Chapter 75: The storm

Givontair:

I can see that Nathaniel looks conflicted. I don't understand what brought this inner conflict in him. Did he not wait all this time, to get rid of Ajax? Now is his chance. I try to get out of the room, not wanting to be there, when Ajax breathes his last breath.

"Please stay," I hear his weak voice. I can see that he is battling with the Dread, keeping it inside himself, instead of letting it loose. I can tell all that, from his mana waves. Does he deserve for me to be by his side, as he fights for his life? Would he have stayed with me, if I was dying? "You have a good heart, Giv. Don't let it get tarnished."

I rub at my eyes furiously. I must have spent too long reading today, for them to be this watery. Yes, that is what I did. I read... I shake my head. No, I really didn't do that.

What I did, was agonizing over whatever or not I killed my father. My absent father, who kidnapped one of my friends, to lure me into a trap. Whose heart wasn't entirely into the attempt, for if it was, I'd be dead now.

I turn around, and come sit with him. That is all the cue Sorix and Nathaniel need, to begin the extraction. Two waves of mana wash over Ajax.

His hand reaches out to me, and takes a hold of mine. I allow for him to take courage out of the contact. He is the one who gave me life, even if he did his best, to try and take it away. If I don't allow for this to happen, then I will be throwing away my right to call myself his son.

A part of me reminds me about all the battles, I had with him so far. Another, of the times I exposed him for who he was, in my mind, but didn't say anything because...

Why didn't I ever work up the courage, to call his act out, when he came to look after me in different forms? He wasn't there for my first flight, but he was there for my first battle with an epidemic. I remember that back then, I wasn't all that wealthy.

Not many dragons will choose to heal, like how I did. This is a pity. With mana pools as big as a dragon's a single healer can save at least 1,000 lives per day. I look at Ajax, who is holding back a scream. I was never good at watching people suffer. My mana pool is not full, but I still have plenty of mana left for this.

Placing my free hand on his chest, I let my mana scan him. He is on the verge of a heart failure. I begin to help his heart beat, as I make sure his blood manages to flow to his limbs. Then I sense it, his intestines begin to knot. He can't help but scream at that, and begin to heave.

Slowly, I force my mana into untangling the intestines. He will have trouble eating for months, but he won't die. Not on my watch. He has too much to pay for. When blood begins to drip from his nose, I search for the reason. The inside of his nose feels dry and cracked. I let my mana hydrate it, and even close the small wounds on the blood vessels.

"Come on, we almost have him out. Just hang in there," Sorix says. I look at my father, who seems to be staring into a single direction without blinking.

 I curse in my mind. Blindness is not something that can be fixed with mana. What I can check for, is if the arteries are not fit to burst. This is a delicate work. Finally, when the last of the black miasma is out of Ajax's body, he seems to blink. I wave my hand before his face. He follows it.

"You will live," I tell him. He does something that I have never thought he'd do. He lets go of my hand, and brings me close for a hug.

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"I knew you had a gentle heart," he says, as he breathes in my scent. I pat him on the back. How many times, have I dreamed about my father giving me a hug. Yet, now that he does do so, I am conflicted. How do I forgive him for what he did to Nathaniel?

"You have to face justice," I say. He lets go of me, and stares into my eyes. 
"Did you send me, just so you can deliver me to the executioner's block?" I, too, believe that he is headed for there. Yet, that doesn't stop me from taking a hold of his shoulders, and shaking him.

"How many people have you burned alive?" I snap at him.

"How many have you?" The question startles me. "I know for a fact you burned a bandit camp, to avenge a child."

"That is different," I try to defend myself. Ajax narrows his eyes at me.

"How is it different? Do you think those people didn't have families? I don't remember your parents telling me you were so carefree with taking lives," at the mention of my adoptive parents, my eyes narrow.

"If you agree to have a trial, then I will also turn myself in," there have to be consequences for our action. That much I know.

"Givontair atoned for what you pointed at, by healing the people of three different towns. You still have to pay for murdering my parents," Nathaniel says. He takes out his sword. Ajax puffs out some smoke, but can't seem to be able to produce fire. "You won't drag Giv with you in the grave. I won't allow it!"

"Why should a dragon face the justice of men?" Ajax asks. "If you wanted me dead, then you should have killed me during the extraction."

"This is precisely what the Dread wants. You have to help with the end of all prophecies. I know where the Dread keeps his Book of the Future," Sorix says. Ajax runs a hand over his hair.

"That place must be well protected, and in the middle of nowhere," Ajax retorts.

"It will be a battle from which some of us might not return," Sorix admits. Then, he shakes the now black glass babble. "But with your help, all the prophesies are going to be void. People will be able to live freely, without deities and demons latching on to them."

Sorix turns towards Nate, then.

"Think, what do you want more? The death of one dragon, or the salvation for the world," Nathaniel looks at all of us, and then storms out of the room. I spring to my feet, and go after him.

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