Chương 64: Still Kindle

The platinum token sat in the center of the table. Roy had been staring at it for nearly a minute. Meanwhile, Orion had been staring at Roy, and Aurelia had been staring at Kindle. Kindle, in turn, seemed determined to stare at absolutely nothing. The little Hearth Drake rested beside the hearth with his forelegs crossed beneath him. His pale scales caught the firelight differently than they once had. Months ago, there would have been glowing orange between them - now there was only pale gray.

The evolution token had immediately become the most valuable object in the cottage, which was exactly why Aurelia already knew this conversation was going to be annoying. Roy finally broke the silence.

"One existing drake."

"That is what it says." Roy picked up the token. he pale metal caught the firelight; one side bore the curled dragon emblem, while the other carried a recessed Seal-like mark. He flipped it once, and caught it. Aurelia frowned.

"If you drop the priceless magical dragon-evolution coin between the floorboards, I will kill you." Roy carefully placed it back on the table.

"Fair." Orion leaned forward.

"And it doesn't say what evolution actually means?"

"Nothing useful." Aurelia summoned the Status again. [Draconic Evolution Token] [Use: Evolves one existing drake] Roy stared at the two lines.

"That may be the least helpful description we've received yet."

"That is impressive," Orion admitted.

"The System once told us to put an egg in a bath."

"And that was more informative." Kindle remained quiet near the hearth. He had been watching the token when they first sat down; now, he deliberately was not. Roy started first.

"Clover." Aurelia sighed.

"I knew you were going to do this."

"We should at least discuss it. Clover is already one of the most valuable drakes we have economically." Orion nodded.

"Greenbind alone."

"Exactly," Roy began counting on his fingers.

"Blackloam. Mulchweave. Greenbind. He can produce materials we either cannot get elsewhere or would have significant difficulty replacing. If evolution increases production capacity…"

"It could change how quickly Drakehaven grows," Orion finished.

"There's also Nimbus." Roy frowned thoughtfully.

"That was my second thought. Water, irrigation, snow removal, and fire response." Aurelia looked between them.

"You've been thinking about this for how long?"

"Since you showed us the token," Roy answered.

"That was forty seconds ago."

"Yes," Orion shrugged.

"It is a good token." Roy pointed toward him.

"Spark and Shimmer." Orion's expression changed.

"That could be enormous."

"Assuming evolving one doesn't cause problems with their paired ability."

"Good point." Aurelia nodded. The pair could become wildly more powerful.

"Shale?" Orion offered. Roy immediately nodded.

"If evolution increases his digging capacity, we could accelerate the road and every underground project."

"Therma?"

"Too new," eventually, Roy exhaled.

"This is impossible."

"That is because we don't know what evolution means," Aurelia pointed out.

"We know it probably means better."

"That is not a useful measurement."

"It is the only one we have." Orion looked toward Aegis's usual empty chair.

"He's probably not a candidate." Roy snorted.

"I'd rather not find out what happens when we improve Aegis."

"Cowards," Aurelia said. Roy looked toward her.

"What are you thinking?" Aurelia had been waiting for that. Still, when it arrived, she did not answer immediately. Her gaze drifted back toward the hearth, where Kindle finally looked at her. His expression was difficult to read - though in some ways, it always had been. He understood them, but there had always been a barrier. Something separating everything Kindle wanted to express from what the siblings were capable of understanding. Aurelia rested her hands in her lap.

"Kindle." Silence. Roy stopped moving and Orion looked toward the Hearth Drake, causing Kindle's head to lower. Roy was the first to speak.

"Did you already test it?" Aurelia nodded.

"Before you came home. I brought the token near him and focused on using it." She summoned the message that had appeared over the table. [Evolve Hearth Drake?] [WARNING: Evolution does not repair existing damage or abnormalities] Roy read the warning again.

"That seems…"

"Blatant?" Aurelia offered.

"Yes." Orion's expression had tightened.

"So it knows his core is damaged, and it is specifically warning you that evolution won't fix it."

"Yes." Roy leaned back. The argument had become much harder to make - which meant that he was going to make it anyway.

"If that's the case…"

"I know," Aurelia immediately interjected. Roy frowned.

"Then you understand why I'm saying it."

"Yes." He looked toward Kindle. There was no coldness in Roy's face.

"We all want to help him." Orion nodded.

"Obviously."

"But if this doesn't repair his core, then we're spending the token without solving the problem."

"I know."

"If Clover evolves, his production could help support hundreds of people someday. If Nimbus evolves, she could potentially change agriculture across the settlement. Spark and Shimmer—""I know, Roy." Roy stopped. Aurelia did not sound angry, which was the frustrating part. Everything her brothers were saying was reasonable. If the question were simply how to make Drakehaven stronger, Kindle was probably one of the worst candidates. His core was damaged, and he could no longer produce flame.

