding places, revealing themselves in the dim starlight. All of them were wearing humanoid forms like himself, but he knew whether they took on their true dragon forms or not, they intend to overwhelm him with their greater numbers. The only thing they had to fear was the weapon in his hand. They, his distant and now hated kin, feared this weapon from another world but at the same time lusted after it. It hummed now, vibrating just slightly in his sweaty grip as he navigated the maze of alleys and barely stayed ahead of the dragons chasing him. It called out to him. The ‘voice’ of the weapon was actually not a voice in the normal sense…just like it wasn’t like a ‘weapon’ in the normal sense…it was more like a feeling, a compulsion, than anything else. The first time he had heard it, he almost dropped Garvera from shock. But now all he could think of was how hard it was to resist the urge to just end it all, with one blinding blue-white flash of purifying light…It was so easy to imagine all his hated enemies obliterated in a second in the intense energy… The bow flared to life in his hands in response to that thought and all the barely leashed violence in it, electric blue lighting the ends of the graceful arch and connecting the two points. Automatically, he raised the bow and a sliver of deceptively slender light notched itself in the bow as the arrow. The beam of blue-white light pulsed warmly between his fingers as he pivoted around completely. Faced with the prospect of sudden and painful death, his pursuers stopped as if they had suddenly been hit by a Shadow Snap spell. “Don’t move.” He warned them anyway. Better safe than sorry, after all, he and his brethren were known for bravery. Though whether charging Garvera at this range would be considered bravery or foolishness was anyone’s guess. His voice sounded far away in the thick quiet of the night, strangely flat and lifeless. And in that quiet he could hear a disembodied voice, the vague, faint compulsion that was the soul of the weapon, so to speak. It called out…it wanted to fight. It wanted to kill. It wanted to destroy. That was its purpose in life. He told it to be quiet. The Dragon in the lead seemed to have regained a bit of his composure. His face was still a bit pale as he faced down what seemed like a scrawny young man with messy aqua colored hair, but he didn’t flinch as the tip of the arrow moved to point at his head, as golden, slitted eyes focused on his movement with sudden and deadly intensity. “ Valtierra of the Ancient Dragons.” He said tensely, purposely keeping his eyes off the glowing arrow. “ Return Garvera to us.” ** “ Garvera?” The wrinkled old dragon nodded as he gestured to the glowing half-sphere on the raised platform inside the temple. “ That is Garvera.” He intoned solemnly, “ The most powerful of those weapons that do not belong in our world. We of the Ancient Dragons have guarded it since its appearance in this world. Garvera, along with Gorn Nova, will be key in the world’s survival in the upcoming war.” “ Oh, please.” Young Valtierra snorted. “ Not more of that ‘the end of the world’ nonsense.” It was something that he heard almost every day now. Hushed, fearful whispers among his once proud clan. “ I swear, you guys are all so gloomy. Weren’t we supposed to-” “ The other dragons are moving.” Valtierra blinked as he was interrupted, probably unintentionally, as the older dragon seemed to reverently and fearfully repeat what he was told by some other, more unearthly, voice. “They are angered that we have not volunteered our help in stopping the darkness. They fear Garvera’s power and our own. Soon, they will come to claim Garvera.” “ Come on.” The aqua haired Ancient Dragon scoffed. “ They wouldn’t dare do that, we’re all dragons! There’s still the Council and the Knight. Besides, they were the ones who entrusted it to us in the first place.” “ Beware.” The older dragon said softly. “ I fear our end is near.” Only deep-rooted respect for the elder kept him from commenting on what he thought was a rather ridiculous and overdramatic statement. Instead, Valtierra bowed to mask his expression the best he could and waited for him to continue. “ That is not the purpose of our talk today, though, young Valtierra.” The Ancient seemed to return to reality and Valtierra heaved a silent sigh of relief. The elder sighed too, hands absently fingering the glowing sigils of the wards, “ Although they are related. You do not have to believe in my prophecy. Indeed, I wish time will reveal to us its falseness. I only wish one thing from you.” “ What is it, Honored Elder?” Valtierra murmured, a bit taken aback by the somber and absolutely serious tone of the other. “ If what I speak of comes to pass, please promise me this…” ** “ Return Garvera?” He almost laughed, although he felt a bit like crying. Actually, he felt more like crying than anything else. No more memories, don’t think. Thinking could only get him killed now…The point wavered a little before it steadied, still aimed at the dragons. “ I don’t think Garvera ever belonged to any of you in the first place.” The temptation was getting stronger, the urge to let the arrow fly and allow the white-blue light to purify everything…And that growing determination was making his voice hard and brittle. He wondered briefly, inanely, if it would shatter like glass in the night air. “ And now I know for sure. Garvera doesn’t belong in the hands of you dirty, underhanded, back-stabbing traitors!” “ That weapon is not worth your life!” The other dragon retorted angrily, “ Give it to us and you will not be harmed, I swear in Cepheed’s name!” That stopped him cold, although not in the way that they expected. The half-dozen or so dragons gave each other uncertain looks as the thin frame of their target began to shake. In laughter. ** “ Valtierra!!! Valtierra!!!!” It was a thin wail, high pitched and colored with unspeakable grief. He turned dazedly, his grip on the bow slack as he searched for the voice. It sounded so familiar, that voice…but it was so hard to hear anything over the roaring of the fires, over the screams of the dying. They hadn’t noticed him yet…there were still a few of the warriors left to keep the attackers busy in the air, still too many young and old Ancient Dragons on the ground to keep the invaders’ eyes from finding him. Garvera hummed slightly as it rested, as if waiting patiently for its bearer to snap out of his daze. Valtierra ignored it. Something inside him, some rational part of him that wasn’t shocked into passivity, was screaming at him to find the owner of that voice. But another part pleaded for him to leave it alone. The wall between himself and the others was there for a reason. He didn’t need to see this. He didn’t WANT to see this… “ Val…ti..” There, under that pile of collapsed ceiling at the edge of his vision. It was better not to see. Better not to see…Not to see… “ e…rra…” “ …” He took one step, then another. And before he knew it, he was running full speed toward that heap of stone and slate, breathing hard and fast, feeling