The next morning, Onyx and the others continued their march towards Riverveil. They had had some trouble sleeping the previous night due to Raksha’s paranoia about Dyle being around, although he hadn’t shown up again that evening.

  That day, however, they did see him. He stayed far from them but it was obvious he was following the same path. Raksha was the most upset about it; Onyx was on alert, although not too worried; it wasn’t clear what Rolo thought of it. That day and the day after, Onyx and Lily didn’t train as much as usual due to their injuries, but they didn’t sit idly either.

  Three days after the encounter with the bandits, the injuries were fully healed, and so Onyx and Lily resumed their harsh training. This time, Onyx noticed Dyle watching him as he trained, which felt oddly awkward. Exercises that he could usually do effortlessly suddenly seemed to fail just because he knew a stranger was watching him. It quickly got on his nerves.

  The next day, Dyle finally approached him again. “Are you ready now?” He asked, his arms crossed.

  Onyx groaned, without looking at him. “No! I have more important things to do.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like, I don’t know…training?”

  Dyle snorted. “You’re a dragon! How much more do you need to train? Besides, there’s no better way to hone your skills than to fight for real!”

  Suddenly, from behind Dyle, Raksha jumped and struck him on the neck with her bare paw, knocking him to the ground.

  “He said no!” Raksha spat out, her wrathful eyes locked on Dyle.

  Dyle crawled further from her on his back while rubbing his neck, stuttering, “I’m sorry! Have mercy!”

  “I hate to say it, but I agree with Dyle,” Rolo chimed in, stepping between the three.

  Raksha’s gaze snapped to Rolo. “I beg your pardon?!”

  “Fighting is the best way to gain more experience. Sure, Onyx can spar with us, but only to a limited degree. Dyle is closer to him in size and physicality. Onyx can use him.”

  “Oy!” Dyle excimed, standing up. “I’m not a punching bag!”

  “Only problem is we can’t trust him,” Rolo continued. “I can hear you, you know!”

  “If you really think it’s a good idea,” Onyx said. “Then we can make it work. If he does anything suspicious, mother will kill him, so I think it can work.”

  Dyle froze and swallowed.

  Raksha frowned at Onyx. “I haven’t agreed yet!”

  Onyx chuckled. “I already beat him once, and with you around, he stands no chance.”

  “That’s some ego you got on you, boy!” Dyle gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, jabbing a finger at Onyx’s chest. “Fight me right now!” His gaze shifted towards Raksha, and immediately his expression softened. “If…that’s fine by you, of course.”

  Raksha growled for a few moments, then sighed, closing her eyes and crossing her arms. “Onyx, kick his ass!”

  Onyx saluted his mother. “Understood!” He said before quickly getting punched in the face, which dropped him on his rear.

  “How dare you!” Raksha snapped, ready to attack Dyle, but Rolo held her in pce.

  “What?!” Dyle raised his hands. “I thought the fight had started!”

  Onyx quickly jumped to his feet and punched Dyle with all his might, sending him rolling on the ground. “Now it has.”

  “Let me go!” Raksha shouted at Rolo.

  “Calm down,” Rolo said. “Just watch. We will stop them if they go too far.”

  After a few minutes of fighting, and several damaged trees, Onyx and Dyle finally sat down opposite of each other, panting.

  “You were holding back,” Onyx said. “Why?”

  “To avoid your mother’s wrath,” Dyle answered, rolling his eyes. “Why did you hold back?”

  “Because…I didn’t want to kill you.”

  Dyle ughed.

  Onyx looked him in the eye. “I will take this opportunity to ask again: what else do you know about the fox?”

  “I told you; I don’t know! However, I believe I heard his name was…Yasei?” He shook his head. “Foxes and their weird names.”

  Onyx scoffed. “At least we have a name now.”

  “What’s your problem with him, anyway? Why is a dragon hunting down one, weak fox? Couldn’t find bigger fish to fry?”

  Onyx clenched his fists, his brows furrowing. “Because he’s anything but weak! He…killed someone I cared about.”

  Dyle’s expression softened for a moment, then it lit up again. “Ah, so it’s revenge! Aight, that’s a cause I can get behind!”

  Onyx raised an eyebrow at him. “And you don’t want revenge on us? We killed some of your friends.”

  Dyle scoffed. “First of all, they weren’t my ‘friends’. They left me to die. Second, they lived as bandits. They knew what they were in for, they knew they could die any day. Rest assured, I don’t want revenge. Although I must admit it does sting a little.”

  Onyx’s gaze shifted to the ground. “That sounds awful, realizing you don’t have any friends.”

  Dyle shook his head. “I don’t care.”

  Onyx’s gaze shifted back to Dyle. “What do you care about, then?”

