Early Evening - Late Spring : Home

"Haah.." As I laid in the field sunbathing, the day steadily continued to pass.

Before I knew it, the sun had started to set so I got up from my spot and stretched, Ilios following suit. He came out of the cave and laid with me earlier in the day when Father said he wanted to watch over Mother and Krystallo for a while.

I looked over at the doors of the cave. -It should be fine..- Figuring it was alright for me to leave, I flew up to the top of the mountain to enjoy the sunset with Ilios like we used to.

Once we got to the top, I walked to the edge of the peak and laid down.

As the sun set, the sky shifted from its usual deep blue to a beautiful orange.

Mirroring the sky, the ocean looked as if it had turned to gold.

-I wonder what the ocean is like in this world..- I shifted my head and looked directly down the mountainside towards the ocean.

I watched the massive waves slam up against the mountain, filling the surrounding air with mist and listened to the distant but soothing sound of the crashing waves.

Back when I was alive on earth, I adored the ocean, but in this world I had some mixed feelings.

When I was still taking lessons from Mother, she would always reinforce the fact that the ocean was this horrifying place with creatures that would eat me everywhere.

-But on earth.. life in general in the oceans was pretty sparse.-

Life was everywhere around reefs, coastlines or thermal vents, but around 90% of the ocean was just flat sand and open water. Almost all of the creatures in those areas were only there because they were passing through.

As I contemplated going for a swim or messing around in the shorebreak, I decided to put it off for a bit. -Swimming at night is never a good idea anyways..-

By the time I escaped my own thoughts, sunset had already passed and the starry night sky had enveloped everything.

Enjoying the ocean breeze blowing up the mountain, I laid there on the mountain peak and overlooked the ocean.

With the beautiful view of the moon reflecting off the ocean, I reminisced about some old memories and drifted to sleep.

My days continued to pass just like that.

I just slept, ate, maybe practiced a little magic then slept again, the routine of most dragons my age.

After 4 days like that, Mother finally woke up, feeling energized and refreshed.

As soon as Father said she was awake, I darted down the mountain to see her. "Good morning Mother!" I peeked my head into the hall with a childish smile.

"Haha, good morning Vasilias. What's got you in such a good mood?"

"Well you're awake and seem healthy."

She slightly tilted her head. "Why would I not be?"

"Well, it was you resisting my aura that made you fall asleep in the first place.. I was worried I did something."

She looked at me with shocked eyes before letting out a laugh. "Haha, how could you think a little aura would hurt a mighty dragon!" She held her head high with confidence.

I subconsciously smiled. "Ahh yes, how could I have been so naïve.." I quickly walked up and gave her a hug. "So how'd you sleep?"

"Incredibly. Maybe it was because I knew I was being protected by my big and strong son." She looked at me with a warm and proud smile. "You're already both smarter and now stronger than your father.." She looked over at Father who was behind me in the hall.

I slowly sat down in the room contemplating whether to ask something before figuring I might be able to mend the situation some.

"Why are you mad at Father, Mother?"

She looked over at me in shock before lowering her head. "I.. It's nothing.."

"You can tell me, Mother. I might be able to help the situation some.."

She looked at me as she contemplated before finally breaking the silence. "When he came to visit, he told me about the things you did."

-Whats that supposed to mean?-

"He was supposed to be watching over you, but instead he let you get involved in something you shouldn't have even been close to.."

When she first woke up today, Father went ahead and told her all about the situation with the tower and the rebellion before telling me she was awake which didn't help her, already sour mood towards him.

"Mother.. I can take care of myself now. You don't need to worry so much about me.." Although her anger was aimed solely at Father, I felt incredibly guilty and at fault for causing the situation.

"I know.. but it doesnt change the fact that if you weren't so strong you would've died.." She held her head down and bit her lip to hold back tears. "You still almost died too.."

"Please don't blame father for that.. He was in Bahamut taking care of things far more important... Plus the only reason I nearly died was because of my own negligence." I looked over at Father whose face was covered in guilt. "Father wouldn't have given me the freedom to get into those fights if I wasn't so strong either.. so.. please forgive him.." Although I wasn't too sure how much itd help, I walked up and sat next to her to try and comfort her.

"Haah.. what am I doing.." Mother moved over and leaned into me as she took a deep breath. "Thank you Vasilias.." She looked down towards the ground and leaned into me more.

"Hm? What for?"

"You're the best son we could've asked for.. I think your Father would agree with me on that." She looked back up at me with a familiar, loving and motherly smile.

The sight warmed my heart as I was reminded of just how blessed I was to be born into this family.

A short moment later, she looked back over at father with a look of contempt. "But don't go thinking I'm going to let you off the hook so easily." She pulled away from me and sat up straight.

Father, seeing her change posture, immediately lowered his head.

"Until Krystallo wakes up and we leave for Bahamut, you must give me a massage once a week, and once we get to Bahamut, you owe me a nice and expensive date."

Father had an odd look on his face hearing the conditions. It was the mix of defeat and happiness.

Seeing that the mood lightened up and Mother was acting more like herself, I decided to ask something I had thought about the past few days. "Mother.."

"Hm? What is it sweetie?"

"Can we keep star gazing each night like we did before the trip still.."

"Of course! I wouldn't dare break such an amazing tradition."

Although mother called it tradition, it was just something I got in the habit of doing and over time Mother started joining me until it became routine. Nonetheless, hearing her agreement, an excited smile came to my face as a childish joy filled my heart.

-I wish the sun would set a little faster now..-