the beginning of tears forming in his eyes. Somewhere along the line the wall separating him and the rest of the world shattered like a too thin shield. It couldn’t protect him from anything… That voice…sounded so familiar… “ MOTHER!” ** “ Not…worth my life?” He was laughing so hard now that he could hardly pull in the breath needed to speak. The irony of it was just hysterical, and it was hitting him hard. He knew there was a very good chance that if he kept talking now, he would eventually start screaming. But the snapping point had been reached…and he didn’t really care anymore. “ Garvera’s not worth losing my life for…but it’s worth the lives of a whole clan!?” Yes, those were tears that burned down his face now, he realized. It was impossible to ignore the anger and hatred; he wasn’t even sure why he had tried in the first place. Garvera hummed in cool, cynical agreement. “ It’s worth the lives of the old, young and helpless!? IT WAS WORTH THE LIVES OF THE HATCHLINGS?!” They were looking at him now, something akin to guilt in their eyes. At least they had the decency to do that much. “ Ne, so I’m more important than the whole clan?” He laughed, voice steady again, Garvera still pointed at his pursuers. He wasn’t sure what gripped him now, but it felt right. It felt more right than anything else…more right than all the pain and suffering, more right than the running away, more right than the fear. Maybe that was what it felt to be insane. “ And if I give up, I won’t be harmed?” He felt almost giddy. It must’ve been from the lack of air from laughing so hard. He tried to calm himself down, and succeeded mostly. Good thing that his words had hit a spot with his pursuers…good thing that the guilt was keeping them from taking him down now. One of them swallowed. “ We swear to not hurt you.” He said, then lowered his eyes as he realized the hypocrisy of that statement. “ Too late.” Valtierra said slowly. Garvera’s light flared briefly in response to the stab of anger and loathing that went though him at that promise. “ It’s too late, I’m already hurt. But that’s okay, because I’ve learned something from this.” He looked around, as if willing them to realize for themselves what he learned. “ Don’t you see? There is no God. I don’t believe in him.” There were gleams of madness in those golden eyes. “ I don’t believe in you, Cepheed!” He screamed. “ I don’t believe in you! STRIKE ME DOWN FOR MY BLASPHEMY IF YOU EXIST!!” ** Far off, on a distant rooftop, a cloaked figure stood quietly. The blue-white light that was Garvera glowed eerily from off to the left stood out like a beacon in the starlit darkness and the figure’s mouth thinned to a grim line. “ Aren’t you going to answer him, Cepheed?” the dark shape asked quietly. ** There was silence as his words bounced off the walls of the houses around them and disappeared into the night without an answer. Valtierra waited, feeling his heart pound as the silence stretched on until it was paper-thin. His hands were shaking, his right hand almost cramping as the last remnants of sanity fought against releasing that arrow. Then, a sound. There were startled gasps as the footsteps came closer, breaking the silence. Valtierra’s eyes darted to the source of the sound, to his right. A tall figure slowly came into view. From the shadows the shapes solidified. A calm, if a bit dry and rough, voice drawled, “ Can’t a former Demon Lord get any sleep around here without you dragons starting a shouting match?” ** “ Our lesson today will be on the history of the continent.” Young Valtierra stared, bored, out the window as the teacher proceeded to explain the hierarchies of the world they lived in. He’s already had the Order of the Dragons explained to him until it was memorized, so he wasn’t too interested in hearing it again. But to his surprise, today’s lesson wasn’t about the dragons again…He actually listened up as the elderly ancient dragon started speaking about the mazoku. “ We have covered the Dragon Races,” her raspy and dry voice was serious as she opened a heavy tome of yellowed paper and convoluted text. “ Today we shall speak of the Demon Race. “ They are the creatures born of darkness, as we are born of light. Children of the Dark Lord, the mazoku live to bring destruction to the world. It is their purpose in life, the purpose that was assigned to them. They feed upon darkness, upon dark emotions. Hatred, anger, fear…it is their sustenance. They are Astral creatures that have mastered the world of will and spirit to such an extent that they can form on the material plane. “ The Dark Lord Ruby Eyed Shabranigdo battled our Lord Flare Dragon King Cepheed. Our Lord, in the first battle, defeated the Dark Lord and split him into seven, and sealed the seven and sent them off into the world. The seven pieces remained sealed until one was resurrected during the War of the Monsters’ Fall. “ The Dark Lord’s five generals assisted in his resurrection and fought the war with him. However, near the middle of the war, Deep Sea Dolphin disappeared mysteriously. Soon after, Demon-Dragon King Garv betrayed the Demon race for an unknown reason and disappeared from this world.” Absently, Valtierra wondered why the Demon Lord would possibly want that. To leave this world and turn his back on everything he’s known… ** “ Who’s there!?” More footsteps, and Valtierra found himself hard pressed to decide which person, or persons, to aim the much-feared weapon of Dark Star at. Not that it really mattered…if he released the arrow, everything around him was going to be obliterated anyway. It was a white, painful purity…and he would be willing to use it again. From a side alleyway, a tall, broad-shouldered figure came into the dim sphere of light that Garvera cast. Valtierra squinted and could see the shadow of a long sword propped almost casually against the stranger’s shoulder. More came into view. Spiked hair and eyebrows of a color that might have been orange or red in normal light, with dark, weary eyes beneath them. A long trench coat of a similar shade. That long sword that he had noticed at first glance. “ Didn’t any of you pay attention?” There was that slightly rough and grating voice again that identified the man in front of them as the speaker from before. Valtierra thought he sounded just a bit exasperated. “ No-no way!” One of the dragons gasped. “ Demon Lord?!” “ Former.” The man…human, judging from his aura…corrected. “ I don’t care who you are.” Valtierra snarled, his golden eyes shifting back and forth between the stranger and his enemies. “ What the hell do you want?!” One spiked eyebrow rose with more elegance than Valtierra expected and the man shrugged. “I was minding my own business when someone,” that was punctuated with a pointed look at Valtierra and the other dragons, “started having a disagreement. A rather loud disagreement, I might add. And of course, there’s that.” The Ancient Dragon stiffened as the red-haired man pointed at Garvera. “ You wave that thing around and expect to go unnoticed?” Valtierra winced, knowing the truth of those words. He