They reached the capital the next morning. Levi was in awe as they passed through the giant gates. Aldrich had decided to shorten his name. Leviathan had no objections.

[And what's so wrong with your full name? I went through the trouble of picking it myself, too, Abaddon argued.]

Levi had never been in a city so big. He had been born in a small village in the west where everyone knew everyone. Even while journeying with Abaddon to retrieve his soul fragments, they had kept mostly to unpopulated areas. Abaddon didn't seem to like people much.

[There's a weird smell about this place, Abaddon commented. Something is wrong with the air.]

Levi didn't smell anything unusual. There was an underlying scent in the air, yes. But it smelled nice. Like roses.

Finally, they arrived at the huge castle in the middle of the city. Levi had to tilt his head all the way back to see the top of it. They got off the horses and handed their reigns over to another boy who led them away.

Levi followed his new friends through the halls of the castle. If there wasn't anyone leading him, he could probably wander around for hours. They came to a stop in front of a pair of large doors. Sir Andrius glanced back at him but did not say anything. Then he turned and pushed through the huge doors.

The doors led into a room larger than any they had passed on the way there. And at its end sat a regal looking man on a throne. He must be the king, Levi thought. Standing a small distance beside the King's throne was another man. Another knight? He had flowing white hair and was wearing armor just as bright. He almost seemed to glow.

[Him.]

"Huh?," Levi whispered under his breath. "You know the king?"

Abaddon didn't answer. But Levi could feel what he was feeling. And right now, he was feeling an overwhelming resentment. The king lifted his head upon seeing them enter.

"Ah, Sir Andrius, you have returned safely," the king began, but then his gaze landed on Levi, and he fell silent.

[Give me control.]

Levi clenched his fist, trying to fight Abaddon's emotions back. "You are not attacking anyone. Why are you so angry anyway, and how do you know him?"

"Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that we arrived too late. All of the townspeople had been wiped out," Andrius spoke up. "But thanks to this young man, the monster responsible was slain."

"And just who is this boy." The king inquired, although from the look on his face, it seemed he already knew.

Levi stepped forward nervously. He didn't have much experience talking to people. Let alone royalty. "Um, greetings, your Majesty. I'm-... going to kill you."

Levi's hand shot up to cover his mouth. That wasn't what he was going to say. Abaddon had never been able to take control like that without his permission, though.

"I see," the king said. "So it is you. I'd hoped we had seen the last of you when we scattered you across the realms all those centuries ago."

"Centuries?," Aldrich, who had been silent this whole time, suddenly asked. "You mean..."

The king turned his attention to him briefly. "Yes, I'm afraid I'm far older than I look. But now is not the time for a history lesson."

The king began to address Levi again. "So you managed to survive by attaching the core part of your soul to another living being, like some sort of parasite."

Abaddon wasn't too happy about that comment.

"This time, I will make sure to wipe you out completely."

Abaddon's scornful laughter echoed in Levi's head. [You were lucky last time.]

"Your Majesty, if I may," the voice belonged to Andrius. "Due to his... unusual arrangement with the dragon, it seems the boy, Levi, has the ability to locate and subjugate the fragments of the dragon's soul. I believe it would be a wiser choice to use him to find the rest of them."

The King's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "A smart suggestion. Although I doubt the dragon has the same plans as us for once its soul is reassembled. What do you think of that, Sir Kazuki?"

The knight standing beside the king finally spoke up. "I must admit, I expected more from the fell dragon of lore. Clinging on to what is left of its power by inhabiting a child's body, it is a bit comical. Or rather, pitiful."

Abaddon hadn't been paying much heed to the King's guest, but he had his attention now.

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"You can let him out, boy," the knight continued. "I would like to speak with it directly."

Levi shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

The knight tilted his head slightly to the side. "Your concern is misplaced. I assure you I will be in no danger. Now, if you would."

Humans, Abaddon seethed. Their pretentiousness never ceases to amaze. Well, you heard him.

Levi would have objected further, but the knight's gaze almost seemed to burn into him. He closed his eyes and let Abaddon take control.

×

Aldrich watched as Levi's hair began to turn white until he was once again the fell dragon. Just being in its presence was making it a bit harder to breathe. But it was still nowhere near the pressure the knight was exerting.

Aldrich had never actually seen him, but from his appearance alone, he had no doubt that the man standing across them was Sir Kazuki Enya. The Knight commander, and only member, of the Order of the Brilliance.

Aldrich's throat was dry. He started to feel lightheaded as well. So this was the power of the strongest knight of the kingdom. The power of pure, unbridled heat. Even from this far away, he felt as if his blood was beginning to boil. And maybe it was.

He felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. It was Sir Andrius' hand. He wasn't sure what exactly Sir Andrius did, but he started to feel a bit better.

"It seems you'll be worth my time after all." Abaddon growled as he leapt forward. His arm stretched out toward Sir Kazuki.

Aldrich couldn't imagine the heat being so close to the knight. He watched as the cloak Levi had been wearing turned to ash. His flesh began to burn away as well soon after. His regeneration was barely keeping up. But he still kept pushing forward.

But then his advance halted. It seemed his regeneration had reached its limit. Going any further would risk irreversible damage.

"So even the dragon lord of yore cannot reach me," Sir Kazuki observed, but his tone sounded wistful rather than condescending. "A pity."

Abaddon seethed. "I may not be able to touch you now, but I will wipe that look off your face sooner or later."

Sir Kazuki smiled slightly and took a step forward, forcing Abaddon to step back. "Is that a promise?"

From behind them, the king called out. "Kazuki, I think that's enough for now."

Sir Kazuki sighed. Slowly, the temperature began to drop until it was only slightly sweltering. "I've seen what I needed to see. You can take back control boy."

"Don't just walk away from me, you-..."

The first thing Levi noticed once he took his body back was how thirsty he was. That and the burns all over his arms. It would take a bit longer for damage this extensive to heal.

Sir Kazuki had returned to his initial position. "I believe Andrius' plan to be the most efficient way to deal with the blights brought by the dragon's remains, your Majesty. And once it has been reassembled, I shall dispatch it once and for all."

"Very well. If even you agree," the king conceded. "You will have to take full responsibility for the boy, Sir Andrius."

"Of course, your Majesty." Andrius answered with a small bow.

"You will assist them, young Aldrich."

Aldrich had to do a double take. Had the king just addressed him directly? After he had regained his senses, he copied Andrius' bow.

"I shall have to take my leave now," Sir Kazuki announced. "But I will be keeping an eye on you... Levi, is it?"

And with that, the knight of the Brilliance left.

×

"Are you alright?" Aldrich asked Levi as they exited the throne room.

"I'm fine, thanks," he replied. The burns were almost all healed by then. His clothes, however. "I could use some new clothes, though. And water."

From down the hallway, a male voice boomed. "Aldrich-Alexandre!"

Aldrich's heart jumped. It was his father. He looked over to Andrius, but Andrius refused to meet his gaze.

"Sorry kid, you're gonna have to clean up your own mess. " He said as he began to walk away. "Come with me, Levi. I'll get you something to wear."

"Kazuki was here, wasn't he? I could feel my roses beginning to wilt all at once," Alistair asked Andrius as he passed by. "Just what exactly is going on."

Andrius replied with a wolfish grin. "Aldrich would be happy to fill you in."

Aldrich guessed he deserved that. He sighed and resigned himself to the lecture he was about to receive.