(Jason, 16)

"Hello, Jason," Lina steps beside me.

We're in a ceremonial hall at the royal palace, where the knighting ceremony is to take place. I am dressed in formal attire, which bothers me. I did make it, though, so at least I know it's comfortable. Lina is wearing a plain, green dress and silver jewelry set with emeralds and green sapphires. Niko would probably be unable to stop staring at her, were he here, and I know he's the reason she decided to stand beside me for this ceremony, as other nobles and royals file in to prepare for Alex and Connor to arrive.

Uncle Zach is already standing at the head of the hall, waiting for things to begin. Papa Samuel is speaking with him right now, Franklin on my uncle's other side. They're discussing some deal Jacob made with Vora, including whether or not they should build a gate there.

I'm all for it. I can tell what Jacob was thinking with that, and I know Uncle Zach and Papa Samuel can, too.

"Hello, Lina," I turn my attention to her. "How are you today?"

"I am well, and you?" She responds.

"I am well," I respond. "Though you look a little worried. Are you certain you are well?"

"Yes, thank you," she smiles. "I am worried about Niko. He is returning this weekend, yes?"

"Erm, well," I say. "About that. You see, Niko was stretching outside, getting some fresh air this morning, when a dragon came by a kidnapped him."

"A dragon?" She gives me a bewildered look.

"Yep," I answer. "I showed up shortly after and was informed by one of his servants about the incident. Anyway, I followed the dragon back, thinking that since it's Niko, I didn't have to hold back while rescuing him. Turns out, there were nine other adult dragons there. That's not really something I could handle.

"The reason they kidnapped him," I say. "Is apparently because he trespassed on their territory a few times while recovering and didn't make the appropriate tributes to them. So now, he has to perform a series of tasks before they'll let him go free. Each dragon has a task for him, and he'll be informed of the next one only after he's completed the current task. Right now, the task is relocating a lake without lifting out the water and while it's still being fed by a river."

Uncle Zach gives me an amused look. I already informed him about the kidnapping, and he told me I should tell Lina with a little more tact than I told him. But who is tact for? Lina is a strong woman, she won't break down just because her betrothed was kidnapped by dragons.

"Is he in any danger?" She asks, brows creased slightly in worry.

"No," I answer. "The dragons just won't release him until he completes the task, but they don't eat people. Humans actually don't taste all that good to dragons. However, it could take awhile before he finishes all of the tasks. They said the last person they forced into it took three years. But this is Niko we're talking about, so… maybe a month? He might even manage it faster. I offered to help, but they refused, saying he had to pay the price for not making the proper tributes."

"Well, then," Lina says. "Let us pray to the King and Queen of the Gods he completes the task with swiftness."

Let us pray to the King and Queen of the Gods that Niko accepts himself and gains more confidence and self-esteem. Because really, Niko? Lina doesn't care about that stuff. She won't care that you're wounded and that you've replaced missing limbs with gargoyle limbs. In fact, she might even want to feel them just to see what the gargoyle limbs of a human feel like.

Actually, better that she doesn't. Not until marriage, which won't be for at least four more years. After university ends. By then, Niko will be grey in magical power, though, and his body will regenerate the missing limbs when he hits that.

Could part of Niko's plan be to stay away until he reaches grey in magical power? I know he consciously plans on staying in Garoyal forever, but his subconsciousness has shown he wants to return here, to his friends and his love.

Hm.

Something to think about later.

"Yeah," I tell Lina. "Niko could use the well-wishes."

"I will arrange another basket for him," she tells me. "If you are able to pass it on, that is?"

"I am," I nod. "The dragons don't mind me coming there, because of who I am, but they will refuse anything I do to assist him. So I can pass on a basket."

"I will do that after this ceremony, then," she tells me. "I believe it is about to begin."

"It is," I nod.

"Now announcing the arrival," the crier calls, and everyone straightens up and faces the main entrance. "Of Lord Alex Levirar and Lord Connor Levirar!"

