"Genfrey! You may come back in," Grandma Kokoro said.
Genfrey bust the door opened and rushed to her side. "Did he do anything to you madame Kokoro?" Genfrey asked, eyeing him up and down suspiciously.
"Nothing of the sort. There's been a new development. He is no longer a prisoner, but now a guest," Kokoro said.
"Excuse me? He's what now?"
"I said he's a guest and will be treated with as gracious a hospitality fitting his title. Now you will take him upstairs and show him to his room. Oh and one more thing. Provide our guest with an adequate meal. None of this slop,"
{So you knew it was nasty you old bat!}
"Am I free to walk out anytime I want?" Ryuma asked.
"No," she said.
"Then I'm not free. I don't think you understand what that word means," Ryuma said.
"I understand where you're coming from Mr. Erin… if that's your real name," She said.
"It's not," Ryuma said.
"In any case, a man might find it difficult to give his trust away from a position of weakness. I implore you to think it over a nice hot meal and bed. When you feel ready to confront us. Please, let me know,"
She got up and turned to leave, but he grabbed her by the hem of her dress.
"Just you and me. I choose the location," He said.
"Very well Erin. I take that as you agreeing to speak with me. So that is welcoming news," She continued her way.
{Am I to just forget all this ever happened?} Ryuma didn't know what sense to make of all this.
"Follow me. I'll show you to your room," Genfrey begrudgingly did as he was told. He could tell in his voice that he didn't like it, but he had little choice than to be polite about it.
After all… he did just kill one of the guards albeit an accident. It's not as if a surface dweller could tell the difference.
Ryuma was brought up stairs. The bed was barely enough to fit his size and there were old kids' toys strewn about. A short wooden sword that looked more like a dagger as well as an old worn-out doll.
If this was a kid's room, where were the kids?
"Whatever…" Ryuma didn't want to think on it too much. Soon as he got a healthy plate of food, he wolfed it down in an instant.
"Give me more," He demanded. The young girl that brought it up nodded her head and headed back downstairs.
They were in no position to refuse him so he may as well use it for all it's worth. They owe him at least that much. He went for seconds, then for thirds.
If he continued, he was going to eat them out of the village.
Finally full, he laid on the bed fat and happy. It was time for him to go to sleep. They weren't likely to do anything at this moment. He gave them nothing after all and clearly, they want something of him. Problem was that he had no clue what they wanted or if he even had it to give.
He cuddled up to his side. Did that matter either? Whether he had their answers or not, he'd be replenished enough to deal with it when the time came.
The night came and went, and it was the hue of morning. The sun burned into his face and for a second there, he forgot how blinding the damn thing was.
{You're awake young one.} Aeragis said.
Ryuma stared at him for a moment. "Good to know that you weren't just a hallucination,"
{You're taking this better than I'd imagine.}
"My entire world flipped, and you were the one who flipped it. As far as I'm concerned, you better show up to explain yourself," Ryuma said. His voice hung low in a growl.
{I already told you. You've seen at least a bit of the world. You should know by now why I did it.}
"Don't give me that! You killed and destroyed indiscriminately!" Ryuma said.
{That I did. One would have to do that to a group who supports a corrupt system blindly.}
"The Fuck is wrong with you!? You killed a young boy who had nothing to do with it. You killed Nylo! What do you have to say for yourself!?"
{Nylo? Is that the young red pup you were spending time together with that day? I killed him?}
"Yes, you killed him! He had nothing to do with this. He was innocent," Ryuma said.
"Oh. I aimed most of my blast at anything wearing red that day. At that size, you all look about the same to me," Aeragis said.
"… is that it?" Ryuma asked.
{Is what it?} Aeragis asked.
"That's all you have to say to that? You're not even the least bit sorry?" Ryuma said.
{Was I supposed to be? Far as I'm concerned, boys eventually become men. Red pups, eventually become Red Dogs. If anything, I snuffed a potential headache in the cradle.}
Ryuma summoned his katana's and swung at the apparition before him in blind anger. This fucker! How could he?
The blades went through him and didn't even phase him a bit. Aeragis just stared at him. {That's no way to get rid of me} Aeragis floated around him, circling him, mocking him. {You and I are tied together now. There's only one way to get rid of me…}
Ryuma gave hard breaths. He quickly came to the solution what had to happen. It was most likely the one the Skylands already came up with.
He must die with the dragon.
And even if that were the case, Aeragis would only lose a vessel. All the shining spirits had prior vessels that died while they were in them. The spirits still existed long after to find another vessel.
In short, he'd be killing himself for no reason even if he did have the stones to do so.
"Get out!" Ryuma yelled.
{Foolish boy! I can't just get out!}
"I SAID GET OUT!" He shouted this time.
At that moment, the door to his room flew open. Madame Kokoro came rushing in. "Is everything all right child? Who were you yelling at?"
She saw right through the dragon and didn't react to his presence.
{Clearly, you need some time to cool off. Speak your business with grandma here and we'll discuss this later.}
Aeragis disappeared.
Ryuma panted. "I'm alright… it's nothing," Though he said that, he had a distant look. One glance and Madame Kokoro could already see the boy battling his own demons.
"Very well. Would you like to discuss the matter of your heritage my boy. You need only pick the time and place," She said.
"It doesn't matter. Just show me where you want to talk," He didn't want to play games with her. He didn't even really feel like living if he was honest.
"I see… perhaps a bit of fresh air might do us some good," Madame Kokoro said.
She led him across the village of Naru. Everywhere he went people avoided his gaze as if he was a monster. {So everyone was in on it.} they must fear his retribution.
"This might be a bit hypocritical for me to ask, but could you kindly fix your expression. You're scaring the residence around here," Madame Kokoro asked.
"This is my normal expression," Ryuma growled. Clearly it wasn't but he knew he wasn't in the fucking mood to do so. Aeragis already soured him. Now he must deal with people who conspired to kidnap him and make sure they're comfortable?
"Then perhaps we walk out this way, away from prying eyes," She said. There was a sweat-drop that appeared on her head.
Ryuma followed without question. They appeared on a hill on the outskirts of the village looking over a garden.
"I find, these flowers soothe the soul. It might help calm your nerves if you're interested," She began.
"Listen old lady. Cut the crap and get straight to the point. I can waste this town in my current state if I so choose. You guys are now alive because I allow it,"
Madame Kokoro smiled. "Yes. That was the condition for gaining your trust. I just can't help but tell that your heart is a bit unsettled. You're far easier to deal with this way,"
Ryuma gave her a death glare.
"Relax. I'm only warning you for your own good in the future. Your anger could get you into something you might not be able to get out of,"
"Listen lady. I don't care who's grandma you are, but you're not my grandma. So stop acting like it," Ryuma said.
Madame Kokoro looked off into the distance. "I could say the same thing. You're not my grandson so stop acting like it. You're not Erin,"
With that last sentenced, Ryuma's anger subsided and was replaced with astonishment