“Sheeeez...” Zidane groused.

“Get over it,” Drake ordered. “Step one is seeing, step two is recovering.”

“I know, I know. It's just... I'm trying to think this through, is all.” Zidane reasoned, sounding at a loss.

“Then why did you call me? Are you giving up?” Drake inquired.

“...”

Drake shut his eyes, waiting and expecting the answer to be yes.

“... I don't know—.”

“Fine. When you decide, call me, but right now I'm rather busy.”

“Drake...”

“Yes?”

Zidane sighed. “It's not like that, don't be mad, I just—.”

“Don't kid yourself, Zidane. I couldn't care less what you decide. If you'll recall, I never asked for you help to begin with, you pressed the issue and I don't have time for your complaints,” Drake cut the power to his phone and slid it back into his pocket.

... Perhaps it had been foolish to reply in such a way, but he needed Zidane to make up his own mind, not be swayed by guilt. Drake wouldn't blame the Angel for being scared. In fact, Drake imagined he would seriously worry about anyone who could see Eclipse in his True Form and not be afraid. Eclipse was a demon... true as they come, he was a monster. A cancer to this society and Drake had the scars, memories and nightmares to prove it.

Last night, or however long ago it had been since the event, was a waste. Drake was still alive, yes, but what victory was that? He didn't even want to think about what would have happened if he'd stuck around any longer... those icy vines could have trapped him for hours. It was a sad thought that his current situation, covered in bandages and chained down in Pricilla's Palace, was better than having given in.

Even more depressing was the thought that this wasn't the first time Pricilla had chained him down to a bed with his shirt missing... it wasn't even the worst she'd done...

Bandages were a new detail, though. There were some on his arms, and his chest was completely wrapped up. He thought most of it must have been ice burns, but he could smell the blood even before it started to bleed through and become visible on the top layer of the white wraps.

... For the life of him, the prince could not remember having been injured enough that it required any sort of wrap or assistance, not since he was six years old and even then it was just the one time, with the broken glass.

Ice burns left marks for a short while, but they were more like bruises than anything else... they healed fast and required nothing special in order to do so. He'd been hurt before, of course. He had the scars as evidence, but no matter how much pain he felt or how much beatings he took in training... he never got this bad. It wasn't that he always healed perfectly, it was more like he couldn't break. Not anymore, anyway. Not unless it involved Eclipse, it seemed, or a very strong force... even then, unless it was Eclipse's poisoned talons, Drake healed fast. Eclipse was the only one who really knew how to hurt him, and Drake imagined Eclipse knew a number of different things Drake himself didn't.

... The Dark Prince wasn't going to let it stop him. That screaming in his ears—in his head... That wasn't an accident. This wasn't chance; he was chosen for a reason, even if he couldn't figure out what that reason was. He wasn't going to let that damned monster get away with it! There would be plenty of time to curse the fates and wonder why later. This was now and this was his fight even if he was in it alone, he would do it. His life had caused this. Drake wouldn't let himself become a creature who could know that and not care. It was all his fault...

“Drakey! I heard you were awake!!!” Pricilla shouted as she charged the door.

Drake glared at the chains. Hmm... What will the effect be with karma if I kill her but also rid the world of Eclipse?

Pricilla burst into the room and stalked over. “Hello, Darling, how are you feeling?”

“Wonderful, take the chains off and I'll strangle yo— show you.”

“Aww, now just isn't the time, Sweetheart. The healer says you need to rest.” Pricilla commented, “I'm surprised you're awake already!”

“Why am I here?” Drake sighed, not in the mood to argue with her.

“I've been wondering that myself!” Pricilla chirped happily.

“Pricilla...”

“Well you ought to know!”

Drake put his hands over his eyes to give them something to do that wouldn't involve trying to kill the Empress and hopefully aid in subsiding his frustration. “Why am I here?”

“Because you're hurt.” It was a rare event when Pricilla saw Drake unwilling to fight with her and let him get away with it... but it was also a rare event for Drake not to fight with her.

