Ch9-4: Wyndor

“Zemi… made all this?” AsaHi gasped as she slipped from Brunswik’s back into the light of the Great Chamber. For a moment, she was far too dazzled to even think, the prismic embrace wrapping around her in a symphony of warm light.

“Well, he pieced together a bit of this and a little of that, but overall, yeah. He made it,” the Red Dragon lifted his great head to study the room along side of her. “Pretty cozy, you think?”

I don’t think that cozy would be the word I’d pick…

AsaHi felt herself shrink as she walked into the hall.

The Great Chamber was the centermost point in the realms of Wyndor, a place of mystery that was nestled into the heart of the mountain itself. It reminded AsaHi of the gardens that Zemi had kept back on Ceiswyr. Except it was bigger… maybe a hundred times bigger. It was hard to tell — the way that the light reflected from the multi-faceted walls made reality blend with illusion.

Wyndor…

It seemed as if some gentle hand had reached into the center of the highest mountain in the range and coaxed the earth into a new form. Huge spiraled pillars of sparkling stone rose from the black-glassed floor to tickle the underside of a vanishing dome. The walls reflected in myriad-patched colors, a sweeping mural of gem-stone and earth crystal more wondrous than any Earthian hand could capture in paint.

So beautiful… can it be real?

At the top of the room was the grandeur of the sky’s vast dome. Even though AsaHi knew they were tucked away deep in the mountainside, when she looked up towards where the dim stone roof should have blocked the sunlight, a pastel blue sky shown through. It seemed as if from the inside, the stone was invisible… though from the outside, it had looked like a solid rock mountain.

Everywhere that the girl looked the sunlight illuminated the vast Chamber, setting it a blaze of opalfire under dapples of capering cloud-wisp. A wide circle of tall stone platforms ringed the center of the room. Great globes of clear white hovered just above each, humming softly with their own, slumbering power.

And I thought Ceiswyr was something that couldn’t be rivaled. But here… now this…

Smaller archways branched out from the Chamber’s walls, leading off to what AsaHi figured must have been separate living quarters for the Dragons that took up residence in Wyndor. Some areas of the Chamber had surrendered completely to carpets of soft plant life. This seemed to be mostly gathered around the single trickle of waterfall that pooled cheerfully in one corner, ringed in flowers of many colors.

AsaHi found herself drawn towards the pool. The flowers reminded her of Zemi for some reason. Maybe… it was the strange, comforting scent.

He must really like plants a lot.

Her eyes brushed over the quilted brilliance. Most of the flowers were unlike anything she had ever seen before… except…

“Oh!” the girl leaned down quickly. “It’s a cred! What’s this doing here?”

The strange flower of the mountaintops… the one that Apprentices used in their meetings with the Dreigiau in the Host Gate. The flower she had quested after for many days, so that she, too could enter the Gate and…

…Try to prove that Zemi didn’t exist…

“Ah, that. It would be one of Zemi’s favorite,” a silvery, warm voice came from the other side of the pool.

“I… I…?” AsaHi jerked back, feeling at first as if she might have been caught doing something wrong. After all, cred were very, very rare. But here, they dotted the vine-like grass just as common as all the rest of the flowers.

A small woman sat watching her from a mossy rock next to the pool. Her skin was a warm, golden color, a few shades darker than the long stream of pale-gold hair that trickled down her shoulders like a wave of pure sunlight. Her eyes were bright violet, shining with a friendly, welcoming light. And though she didn’t look much older than AsaHi, there was a feel of timelessness about her that gave the impression of wisdom that ran the depth of the ocean.

She smiled, a kind smile, gathering up her simple white robes as she rose to her feet. “Zemi only lets certain people find that flower, you know.”

AsaHi blinked a few times.

“Usually people he wants to meet,” her feet didn’t so much as crush a leaf of the vines as she walked through the carpet of green. She lifted a graceful hand in a way of greeting. “And now, it is my honor to finally meet you, AsaHi.”

Absolutely dumbfounded, the girl could only stare. Such a beautiful vision… such a wondrous place… everything far beyond her imagination… yet…

Everyone knows who I am before I even meet them. It’s as if people here were waiting for SoYa and I to come.

AsaHi had never learned much in the way of etiquette. But she did the best that she could to give a polite bow to the strange, golden woman.

“No need to do that, child. If there’s one thing I agree with Zemi on, it’s that formality is for the birds,” she smiled. “And as you can see, we are Dragons. Not birds.”

