Including the others I said: “an explanation, please?”

Mephisto shrugged his translucent shoulders: “it’s not as bad as you might think.” He turned to the dragon: “I’m sorry if I have riled you up, my comment was for the orc and Casandra.” He inclined his head. “My name is Mephisto and I’m honoured to make your acquaintance, albeit not under the most perfect of circumstances. You don’t have much to worry about. Basically dragons, or rather higher dragons are the only species that can handle her magic. I don’t know why for certain, there are several theories but if I had to guess I’d say it has something to do with your carbuncle and the way it can process energy. Anyway, when Casandra healed you, she formed a bond between the both of you as you undoubtedly know. A part of her is now within you. It will grow over time and grant you more and more abilities. They’re not determined, much depends on yourself and what you’re going to experience in the next couple of decades but one thing is for certain: sooner or later you’ll be able to cross the void by yourself, travelling between stars and even universes at will. Considering who she is, it might even go further but I’m getting ahead of myself. Anyways, that’s what I meant, nothing more, nothing less. If you’re willing you’ll be able to carry her wherever she needs to go, but you definitely don’t have to, she has no hold over you.”

We were silent after his explanation, processing what he had said. I thought it was nothing to fret over but then again, I wasn’t the one on the receiving end. Gently I touched Viyara’s mind, curious what was going on inside her head. She was … excited. I felt uncertainty and a hint of trepidation but mostly she was looking forward to what might happen. When she felt me she asked gleefully:

“I’m going to become a Crystalline, am I not? Unbelievable, I always thought they were a myth.”

Her comment sent my mind reeling: I had heard the word Crystalline once before from Galathon. If she was right and that was how they came to be it would mean that he already had had contact with or heard about another immortal, at least about a dragon that was bound to one. Which meant they had visited this planet not too long ago. That was just what I needed, another problem to deal with.

“I really cannot say, you know very well that I had no clue what I was doing and I don’t even know what a crystalline dragon is supposed to be. But why don’t you ask him? I am curious myself. And maybe afterward you could tell us if you had any success with the human boy we have seen.”

She bobbed her large head enthusiastically which elicited a curse from the fey when she had to grab onto Viyara’s horns to keep her balance. Including all of us again Viyara inquired:

“Does that mean I’m becoming a Crystalline? Is that how they are born?” A crease appears between Mephisto’s eyes before he answered cautiously:

“Yes, yes it is. But I have to wonder, how do you know of them? Have you met one before?” Oh oh, it seemed like my conjecture had been right. Otherwise he wouldn’t have reacted like that.

“No, nothing of the sort,” Viyara replied. “But my father sometimes told me stories about them. He supposedly met one ages ago and she left a deep impression on him. From what he told me she was magnificent and the only being that ever made him feel humble. I always thought he was exaggerating, you know, give me something to strive for but now I’m not so sure anymore. So… every dragon bound to a kitsune becomes a Crystalline? Is their magic really that powerful, or is it just her?” Mephisto and I were stunned while Barzuk and Erya appeared curious. On second thought, I shouldn’t have been surprised, I hadn’t told Viyara much… anything about myself except for the few glimpse she might have gained through our connection. It wasn’t far fetched from her point of view but quite far away from the truth. Mephisto shot me an inquisitive glance before he answered:

“It has nothing to do with the kitsune, the way you put it I’d say it’s pretty much on her but that’s an explanation best left for another time and a question you should probably ask her directly. For now, unless there is something unbelievably pressing, we should return to our current predicament. I have already heard what’s going on from Cassandra. Could you enlighten us on what you found out about the boy and if you managed to strike a deal?” Before Viyara could answer Erya interrupted:

“One more thing. This bond, does it only work with dragons?” Again Mephisto looked at me and I gave him the go ahead with a nod. I wanted to know myself and I didn’t mind the audience. They had already heard enough to cobble together some parts of who I was and I didn’t mind them getting a few more details.

