Ravi, land. Nagan left no room for argument, even going so far as to impress his will onto his dragon through their newly enforced bond. He could feel her trying to resist the command.

But Nagan—

Land!

A shot of anger ran through Nagan's mind as Ravi growled deeply, sharply diving down towards a clearing in the trees. Nagan had no way of knowing where they were, but he knew they weren't far from the mountain city. There was only so much he could take, watching Ravi beat her wings in vain as she shuddered painfully, and he had seen enough suffering.

Ravi landed heavily on the ground, Kint close behind. Az grunted from the abruptness, and Ravi rumbled a quiet apology. Through the trees, Dockard emerged from where he followed on the ground. With a dislocated wing, he couldn't fly at all. At least, that was what he suspected and told Milora. Now that Nagan could see the wing itself, limp and dragging on the ground, he believed it. That would have to wait until someone who knew how to fix it arrived.

And who knows when that will be, Nagan thought bitterly. A wave of anger washed over him at that moment, and he gave each of their dragons a glare.

"Protect the hoard," he seethed, sliding off of Ravi's back and firmly ignoring any effort to talk to him. Instead, he focused on helping Az off the saddle.

Ravi continued trying to talk to him—to reason with him—but Nagan wanted none of it. There were too many things going through his head. If he wanted his remaining comrades to survive, he needed to focus.

And that's what he did. With a few short words, he set Milora to help Az bind his wounds. The stab wound oozed lazily now, but even Nagan knew it wasn't something they could fix any further. Not with the materials they had left. All they could do now was clean and wrap their scrapes and bruises the best they could, and hope help would arrive before something nasty set in. All the while, Nagan paced around the dragons, setting up alarm barriers with what little magic he had left. His circuits ached terribly, a dull throb pulsing through his limbs at every incantation, but Nagan wanted to be the first to know if anything—or anyone—approached them.

"Should I start a fire?" Milora asked softly when Nagan made his way back to them. He shook his head.

"No. I don't want us to be seen, and right now, none of us are in any shape to be casting an invisibility or light-blocking spell. The dragons will keep us warm enough."

"We should at least try healing the dragons," Az muttered, his head and back leaning against Kint's side. His eyes stared at nothing, and his hand almost mindlessly dug into the medic's pack at his side. After a few moments, he pulled out a small vial of a white powder and held it out to Nagan. "Use this on Ravi's wing. There isn't much you can use on membrane except keeping it clean, but Ravi's wings are made of flesh."

Nagan took the vial. "The coagulant? Why didn't you use it on yourself?"

"I could slow the bleeding on my own."

Nagan wanted to object, maybe even scold Az a bit, but what was done, was done. With a short thanks, Nagan walked over to Ravi, gently pulling at her injured wing to spread it flat. Ravi groaned at the movement, but she let him stretch her wing out to its full length. Blood matted the feathers, and Nagan grimaced at the sight of it.

Sorry, I might need to pull the loose feathers and scales to get to the wound, Nagan said to Ravi, finally opening up the link between them. Ravi replied with a whine, but a wave of reassurance washed over Nagan as if Ravi was saying, "It's alright."

He hated the way Gath's voice echoed in his head as he began.

Always pull in the direction of the growth, he remembered Gath saying as the older taught him how to care for Ravi's wings when they were first damaged. The same goes for the scales. It's still painful, like pulling out a clump of hair, but if any of that loose stuff is left, it could irritate the wound and hinder healing. Don't worry, they tend to grow back pretty quickly.

Nagan then reached for his waterskin, pouring a generous amount of water over the now-exposed slash. Blood turned purple feathers a redder tint as the water ran off to the ground. He then pulled a cloth out of the saddle bag, dabbing the raw skin as carefully as he could to dry it, but Ravi still flinched at every touch. Nagan gave up on the rest of it when a particularly strong shudder wracked through Ravi's wing. In the end, a light coating of powder dusted Ravi's wound, blood congealed and solidified, and Nagan tucked away the rest of the vial. Just in case.

Ravi lifted her head and turned to look at Nagan when he stayed there, unmoving as he stared down at her wing.

What's wrong? She asked.

"Why are you still here?" Nagan snapped instead, whirling around to address the rest of the dragons as well. Each dragon ducked their head, even Dockard, at Nagan's glare, but there was a level of defiance in their eyes. "Did Gossamer not tell you to flee?"

She did, Ravi admitted.

"Then why are you here? All of you are hurt—Dockard can't even fly!—but you still...you all disobeyed me when I was trying to send you to safety."

