Decay

They remained in their hugging embrace for sometime. As they wiped away the tears of the moment they stared and smiled.

Rydenna Re-inquired, “I still... want to know if you want to do so... be a dragon like I am?"

Gile rubbed his head as he really was out of nowhere, “That a heavy question to ask me."

As Rydenna ears lowered, “I see, that was quite rude of me to ask in the moment... I won't ask it again."

Gile reassured as he placed his hand on her, “Just, give me some time... I got so much happening that I need to see through as myself. Since I am aware of my timeclock... I want revenge my father and..." he paused as Rydenna is his mother but she really wasn't there, however Gile not going to fault her for that then it becomes clear, “My birth mother as she was with him."

“That is awkward... Until you are ready you can just call me Rydenna... or something else if you prefer, since I didn't physically birth you... I really shouldn't take such a honorable title form someone I highly respected." She loosened the issue.

“Ryd, how about that?" Gile said.

“That is fine Gil." She responded.

“That sounds like some fantasy currency." Gile added as Rydenna smirked.

“Anyway, we where talking about the Godslayer, When can we summon him?" Gile asked.

“We have a week period when a lunar full moon to summon him, once it starts its going to a large light show and will attract much attention. Once we activate there will be a fight on our hands." Rydenna answered.

“When is the next full lunar gonna be Ryd?" Gile inquired.

“three days..." Rydenna remembered, “So we got to meet with the captains now, no more need to hide around." She walks over to the table as she tosses a large bag to Gile, “Here, can you help me pack up the books? I don't like leaving my horde alone if I am going to be gone long."

Gile started to pick up books and some titles catched his eye, “Complete Biology" and “Timespace, Wormholes and You" and something that made Gile ask Rydenna about, “50 shades of scales" which Rydenna instantly grabbed that is stuffed it in her bag.

“I dunno how that got there..." she lies as a clear sign of blushing on her face of embarrassment. Which leave Gile dumbfounded but continued grabbing books. After placing 50 in, he noticed, that the bag wasn't getting larger or heavier.

“Its a pocket dimension... Its something that can be anchored to something." Rydenna stated.

Suddenly sounds of metal clanging and fighting could be heard in the distance. It was the team Gile was with and it seems some solders of the royals found them.

“Oh no!, Chris is out there!" yelled Gile.

“It seems there about 20 combatants in the area... 12 of them are royal lackies" Rydenna stated as her eyes where closed almost like she could ear and see them beyond her vision.

Quickly Gile started to leave the cave as Rydenna cut him off, “Wait, how are you going to help them? You need a weapon... umm" she reaches inside the bag, “I know that I picked up some bows and arrows from a hunter group that I scared away from the shadows... AH!" holding in her claws almost carefully handing to Gile. “Its dangerous to go alone take this... do you know how to use a bow?"

“I don't... never learned to use one." Gile gabbed the bow and quiver.

“So, using your dominant hand you hold it like this" Rydenna using her arm like she is holding a bow. “then when you have a target, you breathe in while pulling the string back." moving her arms up and pulling back. “Be careful not to have your arm too far in or you give yourself a nasty string." Rydenna added, “then release, if you account for wind and other factors you will hit dead on."

“like this." with a arrow in the bow, he breathes in and aims for a wall of the cave. The bow is quite strong and hard to aim. He lets go only to go off balance and bounce off the ground and hit off target by 15 meters. “darn."

“Try again, you not used to it..." Rydenna encouraged as Gile tried again, this time accounting for the strength. Good thing he wasn't a total weakling, he hit off by 1 meter this time.

“that should be good enough... ok, you have about 64 arrows in that quiver so as long as you distract them, your friends should do something. Don't take any shots that might hit your friends." Rydenna informed him, “I am going to finish up here and once I have everything I will give some air support."

“Right." Gile ran out.

Chris and others where surrounded by solders. For full armored knights, they are able to move like they are wearing nothing at all. Fred got hit and near Chris as she is using a short sword to parry what she can. Her brute force allows her to keep them off her and unable to land any blows so far. Gile on the cliff top and looks around. Having ideal location to the solders takes shots. Using what he knows, aims for a knight in the back.

“What the..." A knight reacts to a arrow nearly messes his head. “Watch out!, there is a Archer!"

“Archer?" Chris said to herself and quickly looks up at gile, “when did that boy learn how to shoot? And where did he get that bow?"

“AHAH! Come on boys! We have the favor!" Fred adds as he pulls out some daggers and lunges at one of the knights.

