It was hard to think clearly after learning that Veldanava had grown weak. You could tell just by looking at him. I still couldn't believe that a dragon as imposing as he could be in such a fragile state. The weight of that reality bore down on my heart, casting a shadow over the joy of the moment. How could something so powerful be brought to its knees? A deep unease filled me, knowing that even the strongest among us were vulnerable.
I knew this would happen, yet it was something I couldn't get out of my mind. I had shared so many good moments with Veldanava. The thought of losing someone so close filled me with deep, overwhelming sadness. It was incredible that I could experience things like this, but at the same time, it left an undeniable emptiness. I didn't remember my past, and Veldanava created a story for me, giving me purpose in this new world. I didn't have a name, and Veldanava granted me one with affection, like a gift I never knew I wanted. I didn't remember my family, and instead, Veldanava, Lucia, and Rudra became my family, giving me love and support. Now, thinking that all of this could fade away filled me with anguish. The possibility of losing them, of losing that vital connection, weighed on my heart.
My eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the sky met the earth in a blurred line that seemed endless. I was alone in the place where Veldanava and I used to talk, a corner that was once full of laughter and camaraderie but now felt empty and heavy. I let out a sigh, a sigh that carried all the weight of the sadness within me, and lay on the ground, feeling the coolness of the grass against my skin as I looked at the clouds.
Each one seemed to tell stories, stories of simpler times, of moments when worry didn't exist. Suddenly, my elemental emerged from my body, moving restlessly around me, as if it could feel the storm of emotions overwhelming me. Its nervousness only reflected what I myself felt: uncontrollable confusion and fear.
"I don't have the energy to argue with you," I said with great dismay, my voice barely a whisper in the wind. "I just want to wander in my mind."
I felt my thoughts intertwine in a whirlwind of memories and worries. The image of Veldanava, so strong and protective, now fragile and tired, haunted me. How had it come to this point? How could a being so powerful be in such a vulnerable state? Every time I thought about his weakening, a pang of anguish shot through my chest.
The elemental continued moving restlessly around me, as if trying to cheer me up, but its energy couldn't change the reality I was facing. Solitude settled upon me, and the silence of the place became deafening. I lost myself in thoughts, recalling moments I had shared with Veldanava, the advice he'd given me, the stories we'd told together. All of that now seemed so distant, like a dream fading upon waking.
Suddenly, the sky began to darken, as if the world, too, could feel the sadness weighing on my heart. I closed my eyes, wishing I could trap those happy moments somewhere, where pain couldn't reach them. I wondered if Veldanava realized how much I needed him, not only as a mentor but as a friend. The thought of losing that connection filled me with a sadness I had never experienced before, a sadness that threatened to consume everything in its path.
"I already told you I don't have the energy to—"
My voice froze as I saw a giant ice stake hurtling toward me at deadly speed. Without a second thought, I jumped out of the way, rolling across the ground just in time. My elemental unleashed a burst of heat that melted part of the ice, but it wasn't enough to stop it. The stake continued its course, and my elemental barely managed to dodge it before it hit the ground, causing an explosion that sent debris and snow flying everywhere.
"What the hell was that?!" I shouted, still dazed and coughing through the dust.
I looked up, and what I saw left me utterly stunned: a huge dragon covered in scales as white as snow, with black spikes running down its back. Its eyes glowed in an intense golden hue, the same color as the large scale that protected the top of its head. Two white horns pointed forward from each side of its forehead. Its jaw was black, and red teeth like embers protruded from its mouth.
"Great... just what I needed," I murmured, a mix of sarcasm and terror in my voice. "Wasn't there a smaller beast available to intimidate me today?"
The dragon glared at me, clearly irritated by my comment. It let out a roar so powerful I felt the ground shake beneath my feet. My elemental, nervous, turned toward me as if to say, "Do you have a plan, or are we about to become lunch?"
"Don't worry," I said, with a smile that didn't convince anyone, least of all myself. "It's just a giant dragon with flaming fangs... what could go wrong?"
In response, the dragon inhaled deeply, and the temperature around us plummeted. My elemental and I barely had time to react as a blast of frost and icy wind was launched at us.