  “Strength! And glory! You’re a strong opponent, and if I follow you I will surely meet more strong opponents!”

  “And then what?”

  “Then I fight until I win!”

  “And then what?!”

  Dyle scratched his head. “Then…then…I’ll decide when I get to that point!”

  Onyx sighed. “There’s no point to this discussion.”

  “What about you? What happens after you finally take your revenge, huh? Have you pnned that far?”

  Onyx shot Dyle a gre, then stood up and walked in the direction of the others.

  “I…also really care about gold!” Dyle shouted from behind. “And…women!”

  Onyx’s shoulders slumped. “How admirable,” he muttered to himself.

  Moments ter, Dyle caught up with him. “May I also ask how a dragon befriended a Yeager?”

  Onyx opened his mouth to speak, then paused. Can I really tell him everything? Eh, what harm would it do? “The fox you met, he can control monsters. So it’s in a Yeager’s interest to hunt him down. That, and I believe he intends to turn me into a Yeager.”

  Dyle’s eyes lit up. “A fox that can control monsters? A dragon Yeager?! There are sure to be strong foes down that path! That’s it, I’m definitely following you!”

  Me and my big mouth. Onyx rolled his eyes.

  Raksha welcomed Onyx back with a small smile. “I’m gd you stopped. I was ready to intervene.” Her smile instantly turned into a gre as her gaze shifted to Dyle, making him flinch, then back to a smile as she faced Onyx again. “It’s about time for lunch.”

  “We’re out of water again,” Lily announced, holding a metal bucket in the air.

  “Alright,” Rolo stood up and approached Lily, then used his magic to fill the bucket with ice.

  Dyle audibly cleared his throat. “Allow me.” He walked up to the bucket, causing Lily to take a step back. He held the bucket with both hands and used his magic to light them on fire. The ice melted in seconds.

  Lily smiled sheepishly. “Thanks.”

  Dyle smiled smugly. “Anyti–”

  “We could’ve just melted it on the campfire, you know,” Rolo interrupted with his usual monotone voice.

  Dyle growled and narrowed his eyes at him, then scoffed and walked in the other direction.

  “S-Stay away from me!” Ulva, who was sitting nearby, excimed with a shaky voice, standing up and hiding behind Onyx.

  Dyle raised an eyebrow, a tinge of pain in his gaze. “Hey, what did I do now?! I was just trying to help!”

  Onyx quickly realized what was happening. He took a step forward, but Ulva clung into him more tightly. He smiled at her reassuringly. “It’s alright, just let me talk to him.” He released her grip on him and walked towards Dyle, dragging him along and out of Ulva’s earshot.

  “What was that about?!” Dyle excimed.

  Onyx motioned him to be quiet, then whispered, “She has an…irrational fear of fire. Burnt when she was little. So don’t take it personally.”

  “Oh…” Dyle rubbed his neck, his expression softening. “Poor girl. She still looks pretty, though.”

  Onyx shot him a look of disdain and crossed his arms. “Is that really all you could think of?”

  Dyle smirked. “I already told you all the things I care about.”

  Onyx snorted angrily.

  “Don’t get your non-existent pants in a twist now. I’ll be careful not to perform any fire tricks near her. You have my word.”

  “You better.” With that, Onyx turned around and walked back to the others.

  “I’ll…be around!”

  Soon, food was ready, and they all sat around the fire, Ulva sitting further from it as usual. Before they started eating, Onyx gnced behind him, at Dyle who was standing behind a tree.

  Dyle’s eyes darted between Onyx and Raksha, then waved at Onyx. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll…hunt for myself.” He turned around.

  “Wait,” Raksha called, stopping Dyle in his tracks. She extended a bowl of food his way without looking at him. “You don’t have to.”

  Onyx watched as, in mere seconds, Dyle’s expression shifted from surprised, to shocked, to happy. The alligator jogged towards Raksha, knelt in front of her and eagerly accepted the bowel.

  Onyx then watched, in a mix of disbelief and horror, as Dyle took Raksha’s paw in his hand, said “Many thanks, m’dy.”, then proceeded to kiss her paw and wink at her.

  There were a few moments of silence afterwards, in which Raksha appeared to shake like a pot of boiling water, her cheeks puffed, paws clenched, and eyes bzing.

  Dyle froze and stared at her wide-eyed, before narrowly dodging a massive shield of light that descended at him from above.

  The rest of the day went on as usual, although Dyle avoided the group for the sake of his life. They walked until nightfall, then settled around a campfire once more.

  “I’ve wanted to do this for a while,” Lily said, smiling as she held a bottle in her hand.

  Onyx tilted his head. “You didn’t drink all day?”