“Watch it!" A knight says to another, as he dodges fred, but gets hit from his rebound.

“No more playing around, Men push forward!, I will take care of this archer!" the knight in red coloring states as his hand starts glowing red as fire starts to move around it. “DIE!" as a fireball bounds for gile which just shot a arrow that took out a knight.

The fireball hits just below gile, collapsing the ground below him. He yells as starts to fall. Then a thought came to his head that not his own, “You're an Idiot!" as Gile fell a white globe surround him, “Now, keep firing! Or you will get hit again form his shots." this voice sounded like him but off. He didn't stop to think about as he was falling slowly he aimed again but at the red knight. He could almost he like he was right in front of him. He let go of the bow, the arrow hitting his hand and up his arm as blood and muscle flying out.

“AHHHH!" The Red Knight Screamed.

“SIR!" The other knights shocked. “Heal him!" One of them yelled as the closest knight mended his wounds. Another use fireball at gile but being weaker, gile instinctively shot at the fireball to stop it mid air. Gile paused as pain rushed in his arms and legs. He glowing stopped as he fell to the ground, seems what he did had a price and he is paying for it instantly. Everyone else was pushing back the knights as they where lost in the confusion.

“RETREAT!" The red knight said as the rest of them took off running. A few knights lay on the ground dead from the battle.

“Gile!" Chris rushed over as Gile lay on the ground, his fingers now showing ash colored spots with like lines spreading along his hand like it effecting his veins. Chris rushed and slide next to him, “No no no!, your being too awesome to get hurt like that!"

A Roar came from the top of the cliff as Rydenna finally finished her packing and panicking, “Gile!, What happened?" The party was shocked to see the dragon who was also wearing a saddle pack on herself with bags and spot to sit. “ANSWERS NOW!" as he jumped and smashing the ground near Gile and Chris.

“Gile fell off the cliff from a magic one of those royal solders used." Fred answered in a scared tone behind a tree.

“I didn't think he could even use a bow." Chris said, “He was almost epic."

“Let me look at his hand." Rydenna demanded as chris held up his arm.

“He, accelerated his decay... But he doesn't know how to tap into his shard." Rydenna shocked she saw the spots. “Could his shard be alive?"

Chris shakes her head in confusion, “Shard? What in hell are you talking about?... What did you do to him!"

Rydenna Growled, “Shut up!, HOW DARE you assume that I wanted to harm my child." The statement made them all silent for a moment.

“child?!, He is human!" Chris added.

“You know nothing!" Rydenna Growled as both of them where defensive motherly for gile.

“Ladies, Please... I don't think doing this here is the place..." Fred stated as both of them Glared at him. “Gile is injured and we should take him to our captain to get healed."

They looked away form each other and grunted, “FINE!"

“Now that is settled, I am Fred, apart of the team that is helping you get the remaining components to summon the God-slayer." Fred bows.

“Oh, you got the Uranium in Lead casing?" Rydenna pleased.

“Yes, the details where odd why you told us to use such precautions but we made sure to follow to the letter." Fred added.

“Good, Then everyone that took part should be in good health. Lets be on our way... Woman get on my back and hold onto Gile. Mr. Fred let her know I will be at the summoning site and to meet us there." Rydenna commanded as Chris grumpy agreed and Fred bowed as the squad quickly started their way back to base. Rydenna laid down as Chris placed gile and herself on the large seat on Rydenna back. The leather was really good quality and had some gold inline with it. It was almost beautiful and breathe taking in the design like a level for an emperor. Rydenna started to hunch down and spring herself into the air.

Chris held in tightly holding Gile, “I am sorry to accuse you, I was scared." Chris apologized.

“Thank you." Rydenna told Chris as she wasn't sure why, “For watching Gile, I had no way to care for him with everything that was effecting this kingdom I needed to protect and stay in the shadows."

“With everything coming to light, I can understand and I think Gile does as well." Chris accepted her words in the matter. “I hope this god-slayer helps us fixes things."

“Oh, no need to worry, the god-slayer is related to me and Gile in a matter of speaking." Rydenna explains, “The shard I speak of, was used when he was stillbirth to allow him to live. If it wasn't for that he wouldn't be here today."

Chris wondered, “So this god-slayer is a dragon?"

“Matters what form, to be honest, when I knew of the god-slayer... she was my grandmother that was repairing balance that a cosmos destroyed ages ago but most likely 'he' will be arriving like a human but I hope 'she' returns in 'her' form like I remember her." Rydenna smiled.

