With every new piece of information my ability grew and expanded even more. So despite any uncomfortable feelings, weariness, or anxiousness, focusing on logistics and troop movements really was fun, and better yet it took my mind off of a certain other thing that I didn't want to deal with.

"Our total force size right now is around 3,000 including the soldiers that remained here, and the ones we picked up while retreating. Our losses haven't been light… Well, I suppose it's more like 4,000 if our navy survived in one piece and the retreat worked as planned."

"That's the real reason you aren't leaving with the rest of the troops to the city right now isn't it? And why are you keeping yourself so busy? You're afraid."

I raised my eyes to my brother's slowly closing them to rest my mind. "This goes without saying, but never say that in front of the troops… And… Anxious would be a better word for it…" 'I can see the movements of the troops under my command… But I can only tell that they are retreating… If they aren't moving fast it means there is something wrong with either the boat, or Hara… Could she have been captured by the empire? Although saying it like that feels weird, she was originally from there…' "It's all just really complicated…"

"Still, it's not worth losing sleep over, and keeping busy will only calm you down until you stop working."

"I'm not keeping busy, I'm doing my job… Besides, it's not like I'll get any sleep either way so I might as well be productive."

"Well, you look tired."

"Couldn't you just say I look pretty or something instead…" I graoned "It's only because I'm having to deal with you right now anyway… And after this I have to have a long talk with another guy that's substantially more annoying…" I paused, comparing him and the dragon. "Well anyway, he's why I'm not going to get any sleep in the first place… Not because I'm worried about the war."

His eyes suddenly widened before he relaxed all at once, sinking into his familiar smirk. "Look up there."

slowly tilting my head back I gazed up at the sky. "I noticed it earlier. It's weird that you can still see stars even though the sun hasn't set yet."

"Each of those stars represents a different way of saying what you did just now… And somehow instead of any of those stars… You managed to find a starfish in the mud… And used that phrasing instead."

"Th-thats… Your metaphors are getting weirder…"

He sighed, jumping off the box he was sitting on and casually landing on his feet, pausing a moment as if choosing his words carefully. "You should know… Strength, and age are two very different things. You can't magically be all grown up now just because you are super strong, and that means you still have to wait to do certain grown up things."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I felt my shoulders fall slightly forward my eyes sinking as I began to acept that I wouldn't understand anything he said, either too tired, or simply in the wrong state of mind, too focused on the war… But also I just didn't care… "What…" 'Why is he suddenly talking to me like I'm 8…' "If this is about Grandma giving me booz… Don't worry, I won't drink any while I'm expecting an enemy attack… Actually, I'm fairly certain my dragon's blood would stop me from getting drunk now anyway, since it's more stable."

He sighed, squatting down so that we were face to face. "You really are tired if you haven't figured it out by now…" He said, lifting a hand up to my forehead.

"I'm not sick…"

"To be honest I'm not sure I'd be able to tell… Your body temperature is naturally higher than normal…"

'Then why did you bother…'

"I'll be more direct then. To prevent misunderstandings you should be more carefull with your words. You're the typ of person that would get taken advantage of, so I'm also not going to allow you to be alone with men from now on. Lilly can stand gaurd outside your tint and relay any mesages to you instead of people entering at night, and Kal's platoon will be reasaigned to the perimiter of the camping formation

I yawned, covering my mouth before before my expresion settled with a soft exasperation that narrowly made it to my eyes. "So this is the loveing father Lu must have grown up with… Well whatever, just make sure you actually have my back this time instead of letting me get stabbed by a skeliton…"

With a dull gaze he suddenly rubbed his knuckles into my head. "I'm being serious…"

'Serious? Airsidh?' My eyes softened locking onto him as my face relaxed completly. "Ok… But… How are you of all people telling me to watch my mouth? And… For the record so was I…"

He sighed again, crossing his arms. "Just at the very least don't talk about how a perverted man is going to keep you up all night long… And try to avoid any other misunderstanding that would call your chastity into question if possible… Otherwise the best case scenario will be you having a quick mariage, combined with a lie that you have been married in secret for some time. You are aware of what Mo's family does for the kingdom arn't you?"

Rubbing my eyes I slowly thought about what he said before it all clicked. "No that's… I just meant–" Before I tried to explain he placed a hand on my head again, making me flinch slightly, unsure of what to expect.

"Your mind is obviously dull. You need rest, Siya. If you want to revisit this conversation once it's sharp again, we can do that." His words came out softly before he stood up tall and walked away, lleaving me staring at his shadow as if he was still there.

'No… I'm pretty sure he would make an awesome dad after all… It takes a special kind of person to scold someone without making them feel bad… Well then again what do I know,' I sighed, walking into my tint and laying down for a moment, waiting for him to get farther away. 'It almost makes me feel bad about completely ignoring his advice. I don't have time to rest. It's not like my mind is that dull anyway, he's just overreacting because of what happened on the carriage ride here… If anything he's tired and dull…'

Looking inwardly I traveled back into my soul, nervous about the conversation I was going to have, and how it very well may have been one in which I said goodbye. In an instant my entire world changed and I was back on the mountaintop overlooking the cliffside. "Melchizedek… Come to me."

I didn't turn around as his footsteps shook the earth and his body moved the wind with every step. Beutifull white scales shifted like stones covered in veins of gold and gusts of wind rushed through the air as his weight brushed through the breez. "You have made your decision in earnest then."

'It's not as though assimilation is bad… On the contrary, there are too many benefits… But…' "First I'd like to confirm a few things… Then, I'll make a judgment based on what I think is best…"

He rolled his eyes and sighed before lying down, coiling in a wide arc around me. "Fine, fine… The faster you choose the better for the both of us so let's get it over with… Even if you already made your decision…"

"I wouldn't be so blasé about this… I hold the verdict of your entire existence in this one choice."

"In case you forgot, I've already been assimilated once; it's something that can literally only happen if our souls are in agreement and alignment."

"Are you saying you could stop it regardless of what I choose?"

A small burst of smoke puffed through the air, making me take a step back, losing the dignified composure I was trying so hard to maintain. "A dragon's soul is unchanging; the only one that could stop it would be you."

'I guess that kind of makes sense… So he's really ok with whatever now huh… Quite the difference from the little crazed lunatic that only wanted me to die…'

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