Dragonlord

Ep 167. I’m Always Right Here. (1)

Ep 167. I’m Always Right Here. (1)

Ep 167. I’m Always Right Here. (1)

When the group made it out of Aymeia’s temple, the sun was just beginning to set on the horizon. An orange hue painted the skies, and the sun was just beginning to sink beyond the distant mountains.

That alone was enough to warrant a surprised reaction from Light.

“Wait...how long have we been in there?!”

When she’d first entered the temple with Serenis and Aymeia, it was already near sundown – and it certainly didn’t make sense that they’d spent less than an hour in the temple.

Hence, the only logical conclusion was...

“A full day, I suppose.”

While Serenis indifferently answered the half, the dragonlord furrowed her brows at the sight of the setting sun. It certainly hadn’t felt like they’d spent an entire day in the Archive.

Alas, the skies told otherwise.

Brushing the thought aside, Serenis quickly stepped forward. Shimmering lights enveloped her figure as the mass of light rapidly expanded, soon shattering apart to reveal a giant white dragon in its place.

She then cocked her head, urging the others to get on – especially Aymeia, who was still holding the black critter in her hands.

“Come. We’ve little time to waste.”

It was time to take the youngling home.

✧ ✧ ✧

As disturbing as their departure from the Archive was, Serenis found herself quickly occupied by other thoughts.

Namely...

‘...So it was Raizel after all.’

With the dragonlord taking to the skies with others in her proper form, everyone else began to process all that had happened at the Archive.

Aymeia was back to being reserved and quiet. With the Reaper’s passing, she seemed to spend most of her time staring at nothing, lost in her own thoughts.

Light was still examining herself every then and there, wondering if anything had changed. Although Serenis had no idea why, the dragonlord merely assumed that the half was making sure that everything was alright.

Karas was back to being limp and exhausted. While everyone else rode on Serenis’ back, Karas alone had to be held in the dragon’s grip to make sure he wouldn’t slide off.

Raizel – or rather, the furry black critter, which Karas confirmed as Raizel – had abandoned the comfort of Aymeia’s hands to ride along within the academic’s coat, poking and biting at him just for the heck of it.

And lastly, Serenis herself reflected on the Archive: what it once was, as well as what it’d become.

‘...I suppose even the summit would change with time.’

During her own era, the World Summit had been named that for a reason: it rested above the star’s highest peak, hidden above a ring of clouds that would never disperse. The only structure that stood within was the First’s temple, and nothing besides.

The clouds surrounding the peak had always served as a boundary between the star and the divinity’s domain. As long as one could traverse to the peak, they could reach the summit; while strange, the area had never been considered separate from their world.

Serenis maintained a small fire within the cavern, keeping the hollow sufficiently warm throughout the night. She occasionally pet the spider on her shoulder with her fingertip, who’d since abandoned the professor’s pockets.

But before the night would fully pass, Karas stirred awake, groaning as he lifted his tired body.

The academic rapidly shook his head to wake himself. He balled and loosened his fist several times to check his own aptitude.

Confirming that he was alright, he turned to the only other awake person nearby.

“By the Twelve...have I been out the whole flight? Where are we?”

“Halfway back to the nest. How are you feeling?”

“...Better, actually. Though I’m not sure why.”

“Light shoved a mana crystal into your mouth earlier. Perhaps that helped.”

“Ah...did she? That’s-“

Karas looked around the small cavern, searching for his student.

But much to his dismay, he only found Aymeia sound asleep. Otherwise, Serenis was standing by the cavern’s entrance with the spider on her shoulders.

And Light was nowhere to be found.

“...Serenis?”

“Yes?”

“Where’s Light??”

“...”

For a moment, Serenis refused to give a response. She only stared back at the awoken academic with crossed arms, casually leaning against the hollow’s entrance.

Eventually, she slowly slid out one of her hands, pointing towards a particular direction outside.

“She awoke not too long ago. If I recall correctly, she claimed she needed some air.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“If you’re concerned for her safety, I’ve already examined our surroundings. There aren’t any beasts or the like lurking about. She hasn’t gone far, either – I can sense her quite easily.”

“No, that’s not the issue, it’s...”

“Yes?”

“...Never mind. She went that way?”

Rushing to his feet, Karas didn’t even bother for Serenis to return a verbal response. He made quick note of the direction her finger was pointing towards, hurriedly fixing his coat before following after his student’s footsteps.

And Serenis returned to leaning at her leisure, watching the academic traversing through the snow.

‘...Whatever’s up with them?’