“So... This God-slayer has been a dude, a chick and gave birth?" Chris grinned.

“Yes, Many more if I remember right." Rydenna added.

“That's hot." Chris grinned as Rydenna sighed.

Gile just laid here, if it was for the breathing, Chris would have assume he was dead if he wasn't. However in his mind there was entity that made itself clear today and Chris was facing it.

“Your a fool, a weakling and a dishonor to your parents." This voice said.

“What do you mean? I finally was able to do something!" Gile yelled back.

“Something you could have done sooner if you didn't ignore me." The voice barked.

“Ignored you?, I don't even know who you are!" Gile proclaimed.

“You Ignored that your not human, Ignorant that parents just wanted a child all their own. Makes me sick that we had to play along." Voice continued, “Humans are horrible creatures, They claim all the good in the world but when something they want... they will do anything to take it. If they are not in power they will serve with a blind eye to truth in hopes to be more powerful."

“Not all humans are like that! Chris..." Gile Started as he was cut off.

Voice Laughs, “Chris isn't so pure, she took advantage of anything to be a “great" merchant... You know she never gave back or helped that we know of!"

“Hypocrite!, If you know her as I do then she has done more that what you want to believe!" Gile Shouts, “If you never seen her be kind to children!, see her help people rebuild a forest that she unwittingly destroyed to start her career."

“You defend her like she was your mother. She always been drinking." Voice laughs, almost distorted and broken.

“Even drinking, she never harmed me!, hell she went to beat up Jackson." Gile Relised what he just said and added, “If you wanted to start with someone that is deserving of hate... That be Jackson... Who to what I know Orchestrated the death of our father!"

“Oh I know, but that be too easy. Why haven't we killed him?..." The voice boasted as its sound was still pretty broken but repeated each word, “We should be tra... training and learning how to fiii... fight than this worthless merchant craft and schooling."

“Is this childish blaming I hear." Gile countered, “whining that you got your way? Guess what thats NOT HOW LIFE WORKS! Survival in a human world can be gained with knowledge... Heck ya I hated it but it useful. Think of what we could do if he understood the world around us?" the voice was silent as gile knew his points against Chris was only because it precieved her as a step-mother than a good friend. “If you think blindly rushing into fights is the answer then WE would have been dead sooner... that's it... You are the shard.“

“Incomplete, without you, I am only anger... that will only burn itself out by myself." The voice, “Angry as I am... want to be free of this anger and be able to grow... but I hold onto anything to hate."

“Then, its true, If I die... You will die as well?" Gile guessed.

“A incomplete mind can't maintain itself, Your mind helps me stabilize myself" Voice Explains, “However, we don't generate energy and if I am force to save your hide... I have to feed on your ending body to have a pool of energy to use."

“how much time did you use?" Gile shocked.

“3 Months... added focus, reducing gravity and slowing descent." Voice answered, “If I didn't you would have fallen with your head smashed in and spine smashed. Causing you to be paralyzed from the waist down and since regeneration is impossible til our body is changed. A lot of cells where killed and convertible mass used in the abilities."

“So we had no choice because I didn't move." Gile stated, “I am sorry for being a idiot."

The voice was silent as it was shocked, its anger only kept going as time went on and now he was finally feeling something he hasn't been since he awoke... Happiness.

“I don't know what to call you." Gile stated, “Calling each other Gile would get confusing."

The voice appeared, a light in a form of a dragon, “I dunno if I have a name but... I know who I am... I am a dragon and therefore til a truename is found... just call me drake."

“Drake... Then you want us to be a dragon." Gile asked.

“Nothing wouldn't make anymore happier but I am not selfish. I cannot become full til I learned to control myself. This rage..." Drake stated.

“Is who you are... Its who WE are... accepting that is the first step to control it." Gile added.

“Thank you but its time to wake up." Drake finished as Gile opened his eyes. Chris was holding him as she slept. He was in a sleeping bag with some bandages on his head. There was a campfire center of them and Rydenna... there was some pillars behind Rydenna, who was reading some books.

She is always like reading those stupid things.

Gile thought for a moment as drake made that impression in his mind and responded in his head, “yet, Its something that she treasures like us."

I am more than pages, I am a dragon.

“Getting so prideful only makes our fall" Gile told drake but said it outloud.

“Oh Gile your awake...what about Pride." Rydenna wondered.

