Night Raven, Midland


    The night grew darker and Seshwan had gone to his separate room apart from the others. Clyve and Xerxes could be heard in the main room making a ruckus till the late hours, long after everyone turned in for a night’s rest.


    In the separate room, isolated and concealed, Seshwan lit a candle and began to cover the old dry rotten desk with books and tomes he had brought along from the Geohmn crypt. All these texts spoke of the Dragons that defended the land against tyrannical rulers in great times of despair. The dragon of the East in ancient times swore an oath to defend humanity when they were in their darkest hours.


    While his twin, the Dragon of the West, would serve as the alternative if humanity was beyond redemption.


    Seshwan laid out the sword he had acquired at the vault in Scarlet Cove.  He began pouring over the ancient texts.


    ''I wonder If these are serious about Drax being the dragon that will end the world?''


    "You know as long as you’re the owner of the sword I can hear your thoughts, right?" Drax spoke up for the first time since Scarlet Cove.


    "You nearly scared me to death man! Though your timing is perfect; I was just wondering how I''m supposed to communicate with you." Seshwan didn''t need to speak so instead he spent the idle energy on Researching the dragon stone.


    -The dragon stone. The physical bond between the dragon and the weapon they embody. The dragon’s sword cannot be drawn without the stones being bound to an owner and inserted into the weapon.


    -Be advised the dragons must never be released from their oaths. If one were to become free and reincarnate, calamity would befall mankind. -


    "Well the text is helpful if I was looking for information about the rituals or the history but I can''t find anything on what the stones look like or where it is. You’re sure it wasn''t on the corpse of Lord Geohmn?" Seshwan openly spoke, expecting an answer from someone.


    "The stones are not normal jewels. They are a living link for myself and any other dragons in this form. So, the imagination of the craftsmen dictates the design of the stone. Making it easier to hide the stones in plain sight." Drax was also pondering where the stone may be.


    The original craftsmen in ancient times never revealed what the true stones looked like.


    ''Hiding in plain sight? Hmmm,'' Seshwan pondered for a while. He drew out one of the gold coins from the crypt. There were twenty-five pieces in total and everyone possessed remarkable craftsmanship for normal coins.


    "What''s that coin!?" Drax exclaimed. Rolling black smoke poured out of the swords as Drax took his physical form and snatched the coin from Seshwan.  "You fool!"


    "That''s not nice and I was examining that! Give it back." Seshwan swiped his hand toward Drax’s back only to be met by a spectral form that he passed through, temporarily disrupting the dragon’s image.


    "Those damn fools! Geohmn must have had the stone split and reformed into these damn coins. I can feel the energy coming from that coin. If only we had the rest!" Drax flipped the coin back to Seshwan.


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    "Uh, you mean like these twenty-four others I have here?" Seshwan placed the stack on the desktop.


    "Boy, I''d kiss you if I could. But I won''t, ‘cause that''s gross. All we need is a Smith able to refine the stone and reform it! Then Seshwan, you will be able to unleash my power upon the world!" Drax laughed.


    "First off, you’re gross for thinking such things. Second, I doubt anyone we know will gladly forge us a dragon stone just if we ask. Especially if they know how dangerous it will be after it’s done. I''ve been reading a lot about you Drax. You and Sol.


    “Your sword wielders laid waste to thousands in ancient times! Usually,  on a whim, they may be connected to the imperial occupation forces. If I release you, we are going to form a new contract. Before we go collect Sol’s blade." Seshwan looked up from his books after citing his sources.


    "Seems fair. Beats being bored doing nothing in a tomb. *yawn* well I''m going back to sleep. Wake me up when we do the forging."


    "Drax that may not be for months or even years." Seshwan stared, shocked at the length this old dragon wanted to sleep.


    "In the eyes of an immortal years are like seconds. You ever wondered how the world was created in seven days when time wasn''t a concept yet? What seemed like a day to us would be millennia for beings with your lifespan.”


    With that, Drax dispersed into the air again.


    Seshwan breathed a sigh of relief ''Geez that old guy’s a real pain in the butt when he''s awake. I hope it''s not always like this.''


