“Don’t go to Jyn.”

Her eyes widened and she cocked her head. Mastering herself, she narrowed her eyes and glared, bristling in a fit of quizzical anger. “I can go wherever I want,” she replied, voice soft, like a calm between the storm.

Has she recovered? Sayhas probed her Discord. It still convulsed in turmoil, lapping onto itself. He sent short pulses at her, churning her Discord to weaken her mental fortitude. Normally, she’d be able to defend. Not today.

“You’ll find nothing in Jyn. Don’t be mistaken, the hole in your heart won’t be filled. Don’t want to lose yourself? Don’t—”

“Don’t preach to me!” she shouted, her words echoing.

“Revenge won’t bring you joy!” Sayhas said, matching her volume.

“What am I supposed to do? Let them live?”

“Yes.”

He jaw clenched as her Discord simmered. “Then follow your own example. Carrying that list around and hunting names like a bounty hunter. You embrace revenge. Stop being so altruistic, I'm a killer, you’re a killer and nothing will change that,” Mizu seethed, hands curled up.

“I don’t kill for revenge. I kill to protect. The ones you seek are sitting way up there with their fancy chairs, eating fancy food, and playing fancy political games. They’ve forgotten about you,” Sayhas tried.”

“Can such things really be forgotten? Don’t be a fool.”

“Mizu. Listen to me.”

“How many times have you rejected my counsel?” Her voice grew steady, the quaver vanishing. She reformed, pushing away his subtle attempts to disrupt it “Am I not allowed to do the same?”

She looked up and smiled, the usual lightness on her face returned. “Don’t look so downcast,” she chided in a carefree timbre that she typically wore. “Friends argue all the time. This is just one of those times. But no matter the argument, friends will always have their friends back. Right?”

Sayhas nodded, returning her smile, though his smile was considerably more forced. “Of course. After all you’ve done for me? Without a doubt.”

With that, he sped up to a canter, closing onto Taed who was at the edge of his vision. Silly me Sayhas thought bitterly I tried to get her to promise not to go. But ended up promising that would help her. He made a show of looking at the trees, instead, actually stealing a glance at Mizu in his peripherals. A gift of persuasion and leadership. That was Mizu’s strength, one that Oldum and Sayhas could never match.

In that regard, she and Eve should get along so well. But they hate each other. Sayhas shrugged, sighing to himself. That is my fault though.

“If you tell anyone about what just happened, I’ll kill you. Kill you so hard that you’ll die twice.”

“Let’s catch up before they get mad.”

. . .

“Spit, Spit. Shhh. Spit, Spit, calm down.” Kirn buried his face into his pony’s ear as it reared up. “Get you flaming horse away from Spit.” Kirin glared at Sayhas, “that monster is scaring her.” He pulled his pony away from Alouette.

“Should replace—” Sayhas began.

“Wait,” Kirin cut off.

Sayhas frowned.

“Shhh,” Kirin said, motioning Sayhas to quiet down. “There’s something.” Kirin looked up, wide-eyed, scanning the clear afternoon sky.

Then Sayhas felt it, a tremendous pressure unlike anything he’s ever experienced. It was Discord, a Discord so powerful that Sayhas couldn't stand straight while being subjected to its pressure. A powerful roar sounded from the skies, shaking the trees and ground alike. Followed by a dark shadow zipping above, shrouding the group in darkness.

“Dragon!” Kirin screamed, his Discord raging like a storm.

Like the Conclave itself, a serpentine dragon descended from the skies. It had battered blue-green scales that had a white glow similar to Maaier Speal. Ancient eyes bored into them as the dragon weaved its large head towards the front of the group. Its wings folded neatly between the trees and a ribbon-like tail snaked towards Sayhas at the back. “I am here for one thing and one thing only,” the dragon began, the air vibrating slightly at the dragon's voice. “Oh, what’s his problem?” it said, sounding genuinely worried. It pointed a claw towards Sayhas.

“Hmm?” Sayhas thought out loud, checking himself. As it happens, Kirin had fainted and Sayhas quickly caught him, spooking Kirin’s pony. Again?

The dragon hummed, it’s discord flowing gently. It’s jaw slightly curled upwards as if smiling. “You’re all like a close-knit family. Not related by blood, ethnicity or background, yet bound like glue. Why is this? Long ago I had a family, I barely remember their names. It was before I Ascended you see. Let me think, Zildrin, my boy, my beautiful boy. Think he’s dead. He had children too. Taigon. Also, probably dead. And the daughter, she had potential. What was her name? Lia—”

“Not to be rude,” Clive said, “but I’d rather not sit through a story of your past. And I am the most patient out of all of us.”

“Ahh, I digress, I digress.” The dragon sniffed the air like a dog in a new place. “I smell a soul-spliced mammoth. I am now craving a soul-spliced mammoth.”

“No, you can't have it,” Mizu called. Her Discord lapped like ocean waves, “Curiously enough, I am also craving a soul-spliced mammoth. If you want one you’ll have to find one yourself.”

“Mizu,” Sayhas warned, “that's a Dragon God.”

“Astute,” it said,” What gave it away? The part where I said I Ascended?” It leaned down, bringing it’s head closer to Mizu. “I am Kirin, a Dragon God. I am really old and I want a soul-spliced mammoth.”

“No. Get one yourself,” Mizu answered with a passive facade.

Sayhas jolted her with a light blast of electricity. She didn’t even flinch. What is she doing? Does she have a death wish?

Kirin (the dragon), snapped its head back and extend its neck to the fullest, towering over the trees. It stared down in pregnant silence, reptilian eyes boring down. Sahyas felt naked before it's gaze. Kirins unfathomable Discord began to simmer and boil, growing louder and louder. The ambient pressure increased and Sayhas let out a grunt, others couldn’t resist the force and were pushed down. Even the horses—who couldn’t sense Discord—whined and buckled.