Flashes of Light

[green_purple]

Going to sleep wasn't usually hard for Tyr; after the day's adventures and then further adventures in the bath (which was supposed to be relaxing, but he since learned "relaxing" was just another way to say "boring", and what's boring about baths?), he was usually pretty sleepy--and if he wasn't, Cleo read him something before Gremio tucked him in since he had to go to bed whether he wanted to or not.

Luckily this wasn't one of those nights where he just couldn't sleep. Even though it was rainy, he drifted off to sleep without a peep...until a loud crash woke him up just in time to see his room fill with light. He was too scared to scream as he pulled the blankets up over his head. The little rain from earlier turned into a full storm. His blankets did nothing to muffle the rumbling of thunder overhead or the constant patter of rain. It drowned out all the other house sounds that he usually heard. It was like he was right inside the storm clouds.

It wasn't that he was really scared or anything - he wasn't a baby - but...he couldn't sleep when he didn't know what was going on, and Gremio told him he'd do anything for him. So it was fine if he just went to see Gremio so he's keep him company. Yeah.

Tyr hopped out of bed quietly - the result of months of careful training in that skill - and hugged his pillow to his chest as he crept out of his room and to the stairs...and ran down them as fast as he could at the next clap of thunder like there was something right at his heels that would have snatched him if he didn't. He wasn't scared; he was definitely not scared. It wasn't like the rain could do anything...but maybe there were bandits that snuck into the house while everyone else was asleep? Or City-State spies? Or...anyone that wasn't supposed to be there? He was supposed to go to Gremio if that ever happened--he had the biggest axe Tyr ever saw, so he was definitely strong even if he never really looked like he was.

Right, so he could just peek into his room first. "Gremio?" he called meekly. Maybe he wouldn't hear him... He ran from the door and leaned over Gremio's bed, close to his face. "Gremio. Hey, Gremio."

Comments

[axestoaprons]

For all his fretting during the day, Gremio typically slept rather well at night--running around after the Young Master was chore in itself, really. Sometimes Gremio wished he could grow up soon and stop being such a handful...

Perhaps the thunderstorm had begun to wake him already, because when he thought he heard his name being called, his eyes flew open--and then he started in surprise when he saw Tyr hovering right over him.

"Y--Young Master...?" He started out sleepily, but quickly grew alert. "Is something the matter?"

[green_purple]

Good, he was awake! A giddy smile came to Tyr's face but he didn't move away. And maybe Gremio was thinking about bandits sneaking into the house, too, but Tyr wasn't so worried about that anymore. Gremio was awake, and no-one would bother them as long as he was awake. (And maybe Cleo was awake too, but he was pretty sure she'd just send Tyr back to bed...) Instead of telling Gremio all this, though, he nodded his head for a different reason.

"I can't sleep," he admitted, and saying that, he quickly started explaining everything else he had to to Gremio, "and you said that if I needed anything, you'd get it for me, so..." So... "So you're awake too, so you should stay with me," he finished with a sort of finality that he thought made him sound just like Dad did when he had decided on something.

[axestoaprons]

"Ah..." Gremio sighed in relief, though he was a little worried about could be the reason he couldn't sleep--until there was a quieter rumble of thunder outside. After rubbing his eyes, he couldn't help but offer a gentle smile--he was glad that the Young Master would come to him at a time like this.

"Would you like to sleep in my bed, Young Master? It would probably...Well, I'm sure it will be all right." If the Young Master couldn't sleep, then it was necessary for Gremio to look after him! Surely Master Teo wouldn't be against that. So he lifted the blanket back.

[green_purple]

Victory! Tyr nodded excitedly and didn't waste any time tossing his pillow up onto the bed. "Yeah," he said a little shyly, feeling just a little shaken hearing the thunder again...but now (after awkwardly climbing into his bed and huddling into the covers) he has Gremio, and if he wasn't scared, Tyr knew he didn't need to be, either. Gremio was just really easy to understand like that.

...But he still didn't want Gremio to think he was being a kid. "And...your bed is warmer than mine, too!" He exclaimed, and he didn't show even a little bit of shame about snuggling up right against Gremio, chilly hands and feet and all. "It's way, way, way, way better."

[axestoaprons]

Young Master was very bold! And cold, too, enough that Gremio jumped a little when Tyr snuggled up. "Y-Young Master--you're cold--are you sure your pajamas are warm enough?" Even fretting, he kept his voice as soft as possible to make sure they didn't wake anybody else up. He would have to try and keep Tyr quiet now, too!