Don't tell her about me.

“Oh, just some irony about what happened." Gile lied, “where are we?"

“The Summoning circle for the godslayer." Rydenna added.

I like that... GOD-SLAYER! I'd wish I had such a title...

Gile strongly thought, “SHUT UP!... If you want me to be quiet about you I can't have you talking all the time and making it harder to focus on what people are saying."

“So..." Rydenna said, “How did you Manipulate gravity?" She glared at him.

Shit...

“What are you talking about? All I remember is shooting arrows... poorly and getting knocked off the cliff... everything is a blur after that." Gile Lied again trying to not get caught.

“Oh, then I will drop it." Rydenna sighs and under her breath, “I was hoping you linked with your shard... maybe it was a mistake." She continued reading.

Gile felt guilty just to lie to someone like that, he was not pleased with what he done. He just laid there hating himself, “Never ask me to do that again... Rydenna doesn't deserve to be lied too."

Don't want her to know yet but I'm embarrassed to let her know I am around.

“Your being insistent, Ignorant and feared the unknown... yet your able to reduce the effect of gravity. For someone that likes to call someone an idiot for being one yourself. What do you have to be embarrassed about." Gile pressured Drake as it just made him more annoyed. “There is nothing wrong with talking to someone that clearly has your best interests at heart."

Not her, its him, that I am afraid of... If my existence was made apparent, She would be killed by him.... Ancient law of all of us must follow, since I am not a natural born. I must be killed for being a aberration to everything he post to protect.

“Who... The god-slayer?" Gile asked drake but this time he remained silent. The terror was apparent as Gile now, Drake was like a caged animal knowing he be put down. Gile knew that not getting more information would be dangerous and wouldn't get him on the same level with drake. “However what do you mean linking with my shard?" Gile wondered.

Rydenna looked back at Gile, “Linking is a step to merge of the shard and mind, completing the path to be stabilized and able to take another body. Maybe your shard activated from your instinct and you took action without realizing it." Rydenna tone went form confidant teacher to worried mother, “Failure to really connect to your shard will be your end. I really wish I could help you and build the bridge but I can't do that."

“yesh, I am the one that help saved the kingdom..." Chris murmured in her sleep, “The kingdom's highest merchant and my own fleet... oh you shouldn't have."

A sigh come from both Gile and Rydenna. Gile asked, “I hope that the godslayer is a wonderful person."

“The experience and knowledge of billions of civilizations and Species without the grandiose pride and Ignorance... Is very kind but never forgets to be firm. Honor is something that is take seriously... Loves the family." Rydenna admiration continues, “However a goofy and silly nature likes to peek itself from the core. That how I see the godslayer to be... When you get to meet then you get to know them yourself."

“A creature that almost all knowing and not-ignorant... That seems almost like a oxymoron." Chris woke up with a yawn. Looking at Chris, “Hey slugger." she grabbed him.

“Chris, I take it you're an atheist?" Rydenna inquired.

“Agnostic in a way, There more out there... however every religion I get to know form my business travels back in the day where... Irritating to say the least. Some cults believes that they have the right to kill who-ever they choose because their god says its alright but really looking at their actions where no more than a disillusioned insanity. I noticed a pattern that almost all faith with some entity almost amount to nothing." Chris answered.

“Oh cults, some even went so far as to worship me... This is why I stay in hiding so I don't cause such nonsense... People want to believe in something that will free their pain or suffering... I am no god and being one is Asinine. Once you proclaim yourself as a god, then everything wrong is your fault as much as everything right is. Being worshiped is a disease on the minds on both the followers and followed." Rydenna added.

The bushes started to rustle, Rydenna growled for a moment, its clear that someone was there... They got pretty close without triggering the alarms. Jane came out of the and said, “Well, I finally made it." as well other people that seemed to be carrying carts of metal containers. “And still have a day to spare."

“Ahh you must be Jane, Its an honor to finally meet you." Rydenna bowed slightly with her head.

“Good to finally meet you face to face and not in the shadows." Jane smirked, “The Uranium is here. I wondered why you needed this poison metal for?"

“Its a catalyst to generate massive amount of energy as I can sympathize it to another alloy which would produce the needed energy I can conduit for the beacon to work." Rydenna Explained.

With that all the carts where unloaded and Jane's platoon of men and women set up camp outside of the site. Ensuring their location is secure.

