1 The kid that wanted to meet the Dragons
- When the Light and the darkness parted, the time of the children of the Light began. The lightlings were formed according to their essential functions into one species and five major races. The explorers, equipped with ears and a tail like that of a fox, possess the senses and agility to recognize different terrains. Healers, with insect like membranous wings and advanced empathic abilities, have the ability to reach out immediately and help anywhere. The defenders, endowed with feathery wings and great physical strength, are the pride and strength of The Light, and they are in charge of protecting their interests and those of their people, and finally there are the Researchers in conjunction with the Producers who only possess basic humanoid characteristics and are in charge of... Onion! Elliot Onion, why are you drawing in class!?
The little lightling explorer had, again, drawn a rather poor picture of a dragon. It was the fifth time that week, and the teacher, a lightling researcher with a big temperament problem, had already lost patience with him. Like every day, she took the drawing away, made a scrap out of it, and threw it into the recycler. The rest of Elliot's classmates looked at the scene with a mixture of fear and mockery.
- When I grow up I'm going to be a great explorer like my dad, because I want to know the land of the dragons. - He said, crying over his drawing.
- And that's why you drew that picture? - She said before she gave him an angry look. - Don't be silly! It's been forbidden to go there since the war.
The other children pointed at him and started making fun of him. Then the nightmare ended.
That was the past. Now facing Elliot, who's standing on the doorstep of an ordinary house, in a certain forgotten corner of an ownerless universe, stands one of the most important dragons of the multiverse. A low-ranking Divine Dragon, wearing the appearance of a human woman covered in a thick white robe.
- I have been searching for you. - She says.
- If you've come to fulfill my childhood dream, you're a little late. - Elliot says, smiling in a joking tone.
The woman smiles before she says - you saw through my costume!
- I recognize the light of my friends. - Elliot smiles and invites her in - But what brings you here, Lunafreya?
- The peace talks are coming to an end. You'll soon be exempted! - Says Lunafreya, excited.
- Ah, look, how nice. - Says Elliot, not too excited.
Lunafreya can tell instantly.
- Well, come on in, I'm sure we have some catching up to do. - Says Elliot leaning back so she can pass. Lunafreya enters and sees the house in an improvable state, but not too bad at all.
- Tina, we have visitors! - Elliot exclaims, and from a ladder descends a teenage lightling scout dressed in below-knee jeans and a loose white short-sleeved T-shirt with the sentence "Special Defects" printed in Comic Sans.
- Auntie Luna! - shouts the young girl, sliding down by sitting on the stair railing. Lunafreya catches her at the end of the descent and the two of them embrace.
- Look how much you've grown, Tina! - Lunafreya says, excited.
- What are you talking about? Physically, I haven't matured a day since the last time we've seen each other.
- That's not what I mean. - Says the dragon again, as the two of them part.
- So?
- We'll talk about it later. Actually, I have some business to discuss with both of you.
Lunafreya starts walking towards the dining room, where Elliot is as usual preparing a small meal to serve his guest.
- Well, what do you say if we get right to the point? - Elliot says as he serves a plate of cookies.
- I see you're still as straightforward as ever. - Says Lunafreya with a smile.
- In fact, now more than ever I'd rather not waste any time. And lately, I've been forced to waste a lot of it, due to this whole exile thing.
- Well. That's the point. I've come to return you to active life. It was part of our agreement with the Light.
- Thanks, I can't take this anymore. But what's the bad news? - Ask Elliot.
- How did you know?
- If there was only good news, they would have sent it to me in writing. - Says Elliot, hastily explaining his deduction. - It's simpler and faster, and it doesn't waste a Supreme's valuable time. Instead they chose to send a known friend to deliver the news in person, which tells me that perhaps this news needs a touch of empathy to be delivered, which is to say that it is most likely...
- Okay, yeah, it's bad news, but there's a silver lining. - Lunafreya claims. - You have been dismissed from the scout corps, you will receive a medal for seeking good beyond the call of duty, and you will be given an honorable discharge.
- In the end you simply dropped the bomb at him, you know? . - Says Tina.
- Well, it's better than I expected. - Elliot says in a relaxed way.
- But, Father. - Tina looks at him and asks with concern.. - Are you going to give up your dream just like that? You always told me that since you were a kid you wanted to be a pro explorer.
- Yes, I wanted to be an explorer, so I could meet the Pandracon. The legendary land of the dragons. But I've already met it. My dream has already been fulfilled. - Elliot turns his back on Tina and Lunafreya.
- I understand. - Lunafreya says - You feel empty. You feel like you no longer have a purpose. But you're forgetting something, you still have a mission in life.
- Aren't you talking about...
- Light and Evie. I heard about them, and already I found them. - Lunafreya says in a serious tone. - You still have a mission: to be a father to them.
- They're better without me. - Elliot says, in tears.
- Father, you've never said anything about having biological children before.
- Tina, - Elliot says. - Remind me to erase that memory segment in half an hour.
- Are you sure?
- Yes, I'm sure.
- That's fine. I'll remind you.
Lunafreya's starting to cry, too. She thinks to herself.
- I understand why he left them. It's not that he wanted to devote herself to his work... He really feels weak remembering Karu. He's afraid to grow fond on them and lose them, too. That's why he only has Tina. It tears me up inside to feel... The remnants of lost love, the pain of a loved one's death.
Lunafreya starts crying inconsolably, and Elliot turns around to let it be known that he's doing the same thing.
For her part, Tina retreats to her room.
- I'll be back in twenty-seven minutes.
True to her word, Tina returns after exactly twenty-seven minutes.
- Father, I come to remind you that you want to erase a segment of my memory. Do you wish to proceed now? - She says with little trace of emotion beyond a little fear and anguish.
- In fact... No, I've changed my mind.
Elliot was, until that moment, reading a letter. Tina looks at Lunafreya and sees her with a slight smile, though she still has her eyes watering.
- Tina. Would you like to have adventures again? - Elliot asks.
- Yes. Why? You're not going to beg to be reinstated in the corps, are you?
- No, read. - Elliot gives Tina the letter and she proceeds to read it out loud.
To Elliot Leslie Onion:
We hereby inform you that at the request and recommendation of the Supreme Lunafreya Es'uhna, in the spirit of her treaty with The Light, Supreme of Lightwhere, you have been invited to join the Protectorate of the Multiverse as an aspiring ship captain. You are hereby informed that your registration period expires at 480 standard hours from the date of issue of this communiqué. This invitation does not imply immediate acceptance, but that you will be entitled to attend the preparation and evaluation days corresponding to the one millionth generation of captains of the Protectorate.
Signature: Lieutenant Colonel Talion Skygale. Class 998.003. Supreme Infinia Lisythea. Founder of the Protectorate of the Multiverse. Supreme Alkos, Ancestor of the Dragons and Lord of the Pandracon.
- This is certainly a golden opportunity. - Tina claims. - You could be back in action. Get your old life back.
- I don't know. Does that mean I'll have to leave you alone?
- In fact - Lunafreya comments - the Protectorate only requires training for captains and those who want to rise in rank, but beyond that, anyone can become part of a crew.
- Crew, you say? Elliot prefers to work alone. I'm basically the only company he's had since we got back from the Pandracon. - Says Tina.
- Don't worry, the Protectorate can teach leadership and teamwork. It's my gift to you. I just want to ask one thing in return, if I may.
- What's that? - Ask Elliot, something confusing.
- It's always been my dream to travel the multiverse helping people, but when I tried it on my own there were a lot of things that went wrong, so I'd like to...
- Of course you can come with us - says Elliot interrupting Lunafreya.
- Thank you.
