They reached the capital the next morning. Levi was in awe as they passed through the giant gates. Aldrich had decided to shorten his name. Leviathan had no objections.
[And what's so wrong with your full name? I went through the trouble of picking it myself, too, Abaddon argued.]
Levi had heard of Yves a long time ago but never thought he'd end up here. The city of wonders they called it. He had been born in a small human village in the west where everyone knew everyone. Back there people were scared of things they didn't understand, that weren't like them. But over here everyone was welcome. Elves, orcs, and even some people of a species Levi had never met before. The humans lived in harmony with them. Maybe they would accept a dragon as well.
[There's a weird smell about this place, Abaddon commented. Something is wrong with the air.]
Levi didn't smell anything unusual. There was an underlying scent in the air, yes. But it smelled nice. Like roses. But maybe that was just Aldrich.
Finally, they arrived at the huge castle in the middle of the city. Levi had to tilt his head all the way back to see the top of it. They got off the horses and handed their reigns over to another boy who led them away.
Levi followed his new friends through the halls of the castle. If there wasn't anyone leading him, he could probably wander around for hours. They came to a stop in front of a pair of large doors. Sir Andrius glanced back at him but did not say anything. Then he turned and pushed through the huge doors.
The doors led into a room larger than any they had passed on the way there. And at its end sat a regal looking man on a throne. He must be the king, Levi thought. Standing a small distance beside the King's throne was another man. Another knight? He had flowing white hair and was wearing armor just as bright. He almost seemed to glow.
[Him.]
"Huh?," Levi whispered under his breath. "You know the king?"
Abaddon didn't answer. But Levi could feel what he was feeling. And right now, he was feeling an overwhelming resentment. The king lifted his head upon seeing them enter.
"Ah, Sir Andrius, you have returned safely," the king began, but then his gaze landed on Levi, and he fell silent.
[Give me control.]
Levi clenched his fist, trying to fight Abaddon's emotions back. "You are not attacking anyone. Why are you so angry anyway, and how do you know him?"
"Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that we arrived too late. All of the townspeople had been wiped out," Andrius spoke up. "But thanks to this young man, the monster responsible was slain."
"And just who is this boy." The king inquired, although from the look on his face, it seemed he already knew.
Levi stepped forward nervously. He didn't have much experience talking to people. Let alone royalty. "Um, greetings, your Majesty. I'm-... going to pay."
Levi's hand shot up to cover his mouth. That wasn't what he was going to say. Abaddon had never been able to take control like that without his permission, though.
"I see," the king said. "So it is you. I'd hoped we had seen the last of you when we scattered you across the realms all those centuries ago."
"Centuries?," Aldrich, who had been silent this whole time, suddenly asked. "You mean..."
The king turned his attention to him briefly. "Yes, I'm afraid I'm far older than I look. But now is not the time for a history lesson. We really thought we had defeated you completely. "
The king began to address Levi again. "But it seems you managed to survive by attaching the core part of your soul to another living being, like some sort of... parasite."
Abaddon wasn't too happy about that comment.
"Although, you seem... different. Could it be that years of being attached to a human soul has changed the dreaded devil dragon? "
"Your Majesty, if I may," the voice belonged to Andrius. "Due to his... unusual arrangement with the dragon, it seems the boy, Levi, has the ability to locate and subjugate the fragments of the dragon's soul. I believe it would be a wiser choice to leave him alive, so he can locate and absorb the rest of the fragments."
The King's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "A smart suggestion. Although I doubt the dragon has the same plans as us for once its soul is reassembled. What do you think of that, Sir Kazuki?"
The knight standing beside the king finally spoke up. "I must admit, I expected more from the fell dragon of lore. Clinging on to what is left of its power by inhabiting a child's body, it is a bit comical. Or rather, pitiful."
Abaddon hadn't been paying much heed to the King's guest, but he had his attention now.
"You can let it out, boy," the knight continued. "I would like to speak with it directly."
Levi shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."
The knight tilted his head slightly to the side. "Your concern is misplaced. I assure you I will be in no danger. Now, if you would."
Humans, Abaddon seethed. Their pretentiousness never ceases to amaze. Well, you heard him.
Levi would have objected further, but the knight's gaze almost seemed to burn into him. He closed his eyes and let Abaddon take control.
×
Aldrich watched as Levi's hair began to turn white until he was once again the fell dragon. Just being in its presence was making it a bit harder to breathe. But it was still nowhere near the pressure the knight was exerting.