  Lily stifled a giggle. “No! We will py a game! Never pyed ‘truth or dare’ before?”

  Onyx’s eyes lit up.

  Lily quickly pointed at Rolo. “Everyone will join, including you. So no sleeping early!”

  Rolo shrugged.

  “I’ll start!” Lily announced, before setting the bottle down on the soil sideways and spinning it. The tip nded in the direction of Ulva. “Ulva! Truth or dare?”

  Ulva flinched, then rubbed her neck. Her eyes darted between Lily and the campfire. “Truth.”

  “What is your favorite color?”

  Ulva’s eyes wandered between everyone, before looking away at nothing specific. “I think…bck.”

  Everyone, excluding Rolo, seemed surprised by the answer.

  “May I ask why?” Lily asked, inclining forward.

  “You’re only allowed one question!” Ulva replied with a frown.

  Lily giggled. “I know, this question is outside the game, so feel free not to answer.”

  Ulva smiled. “It’s fine. I like bck because it reflects the darkness in my soul.”

  There was a moment of silence as everyone seemed to try and process the answer, a look of concern pyed on Onyx and Rakhsa’s faces.

  Ulva broke the silence with her ughter. “Kidding! As for the real answer…I don’t know, I just feel that bck is…peaceful. I mean, sure, darkness is scary, but we all sleep in it, no?” Ulva stuck out her tongue and scratched her head. “I know it’s ironic since my magic is partially light affinity, but still.”

  Lily nodded, smiling. “Alright.” She picked up the bottle and tossed it to Ulva. “Your turn.”

  Ulva caught the bottle, pced it on the ground and spun it. The tip nded on Rolo. “Truth or dare?”

  Rolo shrugged. “I don’t care. You choose.”

  “That’s not how the game works.” Lily pointed at Rolo. “You choose!”

  Rolo sighed. “Truth.”

  Ulva rubbed her chin, humming before she asked, “Do you have a family?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Ulva raised an eyebrow. “How is that?” She then waved her paw dismissively. “N-Nevermind, one question only–”

  “I don’t know because I never met my parents,” Rolo interrupted, although his tone and voice remained as monotone as ever. “I have no idea if they’re dead, or simply alive and abandoned me. I was raised by an old leopard dy until I was four, then she was killed by bandits, who took me and tried to sell me as a sve.”

  Everyone fell silent, the cackling of the campfire the only sound.

  “That’s…horrible,” Ulva finally spoke, her ears drooping and her gaze shifting to the ground. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  Rolo shrugged. “Those memories are far behind me. They don’t bother me anymore.”

  “I know this is outside the game…” Onyx spoke. “But I’m curious, what happened next?”

  “One day, a Yeager stuck down the bandits and took me to Jagerheim, and that was when my Yeager training began.”

  Onyx nodded. “I see.”

  Ulva tossed the bottle to Rolo, who caught it and spun it. The tip nded on a space between Onyx and Lily.

  “So…who is it?” Rolo asked.

  Lily waved. “Just spin it again.”

  “Hell no, it’s me!” Dyle excimed, emerging from the shadows and into the space between Onyx and Lily, startling both.

  “Who invited you?!” Raksha questioned, her paws clenched.

  Dyle smiled and pointed a thumb at his chest. “Me! Now, I choose ‘dare’!”

  “Can you do one hundred push-ups in less than a minute?” Rolo responded.

  Dyle raised an eyebrow and snorted. “What kind of dare is that? Of course I can! Dare me to do something else!”

  “In that case,” Rolo pointed at Raksha. “Apologize to her, face to face.”

  Dyle’s eyes widened, darting between a smug Raksha and an indifferent Rolo, then turned around. “Push-ups it is!”

  “Why?” Raksha asked, smiling smugly and crossing her arms. “Chicken?”

  Dyle froze, then turned around to face Raksha, a fierce look on his face. He approached her slowly, and just when he was a step away from her, she snarled, causing him to flinch. She snickered.

  Dyle groaned, then took the final step towards Raksha. “Fine! I’m…sorry. I had no idea you were married.” He averted his gaze. “I’m not that kind of person, you know.”

  Raksha sighed and rolled her eyes. “Apology accepted.”

  Dyle grinned widely, then hopped back to sit between Onyx and Lily. “There! Done! Now toss me that bottle!”

  Rolo obliged, and Dyle caught the bottle.

  Dyle smirked at Onyx before spinning the bottle. It nded on Onyx.

  Wait, did he do that on purpose? Onyx wondered. If it’s true, then that’s some remarkable accuracy! I must ask him to teach me. He shook his head. “Alright. Truth.” I don’t want him to dare me to do something stupid, and I have nothing to hide. This will be easy.