Dockard snorted before turning away, laying his head on the ground, while Kint looked at Ravi. Meanwhile, Milora and Az glanced at each other. They didn't know Nagan had sent—or tried sending—the dragons away. It wasn't as if they disagreed with the decision, however. Judging by the state of the dragons, they were in just as much danger as the rest of them.

As dragons, we are devoted to our riders, Ravi explained carefully. And we did flee, but only far enough for the void dragons to stop pursuing us. When we sensed you close, and when Ivisian...also, became void, I waited in the trees with Dockard while Kint waited above. We were worried what would happen if we left you behind.

Nagan wanted to keep arguing against them, but in the end, he knew he couldn't. The dragons did bring them to safety when Nagan wasn't sure he could. Moments before Ravi arrived, he even feared he had doomed the rest of them with his decision. What state was Ivisian even in? Could he still fly as well? What if they all could have escaped the same way Aitor did? Did he sacrifice Carth for no reason—

Nagan, Ravi soothed, washing her calm will over his, you did the best you could.

Nagan felt himself crack as tears welled in his eyes. Why is it only now I can hear you?

Between the young Dragonmages, Nagan knew his and Ravi's connection was the weakest. Everyone knew that. Whatever was supposed to make them click never happened, not until now. It didn't diminish the fact that they cared for each other deeply, but by the gods, why was this happening now?

Ravi nudged her head against his chest. This is the first time you truly needed me, and I am happy to answer the call.

A bitter laugh left Nagan as he rubbed a hand over his eyes.

Rest, now. Ravi nudged him harder, pushing him back a step. We all need time to grieve. You...weren't the only one who lost their friends. Ivisian and Bizo were our friends, too, and they are gone now.

With that, Ravi gently shut off the connection, leaving no room for Nagan to say anything else. It hadn't occurred to him that the dragons considered each other friends as well, and a little more guilt was added to the insurmountable pile. He refused to apologize for it, however; he wasn't fishing for pity. If anything, he had been selfish enough.

Nagan jolted slightly when something cold grasped his hand, and he looked to his left to see Milora, watching him with a frown on her face.

She took a step back, still holding onto his hand. "Come over here. Az still has some disinfectant and bandages left, and he wants to see your shoulder."

A dull throb radiated down his arm and upper back, almost as if the wound wanted to remind Nagan it was there as well. He nodded numbly, and let himself be coaxed to where Az sat.

Nagan never truly went to sleep. Instead, he found himself wide awake, staring into the dark.

Az and Milora, on the other hand, managed to dose lightly. Sometimes Nagan could feel Az jolt awake to his left, only for the other to begin lightly snoring soon after. Other times, he could've sworn Milora had awakened as her head shifted in his lap. He didn't dare voice his question, however, in case he woke her up instead.

Night had fallen hours ago, and the moon hung low in the sky. But it was the sound of beating wings that caught Nagan's attention.

It was faint at first, and Nagan almost thought it was a bug flying around his ear. And then the sound grew and multiplied. It wasn't until the sound echoed overhead did he finally throw his head back to look up, every muscle in his body tensing up. Their dragons did the same. For a split second, pure fear ran through him. Who were these dragons? Were they the Kinsmen's? Were they wild?

It's Chenshui! Ravi exclaimed into his mind, and without any warning, she lifted her head to the sky and roared.

The sound startled the rest awake instantly.

"What's going on?" Milora asked, her voice pitched high with panic, but Nagan wrapped his arm firmly around her waist before she could stand.

"It's reinforcements!" Nagan didn't know which emotion he felt the most, excitement or relief. "Ravi has spotted Chenshui! Professor Fai is here!"

Nagan hastily stood, Milora following suit, as he raised his hand. A red burst of magic shot into the sky just as a sharp pain traveled down his arm. His circuits hadn't been realigned. He did it again, nonetheless. He needed someone to see them—to rescue them. Blue and green sparks joined his own as the dragons continued to call for Chenshui.

Nagan could've cried when he heard a roar back, deep and warbling, as a black and white lung dragon dove towards them. A golden lung dragon and others followed suit. With a quick command, he told their dragons to break their formation, Ravi and Dockard moving back and almost into the trees to make room for the rest.

Professor Fai jumped off Chenshui before the dragon could even land.

"Nagan, is that you?" Professor Fai strode towards them, his worried expression becoming clearer as a ball of light lit above them. "Who else is here—"

"Professor Fai!" Milora sobbed, launching herself forward and wrapping her arms around the professor. Professor Fai stumbled back a step, but he was quick to regain his balance, hugging her back as he quietly reassured her they were safe.

