by Liandra Jake
Kronth's jaw dropped. Rose was enormous, large enough for an adult to be curled up inside her. Her legs were still resting flat on the table, much to Rose's relief. She waved weakly at Kronth and Berry. Janese spoke as she checked her again. "The nurses won't admit it, but they don't want to waste their time with a Monster. That's why I need your help. Kronth, you're experienced in monster breeding right?"
Kronth nodded. "I've assisted in my fair share of births, but I'm not experienced at all with something so… human."
"Doesn't matter. We just need a pair of hands used to the stress." Janese replied.
Berry sat next to Rose with one hand on her heart and the other holding Rose's hands. "I know why I'm here." She said to Janese as she gave Rose a reassuring smile.
Outside, the time it took for the brief conversation inside the room passed agonizingly slow. A slow, steady, rolling squeak came from down the hall. Eric found a group of men staring anxiously at the same door. Eric wheeled up to them, staring at the door expectantly. "… Is that full of next calendar's models? Please tell me yes."
"His wife and future children." Erasur replied, pointing to Iode. No one glanced away from the door, and Erasur's eyes quickly returned to it.
Eric felt that he was missing something incredibly important. Janese had only spoken about one pregnant patient in her short patient list. 'She wasn't due for- OH.' Eric thought. 'That's why they're all so anxious.' Eric coughed to clear his throat, briefly falling into a fit that gained little attention. A faint sound came from his lips.
"Sleep my child, for the day is now gone,
Sleep my child, and hear my soft song.
The moon is rising over silent fields,
The wind stirring its rustling yields."
Hunter's soft voice joined in Eric's struggles at trying to sing.
"Sleep my child, for the day is now gone,
Sleep my child, and hear my soft song…"
They all tricked into the song as it continued, building to a resounding harmony that could be heard throughout the hospital. Inside Rose's room, Janese and Kronth sung along as the two pink Monsters simply hummed softly. The lullaby was echoed by those who dared to join the melancholic voices of the men gathered outside Rose's room.
A sudden scream from Rose stopped the song abruptly. Iode was at the door in an instant. Janese loathed having to stop him. "She's not anywhere ready yet. She's strong and her body is compensating at a speed that I've never seen before. If we had the room, I wouldn't stop you even if it would mean the loss of my license."
Iode's fist crumpled the plate on the wall that labeled the room's number, cracking the mortar and brick of the old wall. Arend had to struggle to prevent him from tearing the whole wall down to get to Rose. Sometime later, three nurses showed up to set up the medical equipment, two waiting outside the room as the other waited inside. Rose's scream sent a ripple down Iode's back each and every time she cried out.
After a particularly long one, the nurse ran from the room with a baby Pog so large she could barely hold up its head. Its tiny cries made the men shed a few tears, Iode crying more than it was. A second followed close behind a few seconds later, a little smaller than the first. Rose's screams died down greatly. Berry emerged, pushing the unneeded equipment out with the help of the third nurse's backside. She nodded at Iode to enter.
By now, Rose was very, very tired. Iode took up the entire left side of the bed, holding her hand as he apologized for being absent. Kronth had taken over for Janese, who was having difficulty with the third child. When she finally felt its body, any and all emotion drained from her face. With a final cry and push from Rose, the third child was out in the world, silent.
Kronth wasted no time in handing it off to the nurse, rushing across the hall with its tiny body, face drenched in tears. Iode left at Rose's behest with a worried Janese and Berry. Their fears weren't unfounded as the third nurse emerged slowly with something wrapped in her hands and a face that put everyone's hearts in their throats.
"He was under his brother and sister." She said softly. "His body was too weak…" Iode stopped breathing, his face soaked further.
Arend was the only one overcome by a different emotion. He placed a hand on Iode's shoulder. The Pog and the nurse looked up at him. "…Do you trust me?" He asked, determination burning behind his metallic eyes.
Iode's mouth moved to say "yes", but no words could be heard.
Arend took the limp body from the nurse, his left hand supporting its back and head, his right held firmly around its tiny chest. He brought its forehead into contact with his own. All eyes were on him, Kronth from the room beyond, and Rose as she struggled to keep herself upright in the doorway.
White flames coated his left arm, red coating his right. As the Orenth condensed to a liquid state, a voice came from Arend that was not his own. His head was blazing in blue, yellow, and yellow flames, with sparkles of black popping in and out. "So it has come to this. You have realized what my power is fully capable of, Arend."
"No, you're wrong." Arend replied. The Orenth continued to grow around them. "My goal was to stimulate his Orenth with my own."
Arend' body shook as he chuckled. "My power is your Orenth. The two are one. Be warned however," The smile on Arend' face vanished. "Using this power on anything larger than this lost child will give you an increased chance of death. You may have tremendous Orenth, but everyone has limits."
The air crackled as it filled with Orenth drawn in from the surroundings. The lamps overhead flickered as their power fluxed. Unlike with the Dragon Drive, the Orenth was alive with the elements; thunder crashing, fire burning, wind blowing; it could be described as chaos, but it couldn't apply to the delicate care Arend and the unseen Pendragon within him took in tempering it with Arend' body as they fed it into Iode's child.
