Dragonlord

Ep 35. Do You Know My Name? (1)

Ep 35. Do You Know My Name? (1)

Ep 35. Do You Know My Name? (1)

The sun was beginning to set by the time the two girls finished sharing tales about their odd mutual acquaintance. Ilias stretched her arms, groaning as she hopped off the park bench.

“Oh gosh, it’s getting late now! We better go home before it gets dark out.”

Light nodded as she likewise hopped off the bench. Serenis eyed the two girls as she rose to her feet after them.

“You two are acquainted as well, yes?”

Ilias and Light looked to Serenis together as they both nodded back in unison.

“Ilias used to live with us a long time ago. Professor knows her too!”

“I spent a few winters in Partivine. After all, it’s a lot cozier than our valley! And I don’t have to deal with an annoying person down here.”

Light looked towards the red dragon at her remark, curiously parroting the last bit.

“Annoying person?”

“Er...just some iron brained snake. Don’t worry about it Light, it’d be bad influence for your fluffy ears!”

Ilias playfully rubbed the half girl’s animal ears, laughing together like close siblings.

Serenis beamed a soft grin at the sight. Raizel had seemed close to the red dragon before as well, but the friendship between the two dragons wasn’t anything like what she was seeing between the Ilias and Light.

Once upon a time, it was common to see her kin spending time like this with other races. Some would build their homes around the kin’s nests, later to become devout worshippers and trusted friends. Some would even build families with the kin.

Once upon a time, that is.

“...Well, I best get going before the sun sets as well.”

Serenis summoned her mana wings as she prepared to take her leave, waving a short farewell to the two. With how late it was getting, walking would likely result in Patrick scolding her about how she shouldn’t stay outside so late – not because there was an actual reason not to, but because that was just the human thing to say to a little sibling. Humans and their weird customs.

“Bye, Zion! See you tomorrow!”

As a high-pitched howl echoed from the distance, the fallen beasts immediately rose to their feet. They sprinted away while carrying their limping bodies, disappearing into the large sewer tunnels that the streams led into.

Serenis’ eyes remained fixed on the fleeting creatures as they ran past. Her eyes clearly noted the small, crimson spell circles on their necks, hidden amongst their white scales and patches of fur.

‘...Marks? Curses?’

Before the dragonlord could launch herself into the air after the fleeting beasts, a tugging weight around her wrist stopped her from doing so. Light had her fingers desperately wrapped around Serenis while rapidly shaking her head.

“I, I’m really sorry, but...let’s let them go? Just this once...please?”

Light’s eyes were mixed with fear and guilt as she held onto her friend’s arm. Her entire body was trembling all over again as if her cold had suddenly returned.

Serenis returned a perplexed gaze at the half stopping her.

“I’m failing to understand your point. Those beasts just attacked civilians.”

“They’re not beasts. They’re all...”

“...All?”

“They’re all just...animals.”

“...”

‘Is this what’s been keeping her from home recently?’

Serenis let out a slow sigh. The arm Light was gripping on was madly shaking, and the desperation in the half girl’s eyes clearly stated that the matter wasn’t up for discussion. Aggressive beasts were one thing, but safety concerns for children preceded strange events.

And while the dragonlord hesitated, the surrounding civilians were busily reporting the scene to the patrolling members of the enforcement sector. Agents were beginning to gather around the park, and if her encounter with Iris was anything to go by, standing out in the sector’s plain sight was not a good idea.

“...Don’t worry child, I’ll do as you say. Head home and rest; Ilias, take care of her.”

Truthfully, Serenis wanted nothing more than to chase the beasts into the tunnels and discern their makings. The prismatic light they’d used were all too familiar to her own magic, and their white, deformed figures had eerily reminded her of a dragonkin’s – even though neither should be even remotely possible.

‘I’ll just have to return after they’re home.’

And avoiding the agents would be much easier with someone who knew them through and through, anyways.