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Chapter Text

4 PRIVET DRIVE

 
Harry was having a good day.
 
Well, if he was being honest, most of his days were bad days but today he was determined to make it a good one.
 
It had started early, too early for a six-year-old, with screams and demands to start preparing breakfast, and it only had gone worse when he accidentally dropped one of the plates when he was carrying it to the table— because his wrist really hurt from when yesterday his cousin Dudley had stepped on it after chasing him with his friends— resulting in a mess on the floor he also had to clean.
 
But that hadn’t made his day bad. No, that just made it normal.
 
After cleaning the mess he made and apologizing repeatedly for ruining their breakfast he debated himself if it was worthy to try to sneak some kind of food for him but one look at the intense gaze of his uncle fixed on him, and he discarded the idea. Today he couldn’t make more mistakes, he was used to reading the mood of his family, and today he really didn’t want to get in more trouble.
 
You see, Harry had a secret. For a couple of weeks, Harry had been watching a dragon.
 
Yes, he knows everyone says dragons aren’t real but, they also said that magic wasn’t real and Harry knows they were wrong about that.
 
If they weren’t how could he unlock his cupboard at night, so he could eat some of the food they threw away, how could his hair grow back overnight when his aunt would shave it while telling him how horrible it was, how could he have escaped from Dudley’s gang after they chased him telling him how they were going to kill him— he had been so scared he had just wanted to go away, he had been so relieved when the wind had caught him and took him away— So yes, he decided that they were very wrong, and his dragon was very real.
 
His dragon. His because it felt right. Because every time he saw it he felt a connection, warmth spread through his body, his injuries didn’t hurt so much, and maybe, just maybe, he wanted to be selfish one time. He wanted something that was his. And his dragon was definitely his. It was, because no one else saw him, just like nobody saw him.
 
So Harry decided to adopt a dragon. Today was going to be the day when he would finally approach him, and not admire him from behind. It was going to be difficult because Harry didn’t know how the dragon would react. He also didn’t know what the dragon could like, but he would manage. For his dragon, Harry would try his best.
 
That’s why today he couldn’t get in trouble, but he was having problems keeping still. He was practically vibrating from excitement after having managed to slip away from his aunt Petunia and Dudley hadn’t bothered him on their trip to school.
 
He didn’t manage to pay attention to what was being explained in class, but that didn’t matter because he was going to see his dragon,— and either way, he wasn’t allowed to do better than his cousin if he didn’t want to wake up with some bruises— when the last bell rang he quickly grabbed his things and ran to the bathroom, dodging bodies and turning sharp corners to lose his cousin. He managed to arrive and didn’t waste a second climbing through the window and dropping on the street just at the opposite way where he would normally exit.
 
For a moment the only sound that he could hear was the blood rushing in his ears. But a beat later a half high on adrenaline smile stretched across his face and he didn’t waste another second making his way to the clearing where the dragon usually was.
 
As he was getting closer to his destination he began to grow anxious, what if the dragon didn’t want to see him? What if he didn’t like his gift? He hadn’t made a gift before and the only ones the Dursleys had ever made him were a tissue and a toothpick, and he somewhat doubted the dragon would appreciate either of those.
 
But Harry wouldn’t be swayed away by nerves. He was going to see his dragon, there was no time to be nervous so with a final breath he began his approach.
 

 
 
Maurice was tired.
 
Ever since Ryker's Bane had lost his members he had been tired. Ever since he’d buried his entire Circle and all the children, since he had to watch as they were killed.
 
He was angry and feral, it took five months to coax him into a Halfling form, and from there, another year and a half before he would even speak. He didn’t have any reason to stay, so he applied for Charum Mortus, a charming death. A well-deserved rest. It was granted as it was his right. He already had everything prepared, nothing tying him to this world.
 
But it all went to hell when it happened. He hadn’t wanted it at first, he wanted to leave to reunite with his family, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t without seeing who he had been assigned to, so he had prepared for inter-realm transportation because, apparently his student wasn’t in Nevarah but on earth.
 
He was going to see them, and then he would reject the assignation. But he hadn’t been able to follow through on his original plan. How could he be capable of that when he had come to find a small child with big green eyes filled with wonder and innocence? How could he possibly refuse it when he had a little shadow spying on him, doing a poor job at it if he must say it, but how could he mind when at times, when he made any kind of movement to parade for him, he was rewarded with a badly concealed squeal that reached his ears and the sight of the little soul trying to muffle the sound with his hands.
 
And so the thing that was supposed to be fast and easy, started to complicated. How had he been summoned to mentor a six-year-old that didn’t have come to inheritance? But more importantly, how come a six-year-old, who looked like he was four at best, had more bruises and scrapes than some of his bonded when they returned from the pits?
 
Something was wrong. He didn’t know what or how, but he had a bad feeling. He was going to have to request assistance from Nevarah because this wasn’t normal and—Oh! His ear twitched when he heard the soft little steps of his student. He waited for them to stop like it had happened every other day, but it seemed he wasn’t going to stop today. White it was a pleasant development, he hadn’t expected it.
 
Maurice was going to make a copy of this memory. There was no way he wouldn’t, he had a six-year-old brunette with gleaming green eyes padding towards him with something clenched in his hand and he couldn’t help the purr that escaped him at the adorable sight. He saw when the child heard the sound because he almost tripped himself and his eyes rounded with a look of wonder. He was getting attached, and he knew it would only get worse when he heard his voice. It was a sweet and soft thing as if he was trying not to scare him. He almost scoffed at the thought of this little child scaring him. But the kid stole his attention again when he came to a stop right in front of him.
 
“Hi Mr. Dragon” He started softly and looking at him without blinking “I am sorry to annoy you, but I have been watching you and I would like to” he couldn’t listen to the next part, a feat in itself considering he had dragon hearing, because he started to mumble “and I know you don’t know me bu-but please let me adopt you”.

Chapter Text

NEAR 4 PRIVET DRIVE

Maurice had experience with torture. He had seen torture, had tortured, and he had been tortured.

Still, not one quite like this.

This was sweeter but, oh so much crueler. 

Who would have guessed that he was allergic to cornflower? Definitely not him, and most definitely not Harry. Because if he had, he wouldn’t be laid on the grass with a pretty flower crown for a pretty dragon that was giving him an allergic reaction. 

Oh, the irony! 

Hadn’t he wanted a sweet death? 

Why was it now that he got it— because nothing could be sweeter than the tiny, and slightly cold, hands that were petting him and scratching between his scales— now that he was so close, he wanted to live. Wanted to continue hearing the ramblings of his little student, because that was what he was no way he was letting anyone else mentor his little light bug, wanted to see him grow and help him achieve anything he wished for.

Now if only said firefly hadn’t insisted on climbing him and was now nested in between his wing rearranging his scales and pressing messy wet kisses all across his head while murmuring how pretty and beautiful he was. 

Really, he must have been called beautiful more times than in the last ten years.

But he couldn’t stop sneezing because of the flowers and every time it happened his student let out a cheer, and he tightened his hold on his neck.

He wasn’t complaining, not really.

 So he decided that he needed reinforcements, Maurice Elswood, heart of the Ryker's Bane had been defeated by a tiny six-year-old who called him pretty. 

 And it was like that with an itch from the flower crown and a six-year-old on top of him that sent a message for the first time since the accident. 

Mariana Cunningham was mourning. 

She had been ever since the disaster on her friend's Circle. 

She had mourned all of them, and she should have started to move on, but she couldn’t.

Maurice wouldn’t let her. 

He was still alive and even though she wished she wasn’t she was already grieving him. Like a loop, she couldn’t escape if he was alive but he wasn’t really alive. 

He was breathing, but Maurice wasn’t living. 

She was aware that he applied for Charum Mortus, and they had granted it— she would have raised hell if they didn’t— but she was still expecting the message.

Mariana knew that one day she would wake up, and they would tell her he was finally gone. 

That’s why she was surprised when a message popped in front of her. She had half a mind to ignore it and open it later, but she ended up listening to it.

"A message for Mariana Cunningham, on behalf of Maurice Elswood, immediate vicinity. I wish to request a favor. I ask that she respond at his earliest convenience."

The voice of his friend filled the room.

“Hello Mariana, I know I have no right to ask you anything given my behavior, but I still ask you for a favor” She didn’t listen to anything else. This was way more than she could have wished, she thought she wouldn’t have the opportunity to say goodbye. 

Mariana wouldn’t waste this chance, so she quickly gathered her shadows and she traveled to the immediate proximity of Maurice.

In hindsight, she should’ve listened to the whole message. If she had, she probably wouldn’t be as shocked as she was.

But she had a reason to be shocked. After all, it is not every day that you see the breathtaking view of Maurice in all his dragon glory. 

The thing is, she hadn’t really expected that his normally imposing image would be so affected by the sloppy blue flower crown resting at the top of his head. 

If she hadn’t been so shocked she would have laughed.

But still, even that wasn’t the most startling thing. 

No, that title belonged to the child attempting to strangle said dragon by squeezing his hands around his neck while whispering to him. 

What the fuck.

What exactly was Maurice doing, on earth of all things? 

Mariana got tired of waiting for both the child and the dragon to notice her, really Maurice should have better space awareness than that. 

Besides, she never said she was a patient person “A little warning might be a little useful next time you sadist” She was instantly pinned by the brightest green eyes she had ever seen and a matching frown.

The child looked at her for a moment, and then he resumed whispering to Maurice.

Huh. 

The little shit had just ignored her. 

Her, Mariana Cunningham. How could she let that go? 

“Oi, Maurice wha—" she was rudely interrupted by a sweet voice

“Could you stop, you’re annoying my dragon” 

For a moment no one said anything. 

She blinked. 

And then, the kid let a tired sigh and proceed to descend the dragon's flank like it was a fucking slide, then he patted the snout, and finally he looked at her.

Mariana was out of sorts. First, she traveled to earth expecting a last goodbye to his friend only to find herself under the glare of a little kid and said friend looking like he was attacked by a child. 

“What do you want?” Demanded the strange mystery that was now a few meters from her.

“What are you even— You know what just— Maurice!” Mariana called glancing at the dragon “My frie—“ She was interrupted again, that was starting to become a pattern

“What do you mean yours” 

 Oh, how interesting that voice had lost all sweetness and had adopted a dangerous edge “He’s mine” He declared possessive eyes glowing a toxic green.

Chapter Text

NEAR 4 PRIVET DRIVE

Maurice decided it was probably time to intervene.

He didn’t mean for it to get at this— whatever it was that was going on. 

He had just sent a message to Mariana asking if they could meet and had only wanted to see his student. Not this weird stare-down between one of the most lethal Dragels and his feral firefly. 

Huh.

Maybe he would wait and see what happens. 

He knows Mariana wouldn’t harm a child and, now that he is actually looking at the scene, it is quite funny. 

Harry, because that's his name— he kindly introduced himself in one of his ramblings— is glaring at his friend and declaring him as his. 

Maurice doesn’t have any complaint, he will gladly accept his position as a life-size squishy toy. 

That's why when Harry interrupted again he couldn’t help but scoff. 

At the sound, Mariana focused her sight on him, and it gained him Harry’s attention. Maurice just turned his head refusing to meet either of their glances.

“Maurice” Ah, he should probably listen to her. He sighed, the gesture caused movement on the grass in front of him. 

He stretched his neck and folded his wings preparing himself for the transformation, he closed his eyes and when he opened again he was standing.

