The sun was just a blip on the horizon, like a ball of fire going down below the edges of the forest and setting them on brilliant orange and pink fire. The night was quickly coming in on a velvet purple carpet bringing with it the stitched in silver points of stars.
The roof of the castle may have been collapsed in some parts but on this spire above Olivier and Madeline’s room it was still very solid. And at the highest peak of the castle, they were scraping the clouds as they turned dark and bled away. It was a wide rooftop, enough to accommodate them all comfortably. A blanket was spread out on the top of it with formerly full plates of sandwiches, this time a mix of greenery and roast beef.
Before they had even set up at the top of the castle, they took Dawn to get checked up on by Nico. And in the meantime, Dawn filled Nero and Lily in on what had happened during the meeting. Sehren’s revelations, their plans going forward. Nero wasn’t happy with it at all but staying home and wrangling children wasn’t the worst thing in the world. But now they were gathered together forgetting the dangers for just an evening.
Sefirin had eaten his fair share, which meant he’d actually managed an entire sandwich and proclaimed that he could eat more but all three of his parents told him to sit down and digest it. In the meantime, Silva had her own food to work with, to which she quickly made a mess of either by not being cooperative or by aggressively starting to set fire to things which was quickly becoming her new favorite thing to do.
Gathered with them presently was only Nero, Dawn, Lily and Olivier, and Lightning. They had sent Alastor out to collect Susan and Sehren which was taking a step longer than they had assumed previously. But that was fine. They had gotten a helping of sweets along with the sandwiches and Sefirin had found them much earlier than they anticipated. Now he was gliding in circles around them. Silva was encouraging him which didn’t help matters.
Nero watched his son and laughed, “That’s the way son! You’re getting better every day!”
“You watching daddy?” Nero met his eyes and saw the glow and flash of his draconic eyes.
“You bet I am! You ready Light?”
“Heck yeah!”
Lightning made his hands glow and shot lightning into the sky. They flew and expanded turning into rings that Sefirin glided through. Each one he made it through flashed a number and disappeared. Sefirin was making a point to go through them all and Lightning was making them just an easy straight descending path for him to go through.
Sefirin circled around them and then spun quickly like a very deliberate drill. He laughed as he came down and Nero jumped in front of him to catch him before he hit the ground. They both slid backward and Sefirin raised both his fist in triumph. Nero crouched then jumped letting the telekinesis take him as they both flew back into the air, Sefirin on his shoulders.
Dawn, Lily, and Olivier leaned back watching the two of them. “They’re birds of a feather, aren’t they?” Lily said watching them circle.
“Flying suits him,” Olivier said watching her grandson.
Olivier looked down at Silva and raised her up, turning her around so she could watch her father and brother. She reached forward them as if she could pluck them out of the air.
Dawn watched her and then looked at Lily, “He takes after you.”
Lily smiled brightly, “He does but it’s all of us. Remember when he was born?”
“Mmhm. I hated it,” she sighed.
“What happened?” Olivier asked.
“We were stretched thin after the war with the nil and we need to make sure they were gone gone. And you and Sehren were gone so me and Suzy were on scouting duty a lot of the time.”
Dawn smiled, “During that first year whenever he couldn’t sleep or would wake up in the middle of the night the only thing that calmed him down was being in the sky. He loved flying since the first time Lily took him out there. And having wings, it makes sense why he loves to fly.”
Olivier frowned, “I missed out on a lot, didn’t I?”
“Unfortunately,” Dawn said and glanced at her. “Sefirin may not have been planned but you both left at a rough time.”
“I know,” Olivier sighed lowering her head and then raising it again.
“Why did you leave?” Lily asked. “I know it had to do with Sehren but why?”
“Sehren had a need. A vision to go. To travel. He saw something and he needed to address it. To figure things out. I think the way he put it, ‘Times are changing and I need to change with them. People need help that only I can give.’”
“That’s not cryptic at all,” Lily rolled her eyes.
“Sehren has been cryptic since I met him,” Olivier chuckled. “But he’s an old man so what else is new.”
“Old man?”
Olivier laughed, “Sehren’s older than Maddie and I.”
“What?” Lily and Dawn echoed.
“Oh yeah. I met Sehren when I was in the academy. And even then, he was already a teacher. Though he was younger than he is now that’s for sure. He was such a novice back then. He was very good at teaching magic as is but when it came to magic like me and Maddie’s or in the other countries he didn’t know anything. The three of us did a lot of traveling back in the day.”
“Una never talked about that,” Dawn said softly.
“You have to ask her the right way. Sehren and I were best friends. She came because I begged her to come with us but she hated it. Though sometimes I think she was just jealous of Sehren.”
“Jealous? Maddie?” Lily laughed. “You’re serious?”
“Very,” Olivier giggled.
