"Lady Illia, you''ve returned. Did you find any more...You have a child now!?" The woman that rushed out was no doubt a dragonkin. Midnight could see the tail and small wings on the womans'' back. There were also small patches of scales that showed off a water elemental affinity. But what put her aside from a dragon that shifted in to a dragonkin form were the eyes. Dragonkin had human looking eyes whereas, a dragon retained the dragon eyes.


    Many other dragonkin left the stone houses and walked about seeing that Illia had returned. "This is a rescue. Poor thing was forced in to a taming contract after, no doubt, she was stolen from her mother and father. I will bring her to the elder for the filthy chains to be removed. Please prepare a small nest for her afterward. She has champion blood. I am sure you can all feel it."


    The dragonkin who heard these words were on the move faster than anyone else would have predicted. They were lower in the hierarchy of the vige because they served the dragons for their lives. This was not a new urrence and making a nest for a dragon was a simple matter. Besides serving they were also the ones known to be draconic guardians. The highest possible honor for any dragonkin.


    Midnight was still not let free. She struggle now and then when she would feel the grip loosen but soon found that it would tighten closed again and again. Illia was not a fool to believe that Midnight would just roll over. "Worry not. The elder will clean you up and you will have the true freedom to soar the skies. By the time you are my age, you will have forgotten this."


    The resounding growls from Midnight were bordering on rabid. She hated the fact that Illia had just suggested she would forget the memories she had now. There was nothing more valuable to her in the world than the time she spent with the party; her family.


    The carefully carved cave shook slightly as a growl reverberated along the walls. Seven dragonkin rushed out while Illia walked through toward the center of the cave. "Esteemed elder. Please pardon me for interrupting your slumber."


    The cave was dark but it was slowly lit by light crystals carved and ced in to the ceiling and walls. They had been uncovered to reveal a dragon with pure blue scales. The horns were not sharp like Illia''s but instead, they were smooth and sloped along with the dragon''s neck. The tails came to a round end and water seemed to flow around the dragon''s entire body.


    "You wake me to ask another question? You know I am a pure water dragon. I am not a frost dragon. I have told you many times yet you bother my sleep when nothing has changed in the vige. Go and bother that steam dragon cousin of mine." The growl resounded again out of pure annoyance after the elder dragon had been woken.


    "This is not something so small. I have rescued a dragon champion from filthy humans that forced her in to chains. I a here to ask your help and clean her so she may grow the way she is meant." Illia rose to her full height and released Midnight in front of the elder dragon.


    A single eye opened and slowly but surely, the elder dragon focused on Midnight. The pressure she felt was much more than any other monster or person she had met. This was not some small being but an elder dragon bordering on the ancient level.


    The eye closed and a rush of cool mist blew from the elder dragons'' nose. "You are foolish and young. Did you speak to them and ask about this little one?" The condescending tone was enough to cause real damage to anyone but Illia tried to remain tall.


    "Of course I did. They were stealing the centennial ice I created and did not even offer anything worthy of it when I found this dragon trapped. I rescued it and even left them alive to be punishedter after we have cleaned a dragon soon to grow in to a proper champion. You know how rare a dragon champion is. They are more powerful than the royal dragons!"


    "Silence!" The roar was barely even a word and more of a domineering order. "Ah, I am sorry little one. I can hold back more. I forget myself when a fool speaks." Midnight was visibly shaking and Onyx was ready to jump out at any moment.


    "This little dragon has a blood contract. You are old enough to be able to sense it. Not only that but this little dragon is also bonded with a guardian! You have taken her from where she was at home and forced her here for a belief you have no proof of." There was a lighter tone as not to scare Midnight but it was clear that there was a significant amount of anger in the elders'' voice. "Do you know the shame you have brought by doing so?"


    "I refuse to believe that a human and dragon are equal. Even the guardian was a human. It is disgusting. Humans only torture those they make their pets. They make them fight or chain them down. Worse of all they force them to carry them without rest. You know this and if you will not help then I will take this champion to someone who will free her!"


    Illia started to reach to grab Midnight again. The elder dragon was done with the tantrum of a younger dragon and shot up from theying position she had been in. The two caused the entire cave to shake and a few stones to crumble. "Sister, we can not wait for them any longer. I am going to use my skill." Onyx broke his silence and prepared.


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