  Dyle smirked again, a hand on his chin. “Say, Onyx, since you were obviously raised by wolves, does that mean…your taste has been altered?”

  Onyx blinked, then raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. “Huh?”

  Dyle rolled his eyes. “Are you attracted to wolves instead of dragons?”

  Onyx’s mind took a moment to register the question, then his eyes widened in utter shock. I should’ve chosen dare! He screamed internally. His eyes wandered over the others, regrettably lingering on Lily, Ulva and Raksha, before looking away and hiding his face. Of course I am! But I can’t say it out loud! And what if he asks another question outside the game like the others have done? I can’t let them know that…that I’m also attracted to humans! They will think I’m a degenerate!

  “Of course he is,” Raksha said nonchantly, smiling.

  Onyx stared at his mother in horror, his mouth agape. “Mom! You can’t answer for others in this game!”

  “Oh,” Raksha closed her eyes and rubbed her head, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry!”

  “Onyx…” Ulva said, seemingly trying to hold back a ugh, her nose looking redder than usual. “Your…ears look dark red. Do you need a feather?”

  Onyx felt his face and ears heat up even further. “I don’t!”

  Dyle ughed and patted his own chest. “It’s all good, brother. I approve of your taste. From my experience, wolf women are–” he was silenced by a shield of light smming into his face, sending him tumbling backwards.

  “You’ve said enough,” Raksha stated pinly, then her gaze softened as it shifted to Onyx. “Your turn, dear.”

  Onyx snorted angrily. He could still feel the warmth on his face. He grabbed the bottle, noting how Lily seemed to be in an uncontrolble fit of internal ughter that was threatening to burst out into the real world, then spun it. The bottle’s tip nded on Dyle. Onyx threw his arms in the air. “Unbelievable!”

  Lily cleared her throat, a few giggles escaping her, then pointed at the alligator lying on the forest floor behind them. “I think he’ll stay out for a while. Spin again.”

  Onyx sighed in relief, then spun the bottle again. It nded on Raksha.

  Raksha smiled. “Truth! Ask me anything. Have your vengeance.”

  Onyx chuckled. He contempted his question for a while, wondering if it was really a good time to ask. “I’ve been meaning to ask; have you…killed before? You didn’t seem too bothered after our encounter with the bandits.”

  Raksha fell silent for a moment, seemingly taken aback by the question. “Your observation was correct. I have indeed killed before. However, that doesn’t mean it never bothers me. Things…differ when you grow up, when you become a parent. Sure, when I was young, killing even in self defense still bothered me. But now that I’m a mother…every time I kill, I wonder; did the person I just killed have a family? Do they have children waiting for them back home? Do they have parents who will mourn them? It always goes through my mind. But…I have learned to deal with it. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable.”

  Onyx rubbed his chin, his gaze shifting to the campfire. “That…I’ve never thought about it that way.”

  Raksha nodded. “This is why I don’t bme you for hesitating to kill that fox.”

  Onyx’s eyes quickly darted back to his mother.

  “You were not ready to take a life yet. It wasn’t your fault.”

  Onyx didn’t respond. He just crossed his arms and looked to his side, frowning.

  Lily looked up at Onyx, then between him and Raksha. “I’m sorry. This game was meant to lighten things up, not…this.” She sighed.

  Onyx smiled softly. “It’s alright. I’m the one who brought up the subject.” He lifted the bottle and looked at his mother, nodding at her before tossing it.

  Raksha caught the bottle, nodding back at him.

  The game continued for a short while, this time with silly dares and trivial questions. Rolo retired to his bed before his turn could come again, and Dyle was out for the remainder of the night.

  The next morning, the group continued their march. By the time it was noon, Onyx could hear the distinct sound of rushing water in the distance.

  “I’m going to scout from above,” Onyx said, taking off into the air.

  “Be careful!” Raksha called.

  Onyx nodded in his mother’s direction before soaring higher. It didn’t take long for him to see what was ahead. The river was barely a few miles away, and in the far distance, he could see it: a city connected to the river, but he couldn’t make out much detail. From that distance, though, he could tell it was massive. “Riverveil!” He whispered excitedly to himself, smiling. He quickly dove back into the forest, nding in front of the others with force. “We’re close! Follow me.”

  Onyx flew closer to the others, leading them into a sizable rock he managed to find nearby so they could get a better view. On the rock, the group could see the river clearly, and a glimpse of the city on the horizon.

  “Finally, a change of scenery!” Lily said, stretching.

  “And we’re almost there,” Ulva added.

  Standing on the rock, Onyx smiled widely as he gazed towards the city once more. He clutched the neckerchief around his neck with one hand, his smile dwindling, and whispered, “Aunt Zoey…I’m exploring the world.”