"The dragons, too busy fighting humans, didn’t have the ti to pursue them. The only exception was the foxes. They remained loyal and continued to serve the dragon race, even during the Second War. The few other monsters you see now are those drawn to battle and bloodshed—they joined our side for the chance to fight in the upcoming Third War."
Renan listened closely, nodding in understanding as Nyria’s words sank in.
Nyria noticed Renan getting lost in thought and asked, "So, is there anything else you want to ask?"
Renan, snapping out of his thoughts, shook his head left and right.
"I see. Then should we go and explore the city now, since you don’t have any more questions?" Nyria asked with a gentle smile.
"Yes," Renan replied simply.
"Let’s go then," Nyria said, tightening her grip on Renan’s hand as she picked up her walking pace. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Renan was struggling to keep up but still trying his best.
"If you’re having a hard ti keeping up, your Grandmother can carry you—only if you want," Nyria teased, her tone playful.
Renan, much to her surprise, nodded and admitted, "Yes, Grandmother, you can. It’s hard to keep up with you."
Nyria blinked in surprise and thought, ’Well, that was not what I was expecting. I thought he would say sothing like, ’No need, I can walk by myself.’ After all, he got mad when I teased him by calling him ’little one’ yesterday, or Maybe it’s because he’s feeling more comfortable around now.’
Smiling, she crouched down, picked Renan up, and continued walking.
Sylveria and Elowyn followed silently behind them. Just like that, the day passed as they explored the city, with Renan taking in the sights and Nyria answering his occasional questions.
When night fell, Nyria glanced at the darkening sky and said, "I guess we should go back now. It’s getting late."
Still holding Renan in her arms, she turned to him and asked, "So, did you enjoy your ti with ?"
Renan nodded and said, "I did, Grandmother. It was a fun ti."
Nyria smiled warmly. "I’m glad to hear that. Now, let’s head back."
They began the walk back to the castle, Sylveria, and Elowyn trailing silently behind, holding multiple things. After ten minutes, they reached the massive doors of the castle. Nyria stopped and gently put Renan back on his feet.
"I guess we part ways here," Nyria said.
Renan tilted his head, confused. "Huh? Why aren’t you coming in, Grandmother?"
Nyria chuckled softly and explained, "Your Grandma Belinda is already here, and if I go in with you, I’ll need to spend another hour or so with you—which I want to—but I don’t have the ti right now."
As she finished speaking, Belinda materialized beside Renan, her appearance as sudden as ever. "Indeed, Renan, your Grandmother Nyria is quite busy, so don’t be sad," she said, backing Nyria’s words.
Renan frowned slightly but thought to himself, ’Why are they treating like a child? Who would throw a tantrum if he can’t spend ti with his father, ohh wait, I am a child, but when have I ever thrown a tantrum about sothing like this? Or acted like a spoiled child.’
Outside, He waved to Nyria and said, "Okay, Grandmother, goodbye."
There was a mont of silence until Sylveria spoke up, "Wow, wasn’t that quite anticlimactic."
All eyes turned to Sylveria, each gaze holding a distinct pitiful look, but one gaze was different, which was none other than Nyria’s, who was currently giving an intense— death stare to Sylveria. And Sylveria, who had just realized what she’d just said, began sweating nervously.
Nyria sighed and turned back to Renan, her expression softening. "Goodbye, Renan. I’ll visit again when I have ti," she said before turning and walking away. As she passed Sylveria and Elowyn, she muttered sothing in a low voice, causing both their faces to pale.
As Nyria walked off, Sylveria and Elowyn slowly turned around to follow Nyria but stopped when they heard Renan’s voice and looked back at him. "Goodbye, Sylveria and Elowyn. Thanks for carrying those things!"
Both of them managed weak smiles and replied, "Goodbye." Then they turned to follow Nyria, feeling slightly prepared for what was about to co.
Renan stood at the castle’s entrance, his eyes fixed on the figures of Nyria, Sylveria, and Elowyn as they disappeared into the distance. A flicker of curiosity crossed his face before he turned to Belinda and asked a question that caught her entirely off guard. "Grandma, why were you following us the whole ti?"
Belinda blinked, montarily stunned. "Huh?" she uttered, her voice tinged with confusion. "How did you know?"
Renan replied matter-of-factly, "I saw you standing in the sky when Grandmother Nyria picked up."
Belinda froze for a mont, a single thought running through her mind. ’How could he have seen ? I was using my space elent to hide within the void.’ But the answer ca to her almost imdiately. ’Oh, of course. He also has the space elent and has a perfect control over it. No wonder he could see through my concealnt.’
A wry smile crept across her face as she responded, "Well, I was following you to protect you."
Renan tilted his head, his expression skeptical. "But wasn’t Grandmother Nyria there to protect ?"
Belinda chuckled softly, brushing off his question. "She was, but isn’t it better to have double protection than just one? You’re precious to us, Renan. We can’t take any chances," she explained, not going into details as to why she was also there to protect him.
Before Renan could press further, Belinda shifted the conversation. "Anyway, we should go inside now," she said warmly, taking his small hand in hers and guiding him into the castle.
Renan, sensing that she didn’t want to elaborate, decided not to push the matter further. He simply nodded, allowing her to lead him through the grand halls.
Once they reached his room, Belinda helped him settle into bed, her actions gentle and filled with care. She tucked him in, leaned down to kiss his forehead, and whispered, "Goodnight, Renan. Sleep well." With that, she quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.
The room fell into silence, but Renan didn’t imdiately drift off to sleep. Instead, he lay in the dim light, staring at the ceiling, his mind busy with thoughts. ’Today wasn’t bad,’ he mused. ’I finally got to go out and learn so much about dragons.’
His gaze shifted to the empty space beside him on the bed and thought. ’I guess Mother and Father aren’t coming back tonight. Mother did say she was close to breaking through, so she’s probably focused on training. Father is likely helping her. The looming threat of the Third War has pushed them to put all their ti into preparation. Not giving their child ti, but I can’t bla them for not spending ti with .’
A soft sigh escaped his lips as he thought, ’But luckily for them, I’m not really a child. I’m a twenty-year-old in the body of a young dragon.’
His mind wandered further, touching briefly on mories of his previous life and the family he once had. Those mories brought a mixture of emotions—fondness, and acceptance. As his thoughts wandered between the past and present, his eyelids grew heavy, and he eventually drifted off to sleep.
That night, Renan’s dreams were filled with the faces of those he loved, both in this life and the one before.
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