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.

Suddenly the force vanished. Kirin smiled, Discord calming. “I’m willing to trade. What do you want?”

Hysiedies muttered to himself.

“For trade? A soul-spliced mammoth,” Mizu deadpanned. She hadn’t shown signs of struggle during Krins display of power.

Clive looked back at Mizu with furrowed eyebrows, eyeing her quizzically. “Don’t be unreasonable Mizu. Apologies Kirin, she’s being sulky again.”

“Don’t apologize,” Kirin quickly said, “it’s her right to reject me.”

“Nonsense,” Clive shot back, “to be completely honest, I find spliced meat to be rather tough and—no offence—not fit for eating.”

“None taken. Spliced eat isn’t for human consumption anyway. Pardon me, but your teeth are a touch too weak to appreciate spliced meat. But nevertheless, who am I to forcefully take it away when the owner so clearly said no? What sort of example would I be showing my juniors? Especially in a time where the little ones are running rampant, is it not my responsibility as a Dragon God uphold at least a modicum of decorum? However, I am craving that meat so how about this for a trade?”

Thick, dark clouds swirled above as Kirin levitated its long serpentine body in ethereal cadence. Tremendous, light-stealing Discord smothered them. In the darkness, Sayhas' heart raced. Mizu summoned a fireball and lifted into the air, giving off a smidge of light. The dragon looked down, ancient eyes, glowing in the pitch black, darkness. A bright flash illuminated their surroundings and it started to rain. Heavy rain, pittering on the forest canopy.

When the broken one sings three times over

And the red one is burnt to cinders

There will be—

The clouds quickly dissipated and the carpet of darkness was lifted. Kirin hastily drifted down, his ethereal glow gone. “Oops, wrong one. But the fireball away please, my old eyes can't handle the glare.”

He floated up again, this time without the glow or the dark clouds. He looked kind of silly without the theatrics. “The day of greatest beauty will always be followed by a day of great sadness. A storm is coming, beautiful blue feathers in the morning, and a crimson chill at night.” He settled back down, Discord radiating satisfaction. “Trade?”

Sayhas rolled his eyes, idling running his fingers along a gash in his duster.

“No!” Mizu said, Discord squirming into itself.

“You recited something in the first book of Seer’s Sayings. Did you expect them to believe you?” Hysiedies deadpanned. The priest was clenching his teeth visibly shaking. His hands were clenched so tightly into fists that his nails bit into his skin, drawing blood.

“I’m a Dragon God, people believe whatever I say.”

Hysiedies started muttering to himself.

“If that’s it, we’ll be going.” Mizu spurred Dreamis lightly.

“Hold it.” A hint authority was wove into his voice. Dreamis froze and even Sayhas felt a chill in his spine.

“It seems I underestimated you again. Silly me must be age.” Kirin rose to his full height and looked intimidating even without the special effects. “Each and every one of you. Should my path be crossed with yours ever again. Whether it is all of you or just one. Whether it is tomorrow or an eon later. I offer you all a favour. A promise that I will do whatever you ask, should it be within my powers and align with my moral compass.”

“Anything?” Oldum said slowly, his Discord lapping gently.

“No massacres, but I could run an errand,” Kirin noted.

“A cool glaive?” Dismas asked, mouth open, eyes wide.

“That should be possible.”

“But that all depends on whether we ever see you again,” Hysiedies said, voice almost accusatory. His Discord bristled and churned crashing onto itself like a ferocious civil war.

“Took the words right out of my mouth, old man,” Mizu said, “what stops you from simply avoiding us for the rest of our lives?”

“My honour,” Kirin replied flippantly, it’s Discord was tranquil.

“No, I’ll need something now. Not a favour, not a prophecy.

“Mizu,” Sayhas began, reaching for her.

She swat his hand away, “Something real and tangible. Something for us that would be as valuable as this mammoth is to you.”

Kirins pupils narrowed into slits. It shimmed its serpentine body casting waves of sunlight around. A perfectly symmetrical, blue scale fell to the floor. It was as long as Sayhas’ forearm. “Do we have a deal, alchemist?”

