No...no...no… This can’t be right… I left for a year… just a year… How did this... happen? Currently I’m sitting with the old man and butler at a table… the old man is Edward. The situation was slowly explained to me, I had been gone for 50 years… 50 human years… During that time many things had changed, Lila had gotten married with Edward and they had children.

The little girl I met earlier was their granddaughter Lilly who they brought back to stay with them for a while. Sebas and Melia got married later on and had Bastian who was training under his father to continue to serve the family. Fei had been transferred to the capital several years after I was away and is still in service with the Royal Army.

No wonder no one knew who I was… none of the people here have met me before. But it just doesn’t make any sense… I’m sure I left for only a year, how can there be such a large difference?

(Sebas) “I am aware Kuro wanted to keep this a secret… but are you acquainted with the Elves? They age much slower than us Humans and their calendar reflects that… I believe a year for and Elf is equivalent to 50 of our years.”

… I knew something felt weird while I was with Lena… I don’t really keep track of days well and had asked her to keep track for me and I had just thought my perception of time was wrong. I… what have I done? I left poor Lila alone for the last 50 years…  For 50 years I abandoned her. I’m... a failure of a guardian…

(Edward) “I see, don’t be so hard on yourself Kuro, I’m sure Lila understands too. As I promised, I made sure she was bought enough happiness for the both of us.”

At least she had Eddy with her during that time. Just the thought alone eases my guilt slightly.

“Thanks Eddy… I feel a lot better. By the way, where is Lila? I would have expected her to be here by now?”

At that moment Edward avoided my gaze… so did Sebas… She...didn’t… did she? As my thoughts began to stray I felt a hand touch my shoulder and turn around to see an old lady… phew… you scared the… wait…

“Melia?”

She simply smiles and nods to my inquiry. What are you guys not telling me… Please just don’t let her be dead.

(Melia) “She’s feeling well today Master Edward, I shall escort Kuro to Lady Lila’s room.”

Don’t scare me like that you guys, seriously. They must be getting me back for disappearing for so long.

(Edward) “Please I’ll be there in a moment, please... explain the situation to Kuro.”

With that Edward and Sebas leave and Melia leads me towards Lila’s room.

(Melia) “There are a few things I would like to tell you first Kuro… Lila was broken hearted when you didn’t come home after a year. She was constantly crying and no matter what we did we couldn’t find you… the Duke eventually bought another dragon home as a replacement for Lila. She eventually calmed down and the dragon still stays by her side despite her… condition.”

Condition..?

(Melia) “Some days she doesn’t remember certain people, other days she’ll be normal… there were countless times where she would deny the identify of people saying they aren’t that old.”

… Lila… she has Alzheimer's… at such an age too? Isn’t the offset on the early side? The guilt feels like it’s consuming me… I should have been there for her… why didn’t I notice...I feel each step I take get heavier and heavier…

As I continue to follow Melia, it feels like the hallway became an endless tunnel. No matter how much I walked I couldn’t see the end… The hall grew darker and darker… as if was trying to consume me… I couldn’t… even be there for one little girl…

(Melia) “Lila look who decided to come home!”

As if I had reached the light at the end of the tunnel, a light shone through the door Melia opened. In front of me a 60 year old Lila laying against a blue serpent-like dragon as she slowly meets my gaze.

(Lila) “My! Kuro you bad boy where have you been!”

Lila’s smile shone at me as bright as I remembered, still the same little girl in my heart.

“Don’t give me that little one! No matter your appearance, you’ll still be little Lila to me.”

During that moment, the shackles of guilt let go, for just the moment I run to Lila giving her a hug.

“I’m so sorry Lila… I … no, there’s no excuse... I failed you as your guardian…”

Lila slowly pats me on the head… being the size of a 10 year old is really weird.

(Lila) “As long as you’re safe Kuro..”

I swear I won’t fail Lila again… I’ll protect Lilly and redeem myself…My family is my everything... without them I’m useless...

While catching up with Lila I see the blanket rustle…? A moment later I see a blue haired girl’s head pop out? I watch her as she rubs her eyes seemingly devoid of emotion as she lets out a cry.

(Blue Haired Girl) “AAH! It’s the boy from the forest! What are you doing here? And wait… Why do you look the same?”

Aoi tilts her head while staring at me… well I didn’t expect it to be someone I was acquainted with.

(Lila) “Oh Kuro? Did you know our Azure Dragon Aoi?”

