The Unforgotten

@iceflowers (continuation from here )

A memory comes to him, the day the he consumed the stolen magic of the quinlon. “There is, though I am unsure if it is worth the risk inherent in learning more.  It seems feeding as an azakana does brings back the senses I once lost.”

Quite the implication. And a shocking one at that. There is a solution, but it comes at a price. Feeding as an azakana.

“You mean, absorbing negative emotions?” Leng Yun tilts his head. There is a desire to offer his help immediately. Anything to make this curse of Yone’s a bit more bearable. Yet allowing Yone to feed on him, would that not only lead to more suffering of the both of them?

Needlessly he exhales a breath he does not need.

Some of the students look a bit wary as Yone follows them towards the open space. A larger, grassy area devoid of the usual decorations that Leng Yun seems to adore so much. What has taken up the space now seems to be a rather large, ball of fur. Or, if someone were to look a bit closer, they would see that it is merely Leng Yun’s true form.

Curled up with all his fur facing outward, the dragon patiently watches his followers pick and choose where they climb up on him. Like a bunch of kittens climbing on their mom. The dargon carefully keeps an eye on all of them, reaching out to help some of the younger and shorter ones up if they need it.

“Something easier said than done unfortunately. With how long it must have been here destroying it could be catastrophic.” A grimace passes over his expression. “I know little of what it could do to me. This unlife is still so new.” A petal in the wind surrounded by a storm of destruction. He could be torn asunder or worse. 

“I-” It was foolish of him to think the dragon would not have noticed. To attempt to tackle this new knowledge alone. Leng Yun had an entire school to protect. “No. There’s no need for you to apologize. I should have spoken with you about it. Strange changes like this are dangerous.” With an inhale he focuses fully upon Yun. “I was aware. Though not to the entire extent of it.” It is the wind that decides where petals fall but it is the tree that grows unfettered by the wind. 

Some of the students look a bit wary as Yone follows them towards the open space. A larger, grassy area devoid of the usual decorations that Leng Yun seems to adore so much. What has taken up the space now seems to be a rather large, ball of fur. Or, if someone were to look a bit closer, they would see that it is merely Leng Yun’s true form.

Curled up with all his fur facing outward, the dragon patiently watches his followers pick and choose where they climb up on him. Like a bunch of kittens climbing on their mom. The dargon carefully keeps an eye on all of them, reaching out to help some of the younger and shorter ones up if they need it.

“I am unable to tell which it is as the quinlon affects me greatly.” Yone attempts to recall the name, but he comes up blank. Watari is unfamiliar to him. “Forgive me my ignorance, but is Watari a student of yours?” Yone would think not, since Yun clearly seems keen upon hiding this from them. “I managed to gain knowledge of an entrance into chamber the quinlon is located. I can show you where it is when the time comes.”

Two vastayan freedom fighters? Something that could go many ways he has heard whispers of 

Reaching out Yone takes the papers. Careful not to wrinkle or damage them he begins to read. A grimace briefly crosses his expression as he settles the papers carefully back upon the table. “Yes, it does appear to be so. The amount of magic locked within the device was-” He pauses settling on the simplest description he could give. “Overwhelming. I almost lost myself to its call.” 

Some of the students look a bit wary as Yone follows them towards the open space. A larger, grassy area devoid of the usual decorations that Leng Yun seems to adore so much. What has taken up the space now seems to be a rather large, ball of fur. Or, if someone were to look a bit closer, they would see that it is merely Leng Yun’s true form.

Curled up with all his fur facing outward, the dragon patiently watches his followers pick and choose where they climb up on him. Like a bunch of kittens climbing on their mom. The dargon carefully keeps an eye on all of them, reaching out to help some of the younger and shorter ones up if they need it.

“Where you lead I shall follow.” Sliding the his hands into the width of his sleeve Yone observes his companion. Leng Yun does not have the look of someone who had just gotten up from a nap. In fact one would think he had just come from a fitting. The wonders of shapeshifting he supposes. 

The press of a hand to his shoulder is his guide and he easily follows its direction.

“It is no hinder. You slept far longer than your students, yet still you seem like you could use more rest.” He speaks slow, words thoughtful. They now know the reason and yet- The honored dragon has lived here so long to think such a thing has been here all this time. Devouring the magic of this mountain, those who live here included. He worries. This quinlon has been here for longer than Yone has been alive. The effects it must have on the spiritual and physical must be beyond belief. 

Some of the students look a bit wary as Yone follows them towards the open space. A larger, grassy area devoid of the usual decorations that Leng Yun seems to adore so much. What has taken up the space now seems to be a rather large, ball of fur. Or, if someone were to look a bit closer, they would see that it is merely Leng Yun’s true form.

Curled up with all his fur facing outward, the dragon patiently watches his followers pick and choose where they climb up on him. Like a bunch of kittens climbing on their mom. The dargon carefully keeps an eye on all of them, reaching out to help some of the younger and shorter ones up if they need it.