[green_purple]

He had a lot of experience doing this before Cleo told him he was too big to do it anymore...Not that this was anything like before! Even though if he still hadn't learned that he could be quiet when he was right never to someone. "They're okay!" he said, nodding his head against his pillow. "I'm not really cold. Just a little bit..."

But now he did sound a little worried...and he jumped at that. "What's wrong?"

[axestoaprons]

Oh dear, he was going to make Tyr more worried at this rate... Gremio quickly shook his head and busied himself by smoothing the blanket out and tucking it around Tyr. "Oh, Young Master...I just want to make certain that you're comfortable. There, how's this?"

[green_purple]

Gremio's bed was really warm... A wide smile came to his face as Gremio tucked him in. "I am," he chirped. "And this is perfect."

He was about to just curl up against Gremio, bury his face in his shirt, and get cozy again, but first, he leaned up on his arm a little and tugged the blanket back over Gremio's shoulders. "There you go. Now you won't be cold either." So he could stop being so jumpy, too...

[axestoaprons]

"Young Master..." He could be so mischievous and a handful, but Tyr was still a wonderful little boy... Gremio's heart could have just about melted, and he gave him a sweet smile as he settled down.

"Thank you, Young Master-!" It was so hard to express his gratitude properly when he was still trying to be quiet. Oh, well. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep like this?"

[green_purple]

Tyr could only take that smile and thanks to mean that Gremio was just as happy as he was and that he had done something right; he couldn't help but beam happily and even a little proudly.

"Mmhm," he said with a nod. Though he didn't know if he was really tired or not anymore... His eyes stung a little and being so warm did make him sleepy, but part of him wanted to stay awake anyway and talk. Like it was a sleepover. "Are you really, really tired, Gremio?"

[axestoaprons]

As much as Gremio wanted Tyr to get a good night's sleep, he had a feeling that it still might not be so easy... It was always nice to see the Young Master excited, of course! But he sometimes had too much energy to handle.

Still, he went ahead and answered truthfully. "Well, it is the middle of the night... Ah, but I can read you a story to help you, Young Master."

[green_purple]

The entirety of Tyr's life up until that point could be summed up as "he had too much energy". Especially since the word "story" made him even more excited.

"You will?" He leaned up on his arm again. "What story is it gonna be?"

Clearly Gremio couldn't be too tired. It was the middle of the night, but it could still be storytime.

[axestoaprons]

Oh dear, oh dear, Young Master was getting even more energetic! But there was certainly no way Gremio could take it back now, not when Tyr looked so excited...even if it was the middle of the night.

"Ah, well, let me see," he hummed and scrambled to think of something--he didn't have any storybooks with him right now! He would have to make something up, or...well, maybe he could embellish one of Master Teo's stories a little. Or a lot. "Oh--Young Master, would you like to hear about one of Master Teo's adventures?"

[green_purple]

"One of Dad's?" Tyr repeated, voice laced with wonder. Those were usually the kind of stories his father told him whenever he came back so it'd be like he was there with him. And they were always Tyr's favorite because there was never anything else like them--and there was no way a storybook hero could be half as great as his Dad.

"You know more?" he almost cheered in excitement, but he actually kept his voice down for once like Gremio just said he'd bake an entire tray of cookies just for him. His hands gripped Gremio's shirt pleadingly. "I want to hear! You have to tell me!"

[axestoaprons]

Gremio knew that no hero could possibly top Master Teo--not for the Young Master, nor for him--so it wasn't really a surprise that Tyr was so excited. It was heartwarming, actually, and Gremio smiled as he smoothed Tyr's bangs back.

"I know lots of stories," he began. "I know Master Teo enjoys telling them to you, but I wonder if he mentioned the one about the wild dragon..." That seemed like a good subject to really get Tyr's interest. Oh, he hoped Master Teo hadn't told this one!

[green_purple]

It there was one thing Tyr loved, it was dragons. His eyes went wide and jaw went slack as he looked up at Gremio. He was the coolest person (next to Dad!) right now.

"Dad found a wild dragon?" he gasped. It was the most amazing thing Tyr had ever heard, and his imagination was already running with the different images. He could imagine a dragon as big as the Palace, but his Dad, of course, would stare it down bravely even though his sword wasn't even as big as one of the dragon's claws... His Dad was so cool! Tyr tugged at Gremio's shirt again. "You have to tell me everything! Dad never told me he saw a real dragon before!"

[axestoaprons]

Gremio was pleased to see that he'd been right, and he beamed more brightly. Young Master was very cute at times like this!

