A few weeks had flown by, and the transformation of the ruined warehouse into a grand library stood as a testament to their hard work.

  The building’s exterior was a blend of sturdy stone walls and elegant Drakonian architecture, with tall arched windows framed in iron that reflected the morning sunlight.

  The entrance bore a massive, carved wooden door, its surface etched with intricate patterns of dragons and flames, symbolizing wisdom and strength. Ivy vines wrapped around the edges of the structure, softening its imposing presence.

  Inside, the library was just as remarkable. Towering bookshelves stretched to the high vaulted ceiling, already lined with a modest collection of scrolls and books. A spiral staircase coiled in the center, leading to a second floor with more shelves and cozy reading nooks. Workers bustled around, some dusting off newly arrived tomes, others arranging furniture or hammering in the final nails. The air was alive with excitement and a shared sense of accomplishment. Conversations were lively, laughter echoed through the space, and even the occasional squabble over book placements felt light-hearted.

  I leaned against the doorway, watching the workers, a smile tugging at my lips. It wasn’t perfect yet, but it was ours.

  “Looks like it’s coming together,” I muttered to myself.

  The past week had been a mix of hard work and cultural immersion. We had continued to stay at Vaelrik’s home, learning the traditions and quirks of Drakonian life.

  Their customs were fascinating, from the way they honored their ancestors with daily rituals to their emphasis on communal meals that turned into stories and laughter.

  Not everything was smooth, though. Jorven’s forge had still been a mystery. Every time I stopped by, it was locked tight, and Jorven himself was nowhere to be found. The thought nagged at me. Had he scammed us? I had brought it up to Vaelrik, who, in his usual calm and cryptic way, simply said, “Trust Jorven. He’s not the type to abandon his work.”

  That reassurance hadn’t fully eased my mind, but I let it go—for now.

  “Duke!”

  A familiar voice jolted me from my thoughts. I turned to see Kael, hands on his hips and a teasing grin plastered on his face.

  “You’re spacing out again,” Kael said, mock exasperated. “Come on, Vaelrik’s house isn’t going to walk to us.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I replied, falling into step beside him.

  As we walked, I couldn’t help but glance at Vaelrik’s house in the distance, its warm glow a beacon of comfort. Despite Kyla’s illness, their home radiated happiness. Watching Vaelrik dote on his wife had stirred something in me—a longing for my own family.

  My mom and Clara were still out there, somewhere, but I was no closer to finding them. I had asked Vaelrik and his comrades to keep an eye out, but the odds of anyone spotting them near the remote highlands of Arkos were slim.

  Kael’s voice broke my train of thought. “By the way, have you seen Mira or Kaldor? Or Sylas, for that matter?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. What about you?”

  Kael shrugged. “Kaldor’s helping rebuild a house on the other side of the district. Mira? Last I saw, she was playing with a bunch of little Drakonian kids at the playground.” He smirked. “Not sure about Sylas, though. Figures she’d vanish and leave us to deal with all the heavy lifting.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “Typical. Just us two holding the fort again.”

  A small voice interrupted us. “Duke! Kael!”

  We turned to see Lief running toward us, his little arms outstretched as his parents followed behind him, and another boy trailed after them—a face that seemed oddly familiar.

  Lief launched himself at me, clinging to me like a squirrel. “You’re back!”

  “Whoa there, buddy,” I laughed, ruffling his hair. “Good to see you too.”

  As Lief clung to me, his parents walked up, their expressions a mix of relief and warmth.

  “You’re really good with him,” his father, Gregor, said with a nod. “He’s been talking about you non-stop.”

  I smiled at the compliment and gave Lief a light squeeze. “He’s a good kid. Full of energy, though.”

  Lief’s mother, Elenna, laughed softly, brushing her auburn hair behind her ear. “That’s an understatement. He hasn’t stopped running since we arrived here. But thank you, truly, for looking out for him back then.”

  “Don’t mention it,” I replied, feeling a little awkward under their gratitude. “I couldn’t just leave him alone in that mess.”

  As I spoke, my eyes shifted to the boy standing behind them. He was taller than Lief by at least a head, with dark hair, sharp green eyes, orange scales same as the others, that seemed to pierce through me. He stood stiffly, his posture guarded, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his worn jacket.

  Kael, ever the curious one, gestured toward him. “And who’s this?”

