Farewell to Dragon Land
Farewell to Dragon Land
The time had come for their departure from the Dragon Land. Basil stood in the main courtyard, where dragons and dragonkin alike had gathered to bid farewell to the Dragon Queen and her son. Nytheria stood beside him, her ever-present smirk hinting at the mischief that would inevitably follow.
As Basil adjusted the straps of his gear, a group of dragon girls in their humanoid forms approached him, their eyes shimmering with admiration.
"Lord Basil," one of them said shyly, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. "Please, be my boyfriend!"
Another chimed in, "No, pick me! I'll serve you faithfully for eternity!"
A third added, "I'll even fight Nytheria for your affection!"
Basil blinked, utterly taken aback by the sudden attention. His mouth opened to respond, but no words came out.
Nytheria's teasing laughter rang out. "Well, well, aren't you popular? Who knew Mama's boy had such charm?" she quipped, nudging him with her elbow.
Ferya's Declaration
Ferya, who had been standing quietly at Basil's side, suddenly stepped forward, her small frame vibrating with annoyance. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at the dragon girls.
"You're not beautiful enough for my brother!" she declared with absolute conviction. "My brother has two beautiful wives already. And if my brother wants to marry a dragon, he'll marry Sister Nytheria!"
The courtyard fell silent as Ferya's words echoed through the space. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and all eyes turned toward Nytheria.
Basil nearly choked on his own breath, while Nytheria's smirk faltered for a brief moment. Then she regained her composure and crossed her arms, a playful gleam in her eye.
"Oh, so you want to marry me, huh?" Nytheria said, her tone dripping with mockery as she turned to Basil.
Ferya tilted her head, confused by the reaction. "What's wrong with that? You're strong, and you like Brother."
Basil burst out laughing, the sheer innocence of his little sister's statement too much to handle. He ruffled her hair affectionately. "You're something else, Ferya," he said, still chuckling.
Nytheria, however, narrowed her eyes and flicked Basil on the forehead. "Don't get any ideas, conqueror," she teased.
A Mighty Farewell
From the sidelines, Anarya observed the scene with quiet amusement. When the laughter had subsided, she stepped forward, her presence commanding instant attention.
"It's time for our departure," she said. Her voice was calm yet firm, carrying the weight of her authority.
Without hesitation, she transformed into her dragon form. The transformation was nothing short of majestic. Her body elongated into a crystalline frost dragon, her scales shimmering like shards of ice under the sun. Her wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the courtyard as a chill swept through the air.
Even those who had seen her dragon form many times before couldn't help but marvel at her might.
Nytheria followed suit, her body shifting into her true form. She became a sleek, black dragon with no wings, her serpentine body undulating gracefully like the legendary dragons of the East. Her scales glimmered with an otherworldly sheen, and her golden eyes burned with intensity.
Basil stared in awe, his earlier laughter forgotten. "Incredible," he murmured.
The Ride of a Lifetime
Nytheria crouched low, allowing Basil to climb onto her back. He carefully situated himself, feeling the smoothness of her scales beneath him.
"Hold on tight," Nytheria's voice echoed in his mind.
As she launched into the air, Basil couldn't help but grin. The sensation of soaring through the skies on the back of a dragon was exhilarating. The wind rushed past him, carrying away his worries and doubts.
His mother flew beside them, her frosty wings cutting through the clouds like a blade. Ferya, seated on Anarya's back, giggled with delight.
For the first time in a long while, Basil felt a sense of freedom, a spark of excitement for what lay ahead. The journey back to Eryndor territory was only the beginning. The world was vast, and his path was just starting to unfold.