“Have to admit,” Leon said as Red was shown into his portable villa’s small sitting room, “I wasn’t expecting to see you again so soon. Figured you’d only show back up tomorrow morning.”

He gestured toward a nearby lounge for her to use as he took one himself, but Red simply stood just inside the doorway, slowly looking around the room with a thoughtful look on her face.

Leon gave her a moment to think, which stretched out over many long seconds. Eventually, she walked over and rather stiffly sat on the lounge, her focus slowly turning toward Leon.

I don’t know how you stand this, she said to him. All of this… humanity.

Leon opened his mouth to respond verbally, but decided against it. Instead, he called upon his middling skill with darkness magic to respond to Red in the same manner that she spoke to him.

I’m not entirely sure what you mean, he replied. I’m not too fond of other people, but I get the feeling that simply being in crowds isn’t what you’re talking about.

Red scowled for a moment and said, No. I mean taking part in human civilization. So many… expectations… and ceremonies.

Is it better being a wyvern? Leon asked. As far as I know, you’re rather solitary beings, without much in the way of ceremony. Just living in your caves, occasionally coming down to hunt, only getting together to mate… Is that a better life, in your opinion?

Red was silent for another long moment. … I don’t know, she eventually admitted. I can’t say. I’ve spent little time in human civilization, and I still don’t know it well. But what I have seen so far already taxes my patience. But…

You’re curious? Leon finished.

Red frowned and growled into Leon’s mind, I wouldn’t say that… but it’s not inaccurate to say. The life of my kind is solitary and static. We’ve lived as we have for a long time, and I can easily imagine myself doing the same thing until the day I die. Existing only for the purpose of raising young, who will go on to only live to raise more young. It’s…

Boring? Leon offered.

Red’s frown deepened. I’m curious, she restated. I can’t stand the thought of human civilization, but there’s something about it that intrigues. There’s something about the world beyond the aeries that intrigues me even more. I suppose that’s why I’m here: I want to know what’s out there, but I don’t want to hear it from a human perspective. Aside from those in my flight, you’re the only other being I’ve ever seen who isn’t human, yet could assume such a form…

It was Leon’s turn to frown, and he stiffened slightly as he reclined in his lounge.

I am human, though, he said to her.

Red turned to stare at him, a hard look on her face. Impossible, she said. Humans don’t have other forms. I saw you transform, I know you’re not human.

I am human, Leon insisted. One of my Ancestors wasn’t, though, and it’s through her power that I’ve inherited that I can change my shape. I’ve spent nearly my entire life as a human, though, and that’s what I consider myself.

But you aren’t human…?

Leon felt a brief spike of anger at the half-statement, half-question, but it faded almost immediately. It was easy enough to remember that Red herself wasn’t human, and didn’t have much knowledge of, or patience for, human niceties.

I am human, Leon repeated again. At least, in my mind. What are humans to you?

Red frowned again as she turned her reptilian eyes away from him. Meddlesome, she snarled. Always looking to kill my kind when we venture down from the aeries to hunt. Greedy, looking to plunder our aeries and our very bodies for the treasures we were born with. Humans are disgusting creatures.

And yet you’re still curious about them? Leon pointed out.

Mildly, Red argued. It’s interesting to note how widespread they are, and the power of their magic. And how quickly they move. And how active they are.

Active?

Red explained, My kind hibernate for long periods of time. Raising even a single young one is taxing, and when they leave their birth aeries, they need to establish themselves. So, for both their sakes and our own, my kind hibernate following the departure of our young from our aeries. For years we remain in the dark, conserving our energy, allowing our young to grow and flourish without competing against us—at least, until it comes time to mate again.

It kind of sounds like you want to leave that life, Leon stated, noting a hint of bitterness in Red’s tone.

Red just looked at him and said nothing more, but Leon decided to continue pressing, anyway.

You know, if you wanted to, you could accompany me when all of this over?

Red continued to stare at him, her expression frustratingly blank.

I have plans to see much of this world, and the universe beyond, Leon said enticingly. There’s far more to existence than these plains and mountains. Far more wonders to see and experiences to have…

I would not fit in human society, Red replied.

Why not? Leon asked.

I’m not one of them, Red simply replied.