"Run!" I shouted to my elemental as we dodged the attack, slipping on the snow and landing clumsily behind a rock.
From my hiding place, I looked at the dragon, and suddenly, a slightly crazy idea came to mind.
"What do you think?" I whispered to my elemental, with a spark of excitement in my eyes. "Should we bet on melting those teeth in one go?"
My elemental looked at me (though it sparked), confused, as if seriously considering ending our contract.
"Oh, come on," I added, patting the air, "what's the worst that can happen? Just... not coming back in one piece."
The little fire sphere threw off more sparks, this time out of pure disappointment, before returning to my body.
"I'll take that as a valid response," I said, sighing.
But the moment I finished the sentence, the sphere popped out again, shooting frantic sparks as if trying to tell me something urgent.
"Now what?!" I asked, crossing my arms.
The sphere did a small pirouette in the air and, without warning, shot a tiny flame that left my hair a bit singed. I gaped at it, and the sphere blinked as if laughing at me.
"Oh, so you like making jokes now!" I grumbled, trying to put out my hair. "You know what? I'm going to call you: 'Burning Joke.'"
The sphere gave one last teasing spark before disappearing into my body again.
Before I could catch my breath after the fire sphere's antics, the dragon let out a roar so deafening I felt the ground shake beneath my feet. Its golden eyes fixed on me, and its dark jaw opened, revealing those sharp teeth as red as fire. It was clear: it hadn't come to ask for directions.
"Perfect, the day just keeps getting better," I muttered, bracing myself.
The dragon flapped its wings, kicking up a storm of snow and dust that made me cover my eyes for a second. I barely had time to recover when a massive claw came down toward me. I leapt to the side, rolling across the snow just in time, as the claw shattered the ground where I'd been a moment before.
"Burning Joke, now or never!" I shouted, releasing the small fire sphere that was still sparking as if in a bad mood.
The sphere came out and started spinning in my hands, throwing off little sparks before transforming into a flame that I directed at the dragon's head. The fireball crashed into its black jaw and caused a small explosion, but the dragon barely flinched. It looked at me with contempt and, with a single movement, counterattacked with an icy blast that froze everything in its path.
"That didn't go as expected!" I said, dodging as best I could while the ground froze beneath my feet.
In a desperate attempt, my elemental threw itself at the dragon, forming a heat barrier to block the frost attack. The icy blast melted into the warm air, but not before the dragon whipped its tail, sending me flying. Landing clumsily in the snow, I got up, coughing, but with a defiant smile.
"All right, dragon... that was a good hit," I said, brushing off the snow. "But you haven't seen the worst of me yet."
And with a spark in my eyes, I gathered all the magicules I could, ready to show the dragon that my "Burning Joke" was deadlier than it looked.
The dragon snorted, as if bored by my attempts, and began charging another icy blast in its throat, its golden eyes fixed on me, as if saying, "Is that all you've got?"
"Oh, yeah? Well, get ready, shiny scales," I said, feeling the heat build up in my hands as I prepared an even bigger fireball. "This isn't just any joke... it's the special edition!"
My elemental, vibrating with excitement (or maybe pure nerves), threw sparks around the fireball, intensifying the flame until it looked like a small star in my hands. The dragon looked at me, with a mix of curiosity and... slight respect?
"Take this!" I shouted, hurling the fireball straight at its face.
The sphere flew, slicing through the air, and struck the dragon with an explosion of heat and sparks. But when the smoke cleared, I saw that the dragon had barely taken a step back. It looked at me, blinking slowly, and opened its mouth to roar again, but... this time, it sounded almost as if it were laughing.
"Oh, great. It's mocking me," I muttered under my breath as the dragon observed me with that smug glint in its golden eyes.
Then, with a slightly sarcastic tone, I added, "Well, at least I've got its attention! That's a good start!"
The dragon tilted its head to one side, as if evaluating whether I was truly a threat or just a minor nuisance. And, in an unexpected gesture, it lowered one of its massive claws and moved it from side to side… as if daring me to try again!
"Oh, now it's challenging me," I said, smiling with renewed enthusiasm. "You know what? I like you, giant beast. But be warned—you have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
My elemental looked at me, clearly worried. "Are you sure about this?"
