Our second world- Book two: War is coming

Chapter 1

~Haren~

Falling. Darkness. Silence. Nothing. Then, he stopped. Now, he was standing in a black void surrounded by echoing shouts and cries as pitch black flames lapped at his feet like breaking waves on a shore. Muffled shouts reverberated through the nothingness around him. A burning heat drilling through the back of his eyes as the flames around him threatened to consume his very being. Feeling something wet and sticky, he looked down at his clawed hands to see them painted crimson. A shadowed figure crumpled at his feet. It looked familiar.
"Hey! Wake up!" The call rang crisp and clear as his eyes snapped open. Elen was standing over him; an annoyed expression plastered to her face," Finally! Goddesses, If you're plan was to sleep the whole time, why'd you drag me out here?" She grumbled, helping him stand.
"Sorry," He mumbled, massaging his sore shoulder," Are you ok? I wasn't too hard, was I?"
"Nah. You lasted a lot longer that time." She smirked.
"You're a dragon that weighs some hundreds of pounds even in a human form and you expect me to be able to properly fight you. How long did you think I was gonna last?" Haren said, taking a swig of water," I'd do a lot better if you weren't so bloody heavy."
"It's not nice to mention a ladies weight, you know." Elen teased, flicking water at him with her fingers.
"You? A lady? I'd never guess." Haren replied, She retorted by dumping her water on his head. With a hiss, he jumped backwards.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," He blushed, drying his hair with a nearby towel," You must be hearing things."
"Then call me crazy, kitty. I know you purr, and I know how to make you do it." She replied, edging toward him.
He dodged around her and threw the towel back on the table," That isn't necessary,"
"Then quit groaning and get back to work."
"Alrigh' chill. Would it kill you to let me have a short break?" He whined," It's a Saturday after all."
"Sorry, kitty. You get a break when you do what I asked you." Elen replied, flicking his tail," If you're really that tired then hurry up and do it. I know you can."
"Ugh, We've been at this for hours." Haren groaned," I'm never going to get this!"
"Well, you wont with that attitude," Elen quipped.
"Whatever," He grumbled," Let's just get this stupid exercise done with." He waited for ShadowBlight to stop smoking before handing it over to the brunette.
Elen nodded and took her stance in the middle of the secluded garden. The black sword in one hand and her scythe in the other," When you're ready."
He took a deep breath and focused his attention on the sword. Ducking as Elen swung her large weapon at him.
"You know," He paused as he dodged another swing," This would be a lot easier if you weren't doing that."
She rolled her eyes," That's the point."
"Can I at least have a wooden sword?" He asked.
"No. You're supposed to ignore me and focus on the sword. I'm trying to distract you on purpose."
"Great." He mumbled, dodging her again.
This went on for another three hours, and at that point, Elen was so bored she decided to call it quits for the day. Haren was frusturated that he hadn't been able to make any progress, but his body was so fatigued that he couldn't complain.
He collapsed in a chair by the tea table as Chris came in with a tray of teacups for the two of them.
"You seem tired, master." Chris said, pouring Haren a cup," Shall I draw the bath for you?"
"Yes please," Haren replied, wincing as the soreness in his shoulders and arms stiffened when he reached for the teacup," I'm so glad I get a break tomorrow. I'm stiff to the bone."
"Goddesses, you're such a whiny baby." Elen scoffed, downing her cup in one go," Grow up."
"Well I'm sorry, but I think getting hit with the brunt end of a giant, magic scythe entitles me to some whining," Haren retorted.
"I didn't hit you that hard. Contrary to your belief, I was holding back." She rolled her eyes," Sorry if I was too tough, kitty. I'll hold back more next time."
"Thank you," He sighed, standing up.
With the wave of pain that shot through his body at the motion, he knew that he would have many, many bruises when he woke up tomorrow, and he wasn't looking forward to it.
When he got back to his room, he found a warm bath waiting for him. Making a mental note to thank Chris later, he quickly undressed and climbed into the large bath. Almost instantly, the stiffness between his shoulders melted away.
For the first time in the last three months, he felt relaxed. A feeling he didn't often have the luxury of experiencing.
"Hey Haren, you almost done in there?" August called through the door," Chris brought you lunch and I've got a surprise for you."
"Ok, I'll be out in a few minutes," Haren replied, sliding down so that his hair was submerged in the water.
After soaking that way for a few minutes, he crawled out, dried off, and drained the bath. Changing into a pair of light gray sweatpants and a blue t-shirt before heading out to the bedroom.
August was waiting for him with a fluffy blanket.
As soon as he opened the door, August threw the blanket around him and picked him up before carrying him bridal style to the bed.
Haren let out a small squeak as August dropped him onto a giant pile of pillows covering the bed.
"I heard you had an eventful day today," he said with a smirk.
"You were literally there." Haren rolled his eyes.
August giggled as he crawled into the bed," I know. You seemed to be having a bit of trouble."
"Elen's almost as bad as you were when you first started training me," Haren laughed.
"I wasn't that bad!" August exclaimed, shoving a pillow in Harens face.
"You're right," Haren smirked," You were worse."
"You take that back!" August said, throwing another pillow at him.
"Only if you agree to something." Haren said, catching the pillow.
"What is it?" August asked, setting down a pillow he was about to throw.
"No. You have to agree to it first." Haren shook his head.
"That's not fair." August whined," Why cant you tell me?"
"You'll say no if I did," Haren muttered so quietly at first he thought August hadn't heard him.
August cupped Harens chin in his hand and pulled him into a kiss," How could I say no to you, darling?"
"Alright, There's actually two things I want to ask you. The first is I want you to come with me to meet my mom," Haren said, his shoulders slumping," You probably don't want to, right?"
"Are you kidding? I've been dying to meet your family!" August laughed, snuggling up to him," What's the second thing?"

