“What do you see when you look at her spirit?” Thio asked, eyebrows slightly raised. The Priest hadn’t been able to see anything, so what exactly was the Hawk Dragon seeing?

“Purity.”

“…I’m not sure I understand.”

She tilted her head slightly, exasperated. “It’s always like this, with you Mages. Does it need to be explained? Purity is purity. It is what makes you humans worth bothering with. The finest Warriors have it, and the lesser ones imitate it. Now that I look more closely,” She suddenly leaned her face into Thio’s until her beak almost touched his nose, startling him. “You are close to it too, aren’t you? Almost… almost… but…”

Wise Elder One then leaned her head back and stared curiously at both Caroline and Thio. “How very interesting. I did not notice at first, since you are the lesser one and it’s very faint, but, your Purity is connected.”

Both Chuck and Forest cried out in surprise: “IT’S WHAT?”

“It is very surprising, no? It’s like something is——” She then stopped suddenly, as if she’d been interrupted. After tilting her head left and right, she finally said, “…I see. So it is like that.”

“What’s like what?” Forest asked with a frown.

The old dragon tapped the ground with a single claw and then stood up. “Ahem. Right. I’m going to take a nape.”

“Wait!” Forest frowned, following after her. “You can’t drop a fire bomb like that and then brush it off like it’s nothing!”

Wise Elder One simply gave a whistle and ignored him.

“Hey! Don’t just ignore me!” He brazenly grabbed on to her neck, digging his heels into the ground. This didn’t work and instead he was simply dragged along into her dome house.

After they were inside, there was some muffled arguing. Chuck clicked several times in a worry, feathers fluffing up. Arguing with the Wise Elder One was dangerous business.

Then, quite suddenly, Forest came flying out the entrance and landed on his backside with a thud on the ground. He got up and dusted himself off, glaring.

“If she thinks that’s the end of it,” He muttered angrily, “She’s got another thing coming. I’m reporting this, I don’t care about the denials!”

There was a loud screech from the Wise Elder One’s house, causing everyone to flinch.

“Forest,” Chuck timidly spoke up. “Might… might you overlook it, just this once? If Wise Elder One chooses not to say then—-”

Forest interrupted him, “What do you see Chuck? Can you see what she saw?”

The Hawk Dragon looked nervously at Caroline and Thio and squinted, then shook his head. “Sorry Forest. She’s Wise Elder One for a reason. She knows things.”

“Can someone explain what’s going on?” Thio finally cut in, annoyed.

Forest rubbed his forehead, feeling stressed. “How much do you know about Purity?”

“Other than it meaning a form of cleanliness or moral goodness?”

“Yes, other than that.”

“Nothing.”

“Alright, alright… well, that’s not surprising. It’s a Hawk Dragon concept to begin with…” He was muttering to himself slightly, before saying more firmly: “So humans think in systems of morality: good and evil, honor and dishonor. But Hawk Dragons view the world in terms of completeness. The more complete a thing is, the more pure it is… there are degrees to it. Humans are interesting because they start out very incomplete and gain their purity over time. Hawk Dragons like people with a lot of Purity in them. Follow me?”

“…I believe so.”

“So, based on what I said, how the hell can two people have connected Purity? That’s like saying your spleens or eyes are connected. It doesn’t make sense! But Wise Elder One’s perception is always accurate, she’s never been wrong…” He was scratching his head, clearly perplexed. “…and she won’t say what’s going on either, even though she clearly knows. I’ve got to report this but what am I suppose to say? I’ve never even heard of a Hawk Dragon hiding something like this before…”

“Perhaps another Hawk Dragon, other than Chuck..?” Caroline suggested in a bid to be helpful.

“I mean, there’s not many who are as powerful as her, but there’s no harm in trying…” Forest looked at Chuck. “How about we—”

At that exact moment, a loud screech, followed by a lot of clicking, and whistles came from inside Wise Elder One’s home. The moment she finished, a wave of responding screeches and clicks from the surrounding houses could be heard, echoing out into the farthest corners of the town. Chuck stiffened in alarm.

Forest spat out obscenities. “Never mind! She just told everyone they’re forbidden to help. Even the other Pens won’t help now. Dammit!”

Chuck’s wings drooped. “Sorry Forest. You know we can’t go against a direct order.”

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “No, it’s not your fault.” He then stared at Thio and Caroline. “Is there anything unusual about you two that I should know about, before reporting?”

The couple glanced at each other.

“I’ve got a Divine Seal on me.” Caroline offered.

“Really?”

She nodded.

