Dragon's Missing Treasure

Running Of Age

In the backyard of a Merchant family's home is a woodshed. It was sweltering in the summer heat and freezing in winter winds. This place wasn't really a place meant to house human life. Unfortunately, if one were to poke their head past the doorway and look at the far corner they'd find a rough mat on top of which is a threadbare blanket covering a figure that was too thin and too small for his age. He was counting down the seconds to midnight and his birthday, prepared to run should his dear cousin try to play any tricks on him.

~~~~~

Accross the country, in the capital there was another figure, tall and graceful. His long blond hair tied up enough to keep it out of his masked face. He sat in the gazebo in the garden he had planted for his darling wife. Most people in his Uncle's country don't tend to be as single-mindedly trans-fixed on their luck bride when they're bestowed one, but this king, he didn't dare look this gift in the mouth. His wife was kind enough to put up with his fears, even teaching him how to swim to put him at ease.

His stormy eyes clouded with mournful and unshed tears as he reminisced. From their wedding, they were barely no longer infants, to their first bath together, this king was too scared to bathe alone but he needed to protect his wife from the bath monsters, to the last time they had seen each other.

"Let me go with you, Ry." The blond boy asked the one holding his hand. "I need to be as filial too."

"Dray, you need to be filial to your Imperial Uncle." His wife scolded.

"I can't help but worry, you're the only wife I'll ever have." He squeezed the boy's hand to seal his promise. "Promise me."

"What would you have this Palace promise you?" His green eyes glinted mischievously as he smiled tenderly at the blond.

"Promise this king that you will join me in my bed when you get back." He lifted the hand he was holding up to kiss it gently. "I know you have nightmares and I wish to help."

"Alright, as long as nothing happens until we are grown-up." His wife was hiding a blush with a stern expression.

"This king promises that nothing will, this king only wishes to hold you in my arms while we sleep."

He never got to hold his wife again. His fingers traced over the painting of his wife that was next to him. Tracing his face with sorrowful affection.

'Ry, your dragon has grown up, can you see him? Is he strong enough for you now?'

~~~~~

A man calmly walked on a midnight stroll through the town he happened to be staying in until a certain rebellious faction is squashed from the area. His mousy brown hair pulled up into a bun and his somewhat wolfish eyes appeared dulled like he wasn't threatening but the scars on his face told another story. Regardless of his casual dress and leisurely pace, he exuded power and a niggling feeling of importance.

This man was the General of the Army of Wolves, Remus Lupin. Despite his duty to be there, he wished he was instead looking for the missing Crown Princess, his little cub. As he turned a corner a bit after midnight a small figure crashed into him and despite them falling over they immediately bowed, far too similarly to how one is expected to beg forgiveness from the emperor and began pleading.

"Milord, this palace is sorry for running into you." They spoke. "This palace is already married, please don't let them defile this palace."