123 | territory; echoes of azure reverie

Niklas' dispirited demure paled further when a white letter was deposited into his open hands. The envelope had already been crudely torn, and an unamused Wisteria regarded him coldly.

"You won't sit here quietly, will you?"

Niklas' azure eyes scanned the contents and he smiled helplessly. He resembled a sick patient on their deathbed, with hollowed cheeks, and a weak smile.

The life draining, or whatever the elder had done, did not come easy.

It was in his best interest to rest, Wisteria knew from his knowledge of dragons. The elders' secrets were buried deep within their lands, but even a young dragon would know as much.

A human who was inflicted with ancient magic was a risky and experimental case. Niklas' situation could deteriorate at any moment.

Wisteria scowled internally, expression dark in the bone-scattered cave.

His brother, severely injured, this fool, a depleted life, and the other pink-haired fool, rapidly dying.

The young teenager they brought was the only sane one—he excluded the crazed blonde woman who ran around chasing rabbits in the forest.

And now, the cherry on top, their companion held hostage.

"You said so yourself, that the human prince would not harm that woman. That is why you allowed her to enter alone."

"I did say that." Niklas folded the paper, taking a deep breath. "I don't know why, but it seems he's determined to infiltrate these lands of yours."

"We would not fall to a human army. What will you do?"

"I'm helpless. I'm usually alright at weaseling my way into a third option, but there are only two."

To allow Reed to find them and save Nicola, or to abandon her.

It was true that he would likely not harm her. Niklas knew that best. The pair that almost wedded before he fabulously crashed it.

He'd destroyed half the castle and the venue, stalling the carriages rolling on their way and luring Nicola into finding the truth of Kaden's identity.

But what of the one percent chance that harm came her way?

Reed was meticulous. If they refused to reveal their location, he might not harm her, but he could disappear with her by his side.

He'd done a good job of disappearing in the past, rebuilding his reputation, and gathering allies from the shadows.

Most likely, Niklas concluded, Reed had prepared a grand finale in these lands.

The report told of a sizable gathering of loyal soldiers Reed had gathered. There was something he wanted in these lands, and he was willing to risk everything.

If it was something Niklas could give, he would've given it.

He didn't want bloodshed and violence. He didn't want schemes and conflict. It was all tiring, and really, he just wanted to drag Kaden back to meet his father.

The Duke who insisted on protecting that child despite Niklas' desire for revenge.

They'd fought before. Why would he allow his mother's killer to roam free? But the Duke had shaken his head in the quiet way he did, eyes dark and sorrowful.

He could not forgive, and he also couldn't forget. Niklas had watched his father's silent grief and later wondered. Was he merely grieving the loss of his beloved or the fleeting child who smiled shyly at him?

Niklas had lost his mother, but the Duke had lost his lover and a son.

"There are different territories in these lands, right? You've told me once, that Noah was set to become the next elder of one, and he'd fled."

Wisteria had crouched down, stacking a pile of bones in a criss-cross pattern. His bored gaze flicked over. "Yes. The Elder there is slowly dying, although not to be underestimated. They wanted to pass down their role and die in solitude."

"And Noah refused."

"It's not a simple thing, becoming an elder. We are all solitary, expected to live and die alone. An Elder doesn't save anybody—they serve as a reminder of our laws and discipline those who disobey them. They are expected to watch death and to grant it."

It was easy to tell that the curious dragon who simply wanted to roam the world would not desire such a role.

And an Elder was a symbol of fear and destruction. All the things Noah despised about himself, carefully hiding any trace of it.

"Would he lose his freedom?"

The bone stack collapsed, an echo scattering throughout the cave. Wisteria slowly turned his head.

"He wouldn't." Wisteria started another stack. "But he might lose himself. You've seen the elder who stole your life. She is the Elder of Skeletal Hollows. Although she is a particular case, many are crazed, some never speak, and others isolate themselves deep in their territories, never to be seen. Our nature is dark, depressing and lonely. Elders are forced to embrace that twisted nature."

"My brother would no longer be able to wear the mask of a human as he is so fond of."

"I think humans are trivial, futile, and pathetic things. But it's the facade he clings to, the one thing he dreams about." The sharp gaze latched onto Niklas' figure coldly.

"I don't know what you wanted from asking, but if you hope to force him to claim that role, our alliance ends here."