"Sure? Absolutely not! But we're already here, so... let's heat some scales!"
The dragon kept staring at me, its enormous claw slowly moving side to side. I felt the pulse of the small fire sphere beside me, floating and crackling nervously, as if it were saying, "Are we seriously doing this?"
"Calm down, Fiery Joke," I said, trying to sound confident. "It's just a giant dragon with a sense of humor... and possibly an appetite."
The sphere sparked with anxiety and circled around my head, flashing as the dragon watched us with that mocking gleam in its eyes. With a sigh, I raised my hand, and the small sphere settled above my palm, surrounding me with a comforting warmth.
"Well, here goes nothing," I murmured, and felt my elemental gather its energy, glowing brighter.
The dragon tilted its head, intrigued by our next move, and lowered its snout close enough that I could see every sharp scale.
"Don't worry, buddy," I whispered to my elemental. "This time, we're going to surprise it."
The sphere crackled with determination, as if accepting the challenge. Suddenly, I launched it at the dragon, and my elemental shot forward like a comet, tracing an arc of fire in the air. It planted itself right in front of its enormous snout and, in an unexpected flash, released a burst of sparks that exploded like a miniature fireworks display.
The dragon stepped back slightly, shaking its head, surprised by the attack. My eyes lit up. "Yes! How do you like that?"
The dragon, seemingly offended, snorted a cloud of smoke and shot us a look that screamed, "Is that all?"
"Well, it looks like we made it angry now," I whispered as the sphere floated back to me, sparking more than ever. And though I shivered at the sight of the dragon beginning to charge another icy blast, I turned to my elemental and smiled. "Ready for round two, Fiery Joke?"
The sphere spun with energy, releasing sparks that seemed to say, "Whenever you are!"
The dragon eyed us, clearly assessing if we were worth the effort as a snack or just a couple of annoying bugs. Its enormous snout leaned toward us, and for a moment, I thought it would sneeze and freeze us on the spot.
"Well, Fiery Joke, looks like we're on the menu," I said, trying not to sound as scared as I felt. My little fire sphere circled around me, crackling nervously as if searching for an escape route.
The dragon opened its mouth, revealing rows of teeth that looked like blades. "Oh, great, just what I needed… a close-up dental exam!"
The sphere released a burst of sparks that seemed to laugh. It was clear my humor wasn't helping, but hey, at least we were both in the same situation.
In a desperate move, I launched Fiery Joke at the dragon's snout, hoping it would give it something to think about. The little sphere crackled, spiraling until it positioned itself right in front of the dragon's nose and shot out a small flame… a mini-fireworks display that lit up its face.
The dragon pulled back a bit, confused, wrinkling its nose in disgust. "Yes! That's it, Fiery Joke!" I shouted, excited.
But, to my surprise, the dragon only blinked, then looked at me with an expression that screamed, "Are you serious?"
"Wow, looks like we were a bit short on firepower, don't you think?" I said as Fiery Joke returned to me, releasing some sparks that seemed to say, "Hey, I'm doing my best here."
The dragon let out a kind of laugh, which sounded more like a thunderous roar. And then, as if accepting the challenge, it unleashed a blast of freezing air so powerful that even my elemental shivered, flickering as it struggled to stay alight.
"Hang in there, Fiery Joke! That scaly ball doesn't know who it's messing with!" I yelled, trying to sound brave, as I hid behind a rock with my elemental. The fire sphere clung to my shoulder, sparking in response, as if saying, "Yeah, sure, but you owe me."
When the blast ended, I peeked out and looked at the dragon, who now seemed even more amused. "Hey, big guy, don't you think you're overdoing it with that breath? You could sell it as an air conditioner in the summer!"
The dragon narrowed its eyes, as if processing the joke, and then let out another snort that messed up my hair even more.
"Well, at least I made it laugh… right?" I muttered to Fiery Joke, who spun around me in what looked like a little dance of sparks purely for amusement. "Alright, next round... Plan B! Although, of course, I don't have a Plan B yet, but… you know, we improvise!"
Just as I was about to attack, I turned my head at the sound of footsteps behind me, and my jaw dropped as I saw Veldanava walking calmly towards us.