“So?”

“What do you mean 'so'?!?! You slept the entire trip here and all day yesterday! You got blood everywhere, it was gross.” Pricilla baited, figuring he'd yell at her about that being the complaint she came up with.

“Mh.”

“... But that's alright! Because it just means I get to spend way more time with you!!!”

Again, there was no response from the Dark Prince. Pricilla was rather confused by that. She expected... something! She never got away with anything like this without him throwing some sort of tantrum. As it was, he wasn't giving in to her. His tone and body language clearly stated he wasn't happy about being here; she hadn't finally broken him. She always figured that eventually he'd either give up, or have no other choice but to pick her. This lack of fire was just not at all expected. There was no passion but there was still resistance! No challenge to figure out, it was dull. He was just... just lying there!

“And you can't escape, this time!” She smirked, trying for a reaction.

“No, I really can't...” Was all she got in reply, said in a hushed voice that made her doubt he was even referring to anything having to do with her.

“Oh, Drakey! I'm so glad you've finally decided to give up—!”

“I'm not staying here.”

Pricilla blinked, watching him. There was that sharp seriousness in his voice. He was not saying that in rage or frustration, he stated it as a fact, not an argument. Ordinarily, she would have laughed it off. Said “we'll see” and then made sure her guards understood their duty while Drake was there; that there were to use any means necessary to be certain he did not leave, but this time was different. This time he was really hurt and she really couldn't let him get any worse...

His father may not have cared, but she did. How the King could look past such horrible injuries was beyond her, but it was always so apparent. His parents never cared... not that she saw, not anymore. He was their only child, the only heir to the throne and he was only sixteen, three years younger than she was! Yet they never seemed to care about him.

... Pricilla had noticed that a long time back. She slowly realized that something wrong was going on in that palace and she realized once she saw how injured Drake was that it would be up to her to do something about it or nothing would be done. She had no idea where the creepy advisor was, and while that was a tad bit odd since he always seemed to be around Drake, it wasn't a real concern. All that mattered was that her love was in trouble and everyone else was just walking by without hardly a second look.

The whole airship ride to her castle, she had been certain he would die. She made sure to stay out of the healers way, but she had to watch, had to keep checking in, had to make sure he was still breathing.

Pricilla walked over and sat down on the foot of the bed. “What happened?”

“Well, first I met you, then I learned you were psychot—.”

“What happened in that forest?”

“And why do you care?”

“Because I know you.”

Drake looked at her. “Lots of people know me, Pricilla.”

“But I know you. Drake, you have never gotten hurt like this. When we were kids I thought you couldn't be hurt. Well, you're still a kid...”

“And yet you stalk me. Don't find anything wrong with that statement?” Drake droned.

“Not at all, Love, I'm only three years older. You may resist me, but we grew up together. If anyone is going to know you it's me and it seems if anyone is going to do anything about it, it's me.” Pricilla continued, unfazed by Drake's comment.

Drake thought about that, trying to read between the lines of that statement. “My guards don't know I'm here this time, do they?”

“Of course not, Darling. I didn't think they needed to know on this occasion.”

Drake eyed her. “Uh hu... Why is that?”

“You don't get hurt. You don't. I've never seen you bleed for more than a few minutes, I've never seen you get bruised that didn't seem to vanish instantly. Honestly, I cannot recall a time where you've ever been affected by anything but ice and cold until recently.”

“Well, I grew up, Pricilla. Maybe I just don't play indoors as much.”

“I know you go hunting, but you've been doing that forever. You never let your guards follow you anywhere, even when you're in town! You can take care of yourself; it's no secret to anyone that's paying any attention at all.” Pricilla rolled her eyes, “Recently you're getting hurt, Drake. You have scratch marks going down your face that you won't explain and now you show up covered in ice burns and deep wounds. You'd have to be an idiot not to notice something is wrong.”

“Ah, so you're referring to Chaucer now.”

Pricilla smiled. “Your father may be a moron, but he is useful at times.”