You claim I’m not human, Leon pointed out, and yet I fit in fairly well. No worse than a lot of other humans, I’d say.

Red fell silent again.

Out of my own curiosity, Leon began, letting his offer hang in the air for a moment, what do you consider humanity to be, and why am I not included in that definition?

Humans have their shape, Red explained. It is immutable. They do not change. They have no capacity for it.

Leon waited a moment, hoping she’d elaborate a little bit more. But he was left disappointed.

… Is that it? he asked. Just their physical shape? Humanity, to you, is the inability to change shape?

What more is there? Red inquired.

There’s quite a bit more, Leon protested. Morality, philosophy, ceremonies, accepted behavior… What might be considered ‘human’ goes far beyond physical shape. Defining humanity isn’t something I think anyone can do absolutely, and even if someone can define it in a way that everyone agrees with, does that tarnish inhumanity? One of my mates isn’t human, but my opinion of her isn’t any lesser than my other mates.

That sounds complicated, Red replied.

It is, compared to doing nothing but hunting, mating, rearing, and sleeping, Leon said with a light chuckle. It’s not for everyone, that I can say quite easily. But if you want to experience it yourself…

I will… consider it, Red said. In an abrupt switching of tacks, she then asked, Are you going to fight as a human tomorrow?

Probably, Leon replied. I don’t like showing off that other form. It’s, umm… well, it’s not something I’m reluctant to use, really, or something I’m ashamed of, it’s just that it’s something that can provoke some questions I’d rather not answer right now. So, I’d rather not use it in front of an Imperial Princess.

But why not? Red pressed. From what I recall, it’s more powerful, isn’t it?

Leon shrugged. If the power is needed, then I’ll do it, but if it’s not needed, then why invite unwanted attention?

To kill my mate, Red replied. If you used your other shape, then killing my mate would be easier. I think you should use it.

Leon smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly. It was a little embarrassing that four eighth-tier mages had retreated from a fight where the other side only had one eighth-tier equivalent being, especially since they still had power left to tap, but Leon stood by his decision. Maia had been injured, and they weren’t there to bet everything they had against the black wyvern and his harem.

Things were looking much more promising now, though, with the addition of three seventh-tier wyverns fighting on their side, plus Leon’s reveal of Xaphan to Penelope and Cassandra.

I don’t think that’ll be needed, Leon replied. Our side is… well, a little overwhelming now, isn’t it?

That remains to be seen, Red replied noncommittally. I’ve seen my mate survive many things, since long before either of us could change our shape.

He can change his shape, too? Leon asked.

All of us can, Red replied. We rarely do so, but we’re all capable of it.

And none of you have ever expressed any interest in human society? Leon inquired. Not even just a mild interest? Not even for just a few weeks or days?

Red paused for a fraction of a second that Leon read as the tiniest of hesitations before answering, No.

Leon lightly smiled. A shame, he said. There’s quite a bit of fun to be had in human society. Things to see, things to do, you know. Far more interesting than the life of a wild animal, I think.

Do you really think that? Red wondered.

It was Leon’s turn to hesitate for a moment. He couldn’t honestly say that he hated the idea of Red’s lifestyle up to this point: hunting, mating, rearing young, and sleeping. It was pure and simple, bereft of much responsibility, and that in and of itself held a certain allure. Add onto that Leon’s own comfort with the wild, and if he were honest with her, he would’ve admitted that he was even a little jealous of that lifestyle.

But he wasn’t going to say that to her, not when he was trying to convince her to leave all of this behind. Not when he was seriously entertaining the idea of trying to convince her to join his retinue.

It has its virtues, Leon replied, but I’d choose life in human society over one outside of it. Maybe it’s just because I’ve grown soft and used to comfort, but a soft bed and controllable heat aren’t things I’d want to live without anymore. Besides, two of my own mates are women of the city and would probably go insane if they remained too long in the wild.

Hmm… Red hummed in thought, not otherwise responding.

The two then sat there in silence for several long, awkward minutes.

How are Blue and Gold? Leon asked, breaking that silence. Are they nearby?

Red frowned, then answered with some hesitation, They are…

Well, Leon continued, I’d like to extend an invitation to both you and to them to spend the night here, maybe get the slightest of tastes for what might await you in human civilization.