really should’ve known better…the situation wasn’t exactly helping, but the tall man had a point. Apparently, since the rest of the dragons weren’t busy feeling a little ashamed of themselves, one of them finally made the connections and figured out the identity of the man interrupting their hunt. “ D-Demon Dragon King, GARV!” Garv?! Valtierra’s eyes widened, and Garv found himself as Garvera’s new target. The former Demon Lord snorted disdainfully. “ Cepheed’s servants are all the same. All talk of their glorious god until faced with someone stronger. Then they’re just whiny and whimpy little dragons again. ” That had the desired effect, on both fronts. The dragons that came for Valtierra immediately began to shout back in anger. The Ancient Dragon blinked. The glowing arrow lowered a bit. “ You dirty demon! Don’t you dare profane our God’s name!” “ Yeah! You’re no longer a Demon Lord, watch what you say!” Garv leered and unsheathed his sword. The abnormally long blade made an ominous and steely hiss as it slid out of its sheath, and the easy, familiar way that he handled it snapped Valtierra’s attention back to the tall, red haired man. “I’ll say whatever the hell I want, Demon Lord or no Demon Lord. I don’t give a damn about that title. In fact, I’m better off without it.” The dragon guards tensed uneasily as he raised the blade. “ Come on. You want me to stop ‘profaning’ that damned Cepheed’s name?” He spat, and though his lips were smiling, his eyes were not. “Then MAKE me.” “How-How dare you!” One of the dragons sputtered, but none of them stepped forward to take up the former Demon Lord’s challenge. In fact, most of them moved, tightening up their semi-circle, as far away from the former demon lord. The Ancient Dragon found himself with the soldiers of the Dragon Army on one side and Garv on the other. Valtierra lowered Garvera completely, slowly, but did not extinguish the light arrow. “How typical.” He snorted bitterly. “You were all so brave when there was ten of you to every one of us. You were all so brave when you were fighting women and children and old men.” He knew he was working himself back in a fury, but couldn’t stop it. “But now you’re faced with an ex-Demon Lord and you can’t even bring yourself to attack!” He shook. The rage was pure…it was strong…and it was the only thing he could hold onto now. “You COWARDS!” Garv gave the dragon a look that was only mildly startled, more amused than anything else. “You really have a bone to pick with them, don’t you, boy?” Valtierra turned on him with a snarl. “Don’t call me boy, you old bastard. You’re no better! You ran away!” He could tell by the sudden stiffening in the other man that he had hit the nail on the head, and while a part of him noted calmly that it was probably NOT a good idea to piss BOTH parties off, his reason and logic had long since packed up and left the vicinity, so the voice spoke in vain. “You’re as much a coward as the rest of them!” It was impossible to gesture with both hands occupied with wielding Garvera, so he just spat the sentiment in the dragons’ general direction. There were a few shuffling sounds and he turned his head to give the soldiers the full force of his glare. “ And I suppose you’re doing something different?” Garv finally asked, his voice cold and dangerous. “Didn’t YOU run away too? Aren’t these dragons chasing you?” Furious, Valtierra spun to face him, ready to… Too late, he realized that Garv had raised a hand and a ball of dark energy was rapidly gathering in it. Too late …too late and too close! You stupid idiot why did you turn your back on him-!!! His mind screamed as the pinpoint of energy expanded and exploded outwards… And went past him. He could feel the slight sting where the force of the attack had barely grazed him on its way past, heard and felt the screams that went up behind him as the spell found its true targets. For a moment, the silence was shattered with spectacular, bone-jarring explosions and high-pitched screams. Just as quickly, the quiet settled back down, with only an occasional groan of agony from behind him to break the silence. Valtierra didn’t move. He could feel his mouth moving, his jaw working as his mind scrambled for something to say after the screeching stop it had just managed to execute a few seconds ago. Garvera was still pointed right at the other man’s face…somehow his instincts had worked well enough for him to bring the weapon into position, but not well enough to fire it. Why would you fire it? He just saved you the trouble of dealing with those dragons! Apparently, his reason had returned…though it was being a bit hysterical now, confused like he was. The desire for self-preservation and reason fought as his hands shook slightly. Garv didn’t blink as he continued to meet Valtierra’s shocked gaze levelly. Almost casually, the former Demon Lord sheathed his sword. “You were saying?” He said calmly, as if one of the most powerful weapons in this world wasn’t pointing at his head, at point-blank range. When there was no reply, he snorted annoyedly and added, “Either make a comment or close your mouth. You’re acting like a landed fish.” Valtierra blinked. Then, very slowly, he closed his mouth and lowered Garvera. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided that it was probably better to not let the arrow fade just yet, and so he had the weapon held at ready, but only on defense. His mind was getting more organized now, and after another moment, he felt it safe enough to speak. “ I was saying,” he continued, surprised at how level and composed his voice sounded to his own ears, “ that you’re a bastard for saying that. That you have no idea how it feels to be betrayed by your own race.” Garv snorted again, this time the sound was full of distain. “Don’t assume things, kid. As it stands, I know exactly how it feels to be betrayed by my own race.” There was a slight note of bitterness that only he caught. And for a second, while most of him screamed LIAR!, a quiet, rational part realized that little note sounded very familiar… He…he sounds like me…I sound like that when I think about…losing faith… The spiky haired man gave him a slightly surprised look when Valtierra allowed the arrow to disappear, the electric blue of the bow dimming and finally fading completely. It left the two of them in near darkness, but it only took a moment for his eyes to adjust. “I have some questions to ask you.” Valtierra finally said. “But first I think it would be better to get out of here.” Garv was still giving him a look that suggested the man thought he had grown an extra head, but then it was gone and he got an easy shrug. “Good idea.” He drawled. ** Garvera didn’t seem to be happy over its lost chance of doing something…but Valtierra could care less what the weapon was ‘feeling’, so to speak. Unfortunately, it was harder to ignore the sentiments from the ex-demon lord, since he was both more sentient and a lot more stubborn. “You interrupted my sleep with all the hysterics.” Garv pointed out, “ It’s not even dawn yet, most people are dead to