Chapter 17
Dragon Growth (Part 1)
Morning sunlight spilled softly over the snowy city of Efascht, casting a warm glow across the icy landscape. It was the morning of the next day since arriving at Efascht.
Ayu's laughter rang through the still, winter air as she ducked behind a mound of snow, eyes twinkling with excitement. It was early, and she along with their group's children had already bundled up and plunged into a friendly snowball fight in the heart of the square.
At first they were awkward, but with the help of other local kids and the soldiers, they learned the rules of the game.
Snowflakes sparked as they soared through the air, each one followed by squeals and laughter as they splattered against scarves and coats.
By the inn's kitchen, Loyd and Ynez, with other children who used to work in the kitchen, offered help in making breakfast. They were eager to learn how to cook certain dishes.
Over by the docks, Keith, Emman, Lemon, and Lime had set up a small stall of their own. They arranged trinkets and accessories they'd taken from the Castle of Georgies, their breath visible in the cold morning air as they greeted stall owners and curious passersby. Keith and Emman, ever the natural smooth-talkers, bantered with the market vendors, attempting to trade or sell off the shimmering treasures. The twins held up each piece with care, giving a careful, respectful nod to each interested customer.
Their faces were animated as they negotiated, occasionally giving each other smirks when people bought their products.
Inside the cozy inn nearby, Eliron watched the bustling square from his seat by the frosted window.
It was a warm refuge from the icy air outside, enjoying the comfort.
He glanced out as the sunlight caught Ayu's laughing face, her cheeks flushed from the cold, and then looked toward the docks, where his companions were testing their skills in business. He watched all of it with an open heart.
Beings can truly be different. He thought.
Shik-.
Eliron's gaze shifted as he heard the quiet rustle of newspaper pages from the lobby behind him.
There, Dynil Walker and Nameless sat across from one another in companionable silence, each focused on their reading. Dynil occasionally glanced at Nameless, offering an occasional nod, acknowledging the mutual space they shared without needing to break the stillness between them.
The morning was calm but alive, with Efascht's charm unfolding in the gentle sunlight.
Except...
"Stop staring. Stop nodding." Nameless glared at the old man. He is technically an old man.
Eliron turned away from the window and focused on the two. It was the first time he saw Nameless be blunt with her emotions. He had an inkling before, but Nameless always seems to act in front of adults.
Though it was quite obvious that Dynil Walker was quirky compared to other adults, and she was even acting weak before in front of him but now... somehow a switch flipped over last night.
"Hoho~ I'm only greeting a newspaper buddy. My friend, my ally, my companion~" The old man grinned and shrugged as if he meant what he said.
Eliron watch Nameless sigh.
His yellow eyes caught her fake orange irises.
"?"
She tilted her head when he continued to stare. Feeling a sense of peeve, she stared back continuously, ignoring the old man across her.
Nameless hadn't spoken a word to him since they'd arrived in Efascht, and he hadn't found a reason to bridge the silence either. He and Nameless weren't what he can call friends. However they talked for a long time back in the underground caves after all.
He didn't know when his eyes gazed differently at the child.
She really is weird.
He couldn't pinpoint what exactly he felt, was it a sense of danger or just plain wary?
Eliron wanted to give himself an applause.
I really brought demons to the peaceful continent... He frowned.
But besides the other demon's origins, he was most unsure of Nameless.
Since getting out of the capital, she had shown sides to her that other children wouldn't have been able to pull of. Her way of talking was the same since the caves, but somehow the gravity and tone became sinister.
The way she talked about people, the way she planned, and even her mysterious knowledge.
It's a little bit better to take in if he simply relied on the fact that she was the Saintess, a being on the mortal lands gifted with the ability and power akin to the goddess.
As if she was playing the role well, her costume matched too.
Blonde hair and orange eyes, it all screamed gold, like her magic.
...Though they shared 6 months of companionship, they didn't seem to share the kind of words that could easily close the gap between them. That amount of time can easily be swallowed by many more experiences and crowds of people.
Dragons with a lifespan of a thousand years, and demons with just as much.
"Haaa... Don't test me, I hate awkward silences." Nameless spoke first, bringing Eliron out of his reverie.
The young dragon shrugged as if he was clueless to what she meant, "I was silent before. You weren't, but now you are. Are you sick?"
Nameless realized he spoke about their time in the underground cave and looked back on the past.
"Ah right, I did talk about whatever I saw and experienced outside the cave..." She sighed. Standing up, she dragged a stool over and sat next to him by the window. "It feels like it's been months. Don't you think so, Mister Dragon?"
Mister Dragon...
"I guess so." He leaned back on his chair, "But you didn't answer my question. Are you sick?"
"I'm fine... why?"
"You looked pale last night when we got here."
"No, I'm fine." Nameless grinned.
Eliron watched her for a bit. It did look like she was fine, he nods and watched the outside again in silence.
"By the way," Nameless poked his cheek, "Why are you still small?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You're small. Like really small, waaaaay smaller than me, even the twins are taller than you. And you're as small as the 6 year old's even when you are hundreds of years older."
Cough— cough—
The duo spun their heads around, Dynil Walker, who had been reading his newspaper with one eye on the two of them, broke the silence with a fake cough. "May I be allowed to add something to the conversation, Mister Dragon?" he asked, with a look of genuine curiosity.
Eliron watched him. "It's fine, please call me Eliron."
"Right, Eliron..." Dynil continued thoughtfully. "As I know, dragons naturally grow their external bodies with time, yes, but the human form— the shape you choose when not in your true form—is a reflection of inner growth, the mind and spirit. It isn't just about age but about progression and, sometimes, magical knowledge." He nodded toward Eliron, his tone calm but honest. "In your case, Eliron, it's possible that you're still anchored to something from your past, unable to move beyond it."
