Chapter 4485: Somewhere to Belong (Part 1)

"Of course, not, Magus Verhen. Make yourself at home. We are at your service." The concierge pridefully gestured at the enchanted crystal chandeliers on the ceiling, the white, polished marble floor, and the refined tables and chairs of the Dryad’s Garden.

Every piece of furniture had been crafted by a skilled artisan from solid cherrywood and polished to the point it gleamed like a gemstone.

Anxil guided the Verhens to the reception desk for check-in and then to the restaurant area and the internal garden. The establishment owed its name to the vibrant flowers and colorful plants that decorated every corner and the hanging gardens on each of its five floors.

They were a feast for the guests’ eyes and noses. Delicate scents of the different flower species that bloomed and closed at different hours of the day wafted through the air.

"Gods, this is beautiful!" Kamila stared in amazement at the open aviaries filled with food that drew wildfowl from the local woods.

Winter was hard on animals and humans alike, and many birds came to the Dryad’s Garden for shelter, challenging the mysteries of the unknown yet friendly environment rather than starving or enduring long snowstorms.

After a while, most grew accustomed to humans and let them approach the aviaries. A few brave birds even flew onto the tables and chirruped in exchange for breadcrumbs.

"Thanks." Anxil and Lith said in unison.

The concierge cowered under Lith’s glare and took a few steps back, giving the couple some privacy.

"I remember how much you love flowers, Kami. You and Zin always planned to visit natural parks back when we lived in Belius. Since you never got the time for that because of your work and my messy life, I thought it was time to fulfill your wish."

"I can’t believe you still remember that." Public displays of affection were frowned upon, but she kissed him anyway.

"What can I say. The rumors about my Lich-like memory have been wildly exaggerated." Lith chuckled. "Do you want to see our room next?"

"Depends. Is it romantic?" She asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"Because I don’t want these little imps to mess it up or to associate them with our... recreational activities." Kamila said, making the babies lower their gaze. "Is there something else you want to show me here?"

"No." A snap of Lith’s fingers Warped them to the entrance, where the stagecoach waited for them. "The city gates, please. East entrance for the Rozken Woods, thank you."

They could have flown to their destination, but Lith wanted Kamila to enjoy her stay and the sights the city offered. Not jump from one point to another to check something off their list of activities.

Once they reached the city gates, Lith paid the coachman and led his family into the woods. Everything was quiet and covered in snow, which made Rozken not so different from Trawn.

"Fair warning, if someone is going to jump out of the trees, I’ll scream first and then fry their and your ass." Kamila said after they had walked deep enough in the woods not to see Deshia anymore.

"Nothing of sorts." Lith opened the babies’ straps and set them free. "Go and have some fun. You can shapeshift all you want. All of you."

Lith said while looking at Valeron the Second.

"Only one thing. You’re the older brother, Val, so I’m entrusting Ral to you. Okay?" He asked.

"Okay." Valeron nodded with a smile as wide as Elysia’s frown was deep.

"Ba!" She grunted. "Me sis! Wa mi bodder ’oo!"

"Indeed, but you are not big or strong enough to help Ral if he struggles." Lith said. "Val can."

Elysia shapeshifted into her Tiamat form, snorting big puffs of black smoke in reply before taking off. Valeron and Raldarak shapeshifted as well, but the small Tiamat was afraid of leaving his parents’ side and refused to move.

"Come on, Ral." Valeron caressed his younger brother’s muzzle, activating the Dragon Scales’ emotional link. "Do you trust me?"

Raldarak looked at Valeron and then at their parents, who nodded in approval. The baby boy tried to fly, but his movements were too awkward and his wings small.

"You can do it." Valeron infused himself with a spark of Life Maelstrom, becoming strong enough to lift Raldarak off the ground.

The baby Tiamat flapped his wings in an attempt not to be a burden as his brother slowly rose into the air. Raldarak felt Valeron’s strength and trust through the Dragon Scales, and conquered his fears.

His instinct did the rest, triggering fire, air, and water fusion.

His wings now moved faster, and each flap was stronger and finely coordinated. Raldarak followed his brother’s lead as they slowly circled above their parents’ heads, and he didn’t even notice when Valeron let him go.

"Gods, Ral! You did it! You’re flying on your own! This is your first flight!" Kamila jumped with joy as she took countless pictures and a video with her amulet.

Raldarak looked up and noticed Valeron was still close, but wasn’t holding him. The baby Tiamat’s wings froze in fright, but before he could plunge like a brick, the small Bahamut caught him on the fly.

"Great job, Val." Lith floated to caress his sons’ heads. "Don’t be scared, Ral. You’ve done it once. You can do it again."

The baby Tiamat nodded and flapped his wings with renewed vigor and confidence. He wasn’t afraid of falling anymore. Even if that happened, his older brother would rescue him again.

"Ba!" Elysia sighed. "Me ba. Ba sis."

"Don’t beat yourself up, baby girl." Lith caressed her with the Dragon Scales. "You’re a good sister. You’re just not perfect. Nobody is. Though if you learn from your mistakes, you’ll get better."

"Dya!" Elysia nodded and joined her brothers in a triangle formation with Raldarak on point, focusing more on having fun with the others than showing off her speed.

"This is very cute, but I feel there’s something more to it." Kamila said while snapping more pictures.

"I thought about this for a while." Lith sighed. "Wherever we go, Val is the only one who can never be himself. He can’t shapeshift, breathe fire, or even show his powers to hide the fact that he is Thrud’s son.

"It constantly reminds Val that he doesn’t carry our blood, Kami." Lith turned to look her in the eyes. "It keeps him from taking what happened to his parents off his mind, and it’s robbing him of his childhood.

"While Ely and Ral are carefree and tap into their powers because they can listen to the song of their life forces, Val is always worried about not blowing his cover, always thinking ahead. He’s me, Kami, and I don’t want this for him.

"I want him to have a better childhood than mine. I want him to remember more than a list of chores when he recalls the time he spent with us. If I can’t do that, I’ll have failed as a father."

"You are a great father, Lith." Kamila threaded her fingers into his, aware of how painful his life as Derek McCoy had been. "I’m lucky to have you, and so are the kids. I don’t remember the last time I saw Val smile and laugh so much."