Even the System itself had apparently looked at Aurelia's choice and felt obligated to warn her. This will not fix him. Kindle stood. Everyone went quiet as he approached the table. The Hearth Drake looked at the token, then shook his head at Aurelia firmly. Aurelia smiled sadly.

"Yes. I know what you think." As if proving his point, Kindle used great effort to stand his front paws on the table itself. Kindle nudged the token toward Roy, which Roy caught it before it reached the table's edge. Aurelia's chest tightened.

"You don't want it." Kindle shook his head again. Orion leaned down.

"Kindle…" The drake ignored him. His attention remained on Aurelia as he pushed the token toward Roy a second time. Aurelia stood.

"No." Kindle froze. She walked around the table and knelt in front of him.

"You don't get to do that. You don't get to decide that you're worth less because you got hurt." His ears lowered. Aurelia reached out and rested both hands gently against the sides of his face.

"I know what the warning says." Kindle made a quiet sound.

"I know," she smiled.

"And I don't care." Roy shifted behind her.

"Aurelia—" She looked back.

"Kindle is the only reason we're alive." Nobody answered.

"We can talk about Clover's production, Nimbus's water, and Spark and Shimmer's transportation. All of it matters - I know that just as well as you both do." Aurelia turned back toward Kindle.

"But before Drakehaven existed, before Bellhaven cared whether we lived or died, before any of this… We had him." Kindle went very still.

"He kept our fire burning," Aurelia swallowed.

"He helped us survive the blizzard. He protected us when people broke into our home. He stayed with us through everything… And when we needed him most, he gave us everything he had." Kindle looked down. Aurelia deliberately did not continue down that road; she did not need to. Her brothers remembered too - everyone did.

"We've said family comes first since the beginning," she looked back at Orion and Roy.

"If that only means something when it's convenient, then it doesn't actually mean anything." Roy looked away, while Orion rubbed the back of his neck. Aurelia continued.

"We're finally reaching a point where we have things worth protecting: Money, buildings, power… I don't want getting stronger to be the thing that makes us start deciding which members of our family are efficient enough to deserve help." Silence settled over the cottage. Kindle pressed his head lightly against Aurelia's palm, but she held firm. Roy exhaled.

"I hate when you make arguments like this."

"Why?" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

"Because there is no version of my answer that doesn't make me sound terrible." Orion looked toward him.

"That is because she is right." Roy stared.

"You were agreeing with me thirty seconds ago."

"I still agree with you," Orion looked toward Kindle.

"Using the token on Clover probably helps Drakehaven more."

"Correct."

"Using it on Kindle is still the right choice." Roy considered, then sighed.

"That is an infuriating distinction." Aurelia smiled, but Kindle did not. He shook his head again, but Orion stood.

"Sorry, little brother." Kindle looked toward him.

"You're outvoted." The Hearth Drake's expression somehow became offended. Roy laughed.

"There he is." Kindle glared. Aurelia picked up the token; the platinum felt cold against her palm. She crouched again.

"Last chance." Kindle immediately shook his head.

"That wasn't the question." His eyes narrowed, but Aurelia smiled.

"Do you trust us?" Kindle stopped. After a standoffish moment, he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. Aurelia closed her eyes.

"Good enough." She pulled back and focused - the System responded. [Evolve Hearth Drake?] The warning followed. [WARNING: Evolution does not repair existing damage or abnormalities.] [Confirm?] Aurelia looked at her brothers. Orion nodded. Roy hesitated, but then smiled and nodded as well. Kindle looked miserable about the entire situation. Aurelia smiled.

"Yes." The token vanished, dissolving into pale golden particles between Aurelia's fingers. Kindle's eyes widened as light gathered around him. Aurelia stepped backward instinctively, but the golden Weave did not explode. There was no violent shockwave like her advancement earlier that day. The light wrapped around Kindle gently, layer after layer, until his entire body disappeared inside it. Aurelia held her breath. A silhouette remained - small and four-legged - then it changed.

The body lengthened upward, the shape of the head rounded, and the spine straightened. Hind legs extended until the silhouette stood upright. No one spoke as the transformation continued for the next fifteen seconds. Then the light faded, and Aurelia stopped breathing. A boy stood where Kindle had been. He looked around twelve - maybe slightly younger at first glance because of how thin he was.

Pale skin, narrow shoulders, and a body that looked as though it had never experienced enough food despite Kindle having eaten perfectly well. Jet-black hair fell over his forehead and partly across his eyes. It was longer than most boys in Bellhaven wore theirs, and was uneven and wild. Like the System had successfully created hair and then decided grooming was somebody else's responsibility. He was already dressed.

Dark trousers, simple boots, and a charcoal tunic with faint ember-colored stitching along the seams. No scales, tail, claws, or wings were anywhere in sight… He was completely human. Kindle looked down. He turned one hand over, then the other. He flexed his fingers, touched his own face, and ran both hands through his hair. His expression immediately soured when it fell straight back into his eyes. Roy whispered.

