“Hey.”

Fìor called but Deag's eyes refused to open.

“HEY!”

“Mmm?” Deag whimpered.

“I hope you’re happy.” Fìor said with scarily narrowed eyes.

Deag gave her a light kiss on the cheek before deeply sighing.

“I am. And you?”

Fìor glared at Deag.

“I would be a lot happier if someone could just take apologies.”

“Yeah, well, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation if you had reacted differently.” Deag yawned as he crawled out of bed.

“Oh? And, pray tell, would you have preferred I react?”

“Answering that question will surely lead to my death and so I choose to remain silent!” Deag declared while wearing his uniform.

“Piece of shit.” Fìor spat with crossed arms but Deag kissed her on the head while wearing his jacket.

“Ah, but I’m your piece of shit, no?”

“Ugh!”

“Haha! Bye!” Deag said before leaving the house with a big smile on his face.

He then met up with Shiru and they promptly made their way to Werentos which was now bustling with activity.

Soldiers and personal from the Expanse could be see all over the city and they worked hand in hand with its guards to help those in need.

Deag couldn’t help but smile upon seeing that those who were once starved and I’ll had been healed and fed.

“They made this possible.” Shiru said as she accompanied Deag to the mayoral office.

“True. Let us continue towards the future they envisioned.”

The two eventually arrived at the large building wherein the laughter and cries of children could be heard.

Two servants led them into the heard of the building where they sat on two of three chairs that sat at the side of a garden which received the morning’s light from a hole in the ceiling.

“Ah, welcome.” Shib greeted. He was dressed in a clean brown robe and wore a pair of dark baggy pants.

He sat next to Deag and Shiru who greeted him back before joining him in staring at the well that sat at the centre of the garden.

“This is our most sacred place and although I wouldn’t be able to bring you here normally but, at this point, I feel as though I’d be insulting you if didn’t.” Shib said as his servants brought three cups of tea.

“The leaves used to make this tea are from a jungle for to the south.” He explained as Shiru took a sip of the bitter, yet spicy tea.

She then took turns with Deag to explained the history of the Expanse and the history of Coh and before they knew it, it was afternoon.

Shib’s mouth hung agape and the two Regents couldn’t help but chuckle at this.

Three servants then arrived with three trays of food. Flatbreads, some stew made from what looked like Nýchta and a single scrambled egg.

Everyone accepted their trays and as they ate, Shib looked at the pillar of sunlight that fell into the garden.

“The history of Sumarenia begins around four hundred years ago. Back then our people were a nomad tribe consisting of both humans and Rendaro who managed to avoid the war by crawling through the sand in search of food and water. This harsh, desperate way of life changed when m we’re were visited by the God of Life Zahanash Kitari. He came to us, his skin silver and his eyes like the very stars and he taught our people many things. However, he said that his time with us was short and so he crawled to that well and in a final act of divine benevolence, he poured an unimaginable amount of life energy into the very land of Sumarenia and like that, our nation was born. By his hand, the sands turned to fertile land which birthed green life that sustained us for almost three centuries, but alas… his blessing was finite. We tried migrating west but the journey to the coast was far too long and harsh. Not only that, a dark city awaited us. A dark city which we’ve avoided ever since. To the east… were the Disahni. According to my father, the Disahni weren’t always selfish swineborne. They too, like us, were a group of people who didn’t want anything to do with the old war and so they settled along what it now known as the Saureate river. The one which cuts through Disahn. Things changed when the so called Aureate King tool power. Yes, he turned Disahn into a prosperous city but it came at the cost of his people. Not only that, he sternly refuses to share the river’s waters with us and so we are left to drink muddy water whenever we find it.” Shib said with a frown. His gaze locked on the well.

“This land is dead. Actually, if anything, I hope our alliance gives my people the strength they’ll need to stand up for themselves-“

“Why don’t you all come to Coh?” Shiru asked excitedly but Shib shook his head while softly laughing.

“That we cannot do. We were born here and I’d much rather we died here. Please do not misunderstand. I am beyond grateful for what you’ve done for us and if you need a few hundred men in this war you’re in, I’d be more than willing to give them to you. However, the Sumarati as a people will remain here. In this… dead land.” Shib said as everyone finished eating.

“Oh.” Shiru sounded before the servants returned with water for everyone to wash their hands with.

Shib then accompanied his guests outside where they joined him in looking out into the city.

They eventually bid each other goodbye and the two Regents made their way back to Coh.

“Tomorrow we speak to the Aureate King. Let’s see if he’s as open minded as Shib.” Deag said.

“Yeah.” Shiru said before giving Deag a quick hug and making her way home.

She frowned a little as she entered the house to find that it was empty.

“They are in the mess hall.” Raer said.