“Useful? I'm confused now, you cannot possibly mean Chaucer...”

“I don't know why he didn't seem to care...”

Drake shook his head. “If your theory that you know this situation better than most is correct, you should already know that he never cares.”

“Drakey, I never said I didn't acknowledge that, I said I didn't know why.” Pricilla corrected, “That much is still a mystery...”

“Why Empress, isn't it obvious? He thinks I'm a wretched demon so why should he care?”

“Part of him cares or he wouldn't have been so easily persuaded into letting me kidnap you again. His mind is just too dumb to fully realize anything past the fact that he is very busy.” Pricilla stated, “You're not a demon.”

“So you told the King?” Drake asked, trying to see how bad this situation could become.

“Mostly.” Pricilla replied, giving a nod.

Drake raised an eyebrow. “Mostly?”

Pricilla giggled. “Well yes, Darling. As I said, he has his uses.”

“Try it again...” Eclipse's patience was already so far past through he was having trouble keeping himself from destroying the entire palace while he dealt with the idiotic king!

“... I don't recall...” Chaucer said after trying to think for a moment.

“It would not have been that long ago, sire, do try.” Eclipse advised, barely keeping back the growl that was caught in his throat.

“Yes, I know that. But... I don't recall.”

“It was possibly only a few hours ago.” Eclipse said, staring hard at the King.

He tried reading the King's mind, but his thoughts were foggy and clouded from so many years of trickery and deceit. The King seemed unsure of just about everything and it was becoming difficult to discern fiction from reality...

“Hours ago? No, it couldn't possibly have been that long... It was only a few minutes...”

That brought a slight glimmer of hope to Eclipse. Drake couldn't have gotten far in a few minutes!

“Yes?”

“Well, you should know. You asked.” Chaucer said, looking even more confused.

Eclipse's hopes were dashed. “... ... what?”

“... I've forgotten the question.”

Restraint... patience. Come now, you've already gotten everything else you could ever want or need from this imbecile, do not let him break your control because of one question. “... Where is Prince Drake?”

“Hm?” Chaucer seemed confused by that.

Eclipse shut his eyes for a second to keep the murderous images he saw in his mind restrained inside his mind and not unleashed.

“Oh!” Chaucer then remembered what he'd been asked was the same question Eclipse had just repeated. “Why are you asking me?”

“Because everyone else I ask said I should ask you since you were the last person to talk to him, it seems.”

“...Was I? Why?”

... If you kill him now there will be a lot of witnesses and there's still the Queen. She'll gain control and these idiot guards will heighten security around her. There will be investigations and a lot of hassle that will require a lot of your focus and attention... Right now, that's not acceptable. You have to deal with Brahne and her stupidity first, get that door open... it's not the right time yet. Soon, though, very soon. “... You do see all the blood on the floor, correct?”

“Yes,” Chaucer gave a nod. “I noticed that; it is a lot of blood.”

“Mm hm. You see it makes a trail, right?”

“Yes I do.”

“... Do you understand whose blood it is?” Eclipse pressed.

Chaucer looked at Eclipse for a bit, and then looked down at the blood for an even longer while, as if it could somehow tell him, by sight, who it belonged to. It was a bright red and it almost seemed to be steaming slightly, rather than turning dark and crusty as it dried. It looked as if it would start bubbling and boiling at any moment.

If Chaucer was at all more familiar with the sight of blood, he would have noticed it was a brighter color than it should be. Also, he would wonder why it was not dry yet. Normal blood grew darker and darker, thinner and more compressed as it dried and the water was pulled from it by the sun and air. This puddle was the only one left after the cleaning staff had found it and had spent a long while attempting to clean it up. He would also wonder about why it was burning, just as the cleaning staff had. He was very lucky the floors here were stone or there would be heat damage.

Chaucer knew nothing about the oddity, though. He was a busy man and it was very early in the morning now.

“... Dracula's blood?”

“... Very good...” Eclipse droned. “Now, you have seen Drake tonight. Think when, think where.”