"Kindle?" The boy looked up. His eyes had shifted to being human, but they were almost an identical color to what they had been before. That was what finally broke Aurelia - everything else had changed, but the eyes were Kindle. Warm amber, quiet, and watching them exactly the way he always had. Kindle looked toward her, took in a deliberately big inhale, then opened his mouth.

"Aurelia." She made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. Kindle stared at her, then looked mildly alarmed.

"Oh." Aurelia covered her mouth.

"You can talk." Kindle looked down at himself.

"Yes." His voice was soft and young, but steady. He seemed surprised by the sound of it more than by the ability itself. Aurelia crossed the distance before anyone could stop her, wrapping both arms around him. Kindle immediately stiffened. - for half a second, he looked exactly like a deeply offended cat. Then his shoulders slowly relaxed, his arms came up… and he awkwardly hugged her back.

"Thank you." Aurelia squeezed tighter.

"You're welcome." Kindle shook his head against her shoulder.

"Not for this." Aurelia pulled back. He looked at her, then Roy, then Orion.

"For all of it." Nobody spoke. Kindle's expression shifted immediately as he looked away.

"Don't make that strange." Roy laughed first, though it came out slightly broken. Orion turned his head and wiped one hand over his face. Aurelia ignored Kindle's request completely and hugged him again. He groaned.

"This is what I meant."

"You have been able to speak for thirty seconds and you're already complaining."

"I have had months of practice internally." Roy froze.

"Wait." Kindle looked toward him.

"You understood us?" Kindle stared.

"Yes."

"How much?"

"Most things." Orion frowned.

"Most?" Kindle considered.

"When you explained things badly, less." Aurelia slowly released Kindle.

"You understood us the whole time?"

"Not every word at first," Kindle shrugged.

"The longer I was with you, the easier it became."

"And you remember everything?"

"Yes." Aurelia's expression softened, which Kindle immediately noticed.

"No." She blinked.

"No, what?"

"You are going to become emotional again."

"I am allowed."

"You have done enough." Roy covered his mouth. Kindle looked toward him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You are laughing."

"I've never heard you complain before."

"Yes, you have. I complained frequently."

"You made noises."

"They were very clear noises."

"To you."

"That sounds like your failure." Orion burst out laughing. Kindle's mouth twitched, but only barely. Then something else occurred to Aurelia.

"Can you still…?" She stopped. Kindle knew what she meant; his expression became quieter. He held out one hand and focused, but nothing happened. No flame; no ember; and no warmth. Kindle stared at his palm for a second, then lowered it. The warning had been accurate - evolution did not repair existing damage. Aurelia's chest tightened, but Kindle quickly looked toward her.

"Don't." She stopped.

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"You were making a guilty face." Roy nodded.

"You do have one." Aurelia glared at him. Kindle looked back down at his hand - his expression remained almost neutral. He then shoved both hands into the pockets of his trousers.

"So," he looked toward the cottage door.

"Can I go outside?" Aurelia blinked.

"Yes." Kindle walked toward it, and all three siblings followed. He stopped after about three paces and turned.

"Why are all of you following me?"

"You were a drake five minutes ago," Roy answered.

"I noticed."

"We are curious."

"That sounds like my problem."

"You really are going to be difficult now that you can talk." Kindle opened the door.

"I have always been difficult." Aurelia smiled. He stepped outside, where night had settled over Drakehaven. Lanterns glowed outside the main structures, and the Dragonscale Ward loomed around the settlement, its false stone walls pale beneath the moonlight. The Waystation still held light in several windows. Somewhere farther away, someone laughed. Kindle stopped on the porch as he looked around - with perspective more than confusion.

Things he had seen hundreds of times suddenly existed from a completely different height. Aurelia followed.

"How does it feel?" Kindle considered.

"Tall." Roy stared.

"You are twelve."

"I used to be shorter." Kindle walked toward the yard. His steps were completely natural - no wobbling or awkward experimentation. He crouched beside a patch of grass, ran his fingers through it, then stood again. Orion followed several paces behind.

"Anything weird?"

"Hands."

"What about them?" Kindle held one up.

"There are too many things they can do." Roy grinned.

"You are going to enjoy tools." Kindle looked horrified.

"No."

"You haven't tried them."

"I have watched you."

"That is not the same."

"It was enough." Aurelia laughed, but only briefly before it was cut off. Movement approached from the direction of the Waystation as Aegis appeared around the corner. He was halfway through saying something.

"Orion, Sevrin wants to—" Aegis stared with his silence. His gaze moved over the boy: Black hair, pale skin, amber eyes.

"Big Brother?" Kindle's shoulders slumped.

"Hello, Aegis." Aegis's eyes widened.