The doors open, and Alex and Connor walk in beside each other, approaching Uncle Zach. We follow them with our gazes, and I have to refrain from grinning at Alex's attempt at not showing his discomfort at being around so many nobles and royals.

When they are in front of Uncle Zach, Alex and Connor both bow on one knee.

"Connor Levirar," Uncle Zach says as he is handed a mithril sword by a servant. "For your heroic efforts in reclaiming For Varaki and saving my the Princess Paula Varil, you have been nominated for Grand Knight by Princess Paula Varil. Do you swear to uphold the Oath of the Grand Knights?"

"Until my last breath," Connor responds.

Uncle Zach uses the blade of the sword to tap Connor first on the left shoulder, then on the right. If I remember correctly, knighting on Earth involved them drawing their own sword and handing it to the king or lord. I suppose this is just another difference, with Uncle Zach taking a new sword from a servant.

"Welcome to the ranks, Connor Levirar," Uncle Zach says, then holds the sword on the palms of his hands. "You may rise, Grand Knight Connor Levirar."

Connor rises, then accepts the sword from Uncle Zach. The servant who had supplied the sword hands Connor the sheath, and Connor slides the blade in, before holding the weapon at his side.

Uncle Zack takes another mithril sword from a second servant, then steps in front of Alex.

"Alex Levirar," Uncle Zach says. "For your heroic efforts first in a training camp where you slayed an ogre lord, then again just weeks ago outside of here in Varil City, where you slayed another ogre lord and changed the tide of battle, protecting this city from the horde of ogres and corrupted, you have been nominated for Grand Knight by Captain Matthew Enlin of the Royal Slayers. Do you swear to uphold the Oath of the Grand Knights?"

"Until my last breath," Alex says, surprising me by not having fumbling or hesitating on it.

Uncle Zach repeats the tapping on Alex.

"Welcome to the ranks, Alex Levirar," Uncle Zach turns the sword. "You may rise, Grand Knight Alex Levirar."

Alex does, then accepts the sword and the sheath, sliding the blade inside before holding it at his side.

"Everyone," Uncle Zach addresses the crowd. "Please, welcome our two newest Grand Knights as you have those before them. They have proven their service and loyalty to this kingdom."

We begin clapping, Alex doing his best to avoid looking at anyone. I check to make sure no one but him is paying attention, then I stick my tongue out at him. Alex gives me the stink eye, and I just grin wider.

"Now!" Uncle Zach calls out as the clapping dies away. "Let us feast!"

Servants bring in rolling carts with food and drinks on them, swiftly setting up tables with cloths over them, and in only a few minutes, the room is transformed into a banquet hall, everyone talking and eating. I pick up a couple of glasses of bubbling white wine, and hand one to Lina. It will be awhile before Alex and Connor are able to escape the nobles and royals welcoming them, and I'm sure Alex will end up at my home for a few minutes tonight.

"Jacob is doing well," I tell her. "I spoke to him a little before coming here, he said that Eran accepted his offer after I left from our training. He was going to leave behind a few soldiers as he went to the next place to resume negotiations with the various kingdoms. Do you want to know what happened?"

"What?" Lina asked.

"The mage there to open a gate," I say. "Was greeted by a messenger who said that their kingdom had no intention of entering a war with a kingdom possessing someone who could speak with griffins and allied with someone who could casually slay dragons."

"Really?" Lina asked. "Jacob must be quite pleased."

"Oh, it gets more amusing," I grin. "The mage reported that back, Jacob told him to go to the next location, and the same thing happened. Word was spread by messenger bird that Prince Jacob of Varil spoke casually with griffins, as if they were equals, and the griffins treated him the same way, and that his friend, Jason Jeshema, could toy with dragons before killing them. They were almost to the last kingdom on that edge before they weren't given that notice. I had one of the stuffies go and confirm intent. So far, he's confirmed the truth behind that in every one of those kingdoms."

"Okay," Lina says. "So now, we just need to worry about Vel, Nelem, the nations between them and the ones bordering the eastern mountains and… what was the current name of that nation?"