"Veldanava!" I exclaimed, unsure if I was more relieved or confused.
"Velzard? What are you doing here?" he said in a curious voice, completely ignoring the ice and frost chaos surrounding us.
At that moment, the enormous white dragon transformed into a human. She looked barely like a teenager, with fair skin, diamond-blue eyes, and long, pearly white hair tied in two ponytails down to her waist. Her outfit was as elegant as it was unexpected: a white and blue dress with exposed shoulders, boots, and a golden headband holding a blue star-shaped pendant.
"Velzard…?" I asked, not knowing if I was really seeing what I thought I was. My elemental blinked in astonishment, releasing some doubtful sparks, clearly as confused as I was.
My heart stopped as I remembered who the girl in front of me was. She was Veldanava's younger sister!
Seeing Veldanava, she ran toward him with a big, innocent smile. But when she turned to me, her expression shifted. Her golden eyes gleamed dangerously, and she gave us a glare so icy that even a block of ice would feel warm in comparison.
My elemental, seeing her, shivered like a flame in the wind and released a shower of sparks. I, for my part, was paralyzed, swallowing hard.
"So you're the one who tried to 'scorch' me, huh?" Velzard said in a voice so sweet it was unsettling.
"Me?" I responded, pointing to myself and looking at my elemental. "Are you sure? Because... honestly, it was his doing." I pointed at my elemental, who immediately shot a furious spark at me, clearly indignant.
Velzard raised an eyebrow and observed us both, somewhere between amused and dangerous. "So, it was both of you?"
I was speechless, and my elemental stopped sparking as if it had run out of fuel. "Well… uh, technically… it was an accident?" I replied, laughing nervously.
Velzard tilted her head, her eyes still fixed on us. "Accident? Throwing a fireball at a dragon like me was an… accident?"
"Of course!" I replied immediately. "Totally. And, uh, to be honest, it was a very small fireball. Tiny. Sometimes my elemental gets a little… creative."
"Creative?" Velzard replied, crossing her arms and giving one last deadly look to my poor elemental, who already seemed to want to hide behind me.
"Hey! You attacked us first! I almost got impaled by your ice stake," I protested, trying to keep my voice firm.
Velzard looked at me with a raised eyebrow and a half-smile. "Ice stake? I'd call it a friendly warning."
We heard a cough, and we all turned our heads toward Veldanava. His dragon form was imposing, yes, but Velzard's presence still made my skin crawl. The intensity in her gaze seemed capable of freezing anything within ten kilometers, and she proved it when my elemental, receiving one last look of death, fainted in my hands.
Veldanava broke the uncomfortable silence, looking at his sister with a slight touch of impatience. "Well… back to the conversation, what are you doing here, Velzard?"
Velzard smiled, an unexpected glimmer of excitement lighting up her eyes. "I heard that Lucia is pregnant!"
Veldanava blinked, clearly surprised.
"How did you know?"
With a proud air, Velzard crossed her arms and said, "Lucia sent me a letter to the frozen continent."
I frowned, unable to resist asking, "The frozen continent? And does mail actually get there?"
Velzard shot me a sideways glance. "Are you implying I have trouble with postal services? Because, yes, it's complicated... The owls freeze along the way, the human messengers get lost in the snow..."
"And so how did the letter reach you?" I cut in, unable to contain my curiosity.
Velzard smirked mischievously. "Oh, she sent a human along with an owl. Quite persistent ones, I'd say."
I lowered my head in disappointment at the response.
Velzard nodded, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. "Naturally. Although they struggle to learn the route, sometimes one ends up on the wrong mountain, and I have to go look for him. And honestly, sometimes I, well, mess them up a little in the process of 'teaching.'"
"Mess up... humans and owls?" I asked, trying not to burst into laughter. "What do you do? Give them a motivational ice speech?"
"Let's just say I give them something to remember the path next time," Velzard replied with an innocent look that was actually a little dark and foreboding. "Like a thin layer of frost to refresh their memory."
Veldanava sighed, clearly accustomed to his sister's peculiar version of 'help.' "Velzard, could you try, just this once, not to terrify the poor owls and people from the Kingdom of Nasca?"
