Home At Last

My eyes opened to the darkness of the dreamscape. It was silent for a moment. No dreams, or nightmares… Just quiet. Suddenly the original Ladon's ever-colorful, fiery, flowing head appeared. Four stray sparks from his head burst into more.

"Hello, Ladon," I said.

"Hello, boy," the first head spoke.

"That's more than last time. Not quite a hundred."

"No it isn't. But it's a sign."

"Of what?"

"Your power. Or moreso your access to it."

 "..."

"It's a sign it worked," a different head spoke.

"What?"

"I've spent the last days since your… incident trying to figure out if I could give you more of my power. Usually, a demidragon would have to train and work every day to grow, but usually their dragon's soul isn't active."

"So I have more power now? I can't say I ever mastered control. That's dangerous."

"It could be. And no, you do not have more power. You've always had all the power you ever will. It all has to do with access. I managed to give you greater access to my power."

"Why?"

One of his heads leaned in close from my right. "For what's inevitably to come. If you wake up exhausted in the morning…" his face went flat along with his tone, "walk it off."

"Thank you? I think."

"You should be grateful. It's my power you're using after all."

"You're the one who got stuck to me; got your power stuck to me."

"I didn't—" One of his heads recoiled in disgust. "There was no accident, insolent child."

"So you chose me?"

"I'm not sure I'd say—"

"So it happened outside your control?"

"Do not!" He exhaled. "Interrupt me."

"..." For some reason, he didn't scare me as much as he used to.

I heard a voice, wispy and echoing; a mixture between Mi's and the confident, more powerful one. It flew through the air, growing and receding in intensity. "Ladon."

I looked behind myself, somehow knowing she was standing there. The sounds of fire were gone. I turned back around to confirm he left. But she was still there.

"Ladon?"

"Yes?"

She was shaking; her voice was shaking. "I-I had another vision. Abraxas knows now. I'm sorry… I know you didn't want him too."

I stepped in close, but stayed in her visible comfort range. "What happened?"

She got just a little closer. "Abraxas was teaching me how to heal. I healed a little sapling, then it hit me like a flash. Y-you were on his back. Gerickst's. You were in the air, falling. You—" Her face turned grim with terror. "So much—blood…"

"My own?"

"Y-you were hurt… badly."

So I'll fight him.

She nodded, shakily.

I forgot she could read my mind like Lili.

"Were there any other paths?"

"No… Just like the last one."

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

"O-of course. Are you sure you still want to go through with this? I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I'm sure. I'll try my hardest to prevent what you saw."

"What if it's destined?"

"Then it is." I said, trying on a comforting tone.

She crossed her arms, almost as if hugging herself. I could tell she felt she was lacking in comfort, but I didn't know what to do.

"When will you come back?" she asked.

"In the morning."

"Okay." She looked at her feet, letting me know how low she felt.

"We'll make it through this," I said. "I promise I'll protect you, and Abraxas."

She reached my eyes, slowly. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"..." I didn't know what to say.

Thoughts were racing too fast to catch. I knew I needed to do something to help her; anything. I just didn't know what, knowing I couldn't touch her.

Before any idea could come in our terrible silence, I blinked, and she was gone. It was just me in the darkness.

Fuck.

For what felt like the first time, though I knew it wasn't, I didn't want to be alone. Not with my thoughts, because then the only thing I'd think about would be Gerickst, and the chance that I, or worse, Abraxas and Mi could die by his claws. I could think about him all day, but I'd never get the solace of a plan of what to actually do, or how to fight him. I didn't want to be alone. I couldn't… Not now…

My eyes closed, eternity passed, then they opened again at the same slow speed to see our tent. I still had the lingering emotions, and my body was sore, and sweaty, like I just fought an illness.

I painfully stretched my body, and got up. While I slowly put my things back on, Dannas awoke, yawning with teary eyes, almost making me yawn.

"Morning already?" he asked through a yawn.

"For me, yes."

"Going somewhere?"

"Back home."

"Already?"

"Since our mission, I don't think I've been able to spend much more than a day there, if even that much."

"Alright then. Mind if I stop by sometime? If I get bored?"

"Sure. Just not for the next few days."

"Alright then. We're probably going to leave in a week or two depending on how things go, so if you don't come back, I'll have to stop by at least once." He smiled impishly. "Maybe I'll get Lili to magic you into staying with us."