The kingdom that has formed between Vel and what remains of Sar changes its name every few days. The initial king was killed, and then it was taken over by his cousin, who changed the name to Krarn. He died of food poisoning – actual food poisoning, not assassination – that night, and it was changed to Lart by his champion, who took control. It's since been through four more leadership changes and four more names.

"Lrak," I answer. "You know, I think there's a reason it's never been a claimed territory before, just a collection of towns and villages. The current king was a town mayor whose town's guards managed to defeat the previous king's forces, then he declared himself king after executing the old one. It's really not been that long.

"As for Nelem," I say. "Their king sent a messenger to Fort Hormis, I suppose your papa didn't have the chance to tell you yet. Nelem has decided to step out of the war, and will be sending an ambassador to offer reparations."

"Really?" She asks. "That does not sound like Nelem at all. Once they commit to a war, they do not stop no matter what."

"They do if someone destroys one of the outer walls of the royal castle by throwing a black dragon at it."

"Yes," Uncle Zach says, and I give him a cheeky grin. "You decided to 'help' them handle the black dragon that dominated the territory near their royal castle and forcing them into exorbitant tributes by throwing it at their castle. Would you care to explain that?"

"I canceled the flight portion of their magic without affecting the portion of their gravity magic which prevents them from simply crushing themselves with their weight," I say. "Though a dragon can actually manage without it for awhile, considering how they're built and what they're made of. Then, I used a mixture of force, air, and gravity magic to catapult the dragon a few miles. As it flew, I made sure to evacuate everyone who would be in the way of the dragon's descent and the rubble. Once the dragon was dazed from the impact, I drew Harbinger, held back its power, and cut off the dragon's head."

"I know the how," Uncle Zach says. "You already explained that. The question is why you did that."

"So that they would know the rumors were true," I answer. "Plus, I wanted to see the difference in the potion between the blood of a red dragon and the blood of a black dragon."

I had actually just asked the dragon for a sample of its blood, and it decided to attack. I'd already asked seventeen other black dragons, and they all refused to donate for the potion. So when that one attacked, I decided I could use its corpse. I spent last night separating and processing it.

It was younger than the red dragon terrorizing Vor, but much more of its scales were intact, since I killed it so easily. The dragon being in Nelem just happened to be a coincidence, and I took the opportunity to show them the might of the King of Magic, the Magus of Magic, Jason Jeshema, Alorovos, High Magus Nolan, and the other many titles and names I hold.

Their king became much more willing to step out of the war after that, especially after Niko and I already took out decent chunks from their army and they lost the ancient artifacts they'd collected or borrowed.

Even people who don't back down once they begin a war know a lost cause when they meet it. Continuing to fight against a kingdom allied with someone who can kill a dragon isn't exactly something a smart person would do, no matter their morals.

"Jason," Uncle Zach says. "Do you have any idea what you did?"

"I discovered that the red dragon blood made the potion stronger, but the black dragon blood created less of a negative effect."

Uncle Zach groans as Lina chuckles, and I give him a cheeky grin.

"Don't worry, Uncle Zach," I say. "It's reflective of Jeshema, not Varil. It's my papas and mamas who will have to deal with any real fallout from it."

"I will go mingle with others," Uncle Zach says, then walks off.

"You seriously threw a dragon at their royal castle?" She asks.

"Yeah," I answer. "I actually missed my target. I was trying to hit this garish statue they had in front of it. Alex looks so uncomfortable."

Lina follows my gaze to Alex, who looks as if he'd rather be anywhere but here. I bet he'd be willing to be sitting in a den full of hungry dragons than right here. I can arrange that, actually. Though I should probably rescue him.

Before I go to Alex's aid, Connor announces that they have had a long day and should be going, then they make their exit. The other nobles and royals mingle for awhile longer, and I leave after informing Lina that I'm heading out.

I go home and change back into my normal outfit, then wait for Lina to arrive with the basket. She does, and I send it into my spatial storage.

