– Later? – Izrun asked.
Long smiled as he walked away slowly – Well, maybe we'll meet again, right? – And turning, he ran. Izrun watched as he disappeared into the forest.
Frowning his brows, he looked back at the cliff. What a strange boy. He didn't even figure out why he was there or how he had managed to get in. Then, starting his walk, he cut the path, entering through the front gate as the guards were all in the forest wasting their time looking for the intruder who had already left.
Izrun thought he could go completely unnoticed. He was so focused on returning to his room that he didn't even notice a huge jade-green dragon standing in front of the forest looking at him. The dragon was also surprised that he hadn't been discovered and even more so that having caught the boy returning from outside the Institute during the early hours of the morning. How daring.
The dragon suddenly transformed, slowly shrinking until it took on a human form. Aruna looked at the boy from a distance with a raised eyebrow. Then, thinking about something, she smiled. Destiny doesn't play games in service. The path followed by Izrun seems to be the right one. If he stays on it, he won't have any problems.
– Miss Aruna, we found something in the forest. Miss Alba is already there – One of the guards appears to inform her. Aruna nodded and followed the guard to the place.
Alba stood with her hands behind her back, her pose straight and slightly smiling. She didn't seem irritated or worried even after this whole situation. On the contrary, she seemed to be admiring something.
Aruna walked towards her and stood beside her. Looking at the ground, she stared in surprise at the long path of ice stretched down the hill.
– What do you think? – Alba asked. Aruna looked at the proud expression on her face and laughed – Well, we already knew he was strong. The boy just had difficulty controlling his powers.
Alba looked at her expressionlessly, and Aruna returned the look with a forced smile.
– I know it wasn't because of me. I thank the little prince for that little push, and now I'm sure I can train Izrun correctly – Alba spoke with a severe and convinced expression.
Aruna turned her gaze to the ice again, speaking calmly – The little prince still comes here once a month in an attempt to see her. I've never seen a boy so in love.
Alba laughed suddenly, thinking of the boy's image. Then, finally, she replied – If the queen hasn't said anything until now, I don't see a problem, as long as he doesn't cause problems, but it's unfortunate that little Huanxue doesn't even know about her feelings.
Aruna looked at her in shock – Is it Huanxue? Now I understand why he still spends his time coming here – Alba saw that she accidentally blurted it out and got irritated. Thinking of answering her, she turned to ask Aruna to be silent on this matter, but he stopped when he saw the expression she was making. Aruna's smile gradually disappeared. Alba pursed her lips when she heard Aruna speak again – She will be a great queen.
Alba pursed her lips with her last line, saying as she left – There's no point in telling you things if you're going to do this, which is why I don't tell you anything.
Aruna completely forgot what she had seen in her vision and looked at her indignantly, running to catch up – Why didn't you say it before? I won't do this anymore, I swear. Is there anything else I should know? Alba, please tell me.
The two returned that way, Aruna trying to convince her to tell her what she knew while Alba ignored her.
Meanwhile, the young boy with black hair and eyes was getting on a cart far away from the Institute. A red-haired man holding the horse's reins looked at him with a smile – How was it, your highness?
Long pouted as he sat down next to the man – I couldn't see her again.
The man laughed and ruffled his hair – Next time, you can do it.
Long laughed with him. This beside him was the great General, who once a month gave in to the prince's requests to bring him to Silverleak so that the boy could see the girl he liked. He didn't understand why Long wanted to do that. All he had to do was ask the queen to introduce them, and that was it. Their masters were a little strange. What's the point of having power if you can't use it? Bavellis urged the horse, and the wagon started to move. Long suddenly turned his gaze to Silverleak, speaking – I think I just made a friend.
Bavellis smiled. Looking at Long, he asked – Oh?
Long nodded – Maybe we'll be friends for life. We'll meet more often in the future.
Bavellis watched the boy for a few seconds and then turned his gaze to the road, smiling slightly. A friend for life, it's rare to happen but not impossible. It would be great if his highness could get someone like that.
– General Bavellis, what do you know about the Guardian?
Bavellis was a little taken aback by the prince's sudden question. Then, taking a hand to his chin in a thoughtful way, he replied – The times I saw him in the palace, I always noticed a very reclusive and careful personality.