Aldrich had never actually seen him, but from his appearance alone, he had no doubt that the man standing across them was Sir Kazuki Enya. The Knight commander, and only member, of the Order of the Brilliance.
Aldrich's throat was dry. He started to feel lightheaded as well. So this was the power of the strongest knight of the kingdom. The power of pure, unbridled heat. Even from this far away, he felt as if his blood was beginning to boil. And maybe it was.
He felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. It was Sir Andrius' hand. He wasn't sure what exactly Sir Andrius did, but he started to feel a bit better.
"It seems you'll be worth my time after all." Abaddon growled as he leapt forward. His arm stretched out toward Sir Kazuki.
Aldrich couldn't imagine the heat being so close to the knight. He watched as the cloak Levi had been wearing turned to ash. His flesh began to burn away as well soon after. His regeneration was barely keeping up. But he still kept pushing forward.
But then his advance halted. It seemed his regeneration had reached its limit. Going any further would risk irreversible damage.
"So even the dragon lord of yore cannot reach me," Sir Kazuki observed, but his tone sounded wistful rather than condescending. "A pity."
Abaddon seethed. "I may not be able to touch you now, but I will wipe that look off your face sooner or later."
Sir Kazuki smiled slightly and took a step forward, forcing Abaddon to step back. "Is that a promise?"
From behind them, the king called out. "Kazuki, I think that's enough for now."
Sir Kazuki sighed. Slowly, the temperature began to drop until it was only slightly sweltering. "I've seen what I needed to see. You can take back control boy."
"Don't just walk away from me, you-..."
The first thing Levi noticed once he took his body back was how thirsty he was. That and the burns all over his arms. It would take a bit longer for damage this extensive to heal.
Sir Kazuki had returned to his initial position, lowering his head as he waited for the king to speak.
The king cleared his throat. "While I am in no way excited to invite an old enemy into my house, seeing as Sir Andrius is so willing to vouch for the boy.... I have made my decision. You will not be executed."
Levi let out a little sigh of relief. The king was not done talking yet though.
"In fact, you will be allowed sanctuary in this kingdom and in exchange, you will bring no harm to any of its citizens. Does that seem fair enough?"
Levi nodded. The king raised his arm, hand out towards him. It was a few seconds before Levi realized he was waiting for him to shake it.
He slowly climbed up the steps, trying to avoid getting too close to Sir Kazuki, and stopped right in front of the king. He stared at the imposing hand stretched out towards him, then he took it.
It felt like his soul had suddenly been weighed down. The room around them grew dark until Levi could only see the king right in front of him.
The king smiled at him. "Of course, the rules apply to any and all other beings inhabiting your body."
Abaddon didn't appreciate the clearly aimed at him remark.
The king only said one more word: "Covenant." And then the weight was gone and the room had gone back to normal.
Levi pulled back his hand, looking to see if there was anything wrong with it. But it was completely fine.
The king clapped his hands together, the loud sound echoing in the room. "It is done. You are now an honorary citizen of Yves. Sir Andrius, please make sure he settles in comfortably."
"Of course, your Majesty." Andrius answered with a small bow.
"You will assist them, young Aldrich."
Aldrich had to do a double take. Had the king just addressed him directly? After he had regained his senses, he copied Andrius' bow.
"I shall have to take my leave now," Sir Kazuki announced. "But I will be keeping an eye on you... Levi, is it?"
And with that, the knight of the Brilliance left.
"Let us keep this on a need to know basis, shall we?" The king added before the rest of them left. "If this... unusual coexistence is to work, it is probably best the general public didn't know about it. Lest it stirs up any unnecessary panic."
×
"Are you alright?" Aldrich asked Levi as they exited the throne room.
"I'm fine, thanks," he replied. The burns were almost all healed by then. His clothes, however. "I could use some new clothes, though. And water."
From down the hallway, a male voice boomed. "Aldrich-Alexandre!"
Aldrich's heart jumped. It was his father. He looked over to Andrius, but Andrius refused to meet his gaze.
"Sorry kid, you're gonna have to clean up your own mess. " He said as he began to walk away. "Come with me, Levi. I'll get you something to wear."
"Kazuki was here, wasn't he? I could feel my roses beginning to wilt all at once," Alistair asked Andrius as he passed by. "Just what exactly is going on."
Andrius replied with a wolfish grin. "Aldrich would be happy to fill you in."
Aldrich guessed he deserved that. He sighed and resigned himself to the lecture he was about to receive.