“Mariana” He returned. But he was quickly distracted by the gasp his firefly made. Both he and Mariana were waiting for any kind of reaction, but he seemed to be frozen.

Well, that’s what he thought until a blur was heading towards him, and the next thing he knew he had a little Harry hugging his left leg like he was a koala. 

Damn, Harry had a tight hold.

Still, he hadn’t expected the kid to start climbing him. What the hell? How did he only manage to dig his feet where it hurt, he scrambled to hold him and Maurice found himself eye-to-eye with him. He held his breath waiting to see what Harry would do next.

After what felt like an eternity his little bug found whatever he was looking for.

“Still pretty,” He said softly, and then he turned to where Mariana was watching and declared “Still mine” 

Maurice choked. 

He felt his cheeks grow hot and avoided the teasing smirk he just knew he would find if he looked at her, opting for looking at the person he was holding in his arms. 

He cleared his throat “You are also pretty” Harry’s eyes lighted up, and his heart melted, he didn’t resist the impulse and nuzzled Harry’s cheek. 

Harry’s small giggle reached his ears and suddenly he felt a nose nuzzling his. He felt a little smile take over his face and he kissed his firefly’s forehead. 

“Harry this is Mariana,” He said “She’s a friend” 

“Oh really? Am I now” the sarcasm was obvious in her tone.

“B-But she said you were from her” Harry was frowning hard, but there wasn’t any wrinkle in his forehead which just made him look grumpy and cute. He tried to turn around, but he was trapped in Maurice's arms who just ended up holding him under the armpits towards Mariana with his feet hanging.

“You can’t take him” Maurice smiled at Mariana over Harry’s head and that smile only got bigger when he saw the little tug on the corners of her lips and the indulgent tone in which she answered.

“I am not going to take him. There, satisfied?” 

Harry stared at her for a heartbeat and then nodded slowly. He felt his light bug patting his arm in a sign to lower him which he immediately obeyed. Once his feet touched the ground he spun and looked at him “I need to go, please be here tomorrow” After that he started running around and disappeared behind some bushes. And just like that he was alone with Mariana.

“So…” 

He groaned, there was no way he was going to be able to get away from that conversation.

“So, that was Harry,” He said

“Oh really? With that possessiveness, I would have sworn that was Ryuusen” 

He chuckled at that “He really is a little bit like him, now he doesn’t have one ounce of his subtlety” Mariana made an inquisitive sound, so he continued “He was shadowing me for the first week” he made a dramatic pause that had Mariana rolling his eyes “at first I thought that I had an elephant following me. No sense of discretion whatsoever and don’t get me started on his hiding places I could see those green eyes from the other side of the park”

Mariana hummed “And Harry is…” She looked at him expectantly and he appeased her “Apparently my mentored student” 

“Huh, what again” This time it was his turn to roll his eyes.

“You heard me. I was there minding my business when all of a sudden I had this mentored bond demanding my attention. I went to check it out and next thing I know I had a little shadow following me”.

“Okay. Okay, you are saying you have a four-year—”

“Six-year-old” He corrected her.

Her face scrunched in disbelief when she heard that “What? Are you serious? How?”

“I don’t know, that’s what he said.  I also thought he was younger at first”

“Yes, yes. Which brings me back, how exactly can a six-year-old have a mentor?” One perfect eyebrow raised demanding answers.

“That is the thing Ana. I don’t know, I just know that I am at the right place he is the one my bond recognizes, he is far too small for his age, and he has too many wounds to just be clumsy”

“You don’t think he…” She didn’t finish the sentence not wanting to even consider the option.

Maurice averted his eyes not wanting her to see the pain in them “I do not want to but, it fits”

Her next words came softer and loaded with feeling “Fuck Ri” 

“Yes, fuck exactly. What am I going to do?” Maurice wondered, he knew what he wanted to do. Take Harry away and protect him from the world but, could he do it? His ramblings were cut with Mariana’s voice. 

“What do you mean, what are you going to do? From what I heard you are his, that means he is yours as well” She said teasing “Just take him with you, I doubt that if what you said is true he has something tying him here. Besides, it is time that Nevarah remembers the shadow element. We have been accommodating lately. I think it is time to remember the royals that if they continue to deny us a crown they will have to be the ones to solve our things” The smile she gave him was nothing short of blood-curdling.

Chapter Text

4 PRIVET DRIVE

Harry was late. 

He was late for a lot of things. But for the moment he needed to arrive at the house. He just knows that they are going to be mad. 

He really didn’t mean to stay that much, Harry just wanted to spend some time with his dragon when the beautiful lady (not as beautiful as his pretty dragon thought) appeared and everything went weird. 

First, she tried to take his dragon but, Harry had defended him. Yes, he did, he would never let her take him. But what happened next left him a little shocked. Turns out his pretty dragon was also a pretty person. 

Pretty, pretty pretty. 

So pretty.

He has sharp, dark eyes that seem to contain the experience of a thousand lifetimes, and short jet-black hair but when the light hit it right you could see some deep-blue reflections and prominent cheekbones. He seemed like one of the statues of old gods that Harry knows are in museums. But all that aristocratic image was broken by his nose. Nose that once had been straight and slightly pointy but now had a light bump like it had been broken. 

He also had a lightly muscled chest that he had been able to lean on when Maurice had gently held him and Harry would admit to himself that he thought it would be a good pillow, definitely better than the one he had now. 

His dragon was perfect.

He also noticed his shoulders were scarred, just like when he was a dragon. 

In his other form, he was just as breathtaking with deep black wings that held scars so old that they were nearly as dark as the wings themselves. But he had spent quite some time looking at his dragon. And so, he knew they weren’t normal black wings. 

No, while they were black wings if you took the time to look at them, you would discover that the scales on the inside of his wings held a soft pink tone. 

So, so pretty.

And now Harry had to run. The air seemed to caress his hair and pushed him gently to his destination while he hurried to make his way to 4 Privet Drive. He knew if they saw him it would mean trouble, and Harry didn’t want his good day to be ruined, so he was super careful to sneak into his cupboard so that the Dursleys wouldn’t catch him.

He avoided every board that was loose and squeaked if he so much but went near, the door of the cupboard also made noise, so he made sure to open and close it slowly, and it was only when he was finally surrounded by those familiar walls that he was finally able to relax.

Harry tried to sleep, but he just had so many thoughts that he just wasn’t able. 

He had just discovered his dragon was also a person! 

Besides before, even if he didn’t want to, he wasn’t sure if it was real. He knows it was, but sometimes even though he knows something if everyone tells him it's wrong he just ends up feeling unsure.

But now he knows it wasn’t his imagination because the other lady also saw his dragon. 

What did she call him?

Ah, that’s it! Maurice. 

His Maurice. Who had promised with eyes full of something that only now Harry realized was warmth and a little smile that he would be back tomorrow.

Harry had never been happier, someone wanted to see him again. And that it was the super pretty dragon he had wished was his, just made it a million times better. 

Great, now he couldn’t sleep from excitement. 

In the cupboard, there was only a small pillow and a ratty blanket. The floor was hard, and it stuck in his ribs, it was too cold, but there hugging his pillow close and burying his face in it while daydreaming it was Maurice who hugged him back he managed to doze off. 

Chapter Text

EARTH ROYAL QUARTERS

Time has always been a curious thing. It’s happening every moment and it never stops. But what is time does it really move forward or is it just there? There’s never more or less time simply time. 

It’s the mind of living things that makes the construction of what happens with time because it is incapable of just accepting that there is nothing that happens. 

The future does not exist, there is never something that’s going to happen. No, it just happens, it is not possible to live in something that has not happened. It has to happen, so you can live it, just a second, and you are back again at the new present. 

So time exists, but it is always the same there is no past because time can never be something that has already happened, those are just past events, but not past time. Time is always in the present.

Another curious thing about time is that even though it always remains the same, unperturbed, not everything experiences it the same way. 

Some forms of life have his entire life compressed in less than a week, others instead have centuries before they even began to feel the effect of time. 

Dragels in particular are one of the lucky ones— or unlucky depending on whom you ask— that have entire centuries.

Well, that is the theory but not every Dragel gets to live that much. 

Maurice knows this well. 

He could never forget it, every time he breathes he is reminded of the centuries they didn’t get to live. The centuries that he almost didn’t live. 

But see, just like everything, that’s in the past now. His present is currently lighted by a small firefly that shines brighter than anything he has ever seen before, and he’ll be dammed if he lets anyone dim it.

That’s why he is currently asking for an audition with the (as Mariana calls them) Babyproof Royals. 

Basically, the ones that restrain the true power of the other elements because, apparently a person who does not even share the same element (thank you social pressure for forcing to make royal single elemental Circles) is more qualified to decide than the people from the element itself.

But as Ryu used to say, we don't start fights— we finish them. 

And by the happy aura that Mariana was releasing at the moment, this long-due battle is finally approaching its long-awaited resolution. 

This time he’ll make sure their elements are treated fair and accordingly.

King Edgar had a bad feeling. 

See today he had woken up and Nevarah hadn’t felt right. 

His element was unbalanced. There had been a shift in the order of things, and he couldn’t pinpoint which had left him in a constant state of guard. 

But still, Edgar was a King and as such he had to keep pretending that there wasn’t anything unusual. 

All of that broke down when one of the Gheyos who was appointed on royal guard duty walked in.

“Sir, you have a visi—” He didn’t let him finish, he was stressed and didn’t have the patience to deal with the whining of some of the Nobles of his court today. He just wanted to go home and cuddle with some of his Bonded and his children, was it too much to ask?

“I’m not open to audiences today, can you please tell them to come back at another time” Edgar returned to the paperwork in front of him expecting to be the end of the conversation but apparently nothing was going his way today because the Gheyo just stood there shifting his balance lightly. 

Weird. Since when did Gheyos get nervous in front of him?

Edgar looked at him this time, it was Alle— No, no. Alla something, hmm… Ah! Allanon. 

Even weirder Allanon had been in the royal guard for a few years now, and he had never tiptoed in front of him like this before. An exasperated sigh escaped from his lips. He was debating with himself if it was worth asking about, maybe it could be the distraction that he needed when Allanon spoke again “Sir, Maurice Elswood is the one requesting”.

Edgar was embarrassed that it took him a second to identify the person. 

Maurice Elswood, Mad Maury, the sole survivor of a Class 12 Disaster-Clause. 

He was ashamed that he hadn’t remembered because that had been a nightmare to deal with. The situation itself had been a mess. 

The Elswood were a Military Circle. An elite Military Circle. 

They were all Gheyos with the exception of the Submissive, a pair of Pareya twins with Gheyic leanings a Medic, and two Mages. 

Elswood wasn't the name they used though, they were known as the self-titled team, Ryker's Bane. They had been a stellar example of cool, precise logic and ruthless efficiency. They weren’t minor Hunters, Ryker's Bane was a very distinctive band of fighters, all of them powerful, seasoned veterans in their own right. 

The quintessential embodiment of the Shadow element. 

A fearsome and handsome Circle. 

No one really liked them, but no one wanted to do what they did either.

They were responsible for a lot of work that wasn't necessarily good or bad, just questionable. They never failed an assignment, except for that occasion. 

As part of their assigned duties, they hazed new recruits— young Gheyos who had just inherited— they knocked the stubbornness out of them, and then they would break them and put them back together. 

They molded some of the most fearsome Gheyos standing in Nevarah right now.

And then, about a year and a half ago, an isolated incident involving some very angry Torvaks. An ambush during one of their training camps, some traitors involved, and a lot of deaths. 