Red didn’t immediately respond, but her orange reptilian eyes flickered southward for a moment. They refuse, she said, and Leon was almost surprised when he felt a slight hint of disappointment. However, that disappointment soon vanished when Red then said, But I would take you up on that offer.

—

Leon rushed to provide Red with everything that he could, eager to show off what could be hers if she were to join his retinue. He added another room to the portable villa, one for her private use for the night. He arranged for her to get some of the finest food he had access to this far outside of civilization and doted on her about as much as he could without seeming servile or subordinate.

That night, he met with his retainers and asked them if they would be comfortable with her joining them. He got some expected discomfort, but no one felt strongly enough about the issue to directly disagree—not even Anshu. Leon found their responses particularly interesting, especially considering their responses when he took the matter of Santiago to them.

Dealing with Red’s issues was hardly the only priority on Leon’s mind. After most everyone had fallen asleep, he took to silently meditating in his villa’s courtyard. He could still remember the feeling of black fire at his fingertips, and he was hoping he might be able to recapture that feeling. If he could, he hoped that the power would unlock in spite of the Great Black Dragon’s attempts to seal it away.

As he meditated, he felt the attention of his more favored Ancestor fall upon him.

Trying to unlock sealed powers, are we? she whispered into his mind. He didn’t think she was in human form, but she certainly sounded like she was smiling.

Something like that, Leon cheekily replied. I wonder what kind of face the Great Black Dragon might make when he finds out what I’m doing. He isn’t actively monitoring me, is he?

No, he isn’t, the Thunderbird answered with some exasperation. In some ways, I think your journey would’ve been easier if he was, and harder in other ways. But what’s done is done. I only see him poking his snout in your direction every six months at the most frequent, so I wouldn’t worry about him seeing you right now.

When was the last time, would you say? Leon wondered.

Maybe three months ago? the Thunderbird replied. I made it known that I’d seen him, and I think he left out of embarrassment. He cares about you a lot more than he professes.

I almost wish he didn’t, Leon said, his tone thick with venomous ire. He wouldn’t be suppressing me if he didn’t care, would he?

No, the Thunderbird admitted. Honestly, though, I wonder just what he’s playing at. He can’t keep your blood sealed forever, and as it is, you’ve already been made to resent him.

Leon almost made a snide comment about the Thunderbird’s own imperiousness when she felt it was warranted. On a purely intellectual level, he could understand that the Great Black Dragon might’ve made a hasty judgment based on factors Leon couldn’t guess at, but once his ancient mind was made up, it wasn’t going to easily change.

But Leon didn’t care about the why of the suppression. He was going to unlock that fire, and the Great Black Dragon wasn’t going to stop him.

He concentrated within himself, remembering the wrath that had burned through him when he saw Maia vanishing within the black wyvern’s jaws. He remembered how, purely by instinct, his fire had come forth, and how it writhed and blazed within him, yearning for release.

Most of all, he remembered the sheer visceral satisfaction he’d felt when that fire had been given an outlet, when that black fire had been turned upon an enemy.

He couldn’t work himself up into that emotional state as he pleased, but his fire magic still surged through his body. He hoped that it might respond to his will and turn black, but as the tiny, candle-sized fire that burned in the air before him demonstrated, his fire remained stubbornly orange and relatively mundane.

You’re thinking too much, the Thunderbird chided didactically. That power is inherent to you. It’s a part of you, it can’t be taken away. It’s there, it just needs the right trigger.

And what might that trigger be if I can’t get it to come out like this? Leon wondered.

How do you manifest my power? the Thunderbird replied. Do you call upon it, specifically? As an addendum to lightning magic?

No… Leon replied. I just call upon lightning, and your lightning comes. If I want it to be ‘normal’ lightning, then I have to concentrate a little bit harder…

What are you doing differently, then? the Thunderbird asked.

Leon frowned and didn’t immediately answer, having none to give. As far as he could tell, the fire he was calling upon was about as natural as he was able to make it. He wouldn’t say it was a natural as breathing, but it was…

‘Well, it isn’t as natural as lightning,’ he thought. His lightning was as natural as breathing, but his fire wasn’t. He needed to actively try to use fire, even if that effort was miniscule compared to something like earth or darkness magic. But the simple fact was that his fire magic didn’t come as naturally to him as lightning.