“Huh, never heard of that before.” He turned to Thio. “And you?”

“I’m perfectly normal.”

Forest squinted, unbelieving.

“That look is very offensive, you know.”

“Well, can I take a look at both your information really quick? Just in case?”

They shrugged.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Go ahead, though I told you I’m normal.”

Forest cast the Information spell on Caroline and grunted at what he saw. There was sealed information but her physical traits were stunted from, he assumed, the curses. He then cast the same spell on Thio, when he got the bottom and he almost choked laughing despite being in a bad mood.

“What? What are you laughing at?” Thio asked, alarmed.

“What’d you even do to earn that?” Forest said between chortles. At Thio clueless expression he explained: “You haven’t checked recently have you? It’s at the bottom. ‘Cheerful Observers: the Spirits are enjoying watching you, specifically when you spoil your wife. They advise doing more of that and less reading in the future.’ Hahahaha… are they peeping on you guys? What the heck? I’ve never seen anything like this!”

“What the——I’ve never——?!” Thio cast Information on himself in disbelief. But it was real, and it was right there. He stared at it, dumbstruck. “When in the world…?”

“Huh? What’s that about watching?” Caroline asked. Since Thio had cast Information on himself, she could actually see the text properly for once. While the rest of the text was white, the bottom text was red and looked like a badly scribbled footnote.

Forest, having seen her mana affinity, understood Caroline had almost no aptitude for magic. Unfortunate people like that tended to have large gaps in magical knowledge.

“You know how your Information changes depending on your actions, right?”

She nodded, she knew that much. When you got stronger, it was reflected in your Information after all. The Guild kept track of that kind of thing to determine what Requests members were allowed to accept.

“Spirits can’t change Information, but they can add to it… sort of like a note in the margins, I guess. Usually Priests and people associated with the church end up with notes, since Spirits like them best. But, every now and then, a random person will just… get noticed, by a Spirit. And when that happens, they’ll end up with a note. Sometimes they’re warnings or blessings and sometimes they’re just… like this. Varies from person to person.”

Thio was already trying to cast every spell he knew to hide the randomly acquired “note”. Much to his disappointment, it wasn’t working. His shoulders slumped, ears burning red.

Seeing his expression, Forest laughed harder. “Can’t hide it can you? Well, they aren’t raw mana that you can manipulate. Magic only works on them if they allow it.”

Thio glared at Forest. “I hope Wise Eldest One finds you a wife, and soon.”

“Hey now, no need to spit curses at me.” Forest gave a mock look of horror.

“Ah…” Caroline patted Thio arm sympathetically while trying to hide her own amusement. “I bet it’s the one’s who laughed at me. You remember?”

Thio blinked and then nodded. “You might be right. So definitely not a dream then… You said there were a lot at our house too…”

“Hm? What’s this about?”

“It’s not confirmed yet, but my wife claims to have seen Spirits. A lot of them.”

“Really? I hope you saw a Priest about that.” Getting a random note from a Spirit was one thing, but seeing a whole bunch of them was another. That went straight into the supernatural and Priests were the ones to consult about that kind of thing.

“Of course.”

“I guess that’s how you caught the attention of Spirits then… though it’s strange they gave it to you and not the one who saw them.”

“They might have given one to her. But the seal is probably interfering with it.”

“That divine seal thing?”

“Yes.” Thio sighed. “Rather than explain it right here, would you be fine with me just writing a report and sending it over later?”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. Less work for me, I can just attach it to my own.” Forest nodded and then cocked his head. “And here you thought you were normal.”

“I am normal.” He said with some exasperation and then turned to Caroline. “Have you rested enough? Or do you need to sit a while longer?”

“I think I’m good to go.” She stood up and then said remorsefully, “Sorry this keeps happening.”

“Hm? What keeps happening?”

“This… this seal I have… I don’t know why, but ever since getting stuck in those ruins, it keeps attracting a lot of attention. I’ve had it for four years and it was never an issue. Now it feels like every other person is noticing it.”

“Ah, that… to be fair, you never really looked into the cause of it those four years. It just seems to pop up a lot because we’re paying more attention to it. You don’t need worry so much.” He took her hand and put it on his arm, giving it a gentle pat.

Caroline was silent for a moment before murmuring, “I suppose that’s true.”

After that, Forest and Chuck took them to another dome house, to a Hawk Dragon family with already hatched chicks. The fledglings were about the size of a large dog with soft downy white and gray feathers and tiny fluffy wings. They only new a few words in “human”, which they practiced on Caroline and Thio excitedly. (Which were, in order of most used: Hello, Goodbye, My Name Is, and I Am lost.) Caroline found them utterly adorable, and stayed there for quite some time “talking” and playing with them.

