The daylight fell to dusk as Sam and I stared at each other. Her ethereal form standing so still yet wisps of her danced in the calm breeze. Her face had changed somewhat over the years. A scar now showed itself across her face from over her left eye to just below her right cheek bone. A scar that was well taken care of. No puckering or real deformation left. Just jaggedly pale skin.
Slight wrinkling around her eyes showed a wisdom of age and her hair though still blonde had large white streaks throughout it. I realized then that I had truly been gone far too long. I held out a had and gently attempted to touch her. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to.
My hand was met with hers as she reached out too. But all I felt was the cold air where her warm strong embracing fingers should be. Then my true agony hit. The fact she was here but not touchable hurt. The fact I would never again share a real meal with my wife till death. The thought of our empty home. Her struggling to raise our children while I was off gods knew where. And I felt the tears of frustration flow. The anger, the pain, the sky falling grief that were overwhelming.
The stones and trees groaned in unison as I hit my knees. My world felt as though it was crumbling apart all over again as I saw the flashbacks of everyone I had lost in unison. moments where I wish I had said goodbye to the days I regretted my last immature words to people as though I'd see them the next day. the sky darkened as thunder rumbled and lightning crackled within the dark clouds embrace.
Sam's eyes softened as I let my head down where the tears ran freely. "Ignis. My husband. I'm glad you're home." Her melodious voice held an aged tone. Motherly and time worn. But comforting against the grief. "I knew you'd come back. You never were one to give much thought to time constraints." She said with a smile. Her eyes looking down at my kneeling form.
"Ignis... Look at me my love." I trembled as I fought my own self loathing to look up at her. She had a kind expression as she floated towards me. Her right hand reaching out to cup my cheek only for me to feel the chilled air instead of her warmth. "I gave up waiting a long time ago. I knew you'd return. So I focused on raising our sons into two fine men. And they've made me proud."
A sudden explosion was heard from inside my mansion as smoke started pouring out of one of the top windows and we could hear coughing and cursing coming from inside.
"In most aspects...." Sam said with a grimace. I saw the window open and a cloud of billowing smoke poured out as an obscured horned head peaked out bucking around with every cough. "Blasted Powder will never do what I need it too! It's picky about the smallest gram of anything I put in. Too much and Kaboom but too little and all it does is sizzle!" We heard a tenor voice speak from inside.
"If not for Agni's constant attempt to perfect explosives he would have probably found a wife by now..." Sam said as she facepalmed.
I couldn't help but grin a little bit as my tears slowed and I realized one of my sons was still home. My hunt was already half over. But the feeling of loss was still immense. I slowly got to my feet and Sam nodded toward the house. "I'll still be here when you get back. I'm not going anywhere." She said as she turned to watch the sun rise over the mountains. The light reflecting off the metallic deposits and crystals.
I took the hint and slowly moved toward the house. My feet thudding against the ground Obviously catching the attention of whoever was inside. I could hear and feel the quick rush of clawed feet as the door opened revealing someone who could only be my son. His red scales were as brilliant as fire and seemed to sizzle if you looked close enough. His eyes were gold as were his horns. A head of dark hair danced on his head despite some being slightly burnt from his experiment earlier. His eyes were locked on me as he suddenly leaned against the door frame.
"Not another one of you dragon clan bastards." He said as he shook his head.
"How many times do I have to tell you idiots I will never join your group! I've been over this a thousand times. Never in a thousand years will I join your pompous, egotistical, self-inflated, and judgmental clan." He said as flames started from his hands moving their way up his arms making it look as though his arms were made of flames.
I just stood there with an eyebrow raised as my thoughts seemed to tumble around. (Well it has been a century since he saw me last not to mention he was a baby so he wouldn't remember me if he tried. But shouldn't people at least have described what I looked like or who I was? iyiyi!) I rubbed the back of my head as I started walking forward.
Agni raised his hands and blasted flames toward me. "Don't blame me for being rude you arrogant lizard!" he shouted as the flames hit and wrapped around me. They couldn't damage me by any means but it did warm up my cold and sore bones from all the years I spent sitting. which was a very nice feeling.
"What nice flames. Warms the old bones and makes one feel welcome." I said with a sigh as I walked out of them completely unscathed. "You must have assumed I was of the dragon clan because of my form son. But..." My body shifted till I was his height without horns, wings, or a tail. My face had become an older version of my old face. the only exception being a few wrinkles here and there with some gray hairs for the aged effect.
