Walking out, into the castle courtyard, Lumia stopped beside me.

"I've missed seeing you," she said quietly, " I'm glad you're back now."

"Me too." I replied, “I’m glad you’re safe.”

A pair of guards that had been trailing behind us passed by. Then Lumia grabbed my arm and ran, yanking me along behind her. We ran around to the back of the castle, then through a bush maze in the rear garden. There was a stream which provided water to all the plants, behind the maze, it deepened into a river.

The river ran down the hill, through a sparsely populated section of Avantia, and out into the wider forest of the realm. Lumia pushed me into it then jumped in after.

We were well outside of Avantia by the time the current slowed down. We climbed out of the water and followed a trail of aidelberry bushes to a wall of shimmergloss trees. Hanging from their branches like thousands of tentacles, were long vines covered with glowing leaves. They were clustered together so thickly that it was impossible to see beyond them. It felt kind of like looking at an environmental wall in a modern video game, only I knew this was real and I’d been beyond the wall with Lumia before.

Most wouldn’t dare cross through shimmergloss because the leaves were covered in a glowing oil that rubbed off easily, coating anything that touched them in gloss. As kids, Lumia and I didn’t care about that, we just wanted to get away from the adults, so we pushed through the thick brush and found a midsized lake hidden on the other side.

Lumia smiled at me as we approached. When I stopped next to the glowing plants, she grabbed my arm again and pulled me through.

“That was fun,” she giggled as she spun around and fell into the grass on the other side.

“What are you talking about, that was exhausting,” I said, “and we’re all gross now too.”

She sat up, looking at me with sad eyes and a slight frown. “You don’t remember, do you?”

I did remember, a few yards ahead there was the spring where we used to catch billfrogs and a field where we’d bury silly trinkets we called treasures. Beyond all that, another line of trees and boxing it all in on both sides, there were huge rock formations covered in moss and all kinds of other plants.

As children we weren’t allowed to leave the palace grounds let alone Avantia, but Lumia had spotted this place as she was flying over the forest with her father. We had to trick our guards and chaperones, which got harder every time, but we made a break for it every chance we got.

We called this our secret place and it was. In all the years before I was sent to Earth, no one ever found us here.

“I do,” I said as a smile spread across my lips.

“Then come on,” She said, getting up from the grass. “Into the water.” We were covered in the glowing gloss now, but it wasn’t the same as when we were kids. Now she had boobs…we both had hormones—well, maybe she didn’t, but I certainly did. I would’ve refused, but she didn’t give me the chance.

She giggled the whole way to the lake, her clothes dissolving away as she walked. I’d forgotten she could do that, but seeing it happen, I recalled her explanation. Dragons didn’t wear clothes; it would interfere with their transformation. Instead, they learned to conjure them as soon as they learned to shift into human form. The conjured clothes were as real as anything I’d wear, but the dragon could dismiss or resummon them at will.

A similar effect was achievable for other races, but it required the use of a magical device called a wardrobe collar.

Fortunately for me, Lumia left herself covered in a white bikin—something she didn’t do when we were younger.

I felt a mix of relief and disappointment, as I struggled to hide my…excitement.

When we reached the waters edge, she let go of my arm and continued on alone. Looking back at me as she floated away, she asked, “are you planning to come in like that?”

I realized she expected me to undress as well. I wasn’t so sure that was a good idea at the moment.

“Don’t worry, I won’t peek,” She said as she turned around.

I slid out of my shirt and pants as quickly as I could then dove into the water.

It was cold…I regretted the dive immediately.

We splashed around in the water until neither of us was glowing anymore, then we got out and laid together in the tall grass. For several minutes, we just watched the clouds roll by. After that, Lumia moved closer, pressing herself against me. I looked to see what she was doing and our lips touched softly, but the sensation was brief. Lumia turned away almost immediately as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Why are you crying? Did I hurt your feelings or something?” I asked.

She wiped her eyes, then took my face in her hands. Looking deeply into my eyes, she spoke softly.

“I know you didn’t do anything, but when I saw you with that elf in your bed…”

My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t quite sure how to respond, or if I should respond at all—probably, but I was concerned that whatever I said would only make things worse.

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As I tried to think of what to say, she spoke again, “Silvon, I—”

“Shh.” I pressed my hand over her lips and pointed behind her.

Near the spring, but several yards from us, there was a human woman. She was covered in gloss and getting into the water, or… I thought she was. I blinked and she was gone.

Closing my eyes and I tried to sense her through mana—for her to have made this far into the woods, she’d have had to be a strong mage, otherwise the fog would’ve led her in a small circle, or back out of the woods.

The only other mana signature I could feel was Lumia’s. Still, something didn’t feel right. “Let’s go back.” I said, getting back to my feet then extending a hand to help Lumia.

She looked disappointed, but she took my hand and we returned to Avantia.

When we reached the city, darkness had settled in. The sky was clear and stars twinkled brightly above. All throughout the forest city yellow light glowed dim, shining through windows and from the ends of branches like hundreds of little lamps. These lights weren’t from any bulbs, but from the plants themselves. I marveled at the sight, still adjusting to these scenes I once considered commonplace.