"Yes, Young Master! Well, I'm certain he's met more than a few dragon knights as well..." And then he realized he was about to go off on a tangent and tried to get back on track. This was why Cleo was better at telling stories...not that Gremio didn't enjoy it at times like this, though. "Ah, in any case, it was more like the dragon found him first... Master Teo had only a small company of soldiers with him, and they were camped out at the base of a mountain at dusk. Oh, and it was getting very foggy, too!"

To be quite honest, Gremio knew few details of the story...but his own overactive imagination had no problem filling in frightful ideas. Of course, he had to try not to scare Young Master, either.

[green_purple]

Gremio had Tyr's complete, rapt attention. At his age, Tyr didn't really know much better when Gremio did go off topic, either. The thought of dragon knights... It was hard for Tyr not to pipe up to say that he wants to be one even if he had no idea what that'd mean.

But he could be patient for the story. Mostly. Tyr's imagination painted the whole picture Gremio was giving to him, with the small group of soldiers gathered around his father (the greatest of the Great Generals, thank you) as the light was fading away... And a dragon was going to find him. That was a little scary, but he knew his Dad. If anyone could do it, it'd be him. Tyr couldn't hold back from chiming in any longer, "Was it the dragon's fiery breath that made it foggy?"

[axestoaprons]

Although Gremio was accustomed to--and welcomed, really--Tyr's questions, it still threw him off track a little. "Ah, that is--yes, it was mist from the mountain mixed with smoke from the dragon!" He could picture it very...very easily. The very idea made shiver a little! Oh, Master Teo...

Oh, the story! Gremio quickly cleared his throat as if he wasn't getting too caught up in the story and tried to continue, looking down at Tyr next to him. "Now Master Teo could smell the smoke, of course, so he would have known that something was wrong--and I expect he was prepared for an attack--but then they heard the dragon's roar from somewhere in the fog!" Even trying to keep his voice soft and appropriate for the middle of the night, he couldn't help but take a bit of an anxious tone.

[green_purple]

"Ah..." Tyr squeaked with a grimace, his knees knocking against Gremio's legs as he curled up on himself. Dad... He bet his Dad's company was pretty scared, too - Tyr was scared, and they always told him that he was brave... "Then what happened?" Tyr asked insistently. His eyes were glued on Gremio as he hung onto his every word. Even if he knew his Dad would defeat anything, he still had to know. This was pretty scary so far...

[axestoaprons]

Despite his desire to not scare Tyr any further, it was rather difficult when Gremio was so easily caught up in the story, too. A flash of lightning at the window, soon followed by the loud rumble of thunder, probably wasn't going to help, either.

"M-Master Teo," Gremio began in a hushed tone, "quickly had to order the soldiers to scatter and find cover, to protect themselves from this dragon. But then Master Teo--oh, Young Master, he spotted the dragon just before it came in to land, only a few metres away from him!"

[green_purple]

The thunder definitely didn't make Tyr feel safer, but he had Gremio...and thunder couldn't do anything! ...but he still snuggled closer to Gremio anyway.

Tyr wasn't even sure how far a few metres were, but it was close enough to make him scared. He could imagine a giant dragon crashing down and making the whole mountain shake just like the thunder did. Was Dad ever scared like that? Tyr wondered...

"L-like it wanted a duel?" His voice shook as he asked.

[axestoaprons]

Gremio automatically brought an arm around Tyr to hold him close, and shook his head. Oh, he was so glad Master Teo hadn't gotten into too much real trouble with the dragon...

"Wild dragons don't duel, Young Master, so...so..." He took a breath to collect himself a little, and then continued, "So the dragon only wanted to eat him! And it was enormous, big enough to eat a person in one bite!" At this rate, he would work himself up again... He would try to bring the focus back to Master Teo.

"But, of course, we know Master Teo wouldn't allow it to do such a thing, right, Young Master? He faced down the dragon so that it wouldn't go after the other soldiers..."

[green_purple]

Oh, that was better. Tyr shrugged up into Gremio's arm but never stopped staring up at him. Even if he thought of how huge and ferocious a dragon would be, hearing Gremio say it could eat someone in one bite was way scarier. Tyr had was biting his lip and tensing up in fear until Gremio talked about Teo again.

"Yeah! Dad was brave," Tyr answered immediately, nodding with conviction. "He'd never let his soldiers down." So...he should be brave too. Even if he couldn't stop looking a little scared.