Its dark fur faded to white, save for Arend' red handprint on his chest. His hair was forever dyed with strips of blue, green, and yellow, with a scatter of black starts throughout. As the Orenth faded and Aenfel receded from Arend' consciousness, the third cry of a Pog-Sereph child filled the silent hall. Iode carefully took his resurrected child from Arend' hand.
Arend wobbled slightly, almost imperceptibly. As his heart skipped a few beats and his Orenth grew stagnate within him, Arend fell backwards as his eyes rolled back and his body went limp. Hunter caught him under the shoulders, scared when he couldn't feel Arend' abnormally strong heartbeat. Everyone sat in shocked silence as Hunter hastily performed CPR. Arend' body twitched as his artificial heart started back up, fueled by the Orenth Hunter had forced into him.
Erasur was the first to speak. "What the fucking hell was that!?"
[X]
Arend' body woke before he opened his eyes. He could feel soft fabric scratching at his naked body. A steady pressure was pushing down on his chest. Arend blinked in the bright light of his hospital room. Kronth was sleeping peacefully on his chest. He nudged her gently with a hand. When her eyes met his, he smiled. Kronth smiled in reply as she sat up in the chair pulled to his bedside. He tried to speak, but his mouth was as dry as a desert.
She gave him what was left in her bottle of water. "I'm glad you're okay Arend." She said as he drank.
Refreshed, Arend replied. "How long was I out? A day or two?"
Kronth shook her head. "Three months."
"Three-!" Arend exclaimed, sitting up as his jaw dropped.
"And she spent every night with you." A doctor said as he walked into the room. He glanced at Kronth. "I guess out usual after-noon chat won't happen?" He asked with a smile that needed no reply.
He walked up to Arend, pushing him back down into the bed with one hand. "You'll find your muscles have deteriorated some."
"I would disagree." Aenfel replied, using Arend' arm to twist the railing of the bed. The doctor backed up.
Arend looked at his hand. "I really wish he would mind his own damn business…"
"Is he…" The doctor trailed off.
K
ronth shook her head. "Somehow, instead of Possession, the Pendragon inside him is using Arend to speak and act. Based on what he did for Iode's child, I don't think you have to worry about anything but his attitude."
The doctor was apprehensive. "I can assume that it also kept his body in shape, but he still has to adjust to consciousness before I can allow him to leave his bed."
Arend twiddled his thumbs innocently. "So I have to find something to do for the next week or so?"
The doctor half shrugged. "I'd think catching up with all your friends would take up a lot of your time." He had no clue how true that statement was as he left Kronth and Arend.
Since Arend was out, Shifted Tilt was working as usual, tackling one big project after another. News about Arend' feat of reviving Iode's child brought even more people to the city and the rapidly growing Guild. Kronth told Arend how the elevator was extended and most of the rooms were now full. There were a large number of names and faces he'll have to learn.
Hunter and Flake were the first to visit, happily announcing they were living together in Dragon's den. The pair had grown fairly close, no longer embarrassed to be affectionate in public. With some coaching from Hunter, Flake had a small part in the recent album they released to honor what Arend had done, titling the album "A Solemn Lullaby" and doing a cover of what was sung in the hospital.
Michael stopped by more than once, clarifying details on his article with Arend. Guild Ruled had to continually print copies nonstop as every resident of the continent, and a fair amount from their neighbors, wanted a piece of history. Arend was given the first copy.
Guild Ruled, Issue #364, "The Grey-haired Angel of Dragon's Den" made Michael a million Ere. It spoke mostly about Arend' journey and the events that led up to Aenfel's revival. Through a series of questions and answers between the Pendragon, Arend, and Michael, an entire journal was filled with Aenfel's take on those events.
Arend finally met Iode and his family when he returned to Shifted Tilt his second day out of the hospital. Krien gave Arend a wave as he walked towards the elevator, like it was an everyday occurrence. Arend' desk had multiple, tall stacks of paper work covering every inch that made him cringe. He was relieved when a strong, black furred arm spun him around and brought him in for a bear-hug that would kill a normal man. Iode was wearing a devilish grin as he sized Arend up.
"You look refreshed." He said with a laugh.
"Yeah, a quarter of a year's worth of rest'll do that. Winter's a bit warmer this year." Arend replied, glancing down at his grey jacket. Iode pulled him towards the door.
"The paperwork can wait. You have a few little Monsters to meet." Four Monsters were lined up on the small roof space.
Rose had a warm smile as she held the hands of her children. The smallest, bright white one was half hidden behind Rose's legs until his attention snapped to Arend.
Rose introduced them. "This is Negro." Rose looked down to the larges one, with black fur just like her father.
"Call me 'Ro!" She grinned up at Arend with a familiar sparkle in her eye.
Rose looked to the shorter, stockier one with crossed arms. "This is Mar." He was a rich shade of maroon with a pink splotch on his right wing. Unlike Negro, who was fully black, Mar had fades shade of grayish-pink hair.