I chuckled. "Good luck with that."

I finished, ready to go back.

"Well, I'll see ya later, Ladon."

"Goodbye, Dannas." I left our tent.

I could smell the cool dew on the grass and weeds and flowers covering the area. The air was moist, and cooler than normal.

Is fall coming already?

A scent separate to the environs reached me before I got a chance to look around. It was Gin-me, sitting on a stump, one knee to her chest. She looked like she was waiting.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the time for our duel right now."

"Oh, I'm not here for that." She scratched her head. "Viscious headache."

"..."

She stood up. "Yara told me some things she overheard. She didn't know if it was her place to confront you about it or not. I said, 'Fuck it. I'll do it for you.' So here I am."

"What'd she overhear?"

"You're going to confront Gerickst. Again. Except this time you might have to fight him."

"Let me guess. She thinks I'm a fool?"

"Well she said you're reckless. Too much for your health. She wanted you to know she's worried about you or something."

"Tell her I said thank you then."

"Sure. Oh and… there's one other thing."

"..."

"I want in."

"What?"

"I want to see that fucker's last breath. I want to watch the life leave his eyes. He destroyed my house—my parents' house. He burned me. He almost got my sister killed. There's a mountain of payback with his name written all over it… in blood."

I sighed. "No."

"Did you just say no? After that whole spiel? Did you even list—"

"No. You're not coming."

"The fuck?"

"He's a dragon, Gin-me. A fucking, dragon."

"I'm aware of that, fuckwit. I was there when he attacked. Hels, I was there the time before that too."

"Even if I had a year to prepare, I doubt I'd beat him. What would you do? Can your daggers pierce dragonscale? Are your bones resistant to breaking from a thousand pounds."

She was silent, just staring… somewhat angrily.

"You have a little sister to take care of. Put that at a higher priority than dying."

I knew I was being harsh. But the truth was, I just didn't want her to go because I didn't want her to get hurt. "I get you want revenge, or something of the like, but that wouldn't work."

"You know what?!"

I sighed.

She reached for one of her daggers, her other hand curled tightly in a fist.

I put my legs in a half stance.

She exhaled, letting it out quickly through her nose. "Fuck you… asshole." She turned around and walked off.

I sighed again, before walking off myself. I think I went too far…

When I reached the edge of camp, Lili's voice flowed through my head. "Good luck, Ladon."

I turned around, looked at the camp as a whole, staring at every angle, in between every tent, looking for her. I could find out where she was by scent if I wanted to, but since I couldn't see her, I figured she wasn't planning on being seen.

"Thank you," I said in my mind, assuming she'd hear it.

I left camp, heading back home, this time at my usual pace since all my legs wanted to do was nothing, and all my shoulders wanted to do was slump. Avoiding the downwind scents of danger, and directions that less sound came from, it didn't take me long to reach my crossing point on the river, at which point my body finally awoke fully, soreness being the only feeling to linger. Crossing the cool waters helped with that. Before the sun reached the highest point in its journey, I made it close to the clearing.

"Chaos is a complex thing, young Mi. As you know, you have much of it within your soul. Everything is predestined. The law of chaos is what changes the predestined, either to something random, or something else of a person's choosing. Magic users have the ability, depending on their limits, to change a predestined outcome to what they want."

"Yeah I know. You told me yesterday, remember?"

I pushed past a bush and around a redwood that stood tall at the clearing's edge. I could see them: Abraxas talking from his nest and Mi sitting, half slouched on a stump.

"Did I? I must have forgotten."

"I'm just kidding. You never told me."

"Oh?!" He chuckled. "I see. Well as I was saying, you have the power to change the predestined in many ways. I wanted you to focus on healing first as it is possibly the least destructive of the many magics you may be able to wield. Ladon, though he has great potential with the fire element, is limited to simply that: the element. I doubt your capabilities are limitless, but in time, they may be close."

I walked into the clearing as Abraxas's eyes met mine, causing Mi to look behind herself.

"Welcome home, young Ladon. I was just teaching Mi some more about chaos."

"So I've heard."

"Hi!" She waved, excitedly, already looseng her slouch.

"Hi." I nodded at her instead of waving.

"Back so soon?" Abraxas asked.

"I said I'd be back as soon as possible."

"That is true. And now I know why."