“You’re… you’re a Dragon?” AsaHi’s mouth almost fell open, her green eyes staring at the woman in disbelief.

“It seems pretty unlikely, doesn’t it?” there was a hint of laughter in her voice. “Don’t you ever let the world only go as deep as your vision can see. It will deceive you of the best, most wonderful parts.”

What should I say…? I’m just making myself look silly now!

“My name is KaiShi,” the woman offered, as if sensing that AsaHi was having a hard time figuring out what to do. “And I am certain that you and I will come to know each other very well.”

“Oh..?” was all that the girl could manage. Feeling dumb, she tried to force more words from her leaden lips. “Why… why do you look like a person if you’re a Dragon? Are you like Kudako… or do all the Dragons shift shape?”

“Like Kudako? You mean Old Somber-pants?” KaiShi laughed. It was an inviting laugh that somehow made AsaHi feel a bit more easy. “No… Kudako is different from all the other Dragons. Even myself.”

“Oh…” AsaHi found herself saying again. Then chided herself for it.

“As for me, I’ve been gifted a form that the rest of my kind do not have. It is simply because I lead the Dragon Servants here in Wyndor. And to have an Earthian form may prove useful should I ever need to spend time among the people.”

“You’re… the leader?” the girl blinked, heart sinking.

Great… she’s the leader and I’ve done nothing but been a bumbling dolt around her. She must think I’m a real dim-wit.

“That’s right. But to look around this place, sometimes you wouldn’t know it,” the woman wrinkled her nose. “Some of these guys are no better than a bunch of little boys who haven’t learned how to play in the sandbox together.”

AsaHi found herself smiling in spite of herself.

KaiShi smiled back, and gave a beckoning wave. “Follow me. SoYa is resting, but it would probably do you good to have a look at him, yes?”

Does she know about that, too?

A bit taken back, AsaHi followed the Lady Dragon as they strode across the black-glass floor towards one of the tall archways on the other side of the Chamber. The girl made to wave her thanks to Brunswik, but she found that the huge crimson Dragon was already in a state of deep slumber… right where she had left him only minutes ago.

“That’s Brunswik for you,” KaiShi shook her head, then tapped her finger against her temple with a slight grin. “Nice enough fellow… sometimes a bit more muscle than mind. But well-meaning at heart, all the same.”

A soothing dimness fell over the girl as she walked under the archway into a long, smooth stone corridor. AsaHi had expected that the adjoining passages might not have been as polished as the main Chamber. But she found herself proven wrong. It was as if every inch of Wyndor had been crafted with the most exquisite detail and care.

Only a few doorways down, KaiShi turned, leading AsaHi into a small side room. It would have hardly fit Brunswik’s head should the vast Red Dragon have wanted to peer in. But it was quite comfortable for someone like AsaHi.

The stone walls were draped with soft flows of off-white cloth. A large bed-like structure had been coaxed out of the dip in the far wall. AsaHi wasn’t certain what was being used for a mattress, but the way that SoYa was sleeping, tucked between folds of cream on white, it certainly looked to be very comfortable.

“SoYa…!” her voice came, unattended. AsaHi rushed over to the bedside, placing her hand against his forehead.

He didn’t stir as she touched him. But his sleep seemed deep and untroubled. As if somehow he was being healed, very slowly, as the moments of slumber passed him by.

“He’s going to be okay, right?” the girl peered up at the Lady Dragon.

“It’s only exhaustion,” KaiShi answered. She reached her slender fingers out, combing them slowly through SoYa’s curls. There was a sad, but familiar manner to her touch.

AsaHi watched, uncertain as to what the exchange meant. Something about it stirred a feeling deep inside her. A feeling that was completely unknown.

Finally, the woman peered up, soft violet eyes drinking in AsaHi’s image. “He should be fine after a bit of rest. You should see that you get some rest if you can, too. We will be serving a welcome dinner as soon as the both of you are well enough to attend.”

A banquet… with Dragons? That would be a sight to see…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the slow motion of KaiShi’s hand as it lifted and gestured across the room. For the first time, AsaHi realized that there was a second huge, comfortable bed. And this one practically had her name written on it.

AsaHi crossed the room, smoothing her hands over the bedding, face lit up with great cheer. The knowledge that SoYa would finally recover, that the both of them were somewhere safe and beautiful… on top of the sight of the big cozy bed… allowed all the tension of the dark journey to drain away.

“For me!?” she squeaked, sounding much more like a little girl than she would have liked to.