[axestoaprons]

"That's right, Young Master! Master Teo is incredible, so he wouldn't let the dragon have any of his soldiers." There was no hiding the pride and adoration in Gremio's voice, nor the hint of nostalgia and gratitude as he thought of the time Master Teo saved him. Master Teo didn't leave him behind...

But he couldn't leave Young Master hanging with the story now! "Ah, now, the dragon saw Master Teo and was going to use its f-fire breath--oh, but Master Teo was too close! He ran towards the dragon and swung his sword at its feet. He...he made the dragon dance as it tried to escape him!" Well, he was really embellishing the story now, but he simply couldn't help it!

[green_purple]

It's okay, though, because he had Tyr's complete trust and attention - and the fact they both felt the same deep pride for Teo didn't hurt either. He hung onto Gremio's every word, even cracking a small smile as he imagined his Dad only poking at the the dragon's humungous feet being enough to make the dragon cower in fear.

His father was the coolest person ever, Tyr thought as he beamed with pride.

"That'll show 'im! No-one fights against our Great General and gets away with it!"

[axestoaprons]

Gremio was able to beam back when he saw that Tyr liked that detail. Naturally, he was trying to be careful not to tell a story that was too violent, too. "That's right, Young Master! And the dragon realized very quickly that it had picked the wrong person for its dinner, so it danced away from Master Teo and beat its wings, and then it took off--it ran away from Mastero Teo, right back into the fog! And it wouldn't bother his soldiers ever again." He was feeling quite proud by the end of the story, imagining just as easily as Tyr how gallant and brave Master Teo would act at a time like that.

[green_purple]

His Dad wouldn't even break a sweat no matter how big his opponent was! Tyr grinned right back and kicked his feet excitedly (thankfully at the sheets below him and not Gremio's legs).

"That's so cool!! That's why we never ever see dragons here, right?"

Because his Dad was the best general there was. He always saved the way and protected everyone without even getting scratched! That was the kind of person his Dad was.

[axestoaprons]

Pleased (and also thankful not to be getting kicked!), Gremio smiled brightly right back. It was wonderful to see how proud Young Master was of his father.

"Yes, that's why you won't see any wild dragons anywhere near our Gregminster. But sometimes there might be Dragon Knights who visit, and their dragons are tame." Which Gremio was also thankful for...although he wasn't sure how much he would trust that claim. He would much rather give the dragons plenty of space...

[green_purple]

"What do they do?" he asked. There was no dampening Tyr's excitement now, but his body was starting to feel a little sluggish. He should really go to sleep...sometime. Ending their talk here wouldn't be any fun... Despite how cool it was to be able to slay wild dragons, Tyr though being able to tame one would be even cooler. Maybe he could do that sometime... "Can I be one?"

[axestoaprons]

"A-ah..." The very idea of the Young Master being a dragon knight made him a little nervous! But he collected himself and smoothed Tyr's hair back some more as he tried to answer the question. "I'm afraid I don't know very much about them... They don't serve the empire, although they may work with us from time to time, and I don't believe they take in outsiders..."

[green_purple]

"They don't?" Tyr frowned though it was almost a pout. So he couldn't be a dragon knight and a general if they didn't serve the empire or take outsiders.

But he had a plan.

"I'll be the first outsider they take in! They have to let me in! Then I can be a dragon knight and help the Empire."

This was a well thought out and fool-proof plan to Tyr.

[axestoaprons]

Cleo might have humoured this plan to the extent that was reasonable, but the very idea of encouraging Tyr to become a dragon knight just frayed Gremio's nerves!

"B-but--Young Master... You know that dragons are very fearsome!"

[green_purple]

"I know..." he whined and plopped down onto his back. "But that's what makes them so cool! If I can train one, I'll be the most awesome general ever! And maybe Dad and I can fight together like that!"

Riding dragons over Lake Toran and the mountains, taking down thieves and bandits the whole way. They'll be amazing!

[axestoaprons]

"Y-Young Master, you'll make a fine general by keeping your feet on the ground," he pleaded right back, though a part of him worried about Tyr becoming a general at all. He knew the Young Master would eventually grow up and follow in his father's footsteps, but the thought of it just made him fret right now.

[green_purple]

Tyr groaned and rolled onto his side, curling up on himself a little. "But it's not as cool..."

He wanted to be a dragon knight... And right now, his pout was in full swing. "You just say that because you're afraid of heights, right?" Tyr guessed. Surely there's no other reason to object to this. "I'm not!"

