Initium Novum: Dracones #1

New Beginnings

The journey of five night falls came and went quickly, no further excitement came with daft decision and the ward and his guardian were at their destination, Csedea.

Csedea, the continent deemed as the richest in the world in terms of minerals. The land of riches and prosperity far more beautiful than any, said by Nefèrro, of course none was unbiased to his or her country, except for Zar. At least some parts of his country he detested. They bid farewell to the crew who took care of them through the week and Willem, the small boy waved frantically at his new master- a title hated to whom it was given to. Zarmeideus.

After the fight, somehow and somewhere in the short space of time the two got close. Who would have thought these two could get along.

Salty wind rustled through his long black hair whistling a sweet song in his ear, caressing the soft locks as if they had fingers.

Blue eyes looked out at the sea, his expression blank. Only did they soften when his pup and cubs came forward to rub all over his legs. Probably scent marking their territory. The cubs and pup had heard the approaching footsteps while Zar sensed him, it pricked at his senses making him aware, so annoying.

"What importance does your speech hold that you dare to bother me, if it has none then you may leave." Not even sparing a glance at the small brunette he turned no longer showing affection to his cubs and pup.

Willem now standing awkwardly, was very reluctant to approach the well known threat in front of him, sucking up his fear Willem walked up and leaned against the wooden rail next to the scary boy. Not looking afraid of what scary expression the larger boy would be sporting he started talking.

"As a child meh was spurred on by hate, hate for everyone. Even you, when I first saw you, I loathed you as well. You were better than me, are better than mi. Yeh know, children need attention, a thing that was seemingly a luxury too precious to befall upon a child of my worth. Instead all of it was given to meh precious very precious twin he was golden. Mi was but a mere plastic trinket compared to him. Overachiever and definitely the pride of meh family. It was highly unlikely meh wouldn't have gotten jealous, the guy was favoured by everyone and was so good in fighting and in his studies and meh was nothing."

The small boy chuckled darkly as tears pricked at his eyes, it was hard being alone, miserable and mostly invisible to everyone. Soft tufts of fur rubbed all over his legs, the small animals obviously feeling his lonesome pain and offering comfort. A faint smile shown upon Willem's face at the attempt, he continued.

"Backs turned on me, all except one and she stood by me." He paused.

"Then he was supposed to be sent off, most likely to bring further honour to our little family of sailors but what of me, was I supposed to be left behind, meh think not. He did leave without mi, meh then drowned in further misery when all mi could hear about was him even after not being there. Meh was seen as a baggage, load, weight that meh parents couldn't carry. They dropped mi because the weight was too heavy for them, all of it all that trouble meh caused was only for tufts of attention even these attention were brief. Meh became so lonely after dat' and meh hate for meh brother,Ghen grew so much more. He should have died,meh wanted him to die his messages came from so far, Ghen was so far and yet even through messages he had more favour than meh then suddenly...."

The tears finally dropped after keeping them in place for so long.

"Ghen disappeared. After all meh wishful thinking that someday he would, Ghen did disappear. Suspected to be dead, the boatsmen mourned for themselves of the lost, meh was completely forgotten then. Even then I loathed him,and then..... missed him as well after awhile of hatred. Who could have thought that, meh, meh could have replaced him be the next pride of the fam I suppose and make the sailors proud, and love me like they did him."

"That day has yet to come and bless me, how unfortunate right?"

The silence was only a brief substitute to the afterwards thinking. Where one received comfort after, clearly he needed it. He got it through little rubs on his legs by the cubs and Havoc with little licks as well. While the other just stood their without a nook of an expression on his face. Until...

"I still cannot piece together what retarded cell in your head made you come to me, of all people with your pitiful problems." Zarmeideus turned and made his first steps of his retreat all while talking.

"If perhaps you are looking for another pitiful person such as yourself to spill your problems to find a new lad, but I could train you, a way to get all that hatred out and you could be better if so meet me here when Ra and Dai are at their peaks." He referred to the twin moons.

Zar left, he left a spluttering Willem who beamed at his new mentor's back. Brialle, Kaima and Havoc all rubbed their sympathy against the boy's legs for both his past and his future with their caretaker before scurrying off.

From that night and afterwards, the two practiced same spot same time. Practice was harsh, especially when the spectators, consisting of the cubs and pup, looked like they were snickering at all his fails but also feeling a little pity for him, cause Willem sure as hell felt it for himself.

