Well, we found him, Alice said, staring at the ocean-blue dragon at the bottom of the pit. A snot bubble extended from his nostrils, growing and shrinking in ti with the rising and falling of his back. Alice turned her head towards Tafel, who was standing beside her. Now what?
Tafel rubbed her eyes a few tis and wiped the dark expression from her face by pushing the corners of her lips upwards into a smile with her fingers. She exhaled and lowered her hands. Dont get mad, she muttered. Dont get mad. Her head swiveled around as she inspected the surroundings. He chose the weirdest place to fall asleep. It looks like a beehive.
Theres traces of blood in these holes, Mr. Skelly said. He held up his bloody finger which he swiped inside a nearby crevice. These are the perfect size to house those larval-like things those chiras were holding while attacking us. Maybe this is a nursery?
So Vur wiped out their spawning center, Tafel said. She nodded. Thats cool. Okay. Sure. Im fine with that. She chewed on her lower lip as she stomped down the muddy path leading towards the bottom of the egg-shaped cavern. Unfortunately for her, her stomps didnt echo, muffled by the bloody mud instead. She strode up to Vurs face and extended her staff to pop the snot bubble. With a splat, a stream of green goo dropped to the ground by Tafels feet.
Vur snorted twice and stirred. One eye creaked open. He made eye contact with Tafel. Then his eye closed again. Another bubble of snot rose out of his nostril, inflating like a balloon.
Vur! Tafel shouted and smashed the bubble by swinging her staff like a mace. Wake up!
A few mumbles escaped from Vurs mouth followed by a jet of steam blowing out of his nostrils. His neck bent and curved towards his torso, burying his head into the crevice between his body and his wing. His tail wrapped around as well, blocking off the passage to his face. A fairy poked her head out of the space between his two wings. Vurs sleeping, Stella said and put a finger to her lips. Sshh.
I can see that! Tafel said, her voice echoing through the chamber. Vur. If you dont wake up and explain yourself, Ill, Ill. Ugh. She ground her teeth together and stamped her foot.
Youll what? Alice asked from her position higher up in the cavern. The elentals floating around her drifted down and settled back into Vurs body, forming the tattoos along his scales.
I cant think of anything, Tafel said. How am I supposed to get mad at a dragon? If I got mad at any other dragon other than Vur, Id be eaten. Threats dont work. Pleading doesnt work. He cant even hear when he sleeps!
You know, a marriage is supposed to be a partnership between two people, Alice said. I dont see why you have to resort to threats. You shouldnt have to beg either.
Tafel gave Alice a dirty look. I dont want relationship advice from soone who regularly hits off her partners head. She turned her attention back onto Vur and frowned. If he was in his human form, I could shake him awake. But I cant shake him when hes this huge. She bit her lower lip and took a few steps back. The gem on the end of her staff shone as she pointed it at Vur. Maybe Ill nudge him with a glacier. Freezing Path!
A brilliant blue light flashed, and a jet of white air flew out of Tafels staff. The air condensed into a wall of ice which promptly lted into a puddle of water that evaporated in an instant. Tafels expression stiffened as her staff stopped glowing. She waved it again. Freezing Path? For a brief mont, her staff lit up before fizzling out. Tafel lowered her weapon and brought the end of her staff close to her face. She blinked and rubbed the gem a few tis with her sleeve. Whats going on?
Vur said not to wake him up, Stella said. She was sitting with her legs crossed on top of Vurs back. So I canceled your spell.
You canceled my spell? Tafels brow furrowed. A long ti ago, when she was still a child, soone had told her fairies could silence people. Was it Dustin? It was probably Dustin. She had forgotten about it since all fairies ever did to her was curse her. Right. Fairies could do that. The whole ti that Ive known you, you couldve been contributing, but you werent!?
What? Stellas eyes widened. Ive been contributing this whole ti! What do you an?
Tafel pointed at Stella. You couldve canceled out those blood arrow spells. Back in the eastern continent, you couldve helped so many tis when we were doing those random quests that Alice insisted on taking. But you! Hah. I need to calm down.
For the record, those quests werent taken at random, Alice said and adjusted her glasses with her finger. I mapped out an efficient route for your request as a part of my guide duty. You should be more thankful. Dont sound exasperated at for doing what you asked to.
Youre right, Tafel said. Sorry. She glared at Stella. I should be exasperated at the freeloader.
Stella crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin towards the ceiling. Im not a freeloader. Im an adorable mascot. I raise the morale of the party. Without , youd be a group of boring stuck-up people.
Mr. Skelly turned towards Alice. Are we boring?
I prefer the term studious, Alice said with a frown.
Its too loud. The ground and walls shook as Vur spread his wings, sending gusts of wind in all directions. He climbed to his feet and rubbed his eyes with the backs of his paws before looking around. His eyes rolled up to the top of his head to stare at Stella, who repositioned herself on his forehead. How long was I asleep?
About twenty minutes.
Really? Vur asked, blinking twice. He stared down at his paws, flipping them over to inspect the fronts as well. Then why do I feel so refreshed? It feels like I slept for twenty straight years.
Youve not even twenty years old, Tafel said and glared at Vur while placing her hands on her hips. Do you have anything you want to say for yourself? About Diamant, I an.
Eh.
Theres no moon! Tafel waved her staff in the air, attracting Vurs gaze which was slipping towards the ceiling. Dont say it!
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