“Oh... yes I did. He was at the main entryway to the library. Struck me as odd... He shouldn't use the public entrance.”

“Uh hu, and?”

“Oh, he wouldn't tell me what happened.”

Eclipse gave a barely noticeable nod of recognition to that. “And?”

Chaucer stared at him, lost. “...And?”

“And where did he go?”

“Oh, he stayed there for a while.”

Eclipse's already vanished patience was then replaced with the urgent need for action. The only thing keeping the King alive was the years of training Eclipse had given himself. “Where is he? Where is Prince Drake?” He finally asked.

“... I'm not fully sure.”

“What do you mean you aren't sure?” Eclipse's voice became sharp. “You were with him, you saw that he was injured and you just lost him?”

Chaucer just stared at the man for a while, shrugged slightly and headed for his room. “... I believe I hired you to keep track of him, not the other way around, Eclipse.”

Eclipse snarled at the man's back. And it is a good thing you did! Isn't it? You create the thing, it comes in bleeding, you walk away! If I wasn't here he would have died long ago! Eclipse glared around at the guards/decoration positioned around the palace. He'd questioned all of them... his influence was necessary, it kept them from asking questions and lessened the hassle caused by Dragon being a Prince.

Eclipse had to make sure the guards didn't follow Drake all the time. He had to make sure Drake's powers weren't fully known and he had to make Drake depend on himself more than he'd depend on any of the guards. He had to rely on Eclipse and Ellipsis if was going to rely on anyone. And in order for that to work with a Prince, the guards had to be almost constantly under Eclipse's influence. It left their thoughts cloudy and they hardly ever saw Drake even if he were standing right in front of them!

Ellipsis walked back inside with only one hope, that Eclipse had found Drake. There had been no order given, Ellipsis had known instantly to go looking for the boy. He had heard the arrows and had witnessed the event with one thought...

NO!!! YOU IDIOT!!!!!

Drake had pulled some daring moves, but... this was not good! Eclipse did not have very much patience for children and did not tolerate Drake's escape attempts... not that Ellipsis couldn't understand why Drake fled. Ellipsis himself often wished he could run away from it all... and when you have an angry dragon chasing you down, who wouldn't run?

The only issue was how long you could run. Eclipse would catch up eventually, and then what would you do? Drake couldn't lie. Well, he could... he was good at it... but the facts were far too apparent and Eclipse was far too angry about it for a lie to have worked.

Ellipsis had known it would only be a matter of time before Drake was caught. He only hoped Eclipse would remember why he couldn't kill the boy. Eclipse wouldn't care that he was still very, very young. No, the fact that he was a child only bothered Eclipse, it didn't grant Drake any sympathy. To Eclipse, Drake's age was a hindrance. He was constantly waiting for Drake to be old enough so that his plan could continue, that's all age was. Something that stalled. Expecting Eclipse to take it easy on Drake because of his age would be the same as expecting him to give Zidane pity for being a teenager.

From the tower Ellipsis had seen Drake get back... and the amount of blood on him made it clear Eclipse had caught up with him. Ellipsis was just glad the kid wasn't dead... but there was a lot of blood. If Dragon died, Cináed would die. Then the Occultation Pures would die... and Ellipsis had been trained to understand that to be a bad thing. He also imagined he'd be killed for letting Dragon die even if it was Eclipse's fault. Eclipse didn't take blame for anything, that was for Ellipsis to handle. Eclipse would probably make it his last act to kill him...

Their were many times where Ellipsis was sure their only hope was Eclipse's self preservation instincts. He wouldn't let Dragon die because it would greatly decrease his own powers and ruin his plan for however long it took for Dragon to be reborn and then they'd have to find him... and the odds were he'd still behave the same way... They would be forced to go back to the island, too. Without Dragon's energy, it would be difficult for Eclipse to live away from that Island for more than a year or two.