  “This is our eldest son, Tharon,” Gregor said, placing a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder.

  “Tharon?” I repeated, glancing between him and Lief. Recognition tugged at the back of my mind. The first time I’d met Lief, he’d mentioned following his brother—this brother.

  “You found him?” I asked, trying to sound casual despite the weight of my curiosity.

  Elenna nodded, her smile warm but tinged with weariness. “Yes. The soldiers who patrol the outskirts found him and brought him back to us a few days ago. We owe them—and Vaelrik—a great debt.”

  I turned my gaze to Tharon. “You okay? You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

  For a moment, Tharon said nothing, his green eyes locked onto mine. It was as if he were sizing me up, trying to decide whether I was worth his time.

  “He’s fine,” Gregor interjected, a hint of apology in his tone. “It’s just... It’s been a lot for him. He’s still adjusting to being back.”

  Elenna chimed in, her voice gentle. “It was a rough time for all of us. But we’re together now, and that’s what matters.”

  I nodded slowly, choosing to let Tharon’s silence slide for now. Still, there was something about his gaze that lingered in my mind, a strange sense of familiarity I couldn’t place.

  Gregor cleared his throat, breaking the brief tension. “We were actually on our way to Vaelrik’s house to thank him personally. What he did for us—helping find Tharon and bringing us here—it’s more than we could ever repay.”

  Hearing Gregor speak of Vaelrik like that brought a small smile to my face. “Vaelrik doesn’t ask for repayment. He’s just that kind of guy.”

  Elenna chuckled. “That doesn’t mean we can’t show our gratitude. Besides, Lief’s been pestering us all morning to see you again. He couldn’t wait to tell you everything.”

  Lief grinned, hugging me tighter. “Tharon’s back! And now we’re all together again!”

  I ruffled his hair playfully. “That’s good to hear, buddy.”

  Despite the warmth of the moment, my thoughts wandered briefly. Seeing Lief reunited with his family stirred something bittersweet within me. It was a reminder of the family I was still searching for—my mother, my sister, my father. I forced those thoughts aside, focusing on the conversation.

  “So, Tharon,” I said, trying again to engage him. “How’re you holding up? Must be nice to have a little brother who looks up to you so much.”

  Tharon’s lips twitched, but instead of a smile, his expression remained neutral. “It’s fine,” he said shortly, his tone flat.

  Elenna gave me an apologetic glance. “He’s still... adjusting.”

  “No worries,” I said quickly. “He’s been through a lot. Take all the time you need.”

  As we continued walking, Kael, ever the joker, couldn’t resist teasing Lief about his boundless energy. “You know, Gregor, you’re braver than most. I’d sooner fight a wyvern than try to keep up with this little tornado.”

  Gregor chuckled, shaking his head. “Wyverns are predictable. Lief? He’s a force of nature. Last week, he climbed the roof just to see if he could ‘talk to the wind.’”

  Lief giggled, clearly unbothered by the story. “I almost did! The wind said I was too slow, though.”

  Kael raised an eyebrow, smirking. “The wind’s not wrong.”

  That earned a hearty laugh from Gregor and a snort from Elenna, who covered her mouth to hide her grin. “Oh, trust me, the wind probably begged him to stop. He’s been running circles around us ever since we got here.”

  “Circles? More like hurricanes,” Kael quipped. “I bet if we put him on a wheel, we’d have free energy for life.”

  Lief was in hysterics by now, his giggles so infectious I couldn’t help but laugh along. “I could do that! I’d be the best wheel spinner ever!”

  Kael leaned down, mock-serious. “You’d revolutionize the energy industry, kid. I’ll even invest.”

  Even Elenna, usually composed, let out a full laugh at that, her smile radiating warmth. Gregor clapped Kael on the back. “Careful, or he’ll take you up on it. Next thing you know, you’ll be building him a giant hamster wheel.”

  “Hey, as long as it keeps him busy,” Kael said, winking.

  But amidst the laughter, my gaze drifted to Tharon, who remained quiet, his expression unreadable. His green eyes darted between me and the path ahead, his movements deliberate and measured.

  Something about him lingered in the back of my mind, stirring a strange mix of nostalgia and unease. There was something about the way he carried himself, that sharp, watchful gaze... but I couldn’t quite place it.

  Who did he remind me of?

  When we finally arrived at Vaelrik’s house, the scene before us froze us all in place.

