Nina was hugging Argento, tears of joy rimming her eyes. “I will miss looking after you little fellow.”

Beside her, Casian grinned and she threw her arms around him too, startling him. “Wow, I’m sure we’ll see you again,” he said as he awkwardly patted her back.

She shook her head when she pulled away. “No, you won’t. My job is done. I’m off to my next assignment, and who knows how far away that will take me. Us fae, we’re always moving, guarding nature. If we do see each other again, it will be by accident and probably thousands of years from now.”

Casian’s eyes widened. “Thousands?”

She waved him off. “Dragons can live forever if no outside force intervenes. You’ll get used to it once you’ve reached your first thousand and then time will start to become meaningless… you’ll be able to focus on the more important things in life.”

“Where do I go? I’ve been dead for ten years… I doubt my family would react well to seeing me… if they still lived where they used to.”

Nina made a piece of paper appear along with a feather dipped in ink. “Glamour is very useful sometimes,” she said with a shrug. She wrote something on the paper and handed it to Casian.

“This is an inn located in the nearest town from here. You should be able to stay there until you figure things out.”

“I’m on my own then?”

A sad look passed over Nina’s almost child-like features. “I’m afraid so. Most dragon lords know what they’ll become before their dragons hatches and have mentors, for some reason, you’re different. Maybe special… since Argento is the first golden dragon I’ve seen… I just know you’ll have to figure it out and that you won’t be alone. You and Argento are made for great things!”

Casian smirked and he felt sad to have to say goodbye to Nina. She would’ve been a nice friend to have… at least one until her could reunite with Andreas – they had a lot to talk about.

“One last question before you go… how do I get to Eerea?”

Nina shrugged. “Go to the inn… they might be able to help.”

“Thanks… for everything, Nina. Your help has been invaluable. I will miss you.”

Tears timed the faery’s eyes. “Awe… you are going to make me cry and then I’ll get all red and puffy.” She gave him one last hug, holding on a little longer than was necessary and waved her goodbye.

Before Casian could even say anything else, she disappeared as if she had never even been there. Weighed down by the loss of a friend he wasn’t sure he’d see again, Casian patted Argento on the head. “Looks like it’s just you and me now…”

The dragon perked up, his tail wagging. Casian laughed. “You sure seem happy about that, little guy.” Argento cocked his head to the side, his eyes innocent as he regarded his master.

They started threading through the jungle, trying to navigate to the small town Nina had spoken of, but Casian was beginning to feel like they were never going to as the rows of trees seemed like they would never end. But Argento was stacked with energy, practically bouncing form the barks so they kept going.

After what felt like forever, Casian could finally make out the outlines of buildings in the distance. He exhaled in relief. He wasn’t feeling tired yet, he realized, which must’ve meant Argento was lending him energy. The creature looked up at him with those big eyes that suddenly seemed a lot wiser than any newborn should be. Argento was calmer, fueling Casian’s theory. So even their energy levels were connected? Casian had to admit that was pretty cool.

Feeling refreshed and noticing that Argento was still very energetic, put Casian in a god mood and they got to the town just as the sun started setting. He pulled out the crumpled piece of paper and read of the name: Aunt May’s Inn for the Weary Traveler. Interesting name, her thought and his eyes began scanning the area for it. They walked deeper into the town and found the comfy looking inn.

Casian stopped, realizing a problem that hadn’t been presented before. People would probably freak out if they saw Argento, even if he was only a baby dragon… a baby dragon that was half the size of a grown man.

“Uhm… wait…” his gaze drifted around the area until his eyes settled on a big throw over hanging from someone’s window. He cursed himself as he looked down at Argento again. “I will not become a thief for you, sorry.”

The dragon beamed at him which Casian found curious. It had to be true then. Argento chose him because he had a good heart. The mere thought of that made Casian’s insides warm. Andreas may have turned out villain like, but he was still going to be a hero. Task one: saving his friend from the destructive path he was on, no matter what it took.

Deciding to do the right thing, Casian walked over to the house with the throw over and knocked on the door. An older lady with graying hair and a kind smile opened the door. “Yes, young man, how may I help you?” she asked in a benevolent voice.

“I’m terribly sorry to bother you… but I was robbed and it’s my first night here. You wouldn’t happen to have a piece of cloth or something lying around that you don’t need that I can use to keep myself warm?” Argento was hidden off to the side, watching the scene unfold. Casian hated having to lie to the kind old lady, but he had no other choice. Better a liar than a thief.

“Of course,” she said with a bright smile as she retreated into the house. Casian smirked and waited for her to return. She came back in record time and handed him a thin brown sheet. “Here you go.”

“Thank you,” he replied kindly.

He was about to turn around when the lady stopped him. “You’re welcome to join me and my granddaughter for dinner tonight,” she said a hint of mischief in her smile.

Casian fumbled for words. This old lady wanted him to meet her granddaughter. This was an awkward situation if there ever was one. “I appreciate the offer, but I really should start my journey back,” he politely declined.

She smiled. “Of course, the offer stands should you change your mind.”

“Thank you.”

He was finally able to break away after the lady started conversing with him, asking all kinds of questions he was unsure how to answer. She asked for his name and he gave her a fake one and politely told her he needed to get going. She had said to call her Ms. Henry.

“I thought she’s never let me leave,” Casian said as he approached Argento and threw the sheet over him. “Okay,” he added, tying a knot around the dragon’s neck, “I need you to keep your head down.”

The dragon nodded once and they went back to the inn. As he walked through the doors, he saw two people arguing as he went to the counter. Fragments of their conversation drifted over to him,

“We can take back Gynae now! Nothing is stopping us!” the girl said, her eyes a slight purple sheen to them.

“Are you insane? We are two people. Elisa has a whole army at her disposal! And as much as I would hate to admit it, I’m not powerful enough to do this alone. James was right, I’m not ready yet.”

“Someone has to make them pay for what they have done!”

They guy took her hands, a soothing gesture, and she seemed to calm down. “In due time, I promise.”

Casian tuned out their conversation and smiled at the inn keeper. He patted his pocket and sent a grateful prayer to Nina that she at least made sure he got some gold coins when she got him real clothes.

He laid the coins on the counter. “How many nights with this buy me?” the inn keeper’s eyes widened.

“About ten… that’s quite a lot, sir.”

“Please, just call me Casian.”

She nodded and pushed a log book toward him. “Just sign your name here, Casian, and I’ll set up a room for you.”

“That would be kind,” he said as he signed his name right under… Kalen’s? Casian’s eyebrows furrowed. That name was so familiar. Wasn’t that the name of the other boy that had live with Andreas?

Casian’s eyes went back to the man and woman arguing and realization dawned on him. That was Kalen. Ten years had really changed then scrawny boy he had met all those years ago into someone resembling of a man. Huh, that was an interesting development, Casian thought. The inn keeper handed him his keys and he followed her to the room he was assigned, Argento wobbling along after.

“Thank you miss…?”

“May,” she replied sweetly,

“May,” he said.

She smiled and he entered the room, Argento following closely behind. “You stay here, I have to talk to someone and I’ll be back, okay?” Argento nodded and the makeshift cape fell off his head. Casian couldn’t help but smile and closed the door as he left the room.

Kalen and the girl were still talking, but less passionately now. Casian tapped on Kalen’s shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, but I believe Kalen and I have some catching up to do.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Another reunion?” she asked and Kalen paled.

“Casian?” he croaked out, his eyes huge.

“Surprise, I’m a live?”