Niklas stared at his hands, and the weakness of the life-draining made him appear even weaker. There he was, the only regular in a crowd of non-regulars. All he had was his knowledge of the future, and even that had already slipped through the cracks of his fingers.

He had always been keenly aware that there would be death and violence, a constant to the madness that trailed behind their twisted paths.

For that reason, he'd befriended and made contacts with other species and humans alike, drilling an infallible reputation. He gained his reputation as the Organizer using his knowledge of the future to claim treasures that never belonged to him.

In fact, Niklas Astors was already an impressive man, a qualified child of the Duke's—although the societal expectation that he met that 'qualification' was ridiculous to begin with.

But in the light of his friends' lives and an uncertain future, he became helpless.

They could not abandon Nicola. Therefore, Niklas would reveal their location and allow Reed Chauvet to enter these lands. He felt it, the deep foreboding in the core of his soul, that an end would near.

Niklas looked up to the rugged grooves of the stone walls that concaved around him, seeing a glimmer of moisture sheen over the surface. Moss delicately huddled in small groups along the crevices. The air circled him, blanketing him in a chill.

If they could utilize the fact that the dragons had different territories—if they could find a territory that they could manipulate to give them an advantage...

The dragons would defend their hidden land but likely wouldn't interfere unless the situation grew dire. If it did, they would not hesitate to kill both the intruders and Niklas and his companions.

Arlo was a powerful knight, and Holly could wield her flames although she was reluctant to use them.

Niklas could call for help—but when would they arrive, and who would he be risking?

Both Kaden and Noah were powerful allies that rivaled a dozen regular men, and Wisteria would aid them if it meant supporting Noah.

The letter was from the Faerie who aided them. She could no longer leave the Record Hall for an undetermined amount of time, and the last of her little strength had been a warning.

Dear human, she wrote, my world is on fire. Soon, yours will be too.

He crumpled the letter in his hands, lowering his head to his palms. All Niklas knew was doubt.

The bones shifted around him, and it wasn't from Wisteria who had taken to making a third stack of bones while waiting for an answer. There were two sets of feet, crunching against the scattered white pieces, standing by his blanket.

Niklas slowly moved his face from his hands, looking up.

Noah sighed at him with a scrutinizing look, and Kaden smiled lopsidedly although there was tension in his gaze.

He held out his hand. "Give me that letter, you foolish brother."

His tone was purposely light, and commanding, but Niklas heard the helplessness behind it. The tone that said, 'let me help you'. They always tried to do everything alone, and where did it get them?

Kaden quickly read through the letter as Niklas laughed shakily, and his expression turned grave. Kaden thought of the beautiful Faerie who gave him her name—most likely, even if he called, she would not be able to answer.

For some reason, something deep inside him felt comforted by her presence, as if her hands had once touched his soul in a familiar, calming embrace. Of course, such a thought was ridiculous.

His first step was to look sideways at Noah. These were his lands, even if he abandoned them once.

Noah's gaze was stern. "We will reveal our location. Let him come. The Dragons are not frightened of a mere human army."

"The Dragon's Treasure has been carefully hidden since long ago—"

Noah shook his head. "It isn't as hidden as you'd expect. Only, intruders either don't remember the way to arrive, died, or were trustworthy. Revealing a single territory, as long as we contain them, will not expose the others."

He paused. "If the other territories are exposed, it is not Dragons who should be frightened."

Wisteria hoarsely spoke from the corner he crouched in. "Yes, we are death and destruction. Any dangers to our kind will be immediately removed."

Kaden seemed to understand the distinct difference between the two dragon brothers and himself. Noah's expression faltered, the coldness quickly slipping away as he scanned Kaden's face with a slight of panic. The other smiled at him.

"I'm not scared," he mouthed, his lip quirking. "Only curious."

The differences only made him grateful. Grateful knowing there were so many aspects of the dragon he'd yet to learn.

Noah shifted, his back straightening slightly. Gears twisted, long rusted, and now turning and creaking inside him as power strummed in his blood, prodding at a slumbering power.

Noah Bellamy had the potential to become an Elder at a young age, with a birth-granted power that had unlimited potential.

There were many who observed him from his youth, coldly treating him according to their rules, holding him to a higher expectation.

Independence, restraint, and the knowledge that he was something to be feared—all these things were drilled into his little mind from the beginning.

The territory he'd grown up in was called Arcane Reverie.

