[Jean] Chapter 17: Back to Mt. Velothia

[Throndir]

As you spoke, Vasillisa only smiled gently towards you. When you finally finished, she let out a quiet laugh. "Yes... the knights did approach me again for reducing the age... And frankly, it doesn't surprise me as the war hasn't been in our favor for a very long time. As a mother and caretaker it... giving my children to the knights isn't something I take pride in, but... it remains as a fact that even young dragons would be able to take on a demon or two." Vasillisa turned towards Alyona.

"Alyona, is this what you want?"

"Umm... mhmm..." Alyona muttered.

The elder turned back towards you.

"Then it will be so. Apart from Valeriya and our hero Rosalie, it had been decades since the last time one of the dragons willingly chose a mate. Of course you may have permission. I assume Alyona had mentioned the specifics of forming a bond with a dragon?"

[pringerbeam]

     "Uh...  Not really?  I know there is a kiss and some kind of ceremony but I guess we're skipping that.  Is there more to the ritual?"  Asked Jean, somewhat relieved to have made it through the courting process without invoking the ire of the elder.  "It um...  Doesn't require us to uh...  you know..."  He looked at Alyona and chose his next words carefully.  "Get too intimate?"

[Throndir]

"Oh heavens, no. Not for the ceremony... Though... It's a different type of intimacy that might indeed just keep you up all night long." The Elder smiled. Thankfully she did clarify a moment later when Alyona, next to you, started to blush and get flustered.

"To complete the ceremony, stripping away all the traditions around it... It becomes the imprinting of yourself into each other. This is done by the sharing of mana, and the 'discharge' of it from one into another. It's a warm feeling, almost... pleasurable. For most races this has no immediate or obvious effect... However, for the dragons, this imprints one as their rider. It's a special quality of the dragon race. There are various benefits of doing so... A longer lifespan, clearer vision, telepathically speaking with each other, among other things."

"Generally the ceremony is an important tradition to the dragons. Even if we do away with the speeches, and the procession... It's still usually a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us dragons. We can still hold a smaller one, if you'd like. With just those here right now, or anyone you would like to invite, hero Jean."

[pringerbeam]

     "Exchanging mana...  Okay I think that's something I can do but uh...  We don't have to be alone right?  Sorry if it's taboo but I'm kinda nervous about something so intimate sounding.  Can I have a chaperone or two?"  Asked Jean, almost equally flustered as Alyona.

[Throndir]

"A chaperone or two? I heard you came in with a couple of other ladies... But if it so suits you, I can accompany the two of you tonight if you would like." The elder smiled innocently enough at you, though there was a sparkle in her eyes that was hard to miss.

"Much like heroes once a dragon has lived as long as I, we get to see the flow of mana as well. I can very well offer... advice during the act. Things like... how to relax, how to push it in, where to aim... You know... The usual."

[pringerbeam]

     "That would be nice."  Said Jean with a relaxing exhale, his nerves finally starting to settle. The possible subtext of the elder's offer blowing past his attention.  "Thank you Vasillisa.  In my world unions between someone my age with a girl as developed as Alyona was...  not considered appropriate.  So I'm glad to have your support."  He looked to Alyona.  "So um...  when do we want to get started?  I should probably go tell my companions what's going on."

[Throndir]

"We can start anytime. Umm.. I don't mind if you bring the others up here too. Oh... If it's okay... Can we have a small ceremony? I want my sister here, too. Not for the mana exchange! Just for the... a bit of the other stuff." Alyona shifted uncomfortably, realizing that she was making her own demands.

"Is that okay, hero...?" Alyona said looked up towards you.

[pringerbeam]

     "Oh yeah, of course you can bring anyone.  Lili, Dalina, and Anja can come too then?  They're as much a part of my little impromptu family as you are going to be... or I guess in the case of Lili, actual family..."  Said Jean.  "I hope it's not too much.  I know you were probably hoping for a more normal ceremony."  He said, equally apologetic.  "You can go get your sister, and I'll gather the others...  meet back here?  Or do we need to go somewhere else for the ceremony?"  He asked, looking to the elder dragon.

Good to move on to ceremony if there's nothing else.  Will bring Lili, Dalina, and Anja to the ceremony.

[Throndir]

"This will do fine if you prefer to keep it private. Meet back here in half an hour then? Hero Jean, since it may not be custom to you, ceremonial clothes is preferred, though, your current attire works just as fine. It looks like that of the wind priests, though much more... heroic. It's fitting."

Location: Mt. Velothia Peaks
Date: Day 9 (Jean), Day 11 (Rosalie) - Time: 7:00 PM

Half an hour later everyone was prepared. Due to the nature of the event, those in attendance wore any fitting formal attire they could reasonably get in a short time. The dragons were in dresses, though, transforming their clothes was something inherent to them that they could do. Dalina, Anja, and Lili, didn't really have much time to prepare, and apart from the special robes you were given, apparently, the wind priests of Velothia didn't have much in terms of formal wear. Anja herself seemed embarrassed with the fact that she wasn't in a proper outfit either.

As for Alyona's side, Valeriya was in attendance, along with a couple of other young girls that you presumed to be other dragons. The velothian hero, Rosalie was there too, in the formal garb of the dragonknights which had apparently been used in the ceremony just a week ago.

"The ceremony is simple... Hero Jean, once I ask you to, you simply will proclaim to choose Alyona as your dragon, and you as her knight."

With that, once everyone was ready, the she started, Even though this entire ceremony was ad-hoc, literally planned and started just 30 minutes prior, the Elder did her best to proceed with the normal rites.