They used runes to hide them and the children to force them into compliance. They said they would spare the children if the Circle was subdued. If Maurice and his Circle didn’t fight the children would be allowed to leave, unharmed. They agreed, but it was a promise the Torvaks didn’t keep. When the Circle found out, they tried to fight back. It was too late by then, and they caught the Submissive. 

They caught Maurice when he broke free of his restraints. 

They made him watch. Edgar remembered that detail quite clearly from when the report had first come in. And he went mad. In the aftermath, he killed them all and ate half of their corpses. 

He'd buried his entire Circle and all the children, went feral, and applied for Charum Mortus. 

It was granted it, Edgar had also been there for that particular decision. 

And now, he was requesting an audience with him. He  really  didn’t want to deal with that particular conundrum but alas, it was part of his royal duties.

He sighed again “Send them in”

Edgar resigned himself to a lost evening, because there was no way in hell he would finish this before lunch and started to prepare tea. The familiar routine relaxed him slightly as he waited for his visitor. Or better said visitors, Allanon had kindly forgotten to mention Maurice wasn’t alone. When he caught sight of Mariana Cunningham he disposed of the tea and went with liquor instead. He was not going to deal with this sober, or alone for the matter. 

He sighed once again and requested one of the other Gheyos standing on guard.

“Please fetch me the Fire Royal on duty” 

“There is no need for that” Edgar took one look at the shadow submissive that had spoken and turned to the Gheyo again “Told them it's urgent and hurry up please” The feminine laughter that reached his ears did not calm him at all.

Chapter Text

EARTH ROYAL QUARTERS

Edgar had been fooled. He had watched Maurice and Mariana and thought. 

Ugh, more shadow trouble.

But no. Like an unfaithful backstab, completely unexpected and lethal, Maurice had been the one giving trouble. 

Which was worse, way worse. 

You see Maurice had just sat there and went “I am bringing my six-year-old not inherited mentored student to Nevarah” And then proceeded to calmly sip at the tea.

There were a lot of things to make out of that, but Edgar didn’t possess the mental capacity to do so.

No.

His only thought was  why, oh why couldn’t he have waited until the Fire representative was there?

The only thing he managed, besides not spitting his drink— which he was very proud of— was saying “What”

“He said he is bringing his six-year-old not inherited student to Nevarah” Replied an amused voice.

He hummed, but it came out slightly too high and with a historical undertone.

“I see” He did not in fact, see it.

“Great, I’m glad you see it. Now if this is all—” Maurice said with a this-is-the-end-of-the-conversation tone, and they started to stand, intending to leave. 

“Wait, what do you mean six-year-old not inherited student”

“I thought you said you understood it, but whatever, he means a six-year-old child” Lady Mariana thankfully— because, what would have Edgar done without that— clarified.

“Okay, yes. But, how can a no-inherited child be their student?” Edgar was lost at this point and was starting to wish he had not been that lazy and had grabbed stronger alcohol.

“By being it” Was the helpful answer of Maurice. 

And really, Edgar swore that he could feel the cells in his brain suiciding. 

Oh but look, he wasn’t finished “If you want you can test it when I bring him” And wasn’t just that wonderful, Maurice didn’t give a flying fuck what he thought or decided. He was bringing this, apparently human, child to Nevarah and that was final.

“You can’t” Three heads snapped at the new voice and Edgar almost kissed him for their perfect timing. “Nevarah may be a sanctuary, but it can’t and will not be exposed to those without magic” Edgar was going to buy a whole town of sweets for the Fire Royal. 

“I don’t care”

Huh. 

Five more brain cells left Edgar’s brain, and he wished he could also leave this conversation as easily. 

“What” Marvelous, now their dark-red-almost-black hair had deathly red— almost the same color as his face at the moment— flames dancing on it. Hopefully, it was the only thing that would end up burning. Just in case he finished his glass of flammable drink and silently and unnoticeably started to retire the rest of the bottle out of danger’s reach. 

But if the entertained smile that adorned Lady Mariana’s face was any indication he was unsuccessful.

“I said I do not care” At this point Edgar had already started to fill a check to replace the furniture in his office and had half a mind to update his will. 

Maybe he should say something. 

Hmm, but Raspen’s birthday was soon, and he really wanted to be there for him, lately he had been a little absent with all the work from preparing the hunt, and if this wonderful conversation— More like an ultimatum— was any indication he was going to be busier.

Maybe he would watch this, just like Lady Mariana. Yes, copying Lady Mariana seemed like a good, smart choice.

“You can not decid—” He was interrupted again.

“Actually I can. See, from what I know there are seven elements” The redhead opened their mouth and was going to speak again “Let me finish” Their mouth snapped under the commanding voice “Of those seven elements only four have crowns. Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. You rule those under the seven elements yet not all of them are represented. What’s better though is that you claim Shadow as an element between Fire and Earth and Storm between Air and Water. Both of those are wrong and should have their own elemental representation but still, that’s not my point. Where are the Nameless, if your so-called system works so well, who represents those who don’t belong to an element” Those words held a hint of anger and bitterness. 

“The Namless belong to their Circle element” 

Shit. He should have intervened, his fellow Royal had absolutely no idea who they were talking to. 

He dared to look at the unofficial ruler of the Shadows and knew they had played right to their trap. 

And what a trap it was. Only possible because it was Maurice. Maurice who didn’t have a Circle anymore to claim an element for, and who even if he had would have been a crownless element and who didn't have anything to lose.

Damn, they couldn’t do anything against that. Maurice was technically and legally allowed to do whatever the hell he wanted—He knew it—and they couldn’t do anything about it.

A little whimper escaped from him. 

“What Circle” Maurice deadpanned and Edgar whimpered again.

This time Edgar did say something “Of course your student is welcome to Nevarah, I would also like to offer the Earth Crown help with the necessary medical check-ups and tests. Feel free to come any time you want” 

“Edgar, what are yo—” He didn’t let him finish, this was bad enough already they couldn’t afford to make it worse.

“Would tomorrow evening be agreeable to you” Maurice stared at him for what felt like an eternity until he finally nodded once.

“Well didn’t this go perfectly” Yes, it had been a miracle Lady Mariana had stayed quiet that long. “We will see each other again then” Edgar really wished they wouldn’t.

“Indeed it did, I’ll see you tomorrow” He hastily dismissed them, but it wasn’t until both of their backs had disappeared that Edgar threw himself at the couch— not before grabbing the bottle filled with what would manage to make him survive the day— and closed his eyes.

“Edgar what the hell was that” Ah, seems he had forgotten he wasn’t alone again.

Ugh. He decided that for the sake of his mental sanity and his remaining brain cells he would ignore him.

He scanned the room for Allanon “Please summon the missing Royals and tell them their presence is required urgently” 

There was no answer except a portal and, suddenly, Allanon was gone. Edgar envied him, he could only daydream about leaving like that.

“Edgar I swear to Arielle if you ignore me one more time” 

“I promise I will explain when the others arrive, just please let me process what just happened”

Chapter Text

KADEL ESTATE

Being Maia Kadel wasn’t easy, it wasn’t difficult either. It just was. 

She lifted the slender pipe dripped with shimmering gold to her lips and she took another puff, a few beats later she released it. At this point the smoke filled the whole room, dancing around her and giving it a slightly lavender-hued tinge. 

A few blood tears trailed down her face. It took a few moments to get her sight back. Lately, she couldn’t stop seeing things, her future sight had been acting non-stop. 

She wasn’t omniscient, but she did know a lot of things even when most of the half of those she would never tell or wouldn’t happen, at least not here. 

The point was that there were many branches of the same moment. Every choice opened an alternate reality, a different development. And she saw a lot of them, a lot of possibilities. That was her life. Seeing, learning, and trying to make her reality the one with the best outcome, often meant she couldn’t correct every decision and certain events did not change in any timeline. Some occurrences could not be changed.

She had experienced some of them, the most recent being the loss of Ryker's Bane. It didn’t matter any other circumstances, no matter the reality that the ambush still happened and there was always the same survivor. 

Now what happened after that? That changed every time. Maurice was unpredictable, in some timelines he chose and actually went with the  Charum Mortus . In others, he died trying to save his already condemned student and in others— Well, it didn’t matter anymore because in this reality he had already made his choice. And what a rare choice had that been, arising from other multiple choices, this time by an individual that should not, in normal circumstances, be influential on a grand scale, but he was because of the effects he had in another. 

A little too much power in his punches, not enough time to breathe, and a broken and silent plea for help. Oh, she had seen that particular night. She had been witness to an inheritance that had been but at the same time wasn’t. And she had been grateful for Maurice's choice, for the other possibilities that wouldn’t take place because of that choice. But she had also seen the possible outcomes and knew that, no matter what, things were going to change. 

Now she could only try and keep things from ending in chaos, and with a little luck her preferred results would come true.

That’s why she had been following the events from afar, having glimpses in between streams of smoke. She had seen Maurice grieve she had seen Lady Mariana worry, she had been most defensive watching Harry being hurt. 

Still, when she blew smoke one more time, and it began to show her the incoming conversation between the four Royals she opted for waving his hand across the smoke and made the image fade.

Some things, some things were better not being witnessed. 

Edgar didn’t have to wait much, in a few minutes he had become the host of a Royal emergency meeting. It hadn’t even started and he was already regretting it.

To top it off their delightful Merrow Queen seemed to be in a mood. Not that he blamed her everyone knew she hated surfacing, especially if she had to do it without prior notice.

Really what had he done to deserve this, at this rate he wouldn’t make it home.

“Are you explaining now Edgar” The Fire King had thankfully extinguished the fire of his hair, avoiding any confrontation with the present Merrow. Well, he supposed he owed them an explanation.

“Explaining what exactly?” Arista’s silver eyes were narrowed as if she were trying to get the answers out of his head. This was going to be a long evening.

“Well, toda—" Edgar couldn’t even begin to explain. He wasn’t really surprised fire elementals weren’t exactly known for his patience.

“Edgar summoned me urgently, about twenty minutes ago, and I came to find this Dragel proclaiming, to a Royal, that he was bringing a not inherited supposed student to Nevarah”

“What?” Great, now the Air Queen was also outraged. Luckily for him, Esperanza wasn’t so easily convinced. It surely wasn’t because the one who had explained was the fire hot-headed. Not at all.

The thing was that now he found himself under the deciphering gaze of the Merrow Queen. Unfortunately for Edgar, she became impatient while he was trying to find a way to deliver the news delicately.

“Well?” Her tone was demanding answers.

Edgar finally spoke “That Dragel might have been Maurice Elswood” There, nice and clarifying.

“Who?” “Why does it matter? He can’t decide for the crown” Came the simultaneous replies.

Esperanza hadn’t said anything, but she didn’t need to. Edgar saw her contemplative face and knew she had already reached the same conclusion. What surprised him was her frantic question “What did you say to him” 

“I told him he was welcome to do so and that the Earth crown would take care of the medical expenses of his student” 

She nodded her head in acknowledgment. “Nicely covered” Edgar couldn’t help but relax slightly after the Merrow's approval.

“Wait, what am I missing?” Asked Arista.

Esperanza leveled her with a look “Really, you do not know who he is?” She didn’t let her reply. “Well I guess it didn’t directly involve your court” She mused. “In any case, Maurice Elswood was the sole survivor of a Torvak ambush. You might recognize him as Mad Maury.”

This time it was the Fire King who was exalted “Wait, that was Mad Maury? I thought he applied for Charmus Mortem.” 