“I can’t say for sure. As far as I know, yes but with a little risk to your life and sanity I imagine there are ways to make it possible. Anything else?” A curious gleam entered Erya’s eyes and she focused on me intently, a small smile on her lips. I’d seriously have liked to know what she was thinking right then and there but I didn’t have a connection with her and nothing reached me through Viyara’s mind. When nobody spoke up after a moment Erya narrated:

“Then allow me to fill you in. This little princess,” she rubbed Viyara’s horns affectionately which sort of surprised me but apparently she bore no ill will towards the dragon girl, “managed to get through and I had a chance to talk to the human. His name is Pete by the way. Adorable little critter, full of hope, pain, fear and an iron will but I digress. We chatted for a little while but we couldn’t reach a consensus. Mostly because I can’t offer him what he desires but I guess you can. He is ready to do whatever we ask of him but he wants out, a new start, somewhere far away from the madness he has been subjected to over the last years. That might be an interesting tidbit of information. He was actually quite content with his lot as a pirate until, two years ago, after another meeting of the pirate’s council his captain, the guy who lost his heart to Galathon, changed their usual routine. Instead of honest hijacking and pillaging they started to enslave, intimidate and generally deal with politics in one way or the other. Additionally, since then they always had a group of acolytes on board, creepy, pale things covered in red runes. Make of it what you will but I’d say that was when the evil wizard you have been going on about entered the picture. Anyways, as long as we promise to get him out of there and take him away he’ll do as we ask, unconditionally. But that’s not something I can promise.” She turned to me. “I’m not yet sure what I’ll be doing and taking him along with you is probably your decision to make.”

“There isn’t much of a decision,” I replied. “I’m no fan of pirates but if it gets us out of here in one piece I won’t mind dragging him along. I’m more worried about the “get him out of there” part. What if we simply can’t?” Erya shrugged.

“That shouldn’t be the problem. If he enters a deal I should be able to summon him, regardless of how far away he is. I’ll have an anchor in his very soul to work my magic. So basically I’m good to offer him what he wants?”

“Depends,” Mephisto interjected. “I’d like to know what you’re getting out of it.”

“Oh, nothing much,” Erya answered modestly. “Access to his soul as long as he lives and the right of first refusal when he dies.” The corners of Mephisto’s mouth curled up while I growled:

“No, that’s not going to happen. Seriously, you have been imprisoned and enslaved for I don’t know how long and now you’re going down the same bullshit road as soon as you have a chance? Are you fucking kidding me? Take from him whatever you want but you won’t turn him into a commodity just because you can.” Erya wasn’t surprised or taken back, she smiled at me sweetly and asked:

“What do you propose? I need access to his soul to make my magic work and I require proper payment to enter a contract. I don’t know where you’re from but a deal with the fey that isn’t a one sided promise and actually invokes our innate magic has rules. He wants a new shot at life so that’s what I need in return, to make it work he has to offer something as valuable as what he’s going to get. And let’s be real here, considering his situation his essence isn’t too high a price. To balance the scales, the only thing HE can offer is his very soul. Or do you have another idea?” I stumbled over how much emphasis she had put on the “he” while her eyes bored into mine. My wings flared instinctively and the faint smell of ozone joined the burning scent of magma. Quietly I asked Mephisto: “Is she lying?”

“I’m afraid not. That’s how most sympathetic magic works. There has to be a balance. Why do you care so much anyways? It’s just another human. He doesn’t matter.” Now I could really feel my rage rising, the bad mood I had been in all day and my exhaustion didn’t help either. My voice trembled when I focused on Mephisto and Erya.

“That attitude is exactly the reason why I fought against my brother. Do you honestly believe that you’re that much better than a human just because you have a chance to live longer or have the tiniest amount of power running through your veins? That he doesn’t matter? That it’s alright to force him to give up his soul even though he is helping us? If so, let me disabuse you of that notion.”

Slowly I rose into the air, a halo of silvery blue energy behind me, my tails spread out like a silvery curtain. Energy crackled between my wings and their glow intensified by the second until they weren’t much more than a blur, surrounded by bent space and quivering rays of light. Deathly calm I continued: “following your own reasoning I should make you dance to my tune. None of you could hope to hold their own against me right now.” To drive home my point I allowed a couple of my wings to slither across Erya’s crystal and around Mephisto’s emblem, not yet cutting into them but the implied threat was obvious. “Is that what you want? If so, just tell me now.”

Erya eyed me fearfully and a little surprised while Viyara appeared thoughtful. Mephisto stared at the ground and I swore he was blushing, hard as it was to tell with his new colouration. Barzuk… well, for the second time he looked at me with sympathy and dare I say admiration. His usual sneer was gone and he displayed the same emotions I had seen when I had first tried to comfort Viyara in front of him. Huh, he really was a softy. That thought, more than anything else calmed me down. I retracted most of the energy from my wings and settled back down, counting to ten internally.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to threaten you. That was uncalled for and I apologise. But the point still stands. Is there anything else we could do to make it work?”

“Well,” Erya replied hesitantly, the small tremor in her voice giving away her anxiety, “I need something of equal value and the kid won’t be able to offer anything else. But if one of you were willing to pay on his part, we might find a way. I don’t want to push you over the edge but I really do need payment. From everything I’ve seen, there are a couple of things everyone of you could offer that would balance the scales and allow the magic to form. The question is, is one of you prepared to do so?” The look she gave me made me feel like I had just walked into a trap. But after everything I had just said and done I wasn’t going to wuss out. Viyara was on the cusp of answering but I wasn’t going to allow anyone else to pay for my convictions. If it was even somewhat reasonable I’d do it.

“Probably. What do you have in mind?” Her confidence returned in a rush along with her smile.

“One option I already presented to you, if you remember.” Involuntarily I blushed again and Mephisto arched an eyebrow curiously. “But I guess you’re still not willing to go for it. Something material won’t cut it this time so here is what I think might work. Give me some of your magic the same way you did with Viyara. If it makes me more powerful, it’ll satisfy the demands of my magic. A year of servitude should also suffice, given how much more you are than a mere human. Lastly I’d say reciprocity should also work. He wants a new life, so do I. The Silent Glade is most likely already occupied by another king or queen and I don’t have a place to return to. Offer me a haven and protection indefinitely and we should also be set. I don’t know if you can live with any of these options but that’s what I can think of.” I wasn’t going to bind myself to her will for a year but I didn’t mind the alternatives. Considering what Mephisto had said I wasn’t keen on trying to shove my energy into someone else, especially since I still needed her. Who could say if she wasn’t going to explode. Offering her a home, because from what I heard that was what she was after, was actually not a terrible idea. Maybe I could even get her to plant the acorn which might allow me to provide the orphaned kitsune with a new place to call their own. But I’d have to see how it was going to go.

“I’m more than willing to take you under my wing. If you think that’s enough, I won’t argue. What do I have to do?”

“Not that much, for now. You’ll have to be part of the spell and allow yourself to be bound by it, but that’s it.” Right, that would have been just too easy.

“Uh, I don’t think that’s going to work as smoothly as you imagine. I can’t be spelled, magic simply doesn’t touch me. I can’t imagine how I should participate in whatever you have planned, unless…” I had just remembered the focus Greta had made from my blood. I still had it with me but giving it to the fey seemed… risky. Would she use it to do as she pleased? She had already made it abundantly clear that she was interested in me and if I handed over the pendant she would be able to have her way regardless of my consent. And she’d be able to pull any other sort of stunt that came to her mind. Damn, why did those things always have to be so complicated. I had remained silent for longer than I had thought when Viyara prompted:

“Unless what?”

Hesitantly I pulled the focus from my pocket and weighted the little thing in my hand.

“Unless she uses this. It’s a focus that’ll allow her magic to take hold. But…” my words trailed off and Erya rolled her eyes.

“I promise I won’t use it for anything else than to make the deal work and I’ll hand it back as soon as we are done. Honestly, that I even have to say it… I’d never coerce you, well not in that way. When I slip into your bed it’ll be of your own volition and you’ll be wide awake, no magic required.”

I raised an eyebrow and winked at her over Viyara’s giggles: “if, not when. But that’s good enough. Catch!”

I tossed the pendant to her and she caught it deftly in her hand, everyone’s eyes glued to the little thing. Bringing her face closer she sniffed it and I saw a small thread of magic circle around her palm. Her eyes widened and she stared at me unblinkingly, her gaze full of curiosity and anticipation.

“Oh my, I’m really looking forward to get to know you better. Now then, shall we?” She extended her other hand and beckoned for me to join her on top of Viyara’s head. Silently I rose into the air again and glided towards them. It was time to prepare for yet another battle.