Returning to Quasares (Part 1)

We left Lycandor's room and walked through Aeternal's corridors toward the portal room. The silence between us was dense, laden with the weight of the imminent, but fast, farewell. It was Aertharion who broke it first, letting out a long sigh.

— Sigh… Well, Kyrion, this is it… Lycandor and I have done everything we could to help you. — His voice was firm, but there was a tone of resignation in it.

— Now, everything depends on you, kid. — He continued, keeping his gaze ahead, his firm and imposing steps echoing through the corridor.

— Sigh… I know, Aertharion. You've already done enough. Thank you… for everything. — My voice came out tired but sincere.Aertharion smirked slightly, as if he had already expected that answer, but remained silent.

We walked for a few more moments before he spoke again.

— After all, how did someone like you get involved in such a big problem? — He cast me a curious look, raising an eyebrow.

— Agh… Sigh… it's a long and exhausting story… — Just thinking about everything that had happened so far made my body feel even heavier.

— But the short version is… — I began to tell him, recounting the encounters and misadventures that had brought me to this moment. I spoke of the people I had met, the intrigues surrounding me, but most of all, about Aurëalis.

— WHAT?? — Aertharion abruptly stopped, his expression a mixture of disbelief and shock.

Before I could react, he grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me desperately.

— WHAT DO YOU MEAN KELTHERION'S DAUGHTER KISSED YOU AND, ON TOP OF THAT, WANTED TO INITIATE THE COURTSHIP PROCESS WITH YOU?! ARE YOU BOTH INSANE?!

— Agh… A-AERTHARION… NOTHING HAPPENED! I DIDN'T LET HER GO THROUGH WITH WHAT SHE WAS PLANNING! — I spoke hurriedly, trying to break free.Aertharion let go of my shoulders and ran a hand over his forehead, releasing a long sigh of relief.

— T-That's… great… sigh… — He muttered, trying to regain his composure.For a moment, I hesitated, but my curiosity won over.

— But… why did you ask if we were crazy? I mean, nothing would stop us from continuing the courtship if we wanted to, right?

He stopped again, falling silent for a few moments. His expression darkened, and his gaze seemed distant.

— Sigh… Kyrion, listen. We, Void Dragons and Light Dragons, are, as our names suggest, dragons. Even in our true forms, we could conceive hatchlings without any difficulty, as we belong to the same species… — He began, his voice laden with exhaustion.

— However, we are opposite gods, so to speak. While the Light Dragons are revered as the creators of life, we were given the title of creators of the foundations of the universe.

— Yes, I know that. We, Void Dragons, are direct descendants of Quasares, the first being of creation, who, together with Lumina, the Goddess of the Light Dragons, gave birth to the universe and all existence. — I added.

— But still… what does that have to do with a possible relationship between me and Aurëalis?

Aertharion sighed once more, running a hand through his hair.

— As I said, nothing prevents a relationship between a Void and a Light Dragon. After all, even Quasares and Lumina are a couple in various stories. But still, this has always been a major taboo between both races. Never, in all our history, has there been a marriage or even a known relationship between a dragon of each race.

He paused before continuing, his expression becoming even more serious.

— Besides that… The Light Dragons have already surpassed us in number long ago. We can't afford to lose promising young ones like you, Kyrion. After all, why choose a Light Dragon who would only bring you problems when you could be with an exceptional Void Dragon who would strengthen our species and wouldn't give you any headaches?

I remained silent, absorbing his words. I knew Aertharion wasn't saying that just for me… but for the future of the Void Dragons.

— That's why I was so shocked. Sigh… You have no idea of the chaos you would have caused, not just for yourself, but for me as well, if you had gone through with this courtship… — He massaged his temples, exhausted.

— What did she see in you? — He wondered aloud.I let out a short laugh, unsure if that was meant as a compliment or an insult.

— Haha… What did she see in me?

Aertharion widened his eyes, realizing how his words might have sounded.

— Agh… N-not that you're not someone valuable, Kyrion! It's the complete opposite! — He hurried to correct himself.

I smiled slightly, unbothered.

— Sigh… No need to worry, Aertharion. I know that wasn't your intention.

We kept walking, and my thoughts drifted back to Aurëalis.

— Actually, sometimes even I wonder what she saw in me… After all, there aren't many females interested in a male who only thinks about sleeping, right?

Aertharion chuckled, but I remained thoughtful.