"Anything you want me to tell him?" I ask her.

"Tell him 'good luck'," she tells me. "And that he could turn his comm plate back on if the dragons won't stop him."

"Okay," I say. "Enjoy your evening."

I open a gate and head to Garoyal, finding Niko outside, training Kyron in golem summoning again.

"Hello, Niko," I greet him.

"Hello, Jason," he says.

"This is from Lina," I tell him as I pull out the basket.

"Did you say I was injured again?" He asks. "I thought you told them I would only be out for a week, two at most?"

"Oh, I did," I grin. "But that doesn't mean I won't make up other stories about why you haven't returned."

I tell him about the dragons and the ten labors, and he groans.

"Lina sent this as a good luck basket," I tell him. "She said to tell you good luck, and to turn on your comm plate so she can talk with you again."

"No!" His face turns crimson. "I cannot talk to her! If I do, I will have to tell her the truth! And then she will hate me! She will think I am some sort of freak, and that I am evil for deceiving her and not telling her the truth! Why did you have to tell her that? Now she is going to pity me!"

"Actually," I tell him. "She found it amusing. I think she's going to dream about you showing the dragons by completing all ten tasks without issue."

"No!" Niko buries his face in his hands. "This is horrible, Jason!"

"Well," I set the basket on the ground and clap him on the back. "It isn't the end of the world, Niko. And you're just avoiding returning to Varil to find out the truth out of fear. I'm your best friend, Niko, and I'm the one who would know best about this. All the people who matter won't care. Your parents, Aiden, Lina, Eli – none of them will care."

"Yes, they will!" He cries out. "I am broken, Jason! I am damaged! I am not a whole man! I am some-some-some freak! I lost my leg in a fight! I lost my arm in a fight! I replaced them with gargoyle limbs because I am weak and pathetic! And even if I did not, no one would want a cripple!"

"Well, you tell yourself that," I tell Niko. "And I'll remain knowing that you really hope I'm right, but am too scared of reality. Too scared to find out how upset those who matter will be when they find out you kept something like this from them. I'm heading back home now. Alex just got named a Grand Knight, and he's probably going to want some time with me now."

I dip my head to Kyron, who dips his head back, then I open a gate and leave, Niko still crying as I pass through. I close the gate and look at Alex, giving him a grin. I've barely done that before he's wrapped me in a hug, breathing deeply.

"That was stressful," he tells me. "I ain't ever want to go through some ceremony like that ever again."

"I know," I hug him back. "I was expecting you to be here when I left, since you left first, but you weren't."

"Captain Enlin stopped me on the way out," he tells me. "I just have to stop by the Royal Slayers headquarters tomorrow, and he can get me registered and stuff, now I'm a Grand Knight. Since I'm as powerful as I am, I won't be summoned often, maybe once a month. He said that if it requires action while I'm at university, I'll be given an exemption, too, since it counts as official work."

"Alright," I say. "How's the business doing?"

"Good," he nods, then releases me and steps back. "We have the first batch of the game ready to sell, and Connor's looking into places to sell them right now, since we ain't go our own shop. As for the wyvern stuff… Pine just got a little busier. The Royal Slayers and Royal Guard made a deal with Levirar Equipment Company, and will supply us with fresh wyvern corpses in exchange for discounts on the gear, since that's part of what we need and some of what they deal with anyway. They brought us two more wyverns this morning, and I think Pine was still working on it during the ceremony. He's got two of the other Marrans helping him out."

"That's good to hear," I tell him. "As for the game, you can sell it in a Sageson Toys shop, though we'll take a fee for each sale. There are a few other company shops that will do that, too. You just need to contact them."

"Connor mentioned something like that," he tells me. "But let's not talk about that, I just want to rest, and maybe eat something that ain't fancy. And get drunk. Get very drunk."

"Go to your crew if you're getting drunk," I laugh. "But we can get you something to eat. Cecilia! Can you make us some dinner?"

