Ashes and Kingdoms

"Ohhhhhhhhhh!!

An awesome scream I've never raised before scorches my throat. I felt the blood all over my body turned into burning gold in an instant. No, Finn saw that. The glowing golden light spreads throughout your body, burning everything down, melting, and transforming it.

Your body turns back, your limbs stick up and cramp. of the chest - above the heart, a light burning mark is pressed.

In his open eyes, the view of the surrounding area appeared somewhat clear. It's as if you're looking down from a very high place. Valt is frightened, staring backwards but unable to leave. He runs away screaming at me, behind the bandits. Euches who are losing their hips or soldiers who remain down.

Apart from that, everything that surrounds me has appealed to the senses. Tree ends, every leaf rubbing in the wind, leaf veins running there. The damp black earth, bugs hanging...... the signs of countless creatures, their own flesh...... the gushing wounds of blood instantly rise and heal away. Even the thin white marks became invisible.

Doing so much after I perceived it, the white glow that was overwhelming all my senses slowly began to fade. The heat, which was about to burn down to my soul, cools and my body falls to the ground with stiffness. The impact pushed my breath out of my lungs.

"Ooh ho ho!

Coughed up, and Finn jumped reflexively. And

……

I keep my eyes peeled at the fact that the motion is too light. Just now, you were supposed to be dying.

I didn't know what it was. Baffled and unconsciously rubbing his right flank to make it even more giddy. Looking down, my clothes did tear and I was wet in blood, but I didn't have one scratch on my body.

A glimmer of white light flashes in the corner of the stunned fin's sight. He turned in confusion, looked up,

"Wow!?

Though I didn't think I'd be surprised any more, I was surprised beyond my limits. With a blue sky stretching over the perimeter, a giant creature was there. A physique that doesn't even resemble a dog at all, but fluffy and wavy with white fur like a cotton cloud on a sunny day, with wings on its back that are likely to cover heaven as well.

Finn opened his mouth gently and looked up at the golden eyes like the full moon of the twins.

At the same time, I'm convinced you know what this is.

"Lena."

I imagined on my own that it was like a jewel dog with its nose ringing and rubbing against my knees, etc., but I never thought I'd grow up like this again. I can't block my open mouth.

And, Finn called me by name and a giant figure swayed, wrapped around the light and shrunk small. Though I can still see the remnants of the wings, there was the girl I was used to seeing.

Lena hugged Finn all the time as she poured tears out of her golden eyes. Finn gently strokes its back and breathes howlingly in soft warmth.

"You helped me, didn't you?"

Thank you, I was about to say, and the tears blocked it.

"I'm sorry."

……

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I, I... I just didn't want you to die, I didn't want you to die, so... oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Lena is nagging, squeaking, apologizing many times. Finn was puzzled and looked around for help.

Apparently the sight I thought looked down from the heights earlier was true, and the bandits had left only the bodies and disappeared. Valt was still staring at this one at a distance with a tight face, and some soldiers woke up the resulting body and turned to his dismayed face, and... Euches, who remained stunned, said in his usual tall voice.

"No, I can't believe it's a dragon! Why didn't you just shut up?"

Finn finally figured out what happened to him when he was told.

(Jesus Christ. Did I... did I become the Dragon Horse?

Legendary dragon marquises who were active in the former war. But I wasn't a dragon marquis from the beginning with them. For some reason he met, or was found, a dragon and was given the life and power of a dragon by making a "bond vow”.

There is no legend as to what the vow is. That's why I never even heard of Finn. It's just that something special ties between the dragon and the dragon marquis, that's all.

I couldn't believe it. I simply wanted to think that Lena helped me with that special force. With one of those words, I can't believe that's happening - I did wish to be with you from the bottom of my heart then, but that's because I thought I was going to die soon, and I didn't know this was going to happen - I can't believe Lena was a dragon in the first place...

"I'm sorry."

Again, a fine voice apologized in my ear. Finn told herself to pull the reins of thought that were running orbitlessly to stop, calm down. Anyway, that's not what matters right now.

"You don't have to apologize," Finn said gently. "I didn't even want to die. I'm glad I survived. So you have nothing to apologize for."

…………

Lena shook her head small, but apologized no further, letting go of her body softly. Dull, snort, and then wipe the tears with your fingers. Finn smiled somehow, okay, and stroked his head.

It was then that Valt exhaled. Deep and long enough to suspect if I've been holding my breath for a long time.

"Ha... man, I'm afraid I'm with Dragon Hou. Anyway, I'm glad we didn't get more dead."

With those words Finn also regained his usual senses and looked around. The troops were all alive, scratched - except for one who was first hit. Finn stood up and headed for the body. As I was caught and awakened from my dreams, other faces gather.

Valt lowered the eyelids of the child and the soldier, and damn, he cursed.

"Always will be. You're going to die from a young, weak child or a kind, good one!

Finn was frightened when his chest was pounded by unexpected words. But Valt's men shook their heads as they were accustomed.

"Valt, that's not true. This is how you and we live. I'm such a jerk."

"Oh yes," Valt roared. "Only a dirty person can survive these times. Fuck you."

Oh, boy. Here we go again, and the soldiers looked at each other and clasped their shoulders. But Finn felt like he could tell what he was going to say, so he snorted in silence.

If such a slaughter, usurpation and killing live in everyday times, no one can remain clean. As seen in Nanais, soldiers take from citizens, citizens take from each other, or sell their own bodies and dignity to beg for food and fall. Even the supposedly decent people have to suffer the mud of guilt of inaction and neglect in order to escape difficulties, and they have to deceive themselves and lay lies in order not to lose their temper to live.