“When she wakes up, I’m going to definitely ask her about that,” Dawn said pointedly.
Olivier chuckled, “I’ll go with you. There are some stories that’ll make your una blush and she’d never admit them without me there.”
“I also want to be there for that,” Lily raised her hand smirking.
“What about you o’lela? Do you want to be there and see your q’una blush? It’s really quite amazing,” she said looking down at Silva. Silva giggled babbling words that Olivier was taking for a yes.
The three of them felt a surge of magical energy in the air and glanced over their shoulders. At first, their hearts skipped a beat, readying for another fight but then they recognized it. Olivier stood up first and waved as Sehren arrived at their party area. Alastor and Susan were there as well and Alastor looked almost sick.
“I hate teleportation,” he mumbled. “This is why I stick to illusions.”
“Come on Al. Teleporting is fun once you get the hang of it,” she clapped him on the back and smiled. “Oh, are those sandwiches?”
She jumped forward grabbing one and levitated it above her hand. She created a sphere around it and fire surrounded it for the barest of a second as she heated it up. She caught it making sure to be gentle and took a bite. “I’m starving.”
Sehren did the same lifting one off the pile and heating it up in a similar fashion. Alastor just wobbled over to his sister and sat down next to her finding his stomach again. Silva reached to him eagerly and he let her take one of his fingers triumphantly. “So what are we doing out here on the roof Nero? I heard it was your idea.”
“I too am curious,” Sehren said after taking another bite.
“Well we have to wave him down,” Dawn stood up and swung her arms at him. “Luzo come down! It’s time to reveal your big master plan!”
Nero glanced down at them and angled the two of them to come back home. Turning so he was coming legs first he landed, stumbling slightly, and high fived Sefirin. They smiled and he lifted him off, setting him down on the ground. Sefirin ran over to his moms’ side and immediately started talking about his flying. Nero cracked his back and then walked over.
“Alright everyone. The idea I had is pretty simple. Remember what we did after the tournament? The first one?”
“Was that before or after we met the nil and they decided to wreck our day?” Light snarked.
“After. When we came back from the break.”
“I think I remember,” Lily said. “Is that back when we went to the island in the middle of the lake and shot off fireworks?”
Nero snapped his fingers and pointed at him, “Bingo. These two have never seen anything like them.”
“Not even Seffy?” Susan looked down at Sefirin who reacted to his nickname but nothing more.
“We wanted to wait until he got older and wouldn’t get scared by the noise. Though knowing him he probably would have been thrilled by them,” Lily said ruffling his hair.
“So in the middle of a lot of things being chaotic and terrifying. I want them to see something fun,” Nero said and walked over to Silva. She reached for him and he gave her a finger and she made a triumphant face again.
“Sounds fun,” Light clapped his hands together.
“So that’s where you went when you said that you were going with friends to study at the lake?” Olivier asked looking over at her.
Dawn winked at her but moved closer to Lily, wrapping her arms around her. “I did. I blame luzo and luza. They convinced me to go out.”
“You weren’t even dating back then,” Alastor chuckled. “But that does sound fun Nero.”
“I haven’t done something like that in quite some time,” Sehren dragged his hand through the air leaving a trail of sparks behind. “Do you mind if I kick things off?”
“Really Sehren you’re doing that?” Olivier asked.
“Should I not?”
“I’d say give the kid’s a chance first.”
“Come now Oli. I know how to have a little bit of fun at the very least.”
Spreading his hand it glowed and a staff appeared in his palm. It was made of gold metal with a wide circle top and a green jewel in the center. He turned it over in his hands and walked away from the group. He turned it and pressed it against the ground creating a circle beneath his feet.
Once it was completed, he grasped it with both hands and thrust it to the sky. The jewel glowed to life and then a bolt of light flew straight into the air. A green flare exploded into an array of diamonds and then a circle formed around it. It sparkled in light before fading away with a sizzle. Turning he bowed to the claps and a whistle from Olivier.
“I wanna go next!” Lightning hopped forward to no objections from anyone else. Twisting both hands he watched them glow and then rotated them in the socket. His body charged with lightning and then thrust his hand to the sky. His palm glowed brightly and then it shot into the sky.
Bright white light raced into the sky like a massive bolt of lightning. But when it struck the sky the lightning spread apart racing around the bolt spelling out his name in a circle. He laughed as he turned around, illuminated by the flash.
“Boo! Get him out of here,” Susan shouted.
“Too showy. No finesse,” Alastor shook his head.
“Again!” Silva shouted.
“Do it again!” Sefirin agreed and Lightning smirked.
Coming over, he high fived the two of them and stuck his tongue out at Alastor and Susan. “This is the audience that I care about.”
“Of course,” Dawn smiled at him and then looked at Lily. “Do you want to help me luza?”
“What’ve you got in mind?”
