When I awaken, I'm covered in roses.
With a gasp, I sit up in Umbra's bed, fascinated to find that my naked body is now wound with dark green thorn vines and fresh, velvety, red blossoms. Though I poke and prod at them, the thorns can't seem to puncture my skin at all. Just like during the ritual, it's just a sharp pressure. Lifting my arm, I take a few whiffs of the roses in bloom, exhaling with pleasure and ecstasy.
Who needs fragrance? Just sprout roses!
"Beautiful," I mutter with a broad smile as I look over at Umbra, who's laid out on her side facing me. "It's beautiful, Umbsy. You gave me so many flowers. I love it… Thank you…"
"Gladly," she purrs, sitting up as well. "I'm pleased that you like them. Are you feeling any pain?"
"None at all." It's then that I notice the huge scar on my chest. The same incision she made during the ritual cuts vertically from my neck to the bottom of my sternum, thick with scar tissue and fairly red. "Ohh. Does everyone have this scar?"
"Yes. But yours is special."
"It is? How is it special?"
"I did it with tender affection."
"Ah, yes. You impaled me through the chest with love."
"Simply overflowing," she titters, brushing my hair behind my ear with the back of a claw. As I crawl into her lap and get situated within her personal space, she tells me, "You've been thoroughly blessed, little one. I will explain to you all that I've bestowed. There is one other order of business we ought to discuss afterwards as well."
"Anything you wish to do," I yawn, sitting back against her abdomen and stretching my legs out over hers. "I'm still fairly tired…"
"You will be fatigued, for a time. Your body went through a great ordeal. You must rest. And I will see to it that you do. Chin up." She slides my collar over my head and carefully fastens it around my neck, running her claws through my hair with a warm hum. "Perfection, aren't you? Simply precious. Are you awake enough to listen, my little Crimsy?"
"Yes, but scratching my head and playing with my hair isn't helping."
"Ah. Of course." She chuckles a little, settling for grooming my talons with her claws. "First, the obvious. You now share in my immortality. Take heed, however. Immortal does not mean invulnerable. All of us, my sister, her chosen, my chosen, you, and I, we are still susceptible to damage. The only difference is that we heal with stark rapidity, and cannot truly die or be killed. You are now far more durable and will survive much worse injury, but there is a point at which, if the harm is severe enough, you will fall into a death-like state for some time. For example, if I were to decapitate you, you would effectively be dead until your body recovers and regenerates. Depending on the injury, that could take minutes, hours, days, sometimes much longer. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Umbsy. I do understand."
"Good." She starts grinding the back of her index claw along the inside of my largest hooking talon, sharpening its edge. "Take note. If ever the roses and vines are a hindrance, or you simply want them out of your face… You are able to retract them, more or less. They will become something like tattoos. Of, yes, rose vines covering your body. Simply will it to be so, and it will be done."
I do that right away, gasping with excitement. "Fascinating! I've never had tattoos before! These look incredible! Yes!"
"I'm happy you like them, Crimsy. Next, I've enhanced your magic capabilities. By quite a significant amount, at that. You should be able to contend with a fair number of Legendary Fables now. Additionally, you have access to a suite of new spells, all of them based around the Overgrowth. We will go into depth regarding that much another time."
"Right. I'll need to learn and practice with those. A lot."
"I will teach you. It will be a nice activity for us to do together. Next, I've enhanced your physical might and agility. I know you take pride in your mix of strength and speed. I've made you even stronger and faster."
I grin. "Excellent."
"Hm. I thought you might like that. Beyond those enhancements, I've given you a number of other abilities. And a few tricks. Most importantly, a magical tether to me. If ever we are separated, you will be able to teleport directly to my side."
"Ohh. That's good to know."
"I will also be aware of your location, if you are injured, and if you are in danger. Likewise, you have the same capabilities in reverse. For me. This way, we will never lose track of each other. And if you are somehow captured, I will know where to find you."
"So I'll know exactly where you are? That's a relief."
"Mhm. We can now communicate from afar as well."
"Aren't there already plenty of spells for that?"
"This method is inherent. Even if your magic is suppressed, it will function regardless. Again, in case you are captured."
"Again, a relief. Thank you."
"Of course. For both our peace of mind. Lastly, when you are within the darkness, you're able to blend into your surroundings with ease. The shadows will bend to your will, and enshroud you with an elusive cover that will render you unlikely to be detected. This, you may do indefinitely. It is perhaps the most useful Wretched skill of all."
"Hm. I haven't done much stealth training. Why would we need this, exactly?"
"Because we are the underdrakes, Crimsy. In this war, for us, there is no fighting fair. We must carve out our own advantage. Striking swiftly and vanishing just as quickly is the most efficient method of doing so. You see, Aurora and her delusionally faithful possess the advantage of numbers and resources. They can afford direct frontal assaults. Meanwhile, our numbers are precariously thin, always. The loss of a single draconid is a devastating blow to us all. Therefore, the optimal means by which to operate against the enemy is subterfuge, sabotage, and precision. All from the shadows. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Umbsy. I'll need to train. A lot."
"Fortunately, at present, we have the benefit of time. Aurora's strategy is to maintain the neutral ground as her own, by keeping us off of Avi's surface. She knows pushing into the Hells would lead to utter devastation. The only reason she would do so is if an assault on Avi were drastic enough. And so, if we wait and do nothing, the war will wait for us. As long as we decide. This is all to say that you may train as much as you like. Years, if you must. I want you to be in perfect form, and I know that you wish for the same. Only then will we begin any sort of countermeasures."
