So Sylvi was right. I did feel the location. Just a satisfying tingle that lead the way up a mountain not too far. I also felt more than one presence up there. Small dragons are scene above circling the graveyard.
"Whew, good thing they're far" Dionis peeks ahead"
"Keep your head down so they don't spot you" Kale pushes his head back down. There are tiny fly creatures up there. You'll have to focus to see em. Don't let them get to you, a bite is poisonous. They'll also alert the others from the poison burning into your scales."
"So how the hell?"
"Smoke" Kale looks over at him.
Hyker holds his hands together and cools down his fire blowing out smoke
"Gonna help or do you all want to die?"
Both Dionis and Kale blow out smoke getting rid of the flies.
"And if they get inside?"
"Burning feeling. Slow and intense pain from the inside out. A pulsating feeling as they eat you from the inside out. Alright let's move". Dionis climbs up his vision starting to change.
"Let it happen don't fight it. Still keep up, we don't know what's up here that'll take what your mom needs"
Dionis let's his eyes change back from green slits to regular pupils. "Your eyes are getting used to this environment, next time you're up here you'll know where you're going and will sense things faster not only with your sense but your eyes as well."
"What are we looking for again?"
Hyker points to a flower with scales surrounding it.
"Pfft like that's gonna be easy."
Dionis draws his sword and sniffs. "Yeah I definitely smell others around here.
Hyker looks around cautiously
"Yeah and they're good at hiding too... oh wait" he looks down punching through the ground pulling a mutant out from the ground throwing him through the air.
Kale levitates and burns the mutant to a crisp, Dionis jumping up as more reach for him. "There's always a big one, where is he at?"
"Yeah don't let more come out."
Dionis takes his sword out and slices through the rest. "Why not?"
"They form..." Kale ducks down sweeping a mutant off its feet stomping its head in. "A giant mutant anddd we don't have time to deal with that so get the flower and let's get the fuck out of here.
Dionis flies past the mutants swiftly grabbing the flower and tugging. "What the fuck?"
Kale looks back at Dionis and sees him struggling. "Oh it's that flower... dammit babe"
A giant mutant comes out of the ground Dionis holding on to the flower in its head "Uh oh..."
The mutant stares at him and inhales
Dionis curls into a ball and gets swallowed
"What the hell is he doing?" Hyker creates a wave of fire blasting mutants off the mountain.
"You know damn well what he's doing, does he know? I hope he does"
"Ugh... stinks" Dionis creates a fire inside burning the mutant from the inside. "Oooh Purple Heart." He stabs the heart, the mutant dropping down. Dionis cuts himself out blood and slime covering his body. "That was easy" he cuts the flower off and looks at it. "Fancy", let's go.
-Hour later-
Dionis walks into Slyvi's home setting the flower down. "Shower?"
Slyvi motions all around. "Nature my boy"
"Of course" he looks at Jane. "You ok?"
She nods and smiles a bit. "You're coming with me right?"
"Of course, I have to see my girls" he smiles and leaves to a nearby river to bathe.
"Do you need all the scales?" Rosa looks up at Slyvi.
"Oooh a fairy" Jane looks at her
"Awwww you must be his friend" she smiles
"Keep em" Sylvi gives Rosa a scale.
Rosa smiles holding the scale. "Will you be leaving soon? I will bring my husband once I return this scale to our home."
Sylvi hands the medicine to Dionis. "A small dose once a day."
He nods and smiles.
Dionis looks at Sylvi. "Thank you. I owe you.
Sylvi shakes her head. No need hon.
"I'm gonna go uh… visit".
Rosa nods. "Be safe"
"Always." He looks at Jane. "Ready?"
Jane nods and smiles.
Dionis leaves with Jane as Rosa stays with Sylvi.
"So I can pretty much guess what you're making. Does he know?"
"Not at all".
"That's a lot of responsibility for a boy his age."
"He has Orin and I. Along with you three."
Hyker looks over. "Who said we'd help?"
"Oh you two are definitely helping whether you want to or not. All that hidden power will need to be unlocked somehow and you two know how to do that so… yeah you're helping. We'll let you know when we need it."
Kale pats his back. "Go on, I'll be here for the night. I'll bring back food for tomorrow."
"Yeah yeah have fun. See ya Sylvi."
Sylvi waves. Don't be an ass Kale we know you're a big softy."
"You keep telling yourselves that." He flies off.
Dionis looks over at Jane noticing how she's grown and smiles.
