Pov of a Gold Grade Adventurer:

Like many others in the capital, I was called to a meeting where a special mission was being given, I just had to answer a few simple questions and I managed to participate in the mission, I am a mage and therefore I know how important Elves are, too I know what they protect in their villages that shouldn't be damaged, so I'm proud to have the chance to help and I understand them not saying everything in the middle of a city, even in a closed meeting like this.

They gave us time to get ready, and one of the Adventurers who didn't want to participate approached me, he was handsome and had nice hair but he was always surrounded by women so I didn't think he would like men like me.

Adventurers' curiosity is something all of us share, so it wasn't strange that he would come to me to try to find out more about the meeting after he left, he was far from the only one to do so.

I didn't say anything to him, but it served as a good point to start a conversation where I started flirting with him to see how he would react and if he had any chance, no risk, no progress is what my mother always said.

As he didn't run away or complain about my rather obvious flirtations, so I got really excited, unfortunately, I had little time to make my preparations for the Elf quest where I could be days or weeks away, I had to try to leave a mark on his mind for him remember me during these days.

I risked more and pulled him into a corner of the store we had come from while I was buying supplies for the mission, I pulled him into this corner where I steal his lips without passion, at that moment I felt something in my mouth that felt too big to be a language and the next thing I remember, I was facing the Guild joining other Adventurers for the special mission of the Elves.

Time seemed strange from there, as the days passed I felt like my memory seemed to have parts missing like I had drunk too much wine but without the hangover headache.

I know for some reason I didn't mind that and went on the mission, to my surprise we were sent directly to the location using space magic, it was interesting to see.

Only at the location, I noticed the access to things due to the large number of Adventurers that did not stop arriving, the Elves explained the situation to everyone, I was surprised by the true objective of the mission but it was already too late to give up, luckily I was together with a group of friends, a Warrior and a magical Swordsman.

That day was crazy for many reasons, but the main one was when one of those corrupted souls came out of an enemy near me that had been defeated the Corrupted Soul came towards me trying to invade my body, I put up a barrier, but the Corrupted Soul broke through my defenses.

Just when I thought I was lost I felt a pulsation and the Corrupted Soul was thrown away from my body where it was pierced by my companion's sword, one of the Weapons that were handed over for being the enemy's weakness.

I didn't know what was going on and didn't even have time to think about it at the time, I just considered it luck or protection from the Gods because it was so wonderful, so we went back to combat, it was a day full of the strangest things I've seen in my life.

But the sight of the World Tree is forever in my mind, as well as all the nonsense I saw that day, two days later we were sent back, and for some reason, I met that man again and he waved at me, it seems like stealing his lips it was a great idea to make him remember me.

I said goodbye to my two companions who would probably go to some bar and straight to some brothel this couple of perverts, but if everything works out for me today, maybe I'll wake up with someone else in bed tomorrow.

It was with that thought that I approached him and we walked, my mind started to get confused since he touched my face, I thought it was just nervousness, but then I realized that he and I were talking without opening our mouths.

It was a telepathic conversation in a language I didn't recognize, but for some reason, I was answering him in the same language, the strangest thing was when I entered his house, it seemed normal at first, but as soon as we got to the basement there were pieces of meat and tentacles strangers everywhere. I wanted to run, scream and use the most destructive magic I was capable of, but I couldn't, my body was following the commands he was making with his mouth now that no one else was around.

He guided me to a large piece of meat that had 4 eyes grouped together and an already large mouth which when opened revealed what looked like some kind of bed, there were no teeth, tongue, or a throat, he guided me to lie there while different images were projected out of eyes, the last thing I saw was him kneeling down to an image of someone I couldn't quite see before the mouth closed with me inside, all that followed was silence and darkness.

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Pov Zenos:

I was looking at the Dragon of Light in front of me, there were many things I wanted to say to him as well as many questions I would like to be answered, but it was just my curiosity trying to get the better of me, the vast majority of these questions had nothing to do with the current situation and the others was not something that would involve me.

I remain silent waiting for him to put his emotions in order, it takes tens of minutes where he just spent most of the time with his eyes closed crying without saying anything and the rest of the time was with him looking at the sky.

I didn't talk to Freya during that time and I didn't come into contact with any of my Familiars, I just stood there waiting for him without rushing the Dragon of Light into anything.

When his eyes met mine again the tears stopped and a gleam of determination was in his eyes.

"Thank you for waiting."

"Did you manage to get your mind in order?" (I)

"My mind has been in order for a long time, I always knew how this could end, but knowing what could happen and being the sole survivor of what happened are two different things..."

I could hear a slight tremor in his voice at the end, he seems to be trying to keep his composure, but no matter how his mind is in order, his heart is clearly still shaken and it's not hard to imagine the reason for this.

He may be free of the crystal now, but he lost everything and everyone around him, his only refuge would be the Dragon God handed him over to a stranger who looks like a child and he knows how much his existence is seen negatively by the other True Ones Dragons.

"Is your mind really in order? Your emotions certainly aren't, before we talk again I think you'll need more time to think." (I)

"I won't deny that my condition isn't the best, but my decision won't change, it's not like there's another path for me."

"There is always a path and a choice, it does not mean that it will always be the best, sometimes it can be the worst of all paths, but it depends on each individual to make the decision which path to follow." (I)

"I don't have anything against you either and it would always be nice to have someone strong around that makes those around me more secure, but that doesn't mean I'm desperate to have someone without motivation." (I)

"I may be adopting you, but I don't accept an answer about that being the only way." (I)

"The meaning behind our decisions is important, are you making this decision because it's the easiest or because it's a fresh start?" (I)

"..."

"I don't know..."

"Then stay on this floor and think all you want or ask whichever faerie to drive you into town, just make sure you have an answer the next time we talk." (I)

"..." (Freya)

I could feel Freya's eyes on me, I might be sounding thick and even idiotic talking to someone in an unstable emotional state like that, but I need to make it as clear as possible so there's no doubt.

I honestly said everything I think and expect from him, I don't need him to give me all the correct answers, I want to know if the reason for him being adopted by me is something that can sustain him in the future or just something to hide his emotions.

He needs to decide if he wants to leave the past behind in an attempt to move forward or run away from the past without ever looking back, the difference between these two situations is the same difference that exists between an open wound and a wound in the process of healing.

I walk back to the safe room with Freya silently following me, only when we get back to the city floor does he grab my shoulder.

"Wasn't there a smoother way to do this?" (Freya)

"There is no smooth way to listen to what I said, changing the way I said it wouldn't change the way he listened." (I)

"He doesn't have a way now, I want him to think about it not for my sake but for his sake or there won't be a future worth living for him." (I)

"Life is a journey Freya, a journey with many crossroads where the decision of the path matters more than people think, but the meaning of these decisions shows how firm the first step in one of these paths will be." (I)

"What are you going to do now?" (Freya)

"I won't do anything, I'll come back in 3 days to hear your answer before we leave for the Dragon lands." (I)

Sigh

"But I think I know what name I can give him... Magnus..." (I)

"An important name worthy of leaders and important people, a strong name that represents my expectations for it." (I)

"You suck at taking care of people." (Freya)

"He is an adult and not a child who needs to be taken by the hand, his life decisions should come from him alone, I just made things clear the rest is up to him." (I)

"Now let's go back, I promised Kira a date at the new restaurant Vanessa told her about." (I)

"Let's go..." (I)