Cycle of Fire

3. Chapter 3: A Simple Request-1

3 Chapter 3: A Simple Request

The previous twenty years had come and gone as if it were a blink to the young Droragorian heroes. Dorian and Xia had enjoyed their peaceful lives together in a small cottage near Julius’ home in Genrou’s Grotto. Two years after the birth of their daughter the lovers conceived a second child, a boy named Kaiden. With Julius’ help, Dorian and Xia raised their children in peace. Despite their Droragorian power, they found the task of parenthood a rather difficult challenge, one that kept them up nights, pushing them to the very limits of wit’s end. Tending to a duo of rowdy children for many centuries to come was assuredly a sentence of hell to most, yet to two now full-blooded Droragorians, time passed like a stream of ever-flowing water. They experienced time differently, free from the stress of humanity’s temporal hamstring. The embers of their love remained steady like an ember, despite the years. It was an illogical love, as many often are.

A light snowfall coated the Grotto in a gleaming hue of white. Children of the Grotto’s other inhabitants frolicked through the snow, making angels, and building misshapen snowmen with fresh mounds of white powder. Julius peered from his window, staring at the partially frozen stream. He closed his eyes with a content smile, indulging in a bittersweet memory of Ileanna and himself wrestling in the snow together. “I think I’ll go for a little walk,” he whispered.

Julius stepped out and trudged to the frozen waterway. The stream had not completely frozen and a faint current of water rushed through the center. Julius watched as tiny snowflakes dissolved in the frigid waters. Julius closed his eyes, enjoying a brief moment of peace and serenity. “Ileanna. I wish you could be here with me to enjoy this peace,” he said.

The sounds of shouts and thumps coming from Dorian and Xia’s home shattered Julius’ peaceful moment. He shook his head smiling. “I wish you could see your grandchildren. They are quite a handful,” he muttered with a chuckle.

Julius took off toward Dorian and Xia’s home. As he approached the front door the shouts became louder. He knocked and waited for a response. When his knock went unanswered he stepped inside. A quick glimpse of Dorian running across the hallway caught Julius’ attention. The cries of displeased babies resonated throughout the home. Julius chuckled. He knew the wild ruckus all too well. He walked through the modest home until he reached Xia’s doorway. As he peered into the room he saw Xia washing Kaiden in a tub of water.

“I see you have your hands full, young lady,” Julius greeted.

“Yeah, Kaiden had a little accident. Dorian freaked out at the sight of feces and fled out of here surprisingly fast,” Xia replied.

“I did not flee. I went to check on Mira. I wanted to make sure she hadn’t had a little accident either. The last thing we need is two screaming babies covered in poop. I wanted to know why she was crying,” Dorian replied, entering the room with Mira in his arms.

“Well, at least Mira stopped crying,” Xia said.

“I think she just wanted to be held,” Dorian replied.

Mira giggled as Dorian gently poked her nose. Julius watched Dorian’s interaction with a silent smile.

“Father, are you okay?” Xia asked.

“I’m fine. I just remember when you were that small. You were quite a handful yourself. I remember you used to cry so much your mother and I never got any sleep.”

“Actually, I would like to take this time to apologize to you for making all those old man jokes,” Dorian said. “I know why you are the way you are now, Julius.”

Julius chuckled and kneeled next to Xia to help clean Kaiden. “Go ahead and get him a new set of clothes. I’ll finish up with the mess here,” he said.

“Thanks, father,” Xia replied and left to retrieve fresh clothes.

“Mira is usually very well-mannered, but Kaiden cries more than any creature in all of existence,” Dorian said.

“How are you two sleeping? My daughter looks exhausted,” Julius asked.

“Not too well. We are lucky if we get at least three hours of sleep without tending to either Mira or Kaiden. We’ve actually reached the point where we keep a tally of whether Mira or Kaiden keeps us up the most at night,” Dorian joked.

“Oh really? Who’s winning?”

“Kaiden. Like I said, that boy cries more than any creature alive. I think he runs on tears. It’s exhausting. And I cried a little last night,” he jested.

“Savor it, young man. Savor it all. Soon only memories of these days will remain.”

“I’m okay with that. I envy regular parents. A Droragorian baby stays a baby for years. This is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done…and I’ve fought dragons.”

Julius tapped Dorian’s back. “Yes, it is. It was for me too. Even still…savor it, young man.”

“I will. On an unrelated note, I can’t wait to see how Dain handles children. I think Kara can handle it because she’s so tough but I think Dain might fall to pieces,” Dorian said.

“Now that will be a sight to see.”

Dorian and Julius burst into laughter at the thought of Dain with children.

“What are you two laughing about in here?” Xia questioned, returning with fresh clothes.

“The thought of Dain being a father,” Dorian replied.

“Oh, come on, you two. Give Dain some credit. I think he would make a great father,” Xia defended.

“I know. We were just fooling around, but the thought of Dain with kids is just too much for me.”

“You said the same thing on our wedding night, Dorian, and look at you now.”

Dorian’s chuckling ceased, and the painful reality returned to his exhausted gaze. “Yeah…hip-deep in poop and crying babies,” he replied with a smile.

Xia smirked at Dorian as she dressed Kaiden. Julius silently stood watching, recounting sweet memories of his past. Their home was a whole one. It was one worth fighting for…one that they would fight for.