“That would be agreeable. I too wished to speak with you in private.” It seemingly takes little time for the dragon to drift off. The students as well, though they are of little interest to him.

Yone observes not with the eyes of a mortal man, but that of a spirit and what he sees- What he sees is worrying. Like the quinlon elsewhere he can see the pull of magic and life from everything. Not only those who live and breathe but the land all around them. Eventually the students begin to rise to chat amongst themselves as they disperse ever so slowly. 

Lips pulling downward Yone frowns. The quinlon must be sapping the vitality of the dragon, just as it does himself. Or perhaps even worse. A living being after all needs their vitality far more than a corpse. He can feel its drain on his spirit now that he is aware. Had felt it all through the night as he meditated. A consistent tug.

The very moment Leng Yun moves Yone is on his feet, gaze flicking about for the danger. There is nothing. Just the quinlon siphoning his energies and the silence

A bad dream then?

Some of the students look a bit wary as Yone follows them towards the open space. A larger, grassy area devoid of the usual decorations that Leng Yun seems to adore so much. What has taken up the space now seems to be a rather large, ball of fur. Or, if someone were to look a bit closer, they would see that it is merely Leng Yun’s true form.

Curled up with all his fur facing outward, the dragon patiently watches his followers pick and choose where they climb up on him. Like a bunch of kittens climbing on their mom. The dargon carefully keeps an eye on all of them, reaching out to help some of the younger and shorter ones up if they need it.

Or- In the least that is what he had been told. It occurs that maybe it was never true. A lie told to a child to keep them close to home. Like the one of baby birds. They lack the sense of smell to even know if a human has touched their hatchlings. 

Needlessly he exhales through his nose. “I would rather observe, Leng Yun.” Observe and think. He had plucked feathers from his skin just the day before after all. As well as almost lost his connection to his body. Two things he wishes to mull over.

What purpose was it placed within the mountain? How long had it been there? Just how much magic had it siphoned from the people in this school and even before? The possibility that destroying it could destroy the mountain exist.

“I am going to be the one to hunt them. No one else.” Yone hums, sighing softly as he understands. Sleep will not return to him but that is fine, he has spent many a time without rest on this hunt. What is a little more? “Very well, if you believe they could have also stolen your pearl then I will bring you with me.” 

Yone rises fully from the sand, watching it sluggishly float down to the sea floor. “How would you like to do this?” He gives the option for he will not snatch up the prince as if he is some common crustacean and swim away with him.

The prince is visibly taken aback by Yone’s insistence on going after the perpetrator alone. Isn’t that dangerous? Yone is very big, of course, but still. Going alone is a very tall order! “You are very dedicated, I see.”

Leng Yun holds onto Yone’s hair as the octopus rises. As Yone does so, Leng Yun’s eyes grow wider and wider as just more of Yone keeps appearing from the sand. This man is INFINITE! The question Yone gives almost passes him by.

“Then hold on my prince.” Yone murmurs in response once his entire body is fully risen from the sand. He gives the prince enough time to situate and hold firmly unto Yone’s hair before he is shooting off in the direction that their quarry lay. 

As soon as the Onceler laid eyes on this man, he knew that he had to sell to him, if only because he doesn’t already see a thneed on his person.  Perhaps he already has one at home, but if that is the case, then that only means that it will be even easier to convince him to buy another one.  Thneeds are a bit like potato chips in that way.  Once people discover how great the product is, they can’t help themselves.  Even if they can do everything, it still takes multiple thneeds to do more than one or two things at a time, and a lot of people want them to do a bunch of things at once.

He knows better than to immediately launch into a sales pitch, though.  Everybody likes buying things, but nobody likes knowing that they’re being sold to, so you kind of have to ease them into it.  Small talk is the way to go, he decides, as he settles beside the man.

Two things war within him the urge to resolutely ignore the man, and the urge to do the correct and polite thing as his mother taught him. Propriety beaten into him over years wins out. Because of course it does. He takes a deep centering breath, prays to the spirits who have long lost his faith and answers. “Home.” 

Some of the students look a bit wary as Yone follows them towards the open space. A larger, grassy area devoid of the usual decorations that Leng Yun seems to adore so much. What has taken up the space now seems to be a rather large, ball of fur. Or, if someone were to look a bit closer, they would see that it is merely Leng Yun’s true form.

Curled up with all his fur facing outward, the dragon patiently watches his followers pick and choose where they climb up on him. Like a bunch of kittens climbing on their mom. The dargon carefully keeps an eye on all of them, reaching out to help some of the younger and shorter ones up if they need it.

“If it works.” He responds airily, gaze turning towards the expanse of students and dragon piled together. It reminds him of young creatures sleeping on their mother. “I thank you for your offer Leng Yun, but I must decline.” Accompanying his words is a respectful half bow.