The world froze as the steady thumping of wings filled the air. All but the thousands of shimmering green butterflies, native to the trading village and a girl who raised her hand up letting it soft wings brush against her skin. Agimar, the consciousness that existed so closely to the girl that they couldn’t always tell where one ended and the other began, had explained this strange occurrence as soon as the first began to slow. Dragons were a very interesting type of creature born with the mixture of two souls that of the beast and that of a majority humanoid race. As proud creatures the dragons collected things, riches, knowledge, and powers. One-way Dragons did this was by claiming powerful individuals and offering them the name of Rider. This was their way of weeding out those who did not fit their criteria. As claws hit soil all those unworthy would stay frozen while those powerful enough to be claimed would be compelled forward.
Agimar, soothed the girl’s worries because they were different. Neither call would compel them and no one could claim them without Agimar’s full agreement and Agimar would never agree to anything that would harm Nahe physically or mentally.
Agimar cursed her pride though knowing that freezing in place and pretending to be weak would erase the worry from Nahe’s mind. Agimar though would never let anyone see her as weak.
‘It’s fine.’ Nahe assured her twirling after the group of butterflies. Agimar knew though the thump in her chest proved that to be at least partially a lie. The idea of claims of any sort always sent fear through the girl and Agimar understood after seeing her memories and feeling the affects of them. She wished she could live without any claims. She wished she was strong enough to be alone. Alone with only Nahe. But it was the way of Demons and though she no longer held the body of one her powers and soul? They still resonated with her demonic past.
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Nahe paused and frowned.
“It’s fine Agimar.” Nahe whispered out loud. Nahe this time stood still pushing her emotions at Agimar not letting the demon get carried away with one without acknowledging the others.
Yes, claiming scared Nahe and at this point she was not ready to let anyone claim her. But she’d be lying if the explorations that she and Agimar had been doing didn’t interest her. Nahe was good at being alone but she was learning through Agimar’s memories and views that she like the idea of not being alone just as much. Just as Nahe finished the thought she heard a Dragon’s huff.
Nahe turned and caught sight of one of the well-dressed Dragons in human form. It was clear he was a dragon by how light the fabric was while all the Riders wore thick warm clothing to protect themselves from the coolness of the sky. He was apologizing to the dragon he’d brushed against while flicking looks at her. Nahe tensed but then took in the clothing more greys and light blues were common for the dragons of these areas but the dark blue accents the embroidery it pinned him as one of the water.
Nahe curled her arms behind her back shifting back and forth. Then they agreed. Nahe smiled at him turned and twirled her way out of the town.
They knew he would follow and Agimar would assure that he was the only one that could. And if anyone made it past Agimar’s power. Nahe stepped into the water so it just couldn’t touch her dress hem at her knees. She tightened the fur pelt around her shoulders fussing with it as something to do.
Nerves. There wasn’t any reason for nerves they’d simply lay out the terms and if he found them too steep, he could be on his way.
Agimar didn’t bother interjecting on the girl’s fretting. She was still young and even with all of Agimar’s life being evidence of people agreeing to things that weren’t necessarily visually equal she believed that no one would accept the bits she could offer.
When the dragon ducked into sight Nahe tensed and her breath stopped. The girl was scared but not in the way that Agimar was accustomed to. Agimar smiled stepping forward beside Nahe in their consciousness.