Everyone would be punished. Cináed would blame them all, regardless of whose fault it was. Countless numbers of their species, both Pure and Lesser, would die. That is what kept Dragon safe. Not just his power, but the fact that even the Lessers secretly revolting against the Pures wouldn't touch him since he'd eventually be reborn and until then Cináed would punish everyone and the Pures were more likely to be able to survive.

They'd have to find a way to kill Dragon completely. To destroy the soul. Ellipsis knew no way to do that. He imagined no one did, otherwise the followers of Poseidon and Okeanos would have destroyed Dragon when they'd first stolen him.

Things weren't looking good, though... Eclipse was very angry and they still couldn't find Drake. Ellipsis had looked everywhere he could think of, he even checked the stables. No one had seen him. He'd tried everywhere, unwilling and loathing to return empty handed and without even a scrap of knowledge.

Eclipse had screwed up. Ellipsis knew it, and Eclipse himself knew it though neither were going to admit it. Drake could die from those wounds and it had been hours since he'd gotten them. The sun was coming up...

This is not going to end well...

“They'll figure out where I am, eventually.” Drake stated, looking at Pricilla.

Pricilla gave a sideways nod. “Yes, but what are they going to do about it? Drag you out of here in your condition even though we have better medical care here?”

“Yes.” Drake gave a nod, “That's exactly what he'll do.”

“He's your advisor. He shouldn't be able to do that.” Pricilla declared, though she knew the answer.

“But he will.”

The pink haired girl crossed her arms. “He can try...”

“I'm not staying here,” Drake repeated.

Pricilla had a lot of comebacks for that. She could point out that he was restrained, that there weren't any airships leaving for a few days, that he'd hardly ever managed to escape her castle anyway, let alone while injured... but none of them felt right to say. Which rarely ever stopped her before, but today was different. Because this time he wasn't here for a visit or a birthday party, he wasn't here out of obligation... okay, so that wasn't new, she often found ways to trick or drag him here... but not because he was hurt. He wouldn't tell her why. She knew that much about him, she could ask in every way she could think or, try tricking him, try anything and he wouldn't tell her. If he was going to, he would have by now.

It left her with a whole new option she hadn't ever had the desire to try before... After a slight hesitation, Pricilla pulled a key from her purse and unlocked the chains around Drake's wrists.

Drake looked at her, shocked as well as confused.

“Look. Here's the deal,” Pricilla began. “You're not trapped... You're not caged, not locked up, but it's suggested you do stay here. At least until you heal. I don't know what happened to you and I don't know why anyone would think they had the right to try and take you back to your palace in your condition, but if they try I'll prevent them from being able to do anything.”

“... Okay...?”

“Oh, and there are rules to this.” Pricilla informed, leaning back. “I know you're not usually one to follow rules, but these ones I really suggest you do.”

“Always up for trying something new.”

“Rule one, you have to at least stay in bed for today.” Pricilla said, giving a glare to prove she meant that he take this seriously.

“... I can do that.”

“Rule two, I know you're going to go outside so you have to stay close enough that a chocobo can get you back here for medical help within ten minutes.”

Drake did the calculations in his head to try and see how far that was, but eventually gave up. He was faster than those over-sized chickens anyway. “Okay...”

“And when you do leave the country you have to tell me... Other than that, you're free to do as you like, but don't let your constant desire to be free get ahead of the fact that you already almost bled to death once this week. If you feel hurt or ill, take a break or something. Alright?”

“Alright.” Drake agreed, though he was still waiting for the catch... Pricilla seemed to mean what she said and, well, he didn't have much of a choice regardless... “I'll stay.”

Pricilla smiled, seemingly happy enough with that answer. She gave a nod before turning and walking out of the room, closing the door behind her just as Elizabeth ran up, panting for breath.

“Is! He! Alive?!”

Pricilla gave her a distasteful glance and started walking away. “Well, duh! I told you I knew what I was doing!”

“Yes, but... I just...”

“If you keep doubting me, little girl, I'm going to stop letting you in here.” Pricilla stated, smiling at a guard as she walked past.