That’s when she first heard the sound of laughter – familiar laughter. The girl jerked her head around and saw him standing in the doorway. Her heart leapt into her throat, unbidden, every inch of her body suddenly going quivery and weak.

“Zemi!?” AsaHi managed to speak his name.

He leaned against the archway, looking much the way he always did in Ceiswyr – she had half expected him to have taken the vast, majestic Dragon form that Brunswik had described. Instead, he stood there, dressed in his normal overrobes, hands tucked into his pockets, a smile made just for her.

Nothing at all like that night she had found him, scrabbling to hold on to his senses in the midnight forest.

“Well, look who’s poking his nose in where it doesn’t belong,” KaiShi scrunched her face at the Dreigiau, breaking AsaHi’s daze. “Hasn’t anyone taught you to knock before you enter a bed chamber, Lord Dragon?”

“Sorry, not yet,” he gave a quick grin.

“Well, you certainly don’t look sorry,” the lady Dragon scolded gently, picking up a pile of washing cloth that was on a platform next to SoYa’s bed. “You should leave these children to their sleep. They’ve had a hard time of it.”

“That’s exactly why I was checking in on them,” Zemi’s smile widened.

“Of course it is,” KaiShi sighed, then turned to look at AsaHi. “I’m going to get some wash done, but I will return shortly. Is there anything that you need?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” AsaHi shook her head.

“Get some rest then,” the lady Dragon nodded. As she walked past the Arweinydd on her way out, she pointed a finger towards his midsection. “And you behave yourself, Zemi!”

AsaHi gave a quiet smile, watching KaiShi vanish through the doorway. That’s when she realized she was now all alone with the Dreigiau. And he was looking right at her.

“Hi… AsaHi..?” he sounded strangely uncertain of himself. As if now that the girl had seen part of his secret, he wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk to him again.

But she did.

“Zemi..? I’ve been worried about you!” she knew how childish it probably sounded to the Dreigiau. But she said it anyhow. Mostly because it was the truth.

“You have?” there was a hint of delighted surprise to the words. As if it was a cue, Zemi began to make his way from the door towards where she was standing.

“Yes… I didn’t know if you were okay. You simply vanished…” AsaHi swallowed, fighting the apprehension and happiness that battled to get the best of her.

The warm, pleasant scent filled her senses as it always did when Zemi was near. Her mind could now picture the little sunlit pool garlanded with flowers, knowing that was where the scent had come from. And she couldn’t help but smile.

“No worries. Everything is just fine now, Sunshine!” a large, hearty laugh rippled along his words.

It made her wonder how much he was really holding back.

“So… what do you think about the digs, eh?” Zemi eyed her and changed the subject. Possibly sensing that she had caught on to him. “Pretty hi-res, you think?”

AsaHi found a pathetic lack of words to describe anything, her mind still trying to wrap around the immensity of the place. “It’s… it’s really something else, Zemi. I wish I could tell you how amazing it is. I never even imagined something like this could exist… I just…”

The Dreigiau raised a finger, giving a simple nod. She knew he understood her, words or not. Zemi was just like that.

“Well… I’ll leave you to your rest, then. I just wanted to see if everything was okay on your arrival,” Zemi turned and began to make his way back towards the door. His steps were slow, obviously unwilling.

AsaHi’s throat tightened as she watched him. Her hands clutched at the white bedsheets, eyes never leaving the Dreigiau’s back. Finally, she managed to peep, “Zemi?”

The Arweinydd paused, peering over his shoulder. His face was questioning. And hopeful.

“Thank you..?” she offered. Simply because she didn’t know what it was that he really was hoping for. And it made her feel bad.

“Sure thing,” he gave a wide, fangy grin. And looked for all the world like the Kaze she remembered.

Just as he went to step out the door, she found herself calling again, “Z-Zemi?”

Again, the Arweinydd stopped. A quiet patience was written on his face. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to see you again, right?” AsaHi found herself asking, though confused as to why. “I mean, you’re going to be staying here in Wyndor for a while?”

I really never got to know you that well… and it’s not every day that someone has the chance to have conversations with the Arweinydd.

“I’m gonna be staying here. Yes,” he answered, face brightening. “We can hang out anytime that you want. Anytime is good, okay?”

“Okay..?” she gave a small, uncertain smile.

“Sleep well, AsaHi,” Zemi said softly, as if he understood anything about the concept of sleep. Then he turned and left the room, a swirl of crimson and gold.

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