— Besides, everything happened too fast. One day, we met by chance in the forest… The next, she was hunting me down because I received a forced kiss from another female…

Aertharion almost stumbled upon hearing that.

— She… hunted you because you received a kiss from another female? — He blinked a few times, trying to process it.

— Sigh… What have you been up to, Kyrion? Did you decide to cause all the trouble you didn't before now? Haha… — He laughed, but his laughter had a tired tone.

— W-WHAT?! BUT IT WASN'T MY FAULT, IT WAS THE FAULT OF… — I started to say, trying to justify myself, but I was abruptly interrupted.

— It's okay, Kyrion. — Aertharion sighed, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

— I understand that you're at a stage where you want to find a good female. After all, we males all go through that. But be careful with your "relationships"... I won't be able to save you from the fury of a father like Keltherion again. — His tired eyes cast me a warning look.

— Agh… BUT IT WASN'T MY FAULT! — I thought, irritated, feeling the heat of frustration rise in my chest.

However, when I looked at Aertharion, I realized that he seemed more exhausted than usual, with no will to hear my excuses. I swallowed my indignation and continued walking beside him, still brooding over the recent events.

The weight of my memories made me murmur under my breath, without realizing I was speaking loudly enough to be heard.

— Sigh… These females are crazy… First, Aurëalis kissed me, then Cristine kissed me too, making Aurëalis chase me… Then, Aurëalis tried to initiate a courtship with me… Agh… what are they thinking? Ugh… Besides, there's this bite on my neck… What the hell was that? My neck still hurts to this day… — I murmured, tired and nervous, mentally reliving the chaos my life had become.

That was when I noticed that Aertharion, who had seemed disinterested in what I was saying, suddenly stopped. Before I could react, he grabbed my arm tightly, forcing me to halt my steps.

— What… did you say? — His voice was cold, serious — a stark contrast to his earlier tired tone.

A shiver ran down my spine.

— U-Uh… I said… a lot of things, Aertharion… — I replied hesitantly, looking at him strangely.

His eyes narrowed. His once-serene expression now radiated tension.

— I'm asking about the last thing you said. Aurëalis… bit you? — He asked slowly, his expression turning pale as he processed the information.

My heart raced. Something about the way he was looking at me sent a chill through my body.

— Y-Yes… she bit me… — I answered, my voice trembling slightly.

— And where… was it? — His question came out almost as a whisper, as if he feared the answer.

I swallowed hard and, hesitantly, lifted my hair to show the area on my neck where Aurëalis had bitten me. Aertharion stared at it for a few seconds, analyzing every detail of the mark. Then, he took a deep breath, with a light sweat forming on his forehead.

— Ha… haha… I guess… I warned you too late about the headache this would be, not just for you, but for me too, if you got involved with Aurëalis… — He muttered, letting out a humorless laugh.

My chest tightened with worry.

— Why? What do you mean by that? — I asked, trying to decipher his expression, which now held a heavy, almost tangible burden.

Aertharion massaged his temples before responding.

— Sigh… You… have no idea what that mark means, do you? — He said as he resumed walking, as if wanting to distance himself from the subject but knowing he couldn't ignore it.

— No… I tried to ask Aurëalis, but… she didn't answer me. — I admitted, feeling a lump form in my throat.

— Tell me… What does this bite mean? — I asked, my apprehension growing by the second.

Aertharion let out a long sigh, visibly displeased.

— Sigh… That bite is something only Light Dragon females can do. It's called a soul bond or eternal pact. — He began, his voice serious and heavy.

— Basically, when a female is absolutely certain that she wants to be with a male forever, she bites him using tiny fangs that only they possess.

With every word, I felt my world crumble a little more.

— Agh… Sigh… Once this pact is made, nothing in this universe can break it. You two will be together wherever you go, even after death… forever. — He emphasized the last word with a look that made me shudder.

— This is a bond thousands of times stronger than any other, kid.

My lips parted, but no words came out. I simply didn't know what to say.

— Furthermore… — He continued, his voice carrying deep exhaustion.

— This pact prevents both the one who applied it and you from falling in love with anyone else. Only the two of you can be together. And even if one day you are reborn, this bond will remain intact.

Silence stretched between us, and a shiver ran down my spine as I heard his next words.

— And if either of you tries to force the opposite… you will feel something so unbearable that you will regret it immediately. It will be an agony that will make you think twice, three times, an infinite number of times before attempting such stupidity again. — He concluded, his gaze dark.

I stood there, frozen, my eyes lost in the void.

After all, what the hell had I gotten myself into?