Velzard rolled her eyes. "Please! It's not like they're babies. A bit of cold won't hurt them." She shrugged, then added, "Besides, next time, I'll surely remember to buy them coats."
Listening to the whole exchange with Velzard, a nervous smile crept onto my face. Unconsciously, I backed away until I was near Veldanava, seeking his protection, as if that would save me from his sister's inquisitive gaze.
"By the way, who is he?" Velzard asked, pointing at me with a finger.
A chill ran down my spine. Before I could answer, my elemental, still seemingly shaken from the encounter, sparked timidly and hid behind my shoulder, as if it wanted to turn invisible.
Trying to keep my composure, I cleared my throat. "Uh… well, I'm his… adventure companion."
"Adventure companion?" Velzard raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "What kind of adventures?"
I hurried to answer before my elemental decided to spark more out of panic. "The kind, you know… of friendship, camaraderie, and occasional… life-or-death situations."
Velzard looked at me with an intense gaze and then glanced at her brother. "So now you surround yourself with… human adventure companions?"
Veldanava chuckled quietly. "He's rather… persistent, I'll give him that. And, for some reason, he doesn't run away when things get dangerous."
My elemental let out a protest spark, as if to suggest that things were a lot more dangerous than they appeared.
"Oh, yes… very brave," I muttered, rolling my eyes and casting a pleading look at Veldanava, who only smiled, enjoying the spectacle.
Velzard looked at me again, this time with a half-smile. "Well, if you manage not to faint at my next 'friendly warning,' I might consider you… a bit braver."
"Thanks… I think," I replied, as my elemental, still nervous, accidentally released another small spark. Velzard smiled, clearly amused, and my elemental hid even more, as if it wanted to avoid any further attention.
Veldanava laughed, turned his gaze toward me, and little by little, we found ourselves immersed in an entertaining conversation, laughing about anecdotes and casual remarks, completely oblivious to Velzard's presence.
Each time she tried to join in, Veldanava interrupted her without realizing it, following the thread of our conversation or laughing at something I said. For a moment, it seemed like we had both forgotten she existed.
"Huh? What's going on?" I murmured when I noticed my elemental, which usually sparked small lights, was now releasing rather large, nervous ones.
I turned my head, and my face instantly went pale.
Velzard was standing behind me, radiating an aura of death that made the air grow denser and colder with each passing second. Her gaze was fixed on me, with an intensity that combined ice and fire. She was jealous of the attention Veldanava was giving me!
I tried to force a smile. "Uh… Velzard, would you like to share a story too?" My voice barely came out as a whisper.
Velzard gave a dangerous smile. "Oh, don't worry, I've greatly enjoyed listening… from the shadows."
My elemental hid even further behind me, releasing sparks in silent protest, clearly more frightened than ever.
Veldanava, finally sensing the tension, let out an awkward laugh. "Oh, sister, don't be like that… you know, he has… let's say… a particular enthusiasm."
Velzard shot me a look that said: "I'll make those sparks from your elemental look like a campfire compared to what I'll do to you if you keep hogging the attention."
"Uh… so, anyone up for… changing the subject?" I suggested, with a nervous laugh as I tried to avoid her steely gaze.
My elemental let out a near-surrender spark. Clearly, we were both on very, very dangerous ground.
...
The two imposing dragons—well, Veldanava in his dragon form and Velzard in her human form, though equally intimidating—walked beside me, chatting with a naturalness that honestly surprised me. There they were, two legendary beings talking about trivial matters like the temperature in the frozen continent and how hard it was to find good food.
Meanwhile, I followed a few steps behind, trying to keep my dignity (and nerves) under control. Unfortunately, my elemental was no longer with me. The coward had decided it was an excellent time to disappear, hiding within me and leaving me with all the responsibility. Convenient, right?
"Hey!" I thought, trying to mentally communicate with him. "Are you really leaving me here alone?"
From somewhere within me, I felt a timid spark, as if it were saying, "Good luck, friend. I'm out."
Velzard, apparently noticing my internal struggle, gave me an amused look. "Something wrong?"
"Uh? No, no! Everything's perfect. Fantastic! Never better!" I replied, trying to appear as confident as possible, though my elemental kept releasing nervous sparks inside me, like it was trying to start a campfire without success.