“I'm sorry! I...” Elizabeth sighed.

What could she say? Anyone with a brain was bound to question Pricilla's last action! Drake was a Prince! Beyond that, he was the only heir to the Daguerreo throne! Elizabeth wasn't one of the Royal's. She had no royal blood anywhere in her family on either side, but she still knew the basics!

There have always been stories, legends and tales of brothers and sisters in the royal families fighting and even back stabbing each other. Cousins would kill Kings and Uncles would kill Prince's. Brothers would kill each other and sisters would betray one another... There were so many stories it was often difficult to understand why Kings and Queens would have multiple children, but there was a purpose to everything.

It was for the country. It was for their given right as well as their people! Pricilla was in charge because she had married into power and the Emperor had given her power... even if the methods were a bit shady, Pricilla was the ruler now. If she died, it would go to the brother of the Emperor who had died... who, from what Elizabeth had heard, was living... happily... with his wife, two sons and a daughter on a private island not very far from Shivel...

King Chaucer and Queen Maria were without siblings. Elizabeth was not sure if that was due to death or something else, but she knew that much. Prince Drake was an only child. If, God forbid, the King and Queen were to perish, Prince Drake would be King. If he died... Chaos!

He'd come back from... wherever. Outside! Bleeding, bruised, soaking wet and with ice shards covering him! That was not good! Where were his guards and why didn't anyone seem to care!? Surely Elizabeth wasn't the only one to see the problem in all of this! Pricilla taking him away from his palace when he was that injured had been a mistake. It was probably pure luck and will that he was even alive right now!

“I was just wondering... Daguerreo does know he's here, right? There aren't a lot of people feverishly running around wondering where the Prince is...right?” Elizabeth asked, tentatively.

Pricilla laughed. “Oh, I imagine there's only one or two people looking..."

“Anything yet?” Ellipsis asked as he walked toward the hunter riding toward him.

“No.” The hunter said, “Nothing. I've had everyone I know and trust out looking on every horse trail, every falconers perch and every path we know. There's no trace of the Prince.”

Ellipsis sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Well, don't you have dogs or something?”

“Aye. And we're using them. Problem is, the young Prince is out quite a bit and they've found plenty of his old trails that lead around and eventually back here. The main concern is—.”

“Yes, I know, the blood.”

“Aye... as I said. The blood starts in the forest and there's no trail of him going there, it's just suddenly... there. And then it leads back here where the trail ends. If you'd like, we can bring the dogs in.”

“No... if he were in the palace someone would have seen him by now or we'd have found him...” Ellipsis acknowledged, taking a step back to further distance himself from the hunter's horse. At least Drake's horses were groomed frequently, this one actually smelt worse.

“If there's anything else, Sir Ellipsis? He isn't on this island.”

“Nothing.”

The hunter gave a slight bow before he turned his horse and rode off.

Ellipsis walked back inside... It had been two nights and a day since Drake had disappeared. Somehow he was alive. How was questionable, but he must be... otherwise Eclipse would be low enough in power to be in great danger... not to say that would fully be a bad thing...

This was becoming a problem, though... the sun was already going down on what would be the third night... Ellipsis froze when he saw Eclipse approaching. “Uh... still looking.”

Eclipse gave a very slight nod. “Someone has to have helped him or he would be dead...”

Ellipsis was almost unnerved with how easily Eclipse could say that. How calm he was. Eclipse was always like this, though, so he dismissed it,“Yeah.”

“I just didn't assume he would be so difficult to find.”

Ellipsis caught the threat in that. “I'm sorry—,”

“That doesn't sound like a solution.”

“I-I can check to see if he left on a ship.”

“Yes, because I never would have thought to do that already.”

“Uh... I have some other ideas.”

“Oh good. Like what?”

Ellipsis had no ideas, but he quickly thought of a possibility. “I'll go check with... the other teenagers.”

Eclipse gave a half nod, stating that was acceptable and Ellipsis ran off.