She looks back and chuckles. "What?"
"You've grown."
"Duh" she giggles.
Dionis laughs. "I'm just saying, I haven't seen my sister in years and I see her again and she's just a strong and beautiful young woman. I'm proud of you." He smiles.
She sticks her tongue out at him. "Don't get all sappy on me now. Can't let Aliss see you like that, she'll definitely make fun of you."
"Like you are now?" He smirks at her.
"I'm not making fun, I'm stating the truth."
The two make it back to the house. Nothing changed from when Dionis lived there years ago.
Jane looks back at Dionis who stares at the door.
"You ok?"
He takes a deep breath and exhales nodding his head. "Yeah."
Jane nods hugging him and opening the door walking in.
"Took you long enough, I just made dinner, mom had her plate already, she's upstairs resting."
Aliss's hair grew longer down her back, and tattoos covered her arms.
"I never saw you as the tattoo type Aliss."
Dionis leans against the wall with a grin.
She looks over dropping a plate.
Dionis catches the plate with his tail. "You're still clumsy I see" he chuckles setting the plate down as she runs towards over hugging him tightly.
"Awwwww Aliss affection?"
Jane giggles.
Aliss sobs into his shoulder ignoring Jane.
"Dad left, a—and mom is sick, and a bunch is going on and-"
"Sssh sssh. Jane told me. I know, and I'm here to help."
"It's not fair…" she sniffles.
"What's not fair?"
"You and Jane are badasses out there fighting and I'm just here."
"Hey hey, you're here taking care of our mother, that's way better than what we're doing out there." He wipes her tears.
She fixes her hair and walks back into the kitchen. "You stink."
"There she is. Also I got eaten by a giant mutant so there's the reason why I stink."
"See! Right there. Did Jane go with you?"
"No but I learned some alchemy skills that I can teach you once mom is better."
Dionis takes out the medicine and shows Aliss. My friend said to give her small dose once a day."
"You give it to her today. She's upstairs in your room. That's where she sleeps now that dad is gone."
Dionis nods.
"I'll find him later."
"Good luck with that. I couldn't find him anywhere."
Dionis walks up the stairs to his room finding Marissa sleeping on her side.
Dionis walks closer and sits besides her taking her hand rubbing it softly.
Marissa looks up at him with a small smile. "So it wasn't a dream… my boy is back."
"I said I'd be back mom."
She leans up slowly and hugs him crying into his shoulder.
He hugs her back tears falling slowly. "I missed you… so much".
"I missed you too sweetie. You've grown into a fine young man." She smiles.
He chuckles and smiles. "This fine young man has been through a lot. We got you something." He pulls out the medicine putting it in her hand. "I promise I'll come by a lot more… the girls need you. I need you. There's a lot more I need to learn from you."
She smiles happily more tears falling from her eyes. "What can you possibly learn from and old woman like me?"
"First of all mom you're not old" he laughs. "Second… can you braid my hair like you used to?"
She laughs and lays back down looking at the medicine. "Where did you get this?".
"Well… like I said I've been through a lot. Met two fairies who I now live with. Rosa and Orin. I met two other dragons. Half dragons I should say. Some friendly witches who helped Jane make the medicine."
"Jane and her quests. You two have really become something haven't you."
"All for you."
"I'm proud. Of all three of you. If I take this can you promise me something?" She looks at him."
"Anything."
"… find your father. Ask him why. Then do what you please with him."
Dionis looks at her eyes which are red from tears and nods. "I have questions for him as well."
Marissa nods and open the bottle drinking some of the medicine.
"One dose a day Sylvi said"
"Sylvi? A mix black and blonde hair?"
"Yeah why?"
"She helped me after your father left. I met her at the market and she helped with groceries."
Dionis nods. "She helped me with training. She's a good witch unlike her sisters. Even thanked me for killing them so she can live in peace and bring peace to where she lives and her others."
"I'm glad." She holds her head. "Ooh this is getting to me."
Dionis helps her lay down.
"Get some rest mom, we'll be back."
She nods and smiles. "Be safe hon".
"Always mom. Love you".
"I love you too." She closes her eyes.
Dionis closes the medicine bottle up and takes it leaving the room.
Aliss is seen with a packed bag and her clothes on.
Dionis looks at Jane.
"She beat me in Rock Paper Scissors"
He looks at Aliss, "It's too dangerous."
"You two always get these adventures, I wanna go and see how it is, and if I don't like it I won't go again and be boring."
Dionis shrugs. "Fine."