Veldanava laughed and looked at his sister. "Look, it seems he enjoys your company, Velzard. Even his elemental is so excited it can't control itself!"
Velzard let out a soft laugh. "Oh, really? Well, I hope that enthusiasm doesn't turn into another small creative fireball."
A chill ran down my spine as my elemental, hearing that, gave off one last spark, clearly wanting to tone down its excitement… or any trace of its existence.
Velzard looked at me with that smile that mixed amusement with a hint of threat, and took a step toward me. "So, tell me, what's a mere human like you doing among dragons?"
I swallowed, feeling that every word needed to be selected with surgical precision. "Ah, well… one encounters certain… curious company, and well, you know how it is…"
She raised an eyebrow. "Curious? Is that the best word you have to describe my brother?" Veldanava, seeming to enjoy my nervousness, let out a deep laugh that rumbled like a soft thunder.
"Oh, no, no, no! Of course not! Curious in the best sense of the word. Like… like an unexpected discovery… a, uh… miracle!" My elemental, hearing me, released a small supportive spark from its inner hiding spot, though it quickly died out, probably regretting it.
Velzard observed me for a few seconds, then let out a brief, almost mocking laugh. "Well, I suppose you have guts. Few people would dare tell a dragon they're 'curious'… And as for that elemental of yours…" she cast a sharp look at my heart where my elemental was hiding, and I felt my little companion retreating even more.
I tried to ease the situation. "Oh, he's... rather shy. He's not used to—"
Veldanava, laughing, said, "It seems you've frightened him, Velzard. I think you've put him on a spark diet." Both laughed, and I could only manage a nervous smile as Velzard gave me one last calculating look.
"Alright," she said finally. "I suppose that, as long as you keep your elemental under control and don't try any more 'creativity' on me, we can tolerate your presence… for now."
"Thank you," I replied, trying to sound calmer than I felt. Deep down, I only hoped my elemental wouldn't decide to "express its creativity" again at an inconvenient moment.
As the three of us continued walking, I felt a small tingle, as if my elemental were trying to whisper: "Don't worry, next time I'll be creative… but from very, very far away."
...
After a long walk, we had arrived at the Kingdom of Nasca. I stayed with Veldanava while Velzard went to find Lucia inside the kingdom. In a few moments, the two women came out and started talking as if they had known each other for life.
My eyes were wide open, and my mind couldn't match the amount of information I was receiving from watching such a scene. Was Lucia getting along with Velzard? Since when did they know each other?
While Velzard and Lucia talked animatedly, I stayed next to Veldanava, who was watching the scene with a serene smile, as if everything was perfectly normal.
"Have they always been… this close?" I asked, trying to hide my surprise.
"Yes, of course," Veldanava replied with a soft laugh. "After all, it doesn't take much for Velzard to consider someone her 'friend'… or her 'opponent.'" I noticed how Veldanava glanced at me.
I noticed my elemental barely peeking out, letting off a small spark as if he, too, was bewildered. I looked at him and whispered, "I think I understand now why we're always in trouble…"
Velzard and Lucia burst out laughing, their laughter ringing in the air, and they both looked at me as if they were reading my mind.
"Did you doubt us?" Velzard asked with a sharp smile, tilting her head.
"Doubt? No, not at all!" I hurried to answer. "It's just… well, I never imagined seeing you two so… friendly with each other."
Lucia smiled. "Oh, it's just that Velzard is a very affectionate sister-in-law… right?"
Velzard crossed her arms, smiling with a look that was half sweetness, half threat. "That's right, and I have an excellent memory, especially for new friends."
My elemental sparked so nervously that I felt he was sending me distress signals. And while the two women kept chatting, I thought to myself, "Please, no more family surprises… my poor heart can't take it."
I let myself fall to the ground, feeling the soft layers of grass wrap around me as I watched the clouds pass by. The laughter of Velzard and Lucia sounded in the background, probably discussing details about Lucia's pregnancy.
I was about to close my eyes when, suddenly, Velzard's face appeared right in front of me, invading my field of vision. I let out a strangled gasp and instinctively recoiled, but I was already caught: Velzard was watching me with that expression that teetered between curiosity and threat.
