Chapter 5: pt. 2
<Year 6>
They had now lived in the human kingdom for a year successfully. The dragons had managed to get by because Aztoria eventually got a job while selling scales every now and then. They were still living in the same inn, feeling safer living somewhere they knew. Zyrtec was at the fountain near the center of the area, sitting on the edge and watching the water. Ever since that night a year ago, fruits had become almost tasteless and didn't satisfy him. His mother gave him her blood once every two weeks according to when he was hungry again. Having kept away from people for the most part, he was always alone but never wanted to stay at the inn with the rest. Holding his hand up, he dipped his fingers in the water to test something he'd been thinking over for a long time now. He focused on the surface, activating his Mana the way he'd been taught and thinking, 'I want to be able to control it.' Seeing his eyes flash red in his reflection, he watched as the water swirled around his hand. Picturing a snake made of water, it was immediately formed, slithering over the surface before winding up his arm. Changing what he wanted, it went to his hand and formed into a perfect sphere. He hadn't realized his eyes changed when he did this until seeing it a moment ago, adding a few more questions to the long list.
"Stop him!" Zyrtec glanced over to see yet another cloaked person be tackled to the ground by the guards and sighed, dropping the water, crossing his legs, then resting his chin in his hand to observe.
"The Eye sees all!" After shouting that, the man spazzed out and went limp. Listening closely, his heart and breathing had stopped altogether.
'He died? Why are all of them shouting about an eye anyway? Well, not all the people caught did, but the ones that wear black cloaks and smell like blood did.' It made him a tad curious but not by much.
"Not again…! Damn, well take a note, it was another one." The crowd dispersed as it ended and he lost interest quickly. He yawned, feeling a bit out of it. Along with a bigger craving for blood, he felt more tired during the day than at night, especially after using magic. It was a confusing combination, but in the end he didn't think it mattered much.
'What should I do now?' He tapped a finger on his knee, then used Mana as he thought, 'I want to know what this power is.' A stabbing pain shot through his head as his Mana drained rapidly. 'Why does it take more to know a name than to control something?!' When it finally ended, leaving him worn out and with a headache, a single word appeared in his mind. Creation. 'What…?' He couldn't understand, but from what just happened, he didn't dare try to use it again and opted for solving it on his own. Someone tapped his arm and he looked down to see a child who kept glancing around nervously and holding the edges of her dress. "What?"
"Uh-uhm...I-I'm lost...I-I can't find my mommy." She was looking at him with brown eyes hopefully, but he had no idea how to help her.
"Ah...uhm, do you know where you live?" He didn't know many places but if she answered he could hand her off to a guard instead. 'She must've asked me because I'm only a few years older. Dragons age faster mentally though so I see no real difference but size.'
"No...we're visiting...I lost my mommy…" He bit his lip and gave her a concerned glance as he gazed around the area.
Giving in, he stood up and offered his hand. "Come on, I'll help you." She stared at his hand, then put her tiny hand in his and let him lead her, still using her free hand to wipe at her face as tears continued to spill out. He had the information of these creatures, but they still made no sense. 'Can she not hear or smell her mother?' Keeping a gentle but firm hold of her hand, he walked down the trail her scent came from, backtracking where the little girl had gone. Tilting his head a bit while walking, he searched for the sound of someone yelling for their kid to get rid of her quickly. Eventually, he heard panicked footsteps and a person gasping for air. Taking a step back, he turned onto a different shopping street and tried that way. 'Why did a child suddenly appear anyway? She went quite far.' He looked at a woman who had a similar appearance to the girl, then went towards her.
"Where is she…?" The woman fell on her knees then forced herself back up, ramming her head into Zyrtec's chest as she stood. He stumbled back, barely staying up, and let go of the girl's hand when she rushed for the lady. "Oh, my girl!" She didn't even hesitate to hug the crying child, then pulled back to look her over. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Zyrtec started to back away but she surged to her feet and grabbed his shoulders. "You brought her back, right?"
He frowned at her but nodded, saying, "Yes."
Within the next instant he suddenly couldn't breathe. "Thank you! I was so worried, thank you so much!" Struggling to get his face away from her, he regretted the entire thing quite a bit. "How can I repay you?" She released him from the hug and he gasped, able to inhale again, but she held onto his shoulders.
"You don't need to...I had nothing to do…"
She teared up and hugged him again, this time only briefly. "Thank you!" He just kept nodding and she eventually got chased off, leaving while mumbling under her breath, "I can't lose her here, we're foreign…"
'So that's why it was such a big deal.' He watched them leave, the desire to see his family growing when the mother picked up her child and held her close as they traveled. 'I should go back.' He turned around and made his way there slowly, still trying to find something interesting while he walked. The hair on his neck tingled and a chill ran down his spine while he was busy watching a blacksmith. A gloved hand appeared over his mouth holding a cloth and he was dragged into a darker space. Thrashing around the moment he was trapped against them, he despised the scent on the cloth and the person behind him. 'The sound of the hammer hitting the metal hid them!' The more he moved though, the more sluggish he got, his eyes drooping at the same time he was fighting back. While he was still awake, he gritted his teeth and focused his remaining Mana, thinking, 'I want my momma to know I'm in danger!' As the magic was cast and the drug on the cloth took over, he went limp, unconscious.
"Nice...this child will be perfect." The cloaked person disappeared into the shadows with Zyrtec, grinning maliciously.
Back at the inn, Aztoria was sweeping the floor when her entire body shuddered and horror flooded through her. 'Zyrtec…!' The overwhelming strength of the magic and her own fear crashed down on her and her mind went blank as she passed out from the stress.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone