Meera didn't know whether to be still as the trees in the glade or to not care too much about it, as she doubted the Cosmarian would even remember to be angry in a moment or two. Even if she could tell herself that the Cosmarian was harmless, she couldn't tell herself not to be scared.

  Sweat perspired on her forehead as he sauntered in, glaring at everyone. A strange sort of fear set in her. The kind she had felt when she sat across from Veridiana in her living room.

  Is it because of their advanced system?

  After all, Veridiana had the same system as this Cosmarian. She couldn't help but think that this was one of the properties of this system. But also, he was half-mad and unpredictable and most likely would stomp them out of existence for disturbing his sleep.

  "Hmm, who was it?" He asked in a menacing tone.

  No one said anything. Everyone stood still and would have continued to do so in fear if not for the dragon sticking its massive head through the portal in the tree. Somehow, its head was small enough to squeeze through, or the portal didn't care for size.

  The dragon didn't know who Eryx was or was arrogant enough that he didn't care.

  "I'm going to burn this entire meadow down if I don't—"

  He didn't even get to finish his sentence as Eryx waved a hand, and the dragon's head shot back out of the tree and disappeared.

  This proved that Meera's fear was valid. The sorceresses, namely the Daughters of Aksha, wasn't scared by the Cosmarian's display of power or she wasn't afraid of death as she could be revived.

  She stepped forward and bowed low. "We didn't mean to disturb your rest, O great Saint. We simply followed our prisoners, who jumped through a tree and entered your lovely glade."

  Eryx scratched his head. "Who is this great Saint? I'm Eryx. And secondly, who are your prisoners?"

  The daughters must've known about him as they both gasped and were visibly shocked. Meera wasn't used to seeing such expression on the daughters, and it made her want to learn about Eryx's history and his involvement in Rothedon's downfall.

  Tavelia, who was not so shocked to learn the Cosmarian's name, pointed to Meera and Kalrina. "Those two are our prisoners, for they have committed great crimes against our order."

  "Oh, I didn't know just running away from being a forced guest was considered a great crime against the sisterhood." Meera couldn't resist.

  "They were holding you against your will?" Eryx asked.

  "Yes, they were," she replied.

  "That's the definition of the word, prisoner, you foolish girl," Tavelia shot back. Though she said it while looking at Meera, it was directed towards the Cosmarian. "I hope you've seen what awaits you outside the dragon keep."

  "I can take care of myself," Meera snapped. "And don't think I don't see what you are trying to do. You're trying to hold me hostage to get your grubby hands on my brother."

  "Told you they would do that," Kalrina piped up.

  "You're filling her head with lies, murderer," one of the daughters of Aksha snapped.

  "Then say it isn't so. Swear on your dear Sovereign that this hasn't been your plan all along."

  The daughter was quiet, but Tavelia stepped in. "It isn't so. We only mean to protect the girl so that the great prophecy isn't hindered, unlike these bastards." She motioned to the cultists with her head.

  Kalrina smiled at Meera. "There you have it, dearie. The truth as clear as day."

  "Day?" Eryx cocked his head and looked up at the sky. "But it's night still."

  Meera and Kalrina both sighed, but the cultist, it seemed, had reached the end of the line. "Listen, Eryx, this doesn't concern you. We'll take your leave if you throw out the girl."

  "Do you plan on holding her prisoner, too?" Eryx asked.

  "No, they plan on serving her up to the dragons," Kalrina answered for him.

  "Were you?" Eryx asked.

  "Of course not," the cultist lied. "Don't you remember we gave you a winter rose the last time we were here?"

  "That was you?" Eryx said. "Oh, that was a most precious gift. Look, I have planted it right there." He pointed to where the white rose was.

  "See, we're your friends. Won't you give her to us as a favor amongst friends?" the cultist asked.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Something changed in Eryx's eyes. They grew hard as they snapped to the cultist. "I don't trade a flower of one kind for another." Then, the goofy look returned. "Besides, that was the last time. Did you bring me another flower this time?"

  The cultist was caught unaware. He looked to his partner, who shook his head lightly.

  Eryx turned to the sorceresses. "Do you have any flowers?"

  "I do!" Meera cried, remembering the flowers she had picked from Veridiana's living room. She brought out the rose with the red and blue petals. In shape and size, it looked identical to the white winter rose save for the vibrant color of the petals.

  Eryx gasped loudly, and his eyes widened in shock. "Wherever did you find that," he whispered.

  "Found it in Veridiana's room," Meera answered. "Why? Is it rare?"

  "Thief!" Cried both Daughters of Aksha. "That flower is not meant to be held by the likes of you."

  "Can I have it?" Eryx asked, extending a shaking hand toward the flowers.

  "Sure." Meera held out the flowers. "I brought them for you. After all, you asked me to bring you flowers if I returned."

  Eryx's eyes watered. "Oh, you remembered."

  He gingerly took the flowers and held them as if they were the most delicate things ever. He sniffed. "Ahh...Just as beautiful as I imagined." He swayed there, enjoying the smell of the bicolored rose as if nothing else existed.

  "Umm, does this mean you won't be handing us over to them?" Meera asked, breaking the silence.

  Eryx opened his eyes and smiled delightfully. "How can I after you've given me what will undoubtedly become the crown jewel of my garden." He waved a hand to the others. "The rest of you can go."

  Meera glanced at the witch and shared a smile as an uneasiness passed over the cultists and the sorceresses. They clearly did not want to leave without their prize, but they couldn't outright refuse a Cosmarian's command, no matter how senile he was. After all, he had waved his hand and sent a dragon flying. He was powerful even if he looked harmless.

  A long moment passed, and they all stayed put. They must've hoped that Eryx would forget, as all his attention was on the flowers. Meera couldn't lie, she was intrigued by, given Eryx and the Daughters' reaction.

  "Eryx darling, they do not look keen on leaving," Kalrina said.

  "Huh," Eryx looked up at that. "Didn't I tell you to leave? It's my lovelies' bedtime. You're ruining their beauty sleep."

  "Don't think you've seen the last of us?" Tavelia said through gritted teeth. "You will have to leave here sometime. We'll be waiting for you."

  "As will we," the cultist added.

  With that, they walked through the tree and left the glade. Meera sighed in relief and dropped to the ground. She was safe for now, and all the fighting and running made her want to curl up and take a nap. But she wanted to learn about the flower and then figure out a way out of here because she couldn't fend off attacks from three different groups all the way till Drurith.

  "Hey, Eryx, what makes that flower so special?" She asked.

  "Shh, not here," he whispered. "Follow me. We've disturbed their sleep enough as it is."

  Meera shared a glance with Kalrina, and it was clear they were thinking the same thing—this man was crazy. They had no choice but to follow him, so they did in silence. He led them to a shack if it could be called a shack.

  A massive tree trunk had been cut and placed on the ground by the shrubbery. A small window had been cut into the tree trunk so one could crawl inside the hollowed-out trunk. The tree trunk was big enough that you could sit without your head hitting the top.

  "Welcome to my home," Eryx exclaimed.

  One thing was for certain—Meera was not stepping inside that place because it reeked worse than the old man. This made it clear to her that Eryx had never taken a shower in the past eight thousand years.

  "It's positively ravishing," Kalrina said.

  "Why, thank you." Eryx beamed.

  Meera sat a little farther away from the tree for she thanked her luck that she didn't pick up a superior smelling skill. Kalrina followed suit.

  "Now, can you tell me about this flower's specialty?" Meera asked.

  Eryx looked at the flowers in his hand and seemed to have forgotten he was holding it. "Oh yes, this isn't just a rose with multicolored petals. This is a dragon rose. They're also called Dragon Soul Blossoms. These roses only bloom when two archdragons do what they call the Dance of Life."

  Meera frowned, clearly confused. She was about to ask what this Dance of Life was when Kalrina leaned towards her and said, "In other words, when they mate."

  "That's right," Eryx said. "You see, it's so rare for two archdragons to mate because there's hardly ever two archdragons that see eye-to-eye on anything. Not to mention, they loathe the other stepping on their territory. But this rose…oh, this rose is indeed special because it was made from the union of two archdragons who couldn't be more different than each other. They shouldn't have even been talking to each other, but they fell in love and created this lovely thing." He paused and cocked his head upwards. "I don't think this flower has a name. I'm going to name it…Frost Flame rose."

  Meera scratched her head. "So, when two archdragons have sex, they somehow end up creating a rose?"

  "When you put it like that, it sounds so crass," Kalrina said. "But that is the gist of it. Their lovemaking releases a power deep within their souls that transforms any rose nearby into a Dragon Soul Blossom, giving the rose characteristics similar to their elemental powers."

  I wonder if it is related to their raw essence being released.

  "That's correct!" cried Eryx. "When I felt Akhessai and Zerodra mating, I raced off to see them, but I arrived too late, as I had to go on foot. Any display of my power would've been seen as a threat. I searched the area for days, but I couldn't find naught but a mountaintop frozen and scorched in their vigorous dance. So, I returned home disappointed and empty-handed. Looks like Veridiana had picked them all." He held up the roses. "But this, oh, this is the greatest flower anyone has ever given me."

  "Wait, there is another archdragon on this world?" Meera asked.

  "I always knew there was," Kalrina said. "But I didn't know it was Akhessai's mate."

  "Of course, you wouldn't," said Eryx, caressing the petals of his new roses. "He's been sleeping for some time now…almost five hundred years, up in the Light Bringer Mountains."

  He started singing the roses a lullaby as he gently rocked back and forth. As he sang, Meera's mind worked in overdrive. A slow smile crept up her face as she finally realized how she would get the sorceresses and the cult off her back.

  "I know that look," Kalrina said. "What are you planning, dearie?"

  "Now, if we only knew this Zerodra's dragon name, we'd be golden," Meera said.

  "Dragon name?" Kalrina frowned. "Oh…I already don't like where this is going."

  Meera smirked. "Maybe it can be done without it."

  "Huh? Dragon name?" Eryx shook his head as if waking up from sleep. "But Zerodra is his dragon name."