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Halo didn't look back up at Edel, but merely flapped his wings once and returned them to the display position. He slapped the tip of his tail on the ground again and growled, The sound very unintimidating, "I smell an older Dragon in there. One of fire and heat...I smell him." And he started the bare his teeth, which was an act that while it was meant to be threatening, seemed cute. His teeth were tiny and underdeveloped, just like the his wings and claws. "I Will protect you." It was a statement that sounded adorable coming from the hatchling, but he was serious. He intended to protect her, and judging by the emphasis he put on the word will, he was determined. It almost sounded like he was making a promise. As he continued his threat display more marking were etched into his skin.

Halo felt the hand on his shoulder and stopped his display to look up at Edel and listen to her words. He quite quickly calmed down and seemed embarrassed for a moment. "Sorry...I didn't know..." And then he looked back toward the house and sniffed again. "Can I meet Mister Mars?" And all trace of fear was definitely gone. As he started sniffing the air he folded his wings; giving Edel an opportunity to inspect the runic markings on and around his right shoulder. They were of a language that was ancient, and they were written in what looked like an ink made of dragons blood and ashes. The language they were written in, was a dragon language unlike any known to Edel. Which meant that this was dragon magic that was effecting halo.

Halo became slightly excited at the prospect of getting to meet Mars. "Yay! Yay!" and he giggled before rearing up on his hind legs; wanting to be picked up and carried in right away. He wanted to meet Mars and he was excited that he was going to get to do so.

At the mention of food, Halo wanted to say he could wait, but his stomach growled before he could utter a single syllable. He shyly said, "Grandpa allways gave me soft foods...But I want to try something tougher..." and then his stomach growled again. As she held him he flapped his wings to try to help her hold him, and as he did so, over the course of a few seconds 3 of the same exact marking were etched into the skin of the right side of his neck by the mysterious red light. After a moment he stopped flapping his wings. It felt good to move them every now and again.

It wasn't until Edel mentioned the markings that Halo noticed them and how many he had. He started to say something, but was cut short by a familiar voice. A male voice that sounded elderly and raspy, wheezing and rumbling. A dragon's voice. "Those are the Marks of His deeds. Every Deed Dragon will have their deeds and misdeeds recorded in their very skin by the magic that makes our race unique. The period of time it takes for the entire body to be covered by these marks varies from individual to individual based on how actively they live their lives and the kinds of opportunities they are presented with. This time period is known as the Accumulation. Once Accumulation is complete Judgment will begin. Once Halo's judgment ends, he will be transformed into the adult form he has earned with his actions." Halo heard this voice and started crying. "Grandpa..."

The Voice said, "Do Not cry Halo. I will always be with you, even if you can't sense or touch me."

Halo sobbed, "I love you grandpa."

"But you are concerned for his safety. I shall aid you how ever I can. His skin, like that of any Deed dragon who has not undergone the Judgment, is soft, smooth, and white. What he looks like as an adult is entirely determined by his actions. In his three months of life he failed to accumulate any deeds because because his body was not developed enough to receive the markings," Seraph said before using what skil he had with magic to maniuplate some of the magic in the room and show and image to Edel in her mind.

The image would have been terrifying to most. A colossal male dragon, easily 200ft long from snout to tail tip, laying on a heap of bricks and rubble. His claws looked cracked and dull, his crest broken and grey, his eyes faded with age, his wings crippled and featherless. His tail was mere stump less than a quarter as long as it should have been, which meant that at one point in his life he was over 350ft long. His horns were broken, his scales were shabby, most of his teeth missing, and his body thinned with age and malnutrition. This dragon was elderly and weak, and yet mighty in his own right.

This was a dragon who had fallen completely into his old age. "I did my best to raise My great grandson from his hatching after my son, grandson, and my grandsons' mate were killed when a sky scraper was demolished three months ago. I have taught him proper human English, as well as proper manners. He knows how to read, and how to navigate the city on foot. If you have any questions do not hesitate to send for me. My name is Seraph. I have decided to show you in your very mind what I looked like before my death, so that you may understand why I choose not to manifest in your home."

Halo then spoke up. "Grandpa was big." and then He sniffed around and was reminded of why he was being carried in the first place. "Can we see mister Mars now? I want to meet him!" and he seemed excited again. He stretched his wings out as far as he could in excitement, and closed them, before stretching them out again. This was something he did when he was excited. Something he had always done when he was younger. He always stretched out his wings as far as he could when he was excited. It was a nervous tic really. It was something beyond his control. Each time he stretched out his wings, a marking was etched into his skin. Over the course of a few seconds he stretched his wings five times.

“Treat him as you would a human child of 4 year of age. Be careful with him and keep him somewhere you can keep your eye on him. In his youth he is very curious, prone to wandering off and exploring. However, Do not try to restrict his actions, for doing so would prevent him from making mistakes. Mistakes of youth translate into mixed deeds for a deed dragon, and in many cases this makes their adult body more fearsome. And Be careful of his nervous tic. When he becomes excited He stretches out his wings repeatedly and uncontrollably. If he is excited too often, it is almost guaranteed that his wings will be massive after he goes through the judgment. Since he is of age for his deeds to be recorded, every time he stretches his wings, which in any being with wings would be an attempt to make the wings larger, he gains a marking that amplifies the large wing trait he has already earned. Chances are in the next few days he will accumulate thousands of these markings. He has already accumulated a hundred of them in the time we have been talking. His wings may well become the largest any member of my race has ever had.” Seraph’s spirit said in answer of Edel’s questions.

“Human food should be fine, though please remember that he will need roughage occasionally, such as high amounts of dietary fiber and if you feed him something with large bones in it, don’t let him eat the bones, but do let him chew or gnaw on said bones. It will help him accumulate markings that will give him tougher teeth as an adult, which is a desirable trait useful in surviving a human world. The same can be said of stones, minerals, and metals. I suspect Mars will greatly influence how Halo’s adult form will look. Halo seems excited to meet him and he needs a friend. Also if Halo shows interest in a particular path, help him along it. Even if he choose over a hundred paths and never makes it far along any of them, encourage him. It will benefit him in the long run to have all kinds of experiences.”

Meanwhile Halo continued to stretch his wings in excitement; accumulating markings throughout. “Here we come mister Mars!” Halo giggled.