Dawn just waved her over and Lily came, leaning down. Dawn whispered in her ear quickly and Lily blinked before nodding quickly. “I like that. A lot actually. Let’s do it!”
“I knew that you would. Follow my lead,” she held her hands out to her.
Lily placed her hands on Dawn’s and then they moved, sliding their fingers between one another’s and turned. It was almost like a dance the way they moved. Stepping back, twirling around one another, timing their steps together as they moved.
As they moved tiny blips of light began to appear around them. It started as only a couple but then began to spread and grow until there were dozens and it illuminated the pair of them as if they were the setting sun. Raising their hands up Lily spun Dawn and then moved their hands to her hip and dipped her as low as she could go.
They raised their hands to the sky a gust of wind blew over them. The blips of light caught on the wind, spinning and racing around like a tornado of light and raising into the sky. The blips flashed colors from white, to red, to purple to silver, and more going higher and higher into the sky.
Their whirlwind of light continued until it touched a cloud and then entered it, reflecting their dance once more. It spun and traveled and eventually disappeared. Huffing Lily looked down at Dawn who was already breathing a little heavy but then went down and kissed her gently before pulling her back up. “Great suggestion baby.”
“I try,” she blushed smiling brighter.
As they stood and turned back, there was loud cheering and whistles from everyone. The loudest of which was Nero and Sefirin with some help from Silva.
“You two are so amazing it’s insane,” Nero said looking between them. “And the lights and the dancing. It was just.” He stumbled over his words for a second and finally said. “Beautiful.”
“He’s got such a way with words,” Lily said.
Dawn giggled, “It was his poetry that wooed us remember?”
Nero made a face and they kissed his cheeks and even he had to blush at that. “But we love him anyway don’t we?” Lily asked.
“Very very much,” Dawn agreed.
“Mommy! Daddy! Una!”
They each looked down at Sefirin who stared at them resolutely his draconic eyes shining. “What is it sweetie?”
“I want to do that,” he pointed at the sky.
“The fireworks?” Nero asked.
“Yeah.”
“I can help you do that o’ola,” Olivier said coming closer with Silva in tow. “Do you want to make lights o’lela?” she asked her creating a few sparks. Silva immediately reached for them, just barely missing them. “I’ll take that as a yes. Do you mind if I do?”
“Not at all Oli,” Nero smiled.
“Go ahead una.”
“I’m excited for this.”
She led the two children forward and pressed her hands against theirs, her finger guiding them slowly. She smiled at them and crouched down she pointed both Silva and Sefirin’s hands toward the sky and whispered, “Now close your eyes and concentrate.”
They both did as she said and Olivier let her magic rumble off their hands and shoot off into the sky. They were very simple balls of fire going into the air and exploding in multicolor lights. The lights shined in their eyes as they watched and then looked at their own hands. Olivier was careful that they only saw their own hands.
“So what are you going to show off?” Alastor asked glancing at Nero.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh come on, you’re up next Nemo. Hope you have something good to follow up after those two.”
“Whoa I couldn’t follow that up,” he waved his hands but he felt a pair of hands behind him and pushed him forward gently.
Looking over his shoulder at Lily and Dawn he met their smiles with a grimace. “Come on luzo you have to do something really special for us.”
Olivier turned after another round of fireworks and then looked at the kids, “It’s your daddy’s turn.”
“Oh come on Oli,” he whined but she was already leading them back to the group.
Sighing Nero walked in front of everyone and he already had an idea in mind of what he wanted to create. He had debated on it a few times but in the end, he knew what he was going to do before he’d even started walking. After all, it only made sense.
Walking forward he waved his hands forward and let the magic course through his fingertips. Dragging it across the air he took a slow breath to concentrate. Doing magic was difficult for him now but something like this wasn’t nearly as complex if he focused. Bringing his hands parallel to his chest he held one over the other and the magic gathered like a disk.
Stepping forward he turned and threw the desk into the air watching it spin. It soared above his head but began to slow down and then froze hanging in midair. It was just out of sight but Nero frowned. It should have gone off by now.
He looked at his hands for a moment and then looked back at everyone. They were all staring at him waiting for the big explosion but nothing came. But he looked closer and saw they weren’t moving. He looked at Lightning then Sefirin and he’d never seen them be that still in his life.
He rushed over to them and tried to interact, touch, or move them but they were solid. Like statues. He looked at Lily, Dawn, Sefirin, and Silva but they didn’t see or react to him. “What’s going on?” he mumbled stroking their cheeks and they felt cool to the touch.
He shuddered, a chill running down his spine to the quick. His hair stood on end and he felt his scales itch. He turned around raising his scaled arm and saw the dark shape appear on the rooftop.
“Hello Nero,” Daze said slowly. “You still have something of mine. And it’s time you returned it.”
The Harlequin Library 