Ep 86. You’re Leaving? (5)

Ep 86. You’re Leaving? (5)

Ep 86. You’re Leaving? (5)

‘Well, now that she’s occupied...’

Serenis turned around to face the city wall that separated her from the interiors of the city. And above the towering ramparts, she could see the familiar blue-haired enforcer looking down at the two dragons below.

He hurriedly turned away when their eyes met, but it was too late. Serenis summoned her wings anew and leapt into the air, making it to the top in one swift motion to land on the ramparts and grab her fleeing sibling.

“Patrick.”

“...Huh? Oh.”

‘Wow, she REALLY climbs fast.’

Patrick could suddenly understand Raizel’s grievances about not having wings her entire life. Though, side thoughts soon melted away when he noticed the conflicted gaze on his sibling’s face.

“...I’m sorry I came to Partivine without telling you first. I didn’t think you’d agree with going. But there’s no need to keep avoiding me like this; if you’re upset, then simply say so.”

“...”

‘Well look at that, she has it all figured out already.’

Uh, wait, that’s not it...

“...Upset? What’re you talking about? Why would anyone be upset at our local savior?”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“Are you sure?”

Patrick’s eyes thinned into a pained resolution.

“You know, I’ve been thinking things over a bit...and I’m starting to realize I had it wrong all along. You’re not a kid anymore.”

“...? What are you saying?”

“Literally what I said. You’re totally different now, but I’ve still been treating you like a kid. When really...”

Patrick’s wasn’t wrong to assume Serenis as a child, per se; her physical body still did belong to a mere fifteen-year-old.

But even so, it was painfully clear that that was no longer a reason to be treating her as a child.

“...You don’t need me anymore. It’s just how things are – you’re my little sibling, but you’re also a dragonlord. You keep going off doing ridiculous things, but you still manage just fine.”

Patrick looked back at his sibling, shrugging in his usual joking demeanor. Her widened eyes and open mouth blatantly portrayed the dragonlord’s shock.

“You’re...staying?”

“Of course I am. I can’t just leave all the time, you know. Do you know how much work there is still? We need to take care of damage compensations, regulate all the petty thefts occurring at the ruined districts, administrate and reorganize the sector...if I disappear too, Iris is gonna die from overwork.”

“...”

Serenis couldn’t say a word in retaliation. As an enforcer of a city in recovery, staying was in fact the most intuitive, logical choice for Patrick to make. It made perfect sense.

Then, the disappointment Serenis felt within was probably rising from something outside of her logical mind.

“I...see.”

“Exactly. So you stay safe out there.”

“?...You’re not going to stop me?”

“Why would I? A dependable person is going with dependable people.”

As always, Patrick reached out his hand, ruffling his little sibling’s hair all over. A wide grin was being worn over his lips.

...Just as always.

“Someone’s gotta make sure you have a home to return to. Our house got blown up too, you know.

“...”

Serenis hardly possessed memories of being touched on the head by someone else. It was difficult to imagine an individual daring enough to pet the lord of dragons, past and present eras combined.

But surely, it was always like this. It was a fading memory, but it had always been like this.

Somewhere in her mind, she’d missed this worried, trusting touch.

And soon after, Serenis raised her left wrist to undo the string wrapped around it. The bracelet Aldrid had made for her lord was warmly glowing in the sunlight as it was handed to Patrick.

“Huh? What’s this for?”

“Would you not need it more? Aldrid’s told me that her blessing ensures the well-being of their human wearers. And frankly, I will have her at my side anyhow.”

“...Pft.”

After accepting the golden stone into his own palm, Patrick was wearing a bright smile – a smile Serenis had missed more than she realized.

“I’ll see you later, Serenis. Come back soon.”