“He did.” He clarified “Apparently he was also assigned a mentored student and ended up deciding against following with it.” 

“So that not inherited he is bringing is his student?” 

Edgar hummed affirmatively. “Wait for it, it gets better.” 

“What do you mean by that?” Ups, seems he was making the Air Queen anxious. He shared a look with Esperanza, Merrows weren’t the only ones with a sadistic side.

Edgar smile wickedly, he thought  fuck it if it’s already a headache I might as well get some entertainment from it.

He stood up from his couch and made his way to the previously hidden bottle. He started pouring himself a shot, but he could feel the other royal's stares digging into his back, so he started talking again.

“We can’t do anything about it.” After that, he drowned the drink relinquishing in the slight burn.

“How can we not do something about it? We are the rulers of Nevarah.” 

Esperanza’s laugh filled the air, a beautiful and melodic sound but Edgar knew better than to think it was a sweet thing. “He is a Namless without a Circle. What do you expect us to do Arista? Actually, I’m surprised it took this long for someone to do something about it.”

The Air Queen sighed softly and pursed his lips. “Okay. I am officially lost, can you recap please?” She asked, at last. 

“There are seven elements,” The Merrow Queen said, irritated. “We rule four of them, Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. We have a certain power over Shadow and Storm due to declaring them share elements between Fire and Earth and Air and Water respectively. Now, that gives us control over six elements. The seven, the Namless, we do not have any power over them but due to being fewer of them, we ended up making them their Circle element. We forgot that Namless was an element in their own right. It seems to me that they got tired of waiting for us to recognize them, so they are nominating themselves. And since we ignored them for so long, now we do not have any power over them. So no, we can not do anything against them least of all a Namless without Circle.”

“Lady Mariana was with him, so I doubt the Namless are the only ones who will be pushing for a crown.” He said firmly.

Arista straightened up. “So what do we do?” 

Esperanza sighed “There is nothing for us to do,” she said, exasperated. “We can only try and make it seem as if it was a mutual decision to not lose the little control we have left.”

Edgar nodded “We have to nominate Shadow, Storm, and Nameless crowns before they do it themselves.”

Chapter Text

NEAR 4 PRIVET DRIVE

Harry had woken up anxious, he had barely slept worrying if his pretty dragon would be back today. See, Harry knew that he had promised but still, why would his pretty dragon want to see him again? Harry had already been the luckiest to talk to him once. He should have stuck to him and never let go. What if now, because he wasted his chance he didn’t see him again? What if the Lady thief took him away from him? 

Oh, no!

Harry had made a mistake letting him leave, so now he was, obviously, worried, and that made him anxious. His pretty dragon had said he would be back today but not when. What if he missed the time, what if he was late and he didn’t come back? 

No, Harry wouldn’t let it happen. 

That’s why he was currently at the park. He had decided— it wasn’t really a decision, his pretty dragon was absolutely the most important thing in the entire world— he wouldn’t chance it by missing the time, and instead of going to school he was now in the park. 

Harry had a plan, if his pretty dragon came back— please, please, please come back— he wouldn’t let him leave. 

Well, he wouldn’t let him leave without him. 

He didn’t think he could, not after having been in his arms and in between his wings sharing his warmth, not when he had looked at him like he was something worthy of looking at. No, he would definitely not let his pretty dragon fly away.

But he was starting to worry. 

He had been sitting on the same rock for a while. When he first sat it was cold from the chilly night, but Harry had been sitting on it so long that now it was warm. He had watched as the plants around him lost the dew that had accumulated overnight, and the sun had slowly made its way to the sky dyeing his little world with a soft orange light. A few stray cats had passed by not paying him any kind of attention, even when he had tried to pet them with his trembling hand reaching for them, they had scrambled faster than lightning, and he was left alone again.

The light breeze hadn't failed to make his hair ruffle under its touch and slip through his, far too big for him, clothes. Harry hugged himself trying to keep a little of his body heat from disappearing with the wind when he felt a pair of arms wrapping around him and lifting him. He twisted in the embrace until he found himself lost in the darkest eyes.

Harry didn’t hesitate to surround Maurice’s neck with his arms and rest his head on his chest. The constant heartbeat was grounding. It reminded him that it was really happening, his pretty dragon had come back. 

After a few minutes basking in each other’s presence, he gathered the courage to speak “You came back.”

He felt how the chest he was leaning on rumbled “I promised, didn’t I.” 

Harry looked up and this time his hands found their way to Maurice’s checks. He held them there and puckered his lips leaving a small kiss on his chin. “Thank you” he whispered.

Their little bubble didn’t last long as it was interrupted by a voice he recognized “Oi, brat I’m here too.”

There she was again not letting him be with his dragon, Harry glared at her and after a few seconds he grumbled “Thank you for not taking him.”

Mariana’s lips twitched upward. “You’re welcome, kid.”

He would probably have said something back to her, but his pretty dragon started talking again, and he forgot anything that wasn’t listening to him. “Harry, would you…” Maurice cut himself off and shook his head before he started talking again “There is this place called Nevarah, that’s where I live and, you know how you said I was yours” At this Harry nodded, he was happy to hear his dragon calling himself his, it gained him a pretty smile “Well, the thing is you are also mine Harry and I would like you to take you with me.”

Harry’s mouth opened, but he wasn’t capable of saying any word, instead a small whine fell from his lips and was answered by two rumbles that made his eyes widen.

He could feel the tears tracking down his cheeks. He paid them no mind. It was after sobbing for a while that he managed to stutter. “Y— You want me?” 

Harry felt himself being squished between strong arms “Harry, Harry— my Harry.” The man whispered, “I’ll always want you.” He couldn’t take it anymore he buried his face in Maurice’s neck and he cried. 

Hands were running comfortingly across his back “Shhh. It's alright. Everything’s alright firefly. I’m here now.”

After that Harry didn’t really process what was happening, he knew Maurice and Mariana talked about something but he couldn’t do anything more than keeping his fist in a tight grip on Maurice’s shirt. At some point he felt a few kisses spread across his face, some whispered words, and he was lowered to the ground and standing on his own two feet. 

After that, he felt himself vanish. 

It was like he was being spread in a lot of smaller parts and then they regrouped again. One moment he was surrounded by green the next he found himself staring at brown, orange, yellow, and gold. He only had time to see a fireplace before everything went black.

EARTH ROYAL QUARTERS

Raspen was having a weird week. 

Well, more than a weird week he had a weird dad. His family thought he wouldn’t notice but, he did. He knew his dad was stressed so, when he told him that he wouldn’t be able to attend his eighth birthday he wasn’t surprised. Instead, he hugged him and wished him a good day. But Raspen wouldn’t be defeated, so easily that is why he decided that if his dad couldn’t come to him, he would be the one to go. 

That had somehow ended with him in his dad’s private quarters being lectured on his birthday.

“But I just wanted to see you, Dad”

His dad’s face grimaced “I know Ras, but you can not just present yourself here without warning” He sighed “Please, tell me your Mother knows about this” Raspen pouted and his adverted eyes told him the answer.

“Arielle save me from naive children, my Queen is going to kill me” His dad muttered. 

Raspen tilted his head “Why are you afraid of Mother, is she that powerful?”

Edgar chuckled “She is plenty powerful. But no, that is not the reason I am afraid” A playful smile overtook his lips “One day you will have a Queen and you will understand then. I can only wish you find a Queen half as good as mine.”

“I will have a Queen?”

“You will, sooner than you can imagine too, you won’t even have time to blink, and they will be by your side” Not a second after Edgar finished three figures materialized in the room.

A gasp escaped from Raspen. 

Two of the figures were Dragels, but the third appeared to be a child. He was small, smaller than Raspen, and had a mop of tangled raven hair, he also had the most beautiful eyes that he had ever seen, they were puffy and red like he had been crying but that only highlighted the green in them. 

He knew then what his father had meant— not really— and without a stumble in his step he approached them.

Once he was close enough he took their free hand, the one that wasn’t holding to one of the Dragels, with both of his and he said with awe “My Queen.”

Edgar groaned as he held his head in his hands. After he recovered— he didn’t. What the hell Raspen?!— he searched for Allanon once again, at this point they both deserve a raise.

“Please can you bring me the Kalziks”

Chapter Text

KALIZK ESTATE

Having patience and being polite were practically in the description of her job, she knew that when she decided to be a healer. She had been warned about the amount of dedication and time she would need to dedicate.

Now, nobody warned her about being a mother. Everybody said it was the most beautiful experience— Which, fair. It really was— and a hundredth of other good things, but she was starting to suspect they just talked about the nice moments. 

She loved all her children— no matter how much they drove her crazy— and seeing them grow and explore the world was, indeed, lovely. But nobody told her she would have to put up with childish fights and posturing. She was getting tired of all the pettiness and the countless times squeaky voices complained to her about their siblings—  No Quinn, your sire isn’t coming back any sooner no matter how much you complain. Yes Alejandro, tomorrow we will go visit Arturo’s grave. And Karnati, for Arielle’s sake, please return the hairpin to your sister — and normally Surajini wouldn’t mind that much, but she had a tough week with her patients and Patrick’s son wasn’t helping. 

Well, Quinn was also her son, but when he glared and pouted with those full lips, that was all Patrick and whatever Merrow heritage he had managed to inherit. Honestly, she should have known better than to court one— or half one in this case— but he was just so breathtaking and kind she hadn’t been able to resist.

And now she had to face the consequences, which came with blonde curls and mesmerizing teal eyes that lately seemed to be permanently glaring. 

She groaned as she watched his little feisty blonde snap, once again, at Dyshoka. It was proving to be a difficult week for all of them especially with Patrick being Arielle-knows-where regrowing some new shiny scales— she wasn’t complaining, she was the first one to appreciate their beauty after all— Quinn was always peachy when it happened, so he tended to be a little more grumpy. That didn’t mean it was nice bearing with it, least of all with Alejandro’s teenage drama added to it.

That’s why when a Royal guard arrived asking for a healer she didn’t hesitate in offering herself and she even sent a cheeky smile at her remaining Bonded, wishing them luck with their youngest grumpy son.

But somehow, seeing Lady Cunningham and Mad Maury with a child practically melted on his leg and said child having Prince Raspen attached to his hand made her have second thoughts and question if it wouldn’t have been better to stay at home. 

And for the look on his face, King Edgar would have preferred it too.

EARTH ROYAL QUARTERS

Maurice had honestly forgotten about the healers.

He was expecting a brief, and purely for the sake of courtesy, visit to the Earth King and then he would show Harry Emerald Hollow where they would be staying. 

He hadn’t been at the estate since then, he hadn’t thought it could ever feel the same, feel like home, again. But maybe it didn’t need to feel the same, he would make a home for Harry. One that belonged to the two of them.

However, at the moment he found himself in a weird kind of contest with a pair of golden eyes that refused to look away. 

Maurice huffed, who did this kid think he was grabbing his little Harry and declaring him as his while glaring at him? 

The audacity, the disrespect. 

Nevertheless, as much as he pretended to be annoyed a bittersweet feeling washed over him. This reminded him of another certain brat that was always antagonizing him and willing to start a fight. Ryu used to be the same.

Fuck, he missed him so much. Ryuusen and all the others in his Circle would have loved Harry to bits. Maurice would have to love him for all of them, his fireworm deserved all the love in the world and he would make sure he got it. Maybe that was why he hadn't pushed the touchy little prince away— yet.