The inside of a Hawk Dragon house was far more civilized looking than the outside, and she now understood why they were referred to as houses rather than huts. There was a mixture of Hawk Dragon and man-made items inside. The bed, while on the floor, was covered in man-made cloth with dragon found stuffing and there were hanging baskets filled with fruits and vegetables. The walls were covered with dragon and man-made decorations, even military awards rewarded to the working dragons in the family. The children had stuffed and wood carved toys, which they kept in boxes. It was a simple one room home, very like a human’s house in the slums.

Next, Chuck offered to fly Caroline around.

Hawk Dragons had a special kind of saddle put on their back for riders. Rather than a hard leather one like you’d see with horses, it was soft (but sturdy) woven flexible leather and cloth. It had multiple hand holds, allowing people to sit or lay down on the Hawk Dragon’s back, depending on the kind of flight (take off, gliding, etc).

There was no seatbelt or safety harness, since magic was used to keep riders from falling off. When hearing this, Caroline’s face blanched. She had no talent for magic at all, and knowing that all that was keeping her from turning into a splatter on the ground was something she couldn’t even use… well, she didn’t feel assured.

Seeing her expression, Forest and Thio assured her she didn’t have to fly if she was afraid. That only made her annoyed with herself for being weak and helped her push past her fear. And anyway, she really DID want to fly on a dragon’s back, at least once. It was the stuff of fantasies, and letting fear get in the way would be a crying shame.

Thio, seeing an opportunity to have “safe” physical contact, decided to go with her.

“Alright,” Forest said after they’d climbed on and she’d given him her hat. “The take off and descent is the bumpiest part of the flight. Keep yourselves as flat and leaned forward as much as possible. The magic I cast will eliminate the worst jerking, but not all of it. After all, it’s important to feel movement and wind current to some degree, otherwise you’re riding blind. Once you’re up, Chuck will help with anything else. Ready?”

Caroline, and Thio nodded.

“Ok, I’m moving out of the way! Have a fun flight!” Forest lightly jogged away. He waved at them with Caroline’s hat in his hand when he was a safe distance.

The Hawk Dragon crouched down and then made a powerful leap up and forward. The jump alone put them above the domed houses, and then one powerful down-swing of Chuck’s wings put them several more feet up. Legs tucked underneath him and head leaned forward, Chuck kept flapping his wings in powerful strokes. Every movement put them higher and higher until suddenly Forest was just a dot below them.

Even though Caroline had been right there through the entire process, it felt surreal. Hawk Dragons really weren’t shaped for flight, much less hauling two people on their backs. And yet, here they were, gliding over the valley lake as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Magic was really something.

“This is amazing!” Caroline said excitedly, looking this way and that. Despite her dress forcing her to sit side-saddle, she still got a great view. And one of the spells cast reduced wind interference so they didn’t have to scream to be heard.

“Hm, captivating.” She heard Thio say in response, though he wasn’t referring to the scenery.

Thio, who could sit properly, had practically forced her on his lap. His hands were tightly wrapped around her waist and, because of their height difference, his chin rested lightly on the back of her head. Every time she moved, her hair would tickle his nose.

He didn’t, strictly speaking, need to fly with her. He used the excuse that it’d help her feel safer, but his real motive wasn’t even close to altruistic: He just wanted an excuse to touch her and smell her scent. Since no one was looking, he’d let down his guard and had an expression that would have made Caroline laugh: a big goofy grin, flushed face, with his eyes closed.

“You know…” Caroline said after a while, completely unaware of what was going on behind her. “I don’t understand why Hawk Dragons, or even Griffins, aren’t used for transporting goods commercially. Wouldn’t it be faster than doing everything by land or sea?”

“They’re considered sacred creatures, under the direct care of the Emperor. Using them for delivery services would be extremely disrespectful. And besides that, there aren’t that many of them compared to the rest of the Empire’s population, I don’t think they could keep up with demand.”

“I don’t know, transferring information and goods across the Empire is an important honorable job. It’s part of how you keep a country thriving. You also never know when it’ll tie into a national security issue, like in case of a sudden invasion or forest fire or something. And if you’re worried about over work, just raise the prices to offset the interest. At some point, if the price is high enough the demand will drop to manageable levels.”

Thio eyebrows had gotten progressively higher as she talked. “Since when were you interested in national security and the economy?”

