Dragon Aster Trilogy

27: GLASS DRAGONS



Three days later, Kas meditated in silence in the center of the Shrine. He looked so peaceful despite the tension that was building all over the Suzerain Continent. There was no way to tell for certain all that would happen once his father died, and with him, the possible collapse of the Atrum’s Order.

“Kas.”

“I am not prepared to talk to you again. Please bother me later,” he replied to Sybl.

“How long were you blocking Cirrus out of my memories?”

“I have not blocked anything out of your memories.”

“Then it’s you who are the worst liar!”

“It does not matter what you remember of that monster, because he is dead!” Sybl stepped back as Kas had released enough of his rage to frighten her. “You are not seeing the chain of consequences you have possibly created,” he added, forcing his voice calmer. “By seeking out the light half of the Dragon Moon, you got yourself killed by him in the past. Aragmoth has collected his soul for punishment. If there is any righteousness in the Great Dragon, then Cirrus’ soul is gone forever. He is never coming back, and this is where you forget him.”

“Why are you so determined to erase everyone around me from my life? Even your own friends!”

“There are rules that must be followed to maintain order,” Kas replied.

“Are you maintaining order, or are you only concerned about how perfect you look to our allies?”

“I only wish to protect you.”

“I never asked you to,” Sybl snapped back.

“You never had to.”

“Is that how you thought when it took you so long to find me on Earth?”

Kas let out a long sigh. “It was impossible to reach you while you were in the city.”

“Until Daath conveniently found me and inflicted enough damage onto my back to make them throw me into foster care, for being some self-inflicting freak. Then one impossible occurrence after another, they moved me from house to house until I was finally dropped within your reach.”

Kas turned his head slightly towards Sybl, but continued to look at the ground.

“All the Iynx and Awls are connected to each other. You saw me come to Aster by Daath because Gei saw it.”

Kas got to his feet and caught her shoulders in his hands. “You are the only family I have ever cared about. Without you, I have nothing. Why can you not understand this?”

“You are trying to control me!”

“Only because you lack the ability to keep control over yourself. We are opposites, even in this life. Unlike you, I do not hesitate when it comes to protecting those I love. I will not risk losing you again.”

Sybl stepped away from Kas, even more furious. “I get it now. You don’t just think I’m too human to be the Caelestis, you think I’m too crazy to be her.”

“That is not true. I only wanted to take every precaution, as the estus energy from the Atrum’s Aur amplifies your negative emotions.”

“And yet you are purposely doing everything you can to infuriate me!” Sybl shouted at him.

“You are supposed to always be mad at me.”

“And if I’m not?”

“Then I am likely mad at you, which I prefer not to be.”

Sybl looked on the verge of screaming at him. She might have, if a low hum hadn’t gone out from one of the ayame Callers within the Sanctus.

Kas listened for a moment as the Call was quickly matched by the other Callers. A hollow image of a dragon was passed from one psi to the next in fear. He sent his psi in search of the White Death in all directions, but the dragon was using his invisibility, creating a great deal of hysteria as everyone tried to spot him.

Sybl found him first. A large body of stars, camouflaged against the few that pierced through the estus Aur, lay on the glass ceiling. Then two, light blue eyes gave a center to the impossible gravity that Cirrus made with his command over the wind.

With little more than a prayer and a breath between them, Kas took Sybl’s arm and carefully backed them away. Everything and everyone in the Sanctus stopped when Kas’ psi was heard by the other Callers, as the very breathing air was held hostage by the dragon.

“Master Kas! The White Death is…” Jru paused in his run to them, and looked up to what the High Priest stood paralyzed in his gaze under, “…here.” Both of them instinctively looked at Sybl.

“I can’t make out what he’s saying,” Sybl said, with panic in her voice.

“It is the Aeger trying to speak,” Kas replied, trying to keep her fear from overwhelming him in turn.

Moments later, the dragon struck the glass with its claws and sent it raining down on them. The White Death landed in the center of the Shrine and let out an infuriated cry, before charging for them.