Ep 86. You’re Leaving? (5)
‘Well, now that she’s occupied…’
Serenis turned around to face the city wall that separated her from the interiors of the city. And above the towering ramparts, she could see the familiar blue-haired enforcer looking down at the two dragons below.
He hurriedly turned away when their eyes met, but it was too late. Serenis summoned her wings anew and leapt into the air, making it to the top in one swift motion to land on the ramparts and grab her fleeing sibling.
“Patrick.”
“…Huh? Oh.”
‘Wow, she REALLY climbs fast.’
Patrick could suddenly understand Raizel’s grievances about not having wings her entire life. Though, side thoughts soon melted away when he noticed the conflicted gaze on his sibling’s face.
“…I’m sorry I came to Partivine without telling you first. I didn’t think you’d agree with going. But there’s no need to keep avoiding me like this; if you’re upset, then simply say so.”
“…”
‘Well look at that, she has it all figured out already.’
Uh, wait, that’s not it…
“…Upset? What’re you talking about? Why would anyone be upset at our local savior?”
“That has nothing to do with this.”
“Are you sure?”
Patrick’s eyes thinned into a pained resolution.
“You know, I’ve been thinking things over a bit…and I’m starting to realize I had it wrong all along. You’re not a kid anymore.”
“…? What are you saying?”
“Literally what I said. You’re totally different now, but I’ve still been treating you like a kid. When really…”
Patrick’s wasn’t wrong to assume Serenis as a child, per se; her physical body still did belong to a mere fifteen-year-old.
But even so, it was painfully clear that that was no longer a reason to be treating her as a child.
“…You don’t need me anymore. It’s just how things are – you’re my little sibling, but you’re also a dragonlord. You keep going off doing ridiculous things, but you still manage just fine.”
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“…”
“You know what Iris said when she came around to get Aldrid that day? She told me not to come. Said I’d be a burden.”
“…I’m sure she was only worried about you.”
“That’s exactly what being a burden is.”
An uncomfortable silence ensued.
One could call him a burden. Patrick couldn’t even protect himself from Felicir’s divinity, much less help his little sibling. As was the case with Gio, his aptitude in magic wouldn’t have mattered in this case.
But Serenis hadn’t thought of her brother as a burden, or anyone else for that matter; even when Raizel had suddenly appeared at the scene, fear had taken precedence. Serenis had seen more than enough of her loved ones perishing before her very eyes, and she’d feared it’d happen all over again.
Finally, Patrick turned away from Serenis, shrugging the discomfort off of himself.
“Meh, listen to me, complaining to a little kid.”
“Patrick, I-“
“I’m just not sure. About how to treat you and all. But this is my problem, so…”
He’d thought he knew. He’d thought that if he treated Zion as he always had, then everything would be the same as always.
Now, Patrick was realizing how naïve that thought had been. He was realizing that he couldn’t stand in Serenis’ way simply by the virtue of being a worried elder brother.
After another minute of silence, Serenis spoke up once more.
“…Patrick. I’ll be heading to the northern continent soon.”
“Northern continent? All the way to Astellion?”
“Aldrid’s informed me of another divinity residing there, one that’s able to sense my presence. I plan to find this divinity.”
“…”
When Patrick narrowed his eyes, Serenis quickly added:
“…It won’t be as dangerous as last time. I’ll be meeting with Aldrid’s son first and foremost; both Aldrid and Raizel will be accompanying.”
“Oh, so that’s what the whole jumping was about…was wondering what you two were up to outside.”
Serenis returned a brief nod.
“That’s correct. So if you’d like, you could also-“
“I’m staying here.”
Patrick looked back at his sibling, shrugging in his usual joking demeanor. Her widened eyes and open mouth blatantly portrayed the dragonlord’s shock.
“You’re…staying?”
“Of course I am. I can’t just leave all the time, you know. Do you know how much work there is still? We need to take care of damage compensations, regulate all the petty thefts occurring at the ruined districts, administrate and reorganize the sector…if I disappear too, Iris is gonna die from overwork.”
“…”
Serenis couldn’t say a word in retaliation. As an enforcer of a city in recovery, staying was in fact the most intuitive, logical choice for Patrick to make. It made perfect sense.
Then, the disappointment Serenis felt within was probably rising from something outside of her logical mind.
“I…see.”
“Exactly. So you stay safe out there.”
“?...You’re not going to stop me?”
“Why would I? A dependable person is going with dependable people.”
As always, Patrick reached out his hand, ruffling his little sibling’s hair all over. A wide grin was being worn over his lips.
…Just as always.
“Someone’s gotta make sure you have a home to return to. Our house got blown up too, you know.
“…”
Serenis hardly possessed memories of being touched on the head by someone else. It was difficult to imagine an individual daring enough to pet the lord of dragons, past and present eras combined.
But surely, it was always like this. It was a fading memory, but it had always been like this.
Somewhere in her mind, she’d missed this worried, trusting touch.
And soon after, Serenis raised her left wrist to undo the string wrapped around it. The bracelet Aldrid had made for her lord was warmly glowing in the sunlight as it was handed to Patrick.
“Huh? What’s this for?”
“Would you not need it more? Aldrid’s told me that her blessing ensures the well-being of their human wearers. And frankly, I will have her at my side anyhow.”
“…Pft.”
After accepting the golden stone into his own palm, Patrick was wearing a bright smile – a smile Serenis had missed more than she realized.
“I’ll see you later, Serenis. Come back soon.”