  In the middle of the living room, Vaelrik was dramatically dipping Kyla backward, planting a kiss on her lips while standing in a ridiculously exaggerated ballet pose.

  “Uh...” I stifled a laugh as Kyla noticed us, her face turning a deep shade of crimson. She shoved Vaelrik away, covering her cheeks with her hands.

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  “I—uh—we didn’t—!” she stammered, backing toward the kitchen in mortification.

  Vaelrik, now straightening his stance, coughed into his hand, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. “Welcome back,” he said, though the tips of his ears were bright red.

  Lief burst out laughing, covering his face with his hands as he giggled uncontrollably. Kael and I couldn’t hold back either, snickering as we watched Kyla retreat into the kitchen.

  Vaelrik dropped onto the couch, sighing. “Mira came back a little while ago. You two should head upstairs and check on her.”

  “Sure thing,” I said, giving him a mock salute as Kael and I headed upstairs, still chuckling at the absurdity of what we’d just walked into.

  Vaelrik’s POV:

  The room was quiet once Lief, Duke, and Kael went upstairs. Too quiet. I shifted awkwardly in my seat, still feeling the sting of earlier events.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so thoroughly embarrassed—spilling drinks, fumbling my words—it wasn’t like me.

  In front of me is Gregor, Elenna and their oldest son, Tharon. The kid whom my comrades and I saved during our patrol.

  I leaned back in the chair, trying to will away the heat still lingering on my face. "So..." I began, clearing my throat. "Uh, about earlier, Gregor. I—"

  Gregor raised a hand, stopping me mid-sentence. "It’s nothing, Vaelrik. Really." His voice was steady, calm, but the faint twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his amusement. "Besides, who hasn’t had a moment like that before? You handled yourself well enough."

  "Well enough? That’s a stretch," I muttered, my tail flicking in mild frustration.

  Elenna, sitting quietly beside him, smiled softly. "What matters is that you brought Tharon back. That’s all we care about."

  Gregor nodded. His expression shifted, growing serious. "And that’s what we’re here to talk about. Vaelrik, I need to thank you—and your comrades—for what you did. Without you, Lief might not have come back to us."

  I opened my mouth to downplay it, but Gregor pressed on, his voice thick with emotion.

  "After Tharon left, we searched everywhere. We organized parties, reached out to nearby settlements—nothing. It was like he vanished into thin air. And then... when Lief decided to follow him..."

  Elenna’s hand tightened on Gregor’s arm, her usually composed face betraying the pain of those memories.

  Gregor took a deep breath, steadying himself. "We were devastated. We thought we’d lost both of them. To have them back now, alive and well..." His voice cracked slightly, and he looked away, his wings shifting uneasily.

  Before I could respond, Gregor and Elenna stood. I blinked, startled as they stepped in front of me, their wings folding tightly against their backs.

  "Hey, you don’t need to—" I started, but the words froze in my throat.

  The two of them bowed deeply, their voices trembling.

  "Thank you, Vaelrik," Elenna said, her voice a quiet sob. "Thank you for bringing them back to us."

  Tharon stepped forward as well, his usual stoic demeanor replaced with a rare vulnerability. His bow wasn’t as deep, but the gratitude in his voice was unmistakable. "You’ve done more for our family than I can ever repay."

  I sat there, stunned. Drakonians didn’t bow lightly. It wasn’t just a gesture; it was a profound display of respect and gratitude.

  "Alright, alright," I said quickly, my tail flicking nervously. "No more bowing. Sit down before you make me uncomfortable."

  Gregor and Elenna hesitated but finally straightened, their eyes glistening with unshed tears as they returned to their seats.

  I exhaled deeply, forcing a smile to ease the tension. "Look, I didn’t do it alone. Duke and the others played just as big a part. You should be thanking them too."

  "We will," Gregor said firmly. "But we wanted to start with you."

  Fair enough, I thought, though it still felt strange. Looking at Tharon, I could sense that he hadn’t told his parents about why he left. True, I just found him last night.

  I decided to change the subject. "So, Tharon," I said, turning to the younger drakonian. "Mind telling me why you left in the first place? Seems like a pretty big decision to make without a word to anyone."

  Tharon hesitated, his eyes dropping to the floor. He fidgeted with the edge of his cloak, clearly reluctant.