the world, and I’m not up to arguing conflicting life philosophies with you right now. I’m not as young as I used to be, and this IS a human body. So I am going to catch up on my sleep, and you can do whatever until then.” “Hey!” Valtierra protested as the demon Lord promptly found himself a comfortable looking perch on a sturdy lower branch of a large tree and quite pointedly closed his eyes. He sputtered indignantly for a few more seconds, throwing futile and rather inane threats at the man. It was no use. “I oughta just shoot you …” He muttered spitefully. Garvera stirred and sent a questioning tendril against his mind. He ignored its vague question about his brief thought of homicide and sat down with a huff. Why the hell was he still here anyway? The best thing to do right now would be to leave. A slightly less optimal option would be to kill Garv, then leave. But two things stopped him from that, besides the fact he didn’t like pointless killing. One was that Garv did save him— even though he didn’t ask for it—and by the Dragons’ code of honor, Valtierra owed him a debt. And two, he WAS a demon lord…a tricky opponent to battle even under the best of circumstances. But circumventing that, he could still just get up and leave. So why wasn’t he?? “Dammit, I still have questions…” he muttered under his breath as he propped Garvera against his shoulder, trying to make himself comfortable against the thick trunk of the tree. It wasn’t the safest place…but it was mostly out of sight from the main road that they had come from, and he was getting a little too tired to consider it farther. He was just going to rest his eyes for a few seconds, then he’ll get up and see if he can shake that annoying Demon Lord out of the tree… The next thing he knew, all his reflexes kicked in when he felt someone poke him with a pointed object. By the time his eyes focused enough to see that it was nearly noon and that Garv was standing in front of him with an amused expression and his sheathed sword propped against his shoulder, Garvera was fully drawn and the arrow humming madly, a hairsbreadth from being released. “Jumpy one, aren’t you?” Garv guffawed as Valtierra blinked, confused. “Wha-what?” He blinked again, then suddenly seem to snap completely awake. Garv watched as the dragon jumped to his feet, eyes blazing. “What was that for!?” “What was what for?” Garv replied mildly. “I just wanted to ask if you wanted breakfast, or lunch.” He shrugged, radiating casualness. “Fine with me if you don’t. But I’m starved.” Blinkblinkblink. Valtierra was used to expecting demons to be evil, malicious, and scheming. This one was acting kind of …abnormal. “You said you had questions, didn’t you?” the red haired man looked down at him. Valtierra could feel a crick developing in his neck as he looked up. Damn, he was tall. “So we’ll talk over some food. You can start asking now if you feel like it.” The ancient dragon had to hurry to catch up to the taller man’s longer strides. “Where are you going?” was the first question that came to mind, and incidentally, out of his mouth, before he could stop and think about it. “Now? There’s a nice bar in town that serves good food, that’s where I’m headed. I’m also meeting someone there. In general? I’m going towards Sailloon right now.” “Why?” He found that it was easier to keep up if he pretended he was speed walking. Garv loomed over him by at least a whole foot. “ Business.” Garv’s wide shoulders moved in an easy shrug. “I promised my help to somebody.” “Who?” The golden eyes were wary. “Demons?” The man chuckled, which was a very interesting sight, to say the least. “Hell, I washed my hands of the whole family business a long time ago. No, I’m keeping a promise to this girl that dragged me back here in the first place.” “The same person you’re meeting at breakfast?” “No. Another one.” “Why did you save me?” “I was expecting you to ask that first.” Garv snorted. “Now you’ve got the order all messed up.” Valtierra recognized the bait for what it is and remained silent, giving the ex-Demon lord an expectant look. Garv grinned. “You’re learning. Well, the truth is…” Valtierra’s expression became more interested. “ I don’t really know.” The red haired man shrugged negligently. The Ancient Dragon almost tripped and fell. “Hey, hey…” Garv grabbed his elbow before the aqua-haired dragon could plant himself face-first on the path. “Watch where you’re going. Geez, you’re as clumsy as one of Xellas’s pups.” “Hey!” The dragon protested the indignity of the comparison. “Don’t change the subject, what do you mean, you don’t know?!” Garv released his elbow as he nearly bristled. “I don’t know.” Garv repeated with another shrug. “I just felt like it, I guess.” The ancient dragon rounded on him. “How can you ‘just feel like’ saving one of your natural enemies?” He argued. “It doesn’t make sense! If I was in your position, I wouldn’t have saved you!” The ex-demon lord shrugged that infuriatingly calm shrug again and Valtierra fought the urge to tear out his hair (his own or Garv’s, he wasn’t sure). “Your loss.” Was the amicable response. “Then again, I’ve always been known for doing strange things.” “I’ll say…” Valtierra muttered. “Sorry to screw up your perception of the world some more, boy.” Garv said. “But I’m sure you’ve already experienced some of the screw-ups first hand. This shouldn’t be so hard to swallow after that.” “What?” Valtierra spat bitterly. “you mean the fact that my own race is hunting me? Of course a friendly ex-demon lord with an off-beat sense of humor is no big deal after that.” He fixed his eyes on the path in front him, and Garv had enough sense to stay quiet. For a while, that was all that was said. To Valtierra’s growing dismay, he found the silence surprisingly comfortable. The day was nice, and the calm peace of the path, and the fact that Garv was keeping his mouth shut, was actually soothing. He shook his head sharply at the thought. God forbid he relaxed in the presence of such dangerous company! Scowling, he tightened his grip on Garvera and shot Garv a glare. Then he realized that they starting to exit the path, the dirt road becoming paved with cobblestones. They were in town. “What are you frowning about now?” Garv rumbled. He also looked around, noting briefly just how much they stuck out in this quaint and quiet little town. Oh, well. Probably Zira’s idea of a joke, he thought grumpily. “anyway, there’s that bar.” Actually, judging from the sign on the door, it was a bar/tavern/inn/restaurant combination. And since it was actually closer to lunchtime than breakfast, the place was already bustling. “You go ahead, I’ve got to do something first.” Valtierra gave him a suspicious look. “Are you trying to ditch me?” He asked. Garv grinned. “Are you trying to follow me?” He asked back. Valtierra growled at him and stomped off. Garv scratched his head. “Dragons really are similar…” He muttered under his breath. “I seem to recall that the Cepheed General acted like that a lot…” ** And somewhere, still in the icy regions of the north, a certain blond dragon (who happened to be Cepheed’s General, since there ARE a quite a few blond dragons…) sneezed. “Catching a cold, Filia-chan?” “Shut up, Xelloss.” ** “Welcome! How many?” Valtierra blinked at the buxom waitress, who didn’t seem surprised or afraid at all at his rather…unusual appearance. He didn’t need to look around to see that there weren’t very many people with sea-green colored hair around. In fact, he was the only one in the room. “Um…” He stuttered as she gave him a very calculating look, the kind that made him MORE nervous than if it was just downright threatening or malicious. “Just me.” He forced out. Let Garv find whomever it is that he’s meeting and eat with her. He didn’t care. The waitress beamed at him. “ We’re a little full right now, would a seat at the bar be all right?” “Whatever.” He shrugged. “Right this way, sir!” She chirped. He followed as she led him to one of the few empty seats still open. As he slid into place, she placed a menu in front of him. “I’ll be right back, sugar. Tell me what you want when I get back.” Sugar? Did she just call me ‘sugar’??? The thought was somehow disturbing. Humans are weird… “Humans are weird?” A dry, mildly amused voice said somewhere to his left. Valtierra jumped, surprised at having his mind read so easily. “How…” It wasn’t hard to track down the owner of the voice, seeing as how she was just sitting in the seat to his left. His golden eyes settled on a human woman, looking at him with something that was like interest. Her eyes were deep brown, with just the barest flecks of gold in the depths, and somehow much wiser than even the eyes of the Elders of his Clan. She had one elbow on the polished, dark wood of the bar, and was smiling faintly at him. “I didn’t read your mind, if that’s what you’re thinking.” The woman said casually as she took a sip from the tankard in front of her. “Your expression practically screamed the sentiment.” He stared, trying to gain some measure of information from it. It was surprising for humans—and this one IS human—to be so perceptive. She seemed to wait patiently as he gave her the once over. It was impossible to tell her age. Although the woman looked no older than thirty, there was still that mysterious wisdom in her dark eyes that marked her as someone who had seen more than most others. Her outfit was well worn but not distinctive in any way, just a normal tunic, pants, boots and long cloak. She didn’t seem to have any weapons except for what appeared to be a wooden sword. “What would you like, sir?” The Ancient dragon jumped as the waitress’s cheerful voice sounded right by his ear. It was only by luck that he didn’t scramble away instinctively, and off the stool in the process. The waitress blinked innocently at him as he sputtered a little, and he could have sworn that the woman sitting next to him was hiding a smile. “Sorry sir!” The waitress wailed. “I didn’t mean to startle you!” “Whatever.” Valtierra finally growled when he trusted his voice to sound normal. “Just bring me one of your lunch specials.” “Yessir!” He fought the urge to sigh and roll his eyes as she bounced off. And lost both battles. “You’re wearing that ‘Humans are weird’ expression again.” The woman beside him pointed out helpfully. She didn’t so much as blink when he spun around to face her, golden eyes narrowed dangerously. “Who are you?” He hissed, fist tightening around Garvera. The woman shrugged. “No one important.” She answered carelessly. “And I wouldn’t suggest using Garvera in here. It’d be kind of overkill, don’t you think?” “Oh?” Valtierra drawled slowly. “I don’t think it’d be overkill…especially since you’re someone who very obviously knows what’s going on regarding Garvera.” He watched as the woman narrowed her eyes, her smile widening just a bit as she regarded him coolly. Just when she opened her mouth and Valtierra braced himself for what he knew would be a very scathing reply, a heavy, beefy hand landed firmly on her shoulder. “Hey, Miss!” He looked up to see a bulky, unshaven man who was apparently under the influence of too much alcohol, despite the fact that it was only noon. “You shant jus’ talk with perty boy over ‘ere.” The woman was looking at the hand on her shoulder with an expression that could only be described as mild disgust as the drunk continued on in his slurred speech. “hows ‘bout I show you wha a REAL man can do, eh?” “Not interested.” The woman said with her eyes closed, casually pushing the drunk’s hand off her shoulder. The restaurant crowd laughed as the town drunk staggered back a few steps, and only Valtierra caught the flash of surprise and pain on the intoxicated man’s face. He had also caught the small, deceptively simple twist the woman had put on the push. It was so finely executed that he would’ve believed that it was just a normal, ‘get your hand off my shoulder please’ push except for the fact that he had seen the twist she put on it. Interesting. He thought with a small smirk. Where in the world did a human woman learn a move like that? “Rejected again!” someone hooted, and Valtierra frowned when he saw the man snarl. Humans ARE weird, he thought again, before shrugging. “Here you are, sir!” This time, he didn’t jump. However, he did choke on a yelp that was threatening to leap out of his throat. The waitress didn’t seem to notice as she set a plate of steaming food down in front of him, and that was followed by a tankard overflowing with foaming beer. Valtierra eyed it. “Please enjoy your meal!” She said cheerfully. Valtierra was trying to figure out what the mess on the plate was and how he was supposed to ‘enjoy’ it. The waitress giggled and flounced off. Or at least, tried to. “Hey there, perty!” The ancient dragon rolled his eyes as the drunk went at it again, this time with the waitress. “wanna have a fun time w’ me?” “…um…I’m really busy, sir…” The waitress hedged as she tried to go around the large man. “So…please let me pas-kyaaaaa!” She screeched as the man made a rather unbalanced attempt at grabbing her butt. A loud *smack!