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I then explained how we had met in the forest years ago until Edward came in with what looked like a priest of some sort? We were all asked to leave while the Priest examined Lila, leaving only the priest, Lila, and Aoi in the room. The rest of us stood outside her door, I then heard Edwards quivering voice…

“The Herbalists and Healers tell me… she doesn’t have long left… what do I do…”

He then falls to his knees and I give him a hug… poor Ed… I try to comfort him as tears fall from our faces. What do I say… What… can I say?

“Time is a cruel thing… our times are not equivalent in this world and those most important to us, sometimes leave first… It’s our duty, as those that will be, and get left behind to live…. There’s a phrase I always think about at times like this Edward. It’s the responsibility of the living, to live for the sake of the departed. “

I wasn’t sure what else to say… the pain of losing loved ones… I know it too well… you never get used to it. Eventually Edward calms down and stands up regaining his composure before the Priest leaves the room shaking his head… even modern medicine has nothing to stop this right now… all we can do is cherish what time we have left. All we can do… is stay by her side...until the end.

Slowly I was reintroduced the the guards and maids that live in the Manor, I’ve even gotten properly acquainted with Lilly. She knows about me since she  has heard stories about me from everyone who knew me. While I was doing my meet and greet I could feel a constant gaze fixated on me and turn to comfort it. It’s just Aoi, I wonder if she needs something?

(Aoi) “Umm… Kuro? Would you happen to know who your parents are?”

That’s right Aoi was looking for her sibling before wasn’t she?

“I do not, all I know was I was born in that forest.”

Her eyes widening as she speaks.

(Aoi) “In the cave… behind the waterfall… right?”

How did she… wait…?

(Aoi) “I’m right aren’t I! You ARE my little brother!”

Is Aoi my sister…? Wait that doesn’t make sense I’m a Shadow Dragon right… and Aoi is an Azure Dragon right?

“Wait a moment though… you’re an Azure and I’m a Shadow Dragon right? How is that possible?”

Something doesn’t add up.

(Aoi) “Mother is an Azure Dragon, and Father is a Shadow Dragon. Do you breath black flames? That’s one of the characteristics of a pure pred Shadow Dragon.”

I… don’t breath fire.. At least I don’t think I can?

“I don’t think so… I can’t really breath out anything… unless you count spitting out water.”

When I say that Aoi grabs a hold of me and starts squirming about…?

“Silly! That means you can breath out water! Mother and I have been looking for you all this time Kurogane! She even defeated a Human Army that she thought captured you when you were born! Since mother and father are always so busy they couldn’t keep watch over you but we didn’t expect you to hatch early!”

Aoi slowly strokes my head as she tells me about our parents… hehe… I did have a family… and they were looking for me. Wait… if mother destroyed an Army because she THOUGHT they kidnapped me… what would they do if we’re BOTH here?!?

“Sis! Does mom know you’re here?”

Please say yes…

(Aoi) “Of course! She visits occasionally when she isn’t busy, same with father. I’ll be sure to tell mother I found you and we can be a be reunited finally!”

I end up spending the rest of the morning with my newfound sister Aoi. I tell her everything, even the fact that I reincarnated here… She already knows that I never met any Humans in the forest and though younger than her was able to transform into a Human better than her. She seemed to believe my story and starts telling me about the species known as Dragons.

From what Aoi could tell me there are various species of Dragon each species usually nests in a different area. Azure will nest near water, Shadow in ruins or catacombs, generally areas with little light. She doesn’t seem to know much about the other species but this much is good. There is also the fact that Dragons usually don’t die from old age, we’re usually killed and the fertility of pure bred dragons are extremely low.

Most eggs end up stillborn, never hatching. They had thought at one point I was one of those cases. And were ecstatic that my egg had hatched and absolutely terrified when mother couldn’t find me. I’ve made them worry needlessly with my thoughtless behavior. At least I have a seemingly endless amount of time to make it up to them. As we chat I see Lilly come up to us and speaks in her broken speech.

(Lilly) “Aoi … Kuwo.. play hide...seek?”

She cutely tilts her head like Lila used to, melting my heart in a moment. We then spent the time before lunch playing with Lilly. She reminds me so much of Lila when she was younger, not just her face but the way she acts.

She ran around the courtyard with enough energy to out-power a nuclear reactor. Lila was much more socially adept though, Lilly’s speech is broken but absolutely adorable! I’ve failed to be there for Lila… I swear I’ll be there for Lilly to protect her, no matter the cost.