It wasn’t until King Edgar spook again that the brat finally let go of his student and Maurice had a chance to look at the newcomer while avoiding Mariana’s annoying smirk. 

Why was he friends with her again? 

The new addition had vivid green eyes— his firefly’s were way prettier though— and he felt oddly analyzed under their gaze. Maybe he shouldn’t have skipped that many medical appointments, he felt like the woman somehow knew about them. 

“Lady Kalzik” King Edgar’s voice was deceptively mild, but Maurice could see a little twitch in his left eye.

Black hair gleamed brown under the light of the fireplace when she bowed at the Royal “My King, I was notified you required a healer”

Pink lips curled with discomfort “Indeed, we have a— sort of situation”

Dark eyebrows rose at that, and green eyes hardened “What sort of situation are we dealing with?” She questioned slowly and carefully.

King Edgar hummed and then waved his hand in their direction “Lady Kalzik meet my son Prince Raspen, Mariana Cunningham, Maurice Elswood, and his mentored student—”

Maurice didn’t hear the following explanation that was being given— with some snarky remarks courtesy of Mariana— to Lady Kalzik because at that moment he crouched at his light bug’s height “Harry, the new dragel that has arrived is a healer. Would it be alright if she examined you? I promise that if, at any moment, you are uncomfortable I will make it stop” Hazy emerald eyes blinked slowly a few times, confusion written in their lovely depths, while his little firefly processed the question “Kay” Harry finally managed.

He gave him a little reassuring smile to calm him but before he could say anything else someone beat him to it “Hello little one, I’m Surajini. What is your name?” It seemed that they— He might have forgotten they weren’t alone— have been waiting for their conversation to end because as soon as it did Lady Kalzik was introducing herself to Harry.

“Hi, I’m Harry” Maurice felt how little fingers dug in his arm and he nuzzled along Harry’s cheek trying to comfort his little student.

“Is it okay if I cast a few spells, Harry? Oh! You can call me Jini by the way” Her voice now held a soft undertone and Maurice appreciated that she was giving Harry choices.

A few hairs tickled his face as the small brunet nodded shyly and suddenly a glittery trail of pale golden magic began to surround Harry making him gasp and open his eyes comically, mesmerized by the sight. Harry reached for the few sparkles left behind and Maurice felt how he shivered when he managed to touch them.

"What are you doing now?" He asked, so his light bug understood what was happening.  

"Diagnostics" Surajini answered focused solely on Harry. "Please do not stand so close to him, the readings won’t be accurate if you do. Breathe in love— and hold it." 

Harry had both cheeks puffed with air trying to hold his breath. And it seemed Maurice wasn't the only one who wanted to bite them as he had needed to cover the Earth prince's little fangs to avoid him doing it.

The healer sent both of them a disapproving look but it was soon replaced by amusement as she looked at Harry again "You can breathe again now love" Harry's sharp intake of breath prompted a small smile from Surajini.

Harry was now gaping at the display of spells and if Maurice hadn’t been so close he would not have heard the softly whispered “Magic” he said.

Surajini frowned when she started to receive the results “Sorry love, seems you are magic-sensitive. I’ll adjust the spells, I apologize for the discomfort I caused” 

Now it was Harry the one frowning “What is magic ses— Sesnitivive” 

“Sensitive” Maurice gently corrected him “Don’t fret light bug it is not something strange or weird. It just means that you have too much power for your body and you are sensitive to the disturbances of magical energy” 

The healer nodded deeming his explanation acceptable “Roughly an eight percent of rare and high-magic dragels have this condition, there might be several side effects, depending on the individual but nothing of high importance” Pale fingers were now focused on Harry’s back and put light pressure on it causing a whimper and making Surajini’s frown to deepen “Harry could you please turn around for me. Yes, that is perfect”

She cast a few other spells this time were less bright than the previous glow and the readings made her gasp. They all waited for some kind of explanation, but the healer just continued his examination. It was after a few more spells that Lady Kalzik spoke again but it was only to ask a question “Who was Harry living with?” Her tone had now lost all the previous softness it held.

“You know my aunt?” Harry asked her with a confused expression making Surajini clench his hands. 

Raspen’s hands squeezed Harry’s cheeks “Don’t you live with your parents? I live with my dad” A little finger was now pointing at King Edgar

His firefly shook his head “My aunt said my parents died”

Surajini opted to not answer Harry’s question— The kid had forgotten about it anyway, and was currently enraptured with the Earth Prince’s eyes— and instead declared “If no Gheyo is responsible for this child I will be claiming Healer's Rights” 

There wasn’t a second of hesitation when Marina decided to intervene “Our blades would be yours, if you required them, then” Her eyes were narrowed but held a wicked gleam that was downright vicious. Both women stared into each other’s eyes seeming to have a silent conversation only interrupted by the Earth King’s groan.

Said King started rubbing his face and taking a few deep breaths to calm himself— It didn’t look like it worked “Why exactly would you be claiming Healer’s Rights Lady Kalzik?”

The aura around the healer became murderous “Right, I still haven’t explained the diagnostics. For starters, Harry is, indeed, a Dragel, a pureblood one. And he is under the influence of more Seals than is legal. Eleven in total” She gave them a look as they were about to interrupt her making their mouths snap shut. “Some of them are fairly common though. For instance, he bears two seals with a mentor's signature” At this she directed a look at Maurice who nodded.

“I placed a Mentor's Seal upon his signature to hide it from others and one to guarantee his physical protection due to some behaviors and signals that suggested a home environment not exactly how it should be” Maurice took advantage that Surajini had finished casting and embraced Harry again pampering him with kisses. Though he made the mistake of not taking into account a certain jealous bug— That up until that moment had been playing with Harry’s cheeks— who didn’t waste the chance to attach himself to what should have been a hug, but became more of a cuddle pile with his addition. 

“Well, those two Seals are not causing any ill effects and should no longer be necessary. They can be easily removed with Lord Elswood’s permission. He also has two Parental Seals which suggests a connection to two Nevarah families. Those would probably be the easiest ones to remove next. Though it isn’t exactly necessary”

This time King Edgar was the one asking for more information “Didn’t Parental Seals fade within approximately a year of a parent's passing? To which houses belong to?”

“Yes, Parental seals usually fade within the year of the caster’s passing. There are a few exceptions involving the parent becoming Caspered but from what we know of Harry’s parents I don’t see how that could be possible. The Parental Seals Harry bores are from the Noble houses of Perevell and Evanson. The Perevell one isn’t really a surprise as they have been known to cast seals at Birth. It is not a bad seal as it prevents possible dangers from accidental magic during childhood and, at least tries to, cut down on irresponsible behavior during their youth” She explained “The Evanson Seal is commonly known among the high circles and it is actually two-fold. One was done at birth, as the Perevell’s, and it is intended to temper the sense of intuition to some level of empathy. The Evanson line uses this Seal as they have a long history of powerful and important gifts on account of Ancient Magic. They are both quite harmless and should wear off on their own, so I would recommend leaving them. Which brings me to the next three Seals” Surajini paused at this, so King Edgar could order a couple of Gheyos to go retrieve the family tapestry of both Noble houses. 

He also started to send another Gheyos to inform the families, so they could also solve Harry’s Parental seals and the custody, but Maurice didn’t let him finish “No. He is staying with me” 

King Edgar glared at him for the interruption “They are his family, they have a right to know of his existence—” The King was cut off again, this time by a growl.

“Sure, they can know of his existence, but Harry’s mine. If they wanted him, why was I the one that found him and not his family? He has spent six years on Earth, which is more than enough years in Nevarah for them to find out about his existence. If they want to meet him that is fine but they are not going to take him” Maurice finished tightening his grip around Harry.

“I still have six Seals to explain and several other issues, so I would appreciate it if you could finish this later” Since nobody dared to answer her she continued “As I was saying the next three Seals are a bit more complicated. The thing is, Harry here has had an early inheritance at some point, probably the motive your mentor bond activated Lord Elswood and the reason you felt like he needed a protection seal. Now, his inheritance should be noticeable at this point but it has been blocked by two seals. A Dragel Inheritance Seal that is meant to bind the inheritance, which is currently fraying at the edges. Seals bind his wizarding powers that suppress a portion of his wizard magic and are being fed by said magic itself to keep the rest of him functioning properly without additional issues. And a two-fold Soul Suppression Seal. One of the Soul seals is crafted to keep his soul locked away and can have several negative repercussions on his growth and development, especially regarding his natural instincts. The other one is strange, there is a piece of darkness embedded itself in the heart of his soul. It is a miracle it hasn’t consumed him at once. Which brings me to the last three seals. Please let me finish before interrupting”

The other occupants of the room nodded in agreement and after a deep breath, she continued “He somehow bears two Death seals” Pale hands raised in an attempt to silence the growling that rumbled in response “One is a simple Death seal which I do not know the reason of his existence beyond the fact that no submissive, least of all a six-year-old one, should bear one. And the other Death seal is even more concerning as it is tied to something of a Prophetic seal— which by Dragel Law is currently outlawed as it is plainly cruel— and it involves reviving him if he were to die before it is fulfilled”

Several voices— Including a certain Gheyo who had retrieved Surajini— started speaking at the same time to the healer asking far too many things to answer at once. It wasn’t until they heard Lady Kalzik's hands clapping that they fell silent “The easiest and most important seals to remove as of right now are the Inheritance and the Soul ones. The Death ones will require getting in touch with the Death Court and the Parental’s are not necessary to remove. Especially not the Evanson one as there is the possibility that his inherited gift is not an element but a Nameless and could be an empath as it is an inherited trait of the Evansons. As so removing the Inheritance seal could cause him to come into an empath’s inheritance, way too young and that could lead to emotional instability, feeling too much until you stop feeling. In conclusion, a mess”.

Chapter Text

EMERALD HOLLOW

Maurice would admit that maybe taking an obviously abused child wasn’t his brightest idea. 

He and his Circle had taken other difficult kids but, there was a difference, Harry was not a Gheyo. While he could be a vicious little thing when someone threatened something he considered his, he definitely wasn’t a born Gheyo and from what he had seen he lacked some bloodlust to really have changed ranks, so that left Maurice a little scared to mess something up. After all, it had been years since he had interacted with any other rank than a Gheyo one and his usual support wasn’t there.

So yes, he had known it would be slow progress and that, as much as Harry had attached to him, he still didn’t rely on adults which sadly included Maurice. 

He would even go as far as to say that it was worse because it was him, the only person who had seen him and who had helped. And that made him want to return the favor and keep him happy, in six-year-old standards.

That’s why waking up to the soft buzzing sound of the kitchen wasn’t really a surprise and was starting to become a routine, one that Maurice would make sure didn’t stick. 

The thing with Harry was that he couldn’t get mad. How could he if every time he entered the kitchen he would go wide-eyed as if he had been caught stealing when he was making breakfast for what he considered his pretty person? 

It didn’t matter how many times Maurice had told him he wasn’t responsible for cooking or cleaning or anything really. He would still wake up the next day and find a mop of brown hair sticking out between the stoves. 

So he adapted it, if his little firefly would wake up at seven Maurice would be awake at six-thirty waiting for him to start the day together. He couldn’t change Harry’s routine, but he could make new ones with him, he couldn’t make him stop cooking— as much as he would wish it— because he knew that if he did Harry would feel useless and would begin to spiral about being thrown out, he hated he couldn’t make him understand that he didn’t have to earn his place, so he would cook with Harry and teaching him how to make new recipes or correcting certain ones. 

