The Rider’s Legacy: Chapter 15

“Daddy do it again!”

“Again!”

“Oh come you two. I don’t think they enjoy being played with like that.”

“Again!”

Nero laughed looking down at his children. They sat on either side of in the bed, pulling at the blankets surrounding his lower half. They both looked at him like he was the only thing in the world and after the past week of not having him around, he certainly was.  And right now, he couldn’t really deny them if he wanted to.

“One more time and then let daddy rest a bit,” Lily said from the side of the bed.

“Okay,” Sefirin agreed while Silva clapped her hands.

Nero sighed and looked at his arms. One was the scaled arm with now dull claws. The other was the normal brown one that he always had. Closing his eyes, he let out a slow breath and looked at his arm again. A red line raced down his shoulder tracing across the skin. It went to his bicep and spread until it created something like a tattoo. A great winged bird.

Nero closed his fist and let his magic flow through it. The bird on his arms began to move, it spread its wings and cawed. It flapped its wings and then leaped free from his skin. He grunted as it came forward and then he held his dragon arm out. Resting in his palm was a small red chick. Its feathers glistened in the sunlight, its beak a bright yellow. It had a bright red crown along its head and green eyes.

It chirped letting out a small ball of fire. When it looked at Sefirin and Silva it spread its wings and cheered because it recognized the two of them again. Silva clapped and belched her own ball of fire which only made the chick happier and hop forward.  Nero rolled his eyes and spun his finger over the chick, “Alright. Time for her to go back. She needs to stay with her mom. Say bye.”

The children visibly deflated but they both waved. The bird looked at the two of them and spread its wings before fading away as if it was suddenly set on fire. When it was gone it left behind a small red feather. Nero picked it up gingerly and handed it to Silva who was already reaching for it.

Nero stared at his hand like it was a foreign object. He saw the outline of his tattoo again and smiled. Looking over at Dawn and Lily they both smiled back at him and he leaned back in bed. His chest still hurt from where the sword had been taken from him. Staring down he touched his bare chest gently. There was no scar, no bandage, and no wound. It was like it hadn’t happened.

The door to the office opened up and Nico came in. He rubbed the back of his head and smiled at the family of five. “Lively as ever with the Niesses huh?”

“Nico Nico!” Silva shouted.

“Hi Nico,” Sefirin waved. “Look. Daddy’s awake!”

“Hey Nico,” Lily smiled.

“How’re you feeling Nero?” he asked standing at the edge of the bed. “Any residual pain? Stiffness? Headaches? Anything at all.”

Nero shook his head while still laying down, “Better. Lots of stiffness from being stuck in bed. My chest aches but it just feels like there’s something missing. But,” he looked at his other arm staring at the tattoo. “But I got something back.”

“Oh,” Nico looked at the tattoo again. “I haven’t seen that on your arm in a very long time.”

“Neither have I. Do you think it’s because the sword is gone?”

Nico rubbed his jaw, “I can’t be sure. I didn’t perform the spell that put the sword inside you. But from what you tell me I have some guesses. The magic of the sword was like an inhibitor. It blocked off your connection to your own magic allowing you only basic spells. And now that it’s gone, your magic is eager to fill the hole that the sword left.”

“What about his dragon form?” Dawn asked. “Wasn’t that magic?”

“Yes and no,” Nico shrugged. “Again, these are theories but my guess is Silver’s merger with Nero was like adding an additional battery. Accessing magic from a second source that wasn’t truly Nero’s own. Powerful but there’s a cap.”

“And now that the sword is gone Nero is back to who and what he was before?” Lily asked.

“Not right away but with enough time potentially.”

“I’m just glad that Nyx hasn’t forgotten about me,” Nero said. “And she’s even laid eggs and she trusts me with her chicks. Life is always going.”

“You were with your familiars for years Nemo,” Lily squeezed his hand. “I’m sure they’ve all missed you. It’s been a long time.”

“So, what’s the verdict Nico?” Dawn asked. “Will luzo be alright?”

“Barring another attack, I think so. You can even move to your own room soon,” Nico glanced at all of them. “Please be careful. I know how you are with Silva and Sefirin so dial back the on the overactive dad for a little while. Also, don’t overdo it with the summoning magic either Nemo. Baby steps.”

“Thanks Nico.”

Dawn picked up Sefirin and pulled him away from the bed as Lily did the same for Silva. “Come on ola. Let’s let daddy get some rest alright? Lela, ola tell daddy to rest.”

“Okay,” Sefirin turned back to look at Nero. He blinked and stared at him with his draconic eyes focused. He pointed. “You better rest daddy.”

Silva was still holding the feather but she waved it at Nero made a determined face. “Rest!” she all but ordered him.

“Well when you put it that way how can I do anything else,” he looked at his wives and reached out toward them. “Hey. What do you think of the name Sofia? Or Sophie?”

Dawn and Lily both blinked surprised. But Dawn giggled first, “It sounds like something that my una would suggest. I think I like it.”

“It’s definitely old fashioned. But there’s a ring to it.”