Elven soldiers patrolled the city streets, but only a few residents remained outdoors. Everything was quiet, save for the nightly choir of chirps, squeaks, chitters, and howls. The atmosphere was unreal and the glow of the violet moon only served to intensify its ethereal effect.

As we approached the palace, I noticed Vorlin standing at the end of Taryn’s bridge—she was there too, standing motionless as ever. Vorlin looked agitated and kept sipping from a flask that he shoved inside his dark brown cloak as soon he noticed us.

His thick eyebrows arched above his piercing blue eyes and as he slid his hand back out of the cloak, I noticed the gleam of a green blade strapped to his waist. He was on edge, an unsettling thought given what I’d learned from Silvia earlier.

“Where the hell have you two been?” He growled, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His voice carried an edge that chilled me to my core.

“Just here and there,” I replied with a shrug.

Vorlin snorted.

“That won’t be good enough. You’ve been gone for hours; You’re covered in—is that shimmer gloss?” Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, he continued without giving us a chance to answer. “The Queen has half the city guard out searching for you, and you come back here casually like giggling little brats.”

Before I could respond, Lumia stepped forward.

“It’s my fault. I wanted to remind Silvon of how things were before…” her voice trailed off as she looked at the ground mumbling something I couldn’t make out.

Sighing deeply Vorlin dropped his arms and took a more relaxed posture. “Whatever the case, your parents won’t be pleased.” He turned and began crossing the bridge to the castle. “Come on, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”

I mouthed a thank you to Lumia before following Vorlin.

We were taken to a sitting room where my mother and High Lord Andrhei were waiting, just as Vorlin said. My mother sat cross legged on a long sofa while the High Lord stood near a window. He wasn’t looking out, just standing there silently and holding his head high, as if he were above everything.

After entering, I glanced at my mom who gave me a reassuring, but somewhat concerned smile.

Andrhei turned towards Lumia and bowed slightly, but ignored me completely. Not that he really needed to acknowledge me… From his perspective, I was probably equal to dirt. Dragons only acknowledge power and so far, it seemed I’d left a weak impression.

I wondered how my mother had managed to earn his respect and maintain an alliance between our people, especially after my uncle destroyed Vivi.

Vorlin backed out of the room with a bow, then shut the door.

“Is this truly what you desire?” Lord Andrhei glowered, “To remain bonded with this…elf?”

His words were charged with vitriol and malice, but Lumia answered simply and calmly.

“Yes.”

“Why do you insist on disgracing our race with this bond?” The High Lord asked.

“The only disgrace is that your ego prevents you from evaluating him properly!” Lumia snapped, “Given enough time, I think Silvon could even surpass you.”

Andrhei laughed off the suggestion. “There hasn’t been an elf in eons that came close to the power we dragons possess. The boy would need at least two lifetimes before he could even think of competing with me.”

His entire statement was an over exaggeration, but his point remained, and it seemed fair.

Lumia shook her head. “You’re wrong… but what does my opinion matter to you? I’m sure you’ve already decided how you want to handle things.”

The High Lord nodded.

“I will hear you; but father, if you give me an ultimatum, I will choose Silvon, even if it means abandoning my home.”

I wasn’t sure what Lumia saw in me or why she was so adamant about us remaining bonded, but seeing her passion made me feel bad for having a less firm stance.

Her words gave me courage and strength, but they must’ve hurt Lord Andrhei because he winced before asking, “and you’re sure this isn’t just to escape the marriage proposal of Borin? You don‘t actually love this elf, do you?"

"Of course I do," replied Lumia firmly, "but also…" she glanced briefly at me "…he saved me from Vale while you couldn’t even get through his dark barrier!" Then she looked straight ahead again. “Silvon has already proven himself strong.”

The horrible scene returned to my mind as my stomach turned. Bile rose into my mouth but went back down when I swallowed.

Queen Riona and Andrhei exchanged a brief gaze before Andrhei spoke again. "I know very well how the elf stood up to his uncle. But what happened then was a fluke. He was likely aided by their eidolon as the last remnants of her spirit faded."

Lumia opened her mouth but Andrhei held up a hand to stop her. "Silvon can demonstrate his worthiness in the next Proving. If he emerges victorious, I'll reconsider your request... otherwise, Lumia, you can forget it. Your future lies elsewhere. As dragon lord, I forbid any further discussion of this topic until the boy has proved himself. Do you understand?"

Lumia nodded.

Lord Andrhei turned his attention to me for the first time since the discussion began. His gaze intensified as if his eyes were trying to pierce through my skin.

Whether intentional, or due to unchecked emotion, the air grew thick and heavy, pressing down on me with such force that it was difficult to stand. No one else buckled or seemed to notice. The dragon’s ire was entirely focused on me.

“And you boy? Do you accept these terms? Will you compete with dragons to remain bonded with my daughter?”

Under such suffocating pressure, I could only gasp out, “I will.”

Lord Andrhei rolled his eyes. “Then you’re an arrogant fool and I look forward to seeing you die in the proving.”

The pressure dispersed and Lord Andrhei waved his arm to dismiss us.