Igni’s sandaled foot stepped out of a portal onto a rocky landscape in the middle of total destruction. Behind him, red lightning struck the ground, lava and boiling hot rocks erupted from distant volcanoes, and, somehow, amidst the heat, it snowed above icy cliffs. Before him, a massive grey brick castle stood in ruins. However, its open oval doorway revealed people walking to and fro within.

He entered the threshold into a large, lit, pristine foyer decorated with a mix of cultures. At the very center of the foyer, a decorated ram’s head hung on the wall over a massive fireplace easily taking up most of the space in the area. The gold and green colors hanging from walls and layered over windows made the foyer seem lavish, built for welcoming dignitaries. He stepped lightly over the polished marble floor, one eye on the bundle in his arms and the other glimpsing at a small group of individuals the moment they took notice of him.

Gasps of surprise and delight came from the seven children, and they immediately began a chant as they ran up to him.

“Iggy, Iggy, Iggy!” they said, bringing a wide, amused smile to his lips.

“Shh, now,” he said gently, allowing them to surround him but keeping the bundle close to his chest.

“What’s that?” said one of the girls, pointing to it.

He smiled, debating mentally whether to let them know, as they stepped on their little toes in a nonsensical attempt to “see” what he held. He then crouched low, showing them the girl’s face. “S’a lil’ babe.”

Eyes, already wide in curiosity, somehow grew wider. “Oooooooh,” the children chorused, though some tilted their heads to the side.

“Is it a he or a she?” a boy asked.

“‘She’, t’seems,” Igni said with a hum. “But we’ll see, yeah?”

Nods went around, and they continued to crowd around him, throwing around names for the infant, even as he entered the nearest infirmary. “What’s wrong with her?”

He observed the girl, taking in her warm complexion that starkly contrasted his pale, almost white skin. His tongue flickered out several times, but it was nothing he could help. He couldn’t remember the last time he held a baby or saw one up so close.

“I’unno…but m’thinkin’ she might need a lil’ check-up.” The children chorused another sound of interest, but he shook his head at them. “I’ll get back t’y’all, m’kay?”

“Okay, Iggy!” Waves were given to him before the children skipped back to the foyer.

He looked after them with a small smile, then turned to face someone approaching him. “Goro. Can ya do me a favor?”

The head nurse of the castle blinked upon seeing the baby in his arms. “Uh…you didn’t…”

His usual smile turned mischievous. “Koī, koī, ’er guardian gave ’er t’me.”

“O-oh…” Goro’s face scrunched with concern. “Um. S-sure I can do you…a favor…uh, what is it?”

“Can ya check this lil’ one?” He motioned to the baby with his head.

“Oh, of course.” Recovering, Goro tentatively reached for the bundle.

Igni gently passed the baby to him, glad the nurse remained careful if for no other reason but out of fear. Once his arms were empty, he let them fall to his sides.

Goro brought the baby close to his chest and walked to a station where several other babies were asleep in different medical cribs. Slacking behind, Igni put his hands in his sleeves and observed as the nurse placed the little girl inside of an empty one.

“Where did you find her?” he asked Igni, unraveling the dirty bundle.

“I think t’was th’ ruins o’ Byaya,” Igni responded, having taken a brief moment to inspect the destroyed village before leaving. “Or…some nearby place.”

“Byaya?” Goro briefly glanced back at him. “It was attacked recently, right?”

"Ah.”

“Damn.”

The dirty cloth revealed the girl wasn’t visibly injured, no blood or other stains, just dirt and small debris from the building that was atop her. Goro softly hummed before moving to put gloves on from an open square container on the nearby wall. Watching him, Igni decided to keep questions to himself. He didn’t know how anything medical worked, in any case.

Likewise, the nurse quieted, focusing on his job. The girl was still unconscious, and as Igni’s tongue flicked out, he sensed concern radiating from his companion.

Goro inspected the girl’s body, checking for anything sprained or broken. Her little limbs were stubby, Igni observed. She was very young, maybe younger than he thought. After a general check-up, Goro placed a hand over her chest and closed his eyes.

“She’s having trouble breathing,” he said after a moment, moving to grab a baby-sized respirator attached to several tubes and wires. “And she’s malnourished.”

Frowning, Igni felt himself tense but remained quiet upon sensing someone nearing the infirmary. Someone he really didn’t want to talk to right now.

“Ohhhh, daaarī,” Qora chimed.

His eye twitched.

“Oh? What’re you doing here, darī?” she asked, coming to his side.

“Go away, Qora,” Goro snapped. “I’ve told you not to come here.”

“I go wherever darī goes,” she sniffed, batting her eyes at Igni.

Igni said nothing, trying and failing to ignore her.

“Is that a new baby?” The indignation in her voice made him twitch again. “Whose baby?”

