Something Immortal

25: Feelings

Kali watched with a heavy heart as Som's back turned away from him. He wanted to follow, perhaps say reassuring words to ease the discomfort Som was feeling right now. Tricking him wasn't part of the mission, and this was all Kali's pronouncement, and he was guilty of taking things a little too far.

"Kali," Kyro called him suddenly. "Come over here."

As a Dragon Prince, he tried not to react too much and returned to Kyro's side without saying another word. But as he lifted his head, his sight went straight to the older druid right in front of them, and he could feel the muscles on his jaw flex.

"You lie," Sri accused, and Kali listened with a smirk on his face.

"Aren't we all?"

"Kali..." Kyro's way of disciplining his younger brother was different from the druid's. He never undermined his brother's ability, and he always put his trust that Kali had a reason for doing the things that he did. Sighing deeply, he turned his attention to Sri. "No one lied, Sri. You know well that your memory modification doesn't work on Kali. How many times have you used that thing to my brother?"

Sri scoffed, "You tolerated it!"

Kyro, "Because you said it would be beneficial, and I trust you."

"So, now it's my fault?"

"I didn't mean for it that way-"

"You're insinuating it."

"-yes, you're right. I'm sorry..."

Kali exhaled loudly enough to get their attention. "You two get a room. I'm leaving."

"How long has it been since you regain your memories?" Sri asked again, but this time, his tone was a little softer, and it made him stop in his tracks. But Kali could also perfectly tell that the druid was just looking for the right opportunity to scold him.

Kali grinned at the older male, visibly annoying him, "It never worked the first time. What makes you think the second time will succeed?"

"Just answer the damn question!"

"It came back three days right after you did the invocation."

Sri was shaken to hear this. The last time he tried to modify Kali's memories of Som, it lasted a year before everything came back to him once more. The second time was way shorter. Too short, and that was alarming.

"Don't you get it, Sri? Once is enough. Twice is too much. If you tried doing it to my brother again, it will be a joke," Kyro told him flatly.

"This is-it's frustrating."

"Then don't do it."

This time, Kali was the one who decided for himself, and even his brother gave an inexplicable stare. Kali didn't care. This happened twice now. He was not going to be shut down this time.

"You don't understand. Kali, it's what Som wants. Even I couldn't understand it. The only thing he said to me was that you and he can't be together."

Something deep inside Kali simmered as he heard this. "I'll find that out myself."

"No! Som told me before he...that no matter what happens, I am to stop you and him from being together. I need to-"

"Can you?" Kali's inside growled as he looked at this person in front of him. How come he was so small now in his vision that he could easily crush him with one hand? "Can you stop me?"

But Sri wasn't the type to get terrified just because he was facing a dragon. The stubbornness was something that Som had inherited, or this was probably a druid's personal trait. Regardless, he held his own as he reminded Kali of what he didn't wish to be reminded of.