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Thats very interesting.

Maximos said with a nod.

I've never heard of an elemental dragon.

But then again there were no dragons on Aria. Not a one, and Maximos had always found their species something of a difficulty to study, they were so old there was so much history. So much variation. So much...well it was very daunting.

Are they common?

He said, after a small sip.

Maximos paused for a moment, his head slightly cocking to the side. Was that a surprising fact? He really knew next to nothing about Dragon culture or types. The only dragons he knew more than a simple title about were the base chromatic dragons, so the very idea of an elemental dragons was...brand new! As such he really couldnt be surprised...it was like trying to surprise a blind man by popping up in front of him. But! He did not know that Angara was filled with one type of dragon, so after a small confused second he responded.

Yes?

Then straighted his head, as he tried to explain.

I know almost nothing about Dragon-kind, my friend. I know the obvious base types.

He held up a hand as he counted, tapping a finger with each name.

Red, Black, Blue, Green, White, and their basic nature but...

He stopped laying his right hand on his knee, and taking another small sip. There was really alot he didnt know...but a realization had just dawned on him, one an inch past that. He had someone directly in front of him who did know.

...so, what is it like? I cant imagine what it would feel like to live so long. I've read so many different myths even though I've only barely scratched the surface, whats it like to take such a tiny form like that? Are you weaker like this?

Maximos was just dumbfounded. What should he say? What could he say? It was so awesome to hear it from his friend, it seemed so real then. Dragons after all were naturally long lived, like elves. That meant that they could legally live for millennia without causing any violations.

It was beyond imagination. How could it feel like to shrink so tiny from something so big? How much power was lost? He heard what Ryugi was talking about, but how did it feel? How would it feel for him to put on a really good, big costume?

Maximos seemed like a starry eyed child for a moment, as a single word drifted from his lips.

...Wow.

His eyes turned out the window for a moment, and then back.

...And its like that for all of you? Why cant you just be yourselves at home?

Wow...

He couldnt fathom that, a whole civilization of such rare breed, and great power remaining in hiding. That must have been a truly horrible war. But he was finding each day that there was more and more to this place he simply did not expect, or did not know, or just could not fathom.

But it was that very fact that made it so intriguing. He found his eyes drawn to the window again, to the few people left outside, to the land itself and its silhouette cast on the horizon.

...theres so much here, thats so new to me, so...different. I cant wait to see more.

His starry eyes turned back to his friend.

What are we going to see tomorrow?

Yes!

Maximos nearly bit the end off of Ryugi's sentence. Shopping? History? Capital? He had him from the start, if Maximos was the sort (and he wasnt) to drool over that sort of thing, he would be doing it now. Though, despite his age he did seem to be as excited as a school boy.

Now, as opposed to having the night pass slowly, it didnt seem it'd be able to pass fast enough. In a quick gulp, Maximos finished off the remainder of his tea, which in his defense was not much. And then met Ryugi with bright smile.

Well, I suppose we'd best get some sleep. Which is to say, I think its time for me to turn in.

He gave a stout nod, standing up and stretching, letting out half a yawn.

G'night Ryugi!

He said brightly, with a wave before he'd start heading off to his room, unless stopped. Tomorrow needed to come today, and sleep was the best time machine available.

Sleep didnt come.

Ever since the curse first started, sleep almost never came. When he closed his eyes he felt it moving, stirring, waiting for a moment to pounce, to strike, to feed...

He tossed and turned, fidgeting in his bed almost constantly before settling into sleep. He could see it, flashes of black and red. The silhouette of a creature, something inhuman racing through the black veil of his mind, its existence only visible when it halted letting two impossibly eyes gaze at Maximos himself.

Out of instinct his hand slipped to his neck and black chained necklace with a its lapis lazuli stone, resting on his chest. He held it tightly as if for dear life as the hours of night passed him by, until he was awoken.

Closer it came, thrashing around the empty space in Maximos' mind, circling closer and closer, before its eyes settled low to the ground directly in front of him.

Heavy the Shadow breathed, covered in sweat and blood as he been fending it off most of the night. But this was different, it was playing before but now it was ready to move in for the kill. A bead of tainted sweat ran down his brow, the dream was so vivid he could taste it. He was ready to embrace his final moments, and it seemed they could wait no longer for him. It lashed forward, galloping across the empty space, its claws rose into the air, a gaping maw roared for the Shadow's head --



Ah!

Maximos shouted as if suddenly startled as he awoke on the floor. The sheets tossed too and fro. Though luckily for him most of the beds covering stood on the bed when he fell off. Only a small portion of a single sheet, and a small puddle around Maximos was plagued by the black bloody substance that soaked through the bandages of his right arm.

Alright! I'll be out in a minute!

He called out. Today was a good day, or at least it was going to be a good day nothing would stop that. He stood up, wiping the sleep from his eyes as he headed to the sink. It was time to change wrappings, and get dressed.

And after a few minutes, he had done just that, and opened the door. A bright smile was spread on his face, his backpack rest on his back. And he was ready to roll!

All set!

Maximos nodded excitedly and gingerly trotted down the steps behind Ryugi. He regarded Grace with a bright smile and wave, she really did run a beautiful establishment. And hopefully she wouldnt question the black stain, maybe passing it off as spilled ink.

Will do!

He said with a nod and a stern thumbs up, at Grace. Ryugi was a good friend of his, he'd be getting in no trouble too serious on his watch. But he neednt say that, Maximos' word meant entirely too much for him to ever go against what he'd just agreed too.

And so, he watched Ryugi hug his old friend with a smile and before he knew it, they were off into the sunrise! What sort of wonders did this new city hold? What did dawn bring?!