If you figure out what that difference is, the Thunderbird continued, then I think you may finally figure out how the Great Black Dragon is suppressing you. Do that, and his power that you’ve rightfully inherited will be yours, to do with as you please…

Leon smiled at that prospect, but he didn’t know what he was doing wrong, why his fire wasn’t natural, why it wasn’t as much a part of him as his lightning was.

He and the Thunderbird exchanged a few more words, but in the end, Leon wasn’t able to figure this riddle out.

At the very least, though, he at least had been given some direction.

Black fire was close, he could feel it.

—

Leon, Red, and Maia met up with Penelope and Cassandra early the next morning in the same conference room that Penelope had erected the day before.

“All right, has anything changed since last night?” Penelope asked once they were all around the table, sparing Leon any of the snide looks or comments that he’d come to expect from her up to this point.

“Nothing material,” Leon replied.

“Really?” Cassandra asked a little provocatively. “I heard that Red over there spent the night in your villa… Are you sure nothing happened?”

“Quite sure,” Leon replied without missing a beat, meeting Cassandra’s playful gaze without a hint of embarrassment. “We were simply discussing the fight today, and a few personal matters. Nothing more.”

“I’m sure, I’m sure,” Cassandra replied, though her eyes were flitting between Leon and Red fairly quickly, and while she was smiling, Leon could feel the tiniest sliver of killing intent making its way through her aura, and he didn’t quite know what to make of it.

“So, then, how should we proceed?” Penelope asked loudly. “I’d like to get this over with right now and return to regular hunting. All of this delving below ground really doesn’t agree with me…”

“Black hasn’t left, has he?” Leon asked Red. “He hasn’t gotten freaked out by our continued presence up here and skipped out?”

He wouldn’t, Red replied. He could escape easily, if he wished, but this is his territory. He won’t leave.

“Well, he didn’t attack us, either,” Cassandra pointed out. “He can’t be feeling too confident about his chances.”

He’ll be in his aerie, waiting, Red replied.

“Should we expect anything unusual?” Leon asked.

“Tricks and the like?” Cassandra clarified. “Ambushes, fortifications, wards, that sort of thing?

Unlikely, Red responded. My kind respect power. If he is weaker, then he is weaker. If he is stronger, then he is stronger. Nothing else matters.

“That’s encouraging,” Leon said with a frown of surprise. “How many should we bring, then? Just us four along with Red, Blue, and Gold? Or should we bring along some of our retainers?”

“I think most anyone we bring will fall quickly to those things,” Cassandra replied a little dismissively. “Besides, if they’re not here in this room with us, they’ll just get in the way down there. If we could control the battlefield, then maybe we could bring some of our warriors for support, but as it is, I fear they’d just get in the way and wind up killed or injured. We need to concentrate on Black, not try to defend our followers from his attacks.”

Leon slowly nodded. He’d thought the same, but he’d been hoping that one of the others would have an idea that could let the rest of his retinue participate.

“In that case,” Leon continued, turning his eyes toward Red, “can you, Blue, and Gold handle White, Green, and Brown?”

Red nodded without hesitation.

“Good,” Leon continued. “I think our biggest problem wasn’t that Black was too strong, but that White was healing too quickly. If she can be distracted, then this battle should go our way pretty easily.”

“Are you going to kill them?” Cassandra asked Red.

Red replied, If we must. If our mate falls, then they’ll run. If they run, we’ll let them go.

“Would you object to us killing them?”

Red’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she said, No.

“Oh, good,” Cassandra responded with a cheery smile. “Adding three seventh-tier wyverns to my count will put me on track to retaking the lead…” She punctuated that statement with a different sort of provocative look sent Leon’s way.

Leon shrugged, not rising to the challenge. They were about to face an eighth-tier wyvern, and he wanted to focus on the fight ahead.

“If there’s nothing else, we ought to get going, shouldn’t we?” Penelope said.

The other four around the table agreed, and they left the conference room. It was time to end this back-and-forth with the black wyvern once and for all.