It was also terribly endearing how his light bug would end up with more food in his hair than on his plate. 

Another thing Maurice hadn’t been able to make him drop was cleaning, so they often shared that chore too especially cleaning the dishes. 

Maurice had learned the first time that Harry was better at drying the dishes than rinsing. The little brunet had somehow ended up completely soaked and when he saw the mess he was leaving on the floor he started crying and sobbing with apologies fearing that Maurice wouldn’t want him anymore. 

Maurice had only been able to sink to his knees and scoop the distressed child into his arms guiding his little head into the crook of his neck and slowly rubbing his back whispering words of comfort and encouragement until he felt a pair of little fangs biting him and after a few minutes he had his arms full of a sleepy dragel, he will never confess that he didn’t know if the wetness on his neck was because of blood or snot and tears, really what a silly child as if Maurice could ever not love him. 

He hated the fact that they had made him believe he didn’t deserve to be loved. But that was in the past now, he would just have to show him how much of him there was to love.

That didn’t mean he forgot or forgave. No, he most definitely still remembers the differently shaped bruises and scars scattered on his pale skin months ago. He remembers it every time Harry flinches and it is only Harry’s fragile state that prevents him from acting according to his new status. 

After all, he hadn’t become a Gheyo Jocker by kissing wounded animals. 

No, he had earned his status with blood and flesh and if it wasn’t for Harry’s little hand squeezing him to please not leave him alone at nighttime or his voice whispering to him to explain another story so softly that if he hadn’t been hugging him tightly and if his firefly hadn’t said it directly in his ear he wouldn’t have heard it, he would already be halfway earth and completely feral prepared to deal with everyone who had dared to hurt his kid.

His wings twitched faintly causing his shoulders to ache, maybe he would have to rope Mariana into babysitting, so he could make a quick escape to the pits.

But before that maybe he needed to find said child. 

It turned out he didn’t even need to search, the sound of metal colliding with the floor guided him to one of the Circle’s storage where he found himself staring at two bright green eyes sticking out from inside a dark armor that were way bigger than himself and Maurice was oddly remembered of a shy turtle hiding his head. 

The room was illuminated by a flashlight that Harry seemed to carry always with himself that one of Ryker's Bane had taken from Earth years ago, his firefly was probably scared of the dark because of where he was forced to sleep, despite all he really couldn’t help the small smile that graced his lips at the cute sight “Oh, no. What has happened here?” His tone was obviously fake and teasing and from the irritated huff that came from inside the pile of metal Harry also knew it. 

Maurice remained in silence, he could practically feel how Harry was squirming with anxiety— a side effect from Harry’s wild empathy— debating with himself if he should talk and if he would get in trouble for it, but Maurice knew he needed to let his light bug take the first step. After all, he was still pretending to be clueless.

A high-pitched voice echoed across the room “I’m stuck” Maurice giggled silently knowing his firefly was pouting but continued waiting “Please help” And that was all he needed to approach the navy blue armor with different swirls of forest green and dark grey and start undoing the clasps of the familiar armour like he had done thousands of times before.

And just like an oversized butterfly emerging from a cocoon when Harry was finally free of his metal cage he started stretching his little black wings. 

Those had been a surprise, a few months ago after the removal of some of Harry’s seals and hours of enduring the chaos of some Earth royals he had been left with a beautiful set of little pitch-black wings that his light bug said matched his.

They probably did since he now had black and red instead of what had once been pink and white. The healer had said that since Maurice had accepted the bond between himself and his student, Harry had become his Circle child, and since he didn’t have any parents alive or present that was the reason his wings had become black instead of his natural color. Or what she hadn’t wanted to say was that since Maurice was still mourning the loss of his bonded Harry’s instincts as an official part of the Circle had turned his scales black, Maurice would never recover his previous colors but someday his firefly would have colorful wings, he would make sure he did. 

Harry was sure his dragon house was haunted. 

He hadn’t said anything to him but he was sure. 

The first days he had been scared. Scared to fall asleep and wake up in his cupboard, afraid that he was dreaming and he would have to go back to his old life. 

Harry was so happy, it surely would end soon. He had never felt like he was floating before, well maybe that was because he had never had wings before— he had wings!— but still, he was waiting for something to go wrong that's why he noticed.

The shadows were following his pretty person. They curled around his wrists and his surroundings were always a little darker. Maurice had explained to him there were different types of magic after first explaining magic itself, so he now knew those shadows were magical shadows and he wouldn’t let them hurt his Maurice. 

So since he didn’t have control of magic as his pretty person had— he could make some magic orbs that gave off light, so he wouldn’t have nightmares— he had to be smart. He had found one of those light sources that didn’t require magic and he carried it with him so that every time a shadow got close to his Maurice he would discreetly dazzle it and they would retreat. 

Harry did a great job protecting his family. 

But they were really weird magical shadows because as much as he threw light at them, they always came back and after some time they began to chase him, but they didn’t really do anything to him. Sometimes they even helped him reach some really high things. How could a shadow move something was a mystery to Harry and only confirmed his theory of magical shadows so little by little, as he saw that they were not hurtful, he began to throw less light to them. 

That didn’t mean he trusted them. 

No, he still had his light shooter close for precaution. 

And now he couldn’t sleep, the thing was Maurice had already explained one story even two and he hadn’t dared a third one, not when he had explained the story of the four elemental dragon clans and the origin of Dragels and how the magical spirits they left behind after they were hunted to the extinction were the essence of all the current elemental powers. 

And he had explained his current favorite one. The one that talked about three brothers who encountered death. A story of a dragel who wanted recognition and power one that loved the dead so much that he became one and a story of a thief fast enough to steal from Death and brave enough to escape her. 

His pretty dragon had even kissed his forehead, but his eyes refused to close. 

Something was calling him. Harry knew he could go to Maurice's room and he would simply move the bedsheets aside and invite him and if he still couldn’t sleep he would take him moonbathing. They had done that a few times before and while he enjoyed the calm of the moon and the night Harry knew he wouldn’t rest, not tonight.

So he lifted the blankets— Maurice liked to bury him under lots of blankets— and he tiptoed out of the room. Going under the stairs was a little difficult in the dark but whenever he lost balance the shadows would hold him. 

Emerald Hollow was a big castle made of dark stone with big spaces and flashes of pale green and white. Maurice had told him that in the surroundings they could be found real emeralds and that it was mine, he also said something about selling them, but Harry didn’t really remember it. Just that he said something about precaution. 

The estate was built above a little river that flows into the Merrow waters. The wind whistled in his ears and carried a barely there whisper that called out for help, he needed to find it. 

After a few steps, he realized that maybe he should have put on shoes, but his feet were now covered in mud and he couldn’t come back to the house like that.

The best would be to clean them, maybe he could wash them with water. The water that flowed down the river was not really that clear, so he headed to the sea. 

The magical shadows were tugging him back to the house but he wouldn’t give up. As he was closer to the sparkling water the distressed cries became louder and he couldn’t ignore them, so he followed them. 

The dark rocks were wet with the salt water and his muddied feet didn’t help, he ended up slipping and scratching his knee, and a few drops of blood drops stained the rocks. 

The sea tide splashed his legs when he could finally hear the sound clearly and he found himself looking at a glowing thing. 

Well, not a thing. When he got closer he saw it was a translucent creature. The only reason Harry could see it was because it was glowing faintly but in the darkness of the night it seemed a glow stick, if it wasn’t for the fact that when he approached a hand to their flared head they showed dangerous looking facts he would have assumed it was one. 

The shadows arose in front of him when the creature snapped his fangs. Harry didn’t know what to do, he had found a— something and, now what?

He tried picking him up again only this time he went slowly, the creature bore his fang again but this time Harry didn’t back away and instead looked into those glowing blue eyes until he felt something similar to a whisker brush his hand. 

He flinched away but it was late, suddenly he found himself with a handful of a scaled body wrapped around his wrist. He stayed frozen waiting for something but the living glowing stick was apparently fine where it was.

Cautiously Harry took a step into the water, but his new translucent bracelet didn’t react so he continued his slow approach to the sea. He arrived at the sea level and knew he couldn’t go further mostly because he didn’t know how to swim and he definitely didn’t reach the bottom of the sea with his height, and because his pretty dragon had said something about Merrow territory. 

Looking at his feet Harry noticed they were no longer muddied, now it was his hand that was dirty. He sighed softly and grabbing some rocks he tested his balance until he could safely, without falling into the water, sink his hand. 

Harry might have forgotten he had a creature wrapped around his wrist. In his defense, it was a translucent little thing and the grip he had on the rocks wasn’t exactly safe. 

In the end, he didn’t need to worry as the glowing creature slithered down his immersed hand and blended shamelessly with the water as if they were made of water. He shook his hand a little until he was satisfied and just as he was withdrawing sky-blue fingers wrapped around it and pulled.

A gasp escaped from Harry’s lips and if it weren't for the shadows holding him he would have dived in the water. 

Slowly but without releasing his hand or losing his grip a pair of blue eyes surfaced. The soft tide made waves with the long bright teal-blue hair that floated around the ethereal being. A soft glow began to circle them until it settled on his neck and Harry found himself under the gaze of two pair of blue eyes.

Chapter Text

EMERALD HOLLOW

Just to be clear, Alec doesn’t make mistakes. 

Nuh-uh.

But maybe, just this once, he made a slight miscalculation. Not a mistake, a miscalculation. 

His brother made a lot of those lately— but that wasn’t important now. 

What was important was that it was shark's mating season… 

In Earth.

But still, baby sharks. 

The thing was that Merrows, and most Dragels, had left that realm but still, water it was, had always been, and shall always be Merrow territory and Merrow took care of theirs so while officially there wasn’t Merrow in Earth there were some teams monitoring Aqua-kin'e. 

Including mating seasons, like the shark’s.

So he just thought no one would miss one egg, after all, there were always mermaid purses each season. Though Alec was sure if he dared to call an egg case that washes up on shore a mermaid purse in front of a mermaid he would end up more purple than when he blushed. 

Now, not all sharks were ovoviviparous and Alec would never dare to kidnap— or would it be called sharknap since he was talking about sharks?— a shark’s pup but if he coincidentally while walking by the seashore found an egg. 

Well, he would call it adoption. 

Also, there are so many eggs, nobody is counting— there definitely were people counting them— so, really, it wasn’t anything bad. 

In reality, it was a fairly easy operation— he called it OPS, Operation Shark Pup— he would sneak into another realm, that was surprisingly the easiest part, and he would start looking for camouflaged eggs that blended in with the sea floor or algae. 

Then, when he arrived home unintentionally with a new companion if somebody discovered it they wouldn’t be able to do anything. After all, it was fate— it wasn’t.

But, he might have been blindsided. 

He studied the different kinds of sharks that lived on Earth, and which ones laid eggs, he checked the requirements for keeping them alive to see if they would survive in Nevarah, and he would have been happy with whatever hatched. 

But he didn’t count this beautiful shining egg in the middle of the dark-spiraled ones. 

And really what other option did Alec have that was not taking it— he could have perfectly left it— with him. 

And just like that he acquired a beautiful and smooth white egg that shimmered all shades of the rainbow in the sunlight and a dark blue one with spiral ridges on its outer layer that he had to practically rip out of a rock because of the grip it had to prevent it from getting washed away by waves. 

So safe to say, days later Alec was expecting to have these two beautiful sharks swimming around him and instead, all he got was a water worm and an egg that refused to hatch. 