"Is this why you told your court not to retaliate or seize upon my fall as an opportunity?"
"Recall, I was unsure if I was going to make you Wretched then. Your need to train further was not within the realm of my considerations. At the time, I said so because your health was my primary concern. Now, it has proven to be for the best, both in terms of your health and our war efforts."
"Hm." I swish my tail around as she sharpens my horns, thinking that part through. "Our war efforts. You say that as though I'm somehow a significant benefit. But I'm only a crossblooded wyvern, and a small one at that. Yes, I'm a skilled combatant, and yes, I intend to fight for you, but I don't see how putting the entire army on hold just so I can train is all that beneficial."
"Ahh…" There's her little breathy moan. The back of her finger brushes against my lips. "Crimsy… How perceptive… I was attempting to… maneuver around this. But you've taken notice. So… Please. Listen closely."
"Always, Umbsy. What is it?"
"You…" She pauses, laying her hands over me. "I loathe even considering the risk. But… You, I think, are going to be… My sword. My dagger. My deadliest weapon. Of all. Yes. Of all. I intend for you to cut our way forward. And I firmly believe… that you, Crimson… are the piece that has been missing. All this time…"
Shocked and confused, I sit up and take hold of her hands. "What? Me? I–I don't understand. Yes, I want–I want you to make use of me, but… Deadliest weapon? Piece that's been missing? Me? Why me?"
"Because you are uniquely talented," she whispers, looking through me as her tongue flickers out and back in. "Your skills, your refinement, your training… And yes, your body. You. Exactly how you come. A wyvern, with a touch of dracoraptor and amphithere. Smaller than most wyverns, yes… But you've said it yourself numerous times, Crimsy. You are the fastest wyvern alive. And you were powerful enough to fell Vitalius in a single swift strike. Speed and power. Both. In staggering measure. That… That is exceptional. Extremely. You are exceptional. Crimson. Exceptional."
I'm touched. My heart is swelling. She truly believes in me.
"Those sorry fools," she hisses, taking firmer hold of me. "They overlooked you. They demeaned you. They failed to notice. They decided for themselves that your merit was null. Based on one of the things that makes you stand out. Your talons. Hooked. How could they fail to comprehend? Hatred. Blind hatred. Disgust. Prejudice. They were wrong. Of course, they were wrong. They looked at you and saw degeneracy. Never making the effort to look past it and see reality. But I cannot see. I can only feel you. Touch you. Imagine you. And I know, Crimson. I know. That which they hated you for… I know what it makes you. What advantage it gives you. One that they will never have."
I kiss her red fingers, overcome with this gentle assurance. "You know. Say it."
"The most viciously effective pursuit ambusher to ever fly these skies. The speed to strike without any warning. The power to strike with unstoppably lethal force. The magic to clash with even the best sorcerers. The hooked talons to bury into your quarry such that they cannot escape your fury. And again, the speed to escape and vanish. Ahh… Just imagining it… I see your wondrous talent, Crimson. In mind. I see it. I see you. The one who will end this endless conflict. The one who will decide this divine war's outcome. You are the key. And I… I can only hope… You choose to stay with me…"
She's right. About all of it. Nobody has ever noticed.
Nobody has ever even considered this aspect of me.
But it's what I've been training to make use of, all this time.
I stand up and turn around to face her, caressing her warm cheeks and smiling up at her. "And why would I choose to stay with anyone else, Umbra? You cannot see, but you do see me. And that… That makes me so happy."
"Yes. I do." Her eyes cut downward and to the side as she mumbles, "However… I wish to admit. Openly. This is part of why I wished to keep and convert you. I did see you as an opportunity. As a weapon. But you've since… become so much more to me. I never want you to feel as if… As if I'm using you. As if you're only a weapon to me. As if I only care for you because of this."
"I know that isn't the case." Standing on my toes, I kiss her deeply. "But of course you would feel that way, at first. We didn't know each other. Now, we do. Somewhat. And I know without a doubt that you appreciate me. Genuinely."
"More like… adore…" Her cheeks grow a touch warmer, and take on a faint shade of pink. It's fucking heart-stopping. "I… adore you. Crimsy. Very much. In every possible way. And I fear… by asking you to do any of this… I may be putting you in danger. I could never stand the thought… Of sending you in to fight… and… you never coming back…"
"Thinking like that helps nothing and no one." I brush her hair behind her ears, admiring the soft lines of her beautiful face. "We do what we can. And whatever comes, we'll get through it. Together. Right? Please. Count on me. I won't let you down. Or let anything take me from you. I promise."
"That isn't a promise you can keep. It isn't up to your control." She sighs, feeling around to find my face before leaning in for a kiss. "But it's the best we can do. You're right. I will never not worry, but… I will trust in your ability."
"Thank you. Thank you." I kiss her back, elated and smiling. "But before any of this is put into motion, I still need my wings to finish healing, and then I'll be training for a while. So I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."
"Yes. That's right. I will… make the arrangements. And have some of my Wretched assist you as well. Tell me anything you'll need… I will see it done."
"Hm. I have a few things in mind. But first…"
"Hm? Yes? Anything. Name it."
"I need you, Umbra. Please?"
She blinks. Then jolts into action.
I laugh to myself as she pounces on me.
At last, I feel seen. Recognized. Noticed.
Wanted. I feel wanted. Like I never have before.