Safe. Too much was happening all at once. Nagan felt the relief wash over him, but it was all too much. It was as if everything was crashing down at once. The pain, the panic, the guilt, the gut-wrenching grief he kept locked behind a wall to keep himself focused, all at once, that wall came crashing down, taking Nagan down with it. If it wasn't for someone catching him under the arms, he would've collapsed.

"Whoa, there. Take it easy," General Meixong said, carefully lowering him to the ground. "You're safe now, I promise. Hey, do I need to call a medic over here? Are you hurt? Do you need to lie down?"

"No...No, I'm..." Nagan swallowed down a whimper, realizing how watery his vision became. "I'm..."

Nagan risked a glance up, and from that moment forward, he saw General Meixong in a completely different light. Instead of the blank expression he was accustomed to, their brow was furrowed in genuine concern. Where there was once a calculating gaze, there was now only unconditional compassion. Deep hazel eyes—Had they always been hazel?—were filled with understanding as they looked at him. Nagan had never felt more seen, something that should've unnerved him, but at that moment, it was exactly what he needed.

General Meixong softly sighed through their nose as they swiped their thumb across his cheek. "It's ok. You can let go of it now."

He didn't try hiding it this time as he bowed his head, letting a violent sob wrack through him.

A hand tugged against his shoulder, pulling him to lean back against Kint, and Az was quick to pull Nagan into a firm side hug. Milora joined them soon after. And together they cried.

Meixong stepped away from them to give them space, and from their peripherals, they could see Fai standing next to them.

"How many people can Chenshui carry?"

"All of them."

"Good. Bring them back to the camp immediately." Meixong didn't want to be the one to point out there was one less person amongst the teens—one less person they hoped would be alive. "I'll leave a couple dragon experts here to tend to their dragons, but I doubt they'll be able to fly anytime soon. They'll have to make their way back on foot."

"What about the town?" Fai asked.

"I'm waiting until the kids calm down." Meixong grimaced. "It's the least I can do before asking them to relive their experience."

Fai only nodded in reply.

Meixong waited a couple more minutes, wandering between the dragon experts and the medics they took down with them. But they knew time was running out. Hours had already passed since Aitor first arrived at camp, and if they had any hope of bringing justice to the fallen, they needed every second they could get. Meixong almost wanted to berate themself as they crouched next to the group of teens.

"Nagan," they began, only continuing when Nagan looked at them. There was resignation in his eyes as he wiped his tears away and took a deep breath. He knew what they were going to ask. "I'm sorry I have to do this to you, but I think you already know what needs to be done."

"I understand," Nagan replied, his voice raw.

"Tell me what happened."

By the end of his explanation, a dull, building anger simmered under Meixong's skin. Whatever faith they had in the Council had dissolved in an instant, and there was nothing in all of Norvea that could redeem that. None of this should have happened.

"As for Sergeant Honoria..." Nagan sucked in a shuddering breath as Milora tucked her face further into his shoulder and Az turned away. "He was fatally wounded. He told us to leave as he bought us more time to escape."

"...Thank you for telling me all this," Meixong said when it was clear Nagan had finished. They then stood, ignoring the way their hip popped back into place. "Captain Fai will be bringing you back to the camp and Aitor—"

"Aitor made it?" Nagan blurted. "Is he ok?"

"I didn't see any physical injuries on him, and he's the reason we're here in the first place. You made the right call sending someone to get help," Meixong affirmed. "As I was saying, Captain Fai will be bringing you back on Chenshui, and I'll be sending a few others to accompany you. Unfortunately, your dragons have been deemed unstable to fly. They will be heading back on foot, but all the while they'll be taken care of. Is there anything else I should know before raiding the mountain town?"

"Be prepared," Az said. "If you have any Infiniti with you, especially with light or dark affinities, tell them to look for the lighter areas when inside. We suspect there was a similar spell to the one conducted in the Lockpin Assassinations that fogged our direction, and it was our affinities that got us out."

"I believe there's a couple Infiniti amongst us. Thank you for the information." Meixong turned to Fai, briefly reaching up to squeeze his shoulder. "I'll meet you back at camp."

Fai rested his hand over theirs. "Be safe."

As Meixong made their way back to Sainanak, they let a shadow fall across their face. They were holding back for the sake of the kids, but now as they headed to a potential battle? What should stop them?

Oooh, we got our game faces on, Sainanak sing-songed as Meixong approached.

Let's hope, for their sake, that whoever was there isn't anymore. Meixong easily swung themself up into the saddle. Old habits die hard, after all, and I'm not keen on showing mercy.