The pitiful little thing that did hatch wasn’t even able to be sneaky because he wouldn’t stop shining. 

His family caught fast that he had coincidentally acquired a new friend. 

The worst of all was that the creature wouldn’t listen to him which led him to where he was now looking at too-big baby seal green eyes.

At first, he was frustrated. He had somehow lost the glowing creature again. He wouldn’t stay still and while he was looking at the still unhatched egg he had sneaked away. He had named the thing Goonter, but he was starting to question if he shouldn’t have left him in that cursed realm. 

Still, he had to watch as a gentle tide lifted him above sea level and how the worm was writhing trying to get back in the water. 

Merrow was generally forbidden to surface, so he had no way of helping his companion that wouldn’t break some rules. But Alec couldn’t stand watching the little thing in discomfort, so he was seriously considering reaching out and grabbing Goonter, it wasn’t like anyone would see him when he heard him.

There was a landwalker close. 

Landwalkers were an unknown subject to him, so just like anyone he was curious. 

Alec watched as the clumsy child, because that had to be a child, stumbled his way throw the rocky shore injuring himself in the process and finally seeing Goonter.

He prepared himself to defend his current headache, but he was pleasantly surprised to see how he tried to help him rather than hurt Goonter. He was also surprised to see that Goonter did have some preservation instincts but was instantly disappointed since the ungrateful thing curled in the stranger’s arms. 

He wasn’t impressed, no wonder he had been abducted the first time. 

After that interaction, he was once again flabbergasted with the stranger as he approached the sea with short and slow steps until he was practically above him. The landwalker didn’t seem to notice him as he plunged his hand into the water and shook it in his face. 

Alec saw the opportunity and took it to coax the sleepy creature to leave his napping place but Goonter had the audacity to ignore him and snuggle closer to the warm arm.

He didn’t have the patience or time to discuss with the glowing thing, so he made some water wrap around his tail and ripped him off just in time as the hand started to withdraw. 

Alec had always been a curious Merrow though, and he couldn’t let the opportunity to explore slip away, so he grabbed the hand. Alec used it to people himself and found himself getting lost in endless pools of green, that seemed to contain all the sea life in their deeps. He absently felt Goonter swimming around him, but he paid him no mind. He was concentrated solely on the boy.

His soul sang for him, a song that spoke of home and unconditional love. His entire self was screaming at him, telling him that this was ev—

“Harry!” The screaming name was carried away by the breeze and if the panicking baby seal expression that took over the green-eyed child was any indication it belonged to him.

Harry, that was his name. He liked ho—

A soft voice took him out of his ramblings “Shit” He didn’t have time to do anything as he was suddenly sunk underwater.

Alec couldn’t do anything but blink as he processed what had happened, but he didn’t have time to do it as the water splashed above him, it seemed that the sudden action had made the impulsive child lose balance.

Even though the boy had looked like a lost baby seal a few minutes ago, now he could be confused with a pufferfish since his cheeks were round with air.

An amused laugh escaped from him at the sight of ‘Harry’ trying to kick his way to the surface. His instincts screamed at him to help the boy, so he wrapped his arms under his armpits and dragged him up.

Harry spluttered and coughed, gasping for air leaning on Alec to stay afloat. 

Harry’s hair was wet and stuck to his face, his breathing was irregular and Alec could feel his heartbeat under his hand “It’s fine, you’re fine now” The comforting words rolled from his mouth. 

At the moment he would do anything to reassure him. 

Alec nuzzled the wet hair of the green-eyed and gently manipulated the currents to carry them to the shore. Once there he softly undid the grip Harry’s hands had on his arms and made him sit on a rock.

“You should be more careful, you idiotic starfish” While he tried to make Harry understand he should be more careful Alec started to clean the scratch the landwalker had acquired in his search for Goonter pouring seawater into the wound.

Goonter who had somehow managed to be into the cute boy’s grabby hand once again. Harry seemed to be petting the water worm delicately, so he would be distracted from the itch that caused the seawater. 

Alec wouldn’t mind being petted like that. 

He scowled and shook his head, he was getting distracted “You can’t do things like that, what if you drowned? Or what if Goonter had bitten you before? From what I have seen you have the ability of a sea star, you should stop being so ungrateful that was dumb and sad to watch”

All he got in response was a blink and a confused tilt of the head “Goonter?”

Alec scoffed at that, it seemed that he also had the concentration span of a starfish, but he responded anyway “That idiotic little worm you have in your hands” At this he glared at the sea creature “When we get home you are death meat, I’m going to feed you to—” 

“No!” Harry glared at him now, while he covered Goonter protectively with his arms. 

Alec made an annoyed sound and explained that he wasn’t really going to kill the creature, but the brunet still looked at him with distrust.

He opened his mouth but the sound of the other landwalker made him snap shut. Harry listened to it as well because he tried sitting up as he called “Mera!” 

Ah, that made sense. His hands on Harry’s knees were the only thing keeping him still and the sound of footsteps was growing closer, he needed to leave now.

He took advantage of Harry’s distraction and kissed his knee muttering a few words his brother did when he got hurt. It shined blue for a second, and then it faded, leaving a pattern of blue dots.

Alec saw a shadow looming close and quickly retrieved Goonter, he took a last look at Harry and disappeared under the water. 

Chapter Text

EMERALD HOLLOW

“Okay, do you remember how yesterday we talked about magic and elements?” 

Harry bobbed his head in acknowledgment which made some of his hair, fall into his face and made him have to get it out of his sight “Yes, there are four primary elements” At this he started to count on his fingers adding one each time he mentioned an element “Earth, like Raspen! Air, Fire and Water”

This time it was Maurice who nodded encouraging his firefly to continue “There also are the secondary elements, which means that they help balance the— the” Harry started trailing at this part and directed his big green eyes to Maurice in a silent plea for help which he easily compiled “They help with elemental balance since both Storm and Shadow are products of two primary elements” When he said this he lifted two more fingers from Harry’s little hands leaving him with six fingers.

Seeing Maurice wasn’t going to say anything else Harry spoke again shyly lifting another one “There are also Nameless” 

“Yes, there are also Dragels designated as Nameless. And why is that Harry?” 

The question made the boy’s green eyes sparkle “It’s because their powers are too cool to name. Like you!” He couldn’t say anything since it seemed Harry wasn’t done “You have the turn away thing… Re- reflic” A groan escaped the frustrated brunet “See, not nameable” Harry huffed while pouting.

“Refraction” Maurice chuckled softly and explained “It doesn’t turn away exactly, more like you modify to what suits the moment best. But yes, that is a Nameless element but not exactly the only thing that makes you a Nameless” 

Harry frowned, confusion written all over his face “What makes you Nameless?”

“Well, it depends. As we said before having a Nameless element does make you a Nameless, as long as you don’t have another element that ends up taking preference, but having an affinity for more than two elements or having parents with different elemental inclinations, all three of them also earns you a Nameless status” 

Harry opened his mouth and made a soft sound of understanding, so Maurice kept talking “But what I wanted to talk about today was Circles”

“Oh! I know that one” Excited Harry began to explain “A circle is a shape that is round. It’s made from a lot of straight lines, but the circle is not straight. The circle is round”

Technically Harry was correct but Maury hadn’t wanted to explain geometry precisely “Well, that is a Circle but not the one I was talking about. Here in Nevarah, in Dragel society, Circle has a different meaning”

“Is it not round anymore?” Harry gasped with wide eyes and leaned closer to him and just as if he was sharing a secret he whispered in an offended tone “Is it  pointy  ?”

Maurice pretended to think about it for a second amused by his firefly’s innocence before answering “I guess sometimes yes, sometimes a Circle can be pointy” 

“But how can a Circle be pointy? A circle is round. It doesn’t have limits, it is like— like an orange” At this Harry glared at him outraged by the thought it could be something else than the round “It's not supposed to be hard and pointy, it’s soft, smooth and fruity and  round  ” 

This, once again, wasn’t really the direction he intended this conversation to go but, a Circle  could  be fruity, his had been especially fruity after all. 

Still, he wasn’t going to have this conversation with Harry now, they could talk about being fruity another time. 

And the double meaning of some words.

“A Circle, for us, means family. A Circle is those dragels or any other species, well, anyone who is important to you—” 

Maurice was interrupted again “Are we a Circle? You are my favorite everything, that makes you my Circle, right?” Imploring eyes shined with hope and determination “Do you know what happened to my heart when I met you?”

Suddenly Maury lost his voice and was only able to wordlessly shake his head mesmerized by the glint that shone on green eyes.

“My heart… My heart fell in love with you” 

Ah.

He wasn’t prepared, Maury’s soul was scared and hurt. He hadn’t started healing, he didn’t think he could. Living with the pain of his loss surrounded by the shadows of what they used to be of what he used to have was his best option.

But Harry, sweet innocent, and hurt Harry was stitching what was left of his broken soul, mending things he wasn’t even aware that needed fixing. 

“Of course we are a Circle my light bug” Harry’s face fell and tears started to cascade down his face, so Maury rushed to explain himself “We are a Circle because you’re mine. We are a Circle because I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me. We are a Circle because we’ve claimed each other and because even if I wasn’t your favorite, because there isn’t a time nor a life where you aren’t mine, we would still be a Circle. Being your favorite does not make us a Circle. Choosing us is what makes us now and until you no longer wish it, and even then you would still be mine even if I wasn’t yours, a Circle and that won’t ever change” Empathy ran wild in the room, while the parental seal helped Harry block his gift it was an inside block. 

Harry wouldn’t feel the external emotions so he could feel his own, helping him not be overwhelmed with feelings and learning to value his own. 

Devolving his personality as Harry rather than as an empath but, it didn’t block his empathy completely which meant that he could still project what he was feeling to the others without him knowing it. 

As it was common when Harry and feelings were involved they ended up in a cocoon of curved dark wings, safely hidden from the world and protected in between shadows. And it was there, while drying tears, that Maurice explained the different roles inside a Circle and the different positions in a mateship Circle.

Harry was facing Maurice, sitting in his lap when he asked “What are you? What is your position?”

The now Gheyo could only manage a bittersweet smile “I’m a Gheyo” He chose to omit his full title not wanting to confuse his little student or have to really explain how he became one "A fighter inside the Circle. We usually excel in offensive magic and have a lot of fighting skills but stand out in one particular, it changes depending on the Dragel but it usually has to do with the specific rank inside the Suite"

“But you said there were different Gheyos. Are you a king?” Small fingers traced his nose with a feather-light touch “You look like kings are described in books”

“Not really, I am a Gheyo Joker”

That revelation made Harry upset in his honor “You don’t look like a Joker, I still think you are a king”

Maury was glad the darkness covered his amused smile at the adorable child “The ranks are not really about what you look like and more about what you can do. Joker are more like a wild card, not defined by one thing but for the sole reason of having earned the Joker title. They are probably the most likely to go feral and usually need their bonded to be their anchor to prevent it”

“What does it mean to earn the Joker title?” 

“To understand what it means to turn into a Joker you must know that until your inheritance there isn’t a definite rank you belong to. Yes, there are signs of a possible rank but until you inherit it is not insured. That does not mean that there aren’t things that can be done to boost the possibilities of one particular rank. And even when you inherit there can also be extreme circumstances that make you shift ranks. For me, it happened when my Circle was annihilated in front of me, that day was the day I stopped being a submissive. I went feral and avenged my Circle and those who were with us”

He left out most of the story, not wanting Harry to look at him differently because of how he did it or what happened later. He was not ready to explain things yet and his light bug wasn’t ready to hear it either.