  "Take your time," I said, leaning forward. "But we’re all here to listen."

  Finally, Tharon began, his voice low and hesitant. "I... I wanted to help. To do something for our race."

  Gregor frowned. "Help? By running off into the wilds on your own?"

  Tharon flinched but pressed on. "Since the reconciliation efforts began, things have been... hard. Work’s increased, and expectations are higher than ever. Growing up, I heard so many stories about our ancestors—the terrible things they did to the other races. I wanted to change that. I wanted to be someone who could make a difference."

  His voice grew steadier as he continued. "When I heard about Eregor’s journey—how he left to show the world that Drakonians could be trusted—I felt inspired. I thought... maybe I could follow in his footsteps."

  Hearing my former comrade’s name, I nearly choked on the sip of water I’d just taken, spraying it across the floor. "Eregor? You wanted to follow Eregor?"

  Tharon blinked at me, confused. "Uh, yes? Why?"

  I waved him off, grabbing a cloth to clean the mess. "Nothing. Just... didn’t expect that."

  Honestly, this was a problem. Eregor’s actions had already stirred enough controversy back home. If he was inadvertently inspiring others to leave the safety of the village, things could get messy fast.

  "Go on," I said, motioning for Tharon to continue.

  He nodded. "I thought I was prepared. I packed supplies, weapons... but I didn’t realize how dangerous the outside world really was. I got lost in the forests for weeks. I ran out of food. I tried to kill wild animals and eat them, but the monsters scared me away. I used my small, weak wings to fly on top of trees, waiting for it to eat the food I claimed. When it went away, I climbed down, and what was left were just bones and blood. I had to survive by eating bird’s eggs or stealing food with other wild animals. I was starting to lose hope when you found me."

  Gregor’s face softened, his earlier frustration melting into concern. Elenna reached out, gently placing a hand on her son’s shoulder.

  Even I, an outsider to this family, felt unease about the fact that a kid, not taller than Duke, with limited skills and resources, survived for that long in the forest near the highlands.

  "I’m sorry," Tharon said, bowing his head again. "I didn’t mean to worry you. I just wanted to make a difference."

  "You have," Gregor said, his voice firm but kind. "By coming back alive."

  Tharon looked up, a faint smile breaking through his guilt.

  Before the moment could settle, a sharp knock on the door shattered the quiet.

  I stood, motioning for everyone to stay put. "I’ll get it."

  Opening the door, I found Jorven standing there, looking like he’d just crawled out of a mine. His hair was a mess, his face streaked with soot, most of his scales are covered in dust and dirt, and his eyes had the haunted look of someone who hadn’t slept in days.

  "Jorven?" I asked, eyebrows raised. "What happened to you?"

  "3 weeks" he muttered, brushing past me into the house. "I’ve been in the forge for 3 weeks. Don’t ask."

  He dropped a massive bag onto the table with a heavy thud before collapsing onto the couch. Within seconds, he was snoring.

  Gregor chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Looks like you’ve got your hands full."

  "Tell me about it," I muttered, rubbing my temples.

  As the room fell into an awkward silence, Gregor rose. "We should head home. Thank you again, Vaelrik. Truly."

  I nodded, walking them to the door. "Take care. And tell Lief to stop breaking things."

  They laughed, and as they left, I called upstairs for Duke and Kael. But before I could finish, a familiar voice boomed from the hallway.

  "Move!"

  Sylas stormed in, clutching a book to her chest and radiating chaos.

  Duke’s pov:

  I was holding Vaelrik’s expensive vase, trying to balance it on the tips of my fingers like one of those juggling acts I’d seen in my past life. To my side, Kael had his arms crossed, wearing an expression that was half-disapproving, half-impressed. Lief, on the other hand, was laughing uncontrollably, clutching his sides as I switched hands and spun the vase in the air.

  "See? This is what real skill looks like!" I said, tossing the vase up a little higher and catching it just in time.

  Kael smirked. "Real skill? Or just dumb luck?"

  "You’re free to try," I shot back, grinning as I passed the vase to him.

  "No thanks," Kael replied, stepping back like the vase might explode in his hands. "I’m not the one who wants to be remembered as the guy who broke Vaelrik’s most expensive decoration."

  I chuckled. "Not if. When. You have so little faith in me."

  Lief, sitting cross-legged on the floor, clapped his hands. "Do it again! That was amazing!"