    Seshwan had a lead on the dragon stones and his mind could now focus on training rather than deciphering ancient texts and dealing with the looming threat of having a dragon in his back pocket.


    As Seshwan began to pack away his texts and do some training, a knock came at the door. Xerxes entered before Seshwan had a moment to answer.


    "Is there an issue?" Seshwan asked, confused as to why Xerxes had come to see him at this hour.


    “Nothing’s wrong with me. Vanessa asked me to come talk to you” Xerxes said, he walked in and sat on a stool in the corner.


    “Why would she ask you to do that?”


    “I imagine it has to do with earlier. You know because, at the smallest mention of your mother, you nearly broke down. I respect you as a companion whom I must travel with but, when Clyve spoke of our mother and asked you about yours, I lost what respect I had for you. You looked as if you were completely broken by a child. I''m not the only person to notice the small things.” Xerxes said crossing his arms.


    Seshwan thought back again, reminded of the painful memories surrounding his childhood. The memories of his home life just a few years before where he was surrounded by loved ones. All of that was gone now. He could never face his father or his brothers. He would never be able to see his mother’s loving smile or feel her warm embrace. As his mind flipped through his memories a tear rolled down his face.


    Seshwan wiped the tear away. “Xerxes I’ll ask you once to not mention my childhood to me. You, or anyone else, have no idea what has happened to me and cannot possibly imagine or know how I feel.”


    Xerxes had previously been annoyed by Seshwan''s attitude. That tear nearly pushed him over the edge.


    Xerxes scoffed before he stood and punched Seshwan in the back of the head. “Face your pain, you fucking wimp! Do you think the world is so unfair to only you? That no one gets you? I’m sure that’s how you truly feel and I’m sure you’d love everyone’s pity, but you won’t get mine. In that other room is a young child who I haven’t seen in months and won’t see again for a long time. He lives in this dump because he was abandoned by our mother! But he won’t cry even though we both know she isn’t coming back for him. It’s disgusting that you think your life''s so much worse than the others around you.”


    Seshwan rubbed the back of his head as he thought about Clyve. The boy’s mother was an exiled human servant from the demon clans. She was more than likely marked and would be hunted for the rest of her life by holy knights. The likelihood of her returning was slim.


    “Xerxes I don’t want your pity, though if you knew what had happened to me during my childhood, I think you’d reconsider your words. I’m a noble who was exiled from my home and one day I will return there to reclaim what I lost. You’re right; I can’t let my pain hold me down.” Seshwan’s expression turned dark as he spoke.


    Xerxes sat back down, “There it is, that’s the look I’ve come to know in your eyes. That burning fire of hatred. Someone someday will satisfy that bloodlust." Xerxes tossed a light kick to the back of Seshwan''s chair. "So you know; if you ever break down like that again in front of me or anyone else be sure you’re prepared to face consequences. I don’t like wimps and neither does Kubard.”


    “One day Xerxes, I’ll explain my whole story to you, perhaps then you’ll understand me better. Also, let’s get something clear: I don’t particularly like you Xerxes.”


    “The feeling mutual”


    “You prick. Regardless, I appreciate you knocking some sense into me.”


    “Anytime.”


    The serious emotional tone hung in the air for what felt like hours. Both parties sat in silence staring at one another.


    Seshwan cracked a smile before speaking; “If you don’t like me, why not tell Vanessa to come see me like you normally would?”


    Xerxes rolled his head to the left looking away from Seshwan. “Fuck off, don’t get any ideas, I wasn’t concerned”.


    “Sure you weren’t bud” Seshwan mockingly added.


    “Vanessa asked me to check in on you; she was worried. I’m mostly doing this for her sake.”


    “Oh? You got a thing for Vanessa that I’ve somehow missed?”


    “Who wouldn’t?!? Even a blind man could see she’s hot! Have you not seen her?! Plus, she’s good with kids and can cook! I mean complete package!”


    Seshwan dropped his head into his hands as Xerxes stood up and made some thrusting motions with his hips.


    “Get the hell out of here. Go get some sleep” Seshwan laughed.


    As Xerxes was leaving, Seshwan looked toward the door and added, “Though we have our differences, thank you for this Xerxes.”


    Xerxes didn’t reply but exited silently.