Sapphire, crouched down to Elly’s level, peering into his face.

Elly didn’t move or blink. He was stiff with fear. Did she find out?

“Where did you go last night?”

“I… went for a walk.”

“That late?”

“Yes…”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Where?”

“On the ground.”

She wasn’t amused. In fact, her left eyebrow began quivering in irritation.

“What?”

“What did you do?”

“I was standing.”

“Where?”

“On the ground.”

She moved her hand to his ear and thumbed the earring. “What’s this?”

“An earring.” He had forgotten to hide it, though at the same time, he didn’t want to lose it. He wanted it close by, so he could keep an eye on it. Something as simple as putting it in his pocket could become problematic because if he changed his clothes, he could forget to retrieve it. And then he would have to go around playing a game of hot and cold with Suki’s voice. That was her name she had told him. He wouldn’t want her shouting across the room. That would blow her cover.

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Where did you get it?”

Elly managed to tear his eyes away from her glare. “...From the ground…”

“Oh!” She stood up, flinging her arms into the air. “Is everything on the ground today?!”

“Uh… Not everything. But there are a lot of things on the ground today, like the table, chairs, shoes—”

“Don’t give me that!”

“Sorry, madam…” he mumbled as he stared at the floor.

“We’re not doing anything today until you tell me.”

He groaned. It didn’t seem like he had any other options, so he told her everything.

~~~

“So, the earring can turn into a dragon?”

Elly nodded.

“A living, fire-breathing dragon?”

He nodded again.

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

He gave a third nod.

Sapphire stared at him so hard that he was afraid that she would hit him.

“Humor me. Turn it into a dragon.”

Elly looked off to one side and whispered. “Psssst. Suki?” He waited a while. No answer. He hadn’t heard from her at all this morning.

He looked back at Sapphire. “I think she’s still sleeping.”

“That’s very convenient, isn’t it?” She narrowed her eyes.

“Please believe me.” Mom and Dad were away and working at the capital for a few weeks, so fortunately, they wouldn’t find out for now. He wanted to let Suki have her sleep, so she could have all the energy to stay up later when he wanted to draw her.

For minutes, they remained locked in an intense gaze until Elly finally blinked.

Sapphire continued to stare at him with her calm, deep-blue eyes. Most of her anger had faded. Suddenly, she sighed and buried her face into her hands on the table. “I can’t stay mad at you, especially with your adorableness.” There was a deep disappointment in her tone.

He realized that she wasn’t the violent type, no matter how angry she got. At least not with him.

“Just give us a few hours.” Suki would be up by then.

“Take all the time you want. I’m going to take a bath.” She got up and walked out of the kitchen.

~~~

Elly and Sapphire stood outside, far from the manor in an open field.

“Are you ready?” Elly asked Suki in a whisper.

“I am.”

He pulled off the earring and threw it into the air.

It stopped midair and radiated a blue light that then formed into the shape of a dragon. Suki appeared.

Sapphire screamed. “WHY IS THERE A DRAGON?! AN ACTUAL DRAGON?!”

“I did tell you,” Elly replied, glancing at her frightened face.

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE LYING!”

“Well, I wasn’t.”

“Greetings,” Suki lowered her head in a bow. She was as blue as the sky. “I am accompanying Master Elliorette to observe more of your world for the time being. I promise not to cause any trouble, even though I once endeavored to burn him to ashes—I along with my companions.”

“YOU WHAT?!”

“Suki! That’s not helping!” He turned to Sapphire. “Please don’t tell Mom or Dad. She’ll behave herself.” Elly and Suki both knew that if she caused any trouble, he would straighten her out, likely in a painful way.

Sapphire had turned pale. She looked torn between rage and fear.

“Can you turn into an earring again?” Elly asked. That form would be far less intimidating.

Suki morphed into her ring form and floated down to him, placing herself on his ear again.

“I think we overdid it,” Elly mumbled.

“We may have,” Suki replied.

“I’m supposed to trust a 5-year-old child with a dragon?!” Sapphire yelled.

“Sapphire, please. You’ve seen what I’m capable of.” He wasn’t ordinary. That fact should’ve been plain as day by now.

“Yes, but…”

“I trust you enough to share this with you instead of my own parents. Why can’t you trust me? Please?” Elly teared up. A little crying should do the trick.

“But…”

A teardrop ran down his cheek.

A powerful storm of emotions suddenly hit her. Her face twisted with great agony at the sight. It utterly pained her. “Alright, don’t cry!” She crouched and wiped the tear away before it reached his chin. “It’s okay. You can keep her. I’m sorry.”

He sniffled. “...Really?”

She nodded and smiled warmly then kissed his forehead and pulled him into a hug. “Of course.”

Elly hugged back. A hard-fought victory.

~~~

Elly lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling while splayed out. He had put Suki on the nightstand beside the bed. “So, what’s Argon? And the celestial fire of Argon, was it?”

“Yes, Argon is a domain that exists on another plane. It is where we are originally from. The fires we breathe come from that place as well.”

“What’s your job?”

“We are cosmic beings who watch over the cosmos and protect it from threats. But I have forsaken that role, for now.”

“Your purple fire looked really special. I’ve never seen that color before.”

“Yes, we bear the divine fire that is capable of destroying suns and even consuming entire worlds. And yet you withstood it with ease. What are you?”

“A boy.”

“A boy?”

“Yep.”

“Certainly there must be more to it than that..”

“A boy who can use magic.”

“...Very well then. I shall leave the matter at that.”