"Well, I've been thinking about it for a while now, but I'm a little nervous to actually ask you." Haren said," I don't have a ring yet, but I want to know if you'll marry me."

August sat up suddenly, causing a few pillows to fly off the bed," Are you kidding?"

"I-is that a no?"

"Yes. Of course I will." August answered, snuggling back down in the pile of pillows.

~The next day~

He jumped at the sudden knock on the door.

"Come in," August called.

"Are you two about ready?" Grace asked, closing the door behind her.

"Just waiting on you," Haren replied,"You ready?"

August nodded and the three of them linked arms as Harens ring and Graces necklace started glowing brightly. In the moment following the flash of blue light, the trio found themselves in Harens other bedroom.

"Wow," August breathed," Your room is so small."

"Ha-ha, very funny," Haren replied, opening the door.

"Alright, now which one of you two trouble makers is in your brothers room again?" Came an annoyed call from down the hall, followed by footsteps.

As Tsukiyama laid eyes on the three,now standing in the hall, her mouth fell open and her face was painted in shock.

"H-hey mom."

She smiled and ran over. Pulling both Haren and Grace into a tight hug," well this is certainly unexpected," She laughed, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Yeah. Sorry we haven't been home in a while. some things came up." Grace said.

"Well, it was certainly worth the wait," Tsu replied," I was just about to start dinner so you're just in time. So, who's this?"

"Oh, right. Mom, this is my fiancé, August," Haren began.

"Nice to finally meet you," August said, shaking Tsus hand," I heard there are little ones around here somewhere."

"I'll go find them," Grace offered, running out of the room.

When Grace was gone, Tsu beckoned the two boys to her room. Without saying anything she went over to the jewelry box on her bed-stand and pulled two rings from the drawer in the box. One silver, and the other two small gold rings attached with a thin chain.

"Haren, this is your mothers wedding ring. She wanted you to have it," Tsu began, handing Haren the gold ring. Turning to August, she continued, handing him the silver ring," This was my old wedding ring. I want you to have it on the condition that I'm invited to the wedding."

"Well, obviously. But we haven't decided on a date yet," Haren said.

"Good enough for me."

The three of them headed out to the living room. Haren, Grace, Yamera, and August played a card game while Tsu worked on dinner. After they ate, the seven of them played a few rounds of a card game. It was almost three by the time everyone but Haren and August were asleep.

"Hey babe?" Haren looked down at the blonde whos head was rested on his shoulder.

"Something wrong?"

"No. I was just thinking, I've been trying to return for a while now, but I cant. Also, your mom and siblings can see me even when we aren't sharing a mana path. It's like I'm a normal person here."

"I noticed that too. What about it?"

"What if we came back here? live together, and even start a family?" August asked," We could get a house in the country somewhere and bring Mary with us."

"You know what?" Haren began, nuzzling closer to his partner," I'd like that, and I think Mary would too."

"So it's decided?" August asked, looking up at Haren.

"Yes. Once everything is dealt with, we'll come back together and get married." When he looked down, he realized that August had drifted off to sleep," Hm. sleep well."