“Mine,” Igni said, a slightly possessive hiss in his voice.

“WHAT?!”

Turning, he loomed over her with a low, grating hiss. “Qora…I’mma need ya t’stop makin’ sounds. Can ya do that?”

She blinked rapidly, not as frightened as he would have liked. “B-but if you wanted children, darī—”

He pointed to the foyer. “Leave b’fore I get Bal.”

She flinched, then pouted. “Alright…” Her eyes glanced over Goro for a moment, back at him, and then she muttered and grumbled as she walked away.

Once sure she was gone, he huffed and slid his hands into his sleeves, turning back to see Goro had hooked the girl up to the respirator and was attaching an IV. He didn’t understand all the bells and whistles but judging by the scent of concern wafting from Goro, the girl’s condition wasn’t good.

He waited a moment, then glanced back to see Idril, one of the little boys, tentatively approaching. “What’s it, Idril?”

“I got a name for her.” When Igni beckoned him over, he zoomed to his side.

“Oh?” Going into a crouch, Igni smiled at him. “What’s it?”

“’Arué.”

He hummed in thought, working the name on his tongue. ’Arué...

His smile widened. “Nice. A nice name, yeah?”

“Yeah!” Idril nodded rapidly.

Igni’s smile widened, and he placed a wiry hand on the boy’s head. “Thanks ya.”

“You seem to like her, Iggy.” Idril said, giggling softly.

“Oh? Why ya say that?”

“You can’t stop looking at her!”

He softly hummed, unsure how to respond to that.

So, he didn’t.

“Eh, that bitch wasn’t lying,” a blemished man named Asō whistled as he approached. Igni hissed his way, causing him to wince. “Right. Sorry. Qora’s going around grumbling about you with a baby.”

“I’m surprised she’s not screaming about it,” Idril scoffed. “She’s so mean. And loud.”

“Yeah...” Asō slowly neared. “And she’s got that maniacal glint in her eye, Igni.”

Igni’s expression steadily fell. “M’gonna have’ta keep one o’ m’eyes on ’er...”

Asō nodded, still making a cautious approach. When Igni didn’t react, he stepped closer with more confidence until he could peek into the room with bright lime eyes. “Oh, she’s tiny. Poor thing. What’s her name?”

“’Arué.”

“Very nice.”

“Was Idril’s idea.”

“Good,” Asou chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair. “It’s a strong name, and beautiful.”

“Most names are beautiful,” Idril said with a sure nod.

Igni merely smiled while Asō shrugged, clearly not about to argue. “Well, it’s kinda quiet since everyone’s still out. I’m kinda surprised you’re back so early, but...I just wanted to see if what Qora said was true, so...I imagine others are going to be curious too, Igni. It isn’t often you give a damn about something...”

Humming with disinterest, Igni looked towards the ceiling in thought.

Feels like s’been a while...Did this ’appen before?

“Eh, so...” He sensed Asō slowly leaving. “Take care, Igni.”

He didn’t acknowledge his companion, keeping his gaze on the ceiling, not quite looking at the wooden beams that ran across its length.

This complicated things. Whether anyone liked it or not, he felt the child belonged to him now. What he didn’t expect was to feel glad about it, in a way.

Why, though...?

He looked at Goro who was writing something down on paper.

Felt like…I was summoned ‘r somethin’…

…but that couldn’t be right.

His brows furrowed. “Goro, lemme know ’f she gets better, yeah?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks ya.”

Turning from the infirmary’s threshold, he waved goodbye at Idril and returned to the foyer. Once there, he moved to stand near the inferno that was the fireplace.

Several others were sitting on the floor near it, chatting and enjoying each other’s company. He looked into the flames, his thoughts confusing and slow. He didn’t like it.

“Looks like I got me a daughter, eh,” he murmured to the fire, a surprisingly gentle smile forming on his face.

From the main foyer, Igni entered the old throne room of the castle, now dubbed the Mittostir. It was a relatively open area with an obscenely high ceiling covered in rugs and plush where people could relax, and they even occasionally had small gatherings in it to eat and socialize. The walls were slightly less decorated than the foyer, giving it a more welcoming atmosphere.

People lightly occupied the Mittostir, some snacking on finger foods as they chatted. At the back of the room, a man sat on an elevated seat while reading a thick book. Once close enough, Igni took in his leader’s form, draped in shades of grey attire and his long reddish-brown hair loose over his shoulders. Tongue flicking out, Igni sensed great interest. Whatever his boss was reading, it had all of his attention.

Upon approaching, he took a look at the book’s cover. Most Gardosi books bore elaborate covers, unlike the ones written by faifethi and indrahti. This book was embellished with a decorative wolf, bringing a silver-white brow up.

That ain’t Boss’ spirit...

“M’back, Boss,” Igni chimed once close enough.