Chapter Text

EARTH ROYAL GARDEN

Harry was once again in the Royal’s quarters. His pretty Mera kept denying being a king but he was spending a lot of time with kings and queens for not being one. 

Sometimes Harry stayed with Auntie Mariana when her Circle could babysit and then his Maurice could do sneaky Gheyo things or royal things. Today it wasn’t one of those days so he had escaped, after asking for permission, to the gardens. 

Before, when instead of warm hugs and soft words Harry had harsh loud voices and a cold cupboard he had spent a lot of time in the yard.

His aunt— Not Mariana. They were both strict but Mariana had never been cruel. When Harry did something incorrectly she didn’t scream or lock him in a cupboard, she simply said what he did wrong, told him not to do it again, and kept showing him how to throw a dagger. And sometimes, when Harry was extra good or actually hit a target, she would ruffle his hair and say he did a good job. Aunt Petunia had never done that— liked her garden pretty. So Harry had learned how to take care of the few plants he had managed to keep alive. 

But the garden of the Dursleys could never compare to the beautiful world of colors and scents that the Earth quarters had. 

There were flowers everywhere, so many colors and so many sizes. There were even plants that were taller than him, it was the perfect spot to hide, but today Harry had a mission so he left behind the sunflower field and continued walking until he arrived at an expanse of grass where he sat down, but he wasn’t alone for much longer.

“Harry!” When he turned he was faced with Raspen and another brunet boy. Raspen started to approach Harry but, before he could get very far, the boy that had been walking with Raspen stopped him and said something to him. Harry was too far away to listen to what they said. 

He didn’t have much time to think about it either because Raspen was running at him and the next moment they were hugging while rolling in the grass.

Harry couldn’t even express his irritation because Raspen started to babble “Harry! You are here again!”

Harry nodded and explained “Mera is doing Royal things again, so I used what my aunt taught me and escaped. What are you doing here Ras?” 

He shrugged “Me and my brother” At Harry’s confused expression Raspen was quick to clarify” That was my brother the one with the chocolate hair and that is a bit taller than me” Raspen moved his hand on top of his head to show the difference on heights “We were going on a special mission from my Mom”

Raspen looked around carefully watching if there was any chance they could be overheard. Once he deemed it safe he whispered “Mom said it was time to steal Dad again” Harry tilted his head looking lost.

Raspen frowned, debating with himself if he should continue, and pouted when Harry looked at him pleading “M’ not supposed to say anything. It's a super secret, special mission from my circle” It was Harry’s turn to pout and Raspen huffed at the expression “K, if you earth pledge that you won’t say anything to anyone I’ll tell you”

“An earth pledge? Ras, you know my Mera hates that I get my clothes dirty”

Raspen crossed his arms “Well, we could only bury you to the waist and not the neck” 

Harry understood that that was all he was going to get so he agreed. While he was taking off his shoes, Raspen started digging a hole big enough so Harry could fit. 

It didn’t take long with Ras' control over his element. Soon Harry was half buried in the garden, he started to approach a finger to his small fangs to draw blood but Raspen stopped him “Wait! we need a witness” 

Raspen's eyes snapped shut in concentration and he frowned, muttering something under his breath. Suddenly a small ball of billowing and dripping mud, barely bigger than a watermelon, rose at Raspen’s side until it took the form of a small golem without a face but had small holes as a mouth. 

Slowly it started to dry and when it looked like a statue shining golden eyes opened “Now when can start”

Harry could only nod, and at the same time, they both bit their ring fingers. He watched as a drop of blood came out of his finger and then he pressed his finger against Raspen’s bloody one. Once they were united he looked at the dazzling, bright golden eyes while Raspen started the pledge “Do you solemnly promise that you won’t reveal what I am about to tell you? Ergen and the whole Earth against you if you do” 

Harry’s own eyes shined in response to Raspen’s magic “I do. I promise I won’t reveal your secret. Ergen and the Earth against me if I do” Twin drops of blood ran down their fingers in a spiral pattern until they surrounded them, at that moment they burned until the only thing that was left was a golden tattoo, proof that their pledge had been listened to and acknowledged. The small golem approached Harry who was half buried and started to nuzzle Harry’s cheek but, since his duty had finished and Raspen was no longer summoning him, he began to melt leaving Harry with his face full of mud glaring at a giggling Raspen.  

One, two, three, four, five. Breathe. 

He didn’t manage to calm himself so he repeated. Edgar was starting to feel like he was being punished, it would be unfair to say that it all had started when Maurice Elswood had appeared with his student… But it had all started to get worse since then. 

For once, they had to organize the next hunt, they also went to check to see if Nevarah had chosen new royals, and, surprise surprise, they had. 

Had anyone been warned? No. 

Did anyone know? Everyone had claimed and swore they didn’t but Edgar wasn’t dumb. 

But well, nothing to be done about that. The next issue had been an even bigger surprise since it had actually concerned his own element for once. 

When Blood Wraith appeared with a kid, he sighed and offered assistance, already feeling the incoming headache that that was going to be. 

But again, Edgar wasn’t dumb, and two underage Dragels inheriting on Earth, a realm where supposedly Dragels were extinct, and being brought to Nevarah by their mentors after an early inheritance was a little suspicious.

And now, he was having periodical meetings with the royals that were always a pain since he was often used as a mediator between the water and fire royals— He would rather not remember how the Merrow king had reacted when he learned his Queen had surfaced the last urgent meeting— and now he had to deal with the new royals. 

That and his children. Well, lately only Raspen was giving him— as his submissive liked to call it— challenges. 

So when he saw Emrys entering alone he hid a groan. Edgar was aware of his Circle’s tradition of stealing him after he spent more than a week without going home, so he was expecting some of his children to come for him— It was always his children because he didn’t have it in him to deny them— and he knew Raspen loved being the one to look for him, so he knew Emrys should have been accompanied by the little troublemaker. 

Thankfully his voice didn’t tremble when he asked “Emrys, where is Raspen?”

His son’s smile didn’t help his state of mind “He stayed with Harry in the gardens”

As if on cue Edgar felt how his eyes lighted up. Someone— Raspen, it was definitely Raspen— was using his Earth element. 

Sadly he couldn’t concentrate on it since one of the Gheyo guards approached them and told them about a Fabrine attack and he focused on that instead and sent a guard to take his sons home.

When Maurice heard the words Fabrine attack he knew he needed to get to his designated post. It was technically his time of patrol so he was obligated to help in the fight.

He was sure Mariana and her Circle would already be in the middle of the battle so he couldn’t leave his firefly with them. 

They had already informed the Evansons and Peverells about Harry but they were still waiting for a response, and frankly, Maurice didn’t trust them with Harry since he didn’t know them. 

He didn’t have a choice then, he just hoped she could help him. 

He stepped into a shadow, leaving behind the royals, and appeared at Harry’s side. Maurice took notice of his appearance and the mud stains for a later talk, he grabbed his hand and explained that he needed to go do, in his light bug’s words, Gheyo things and he was going to leave Harry with a trusted person, that wasn’t Mariana. 

Once he received a nod from Harry they were covered in darkness and appeared behind a dark-haired figure with tanned skin.

In less than a second the figure turned and two blades were on his and Harry’s throat and they found themselves under a pair of violet eyes “You got slower Aella. Or is it Blood Rayne now?” 

The woman’s neck was surrounded by shadows and behind her more raised dangerously warning about what would happen if she even dared to move.

They stayed locked in their position until she relaxed her stance and sheathed the blades. After a few seconds later the shadows also retired and she answered “Maurice”.

Chapter Text

The last rays of the sun streamed through the windows of one of the unused classrooms. In the darkest corner, Nhil sat curled up on the floor, his knees drawn tightly to his chest. His scarf was tied tightly against his mouth and dug painfully into the corners of his lips, making it hard to breathe. His sharp—sharper than normal—teeth pressed uncomfortably against the fabric. 

His hands trembled as he pulled at the knot, but his efforts were useless. Tears blurred his vision, though he refused to let them fall. The words of his classmates echoed in his mind, cruel and cutting.

"Don’t let him talk! He’ll flood our brain!"

"He’s a monster… don’t listen to his voice!"

"Stay away from him!"

“Don’t look at him, he’ll use his allure”

Noir Academy was supposed to be a dark magic and creature-friendly school. 

What a joke. It was only friendly if you weren’t born below the waves. 

Nhil scowled and grunted trying to unwrap the makeshift-gag. He didn’t belong here, his skin was too dry, his claws were too sharp, his voice too perfect . It was fine if a pureblood dragel was gifted at musical magic– musical manipulation really—, it was fine if they used their voice. But as soon as Nhil, a storm elemental part merrow part siren , opened his mouth— well, his current state should speak for itself, since Nhil could not.

It didn’t matter how many times he tried to explain it didn’t work like that, his classmates didn’t listen. None of them would willingly listen to a siren . Instead, they gagged him to "protect themselves," leaving him alone and humiliated.

His own element was a cruel reminder of the start of his problems. But well, it wasn’t like Nhil had expected anything else– Lies. He had, he still is— not after being beached somewhere after his second birthday. Everything wasn’t bad, the dragels that had taken him in were nice and they tried, it just… It wasn’t enough. Nhil just wished someone like him had claimed him. 

The door creaked open, and Nhil flinched, curling tighter into himself. He didn’t want to see anyone. Didn’t want to endure more mocking or accusations. 

"Hello?" a small, hesitant voice called out. The sound was soft, almost soothing, and Nhil’s trembling stilled slightly. Footsteps approached cautiously, and then a boy with messy black hair and wide, curious eyes peeked around the corner of the door.

"Oh no! Are you okay?" the boy exclaimed, rushing to Nhil’s side. His green eyes shone with concern as he knelt. "Who did this to you?"

Nhil looked away, ashamed. He wanted to tell the boy to leave, to save himself the trouble of getting involved, but the gag muffled his voice.

The boy frowned his expression a mixture of sadness and determination. "Here, let me help," he said, reaching for the knot. His small hands worked quickly but gently, and within moments, the gag fell away.

Nhil gasped, taking in deep, shuddering breaths. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand, his sharp teeth grazing his skin. But, instead of speaking, he stayed silent, his lips pressed tightly together and his hands trying to cover his face. The soft bioluminescent blue freckles that covered his cheeks and nose, the almond skin that blushed purple, everything that made him different.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" the boy asked, tilting his head. "It’s okay. I’m not here to hurt you."

Nhil shook his head, his hands gripping his knees tightly. "I can’t," he whispered finally, his voice trembling. Even that single word felt dangerous. "If I talk to you… you’ll think I’m trying to—" Nhil closed his mouth afraid that merely voicing the option would make it a reality. He should leave, and go back to the Circle that was fostering him. 

The green-eyed boy blinked, startled by the confession. Then, with excitement that surprised Nhil, he said, "But it doesn’t work like that, right? Alec says that for a siren’s call to work, it must come from the hearth. Sirens can’t use their voice all the time, that would be stupid."

Nhil nodded hesitantly. Not daring to speak and ruin things once more.

"I’m Harry Elswood," the boy said with a small, nervous smile. "What’s your name?"

Nhil hesitated, his voice caught in his throat. What if this was all a trick? What if speaking made things worse? But Harry’s smile didn’t waver, and the boy’s kindness felt genuine, like a lifeline in a storm. "Nhil," he whispered finally, his voice barely audible and a small smile showing his dimples gracing his face.