37.

Their trek back to the bridge was done in silence. Sammus walked next to Erak, his head high, but rage in his eyes. Once they had all seen the remnants of the citizenry that had been piled high, the elation of the easy Essence harvest had faded. Now they walked drenched in the blood of the innocent, their own deaths having been narrowly diverted.

“That thing was foul and I can only imagine there are more of them. So many of my people have been taken today. The loss, it just can’t be comprehended.” Sammus’s words were more of a plea than anything else. Ever since Erak had lost the ability to speak, he had found that many people enjoyed using him as a way to voice their own thoughts, seeing as he couldn’t easily interject and stop their flow.

“Millions lived in the capital Erak. Millions. How few remain now? The Palace still stands and the Armory and small areas here and there, but how many have died today. Or worse yet, still live, but changed?” Sammus’s voice trailed off at the end and he shook himself from his own reverie.

Nevia and her troops said nothing. They just continued to walk quietly behind the pair as the prince vented. Erak glanced back at them and saw the same worry, the same fear and horror in their eyes. All of them had family or loved ones in the city whose fates were unknown.

They took the elevator slowly, all of them letting Erak ride by himself back to the upper levels. He waited for them as it took two trips to haul everyone up and then they moved as a group to the hangar. The large blast doors were open and Rutledge and Julius looked at them and quickly frowned at the dour nature of the group.

“You live!” the small dragon said, joy in its voice as it glided through the air.

“The creature is killed, but I fear there is a greater threat. There were these symbols, Professor Rutledge. They drew us all in, snared our minds until we were nothing more than puppets. I used an ability to weaken the effect and Erak was able to break free, but we saw no signs of the one who made the symbols.”

“Take me to them, maybe I can see what they are,” Rutledge ordered. Nevia looked around and then pointed towards the pair of soldiers who had stood guard.

“Escort the professor. The ship is cleared, but be careful.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Constance said. The trio left without a word and a silence descended on the group.

“Two on the door, everyone else, rest. Spirit, is there a functional washroom?” Nevia asked.

“Yes, the Captain’s quarters are there,” the dragon pointed with its tail at a subtle door that blended in with the background.

“It has a functional sink and an independent water reservoir.”

“Rotate in and out. Clean up and get some water in you.” Nevia slipped down to the ground, her legs no longer having the strength to support her. Two of her soldiers slumped against the doorway leading out of the bridge, their casters dangling from their hands as they looked out. The entire group was nearing collapse, Sammus swayed on his feet and even Erak could feel the wall approaching.

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“Spirit. We came here to see if there was a chance you could help Erak. He is mute and needs a way to communicate with others and many don’t know the Silent Tongue,” Sammus said. He leaned against a console and watched the floating blue dragon.

“Oh, certainly. I am currently bound to this ship, but, and I say this with all due respect to those who built it. It’s rather limited. If you wish to, we could Bond and then I’d be able to access your thoughts and be able to speak for you,” the dragon said, voice chipper.

“Bond?” Sammus asked. His eyes were drooping as he struggled to stay up on his feet.

“Yes. I would weld a piece of myself to the Lord Bloodsworn. This would effectively change me permanently, turning me from a Spirit of Intellect and into a Bonded Spirit.”

“That entails, what?” Sammus asked.

“Well, I would grow with Erak, taking a piece of every iota of Essence he consumes to fuel my own growth. With that I would be able to help him with granting further access to the System and give detailed reporting beyond the basic information that is presented.”

Erak had heard enough. He set down his spear and offered the dragon his free hand. The dragon didn’t hesitate, flying around and wrapping around the armor like a snake, head ending at his shoulder as it gazed up at him and through the slit of his helm.

Bond Spirit of Intellect?

Y/N

Erak pressed yes with his mind and icy fire suffused his body. The dragon melted through his armor like it wasn’t there, melding into him as the fire froze his veins. It was the chill of the deep North, where the sun’s light didn’t touch. Arctic gales that froze a man to the bone in heartbeats, the frigid waters filled with islands of ice. It was Home and it was Death, it was the line he had walked since he was a child.

“Oh…there’s so much room in here,” the dragon said as it burst from his skull. Sammus snickered tiredly as he slid to the ground, sword across his lap. Nevia chortled, her eyes open, but drooping.

“Erak is thinking quite unkind thoughts about you and your parentage. Especially you Prince Sammus.”

Erak glared at the dragon as it poured out of his helmet and floated in the air next to him. The dragon turned back to look at him, wispy white eyebrows that looked like clouds raising off of its skull.

“Ohhh…I don’t believe I was supposed to say that. My apologies, well…Erak’s apologies.”

“Oh this is humorous,” Julius muttered, so softly that Erak almost didn’t hear him.

“Erak doesn’t believe it is. In fact he’s imagining me skinned and flayed with my horn used as the handle to a cane. It’s quite graphic death, I wonder if he understands I’m incorporeal.” The dragon smiled toothily at him.

Erak was wishing he had thought this out a bit more. He pulled his helmet off and slowly lowered himself to the ground and leaned against a wall as the dragon cavorted around him.

“I need a name!” the dragon said. It spun back and glared at Erak as he thought at it.

“That is foul and I will not. I was thinking something majestic, as befitting my nature.”

“Pomp,” Nevia chimed in. Her eyes were closed and her chin was tucked into her armored chest.

“I like it! I shall be Pomp!” Erak rolled his eyes but sat back and watched as everyone else went into the Captain’s quarters and washed themselves off. They were close to their goal, so close he could taste it.

“Oh, Erak! As part of our bond I can see beyond the physical plane and see your soul. All of your souls really. They are all greatly strained and the exhaustion you are all slowly falling to is natural! A few hours sleep and you’ll be better than new! It’s all the Essence you’ve absorbed today, it’s tiring to absorb it. I’ll stay awake and watch over you all while you rest!” Pomp said as he floated around the room. Erak’s eyes failed to stay open and his last sight was of the entire room slumbering.