Aramore had always been a bustling city, yet it was a peaceful one. Not often were there crimes nor poverty. That is not to say that there weren’t those better off than others but most of its citizens were content with what they had and with their lives in the city.

 The clearest of waters flowed freely through its entirety; beside walkways and falling freely from waterfalls scattered along the city’s towering height. The powerful force from those waterfalls was adapted to power many things within the city through the use of water mills. These gigantic mills rumbled lowly as they turned, the sound of them covered only by the activity of the city. Despite the abundance of buildings, the foliage was not as sparse as one would think it would be in such a populated place. There were many parks littered about with small ponds throughout them. One could definitely get lost in Aramore, not only because of its massive size, but also its beauty.

Oren led at the head of their group as they traversed the city, now leading their horses on foot. His family's shop was located in Central Aramore, where most others were as well. Raz had taken to walking with his gaze upward in awe, trying to take in all that he could in the short time he had; looking down occasionally to make sure he wouldn't get lost.

After making their way past the central square, down the market's alley, and past a couple more streets they arrived at the storefront. The wooden sign that hung above the door read: ‘Sylfir Blacksmiths’  the words delicately carved into the wood. The establishment stood on a large corner lot and was three stories high. Smoke came out of large exhaust pipes that protruded from the side of the building. On the other side, it seemed like there was an entrance to a stable, where another horse was held within. The two led their horses into the stable, taking care to put them in their respective stalls. As they were taking off their riding equipment, and Raz was talking to the other horse, Oren spoke up.

“So are you going to go see Auntie or are you-”

“Yes, Oren, I’ll come up there with you.”

“That wasn’t what I was getting at…”

“You think I’m stupid or something? Aren’t you the one always dreading to come home, to even be in the same room alone with your father because you know he’s going to bring up your-” Oren waved his hands frantically for the blonde to stop talking.

“Ok! Ok! Alright, I get it, Nikki.” 

Nikki swatted at his hands, annoyed.

“All I’m saying is the last couple times we’ve been here you dragged my ass up there with you to be the mitigator, yea I’ll do it again, but we’re staying longer than a day loser and you’re going to have to face it at some point.” He pushed past Oren towards the exit and turned back.

“You’re just lucky I still need to collect my payment from your old man. C’mon Raz.” 

Oren was left with the horses and dread for what awaited him upstairs.

“Oh, Oren!”

“M-mother y-you’re crushing me..! Ga AH!”

“Nikki...I think that woman’s killing him…”

“He’ll be fine.”

Mina Sylfir twirled her son around the living area located on the second floor, squeezing him entirely too hard.

“You don’t know how much I worried!”

“You say that every time I come home!

“That doesn’t mean I worry any less,” she said looking up at her son. 

Oren had changed so much in the months he had been gone. He came back just a little bulkier and rough around the edges. His honeyed skin would look a little darker from all the time spent in the sun and this time his hair was exuberantly long even when done in a braid. Even as his face became sharper and his angular, golden eyes became wiser, he still held the same cuteness and innocence she had always seen from him. Or maybe it was just how she would always see her son, no matter how much he changed. 

Her attention then turned to Nikki, who also came back looking gruffer and built; his sun-kissed and unruly mane now coming past his bare shoulders longer than she had ever seen it before. From the little boys they used to be they had grown to tower over her small frame, a fact that made her smile in fondness that not all things stay the same. She also went over and gave him a small hug too and was barely able to put her arms around him.

“Thank you for looking after him and bringing him home safely.”

“Yea yea.”

Oren gawked at them both offended.

“I don’t need Nikki to look after me, I’m twenty-four for god's sakes. I can take care of myself. Plus the only reason he came along is that Dad promised him a weapon in return.”

“And like hell I was going to say no to that. Where is the old geezer by the way? I want to collect my payment for babysitting this loser for the last six months.”

Mina sighed and looked towards the stairs that led up to the third story.

“He’s resting right now. It’s been...hard for him to do much recently, and he was so looking forward to greeting you when you arrived home, Oren. But he did mention that he left a rather large greatsword down in the forge for Nikki.” 

A small clink grabbed the three’s attention to Raz, who was rummaging through the silver in Mina’s china cabinet. There was silence and then the dragonborn gave a toothy grin.

“I forgot to ask...who’s your new friend?” 

Raz dashed around the dining room table to greet her.

“I’m Srazzaziu Sthildriaxuth!” He growled out his name, it coming out deep, raspy, and guttural.

Mina looked him over, taking in his height and his bright crimson hair styled similar to Nikki’s. He looked rather odd with characteristics such as his jewel-like horns, long reptile-like tail, and the various stones that protruded here and there on his skin. She then tried to imitate the noise the taller boy made, growling in varying octaves in a failed attempt to achieve what he had said. Raz doubled over and laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes. 

“Pfft- Hahaha!”

“W-what did I say?” Mina looked back at the other two confused.

“Beats me but it sure looks like he got a kick out of it.” the blonde responded.

“We just call him Raz, Mom.”

“O-Oh I see.” 

Nikki kicked the still curled-up laughing mess on the floor.

“Hey, get up and shake her hand properly like I showed you!” 

He arose wiping a tear from his eyes and then grabbed her hand in his, shaking it a little too much. Nikki gave him a look that said ’And what else do you do?’.