I froze, having just remembered my dream at his words.

His eyes looked worried, his scaly brows turned downward. "You usually tell me everything. Have you lost trust in me over the weeks past?"

"No. No… I trust you more than anyone."

"Then why?"

"I knew if I told you, you wouldn't want us to stay. Especially when he comes. You'd never want me to risk myself for you."

"Ladon…"

"And you know I'd never want you to get hurt either, and would do anything in my power to avoid it. I didn't want to tell you, because I didn't think you'd allow it."

"You wanted to protect me?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Ladon… that is not your responsibility. It is my job to protect you."

"What do you mean? Protecting people's only ever been my responsibility since I left! I fought to protect myself against the shadow wolves. I fought to protect the wagon, myself, Tulas, and Dannas from Meg's group. I fought to protect her and her group from the elves! I fought to protect the goods the people of Moltenbell needed! I fought to save Mi!! I protected what I could of Moltenbell from Gerickst for fuck's sake!!! I'm always fighting and protecting!!!" I exhaled heavely, some almost-unnoticed tears falling, my voice breaking. "Always…"

Abraxas just stared. I could tell he was thinking through everything, as if he gained missing pieces to something. His eyes helped my ever-hightened state calm down. Like always, he understood, and I felt that.

"Young Ladon… I had not realized your mission affected you in that way. It only makes sense You have had to harm to protect; many times at that. I am sorry, my boy."

My breath calmed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't've yelled."

"You expressed how you have felt. It is unfortunate that it had to boil over, but I do not blame you, my boy."

I sighed. "Abraxas, I want to stay. I don't want to leave you—not when Gerickst is over the horizon somewhere."

"Who would I be to force you out of your home, young Ladon? I told you you can stay as long as you like. That will always be true as long as I will it. However, I ask that you hide, and do not interfere when he comes."

"He's going to hurt you."

"Yes. But he can hurt you much worse."

"But he can't hurt me."

"He undoubtedly left that night to convince the other dragons to change the law. If he succeeds, he will be after the one who stopped him for ten years, and the one who stopped him when his ten-year-long-wait was finished."

"But if he fails, he won't be able to do anything, right?"

"Not necessarily. Just because they forbade harming or attacking a demidragon does not mean they can not enact self defense against one. If all demidragons were as good as you or Mi, that stipulation would not be necessary."

"Oh."

"Yes. If he fails to get the law changed, I can guarantee he will try to trick you into attacking him, otherwise his life would be forfeit for forfeiting yours. He may not be the brightest in all areas, but he is not that dim. That is why I ask you to not interfere."

"I understand. But, you're in exile, in his region, right?"

"That is correct."

"Then is there a limit to how much harm he can cause you?"

"Technically, my life is in his hands. He can kill me should he choose to. However, as I said before, we do not take the deaths of our kind lightly; not even a traitor. I do not believe he would ever go that far."

"I can't watch you get hurt. And I can't leave when it happens either."

"You might have to suffer it, as I may have to suffer his violence for us to be left alone. I know it is hard, but I do not believe we are being given much choice. It is predestined."

I swallowed what felt like a rock in my throat. "I'll try… I'll try to follow your wishes."

"Thank you, my boy. I appreciate it, and everything you have done. I am quite proud of you, and how much you have grown."

"Thanks."

Abraxas smiled as a response.

"...So… does that mean we'll continue with my magic?" Mi asked.

I almost forgot she was there in the heat of our conversation. Almost.

"You have made good progress in such short time, young Mi, but do not forget about its price. I recommend we take a break for the time being. I myself would like a small break."

"Okay."

"Abraxas?" I asked.

"Yes my boy?" he responded as he made his way to his nest.

"I talked to the original Ladon in my dreams last night. He said he gave me greater access to the chaos in my soul. Can you tell what the limits of that was."

"He did, did he?"

Abraxas stared deep into my eyes, almost as if he could see through me.

"That is quite a rare thing to occur. Though there have been many demidragons, few gained the privilege of their inner dragon's conscientiousness coming to. Most that have, unfortunately lost their lives due to their inner dragon attempting to resurface as themselves, often allotting more power than the body can handle. He made a dangerous choice. But he succeeded. You're going to have to focus on control more than ever now that the scale of your powers has increased."

"I see."