"Your mother should have at least told you your father could take on hundreds of forms if he wished." I rumbled out as we looked each other in the eyes. His face held a shocked expression as I patted his shoulder and entered the house to see if anything had changed over the years.
As I entered I felt a slight resistance. Like water's surface before its breached. I stepped through it with ease before lightning started raining down on my body with little to no effect. Flames followed from the floor soon after as glyphs and runes lit up activating whatever traps and formations my son's had laid out in case of intruders. A cloud of dust rose from all the rampant elements attacking me though it didn't bother me at all. I simply chose to stand there and wait for them to finish.
Though I'm kinda glad to say it didn't take long. The cloud clear as I waved my hand back and forth with a sneeze and a cough. The dust made my eyes water a little. But nothing with lasting effects. As the cloud was cleared I got a decent view of the entryway.
There were a few adjustments I could see. the table in the dining room was different from the marble one before. this one was darker and made of obsidian. The smell of the stone gave it away to my heightened senses. The wood bannister on the stairs had been changed out for a metal one. Even the flooring which used to be solid white tile with gold inlay had been replaced by blue swirling tiles with silver inlay.
I turned about inspecting the house as Agni stared at me. His gaze confused and seemingly overloaded. "Baraks and my traps activated. He should be nothing but a pile of ash right now. How the hell is he unaffected by them." He though as a small amount of sweat formed on him. His fire obviously had little effect and lightning hadn't even fazed this old man. So what could be possibly do to chase this draconic geezer away?
He tapped a stone covered band on his wrist before holding it to his face. "Brother. We have an intruder at the house. I can't take him and the traps did nothing to him. What do I do?" He spoke to it as it glowed a dim white.
A calm yet quick voice responded from it. "Hold them there if you can. I'm on my way."
Agni dropped his hand as the glow faded and he followed the old man into the house.
The stranger had made it to the living room and was standing in front of the mantle where a painting of the family was hanging. Agni and Barak were little in the painting being held by there mother while a large golden dragonman stood tall behind them. His scales were gem dotted though the painting showed it poorly. His arms had become shadows behind his tall figure. And the paintings age showed that just as well. Being slightly frayed in areas with some discoloring here and there.
" You were once so small. I was afraid to break you both when you hatched. So your mother opted to hold you in my place for the two hours the sketch took." The stranger muttered as his right hand lightly traced the two children in the painting. Sam holding Agni in her right arm with Barak in her left.
Agni could hear the stranger but no matter how he thought things his mind just couldn't wrap around them. "Who are you!" He shouted as red flames rose from his skin in anger and confusion. "How dare you say you knew us! How dare you say things like you are my father!" He roared as he strode forward till he was standing beside the man as he seethed with rage.
And me. I gently turned to the young man and placed a hand on his shoulder as I realized a harsh truth. "I can't say that I was your Father. As I was gone almost the entirety of your existence up till now. But... I am the one who loved your mother and both you and your brother. And despite the choices I was forced to make for the benefit of others. I still do. Though I was incapable of showing you and your brother love and support in a fatherly manner. I had hoped to try repairing that bridge so to speak. If that's what you want." I said as my body began to shift back. Back to who I really was.
My gold scales were adorned with jewels who's light danced with the flames of the fireplace. My eyes had become sharper and rainbow filled and multiple arms graced my frame. My body expanded till I was once again taller than him. And as I grew the house shivered as different runes danced across the walls. Ones I had put on them long ago.
The house began to stretch and twist slightly to fit my large frame before I stretched my hunched neck so I could stand at my full height.
Agni's eyes rounded out as he was now forced to look up at me with my now much larger clawed and scaled hand on his shoulder. He could feel the power eminating from my full figure as I didn't hold it back anymore. I was his Father. His Sire to be more precise. And he deserved to know who I was more than anyone.
I heard a crackling noise outside the house and felt charge in the air as something sot down from the sky outside before slamming into the front lawn. I could hear the whine of energy coming from outside as a white scaled dragon man stepped into the house. Energy crackled across his calm frame as he entered. His forked tail lightly tapped the ground creating a light pitch from it vibrating.
I turned to the door and found none other than Barak standing there. And despite appearing calm. I could tell he was mad.