The Soul of a Dragon

Chapter 73

Hiccup

Toothless is perched beside me, his head tilted curiously as I tinker with his tail fin. It's been giving him trouble for a few days now – loose in the hinges, probably from all the long flying he's been doing recently with his mate. And, no, I don't want to know where they go nor what they do during such flights.

Nevertheless, I can't help but smile at him. It's like old times, back when everything was new, back when I was just a kid trying to figure out how to make this self-flying tail fin work. "Hold still, bud," I murmur, adjusting one of the straps. Toothless huffs, his eyes watching me intently and his tail swishing left and right – probably just to annoy me.

"There," I say after a few minutes of tweaking, standing back to admire the adjustment. "That should keep you steady for a while."

Toothless stretches his wings and flicks his tail, testing the balance. His eyes flick to mine, and he rumbles softly in approval. But even as I feel pride in having fixed it, there's a heaviness in my chest that's impossible to ignore.

Because I know what this really means. I'm not just fixing his tail. I'm preparing him for something bigger. Something I'm not ready for.

The Hidden World.

Toothless has been restless lately. I've noticed it in the way he looks at the horizon, in the way his wings twitch as if he's ready to fly somewhere far away. And I know why. I know he's longing for his home – the place where dragons truly belong, where he belongs as the king with his queen by his side. But how can I let him go? How can I let him go when we've finally found peace again?

"Everything okay?"

Vara's voice pulls me from my thoughts. I turn to see her standing behind me, her arms crossed as she watches Toothless play with Aria. She looks radiant in the evening light, but there's something guarded in her expression – something that matches the weight in my chest.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, just... adjusting Toothless' tail. It was a little loose."

Vara steps closer, her eyes softening as she senses my thoughts. "He's been restless, too, hasn't he?"

I don't answer right away, but my silence is enough. She knows. She feels it, too. Aria has been acting the same way.

"They miss the Hidden World," she says quietly, her voice heavy with emotion. "They belong there, Hiccup. We both know that."

I clench my jaw, trying to push down the rising frustration. I know she's right. But it's not that simple. "It's just... we've been through so much to get here. To find peace. And now, what? I'm supposed to let him go right after we've finally got everything back at home?"

Vara's eyes search mine, and I can see the conflict in them. "It's not about letting go, Hiccup. It's about doing what's right for them. This is just as difficult for me to realise as it is for you. They've always been wild at heart. They need to be free."

"I know that!" I snap, more harshly than I intended. Her eyes widen slightly, and I immediately regret my tone. "I am sorry," I repeat, my voice calmer, and pinch the bridge of my nose. "But I just...I'm not ready. Not yet."

Vara steps closer, her hand cupping my neck and her warmth soothing my nerves. "You don't have to do it alone."

But the demons are too strong today.

"I'm not alone," I say, my voice tight. "But it still feels like I'm losing everything again."

Her face softens, and she squeezes my hand. "You're not losing him, Hiccup. You're setting him free. You're giving him what he needs."