Chapter 296 - The Rift (1/2)

”You've lived an interesting life,” said Li as the visions stopped and everyone returned to the present.

”Many would consider that an understatement, but yes,” said Lira. Her weapon now stood by her side, held away from her, away from any intent to fight. ”I could say the same about you. Little would I have ever known that there are those among your kind that defend and nourish.”

”How much of myself did you see?” asked Li.

Lira looked at Tia with a smile. ”Enough. Enough to trust you, for now.”

”For now? Well, I do suppose that is good enough considering how stubborn you are,” said Li with a sigh, his branched and leafed form heaving up and down with the motion.

”A bad trait of mine. Never has lessened over the centuries,” shrugged Lira. She knelt down to Tia's level. ”And to you, little dragon, I am glad you are in capable and caring hands.”

”Of course!” said Tia as she tugged at Li's hand proudly.

”It is good to know that there still yet bloodlines of dragons that elude my father's will,” said Lira. She looked up to Li with admiration for once. ”And it is good to know a parent that knows the importance of what it means to live free.”

”I try my best.”

Tia smiled up at Li. ”Papa is the best!”

Li put his hand down, and Tia hopped into it. He raised her up to his shoulder such that she could easily see Lira eye to eye.

Tia pointed to Lira's eyes. ”Pretty. Are you dragon like me? When I get eyes like that?”

”These eyes are a curse, little dragon,” said Lira. She shook her head. ”They may shine bright, but the blood they draw from is dark and selfish. To me, it seems your eyes far prettier. The bright green and the midnight black. They remind me of this world, at how it has so many ups and downs but in the end, it is still beautiful.”

”Thanks,” said Tia shyly.

”And I am a dragon like you,” said Lira. ”But in some ways, we are different. I know how you feel, little one. You want to see other dragons. You want to go to Torr Valeris.”

Li listened to hear what Lira would suggest.

”You should go,” said Lira to Li's surprise. ”You wish to explore, and nothing should stop you. But know that what you find, you may not like. Still, it should be you that comes to that realization.”

Tia nodded. ”I know. Papa tells me the dragons can be mean. Still want to see. Want to know.”

”Good, good,” said Lira. She directed her attention to Li. ”I know you will accompany her to Torr Valeris should she go. You will find resistance, and I have no qualms with you crushing it. But if you can, spare my father Val.”

”You of all people would ask for that?” said Li.

”I have no attachment to him. But he is important. He has fused with the world vein he slumbers upon, and his death means the death of the vein. There are ten veins upon this world and each is paramount in preventing the Old Ones from laying their tendrils here.

This one is already lost. Losing another would be disastrous.”

”I see,” said Li. He recalled what Sho-Gath had told him. The Old One could only reach out and contact Li because of a lack of ”Aura” in this area.

This tied in with Tyr's memories. The world vein the Triforge dwarves sat upon died when Tyr drained it, and now, the aura that covered the planet, infusing it with a power that could repel the Old Ones, had weakened, particularly in this area.

Hence this tiny portal that Lira guarded over, though there were still details Li wished to know.

”When the time comes, I will do what I deem is right. But the life on this world, I will always have in mind,” said Li.