"You speak."

"Apparently."

"You're human."

"Also apparently." Aegis approached slowly. For once, the Storm Dragon seemed entirely uncertain what to do. He stopped directly in front of Kindle, revealing a very substantial height difference. Aegis's brow furrowed.

"You are very small." Kindle stared.

"I liked you better before I could answer." Aegis smiled, then the entire group became silent as a tear formed in his eye. It ran down his cheek, dropping to the ground and releasing a quiet, almost sad thunderclap. Then, without warning, grabbed Kindle and lifted him completely off the ground. Kindle's eyes widened.

"Put me down." Aegis hugged him.

"No."

"Aegis."

"You are alive and talking."

"I was alive before."

"You were less talkative."

"Put me down." Aurelia was laughing too hard to intervene. Eventually, Aegis obeyed. Kindle immediately stepped several feet away and straightened his tunic with wounded dignity.

"I hate this body."

"No, you don't," Aurelia said. Kindle looked at her.

"I currently hate all of you." The group wandered a little farther through the immediate settlement, but Kindle did not seem interested in becoming tonight's public attraction. When voices approached from another path, he subtly moved closer to Aurelia rather than toward them. He explored instead: The well crank, one of the stacked lumber piles, the edge of the Healing House foundation. He paused there while Aurelia stood beside him.

"This is yours?"

"Eventually." Kindle nodded.

"You wanted it for a long time." Aurelia looked at him.

"You remember that?"

"You talked about it constantly."

"I did not."

"You did." Roy nodded.

"She did."

"Traitor." Kindle continued staring at the partially framed building.

"It is good." Aurelia smiled.

"Thank you." They eventually returned toward the cottage with Orion and Roy walking ahead. Aegis had been reluctantly sent back toward the Waystation after Orion reminded him that Sevrin was still technically supposed to be monitored. Kindle and Aurelia lagged behind. The boy walked with both hands buried in his pockets; his hair continuously falling into his eyes. Every twenty seconds, he pushed it aside with visible annoyance.

"We can cut that tomorrow."

"No." Aurelia blinked.

"You don't like it."

"I didn't say that."

"You've been fighting with it since you appeared." Kindle pushed it away again.

"It is fine." Aurelia smiled. Fourteen-year-old logic in a twelve-year-old body wrapped around something much more mature. Kindle looked toward her.

"Stop."

"I didn't say anything."

"You're making a face."

"You seem very concerned about my faces."

"They are loud." Aurelia laughed softly. Kindle's gaze drifted toward Orion and Roy, and his expression changed to something more serious.

"Aurelia."

"Hm?"

"I meant it when I said thank you. I knew what was happening…even when I couldn't speak. Whenever you stayed with me. Whenever Aegis called me his brother. Whenever Roy kept trying to figure out whether something could fix my core. Whenever Orion carried me because I was too tired." He looked down.

"When you all pretended nothing had changed." Aurelia swallowed; Kindle noticed and frowned.

"I said not to make this strange."

"You're the one saying emotional things."

"I am explaining."

"Very emotionally." Kindle sighed.

"I regret speaking."

"No, you don't." He was quiet; then:"No, I don't." They reached the cottage where Roy and Orion waited near the porch. Kindle stopped at the bottom step and looked at all three siblings. For a second, he seemed unsure what to do with his hands.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do now." The admission was so simple that nobody answered immediately. Kindle looked back across Drakehaven.

"I can't use my fire. I can't do any of what I did before." Aurelia resisted the urge to immediately reassure him; that would be too easy. In the end, Orion stepped down from the porch.

"Then don't." Kindle looked at him.

"You don't need an answer tonight." Roy nodded.

"We built half this place without knowing what we were doing."

"Most of it," Orion corrected.

"Thank you."

"And we still don't know what we're doing." Kindle's expression flattened.

"That sounds like something you say when you have no useful advice."

"Yes." He looked back toward Drakehaven: Lanterns, half-finished buildings, the walls in the distance. A settlement that had somehow grown around a broken cottage and a family who had never intended to build one. Kindle stood quietly for several seconds, then looked at the siblings again.

"Thank you." Aurelia reached toward him, but Kindle immediately took one step backward.

"No." She stopped.

"I was just going to—""No more hugging." Aurelia smiled.

"Fine." Kindle narrowed his eyes.

"You're lying."

"Probably." He sighed and climbed the porch. Kindle paused as he opened the door and looked inside. The hearth burned softly against the far wall, where his old spot remained. He stared at the cushion, then down at his new body.

"That is going to be uncomfortable." Orion laughed.

"We'll find you a bed." Kindle nodded and entered. No fire returned to his hands, no damaged core had miraculously repaired itself, and no great purpose revealed itself in the moments after his evolution. Kindle was still Kindle. Only now, for the first time, he could tell them so himself.