The “other teenagers” were.. well, they weren't really Drake's “friends” but they hung around more than anyone else his age did. They were afraid of Eclipse and slightly startled by Drake. Despite their fear of his rather outdoorsy hobbies, they followed Drake around constantly whenever he was somewhere near an area they felt safe being and out of the actual areas of the castle where the royals and their staff lived. Or the tower, of course.

... Drake didn't care for them despite their adoration of him. He was a Prince, thus they followed was his opinion. Much like Pricilla except not nearly as annoying, vile, obsessive and on occasion they were useful. Eclipse did not like them because they were children and Ellipsis... he disliked them because they were preppy.

“Oh! My! Gawd!”

“I know!”

“OHMYGAWD!”

“I know!!”

“Oh...mygawd!”

“I know!”

“That's just.... ohmygawd!”

“I know!”

“Like... like, oh my gawd!”

“I know.”

“Oh my gawd... So, like, what happened?”

“He said “eyes are the window to the soul”, you know?”

“Oh my gawd, her eyes are brown!”

“I know.”

“Oh my gawd!!!”

Ellipsis sighed and walked over to begin questioning. Wherever Drake was, he hoped the boy was at least suffering some to make up for this...

Drake walked through the field and glanced up at the sky. It was a wonderfully cloudy day. The sun's rays couldn't get past the thick density of the cloud coverage, but it's heat found a way through. No one was in sight, they were all indoors trying to wait out the heat of the day as they usually did in the summer season. Despite Shivel's massive farm lands, there were very few farms. Ever since Pricilla took control they had everything imported and the continent became a place for the wealthy only.

The breeze was gentle and so warm, carrying with it the smell of wild flowers and the citrus trees off in the distance. The soft grass bounced under his feet as he walked away from the castle.

It had been a wonderful day. He'd woken up early and alone, he'd made it to the kitchen early enough that no one but the chefs and kitchen staff were anywhere near by, they made him anything he wanted and then he'd headed out here all without a single flaw. The only negative in the entire day was that he'd nearly stepped on a bee a short while ago. Even that wasn't completely negative, though, as it let him spot the hive early enough to know to alter his course and he could smell the sweet honey inside.

He never would have imagined it possible to enjoy time in Shivel, but he was having a pleasant time. He got a lot of training in. Flight time was excellent since everyone was so involved in their own lives they didn't seem to look away from the city toward the fields. So he only had to go out a mile or two before it was safe to take flight.

He was getting really good at it, but he wanted to do even better. With the cloud coverage today, he knew he could get some more practice. Especially if he went through the clouds themselves. It would help him get even better at flying without thermals and through areas without vision.

He wasn't even close to being fully healed, but the wounds didn't hurt much anymore. Flying was risky, but most of the muscles moved were in his back, under his shoulder blades and they were faint. Mostly just connection, but they did wrap around toward his chest and down his back. It was the only way for such wings to work, Drake guessed. They were strong enough to lift him and he could carry things... required a lot of muscle to do, but could not interfere with his existing body structure. For whatever reason for the design, it worked. That was really the most important thing so he didn't question it much. Who could he ask, anyway?

He wanted to see how much he could carry with his wings... they weren't completely required in order for him to be able to fly. Eclipse had taught him to be able to walk on the air much like the Burmecians could.