It was a land where all those who entered would not know what path to take, space twisting and lefts becoming rights while up became down. Nothing was set, always changing in a constant of movement that couldn't be patterned.

Every day, he woke to a different scenery. Withering forests or bleeding oceans, the rubbles and ruins of an ancient building or towering structures carved into a mountain's face.

The only constant was the ink-dyed skies, scattered with swirls of violent purple and blue, intertwining with the scatter of glittering stars far above.

Sometimes, the light would cast against the ground and reflect along the shimmering waters, painting the territory in a mysterious hue.

Once, he'd seen the dying elder. He was a slender and gentle man who danced under the nebula of his skies, the colours entangling with flowing white cloth of silk and sheer that spun around him like a second skin.

He danced at the crumbling corners of a cliffside, weaving between tall rock structures that surrounded him.

The elder did not fear anything.

Noah had been mesmerized by that scene.

But he never feared the land. He feared what he would become.

But the dragon, intelligent and quick-minded, understood what plans Niklas had. Fighting in a territory that they could control would be beneficial, and crucial for them who lacked manpower.

His fingers pressed deeply into his palms, scaled and black, a sign of his inhumanness that he could never hide. Then, a calloused but warm hand lightly tugged his fingers open, sneakily curling around them.

Noah's dark gaze shifted sideways, reflecting the awkward but adoring green gaze.

Kaden was working hard to change. And what of Noah? How long could he remain stagnate in time, frightened of what he was born to be?

Noah closed his eyes, and they trembled lightly. When they opened slowly again, the dark pupils were filled with certainty. Wisteria flinched, leaping to his feet as if about to protest.

"I will claim my land. Let him come, and see if he is more powerful than the echoes of Arcane Reverie."

His voice strummed with a power forged of unwavering will, low and loud in the enclosed space. His bones cracked, dark and deadly wings sprouting from his shoulder blades.

A twisted and sharp horn pierced through his skull, and his black scales chased further up his hands.

A pale purple glow took to his fathomless gaze, and the scales crept up the side of his neck. The sound of cracking bones echoed throughout the cave and Niklas winced.

Behind them, a low and delighted applause sounded.

The elder of Skeletal Hollows cackled, clapping her withered hands violently. "Now, dear boy, have you finally accepted your destiny? Finally abandoned the fleeting dreams of living among humans?"

Noah, transformed into a state that seemed more powerful than his half-human state Kaden had seen before, regarded her with cold eyes.

He shook his head. "I can accept it. But I won't live a life designed by our kind."

"What nonsense. Look at you! If you accept your role, who will accept you in human society, how much longer can you pretend—"

Kaden stood in front of Noah, his gaze vicious and cruel. "Continue your mocking, Elder, and I will ensure that it will be your last."

"Threatening an Elder, boy, have you no fear?"

Kaden smiled, and the smile stretched further and further until it filled his face in black swirls, warping and distorting his face. His body seemed to twist and crack and the elder took a step back.

In seconds, his appearance returned to normal.

He said kindly, with a mocking drawl, "It would be best not to underestimate humans, Elder."

Noah frowned at him. "Don't use your blessing."

Kaden blinked and all viciousness receded. It was like an aggressive and mad dog that was suddenly obedient. "I did it instinctively—"

"Even if it's to protect us. Don't use your lifespan, Chauvet."

"I will... do my best."

"Do better."

The sinner who spent the past three years threatening and mocking people with his blessing fell silent. He had to admit using his blessing to scare others had been so easy, he did it often.

It was really easy... he looked sideways and met the cold, unwavering, and scolding black gaze.

He tried to negotiate. "Every now and then—"

"No." Noah paused and amended his words. "If you're in a life-threatening situation, I'll allow it. Otherwise, there are other methods you can use."

The sharp and slanted gaze seemed to say, 'don't be lazy.'

In fact, Kaden did have an arsenal of skills to threaten people with. Only, they were less straightforward and tedious.

Even murderers had the right to laziness!

He opened his mouth to argue and the glare became more vicious. It was like being stared at by a rabid dog ready to attack at any second.

"...I will do my best."

Noah nodded in satisfaction and Niklas howled in laughter, watching his prickly and murderous friend being tamed by a few sentences.

"Aw, good boy, Kaden! You're so~ obedient!"

Kaden glared sideways, and the Elder who'd been ignored suddenly was speechless. Being threatened and then ignored—was this the way of humans?