* rang through the air as she neatly slapped him in the face. “Must be a waitress skill.” The woman beside him murmured appreciatively. The crowd roared with laughter. The waitress ‘hmphed’, an irritated look on her pretty face, before striding off purposefully. The drunk was left holding his cheek, stunned. “Whatever.” Valtierra muttered for the n-th time today. He poked at the food on his plate. It didn’t poke back, so he figured that at least he didn’t have to fight to eat it. And while most of the things on the plate are pretty strange, he was hungry and he knew for a fact that he can stomach just about anything, having a dragon’s tough constitution and all…Just as he stabbed the fork into what he thought he recognized as a sausage, the door banged open. He ignored it and tasted the sausage. It was decent, so he dug in. “ Should’ve figured.” The woman beside him sighed. “it was too much to hope that those idiots would lay off for one day.” Valtierra ignored her and went on eating, and she raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t tell if she was genuinely amused or not as she dropped her chin on her propped up hand and said, “You’re sitting his seat.” “What?” He said around a mouthful, then swallowed. He was about to repeat the question when a heavy hand landed solidly on his shoulder. Valtierra was by no means weak, but he was taken by surprise as the hand spun him around and he got a lungful of the most vile, alcohol-soaked breath on the completion of the turn. It almost made him nauseous. “YOU!” He held his breath. “YOU’RE IN MY SEAT!” Roared an XL version of the previous drunk, shaking him roughly. Behind him were what appeared to be his assorted lackeys, also all inebriated to some degree. Valtierra was about to retort, preferably with a fist to the drunk’s face, when the big man suddenly stopped, and blinked. The Ancient Dragon wondered if sobriety somehow managed to slap him upside the head. A second later, he was proven wrong. The man was not only completely drunk, he was obviously also a little vision impaired. “Heeeey…” The drunk drawled. “What a pretty lady!!” The woman snorted lightly and hid a smile. Valtierra froze. Physically. His mind was quite active, and screaming rather loudly for the drunk’s blood. The only thing holding him back was the fact that he did not want to make a scene. It would definitely attract a lot of attention of he beat this man to a pulp, especially since the man was almost twice as tall as him and weighed three times as much. Yes…it would attract unwanted attention if he kicked his butt from here to Wolf Pack Island… “Wanna have a drink with me???” the drunk slurred suggestively, pressing closer. That decided things. Valtierra jabbed Garvera into the leaning man’s gut, feeling a satisfied smile steal across his face as the drunk gasped and reeled back just far enough for him to lift his leg and plant his foot firmly in the man’s face. The crowd watched in awed silence as the deceptively slender young man sent the brute flying halfway across the room. Valtierra got up, eyes narrowed dangerously, Garvera held loosely in his left hand. “No. I would not like to have a drink with you.” He said slowly, as if to a very young child. Or to a very drunk man. “Do you have a problem with that?” In fact, he really hoped that the other would have a problem with that. He was itching for a fight. And the other man did not disappoint. “BASTARD!” he screamed and somehow heaved himself to his feet, swaying a little before yelling, “GET HIM!” Valtierra grinned. This is going to be fun. “Idiots.” The woman sighed as she took another sip of her drink. The roar of the people joining battle drowned out her sentiment, but she didn’t seem to mind. Instead, she turned around to watch. The odds seemed very unfair at the beginning, just Valtierra against the drunk and his gang, but soon others from the restaurant pitched in. And of course, she knew the aqua-haired young man was no ordinary man…or to be more precise, ordinary dragon. She didn’t know whether the rest were drunk too, or just infected by the battle in the air. A man was shoved back hard and crashed beside her. She raised an eyebrow as he staggered to his feet and yelled a loud battle cry as he dove back into the fight. The woman sighed again and picked up her cup just as another combatant was thrown, probably by Valtierra since he was originally at the other end of the room, into the bar and slid down. He did manage to stagger a few steps before collapsing face first on the high bar tabletop where her drink was a moment ago. “Should’ve left this where it was.” She made a face at her cup. “This stuff tastes horrible anyway.” The waitress was screaming at them to stop while the bartender tried to drag her back into the kitchen where it was relatively safe. Of course, someone eventually had the brilliant inspiration to throw food as offensive projectiles. Things got messy from there on. ** “Feel better?” Valtierra took a deep, deep breath, then held it. The pounding in his chest gradually slowed and he released the air all at once. That felt good. Garvera was warm and slightly slippery from his sweaty palms, and he tightened his grip on it before straightening. “Yeah.” He answered. Then he thought a bit. “Much.” He added on as an amendment. “Good.” The woman had moved sometime during the battle, and was now sitting with her legs crossed on the only chair that was left unscathed by the impromptu bar room brawl. She looked quite bored, and not really all that happy with the fact that there wasn’t a table to put her tankard down on. The restaurant/bar/inn looked like a hurricane had hit it, with broken tables, chairs and bottles littering the floor right along with the food and the groaning people. “I’m glad someone enjoyed themselves.” Gracefully, she stood up and walked over to the bar, picking her way carefully through the debris, and occasional unconscious brawler, on the floor. The bartender was lying facedown on the bar and she nudged him. “You alive?” There was a series of groans and mumbles from the fallen man. “Great.” The woman agreed with aplomb. She set the tankard down and said, “I’m done with this. Put it on my tab, will you?” More pained sounding noises. “Thanks.” She straightened and turned to stare coolly at Valtierra. “What?” “Nothing.” He muttered. He was saved from having to come up with further conversation by the sound of the door slamming open. Again. “….” The tall, red-haired man looked at the disaster area. To his credit, Garv didn’t do much more than raise an eyebrow as he surveyed the damage, his lips twisting in a semi-amused smile as his eyes lighted on Valtierra. “I didn’t start it.” The Ancient Dragon muttered under his breath, hating the feeling that he was somehow being scolded for being rowdy. “Right.” Garv said placidly. Valtierra had the feeling that the ex-Demon Lord was just humoring him. But the feeling vanished when the big man looked past him and towards the only other person in the room who was still standing. “And how’ve you been, Zira?” The woman sat back down and crossed her arms. “You’re late, Garv.” ** “So you two got acquainted while I wasn’t here?” Garv asked as they walked out of the inn in search of another place to eat. Valtierra wasn’t sure about Zira, but he didn’t get more than a bite in before the fight started, so his stomach was protesting rather loudly at the lost opportunity. Garv also stated rather loudly that he hadn’t had anything to eat either. “No.” Zira replied calmly. Valtierra had the suspicion that the calm was her usual and all pervading state. “I don’t think I caught your name?” “Valtierra.” He said shortly. “Ziracata.” She said just as concisely, inclining her head slightly as greeting. Garv rolled his eyes. “ How did you know about Garvera?” The ancient dragon asked, a tight edge to his tone. A human woman is harmless by most standards... But this one knew about Garvera, and is the one that the ex-Demon Lord came to meet. And something about her set off all his alarms, her unnatural calm was unnerving. “I know a lot of random things.” Zira shrugged. “Garvera just