"But to fully answer your question, I would say, he possibly doubled your access, if not less."

"..." I felt extremely uncomfortable at that knowledge, knowing that my magic would now be more dangerous than ever before.

"Do be extra careful with your magic from here on out."

"I will. Thank you."

"Oh, and, how do you feel, physically?"

The soreness was creeping its way back up, along with the tiredness. "I think I just need to rest."

"That sounds just about right."

"What are we going to do then?" Mi asked.

"I'm not sure. I might build something; a bed or a table. I haven't been able to do any woodwork since I left."

"I'll be right here if you two need anything," Abraxas added. 

I walked to my cabin as Mi stayed right behind. I could tell she could walk on her own more, which was certainly good. I took off my cloak, bow, and sword, hanging my cloak on the chair and leaning my sword and bow against a wall. I noticed my leftover pile of wood had collected dust.

"I took care of the rotting meat in the cellar," she said.

I forgot I left some deer meat in there. "Thank you. How'd you dispose of it?"

"Abraxas wasn't interested in it, but he helped me bury it."

"Smart. If you just threw it in the forest, it would've attracted scavangers."

"Thank you."

I looked back to her, then nodded before walking to my bed to grab my tools.

"What are you doing?"

I pulled out my chopping axe. "I'm going to collect some more wood; maybe start making something."

"Can I come and watch?"

"Sure."

We exited my cabin, making our way to the edge. Abraxas watched us, yawning while he sunbathed in his nest.

I started striking an oak with my axe, making huge V's with every second hit, echoing a loud knocking sound through the clearing.

"Hey, Ladon, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." I continued chopping at the tree.

"What are your views on humans?"

"What do you mean?"

The tree creaked and cracked on its own until it tipped over and fell down, fortunately in the clearing, and not onto the other trees. I sarted shaving the branches and twigs off the log.

"Well, I was just wondering how you felt about them."

"I think they're humans; capable of the best and worst deeds, like anyone else. When I was a kid I thought I hated them." I leaned over the log to shave the other side. "I learned to hate the terrible ones instead."

"I see."

I was finished, so I walked to the end of the log, then lifted it up, dragging it to the cabin slowly.

"What… about… you?" I asked through my strained breaths and steps.

"I think most of them act with good intentions."

I dropped the log next to the cabin. "Self-interested intentions."

"And those aren't necessarily good or bad."

"True." I started splitting the log. "I'm surprised you think that way, or trust anyone, considering what you went through."

"Well, I trust you. And the elves who helped me. And Abraxas. I'm not sure I'd trust a stranger though."

Having cut through half the log, I pulled it apart into two halves, before stopping at her words. "You… trust me?"

"Of course I do, you sensitive dummy."

"I just thought after that day, with the extract…"

Her stare turned serious. "It wasn't your fault. We have some work to do to get past it I think, but it wasn't your fault."

"...Okay," I answered.

We hit an awkward silence.

"I'm going to grab my saw so I can cut the wood," I said.

"Alright." She smiled at me.

Halfway to the door, I stopped. A sudden feeling, subtle and weak, reached my ears. It was like a pressure change, but far… very far; almost unnoticeable. I looked to the sky.

"Ladon?"

I heard the sound grow, ever so faintly, somewhere in the southeast. Immediately I brought my wolf and eagle out, sending my wolf to the northwest, to camp, and my eagle to the sky.

 I entered my eagle's eyes as it crested over the peaks of the tall redwoods. I looked at the horizon southeast, frantically searching till I caught a small black speck in the horizon. It seemed to have some motion, like an amorphous slime, but it was too far to tell. Either way, I knew what it was. I left my eagle's eyes and sent it straight east.

"Is it him? Right now?!"

I nodded at her, then turned away. "Fuck. It's happening. I thought we'd have more time."

Abraxas's head rose quickly. "Hide!"

I pointed to the western edge of the clearing, by the redwood and bush I passed. "Go there, Mi! I'll grab my things and meet you!"

I sprinted into my cabin, frantically attaching my messer and quiver before haphazardly putting on my cloak. I rushed out, heading toward the edge. Mi was only a meter in at best when I saw her.

She followed me deeper in. I found a spot where I'd be able to see the clearing around and through the brush and trees. We were hidden, as best as possible.

The sound was growing, the small change in the air shifting to his screeching speed. Gerickst was coming.