Gile wondered, “Ryd, Why are we here to summon the Godslayer... wouldn't be ideal to be further form the kingdom's borders"

“Those pillars you see lined with copper, iron and nickel... I can charge them to launch the beacon into orbit. Since the planet has a strong field that can keep the field from being detected by the godslayer however its signal would only be detected by." Rydenna re-insured. “As far as I know this is the only location with this formation that would work. Since this planet has no way to project the beacon form its gravity well."

Gile slightly confused but let it be. His pressing matter is Drake and his anger... Their survival is only possible if they can find common ground.

I do like being close to her.

Drake was clear on his thoughts. He does consider Rydenna with high respect like a mother which makes perfect sense, Gile thought answering drake, “She is the only thing that makes you happy." which Drake was to answer but paused.

Yes... The only other creature I can understand...

Gile smirked as he continued talking to drake, “Then, I think we will be with Rydenna more often.... erk." He collapsed as pain form his arm shot up falling to the floor falling into subconsciousness

“Gile!" Rydenna and Chris said in unison.

Gile wake up. A female voice called.

He opened his eyes, he was in a room of white crystals and tones of wind chimes slightly going off. It was a calming place. A small dragon was next to him.

“This isn't good, your body is decaying at a fast rate." The female voice informed in a concerned tone.

“Who... who are you?" Gile was shocked, “Where is drake?"

“Silly, I am drake... well another part of her." She added sticking out her tongue playfully. “A Shard can have many personalities and/or defined gender."

“How many are you?" Gile rubbed his head.

“Luckly only us... more personalities means more issues... I am pretty stable then anger." She added.

“Don't Mock... Mock me!" The broken voice added.

“Not mocking you, just stating a fact." She said, “Our petty issues will not save anyone here. That's why I choose to reveal myself now."

“Because I am decaying?" Gile asked.

“I would have later if it wasn't the case but anger needs to understand the importance of finally merging together." She added.

The voice just growled still broken.

“Just listen to you... if you keep up being stubborn... you want to be stronger right." She added as the voice couldn't disagree as this is what it wanted. “Gile is perfect for us and we will be more complete if you can just trust him, just tossing a small bit of your power he was able to show he is capable."

“He is still weak!" Voice hissed.

“SHUT UP!" Gile yelled which the dragon next to him jumped a bit, “You keep saying how I am weak. Yet I am facing death head on... have you seen me have any fear in the matter."

“Shock yes... but no fear." She agreed, “Anger, are just Jealous of him? You wanted grow as a dragon like I do but I understand that he is still their child as much we are to mother." Voice grunted.

“What... Do... You... Want... I been taking your attitude enou..." Gile cut off.

“I will accept you if you accept to be a dragon and finally be what you where posed to be. I want my life." The anger stated less broken and very clear.

“That makes sense..." She confirmed, “I would be lieing if I didn't want that too... however I did enjoy the early days as a human."

Gile had no choice, not like he wanted to die but its clear that the shard wanted to be a dragon form the start. Taking the regal splendor that is a beast as a dragon.

“So you don't want to be one, I knew it." the voice grunted.

“Anger, back off for a moment and let him choose... your asking him to give up what he is." She stated.

“Like we had a choice!" voice yelled which seemed to shake the room, “Being backseat while watched."

“I'll do it... with one condition. My feelings of the matter must be considered... I want who ever is responsible for my human parents death to die." Gile demanded, wanting this to finally come to an end.

“Petty revenge will not get us anywhere." She added.

“Agreed... I might hate humans, your parents didn't deserve such disrespect." The voice added.

“fine, I have nothing to add then but don't let yourself be consumed by revenge ok..." she sighed.

The room went blinding white to dark black as gile felt something. He might have linked together with his shard as he started to look at himself as he felt his body fracture and disintegrate til nothing was left. There was pain and numbness in his head, Seemed like he was being consumed but he was still aware and retained all his memory. He could feel his mind expanding, twisting and growing as his head was becoming fully crystalline. He felt his personality merge with the over two he considered as like stars and galaxies seems to appear as the world is not even a grain of sand to the beach that is our universe.

Then nothing, They where complete, It seemed like more senses opened up to him... He could feel Rydenna near him then everyone else like a radar some matter. Then his attention was on himself... Then the horror set in... His body form his neck down, was covered in blackness. The decay was finally taking its beginning to take his hold.

Gile opened his eyes, slightly smiling Rydenna and Chris where there crying over him. He just went ahead and proclaimed, “We did it, Linked together."