“Think on it,” Nero replied and closed his eyes.

They laughed together and Lily and Dawn both kissed Nero before taking their children out. Nico closed the door behind them and then Nero closed his eyes trying to relax. But when he closed his eyes he saw Daze’s twisted eyes. He felt his claws in his chest. Felt the oil in his veins again. Felt himself losing control of his body again.

He remembered when he was a passenger in his own body. Remembered being a stranger to his own son. He was lucky that Silva wasn’t awake when it happened. He was still scared that Sefirin would have nightmares or even worse. He was terrified his own son would be afraid of him.

Nero thought back to seeing Sefirin. All the times that he had looked at Nero with his draconic eyes. As if constantly checking. Checking to make sure that his dad was himself. He covered his face and felt his tears running down his face. He wiped at his eyes shaking his head quickly. “I’m sorry son.”

The door clicked open and Nero wiped at the corner of his eyes. He sniffled and watched as Sehren made his way into the room. He found a chair and brought it over to set it down near the bed.  When he sat down and he rested his hands in his lap. Lowering his head, he closed his eyes and waited silently.

When Nero had gathered himself he said, “Hey Sehren.”

“Hello my friend,” he whispered softly. “I am sorry that this has been brought down upon you.”

“You couldn’t have known that your brother was going to come here while you were gone.”

“No but while I was here, I could have done more. I could have set up more protections. Made more precautions. I could have done more.”

“Trust me I know a thing or two about guilt.”

“Nero you could have died.”

“I know. Your brother attacked me and my family. He pulled the sword right out of me. Almost tore my soul out with it.” Sehren seemed to flinch at that comment. “But even you didn’t know he could stop time.”

“It was in a localized area. But yes. Just like I am able to manipulate time in my own way. It seems we both had the talent for it.”

“Sehren.”

“Hm?”

“Help me make sure that this never happens again.”

Sehren didn’t hesitate, “Even if it cost me my life, my brother will cause you no further harm.”

Nero smiled at him and asked, “What’s he going to do with the sword now that he has it?”

“I have some ideas. But returning here isn’t going to be one of them,” he said. “I know that for certain.”

“Why did he keep saying the sword belonged to him?”

“What?”

Nero did his best to sit up grunting as he moved and ignored the protest from Sehren. “When he first met us in the forest, he said I had something that belonged to him. And when he attacked me on the roof he said he was taking back what belonged to him. That was before he took the sword out of me.”

“Again, I have my guesses,” Sehren held his chin and leaned his elbows on his legs. “Time travel and time magic are messy things Nero. If you or your children are ever interested in it, do not follow it. It’s a convoluted field of magic with many dangerous risks.”

“When I’m healed up you’re going to have to walk me through that,” Nero smiled.

“I don’t think I want to do quite that,” Sehren chuckled. “You’re the type of person to draw shapes on the walls once you know you have paint.”

“You’re saying that I would try and replicate it myself if I got the chance.”

“I was your teacher for many years Nero. That’s exactly what I’m saying. And if your children are anything like you they’ll have the same urges.”

They laughed together, a deep chuckle that two old friends could share. But another question crossed his mind. One that if anyone, Sehren could maybe answer for him.

“Sehren when I was possessed by Daze, the thing that snapped me out of it was my kids appearing in front of me. But they didn’t look normal. They looked like tiny versions of me, covered in scales. But neither of them can even use magic yet. Sefirin said that he heard Silver’s voice in his head, telling him they had to rescue me.”

“Fascinating.”

“Let me guess. You have theories.”

Nero and Sehren laughed again as he nodded, “Yes. Though these are more concrete. The bond between a dragon and spellcaster when established is beyond powerful. There hasn’t been one in centuries. It’s very old magic. I believe the magic that bound the two of you together transcends even death. Some part of her will always be watching over you. And because of the unique circumstances of Sefirin and Silva’s births, she watches over them as well. In this instance it let them do magic far above their age.”

Nero looked up slowly and lay back against the bed. He raised his scaled hand above him and stared at his fingers. Stared at how the light glinted off his scales and claws. Letting it fall again he looked at Sehren one more time, “Hopefully my third child won’t be that way.”

“Your third?”

“Yep. Lily and Dawn’s this time.”

“Faerie reproduction. It can even extend to humans? Well congratulations.”

Nero chuckled, “Just thinking of having a third one makes me tired.”

Sehren stood slowly and smiled, “Well don’t stay up longer for my sake. Get some rest my friend.”

“I will. For real this time.” Sehren reached over and squeezed his shoulder before taking the chair and putting it back. Once the door closed Nero turned his head and looked out the window. He could barely hear the birds chirping. He could feel the fresh air and sighed closing his eyes again.

“Silver you’ve been saving me for years. And even now that you’re gone, you’re saving me and my children. I miss you girl. We all do. Dawn. Lily. And in some ways, you’ve gotten to meet my kids. Even though you’re gone and you’ve been gone all this time, something tells me I’ll see you again. So until then keep watching over me. Watching over us.”