"As accordance to our tradition and celebration of our coexistence with the Antwarch Kingdom for hundreds of years, we celebrate again this day our Oath Ceremony." She went on to describe the relation between the humans and dragons, how in times past wars were declared amongst them. She described the forming of the first treaties, the first Oath Ceremony contracts to be formed. She described that a great hero of the past lead the way to forging the pact between humans and dragons. She described how important the ceremony holds, along with reminding everyone in attendance that the ceremony itself is a decision for life, and one that does not break easily. Finally her speech concluded.

"Now... dragonknight, who do you choose as your companion?"

[pringerbeam]

     Jean looked at Alyona, his eyes up to this point he had been keeping to the elder.  She seemed even smaller and younger there than ever before and he took in a deep breath.  He knew that he had to do this now not just for himself but for the other younger dragons that were to come.  He kneeled before the young dragon.  "I choose Alyona as my dragon, and I shall be her knight.  May she be the youngest of your kind to ever take on this burden and travel side by side with me to end this war."  He said with a voice surprisingly steeled with conviction. 

[Throndir]

Location: Mt. Velothia Peaks
Date: Day 9 (Jean), Day 11 (Rosalie) - Time: 7:30 PM

Alyona blushed slightly as the attention was focused on her, though as the tradition dictated she remained silent.

The Elder nodded.

"You have chosen Alyona. If no one else contests this decision, henceforth you and Alyona will be as one." The Elder announced as she looked towards everyone in attendance. After a moment, she turned back to you, with a smile on her face.

"Thus ends the ceremony. Jean, hero of the Wind Priests, and Alyona of the Dragons, from henceforth, you will be united in common cause."

There was a cheer from the other few dragons who were present, and some of your companions too clapped, realizing that the situation called for such. Once that was done, Alyona jumped to hold on to you in an embrace.

"Thank you Jean."

Once the cheering had slowed, the Elder approached you.

"I understand this was more for need... The completion of the ceremony isn't done until at least 6 hours of feeding mana into each other... However, as for other... restrictions, such as letting you ride Alyona into the night, that is indeed more permissible to us dragons."

She threw you a sly smile. "When you're ready for that next part of the ceremony, I'll be up here to guide you both."

[pringerbeam]

     Jean hugged Alyona back and looked up to the elder.  "I think I'm ready."  He looked back to his companions.  "I think for this part I need to go alone...  I guess you girls should get something to eat and maybe rest to get ready to travel back tomorrow as early as we can.  Could one of you let Karn know that we found a ride for him so that he can prepare? "  He asked before summoning some new tentacles for Anja to ride.  "Don't stay up too late apprentice.  We have a lot to do tomorrow."  He turned to face Alyona and the elder.  "I'm ready for the next part if you two are."

[Throndir]

"That's alright... So umm... we won't see you tonight then?" Dalina asked to confirm. "Well, that's okay... Lili, I can show you around the temple if you'd like. And you can have Jean's bed, too."

Lili nodded, though she continued to glance at you. After awhile, she just shrugged, grinned, and followed Dalina.

"Ah'd like tae see more of th' flyin' island, fer sure."

Once Dalina left with Lili, Anja, and Viridio, all that remained was you, and the two dragons. Those from Alyona's group had also parted ways, after saying a few words with her.

The Elder smiled as she began to lead the way into her cavern.

"No other human has stepped foot into my cavern since hundreds of years ago... Our own hero hasn't stepped through here... Though I did plan to invite hero Rosalie when it was time for her to leave."

Location: Mt. Velothia Peaks - The Elder's Nest
Date: Day 9 (Jean), Day 11 (Rosalie) - Time: 7:30 PM

Inside the cavern was very much not like a cavern. True, it was still underground, though the walls and floor were quite smooth. Section of it were completely flat, while other parts were more rounded. It had an extremely high ceiling as well, and you could imagine that perhaps if the Elder were in her dragonform, it might be enough space for her to fit through still. The Elder continued leading the way, going through a long flight of stairs with a ceiling just as high. It was amazing how spacious it was, and you began to the feeling that much of the mountain must have been hollow in order to fit something as grand as what you were seeing. Of course, it was nothing compared to the dwarven city, but it was still spectacular.

Soon enough, she came towards a room.

"I haven't used this room in... many years. Though, I keep it in good condition. Come in." She said, opening the door. Inside was a clean room with a silver color-scheme. There were tables and furniture, but mainly there was a large bed. It had a canopy, and looked extremely soft. You noticed some other things as well. A mirror on the wall, on top of a dresser, a few cabinets, and what looked to be mana crystals arrayed in various places to give illumination.

The elder made her way to the bed, though specifically to just one side of it.

"Come to bed hero Jean... my daughter Alyona, you too."

Alyona looked a bit tense, but she obeyed.

[pringerbeam]

     Jean looked around the room as he made his way to the bed.  "This is quite the room Vasilissa."  He said as he got to the side of the bed.  He looked at the nervous young dragon as she crawled into the bed and stopped.  "I'm sorry Alyona.  Did you not want to be alone like this?  I thought it would be better if only Vasilissa was here...  I didn't think you wanted the others to be present in case you were embarrassed."

[Throndir]

Location: Mt. Velothia Peaks - The Elder's Nest
Date: Day 9 (Jean), Day 11 (Rosalie) - Time: 7:30 PM

"It's okay... Mom probably can help... U-um... Usually this is done when I'm much much older..." Alyona eventually got comfortable on the bed as well.

"Jean, slip in between us... then simply relax, while I guide you both on what to do."