He almost cried out of frustration and anger and somehow, somewhere in that time he had to suck it up when Zar shouted at him saying that Willem was not to come to him crying like some sissy since he was the one who agreed to this practice. The upside, the small boy improved drastically over the nights and got into the habit of calling his mentor Master Z.

Aggravating it was, when Willem had begun to cling to him in broad daylight.

That damn termite, Zar would have thought. Now his torture came to an end. He was leaving, the cubs and pup were awfully saddened and clung to Willem who clung to Zar. Maybe they would meet in the future, Zar hoped not.

Presently, Willem waved frantically at the turned back of his master hoping that he would wave back. Instead that ol' geezer, Nefèrro turned to face him. The devious hot tempered boy's tongue stuck out at him even from afar he could see that that waving was not meant for him.

Rude.

Spurred on to get away from embarrassment the High Lord moved quickly being the fast pace of the teen of sixteen who could have cared less.

Zarmeideus took in the sights of his new environment. This place, Csedea. Oh so different. It was so.... green. Green that Zarmeideus wished he had seen at his own abode. There were green trees different from the white ones at his home bearing all sorts of fruit to see.

And it was... hot, no warm. Warm to his delectable coldness, so weird.

The thing grass,presuming that was what it was, was not a myth. It was simply gorgeous and the blades of them swayed with the sea side wind.

The air it was different, it didn't feel cold like when the Northern wind that Zar had been blessed with would rushed upon his skin and caress it nor did it smell cold it was just salty and warm and gently.

Taking in gulps of the new environment through his nose he looked up in the the sky Daen, the sun could be seen clearly opposed to his home and the blue of the skies never had he seen anything like it stretched across vastly and beyond. Even some strange birds could be seen enjoying the gentle rays on their wings.

Already Brialle, Kaima and Havoc set to their playing. Rolling about in sand by the shore causing a mess of their clean and groomed fur- which Zar would reprimand them for later- and then continuing their playing up the soft blades of glass. The whites of their fur stood out against this colourful place and so did Zar with his pale skin and pale lips that somehow didn't get any colour along the way.

While Nefèrro, he seemed to be sucking all colours back into his skin and hair. And beamed at his home, almost glowing as brightly as Daen. Servants flocked his royal man child. Carrying Nefèrro's luggage and almost Zarmeideus's if he didn't insist rudely that he could do it on his own, with a scowl intact. Zar's plants were pretty important and really he did not wish for them to be crushed by other heavy luggage of the blonde next to him.

The two, ward and guardian seemed to be attracting lots of attention by villagers. Especially with the luxurious bags and out of place animals. Placing his hood over his head Zarmeideus figured not to attract any attention towards himself especially when instead of servants the people of the village flocked Nefèrro like they were mere worker bees and the golden blond was the queen bee, showing that all the people were familiar with the High Lord appearance from time to time in the village.

Kaima was the first of the three to stop the playing and sat obediently at his caretakers feet, sand fell from his white fur leaving them sticking together in patches because of the wetness. Soon the other two came up shaking out their fur as well and waited.

Waited on the High lord to dismiss himself from the people who played their respects to him, and the young ladies way younger than the forty summers of a man. Obviously they were wooed from his ethereal grace and golden beauty. No one paid any mind to the creepy person in the hood aside of them and Nefèrro, in his forty something summer acted cheeky in the attention he was receiving. Whilst Zar glared from under his hood  wanting to burn a hole in the blonde's head.

Zarmeideus moved away from the crowd, hoping his face was not seen. The little cublings and pup looked onto Nefèrro maybe hoping to see if he was coming or not only to shake their tails at him and trot away to catch up to their caretaker when the Lord showed no sign of paying attention to them.

The man said to be in a hurry sure knew how to take his sweet time. I do recall him saying something about being late for an event but I was not listening I don't know what. Zar thought.

Zarmeideus got bored rather quickly, and decided to delve more into the small village. He was being trailed by the cubs and pup they too finding it fascinating to look around. It was somewhat weird, their was no look of contempt from passer bys in fact the people of the small village gave him smiles, wide, warmth filled smiles.

Under his hood, Zar's face scrunched up unintentionally not quite liking all the smiles it was unnerving. Smiles of this brightness made him unable to sadness or evil underneath it. The atmosphere was just too light but Zar could cope.