Even though it was awkward, she leaned away from him to look up into his eyes with a serious expression on her face. “I’ve said this before, but there are a lot of difference between my home country and the Empire. Even the mail and delivery system is different. I can’t help noticing and wondering why, and what could be done to improve it. But I’m not royalty or aristocracy, I don’t have the power or connections to change big stuff. I can only change things within my sphere of influence.”

Thio recalled Father Richard’s comment about Caroline harassing the Mayor. He stroked her hair, apologizing, “I’m sorry. I’d forgotten you’ve always been serious about improving the quality of life of the people around you.”

She shrugged. “I’m not upset. Still though, it’d be nice if Hawk Dragons were utilized for more than just the military. I think it’d help improve their reputation too, if people saw them more frequently. Then they’d stop putting them on the same level of fire dragons.”

Chuck, who’d been listening in, spoke up in objection, “Who puts us on the same level as fire dragons?! I will go and talk to them PERSONALLY.”

“Oops! Sorry Chuck, I said that wrong. It’s more like people just lump all dragons together. Especially in the south, where dragons are pretty rare, they don’t know much about them. Any time you combine something powerful with ignorance, you get fear. It’s just natural. So people are suspicious and scared, even if they don’t need to be.”

Chuck gave a thoughtful click. “And you think delivering stuff would make them less afraid?”

“Well… it’s one way to do it, not the only way.” She laughed and patted the Dragon’s side. “The only reason it crossed my mind it is because I use the delivery system for letters. I guess you could say I’m being selfish in my own way.”

“You are an interesting person, Caroline Matthews.” Chuck commented, using her full name for the first time. “It is as you say. Even Hawk Dragons are sometimes afraid of what they don’t know. Why are you not afraid us?”

“Why would I be afraid?”

“Don’t you come from the south? Aren’t they afraid of us there?”

“Oh! Where I come from, originally, dragons were myth and legend. No one thought they were even real. So why would I be afraid of something that didn’t exist to me until four years ago?”

Chuck clicked in surprise. “What a strange place you come from then…” He tilted his body suddenly and turned sharply causing his passengers to yelp. “But we are real! We are powerful! So perhaps you should be afraid!”

Caroline, face flushed slightly from sudden movement, laughed. “Moving like that.. Do you want me to be afraid?”

“If I do?”

“It’s not going to work. I already know the kind of person you are, and that you’re just joking around. Besides, I’ve got Thio with me, and even if you knocked me off, he’d just catch me.”

“You know me well!” Chuck glanced behind him and gave a chirping laugh. “I have done the Ice Prince a favor today!”

“Eh? What? You did? …Thio are you alright?” Thio had buried his face in her short hair and had pulled her closer and started squeezing.

Chuck just kept laughing.

———

Later that day, after returning home, Caroline was resting on the sofa and doing some minor embroidering work, humming softly to herself.

Thio, who’d been sitting on the other side of the sofa, had been reading. Finally, he stopped and, placing a bookmark between the pages, closed the book.

“Caroline…”

“Hm?”

“What will you do when you get your memory back?”

“Do?”

“Yes, will you go home?”

Her hands paused and her head tilted.

“…I don’t know.”

“You don’t? Surely you miss your family? Your friends?”

“I do but… even if I could go, I’d miss you more.”

“If you go, I’ll go with you though.”

“…I don’t think you can.”

“What? Why?”

She was silent for a very long time, face scrunched in thought. She suddenly sat up straight, back rigid. When she looked at him, her eyes were very clear and focused, causing a chill to run down his spine.

“Caroline are you—”

“It was a one way trip.”

“One way?”

“We can never go back.”

“We?”

“I don’t regret my decision.”

“Huh?”

“Do you regret yours?”

“What?”

She grunted, covering her face as though in pain, and slumped forward. Her embroidery fell to the ground with a clatter.

“Caroline?!” He rushed forward, grabbing her by her shoulders, which were shaking. “Are you alright? Caroline?”

Her hands lowered and she stared at him blankly for a moment, “Theo?”

“Yes?”

“W-what?” She started blinking rapidly, her shaking stopped, and looked at him confused. “Huh? Thio? When did you get over here?”

He’d reached out and embraced her, almost violently. Breathing shakily, he repeated to himself: It will be alright. It will be alright. She’s alive, she’s here. As long as she’s breathing, things could be worked out.

“What’s the matter?”

“I, I just… wanted to hug you.”

“Really? Are you a Hug Monster?” She laughed, returning his embrace.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, relishing her warmth.

“I just might be… let me stay this way for a bit, alright?”

Puzzled by his sudden neediness, she nodded. “Alright. I’m partial to Hug Monsters anyway.”