180 Dream II (2/2)

”What do you feel when you see them,” said Li to Tia as he noticed her intently watching the deer, her mouth slightly agape as it usually was when she was concentrated.

”Food,” said Tia simply.

”Not just food. Here-,” Li took Tia's hand and softly stretched it forwards, towards the deer. ”Focus and try to feel what I am feeling.”

Li closed his eyes and focused his own mind on the warmth of life emanating from the deer.

”Warm,” said Tia.

Li nodded. ”Warm like Old Thane, right? Like Azhar, like Jeanne, like Sylvie.”

”Mm-hm.” Tia smiled as she remembered everyone Li mentioned. Especially hearing Jeanne and Sylvie's names made her happy as once she obtained a human form, the two girls had seen almost no end to spoiling Tia.

”That means the same life flows through all of them. Through Jeanne and Sylvie and the deer. The life is warm, and that warmth is precious.”

Tia furrowed her brows. ”So, no hunt?”

Li shook his head. ”You can hunt. But when you hunt, what you hunt gives you their warmth. It is a precious gift. Sometimes, you cannot take too much of it, sometimes, you do not take it at all.

But always, when you do take, be thankful.”

From hearing Tia's thoughts vocalized throughout the past month, he knew that there was some instinctual part of her that entrenched her as an apex predator. She had a rudimentary view of the world where might made right, where because she was strong, she had every right to devour the weak whenever she wanted to grow as strong as possible.

Likely part of her draconic nature, and it made sense, given that her kind reached the pinnacle of monsterkind through constantly evolving by consuming others.

Li did not want her to fall completely to that instinct. It would breed an unhealthy arrogance, and, most importantly, a lack of respect for the life around her.

”Yes, papa,” said Tia contentedly.

Li looked at Tia giving him a toothy smile, and he did not know if she understood the full magnitude of what he had said, but he had no doubts that in time, she would come to know with how quickly she caught onto things.

”Good,” said Li simply.

”Warmth,” repeated Tia to herself. She looked to Li a little quizzically. ”Papa, you say deer warmth and people warmth the same, but your warmth different.”

”Because I'm your father,” said Li. He knew it was likely because he truly was different, immortal and divine, but he did not want to implant complicated notions of divinity and the power that came with it into Tia's head while he was trying to teach her to be more understanding of the mortal life around her.

Tia hugged Li, nuzzling her head into his chest. ”Much warmer than others. I like it.”

Li held Tia like that, putting a comforting hand to her head, and in a few minutes, he felt her breathing grow slower, deeper, and soon enough, she was blissfully asleep in his arms.