Meanwhile, in the city of Gothe, Kara and Dain had lived the last twenty years together in peace. The two lovers often fought but always made up in the end. The sounds of loud shouts filled a sizable castle atop the hill. The castle dwellers, most contracted to help around the large estate, watched curiously as Dain ran through the halls concealing himself in the shadows of a corner nook.

“Dain!” Kara screamed, storming through the castle. “Dain, I know you’re here! Stop hiding from me like a child!”

Dain stood in the dark corner, smiling.

“Danith! I swear on all that is holy in this world if you don’t get your ass out here now I will find you and I will beat you until you spit bones!” Kara threatened.

“All right, all right. Calm down,” Dain said, emerging from his hidden corner.

Kara’s glare dimmed as he came closer.

“One night, Dain. I asked for one night of romance where you don’t crack jokes and take this seriously. One night!” Kara screamed.

“I do take it seriously.”

“I dressed up for you, Dain. I never wear dresses like this. I did this for you. Instead of appreciating me for doing this, you crack some joke and completely kill the mood. Damn it, Dain! I feel like you just try to piss me off.”

“Maybe I do,” Dain teased.

“Excuse me?” Kara replied, raising her brow.

“Maybe I like it when you’re angry.” Kara crossed her arms, smiling. “You’re adorable when you’re angry, and I do take it seriously.”

Kara glared at Dain with a look of indifference and c****d her head. Dain stood smiling with a curious expression.

“Bedroom. Five minutes,” Kara said and stormed back to her room.

Dain laughed as his eyes slid toward one of the castle maids.

“You two are at it again, I see,” the woman said.

“Despite the loud exchange of words, I love her more than she knows. I just like getting under her skin.”

“Well, don’t try too hard, sir. You may actually make her angry one of these days. And I don’t want to have to clean you up off the floor.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Dain replied and proceeded to Kara’s room.

In a nearby home, Kiros and Xander shared a quiet evening atop their terrace. Thick grey snow clouds billowed overhead.

“It’s cold tonight, Xannie.”

“Yeah,” Xander somberly replied.

“How has Sasha been?”

“She’s fine. She recently opened a blacksmith shop. She loves crafting weapons now. She’s got a knack for it.”

“Maybe you’ll get a discount,” Kiros suggested with a playful smile.

“Yeah, maybe…” he replied, his attention trailing.

“Xannie, are you all right?”

“Yeah.”

Kiros frowned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Xannie, what’s wrong?”

“I’m getting old, Kira. I’m getting older and you’re still young. I can’t satisfy you forever. One day I’ll be gone. I just feel irrelevant, I guess. I feel like I can’t offer you the same things that I used to,” Xander replied.

Kiros gently pressed her hand against Xander’s cheek. “Xannie, I love you. Yes, it’s true one day you will die, but I have you now. That’s what matters to me.”

“I know, Kira, but it’s just been bothering me lately. Come on…be honest. s*x is a good percentage of a bad relationship.”

“Trust me…after what you did last night you are in no danger of being obsolete.”

Xander sighed. “I don’t know. I just feel…like I’m…fading. You know?”

“If it bothers you that much you could talk to Rin.”

“I already asked if he could rejuvenate me. He told me life has a natural course and that he shouldn’t interfere. However, I heard that he rejuvenated an old man once because the man’s child begged him to.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better I’m hundreds of years old, so we’re both geezers,” Kiros joked.

Xander smiled and traded a quick peck against Kiros’ lips. She smiled back and laid her head against his shoulder. A lingering fear gripped his wandering mind, one of irrelevance. He was afraid to grow old and lose the one semblance of love he had ever felt in his troubled life of destitution and thievery.

Back in Loxx, Lucas had successfully succeeded his father, Diamos, as the leader of the city. The people were quick to accept Lucas as their king and praised him as a hero. His strength, determination, and kindly nature made him a legend among his people. Additionally, Kaya’s cheery personality, unyielding optimism, and wisdom beyond her years provided the people of Loxx with a sense of serenity and happiness. The sun had begun to fall as Lucas and Kaya enjoyed an evening together in the castle gardens. They laid next to each other on a short wooden bridge above a trickling stream.

“I never get tired of this place,” Kaya whispered.

“It was my mother’s favorite place in the entire castle,” Lucas replied.

“She was beautiful,” Kaya replied, observing a recently constructed statue of Lucas’ parents.

“Yes, she was. She was open-hearted, honest, and steadfast. Just like you, Kaya.”

Kaya smiled and entwined her left hand with his right.

“Lucas, how long do you think this peace will last?”

“I don’t know. My father always used to tell me that peace is the natural course of things. However, other natural desires often clash with that peace. I think what he meant was that peace is only meant to last as long as it can until something comes along to shatter it.”

“Do you think war and loss are inevitable?” Kaya asked.

“I don’t know. All I know is that right now we are at peace. I just want it to last as long as it can.” Lucas smiled and looked toward the statue of his parents.

“Lucas, what do you think the future holds for us?” Kaya pondered.

“I don’t know what the future holds, or how long we will live. But I do know that I want my time here to be spent with you, firefly,” Lucas whispered.

“Firefly?”

“My mother loved fireflies. She always would tell me that to her a firefly represented what was important to her in life. She told me that if I ever find my firefly in life to hold onto it and never let it go. You’re my firefly, Kaya.”