Drake preferred to start out that way, when possible. Since his wings were still a little too large for him...
Drake looked around to be sure his sharp eyes didn't catch anyone within sight, then he took off running.
Getting footing on the air was much different than on the ground, obviously. Once you got used to it though, it was more like the ground was just thicker— more stable but that was all. The sky had streamlines of air and wind. It was much like finding train tracks in the sky. Invisible ledges and lines that you could walk on if you just had enough focus. The Dragon Knights of Burmecia had learned this trick ages upon ages ago. Their entire race had a sure-footing ability that was unmatched, but it wasn't unrivaled.
The Occultations apparently had a very good grasp on the concept, too. Eclipse rarely ever used his wings to give himself any lift. The only difference between the Burmecian's sure-footing and the Occultations was that the Burmecians didn't have the added flight ability. They didn't have wings.
The Burmecians didn't need wings. Their balance and stability were unmatched. They could take hits, throw and launch objects, charge, run and hold their position in the sky better than any other race without the use of wings; even the Occultations couldn't match them.
The hardest part was finding these ledges and tracks of air. Drake always had trouble finding it, which was something he wanted to practice while he had the chance.
Drake spotted the slight alteration in the wind. A decrease in the opacity, so slight you would so easily miss it if you weren't staring right at it. He jumped for that and it was clear sailing from there. The first ledge was the hardest for him, always had been. After that first ledge though, it was child's play.
Drake leapt up into the clouds before letting his wings erupt and form. Then he just flew straight up, as high as he could go.

It was such an exhilarating feeling! He loved everything about it. Drake felt free and alive when he was up high. There was something that made him feel better no matter what else was wrong in the world. Heights were liberating. The feel of the air as it thinned made it harder to fly, made it harder to breathe... but it didn't matter. The world could be ending all around him, sure death before his eyes and it wouldn't break the joy he got from being up here.
He liked to fall, too. Fly up as high as he could and then just let himself drop for a while. He knew he wouldn't die. His wings would unfold and catch the air, pull at his body till he slowed down or even stopped. There, of course, was still a hint of danger in it. What if his wings were damaged somehow? What if, for whatever reason, he just couldn't fly? ... At least he'd die happy.

Drake had to remind himself not to go as high today. His wounds were still healing and stressing them wouldn't be a wise move. Besides, if he tore or snapped a muscle in his wings while being as high as he even was currently he'd get to find out if it really would be a happy death despite the pain an injury would add.

He was just above the thick cloud coverage, about ten thousand feet up, when his phone started ringing.

“Business or pleasure?”

“You really have to stop that.”

“Ah, hello Zidane.” Drake stopped his ascent and glanced around, looking as if to be sure no Airships were going to fly past, even though he doubted they'd go this high over a town...

“Hey. Where are you? What's that flapping sound?”

“Wind. I take it you've decided?” He asked, wanting to get to the point.

“Uh, yeah.”

“And?”

“I'm in.”

“What changed your mind?” Drake asked, attempting to sound as if he were putting effort into caring.

“Been talking to Mikoto.” Zidane replied, “I don't think Gaia is going to leave us alone. I think those of us not under Brahne's control need to band together because it's getting insane with how people are acting!”

Zidane sighed, rubbing his head. They'd attacked his family, they'd locked him up, they had guards constantly looking for him... Vivi and the other Black Mages... he never, ever would have assumed they would turn on him like that. Plus, he kept feeling urges to fight back in vicious ways he didn't like. No matter what Brahne did to him, Zidane wasn't the kind to start a war unless there was no other option.

He didn't want innocent people to get hurt. In the back of his mind he knew that, but that knowledge kept being drowned out with the urge to just make them all suffer like they had made him suffer! He had power, he could use it! ... He didn't like having thoughts like that. This just needed to end.

“Vivi would never turn against me.” Zidane's voice went quiet for a moment, “I can't stand what this is doing to them anymore. I just can't. I'm watching my friends be dragged away from me, I'm watching the world get screwed up and I'm not doing anything. I'm letting Brahne win.”

“... How is that any different from what you knew before you saw Eclipse's True Form?”

“Well that thing just freaked the hell out of me.” Zidane admitted, “But that's fine. He's going to be tough, though.”

“Funny how this seems to echo the exact same thing I told you...”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look. Let's just do this. No questions, no backing down, I'm all in.”

Drake gave a slight nod. “... Alright, fine. I guess I can accept that.”

“You're still sticking to your deal, right?”

“Ah, I see. You're only joining because you still want my help... Intriguing.”

“Do you always have to be such an ass?”

“Yes.”

“I'm just asking.” Zidane stated, rolling his eyes.

“And what if I say no?” Drake asked.

“... I'll still say yes.”