Partners In Crime

Chapter 46: Tale of Celest Part 1

Lloyd shut himself in his lab for days after they returned from Stiix. Aria shutting herself in another room as well, the two had their own goals set. Lloyd, to experiment with his powers, after being ultimately defeated by Kaname. He knew he was no match to protect the one he loved unless he got stronger. Aria focused on reading her mother and brother's book that they found in Cloud Kingdom.

The young girl, abandoned by her tribe, traveled into the forest in hopes of finding shelter for the night. Unlike her fellow Oni, she found no solace in darkness, she only wished the morning would break soon. The sound of breathing echoed in the forest as she traveled, but she did not know where it was coming from.

It was until she was face to face with a dragon, that she realized she was no longer home. The beast staring down at her with hatred made her stumble backwards and onto the ground. The young girl closed her eyes, expecting to be killed right then and there but nothing happened. She opened her eyes to see the dragon was unable to move.

Curiously, she stood up and took a step towards it. He snarled at her angrily, as if to tell her not to come closer.

"I won't hurt you," she told it "I promise."

The dragon tried to get up as she got closer to it, but fell back onto the ground almost knocking her down with him. She inspected the dragon closer as he kept eyes on her. Upon closer inspection, she found an arrow radiating in darkness stuck in it's leg.

"It's going to hurt for a minute," she looks him in the eyes "but I promise it'll feel better."

The dragon roared as if to say no, but she grabbed the arrow and pulled it out. The dragon whipped his tale and knocked her on the ground. She shouted as the dragon rose onto its feet. She stayed on the ground as the dragon walked up to her.

"See," she smiles to him "it's better isn't it."

The dragon lowers its head before it's body transformed into a man with long black hair.

"Why did you do that?" he asked "You're one of them."

"So dragons.. have a human form." she says in amazement "I've never seen one."

"Woman answer me," the man demanded.

"Oh- well I mean.." she looked at the ground "you were hurt."

"It was your kind that did that." the man stated "You could've killed me easily."

"I didn't want to though," she argued as she got to her feet "to my kind I'm a sinner and not welcome in my home." she smiled again "I figured if I was going to die here, it wouldn't hurt to save another."

"Well.. I suppose I am grateful." the man crossed his arms and looked away with a slight blush on his face.

"Hm?" she tilts her head.

"You're like a little bunny walking up to a beast," the man says "I could've gobbled you up."

"But you didn't did you?" she giggles. "I'm Layla," she holds her hand out to him "thanks for not eating me Mr. dragon."

"Svern," the man mutters.

"Is that your name?" she asks.

"Yes," the man faces her and takes her hand "thank you."

-

"How much further?" Layla questions.

Layla was on the back of Svern in his dragon form as they soared through the sky. He made a rash decision to bring the Oni back to the dragon's nest. His mother surely wouldn't be happy about it. Surely enough, she wasn't.