Grey eyes blinked, then lowered from the book before it followed onto the floor. Setting it aside, his leader met his gaze a moment later and flashed a pleasant smile. “Igni. How was your time in Sahīleth?”

A shrug. “S’fine. Not much ’appened, save fer all that in town.” Igni sighed as he sat on a nearby rug, fluffed a large pillow, and rested against it.

“Where did you go? ’Aras and the others said you disappeared.” The legitimate curiosity in his leader’s voice brought back the thoughts Igni had before.

“I…” He paused. “Y’know, I dunno how to say it. S’like somethin’ summoned me ‘r somethin’.”

"Summoned?"

"Ah, s’weird.” He glanced at the older man. “S’how I found ’Arué.”

“The baby Qora can’t stop grumbling about?”

"Ah,” he sighed, shutting his eyes at the thought of the Gnat. “‘Er guardian knew who I was an’ ev’rythin’, though I ain’t never met ’er b’fore.”

“Curious. How is the little one?”

Opening his eyes, Igni stared at the opposite wall behind his blindfold. “She’s sick…”

“Ah…”

“Left ’er with Goro. ‘E’ll take care o’ ’er…”

The sudden silence, and the lack of shifting paper, caused his tongue to flick out. He sensed…consideration.

With a soft grunt, he turned away. “I’mma take a lil’ nap…”

He could hear the blink of surprise. “Here?”

“Yeah. Wanna be close by.”

“I see.”

After a few moments of extended silence, he heard the appropriate response of shifting as his leader went back to reading.

Yes, it was strange for him to care about anything. Perhaps he was unaware of just how unusual it was. His expression remained neutral, though internally, he was conflicted.

Why did he feel anything at all?

A page turned. “Will you still join me and Bal for Jonjae-Bū?”

“‘Course, once I’m done gettin’ th’ Raven an’ th’ Lion.”

“Good. I look forward to it.”

Letting his eyes close, Igni merely made a sound of agreement.

After a while of peaceful silence, save for the drone of distant and soft voices, he began to drift.

Jonjae-Bū, or rather, Jonē’i-Bū, was in three days. He had plenty of time to rest until then.

“Oh, Igni.” He glanced back to see a sly look on his leader’s face. “I recall it’s your birthday. How old are you, now? 208?”

Brow rising, Igni hummed in realization, “Somethin’ thereabouts.” When the smile widened, he internally sighed. “What’d ya want me t’do?” he asked.

“Rest.” His leader motioned to his face. “I can see your scales.”

His upper lip twitched. “S’gonna take three days t’molt.”

“Precisely.”

He sighed dramatically, unfurling from the floor to stand. ”Ah...M’kinda tired.”

“Good. I will see you in three days.”

He turned and shortly left the Mittostir. The smell of cooked food from dinner became more apparent the closer he came to the kitchens near the room’s entrance. His nostrils twitched, and once the scents registered to his senses, his upper lip curled as he felt sick. He swiftly moved through to the nearest staircase leading to the second floor.

He soon inhaled the clearer air with relief, letting his tongue flick out. It was even more silent on the second floor than the lower one. He looked down off the rail to see the antechamber for a moment, then focused forward, scanning the floor with his senses. There were only a few people there, none worthy of his attention. He walked down a wide hall until he came to an open, circular doorway of an area bare of anything except a few red cushions and colorful rugs on the floor.

Once he entered, it was almost perfectly silent. All he heard with his senses was the nearby sound of falling water.

A small, contented smile formed on his face. He neared a plain gold and brown door lacking a doorknob at his upper left. As he approached, it opened.

Darkness greeted him from within a room. He entered, and a strong, familiar scent permeated his nostrils. The door closed behind him after he stepped inside, locking him in blackness.

Once more, he scanned his surroundings. After a moment, he let out a long, drawn-out exhale while removing his blindfold. He could see clearly in the darkness, and he spotted his constant companions in seconds.

Several snakes of varying sizes and types slithered or laid still around the room. He was a painfully modest minimalist, and his room reflected this by sheltering nothing more than a single pallet on the floor and a low, wide dresser with three drawers. Only his floor-level bed was bare of anything foreign. Everything else was mostly ridden with a peculiar moss, from the walls to the dresser itself.

He slowly approached and moved to lie on his bed. The cushioning was soft and smelt like fresh linen mixed with the comforting scent of his snakes. He deeply inhaled, then looked at his arm. It was normally hidden by his wide sleeves, but he knew it was happening. His skin was slightly crinkly and paler than normal. He peeled it off.

His lips tightened. “Happy birthday, eh,” he murmured, twirling the shed skin between his fingers.

He made himself comfortable and put the skin beside his bed for the moment. He could gather and discard it later.

He lay down onto his side with a soft exhale and closed his eyes.