Long nodded slightly. The General was still surprised by the question. He didn't have much affinity with the Guardian. The only one he expressed all his loyalty to was the royal family, never mind any other subdivision of royalty. He was only loyal to Rairin, his wife, and his son.
– Why do you ask, my prince? Is there anything that bothers you about the Guardian? – Bavellis asked with narrowed eyes and a severe expression.
Long shook his head – No, there is nothing...
The cart followed the path calmly and slowed even further when a large gate was seen. Several guards were looking at the coach, Bavellis stopped in front of the entrance, and a man on horseback approached.
– Until another day, your highness, and you… – Bavellis said, looking at the other man with an amused look – Take good care of him.
The man smiled. Bavellis said goodbye while helping Long to get on the horse. The other man held the boy's arm, helping him get on his horse. The dark-skinned man lifted his hood a little and looked at Bavellis – Have a good night, General.
Bavellis nodded – I entrust your highness to you, Commander Leah.
The man nodded and then left with the prince.
Long was sitting in the front, so it was hard to look back, but he caught a small glimpse of Bavellis getting out of the wagon and mounting a horse, disappearing along the way.
– Where is General Bavellis going? – He asked the commander.
The man replied calmly – General has a mission, and as soon as he fulfills it, he will return.
Long made a sound of agreement, and less than a minute later, Long spoke again – Leah, why don't you transform? We can get there faster that way.
The man smiled. The little prince was free to transform as long as it was inside the palace and with supervision all the time, while he, the General, and the other soldiers couldn't even dream of it. He replied respectfully – We can't, my prince. Didn't your majesty tell you about it?
Long sighed – Whenever I ask, Mom gets serious and Dad gets thoughtful, but neither of them answers.
Leah imagined the situation and smiled – Their majesties seemed tired.
– Yes… could you explain this to me, Leah? – Long asked, turning once to the man. Leah watched the boy's curious eyes, and after a few seconds of being looked at like that, he gave in and nodded slightly – I think I can.
Long faced forward again, waiting to hear the story.
Leah smiled when he started to explain – There is an agreement signed a few centuries ago that, if there was no risk situation, we could not take our true forms… for the safety of the other races.
Long looked around – But there are only dragons here. So why can't we transform?
Leah looked ahead – Since it was signed, it became law, and as good citizens, we must not disrespect the orders of our superiors.
– So, for the safety of others, we can't be who we are?
Leah looked astonished at Long, then quickly looked away – Well… I think so.
– But, we didn't hurt anyone – Long muttered.
Leah narrowed his eyes – Yes, most of us have never harmed any individual of another race, but even so, they still fear. Although our true form is frightening to them, those of another race who didn't care about our appearance were rare, so if you meet a being from another race that you trust and know you won't be scared, you can show them your true form.
Long nodded, then asked suddenly – Leah, my appearance. Do you think I'm more like Dad or Mom?
– Her highness is a luminescent type dragon, while the queen is a solar dragon – Leah laughed – It's incredible how the little prince was born strong and healthy. After all, dragons of such distant types managed to generate a little prince of both types.
Long laughed, questioning right after – And the Guardian?
Leah pursed his lips – He's an ice dragon.
Long nodded – And his son?
Leah seemed to think for a while – The little Guardian's mother was also an ice dragon, so he probably is one too – Leah looked at Long, thinking, why this sudden interest?
This doubt only arose because, although a guardian was a protective figure of his race, most kings or soldiers did not trust them very much. They even have the ability to forget, this can help remove presumptuous and dangerous thoughts and ideas from the king's mind, but just thinking about the control they had over the leaders made anyone worried, and that is why the king had to show who was in charge, with different methods for each race, among the dragons the king had the gift of "domination", a gift that not even a guardian could fight against.
– His name, if I'm not mistaken, is... Izrun right? – Leah asked.
– Yes! – Long stated with conviction – We will be great friends.
Leah took a deep breath. If that were what his highness wanted, it would be all right, but if this Izrun weren't submissive like his father, they would have to find a way to make him that way.
The horse walked calmly, trying not to attract attention. They cut the path several times, and arriving at the palace gates, Leah dismounted from the horse, helping Long and then taking him inside.
Leah was ready to say goodbye to the little prince inside the castle when he heard familiar footsteps. Feeling a dominating aura, kneeling, he greeted the woman who had arrived – My queen.