"Yes, sir," Cecilia bows, then heads to the kitchen.

"She should return with tea and snacks soon," I pull Alex to the couch, and Tiger Alpha and Zevenas hop up and cuddle on my lap. "Let's talk about what's gone on over the last week, while I was at the training camp and you were… well, doing the usual."

"Alright," he smiles and starts rubbing Tiger Alpha on the head, causing the stuffie to purr. "Okay, that's creepy."

"It is?" Tiger Alpha looks up at him. "Oh. I thought cats were supposed to purr because they like the way it feels."

"You're a stuffie!"

"Yeah," Tiger Alpha says. "But that doesn't mean I can't purr and chase imaginary mice!"

"And get chased by a dog," I mutter, causing Tiger Alpha to huff.

"Speaking of dogs," Alex says. "Is Rufus still being kept in your workshop?"

Rufus answers that by charging down the stairs and jumping onto the couch, landing on Alex's lap, causing him to yelp as I laugh.

"I think that answers your question!"

(Niko, 16)

Once I finally calm down from my meltdown, I look at Kyron, who is playing with one of his golems. I have had a few of those breakdowns over the last week, and I hate it. I hate myself. I am pathetic. Perhaps I really am as worthless as my parents said.

Something catches my eye, and I look at the basket. In addition to the wine and treats, Lina gifted me another scarf. She seems to default to scarves when she is unsure about what to give me. This one is almost entirely black. However, there is some green stitching near the ends, just a line on each side. The green matches my eye color, so I know she had this custom made. There is a pair of silver wolves stitched into each stripe, facing each other.

The scarf was probably meant to be a gift for me at some point since I visit a colder place quite often, then turned into a get-well gift after Jason told her that weird story he came up with. How did he even think of something like that?

Without realizing it, I find that I have pulled the scarf out and wrapped it around my neck, feeling how soft and fluffy it is. I miss Lina, but I know Jason is wrong. I do not wish to return. At all. Everyone will hate me if they find out about my gargoyle limbs, they will see me as a freak. I do not wish to hide them, though.

Here, I can be me. I can be myself. The Garoyalans are adjusting to the presence of their Benefactor, and I feel at home here. At peace. Well, at peace when I do not think about my arm and leg, when I do not think about everyone I left behind.

Only Jason would not think of me as a freak, and that is because he is not just Jason and Lucas and Nolan, but Dragon. To him, I really am just another person, but Dragon is a being apart.

I sense a gate opening in my scanning spell, but it is not Jason who steps through it. They are a little too tall for him, and their build is different. They appear familiar, though, and when I turn, I find Aiden stepping through.

His gaze fixes on my arm, visible due to the lack of sleeves on my tunic, and I realize too late that my brother just discovered my state. Why did he show up here? Did Jason send him? Why would he do that to me?

Aiden stares at me in shock as his indigo gate fades away.

"Niko," he rushes towards me as Kyron turns his attention to us, confused.

Aiden grabs my arm. I am frozen, unable to move or pull away or anything. Now everyone is going to find out that I am not a whole man, that I am some sort of freak who has to rely on gargoyle limbs to get by. Even if I find myself frozen in place, tears still well up in my eyes.

"What happened?" Aiden asks as he feels my arm. "Is this some sort of curse? Is this why Jason was insistent I didn't come looking for you as you healed? What happened? Is it-"

"It is my arm!" I manage to regain control of myself, and I jerk my arm out of his grip. "It is not a curse! I made it myself!"

"You made it your-" Aiden cuts off, frowning. "You weren't injured practicing some spell, were you? Jason lied about that, didn't he?"

I cannot meet his gaze, so I just look at the ground. He thinks I am a freak.

"Niko, are you okay?" Aiden asks. "What happened?"