Eliron looked taken aback. "Why do you think so?"
Dynil tilted his head, carefully choosing his words. "Actually, the Little Miss here gave me a rundown of your past."
The dragon turned to the girl, but Nameless was staring out the window as if intentionally ignoring him. He frowned and turned back to the man, "Is that so... What did she say?"
Dynil had a somber look as he replied, "You lived during the country of Gashu's brilliant times, even the priestess moved there because of such amazing qualities... However, well, I heard about the prince's betrayal. Pearce de Gaveu had disappointed you... Disappointed us all."
Eliron was quiet.
It felt weird that someone was trying to sympathize with him. His experiences were bad, he doesn't know how much compared to the others, but betrayal to the point of losing everything you loved. His country, fellowmen, and memories.
Everything was gone.
And there isn't a single place nor person to return to.
Eliron fell silent.
Dynil hesitated, he didn't want to overwhelm him with grief so he went back to topic, "Well again, lack of internal growth is the reason for most... And yet, based on your mannerisms, I can't say you're fully immature. Quite the opposite—you're wise and insightful. Just, perhaps, not quite as grown as one would expect a dragon of your years to be. It's not your fault, per se. But it may explain why you've yet to take on even a teenage human form."
Eliron looked down, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps I never really thought of it that way," he murmured.
Dynil nodded, offering a reassuring smile before turning back to his newspaper, leaving Eliron and Nameless in a contemplative silence.
At least that was what he wanted to do...
The sentry chief grumbled on his own, the focus on the newspaper wavered.
With a sigh, Dynil folded his newspaper neatly and looked up with a slight, knowing smile. "You know, Eliron, there's another explanation for your… unique stature that doesn't necessarily involve past traumas or inner growth," he began, giving a small chuckle. "Sometimes it's simply a matter of magical knowledge."
Eliron blinked, his curiosity piqued. "Magic… knowledge?"
Dynil nodded. "Yes. Many dragons achieve their true growth—both physical and spiritual—through understanding and mastering magic. It's a path not only of strength but of insight. Perhaps we could begin a few magic lessons, just to see if that's the piece you've been missing?"
Eliron looked both intrigued and a bit embarrassed. "I… suppose that could be interesting. I've been meaning to work on it more seriously."
Nameless crossed her arms, smirking. "Oh, that's right. He had all these free time but he only slept, lazybones~"
"I-!" Eliron bit his lip, straightening up.
I was grieving...
He wanted to say, but he didn't want to dull the mood.
For sure Nameless and Dynil knew what he was going to say, but he swallowed his spite and sighed, "Fine... Let's try it. I'll be counting on you, sentry chief."
"How formal~" Nameless teased.
Dynil grinned. "Good, then it's settled. We'll start with the basics. Sometimes the path to growth is more about unlocking doors within ourselves than merely stepping through them." He gave Eliron a meaningful look, his eyes warm but probing. "Alright, Eliron, let's get started with a simple question. Do you know your main attribute?"
Eliron tilted his head, brow furrowed in confusion. "My… main attribute?"
Dynil chuckled softly. "I thought as much. See, dragons are unique among the world's creatures. You are, in many ways, the purest embodiments of elemental power. Each dragon has an inherent affinity with a particular element—your main attribute, if you will. It's the key to your magic but also not limited to it."
"I see."
"Yes. Actually, dragons are sometimes called the emperors of magic."
"That doesn't sound like lazybones." Nameless perked up from beside him.
Eliron glared, "Ugh... stop with the nickname..."
Dynil smiled and walked closer, "Emperors are usually inherited with the throne but the path isn't easy. Only those who are meant to be, and prove their might against all odds and others, shall be determined as one. That is the same for dragons, but with magic. You are born with abundant magic and you forge the skill through and through, then you master it compared to any other."
"But if dragons were that amazing, wouldn't this realm be even advanced?"
"Well that's their natural flaw. Maybe because they diligently increase their magic, they don't have time nor interest about developing magic for others."
"A pity." Eliron's eyes were downcast as another interest spark in him. "So, what would my attribue be, then?"
"We'll have to discover that together," Dynil replied with a smile, "but first, you need to understand the basics. In this world, magic is divided into four main systems: Elemental, Holy, Dark and Unique magic. But for you, as a dragon, elemental magic is the natural starting point."
Nameless, who had been quietly watching from the side, leaned in, curiosity lighting her gaze. She tried not to show it, but hearing information like that would perk up anyone who can see its value.
Dynil noticed and gave her an encouraging nod.
"Nameless," he said, "would you like to join us? Perhaps you have potential in elemental magic as well."
She was silent, giving him a wary look before nodding. "It's useful so might as well try."
Dynil grinned at both of them.
"Magic itself is about connecting to the core forces of the self. The first step is understanding what affinity you each have. Eliron should have elemental magic or maybe lean on something different. For Nameless, we may discover something unique in you as well." He gestured for them to sit on the floor around him.
"...Can we really practice magic here? It's too public." Nameless paused.
Dynil Walker had an apprehension and discontinued his actions. "You're right, I forgot..." He had a knowing smile and snapped his finger.
For a moment, the inn warped from a single point in the lobby. Its' furniture remained in place but the space itself rippled like waves. It was familiar, like the one that hid the door in Georgies' castle.
"Space travelling can make you feel nauseous the first time but please step inside the portal."
With bated breath and cautious gazes, Eliron and Nameless moved forward.