She nodded then made her way to the mess hall which was filled to the brim with soldiers and workers alike.

They all ate while being shielded from the evening cold.

Shiru made her way to the kitchen where she greeted the head chef.

“Mmm? Qualel and the twerp just left. They’re probably at old man Yreg’s. it’s a bar near the inner southern wall.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Erna said before leaving the mess hall.

She then made her way to what was once the primary southern wall and after asking for a sole directions she eventually arrived at a bar to find that it was empty, even though it was opened.

She heard cute giggles coming from the back door and so she walked towards it.

She lightly gasped upon reaching the door where she saw Qualel, a Kommáti, wearing a frilly blue dress in a room filled with manikins and sewing equipment.

“Hahaha! Not to shabby, I say.” A grey old man wearing rather formal clothes said as he sat on an old chair with Erna barely able to stand next to him.

“She looks ridiculous!” Erna cried while gasping for air.

Shiru turned to Qualel who, in an act that shattered her preconceptions, turned away shyly.

“Hehe. Alright, we won’t torture you any further. Go on and get changed.” The man said prompting a pouting Qualel to enter a separate room in the back.

The old man and Erna noticed Shiru and the little girl wasted no time in running to her mother’s side.

“You’re back!” She yelped while wrapping her arms around Shiru who gently ruffled her hair.

“I wasn’t even gone for a full day.” Shiru said with a soft chuckle as the man approached.

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. My name is Yreg and I am the humble keeper of this place.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I take it you’re the one who taught my girls how to work with needle and thread?” Shiru asked making the man sigh.

“Yes, but we can hardly call any of what Erna does sewing.”

“Hey!” The girl cried while still holding her mother.

“Hehe. I’m sure she tries her best.”

“Eh, if you wanna call it that. Mmm… you look like you’ve had a long day. Why not let it all go with a glass of wine, my treat?” Yreg asked.

“But… I’ve never drank alcohol before.” Shiru said.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a glass. Nothing that’ll leave you incapacitated, haha!” Yreg said as a frowning Qualel returned.

“Alright. Qualel, take Erna home. I’ll be there soon.”

The Kommáti nodded before ripping Erna off of her mother and teleporting away.

Shiru then joined Yreg in the bar where he offered her a glass of pale red wine.

“Go on. That’s some special Foph wine made by a close associate of mine in the Oasis, although she’s fallen on some rather hard times.” Yreg signed.

“Oh? Please tell me her name so that I can help-“

“Sorry, but in gonna have to cut you off there. I know you’re the regent and everything but even the gods themselves have limits. Well, the dark ones do, at least.” Yreg said while organizing his master shelves which were lined with countless bottles of various alcoholic beverages.

“Dark… Gods?” Shiru asked while taking cautious sips of the bittersweet liquid in her cup.

“I’m speaking, of course, of Kenos.”

.

..

Deag bit his teeth as he looked out into the Startta planes from atop the dark tower on the western side of the Kauretia Valley.

“They might really be gone for good, but the last time we allowed ourselves to foolishly believe that, we lost almost everything we held dear.”

Deag’s eyes widened as Thneia ruffled his neatly combed hair.

“Come now- actually, could I ask that you join me for dinner?”

“Sure, although I’d have to ask my wife first.” Deag said with a chuckle. Although his eyes were still stern.

“Of course. I’ll be in the dining room of the Dragon Borrow.” Thneia said before suddenly disappearing in the dark of night.

Deag chuckled before making his way home where he found Fìor, Wolva and Deöra sitting around the table in the living room only they were all dressed in their underwear and the air reeked of alcohol.

Deag tried walking towards the crazed group of drunkards only for him to kick over a few bottles and at a speed that he could barely react to, Wolva dashed towards him and locked him large Ash Wraith arm around Deag’s neck, although he didn’t apply any pressure.

“WE HAVE AN INTRUDER!” He yelled, hurting Deag’s ears.

“Let go of me you overgrown Lopus!” He cried as Fìor and Deöra approached with rather scary faces.

They then grabbed him by his collar all while bathing him in alcohol infused breaths.

“This isn’t an intruder, it’s just a jerk. How was your trip, sweetie?” Fìor asked while unbuttoned Deag’s jacket.

“It was fine! Now stop it! I wanted to let you know that I’d be having dinner at the dragon borrow-“

“With Thneia?” Fìor asked as she tore off his jacket before handing it to Deöra who looked like she was sleeping while standing.

“Yes-“

“That bitch is bad news!” Deöra yelled while struggling to maintain her balance.

“Aargg!” Deag yelled before struggling free from Wolva’s hold.

He then dashed away from the crazed trio and coward towards the door.

“Anyway, I’ll probably be back before too long, so clean up!” Deag cried before dashing out if the house and slamming the door shut.