The boy could not help but be paranoid of everyone he studied, he walked around looking at the jeweleries and unfamiliar fruits under the cover of stalls. Long since the cubs and pup disappeared, of course Zarmeideus knew where, he was vigilante like that.

Zarmeideus stopped and approached a stall, this one show cased fruits of different sizes and colour that all look so ripe. The man behind it was old with grey hair every, his appearance somewhat kept.

Pointing at a random peach coloured fruit. Zar asked what it was.

The old man, you could say he was in shock. Shock that this young lad was asking about such a popular and scrumptious fruit.

The old man pointed on the same fruit just to be sure.

"This, this fruit is shruiti, most definitely the juiciest of all other fruits, very tasty. The shruiti can be brewed into very strong wine as well, so simply divine."

The stall owner face twisted into one of pleasure, for this fruit having the boy wonder if it was that good.

"Indeed, it does sound splendid. However I have yet to taste it'd lusciousness you described" Zar frowned, maybe he should have waited for the blonde.

Somehow without Zarmeideus noticing the man had already picked up the fullest one he could find and stretched his arm out awaiting for the other boy to take it. The black haired boy looked down on the fruit surely it was not for free, it would be taking advantage of a little ol' man.

"Surely you haven't lived fully if you haven't ravished one of these fruits."

The young boy took making sure to nod his head in thanks, and took a slow bite. The tenderness of the outer skin was pleasant seeing as he didn't have to struggle to take a bite. Few milliseconds later the juices from inside rushed to his own mouth and tongue, it was sweet with a pinch of sour. And Zar's closed in ecstasy, wanting to savour the flavour but also wanting to just eat it all at once he couldn't decide.

Curse the gods, it was so good.

All the juices ran down the side of his jaw, only now realizing how embarrassing that was and stopped. However he could not get the flavour out of his mind. Clearing his throat Zar spoke.

"What is the cost of a single one more importantly how does one grow your shruiti?"

The stall owner only reluctant at first gave up his secret to the nice looking boy, on how to grow them to the fittest and the black haired boy he listened attentively.

~~

The Lord was in a sort of frantic state, excusing himself from all the women lined up for him, looking for the stoic boy all across the small village.

In only a short amount of time, in not paying attention he lost four of his children, since Brialle, Kaima and Havoc are nowhere to be seen the blonde concluded they must have gone with their caretaker.

They couldn't have gone that far, could they? Nefèrro thought.

Walking pass countless stall owners with servants behind him at every beck and call. The people of the village smiled kindly at the Lord who approached them to ask questions about his ward. The people claimed to have not seen him.

That should have been expected, since Zarmeideus was clearly good at hiding himself. Walking deeper into the crowded market. There he found Brialle, Havoc and Kaima, the elder cub with a basket.

However, in a small predicament.

Havoc, the pup had done well to distract the stall owner selling juicy looking meat, most likely very hard to come by.

The pup whimpered in front of the owner, to make sure the owner was putting all his attention on the pup who looked like he was starving.

Meanwhile, Brialle with her baby stature struggled to jump unto the table filled with all kind of meat. She started to push the meat with her muzzle to the awaiting basket beneath her where Kaima was.

After collecting as much as they could  they were to leave. Kaima already towing the basket away. Brialle supposedly should have already left the stall but gluttony held her back. Seeing the biggest stake she went for it instead of actually attaining it the leopardo misstepped and had the whole stall came crashing down (Not literally). Havoc had already left as well as Kaima leaving the female leopardo to her impending doom. She ran like her life depended on it.

Somehow the white furball ran straight to Nefèrro, the stall owner running being her with a large machete bellowing "Thief!!"

Havoc and Kaima were already there probably snickering at their sister. Nefèrro had talked the stall owner down, being sure to have the servants pay the fee for what was stolen. He looked down unto the little cubs and pup, sighing. Whilst the stall owner glared at the them while retreating.

They continued walking, Nefèrro thinking how Zarmeideus could leave the little cublings by themselves to hunt food and cause problems.

After searching for quite a while, Nefèrro did find Zar. At the far back of the market speaking to an old man. Packing bags filled with shruiti.

Zarmeideus, under the cover of his hood thanked the old man for the fruit. Turning around to see the High Lord scowling at him arms crossed over chest. It was a weird sight to behold since majority of the time they had been together Nefèrro's eyes were always lit up by a smile. Two filled bags were handed off to the servants who in turn brought them off in the direction they came.