"I was attacked by a god, okay?" I glare at him. Of course he wants to push to find out what turned his brother into a freak, probably so he can mock me with his troops. "It destroyed my arm! I made myself a new one using gargoyle magics! There? You happy? I am a freak! I am damaged, not whole, I am-"

Aiden suddenly pulls me into a hug. I struggle against him, even enhance my strength to try to pull free, but he keeps his arms tight around me. He must be enhancing himself as well. I am about to enhance myself further using a layered technique when I realize he is shaking, his breathing uneven.

"Ai-Aiden?"

"I'm so sorry," he whispers, and it sounds like he is about to cry. "I'm so sorry, Niko. Maybe if I'd explained to you why I wanted you to come join me in private, convinced you that I meant well for you, things would have been different. Maybe you'd have been stronger. Maybe you'd have trusted me enough to let me know you got hurt."

"Why do you care?" I ask. "I am not a whole man anymore. I am just some abomination."

"Because I care about you, Niko," Aiden says. "I have always cared about you. That is why I wanted you to come join me, remember? That is why I pushed for Mother and Father to arrange you to marry Lina, because I knew being in a land of magic, married to another mage, would make you happy. I'm so sorry, Niko. I should have made you realize immediately that I wanted what was best for you, not tried to work silently. You're dealing with this all alone, and it's all my fault. I should have gotten you to trust me sooner. I'm so sorry."

By now, Aiden's voice is completely shaken, and it is clear he is crying. That confuses me, though. Why is he apologizing? I do not understand this at all.

When he finally calms down, Aiden steps back and looks at me, using his sleeve to wipe his eyes and nose.

"Niko," he tells me. "You're still Niko. You're still my little brother, okay? The only thing I'm upset about is that you didn't trust me enough to tell me. Your arm… is strange, that's for sure, but honestly? It doesn't bother me, Niko. I promise. Well, maybe a little, but that's because you got hurt to the point you had to do that. That is what bothers me, okay? You found a way to deal with it, and that impresses me."

He pulls me back in for a hug, and this time, I manage to shove him off of me.

"You are as bad as Jason and Eli!" I exclaim.

"It's because I care about you," Aiden smiles. "You're my little brother, and I can't stand to see you upset or hurt. I'm just happy you're okay, Niko."

I am still confused about what is going on. Why is he not looking at me with pity or disgust?

"Well," Aiden says. "I ignored Jason's request and came by anyway. He said you should be recovered by now, so I figured it was safe. I can tell Mother and Father that you're staying with my camp while you recover, if you still need time to adjust. Jason said he hasn't told anyone where you are."

"How did you know?" I ask.

"I guessed," he answers. "And told Jason, and he told me to stay away because it was embarrassing you to have given yourself a bad injury while training. I'll just tell Mother and Father that-"

"No," I shake my head. "Jason told everyone I recovered, but got kidnapped by a den of dragons who wants me to complete ten tasks before they'll set me free."

Aiden stares at me for a few seconds, then starts laughing.

"Okay!" He says as he calms down. "I was not expecting that! Your friend is amusing, Niko. I'll tell them you were hiding out at my camp before that, though. My soldiers will back me up. The story will be that you mostly stayed inside my tent, and they'll say they occasionally saw you come out for a walk. There is a dragon we've seen a few times, too, and it does draw near, so it's not implausible for it to kidnap someone."

"Why are you doing this?" I ask. "I am not a whole many anymore. I am an abomination. I am confused, Aiden. Why do you care?"

"You getting injured," he says. "Doesn't change how I look at you, Niko. As I said, you're my little brother, and I care about what happens to you. Now, why don't you introduce me to your friend here? We're speaking Marran, and he can't understand us and appears quite confused."

"Who?" I ask, then remember Kyron. "That is Kyron, my apprentice. But I am still confused. Why would care about me when I am not whole? Being brothers does not make sense as a reason."

Aiden sighs, and I sense that I am misunderstanding something. But I really am not understanding it, because I am damaged. I am no longer whole. I am no longer worthy of anything. Why would he care about me?

"I see we have a long road ahead of us," Aiden mutters, then smiles. "So. You have an apprentice?"

He is avoiding explaining, now.