The cold winter winds were merciless on his body and since he didn’t have a jacket he had to brave it as he was. With a wrinkled shirt and unbuttoned pants.

He fixed his appearance as best as he could before making his way to the Dragon Borrow.

He entered the dining room where he found Thneia only she was staring out into the Moonless sky rather wistfully.

She noticed him as she appeared and gestured that he sit next to her.

“What was it that you wanted to discuss?” Deag asked as servants brought serval dishes filled with food.

“Well, I actually wanted to show you something, but I didn’t know how to ask directly, so…” Thneia said rather bashfully.

Deag’s eyes widened with surprise, but he let out a rather low chuckle before lightly shaking his head.

“I may be the regent of Coh, but feel free to ask me anything. Even if you just wanted to sit down and have dinner, all you had to so was ask.”

Thneia nodded before joining Deag in eating.

The two eventually finished and Thneia led him into the basement where several painting stood only they were covered in drapes.

Thneia led him to the center of the spacious room, towards the largest painting which was covered in a large, black silk drape.

The two stood in silence for a moment.

“Deag, what is love?” Thneia suddenly asked.

“Mmm… good question. I guess I can say for certain that it’s feeling. I wanted to describe it as an emotion, but I feel as though love is a mechanism bound not by binary limits of things like joy or sadness. You’re either certainly sad or not, but love… love is more complex in my opinion. Why do you ask?”

Thneia took a deep breath before facing Deag who gasped upon seeing that the Draconic Knight looked rather sad.

“I think I love Katsíki.”

Deag’s eyes widened to their limits.

He then watched as Thneia slid off the silk drape from the painting revealing a near perfect depiction of Katsíki in his half goat, half boy form only it seemed as though he was floating within a dark, yet strangely comfortable place.

“Wow…” Deag gasped.

Thneia had somehow captured a near photorealistic image of Katsíki, down to the callouses on his small hands and the almost permanent frown he had acquired.

Deag gasped lightly upon realizing that a single tear had fallen from his left eye.

He quickly wiped it before glancing at Thneia who looked at the portrait with a longing gaze.

“But… why?” Deag asked.

“Why Katsíki?”

“I’m not sure… but I know with every fiber of my being that I have felt this way ever since our gazes first met.”

“I… I see. So… what now?” Deag asked.

“I don’t know. I was hoping you’d be able to help me sort out these feelings. Feelings that have churned violently ever since he left. Hehe, I cannot tell you how much strength it took for me not to follow him, but… the Expanse must be protected.” Thneia said.

“Mmm… I think you just answered your own question. Protect the Expanse for his sake and although I cannot say what he’ll think of your feelings when he returns, I know for certain that he’ll be grateful.” Deag said with a weak smile.

He then glanced at the portrait again.

“You could also express your feelings through your art. I’m not the best educated in these things, but that has got to be one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

“Thanks.” Thneia said with a soft chuckle.

She the accompanied Deag out of the Borrow and joined him in looking up at the starry night sky.

“Like him, the night sky is a dark space, but it’s filled with such beauty. Only instead of stars, his heart is filled with compassion, hope and kindness.” Thneia said.

“Mmm.” Deag sounded in agreement.

“You know, such things were non existent back on our home world. Caelestis was a dark and chaotic world. As a dragon, you are born and you spend a good chunk of your life trying to find a mate. You then lay your egg and watch as the next generation is born to do it all over again only since our lives are pretty long, you watch it happen for several generations.” Thneia said to a visibly shivering Deag.

She created a bubble of warm which Deag delighted in.

“How long do Dragons live?”

“It depends. The Dragon Royals were nigh immortal beings. The Dragon Lords are said to be able to live for up to ten thousand years and normal dragons live for about five thousand.”

“Where does your kind get its vitality?” Deag asked with a face riddled with curiosity and awe.

Thneia chuckled before gesturing that he sit next to her on the large stairs of the Dragon Borrow.

“I’m not sure. We dragons didn’t exactly have scientists back on Caelestis. Although there was one who was far more intelligent than others. His name was Sagathon and it was he who taught the Dragon Royal family speech. Even though he was a pale twig of a dragon, he challenged the Dragon Queen, Apólytrix and won in an act that defied everyone’s expectations. He then taught her family speech and warned of a coming cataclysmic event. We didn’t really believe him at the time since we had witness countless collisions and none of them ever threatened our world in any way. That is… until everything came crashing down.” Thneia explained.

“Mmm… fascinating. Anyway, I’d love to discuss more of this in length, but this unmodified body needs sleep.” Deag said before wishing Thneia a goodnight.

He then made his way home and opened the door to find Fìor, Wolva and Deöra sleeping on the couches in the living room.

He let out a defeated sigh before covering them all in blankets.

He then cleaned up their mess and made his way to bed where he fell asleep.