Nefèrro pouted noticing the younger boy was paying no attention to him but caressing his cublings soft- now dirty- white coats. The High Lord was being ignored as usual no time to voice his concerns of his ward.

Sighing once again they headed to the village stables.

~

Nefèrro's servants had packed the luggage on carriers. Dragon carriers.

Dragons

They were simply magnificent.

It was the first time Zar was to view so many, They varied in all sizes from extremely large to medium. Zar observed that the sizes of the dragons told what activity they were to carry out. The smaller dragons clearly built for speed and most likely surprise attacks compared to the larger ones who clearly were to fight in battle due to strength.

The colours, second thing the black haired boy noticed. The colour of their scales varying from gold, red, green, blue. All were gorgeous, the scales shimmered in the midday light sucking energy from Daen. He noticed that the colours probably signified the type of dragon. Though he did not know them not at all.

Zar searched for the golden blond among the sea of colours. Looking around he immediately spotted the giddy blond in front of a green dragon. A dragon who did not look too happy to see the blond who was making crazy hand gestures.

Zarmeideus was approaching cautiously to the unsuspecting blond and stood behind of the blond waiting for the man to turn around and face him.

The green dragon slitted eyes had already flickered to the boy under the hood to meet the boy's and narrowed them. Nefèrro somehow realized the dragon wasn't paying him any attention more than he already was anyway. Instead he was looking at something behind him. Suddenly curious the Lord turned around to see what the dragon was looking at only to be faced with the close proximity of his ward.

Not even sparing Nefèrro a glance the black haired boy continued to glare at the dragon in front of both of them. Walking straight pass the idiotic blonde with confident steps up to the dragon.

Nefèrro had shouted at him a warning that he shouldn't go near the dragon. Dragons after all were dangerous upon the first meeting with a person. They were terribly violent and like to bite. Nefèrro witnessed first hand. Shockingly, no violence at all occurred at that moment, no growling, biting nor slashing of claws against skin.

Zar raised his whole arm slowly, stopping briefly when the dragon blew smoke at his arm indicating not liking the movement, then continuing on his journey to the scales in the middle of the of its eyes, slowly but surly Zar started to rub his palm the dragons head, they were bonding. Something that took the High Lord a month to do before the dragon would make Nefèrro groom him properly.

Clearly relieved and in awe Nefèrro walked up to beside of Zarmeideus.

"Lad, this is Vadar."

The dragon puffed a cloud of smoke at the call of his name.

"Your dragon."

"Of course not, Vadar is the bonded mate of my dragon, who at this moment is not fit for travel. Vadar has been here for about a week at most waiting for me to arrive, thus the pissed expression."

"Oh."

The clearing of a throat was heard behind of them. A familiar servant, one Zar never bothered to learn the name of.

"Master, the dragons are all ready for departure."

"That's good, Kale."

Nefèrro nodded at the head servant and turned to look at the dragon who in turn stood. Vadar was extremely large, a fact Zar had not notice when the green dragon was formerly crouched. But now when the dragon stood and shook out his prior laziness making the scales tinkling because of the action Zar realized just how huge he was.

They were out in the open now carrier dragons only few feet's away packed with Nefèrro's rubbish. The cubs were asleep too tired from their activity. They were being carried in their pack, specifically made for them. Checking the pack again Zar deemed them ready to go.

But then of course, Nefèrro was preparing himself mentally for the ride. Ignoring him while he gave himself a prep talk Zarmeideus held onto his cublings and looked on Vadar who was as ready as he was. Zar noticed Vadar's under belly to his chest was a different shade of green, how his horns were curled backwards different from others whose horns were pointed upwards.

Vader's back was filled with spikes, they ran down his back to his tail that looked like it own round ball of spikes. Vadar was definitely a war dragon.

Crouching down just low enough so that the boy can climb onto his back and find a comfortable spot between his scales. Zar did it with ease even with his cublings in arms. Vadar turned to look at the other human waiting for him to climb up as well.

He did. After about five wasted minutes of trying.

Vadar stretched out his green leathery wings. His green scales shining beautifully under Daen's rays. Flapping only a couple of times Vadar's body lifted into the air. Soon they were off, carrier dragons just behind them and the wind whipping in Nefèrro's and Zarmeideus's face.