Dragonlord

Ep 173. Get To Work. (2)

Ep 173. Get To Work. (2)

A few hours ago…

“Dragon…lord?”

“Yes?”

“Are you sure I should be coming with you all? I, I’m fine going on my own…”

“I’ve no time to waste for your sake. Unless you’d like to jump off, you’ll be coming with us.”

“…”

Aymeia drooped her head as she heard Serenis’ response. As much as she wanted to get off, there was no way she could jump off a flying dragon and hope to survive in her current state.

Reading the hints of reluctance on the former deity’s face, Serenis studied her for a while longer before adding onto her answer:

“If you regret what you’ve done, then say so to those you’ve hurt.”

“…”

“…For you, it’s not too late to hear their answer.”

Everyone grimaced at the dragonlord’s last phrase – including herself.

And soon after, Aymeia spared a brief glance towards the spider behind her. The creature was likewise staring back at her, though it remained silent as usual.

And until their arrival at the valley, no one would speak another word.

✧   ✧   ✧

“There. Stay still.”

“…”

Raizel’s lips pursed in disappointment.

Normally, the youngling was wont to do as she pleased. she’d always been against taking orders from those weaker than her, and that was nearly everyone.

Which made this the first time.

Paradoxically, the herbalist before her was too weak. While Raizel had no qualms pummeling another dragon into the ground, a flick of her hand could very well cause irreversible damage on Eline.

And so, with violence no longer an option, all Raizel had at her disposal were words…which wasn’t exactly her strongest suit.

“Whew.”

After applying the last bit of the salve in hand, Eline wiped her hands before turning to address the youngling’s frowning face.

“You need to be very careful for a while. You absolutely cannot get up until your bones are stable.”

“How long is a while?”

“I’d say about two months at least, but…you’re a lot heavier than other dragons, so your leg will probably be under a lot more stress. Maybe…a year or two?”

“Wait, seriously? You expect me to stay holed up here for an entire year?”

“Or two. If you need anything, you’ll have to ask me or the others.”

“…Can’t I just move around on one leg or something?”

“And risk losing the other one? Nuh uh. Even a tiny trip could cost you right now.”

Raizel’s lips pursed further, her disappointment visibly growing.

She then glared at her own molten leg as if to threaten it to recover faster – though it wasn’t really accomplishing much.

“…Even when I ripped out my own bone, the old hag could fix it in minutes.”

“…I thought Aether hated you calling her that. And I told you, that’s because it was just the bone. We can swap out your bones easily – they’re entirely metal for you. But if we did that this time, the rest of your leg will never recover.”

“What does that even mean?”

“It means you’ll basically be walking around with a metal beam, not a leg.”

“…”

“Same reason why we can’t just attach a piece of metal as your arm and call it a day.”

Raizel was almost starting to miss having 8 legs as a spider. Almost.

But before she could continue that train of thought, a series of knocking interrupted her, with Ilias’ voice accompanying it.

“Eline? Can we come in now, or do you still need more time?”

“Oh. It’s alright! You can come in!”

The wooden door slowly creaked open as Ilias showed herself.

But much to Raizel’s surprise, standing next to her friend was the very person who’d caused the whole mess: the very one responsible for the state of her limbs.

As the youngling’s eyes narrowed to a glare, Aymeia helplessly fidgeted her hands, her gaze glued to the floor.

Raizel then looked to her friend, gesturing towards the former deity.

“What’d you bring her for?”

“Well…now that you’re awake, she had something to tell you.”

“…Tch. I could care less.”

As everyone fell silent, all eyes fixed onto the former deity.

As she took a deep breath, Aymeia finally raised her gaze to meet Raizel’s.

“I’m…sorry…for what happened.”

“…”

“…I’m really sorry.”

Truthfully, Raizel wasn’t as angry at Aymeia as others imagined her to be.

It wasn’t that the steel dragon was showing sympathy or mercy – she’d simply been told over and over again that one day, her luck would eventually turn around to punish her for all the trouble she’d caused others. All the violence she’d wielded in her life would return to haunt her, is what the elders had said.

And to that, Raizel’s answer had always been the same.

- ‘Sure, let it.’

After all her years of using brute force to get her way, it only made sense that one day, someone else would do the same to her.

But even as the youngling processed her feelings, her lips curved into an evil grin, her head filling with snarky thoughts.

‘Actually…this could work.’

And finally, what came out of her mouth wasn’t in line with her honest thoughts whatsoever.

“Sorry? I have to stay holed up for decades, and you think sorry’s gonna cut it?”

“…Wait, decades? I only said-“

“WELL?! SAY SOMETHING!”

Eline’s correction was swiftly drowned out as Raizel screamed out her last phrase.

In response, Aymeia jerked back slightly, her tone shuddering in guilt and fear.

“I, I’m really sorry…if I can make up for it in any way, I will…”

“Good. That’s better.”

The heaviness in the air immediately dissipated as Raizel slumped back on her bed.

She then leisurely turned to Ilias – as well as Light and Karas, who were standing a little ways behind the red dragon.

“By the way, what were you guys saying earlier? Something about the old bones having a problem with Lord Serenis?”

“…Wait, you heard that?”

“Sure I did.”

Immediately after, the steel dragon’s pressuring gaze fell upon Aymeia next.

“Go find out what that’s all about.”

“Me? H…how?”

“What else? Go to them and ask.”

Aymeia opened and closed her mouth several times. She wasn’t even sure where to begin with that query.

“…You want me to…ask the elder dragons…directly?”

“Well, I would myself, but I can’t – thanks to you.”

“…”

“So you go do it instead.”

As Aymeia remained frozen on the spot, Ilias kindly leaned forward to whisper in the former deity’s ear.

“…She’s not lying. Knowing Raizel, she really would barge in and ask them directly.”

It wasn’t exactly helpful advice, of course.

Actually, it wasn’t much of an advice at all.

Aymeia’s eyes began to shake as she imagined how that would go. Confronting an elder dragon was one thing, inquiring a personal matter was another, and obtaining the answer was…well, as far as she could imagine, practically impossible.

But impossible or not, Raizel nudged her head once more, hurrying the former deity to get out.

“Well? What’re you waiting for?”

“…I…um…”

Raizel snorted at the broken answer. She was making a sly grin, but fortunately(?), Aymeia’s eyes were too busy staring at the floor to notice.

Apparently, being bed-ridden wasn’t all bad.

“Get to work.”