Mizu dismounted and hesitantly reached for the scale. She lifted it, keeping it at arm's length. Gently, she turned the scale over and over as if in disbelief.

“Alchemist. Do we have a deal?” There was a warning edge to its voice. It’s Discord, that had been calm and patient the entire time, was finally beginning to stir.

Mizu pried her yes from the scale. “How do you—”

“I can smell the filthy stone on you,” Kirin scoffed.

“Don’t call it—”

“Mizu!” Sayhas shouted.

“Kana,” Oldum warned at the same time as Sayhas

Did she want to die that badly? She whipped her head towards Sayhas, eyebrows creased. There were large waves in her Discord. “Shut up.”

Clive handed the mammoth head to Kirin who took it with one claw. “Anything else? Any other special requests.”

“We’ll be fine, sorry for Mizu’s behaviour again,” Clive responded, Discord flowing like a river.

Kirin took off. In the air, it turned its head around, “Maybe I’ve been hibernating for a while, but you morsels are a lot braver than you once were.”

Sayhas waited until he could no longer feel the dragon's presence before exploding on Mizu. “What were you thinking? A Dragon God. Chains be blessed.”

“Well, you know what? I got a dragon scale.”

“And in the end? Take an insult or two!”

“You weren’t always so uptight,” she pouted, “What happened to the Sayhas I knew? The one who would be reckless with me.”

“I don’t want you to die.”

“No, you’re scared.”

“Kana. Grow up. Stop being a child,” Oldum said.

“A child?” Mammoth sized waves roamed in her Discord. “How about you then? Grow up? Stop running away.”

“Kana.” Oldum's eyes darkened. Discord surged around him, they’d soon come to blows.

A wave of Discord crashed onto them, “That is enough,” Clive commanded. Sayhas flinched, whipping his head towards Clive. Black Discord pulsated from the Clive. There was a storm in his Discord. A vein by his neck was pounding. Clive made eye-contact and Sayhas could almost see the storm through Clive’s eyes. When was the last time Clive had been so mad?

“You’ve known each other for most of your lives,” Clive said with clenched fists. “And a dragon is getting between that? Apologize.”

“Mizu could’ve—”

“I don’t care,” Clive snarled, “Make it up.”

Sayhas turned to Mizu and took a deep breath through his nose, feeling his chest rise. He exhaled, letting it fall. Mizu looked up, biting her lip. She brought up her hand, shakily.

“Sorry…” she trailed off looking downcast. Suddenly, her Discord turned into a fast-moving river and her eyes hardened, in resolve “Sorry for being an arrogant, idiot.” She attempted a weak, snarky smile.

Sayhas swatted her hand away. She reeled back, Discord trembling. Before she could do anything, Sayhas gave her a grin and pulled her into a hug. “Sorry for being so mad, let's get him together next time.”

Mizu hugged back, “Let’s.”

They released each other and looked back at Clive. His Discord was still in a storm, though a little tamer now. “Oldum,” he called, tone pithy, “you too.”

Oldum got off his horse and walked to Mizu. He was tall enough to go up to Mizu’s shoulders despite her being on a horse. “I—”

“I am sorry,” Mizu said, cutting Oldum off, “I didn’t mean it. Really, truly, I am.” Her Discord seemed to retreat into itself.

“Kana. Don’t grow up. You’re perfect the way you are.”

“Aww.” She went in for an embrace before snapping backwards abruptly, “right, no hugs.” She did something and Oldum smiled.

Clive’s Discord calmed down, and his deathly Discord retreated. “Good, good. though I'm a little worried what you two will attempt if you ever see The Dragon God again." He clapped his hands, "At least your friends again. Dismas, Taed, carry Kirin, please. I'm afraid the older ones might drop him just to spite me.” He spurred into a canter.

“Oh, and Hysiedies, next time, try to hide your malevolent Discord.”

The false priest dipped his head, “I’ll try.”

“Good,” Clive said. He looked up, “We’re losing light, let's pick it up.”