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

[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.