Chase sighed, sipping from his makeshift mug.
He sitting on a large rock as Lithica and Zephyr were discussing battle tactics below him.
He had learned much in his time within The Dark Forest, but all of the signs were pointing at his return to civilization.
"I'm ready."
He said aloud.
"I have no doubts on that my lord."
Lithica said fondly.
"Please stop calling him that..."
Zephyr groaned, squeezing the corners of a hand drawn map in his hands.
"He freed my from my imprisonment, and my old lord said, and I quote "When someone comes to free you, you will follow them till death.""
He said imitating a serious and deep voice.
Chase chuckled.
"It's fine Zephyr, I won't let it get to my head."
Zephyr raised an eyebrow and then shrugged it off.
"Whatever, we must prepare. Chase you have everything you need correct?"
Chase nodded.
"Stop worrying so much, I'll be fine. I've been waiting to come back home for quite a while, it's you that I'm more worried about. You plan to bring us there in your dragon from right? Aren't you worried about being spotted?"
Zephyr shook his head.
"It is you who said "It would be awesome to ride into a battle on top of a dragon devil with my knightly angel flying in by our side!""
Chase's face turned red, and he put his hands up.
"I was just saying it would be cool! Am I wrong?"
Lithica put a hand up.
"No my lord, in fact that would be quite the entrance, I am sure that the princess you spoke of would immediately fall for you on the spot."
Zephyr hurled over and yelled, gaining confused looks from both Lithica and Chase.
"Never speak of the "Princess girl" and this "Fool!" In the same sentence ever again please! For the sake of my sanity!"
Chase tilted his head.
"Ya know, Poppy is a bastard, and you do share quite similar traits..."
Chase said, as tension began to grow in the air.
"No way..."
Chase followed up taking a deep look at Zephyr's seething scowl.
"You're her dad!?"
"Am not!"
"Aw come on! You guys act the same, and you immediately knew who I was talking about. Come on Zephyr, I'll keep it a secret, but thankfully I know where she gets her anger issues from now..."
It made a lot of sense, and Chase felt quite dumb for not realizing it sooner.
'I mean Poppy's pretty damn strong, and no one knows who her real father is, and Zephyr is like really strong, and my mom's queen's guard, so that means that she is fated to be my king's guard..."
A wicked grin fell on Chase's face, and Zephyr shook his head repeatedly.
"Absolutely not... No... Definitely not... I would have to die ten times over before I let her inherit my role, and you of all people... You vile monster..."
Chase laughed.
"Ya know? I don't think you of all people should be calling me the vile monster... Aren't you like an ancient dragon from hell?"
Chase couldn't hold back his laughter anymore, and clutched his stomach as he bursted out with tears from laughing so hard.
After he calmed down, he looked at Zephyr and exhaled deeply.
"You should go see her..."
He gazed into Chase's eyes and then shook his head slowly.
"You're mother told me the same... But I cannot. I do not want to burden her as I have burdened you..."
Chase shook his head.
"You haven't burdened me... I don't know what I would have done without you Zephyr, last time I was here... I was here alone, and had no one until I met... Well these hell hounds that had chased me for a while ended up befriending me... But..."
Zephyr raised an eyebrow.
"You do know hell hounds share our traits right?"
Chase tilted his head.
"What?"
Zephyr had a soft smile on his ancient face.
"You're mother sent the hell hounds boy... And trust me, hell hounds may die in the living world but they carry two bodies just as I do..."
Chase's heart skipped a beat.
"You mean? I will see Sparky again?"
Zephyr nodded.
"Her name is Charilystis..."
Chase's mouth was wide open.
"YOU MEAN?! Sparky was a girl!?"
Zephyr boomed with laughter.
"Yes... You're mother was quite fond of that one as well, it is her guard dog and best friend... It only seemed right that she sent that one to guard you with her life..."
"We must go now my lord..."
Lithica flapped his wings, and light began to radiate from his body as the ground started to shake.
Chase nodded, and Zephyr sighed as his form began to change.
'You better be ready Rider... I'll be right there to avenge Leander soon enough... And I won't hold back...'