“Oh! Nice to meet you Ma’am!” the redhead exclaimed, his hand still shaking hers rapidly.

“N-Nice to meet you too, Raz, my name's Mina.”

Oren put a hand on Raz’s shoulder.

“I think that's good enough.”

“Oh! Nikki dear before I forget. Your mother said for you to come right over when you arrived back. It’s getting late and you don’t want to leave a pregnant woman waiting, you know how she can be on a regular day..”

“The old hag just wants to see what kinds of pelts and hides I brought back. She’ll get ‘em when I bring them to her.” he huffed. Nikki side-eyed out the window to where he could see his parent's clothing store with the lights on. The blonde tensed for a bit, already imagining his mother in his mind's eye, then briskly turned on his heel to leave; grumbling out a goodbye as he descended the stairs. Raz dashed after him, waving a quick goodbye, obviously wanting to stay joined at the hip with Nikki. The mother and son chuckled.

“Was he a dragonborn? Where did you pick him up?”

“It’s a long story.” Oren sighed, taking a seat on the couch by the hearth.

“Here’s the short version. Nikki thought it was a great idea to raid a dragon's keep while we were in Tol. Some guys at a bar put him up to it, said he was too pus… er, chicken to actually do it. We thought we had stolen a giant gem, but it was actually a dragon's egg, which held a dragonling who was molting his prepubescent scales. Then out popped Raz when he reached adulthood and he immediately took a liking to Nikki. I think it’s entirely what he deserves for taking Raz away from his family in the first place, even though he has no desire to go back.” 

“Well it looks like Nikki will have his hands full, he seems like a curious thing.”

Shouting could be heard from across the street. Mina peeped nervously out the window.

“He might have his hands full now as well…”

 Oren grumbled in response. He had forgotten how comfortable this couch was and was beginning to feel a little drowsy; not even registering the explosive argument that was happening across the way. His body relaxed against the fabric, no longer as tense knowing his father was asleep, and he tried to remember the last time he had sat on this couch. Oren struggled to keep his eyes open, there was so much he had to catch up with his mom about.

“Oren...go to bed sweetie, you must’ve had a long journey back. You look exhausted. I can listen to more of your adventures at another time.” 

She smoothed her hand over his head and down his braid from where she stood behind the couch and urged him to get up and rest properly in his bed. As he shuffled toward where his room was she stopped him once more.

“By the way, your father has an order he needs you to finish for him in the morning dear. He said he left a note for you about it in the forge.” Oren nodded in agreement then headed for bed.

“Nikolai Vitelet, what the hell are you wearing!?”

“Ow! Let go of me goddamnit!”

“Did you think it was ok to go around looking like a barbarian?! Are you trying to tarnish the Vitelet name?!!”

“Get off of me woman!!”

“Leena, dear, please calm down..”

Raz was thoroughly confused. Was it a custom for human mothers to violently toss around their children after a long absence? It seemed so if he had to go by what he’s seen so far. Awkwardly the dragonborn stood by the entrance while Nikki’s mother pulled at the animal pelt that covered half his chest; only stopping when she noticed him out of the corner of her eye.

“And who’s this?” 

“Let go of me and I’ll tell you!.” 

She snatched her hand away. Nikki glared at her while he situated his clothes back in place.

“Was she like this when she was pregnant with me, old man?!”

Nikki’s father, who was quietly watching the ordeal from the corner of the room chose not to answer. Leena made her way over to Raz and introduced herself.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” she says with a smile.

“I’m this loud mouths mother, Leena Vitelet, and you are?” 

Raz takes a deep breath so he can introduce himself once more as he did with Mina. A large calloused hand covers his mouth just before he can speak.

“His name is Raz.” Nikki deadpans.

“Is that really necessary?”

“Trust me. It is.”

After the blonde removed his hand, Raz gave a toothy grin for a moment before he looked Leena up and down quizzically.

“You look odd,” he says bluntly.

“Well, I could say the same about you. It looks like you let my son dress you.”

She gestured to the tattered clothes he wore and the rips and tears caused by the gems that protruded from his skin. Said son growled at her comment.

“No, I mean..um...right here.” 

Gently Raz poked at her protruding belly. It was definitely much larger than he had seen on a human woman before.

“She’s pregnant, idiot.”

“Per-egg-nant..” 

The syllables rolled off his tongue as he tried to say the word. Nikki’s father picked up on the dragon’s confusion and elaborated.

“It means she’s going to have a child soon; a little boy or girl.”

“Wait...Is there an egg in there?!” 

Nikki rolled his eyes and pulled the dragonborn off of his mother before he tried to get the so-called ‘egg’ out of her.

“Anyway, we picked his ass up in Tol and I’m looking after him until we can take his scaley ass back. So he’s going to have to borrow the spare bedroom.”

“I think you mean the soon-to-be nursery. It’s a mess right now since your father has been renovating it. So your friend will have to stay in your room.” 

There was no way in hell that was happening, he wouldn't share a tent with Oren let alone the dragon. Nikki opened his mouth to protest but was cut off.

“Leon, dear, can you help me carry all these pelts up to the workshop? It’s getting quite late boys so I think we’ll turn in for the night. Good night~.” 

They both exited the room but not before Leena could give an evil grin towards her son who was red in the face in anger.

“...So there isn’t an egg inside her…?”

 Nikki growled lowly, dragging him up to his room.