"What are you doing lying here? Did you think you could slip away from our chat?" she said, her voice filled with amusement.
"Me? Oh, no, of course not! I'm just… admiring the scenery," I replied, trying to sound casual.
Velzard looked at me as if considering whether to throw another 'friendly warning' at me. "Admiring the scenery… lying on the ground like a sack of potatoes?"
"It's a… very advanced relaxation technique," I explained, making an effort to maintain a smile. "It relaxes… everything… even the nerves."
She narrowed her eyes, still smiling. "Well, it seems to work a bit too well… So much so that your elemental has disappeared."
I cleared my throat and let out a nervous laugh. "Yes, well, I suppose he's also… deeply relaxing somewhere very safe."
Velzard let out a soft laugh and, without saying anything, lay down beside me on the grass, watching the clouds as if it were the most natural thing in the world. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt the chaos within me like a whirlwind. I stayed frozen, my gaze fixed on the clouds, desperately trying to ignore her presence.
"So, cloud expert, what do you see up there?" she asked, glancing at me with a mischievous smile.
"Eh? Oh… uh… a… dragon," I stammered, though I didn't even know which cloud I was pointing to. All I could see was that she was sitting dangerously close, close enough for the slight shift in temperature to envelop me.
Velzard raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "A dragon? Wow, how original."
I swallowed and let out an awkward laugh. "Sure… or, well, it could also be a… duck. It all depends on… perspective."
She laughed softly and fell silent for a moment, looking at the sky. I, for my part, was convinced that time had stopped, trapped in that momentary peace and the surreal sensation of being so close to her.
Finally, Velzard broke the silence. "You know… you have a curious way of seeing things. Even… interesting." She turned her head slightly toward me, her eyes shining with a gleam both amused and mysterious.
My face warmed, and I looked away, trying not to seem completely stunned. "Thanks, I think… although most of the time I just see what won't get me into trouble."
She let out a laugh, and then, with a playful expression, moved a bit closer, resting her head in her hands. "Well, in that case, being near me probably isn't the best of your ideas."
"Yes… probably," I murmured, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart, which suddenly sounded like a war drum.
With that last comment, I watched the clouds continue their journey.
I stayed silent, trying to convince myself that it wasn't what it seemed. No, I wasn't in love. Of course not. I was just a little… nervous? Yes, that was it. My face was burning simply because it was intimidating to be next to Veldanava's younger sister. Nothing more. After all, she almost killed me a while ago, and that aura of death wasn't easy to erase from memory.
"So… do you always lie on the ground watching clouds after a near-death experience?" she asked with a mischievous smile, tilting her head toward me.
I let out a forced laugh. "Only on special days like today, you know? When I survive dragons and death threats. It's a kind of… tradition."
In my mind, an image of a red primordial demon that I remembered well crossed my thoughts.
Velzard let out a little laugh, and something in her expression softened. "Interesting. Though, since you're so… bold"—her tone had a mocking edge—"maybe you should get used to things like this."
"Bold?! Hey, I wasn't looking for trouble. I'm just… someone who enjoys peace and quiet," I protested, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Sure, sure," she murmured, as if she didn't believe a word, and then, without warning, she reached over and ruffled my hair.
I froze, my heart racing. I looked away, feeling like a child caught doing something mischievous. I didn't want to look her in the face, so I focused my gaze on the horizon.
"What's wrong? Is the bold warrior afraid of a little hair ruffle?" she said, laughing a bit.
"It's not fear! It's… respect… for dragons. Especially those who can… well, crush me in less than a second."
Velzard raised an eyebrow, amused. "Respect me? Well, now I feel an enormous responsibility not to disappoint you."
I let out an awkward laugh and, without thinking too much, murmured, "I don't think that's possible…" I fell silent, realizing what I had just said, and wished the earth would swallow me whole.
Velzard was still for a second, then let out a genuine laugh, full of surprise. "Well, this is an unexpected twist," she said, smiling at me. And there, as the sun set and the clouds turned warm shades, the idea of being so close to someone so… dangerous and fascinating stopped being so terrifying and started seeming a bit… interesting.