[axestoaprons]

Worrying that Tyr was not only going to stay awake long past his bedtime but also consider this idea seriously, Gremio shook his head and wrung his hands together a little. "No, Young Master, it's not the heights..." Even if it was true that he really didn't want Tyr flying around in the sky on anything...

"I, ah... Young Master, you're already cool enough as you are!" He really hoped encouraging him like this helped. It seemed like something Cleo might say, he thought.

[green_purple]

Any older, and having his retainer call him cool would have been the total opposite of coolness.

But instead, his pout dissipated as he asked, "Really?"

Then, thinking about it... "But I could be a lot cooler. Dad is cool, and I wanna try to be even cooler than him, so I have to do something really, really awesome. You know?" And he had to keep up with his Dad - he had to make him proud. How could he compare with someone that fought dragons without even being a little scared?

...Unlike Gremio, who looked a little scared right now. He reached up and held Gremio's shoulder to reassure him. "I'll still come home and take care of stuff no matter what! Don't worry!"

[axestoaprons]

And this was why a part of Gremio would be sad as Tyr got older...while the rest of him would be very proud.

Right now, he was a little warmed by Tyr's enthusiasm, though it didn't really change his opinion about him becoming a dragon knight. "I--Well, I'm certain you will, Young Master, but..."

"M-maybe you should think about this a little longer," he finally said, though it felt like a bit of a defeat. Not that discouraging Tyr would have been easy (or perhaps even possible!).

[green_purple]

Tyr patted Gremio's shoulder warmly as a consolation. He was such a worrywart... But he'd definitely prove to Gremio that he didn't need to be afraid of anything! He would definitely become a dragon knight - maybe the first one the army ever had! - and he could be part of his Dad's company.

It would be the best ever. When Gremio said think about it longer, that's what Tyr thought about.

"I will!" he beamed. "I gotta find out how to become one anyway. I can't do it right now." He said it such a tone that let Gremio know he thought his retainer was being silly. There really was no winning with him.

[axestoaprons]

Young Master was so stubborn... Gremio could never help but worry about what he would get into! At the very least, he could hope that Tyr would forget about becoming a dragon knight with time.

"Y-yes, Young Master," he hesitantly agreed with a nervous smile. "Maybe you'll dream about dragons tonight..."

[green_purple]

Gremio was still really scared... That's what it seemed like to Tyr. And Tyr knew how bad nightmares could be, so it was okay if he was a little afraid. Besides, dragons are supposed to scare you; it's what makes them awesome. Tyr gripped onto Gremio's shirt as he nodded.

"Yeah! But it'll only be a dream, so even if there are dragons, you'll be okay! Don't be scared, Gremio."

[axestoaprons]

Despite his nervousness, he couldn't help but laugh a little brightly now. Young Master was a handful, but he was also very sweet! Gremio found that he felt better, too, though he still hoped that Tyr wouldn't pursue the idea of becoming a dragon knight.

"Dragons certainly won't be scaring me in my dreams, Young Master," he said with a smile. "How about you? Are you feeling sleepy again?"

[green_purple]

Tyr hummed as he let go of Gremio's shirt and slung his arm over his neck instead. "I guess so..."

It was pretty hard to keep his eyes open... And he didn't feel like doing much else. What's better, the storm had passed by now, and although Tyr could still hear the rain outside, there hadn't been any thunder for a while.

"And I'm not afraid of any dragons. I just wanted to make sure you weren't scared," he huffed sleepily. He definitely wasn't scared. It would be bad form for a future dragon knight.

[axestoaprons]

Tyr was definitely getting tired, Gremio thought, and he stroked his little master's hair to help him get to sleep. "Thank you, Young Master," he said, voice full of affection. "I'm certain we'll have good dreams tonight." Well, he hoped so...

[green_purple]

That did feel really nice... A broad smile tugged at his lips as he squeezed his eyes shut. "Me too," he agreed, and it felt good knowing that Gremio wouldn't be too scared tonight. Tyr knew he was a worrywart, after all, so maybe he had a lot. "Good night!"

[axestoaprons]

"Good night, Young Master... Sleep well." Worries over dragons and dragon knights aside, Gremio's heart swelled as he watched Tyr relax, and then he reached over to put out the candle that the Young Master had brought with him.

[green_purple]

Ah, now it was really dark. Even with his eyes closed, he knew that. He grumbled a little as his arm tightened around Gremio and clung closer to him.

Because he was cold, of course.

[axestoaprons]

Oh, Gremio had a feeling that he himself might not be sleeping all that well tonight...but it was for Young Master's sake. So he stayed put and placed an arm around Tyr, to keep him warm and to keep him safe.