  "Alright, alright. One more," I said. But before tossing the vase again, I decided to show off something from my past life that I never thought would come in handy here: sleight-of-hand magic tricks.

  I reached into my sleeve—where there was, of course, nothing—and pretended to pull a silver coin out of thin air.

  "What?!" Lief’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward.

  "Magic," I said with a smirk, flicking the coin between my fingers and then making it vanish with a flick of my wrist.

  "How did you do that?" Lief asked, his laughter giving way to wonder.

  "Trade secret," I said, conjuring the coin again before flipping it into the air and catching it.

  Kael rolled his eyes. "You should’ve been a street performer in your past life, Duke."

  If only he knew.

  After a few more stunts to keep Lief entertained, the boy suddenly grew quiet, his smile replaced with a curious look. "Duke," he said, tilting his head, "can you train me?"

  I blinked. "Train you?"

  "Yeah," he said, his bright eyes filled with determination. "Teach me how to fight. Like you and Kael."

  I exchanged a look with Kael, whose raised eyebrow mirrored my own surprise. "Why not ask your dad?" I asked, setting the vase carefully on the shelf before I dropped it. "Or Vaelrik? They’re way more qualified than me."

  Lief shook his head. "My dad’s too busy. He works as a clerk at the Dragna Palace and barely has time to train me. And Vaelrik... he’s amazing, but he’s a leader of the army. He won’t be around much, and I’d feel bad bothering him."

  "Then why me?" I asked, genuinely curious.

  Lief looked at me with wide, starry eyes that practically glowed with hope. "Because you’re strong, and you’re here. And you’re cool!"

  Kael stifled a laugh behind his hand, and I felt a flush creep up my neck.

  "Well..." I hesitated, but those eyes—those hopeful, earnest eyes—were impossible to refuse.

  Kael leaned closer, whispering, "He’s got you cornered."

  I sighed, finally caving. "Alright. But only after Kael and I get our weapons back."

  "Really?!" Lief’s face lit up, and his joy was so contagious that even Kael smiled.

  "Yeah, really," I said. "But don’t expect it to be easy. If you want me to train you, you’re going to have to work hard."

  "I will! I promise!" Lief said, practically bouncing on the spot.

  The warmth of the moment was short-lived, though, as a sudden sharp voice pierced the air.

  "DUKE!"

  I flinched, nearly knocking the vase off the shelf. My heart jumped to my throat as I quickly steadied it, putting it back with more care than I’d shown earlier.

  "What now?" I muttered, turning toward the source of the voice.

  Before I could react, Sylas stormed into the room, her eyes red and puffy. She didn’t even give me time to ask what was wrong before she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

  "Sylas?!" I froze, completely thrown off by her sudden outburst.

  She was crying, sobbing into my chest, her grip almost too tight. "You’re okay," she said between sobs. "You’re okay."

  I blinked, utterly baffled. "Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?"

  She didn’t answer, only clinging to me like her life depended on it.

  Kael and Lief watched from the side, both equally confused.

  "Hey, Sylas," I said gently, awkwardly patting her on the head. "What’s going on? Did something happen?"

  She shook her head, still not letting go. "I was so scared... so scared something had happened to you."

  I didn’t know how to respond to that. The sheer weight of her emotion caught me off guard.

  "I..." I hesitated, trying to piece together the right words. "I’m fine, Sylas. Really. See?"

  She pulled back just enough to look at me, her tear-streaked face full of relief. "Don’t ever scare me like that again, okay?"

  "I didn’t even do anything," I said, scratching the back of my head. "But, uh, sure. No scaring you. Got it."

  She nodded, finally loosening her grip.

  Kael gave me a look, clearly holding back a grin. "You really have a way with people, huh?"

  "Not the time, Kael," I muttered, still trying to make sense of what had just happened.

  Sylas wiped her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "I’m sorry," she said, her voice quieter now. "I just... I needed to make sure you were okay."

  "Well, I am," I said, offering her a small smile. "But seriously, what’s this all about?"

  She hesitated, looking like she wanted to say more but deciding against it. "It’s nothing. Just... promise me you’ll be careful, okay?"

  "Yeah," I said, patting her head again. "I promise."

  Whatever had brought this on, I figured I’d get the full story eventually. For now, I just let her stay close, her relief slowly easing the tension in the room.