The third one, the one Arend had saved, walked out cautiously to him before Rose could introduce him. Arend' handprint had grown along with the little Pog in the three months since. His metallic blue eyes looked up at Arend. He extended his tiny hand.
"My name's Mysh!" He exclaimed.
Arend' eyes widened. He stole a glance at Rose before crouching and shaking his tiny hand. "Arend Myshcell."
Mysh promptly hopped onto Arend, hugging his neck with his feet dangling off the roof. Arend stood up, letting him crawl onto his shoulder and sit up with a gleeful smile. Rose, Iode and Ro laughed. Ro gave a nudge to the stubborn Mat before flying away. Rose followed with a smaller version of the orb they had back at the Fortress. Mar joined them with an excited look he couldn't hide.
Iode and Arend sat side-by-side as they watched the three play. Mysh had quickly fallen asleep on Arend' head. Iode laughed as Arend brought him down with gentle hands. "He's taken to you faster than we thought. We weren't sure how he would react when he met you."
"Truth be told, I'm surprised at how comfortable I feel around him. I don't have much experience with children." Arend replied.
"Well…" Iode said, nudging him. "You're technically one of his parents. You and that Pendragon in you. Little Mysh is part Pog, Sereph, Pendragon, and human."
Arend held him a bit closer. "I guess that's true. I hope Kronth doesn't get jealous!" A chilly breeze stirred Mysh's multi-color hair. "They grew up really fast." Arend said as he turned his back to the wind.
"Yeah, we don't understand it ourselves. It might have something to our odd pairing." Iode replied, gently rubbing Mysh's cheek.
"How's work going? You finished the mansion right?" Arend asked.
Iode nodded. "And when Erasur learned how fast our little apartment was growing smaller, he made an offer we can't refuse. Once this year is over, we'll be living in the BluZeph mansion." Arend' eyebrows shot up. Iode placed a hand on his shoulder. "Though what you risked for us is probably why he choose to do that. And you know we have no way to thank you enough for what you gave us."
Arend grinned. "It's fine by me. Doing crazy stupid stuff is what I'm good at." Arend surprised him with another hug.
"Regardless Arend, you're more than a close friend at this point. I can't rank you with my children, or with Rose, but you are one of the few people I truly love. You're like a brother to me, and you know I never had any."
Arend hugged him back, holding Mysh low so he wouldn't be disturbed. "And you know what happened to my only sibling. I wouldn't mind having another member of my small family."
Above them, Rose was beginning to tire as Ro and Mar were volleying the ball back and forth. "… You might want to consider taking a family name." Arend said suddenly. "What with the unique bloodline and all."
Iode shook his head. "That's a bit too far. No Pog or Sereph has taken a last name. Not even the rare human and Pog couples. It would alienate them from our kind completely." Iode stood as Rose floated down towards him. Ro and Mar were still fighting over the ball. Iode swept Rose off her feet. "You lasted a bit longer today." She smiled, placing a hand on his cheek.
Arend shuffled over, depositing Mysh into Rose' sleepy arms. He snuggled close to her chest. "I miss when they were all like this. Stop by and visit sometime!" Rose tried to exclaim cheerfully, only managing to make herself fall asleep.
"She's still exhausted from it all. Serephs weren't built to handle three hungry newborns. I've been preparing nutrient-rich meals for them once she stopped nursing. Erasur's bonus has really helped with keeping them full." Iode explained before giving his farewells and flying away with his wife and son in his arms. 'Ro and Mar were still arguing as they latched on to either of Iode's shoulders.
[X]
Hunter and Flake were cozy high above the city. They were curled up together outside the face of the clock tower, watching the light snow begin to fall. Within the first few minutes of the snowfall, it melted and drained away. Flake and Hunter didn't care; wrapped up in a thick blanket and holding each other close, concerned only with their own little world.
Hunter was irritated when his phone buzzed. Arend had sent him a message. Flake pressed his face against Hunter's to read it.
'I'm fully out of the hospital today! Headed for Shifted Tilt!' Hunter deleted it and turned off his phone.
"Are you sure you-?"
Hunter shushed him with a kiss. "It's okay." He whispered softly.
Flake kissed him back, snuggling even closer. "Hey Flake," Hunter began, poking the Sereph's soft belly fur. "Do you think we should get our own place away from Dragon's Den?"
"Hmm…" Flake thought. "That's definitely an idea."
"Since the rent ther
e is so cheap and easy for the band to meet up at, I'd have no problems keeping the place, but it wasn't built with the idea of two people living there." Hunter explained.
"Aaaaand we could use a bit more privacy than those thin walls can offer." Flake said with a sly smile.
Hunter poked Flake's belly again. "Yes, and it would mean finally being able to do that as well." Hunter replied. Flake now had a ridiculous grin on his face that made Hunter burst into laughter. "You're just adorable you know that!"
"Not as adorable as Iode's kids though." Flake corrected. "They're absolutely adorable!"
Hunter nodded in agreement. "No one can compete with little Mysh. Even his name is just so cute!"
Flake laughed. "And he's quite stylish! That handprint looks really cool."