happened to be one of them.” A tactful pause. “I am guessing the very fact that you are here with the Weapon is implying that the Prophecy came true.” The Ancient dragon felt a chill run down his spine. “How did you know about the Prophecy!?” He hissed, spinning to face her. The Prophecy…the prophecy that the Elder had tried so hard to make him understand…the one that foretold of his clan’s ultimate destruction… “HOW?!” Garv shot the woman a warning look, but she ignored it. Truthfully, she replied, “I know of the Prophecy because I was the one who brought it to your Elders.” Valtierra stopped dead in his tracks. “….that’s impossible.” He whispered. “…the Prophecy was given to the leaders of my Clan centuries before I was born. It was supposedly the ultimate message from the Mother of All Things…” “It was.” “Who are you??” Zira smiled slightly and he could detect no lie in her words. “I am who I am. And right now, I’m nothing more than a normal human.” “That’s not an answer.” He snarled. She met his eyes levelly and he almost took a step back. There was no menace, no anger, no hostility at all in the gaze, but still his body instinctively recoiled. “That is all you need to know.” ** “That wasn’t very nice of you, you know?” Zira looked away from her contemplation of the full moon. “How so?” She asked with polite detachment as the ex-demon stopped beside her. Garv shrugged and adjusted the sword on his back. “The kid’s been through a lot. He’s got tons of questions and you just cut them off with one of your eerie looks.” The ex-Demon Lord shrugged again. “It just didn’t seem very fair, staring him down that like that.” “First of all, the ‘kid’ you speak of is probably older than all the people in this town added together.” She replied wryly. “He’ll probably try to strangle you for calling him a kid, by the way. And secondly, he’s the one that is an Ancient Dragon, who are known for their insane fighting abilities. And he has Garvera, on top of that. Just how am I, a mere human woman of no import, capable of intimidating him?” “And am I supposed to say, ‘well, when you put it like that, you do have a point!’?” Garv shot back. “You’ve stared down Lei Magus before, you know. I’ve seen you do it. The poor kid doesn’t stand a chance against you.” “Ah.” She smiled slightly, and Garv couldn’t help but note how she did everything with the same subtleness. Zira never laughed when she could smile, never yelled when a look would do as well. It was as if she hoarded each and every action and emotion for something else, choosing a milder form of expression for everything in their stead. “But that was when I had the full force of my former title behind me. Now I don’t have anything of the sort.” She protested calmly. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” “Of course.” Zira nodded. “Power and responsibility come hand in hand. The power was nice, but the responsibility got tiresome.” She gave him a mocking smile. “And don’t you dare lecture me on getting tired of the responsibility. I’ve been doing this for much longer than you can imagine.” “Right right.” Garv didn’t argue. Instead, he looked to the moon also. The glowing sphere hung serenely in the dark night sky, without a care in the world, undisturbed by the futile struggles of the inhabitants of the earth it illuminates. Garv snorted, he was getting philosophical, that was never a good sign.... “So what now?” he asked conversationally. “The question that everyone is asking.” Zira murmured, crossing her arms. “Do you expect me to know?” “I don’t think anyone knows.” He snorted. “Sure would make life easier if someone did, though. Sometimes I feel like we’re all playing a game and making up the rules as we go along.” “It’s not too far from the truth.” The woman replied with a small smile. After a long but comfortable silence, she changed the subject. “So, do you think he’ll be coming with us?” “ The kid?” Garv raised a spiky eyebrow. “Don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?” She shrugged. “He seems a bit touchy right now…I don’t think going into the details of what’s going on will help, and that’s exactly what we’ll need to do if we take him along.” “ He’ll deal with it. You said it yourself. He isn’t a kid, so treat him like an adult.” The former demon lord stretched, tilting his head a bit to get a crick out of his neck. “I’ve gotta stop sleeping in trees.” He muttered. “Anyway, you’re right, I don’t think he’s in the right mindset to listen to all this balance stuff, but he’s not going to like being kept in the dark even more.” “Personal experience?” “You can say that.” Garv shrugged and turned away to go back into inn they were staying at. Before he reached the door though, he paused. “ Want me to ask him?” he finally asked without turning around. Zira stared at the moon some more, then sighed. “No.” She said quietly but firmly. “It would be dishonest. I will explain everything and ask him to accompany us to Sailloon tomorrow.” “If you say so.” The man answered, departing with a wave. ** Valtierra was just getting ready to go downstairs to breakfast when a quiet knock sounded from outside his door. It was too early for the household staff to come cleaning, and he didn’t think Garv or Zira were the type to extend breakfast invitations in person, so he frowned. After a second of thought, his eyes narrowed and he grabbed Garvera. As he took a step toward the door, reaching out for the doorknob stealthily, there was a soft laugh that he identified as Zira’s. “You won’t be needing Garvera. Just let me in.” She said, her voice a little muffled from behind the wooden door. Valtierra gave a disgusted snort, not sure if he was more irritated with her or with his own jumpy nerves. With a jerk, he pulled the door open and gave Zira his best glare. “What do you want?” He growled. “Good morning to you too.” She said with a raised eyebrow, looking as impeccable as usual. “I wanted to talk to you before we get going today.” “Going? Going where?” He asked as he moved back to let her in. Zira walked in and looked around briefly, noting that indeed, all the rooms in the inn looked the same. “That’s what I would like to ask you.” The woman said calmly as she found herself a seat. “Garv and I are going to Sailloon. We would ask you to join us.” Valtierra paused, not sure what to say. “What business would I have in Sailloon, a city of humans?” He asked warily. “In fact, what business would you have in Sailloon?” Zira sighed, and then shrugged. “The usual business.” She replied. “Saving the world and such.” He blinked. That was delivered in the same tone one would use when describing the weather. “Saving the world?” He asked incredulously. “Now I know you’re trying to play with my head.” Zira shook her head. “I don’t play mind games unless I absolutely have to, Valtierra of the Ancient Dragons. I am completely serious. And I am asking you to help us.” Valtierra had stiffened at her words, and once again gave her a wary look. “Answer my questions honestly then, without leaving vital details out.” He finally said. “Who are you? Why are you asking me this? Why does the world need saving?” Zira found herself at the receiving end of a golden-eyed stare, “I am tired of all the mystery, of all the vague prophecies of future doom.” The memory of the Ancient Dragon Elder and his foreshadowing of the events to come sprang to mind. “ Tell it to me straight out, then I’ll decide.” There was a faintly amused smile on her face as she replied, “Some of the information’s pretty sensitive. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” He merely gave her a look and Zira’s smile widened a bit when he rolled his eyes in exasperation. “ All right, all right. At least it won’t be too hard with you, I had a hell of a time trying to get Filia to believe what I’m saying… now there’s a girl with firmly set principles.” For some reason she stopped and looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, before shrugging whatever it was off and continued. Valtierra was surprised with the sudden change of demeanor. The woman straightened and said, with absolutely no hint of joking, “Are you ready?” ** Garv made a face as he rounded the corner and arrived at his destination. The sun was high in the sky now, but he wasn’t in the best of moods. Both Zira and Valtierra were nowhere to be found, so he guessed Zira must be having her ‘talk’ with him. So he took it upon himself to make preparations for their trip, and found himself at the town stables. There was an easy way to tell whether or not the stable hands had done their job, and how well. But no matter how good the service is, the place will still smell of horse. “I don’t even know why we might need horses.” He grumbled under his breath as he went to the stalls and started looking the animals over. The ex-Demon Lord was sure that Zira had other methods of transportation other than walking…methods that likely involved movement through other planes of reality, sure, but it was still a way to get around. And trans-dimensional travel looked better than riding on one of the horses that he was now staring at. “I mean, I can teleport,” he mused under his breath. “So can Zira. It’s not something you just forget.” His spiky eyebrows drew together as he considered the third and last member of their unlikely party. In fact, he wasn’t sure if Valtierra knew how to teleport. Most of the higher-level dragons do, but Valtierra was fairly young, as far as being a dragon went. “but still, we can just take him with us. Or he can fly.” The red haired man finished as he gave the animal a critical look. Somehow, the idea of riding one of those just didn’t appeal to him. There was a footstep behind him and he turned, half expecting it to be one of the grooms. Instead, a shock of aqua hair greeted him. “Valtierra.” He said in way of greeting. The youth…or dragon, whatever, looked at him and Garv blinked. There was a dazed look on his face, one that was not quite the same as the surprise and anger that Garv had grown used to seeing. “you okay?” “Yes…no…I’m not sure.” Valtierra shrugged and looked around for a place to sit down. “what are you doing here?" “Looking for horses.” Garv answered easily. “Zira wants some of these confounded animals for travel, I suppose. I think we might do better to teleport or fly.” Valtierra didn’t say anything for awhile and Garv almost thought that the young dragon didn’t hear him. “Zira’s probably right. You might attract unwanted attention if you teleport.” He said after a long pause, absently shifting Darkstar’s weapon to his other hand as he rubbed the nose of one of the horses. The former demon lord raised a spiky eyebrow, but admitted that he hadn’t thought about that. “That’s true. It’s been awhile since I’ve tried to avoid trouble, I suppose…” Garv shrugged. “I did figure Zira had a good reason for wanting to travel on these animals.” But despite his words, his handling of the horses was gentle. Valtierra stared, still seemingly deep in thought. “Something bothering you, kid?” “I’m not a kid.” Valtierra automatically retorted, then he sighed. “it’s about going to Sailloon.” He finally muttered. “What about it? If you don’t want to come, then you don’t have to.” Garv said off-handedly. “I thought Zira and I agreed on that, at least.” “I’m not sure where I want to go, really.” Valtierra mused, frowning darkly. “There isn’t a place for me anywhere…my home has been destroyed, my race betrayed me.” Garv found himself receiving a wry smile from the young Ancient dragon. “And I doubt all the demons I find will be as tolerable as you have been.” “Only tolerable?” Garv roared with laughter, startling some horses. “I’d hate to be there when you meet Grausheela then! Or worse, Phibrizo!” He managed to restrain his mirth though, down to a barely noticeable twitch on his lips. “So what’s the reservation you’re having about going to Sailloon? I am tolerable company, after all.” His eyes were amused and Valtierra snorted to hide his own grin. “Zira said, no matter where I decide to go, I have to bear the responsibility for Garvera.” The weapon was silent in his hands as he spoke. “The weapon could alter the outcome of many battles, and I must keep it safe…and neutral.” At that the dragon snorted in distain. “As if I would help any dragons or demons now.” “Then Sailloon would be a good place.” Garv mused. “The city is of humans, and even if they do get the White Magic barrier up, it would not be a place under the protection of either the Dragons or the Demons. If you want a neutral party to go to, Sailloon is good.” The dragon didn’t say anything, and Garv petted the nose of the horse he was standing next to. “If you’ve got nowhere else to go, then come to Sailloon with us.” Garv finally said. “We can use the help, and you won’t have to worry about staying neutral. Zira’s about as neutral as it gets.” Valtierra seemed to hover just a bit longer on the edge of uncertainty. On one hand, he wasn’t sure he wanted to go with them…they had met for barely two days, and already he was feeling entirely too comfortable in the ex-demon’s presence. Zira still unnerved him a little, but he was getting over it. The last thing he needed was to get attached to someone, leaving now would ensure that he’ll remain alone, without anyone to worry about. He already lost his family, his clan…he didn’t need to make a friend in Garv, then lose him too. Nothing is sacred anymore, and he knew just how easily anyone, even someone powerful and seemingly immortal, could die. But he didn’t want to be alone…a part of him ached for the easy comradeship that Garv radiated without effort. Zira too, had her own mysterious charisma. And he had been running away for what seemed like an eternity. Running away for too long, without a destination in mind…it would be wonderful to finally go somewhere, with a purpose. Garv seemed to understand without him having to say anything. “Zira wants to leave after lunch.” “Sounds fine.” *** End Author’s end notes: Why is the story ending here? Besides the fact that my wrist is killing me, they have a need to make a Cool and Dramatic Entrance…later. So I’m ending it here, yeah… |