6 Silver hair (1/2)

[Oh man... They are even bigger up-close...]

”Don't remind me...”

The duo approached the nest where the dragons were sleeping. Daren started to be covered in fear as he got closer and closer to such powerful creatures. he had faced many opponents in the past but he was never a good match against flying enemies. He had a hard skin in his beast form and Marceus would provide him with even bigger defensive power, but there was still little he could do against the power of gravity. If possible he would have preferred to just leave this place as soon as possible.

[You got the scent yet?]

”Not yet, i need to get closer...”

[... You are not moving...]

”I'm trying to move but my body won't respond...”

[Are you really that afraid of dragons...?]

”I'm afraid of anything that can grab me a drop from the middle of the sky...”

[Just calm down... With our boosted speed there is no way they can catch us even if they wake up!]

”Yeah... Yeah you're right... It will be ok...”

[...]

”...”

[You are still not moving...]

”I need a minute ok!?”

[... Take your time...]

Daren finally started to move closer towards the nest very carefully trying not to make a sound. But as he approached it he realized they might have a problem.

”There are more scents in here than i expected... This might take a while.”

Daren started to circle the nest slowly to gather all the scents he could find. Just how many people have been here before? Luckily the dragons seemed to be in deep sleep and didn't notice the lion man sniffing their bed. Daren was trying really hard to relax but the fear was almost paralyzing him. He needed a distraction to calm down.

”Hey Marceus... What did you meant back then by ”Your world”?”

[... You wanna talk about this now!!??]

”I need to take my mind somewhere else, please!”

[Fine... The thing is i actually came from a different world from yours. When i was younger i suffered an accident that ended up killing me. My body ended up perishing but my soul was sent to some kind of divine realm. There i met a woman in a beautiful dress who made me an offer.]

Daren kept listening while still gathering all the scents.

[She told me i could either rest in peace among my ancestors and loved ones that had already parted, or i could try living another life in a new world. I barely knew any of my ancestors and didn't really had that many loved ones so i just picked the second option.]

Daren thought to himself... ”Does this guy always treat everything with this much casualty...?”.

[She told me that when i reached adulthood in this new life i would gain some sort of power and that i should use this power to aid the hero that would bring peace to this world.]

”Wait, is that why you are so obsessed with world peace?”

Daren asked in a casual tone now that he was more relaxed, not noticing that his voice had made the sleeping dragon budge a little bit.

[Kinda? With the way she said it i thought it couldn't be that hard to accomplish. Of course i had some doubts at first... But as i met more and more incredible people and managed to help so many lives that were deep in despair, i started to think that we might actually do it!]

”So... What happens when you do find the ideal partner...?”

The dragon moved by the noise started to open his eyes.

[No idea... Sometimes i honestly kinda forget that i even have to chose someone... Don't you think it's fine to just stay as we are now, all of us working together?]

”I suppose so... Ah! I got all the scents! A lot of them are from other dragons around here but if go back to the village i can find the bab- Blarggh!!!”

Before he could finish his sentence Daren was smacked by the claw of the now awaken dragon who had all his focus on the two of them.

[I think we were talking too loudly...]

Daren stood up with immense pain. this was the first time anything had managed to hurt his beast skin to that degree. Never mind falling from a high drop, that claw alone could end his life right there.

”You think!? God... What are these things made of...”

The dragon leaped from the nest and pounced on Daren. Before he was squashed Marceus extended his form to cover Daren' whole body. The black lion monster was now completely covered in silver armor.

”Oh that was close... Thanks Marceus... Marceus?”

[His claw... It stinks!!! Get us out of here!!!]

”Sorry!”

Daren raised his arms to push the claw that was trying to flatten him away. The power was greater than Daren expected and the dragon ended up hitting it's back against the nest, awakening the second dragon.

[Daren you got the scents right?]

”Right!”

[Then let's get out of here!!]

Daren started to move at tremendous speed but his body was still in pain from being hit by the claw.

[Gustav, can you hear us?]

Marceus sent a telepathic message to Gustav.

[I can hear you Marceus! Did Daren got the scents?]

[He did! Tell Ria to prepare a wind-scar. The dragons are following us but we will try to shake then off! Also tell Auren that Daren will be needing some healing soon.]

[Understood sir!]

”Guahh!!”

[Daren! Are you ok??]

”I'm fine... Just not used to running while this hurt...”