"... Anyway, let's go home"

Finn told me to snap in a dark voice. Valt answered, staring at the ground.

"Yeah, but not since I finished here."

As the word goes, Valt commanded everyone to finish off the bandit's Negijo. He broke down the cabin, took back the weapons and valuables left inside, and set fire to the rest. Roba and the horse, who remained connected, were instrumental in carrying the bodies of their companions and children.

When he cleaned up everything and started walking down the street, Finn, who was pulling his horse at the rear, frowned when he saw Lena leaning against him instead.

(In the middle of the day, and even though that happened, Lena is showing. That means the seal was unsealed)

I mean, the "bond vow” must have been the way to unseal it. How Lena has said it's too much sacrifice and kept retreating. But Finn still didn't know exactly what he had sacrificed. Instead, they saved lives.

Staring thinking, Lena turned around. When my eyes met, I felt the presence of Lena stronger in my heart than before. As Auntie and Lena smile, her anxiety and guilt are clearly conveyed. Finn smiled back to encourage him, convinced that this was a bond.

(It's okay, whatever happens, I don't resent your choice. I appreciate the help, so... let's go together. all the time)

From now on, I will not spend sleepless nights agitated by anxiety and fatigue. With Lena, difficulties and hardships, I'm sure we'll manage to get over it.

(Still, what's the joke about Lena being a dragon and me being a dragon marquis)

Oh, man. Looking at the expression on Lena's face, Finn spilled one bitter smile. Apparently there are a lot of them in dragons as well. I just wondered if I was second only to God, noble and great, as legendary.

With that in mind, I could see that Lena had some complicated emotions. I am neither obstinate nor angry, but subtly unintentional. Finn glanced forward with a glimmer.

As soon as possible, the gaze of his creepy companions pierced him simultaneously, and Finn stopped by surprise. I realize that I was completely distracted by one Lena, and I turn back and blush. Valt shook his head in a frightened manner.

"We're staring at each other and nibbling at each other as if to shut up, it's disgusting. Even newlyweds aren't that close."

"Excuse me."

"... I apologize... but this is not the Dragon Marquis..."

Finn clapped his neck in a tone that was just lamentable. Totally agree, but if I say so, I'll just be extra frightened. Instead, he said, back to his true face.

"I mean, could you shut up?"

"What?"

Valt listened back, and his people turned suspicious. Finn asked with a firm and strong voice, looking slowly at each of them.

"I haven't really figured out what happened to me yet, myself. I'm sure I made a bonding vow, but I don't think I became the so-called" Dragon Marquis ”. And now, if you blow something far-fetched, it's not just me, it's everybody."

"Everybody, you mean this unit?"

"Yeah, but even though we're neglected by Commander Dilgius, instead of the Dark Beast, if we talk about the dragon showing up this time, we might get hung up amicably for some reason, like messing up people's minds in vain."

"Wouldn't the dragon lady be there to help?"

Valt sounded his nose, but there was no way to guess it, only to roar on his face.

"Well, sure, it's hard to cross a dangerous bridge. This is the proof, and the commander won't believe you when he tells you to worship him... even if he does, he'll be in extra trouble then. Yeah, I totally agree, it's smart to keep quiet"

Whilst subtly pinching his disrespectful remarks, Valt understood and accepted Finn's request. Each of the soldiers nods towards Finn, too. Finn was glancing at each of them to confirm the signs of understanding, but frowned at them with strange discomfort when Euches nodded vaguely.

(... what?

Something caught me. Like trying to raise what I was doing unconsciously to the realm of consciousness, and that just disappeared.

The anxiety not felt at the time of the other soldiers spreads to his chest. I can't trust you, my instincts alarmed me.

(Stupid)

Finn shook his head small and shook off his suspicions. Euches wouldn't be that stupid because of how much that happened earlier. It is not fair to resent and scorn him. Because the dying cause is not only in Euches, but also in Finn's own errors. But.

"Eucis."

Just in case, Finn called his name and stabbed the nail.

"Of course my name, dragon, don't speak a word of it. Please."

"Huh?... Yeah, I get it"

You were uncomfortable being pushed only by yourself, and Euches nodded again, although he looked somewhat disgusted.

And that's where Valt noticed and watched Lena.

"But then, how do you explain this young lady? A bandit caught me, I don't know."

Now my gaze gathers at Lena. Lena stunned herself in surprise and hid behind Finn. But when Finn touched him softly in his heart, he immediately relieved himself of the tension and walked out in front of everyone.

"Should I not be here?

In an innocent tone, Valt suddenly remembered where his conscience was, and he snapped.

"Yes, no, no, that's what I mean then..."

"What?

Lena closes her eyes and tilts her little neck. Then I turned Finn around properly. Finn looked strange with a smile on his face, but Lena's had no patience and spilled a fuzzy laugh.

"See you then"

Goodnight, I said goodbye in such a mild tone that I disappeared to melt flutter. Valt and the soldiers, who saw it for the first time, would all open their mouths gently. Finn was secretly sympathetic in his heart, while waiting for them to regain their minds.

He closed his mouth, which was slightly open to Valt, and, uh, leaked a distracted voice.

"... is that really the dragon?

I'm just wondering, too.

Finn answered seriously, then added.

"But anyway, you're pretty sure you're way out of common sense, right?