Ethan flew back to Sanctuary with his father, Darien, the Great Lord of the Oceina. Home was in Oceina City, but he needed a break during the long journey to Coloral Island. It was clear across the country from the city. Sanctuary marked the halfway point. Sure, he could have flown back on his father's back, but that was embarrassing. Ethan was almost an adult. He didn't need to get rides from his parents anymore, even if he did have a heart condition that left him easily winded.
His father changed from his dragon form to his human one in a matter of seconds, but of course, he had the most powerful magic on the planet. It took Ethan a little longer. He'd inherited some of his father's strength, but a lot of it was trapped inside him. When Ethan had been born, his egg had not fully developed, so he naturally had a few complications. This was one of them.
“So no one on the island grabbed your interest?” Darien asked as he adjusted his clothes.
Ethan sighed and rolled his eyes. “No. I mean, all of them were beautiful girls. They smelled nice and seemed like genuinely nice people, but… I don't know. It didn't feel like… it? Do you understand what I'm saying?”
“Yes, you know I do. We'll try another island then.”
“Dad? Can we take a break for a little bit? We've seen three islands in a month, and the pressure isn't helping me make connections. Besides, I thought about seeing what happens during school in the city. Since I'm going to the university next fall, I figure I might meet someone there.” Ethan's eyes were wide, pleading even. He was tired of going around, flying from island to island, trying to keep a ritual alive he wasn't sure he wanted to partake in. It worked for some people, but not for him.
According to Oceina tradition, a Dragon Lord took a bride after he turned eighteen. It was referred to as The Sacrifice. The Dragon Lord would choose a virgin girl from another part of the country than where he lived. Then the priests prepared her for the ceremony, and left her on an altar where she believed she would die. In reality, she was taken back to the Dragon Lord's home where they lived as husband and wife for the rest of their lives.
That was how eighty percent of the Oceina did things. For a while, the percentage was even higher. Ethan's parents had met that way, and his cousins had met their wives in a similar fashion as well. It didn't sit well with Ethan. How could he know he loved someone just by looking at them? His dad claimed it was possible, but Ethan was skeptical.
For a moment, his father watched him, and then gave a soft smile. “Sure, we can do that. But only if you look at one more island in the middle of the summer. Just one. I don't want to push you into marriage. I'm glad you're not taking it lightly, but I am concerned you're also not taking it seriously enough.”
“I know it's important. Our survival depends on it, and I do want to get married. I promise. But not to just anyone.”
Darien nodded, looking up at the entrance to the palace Sanctuary, a beautiful silver structure that glittered in the sunlight. Water trickling in a stream called to Ethan. It was his element, and he loved how strong he felt inside of it. When he breathed the water, he didn't have to worry about an asthma attack, and his heart felt powerful. The magic inside of him could move freely. For the time being he had to push the temptation away.
“When was the last time we stayed here?” Darien asked, walking to the front door.
“Last winter? I think we visited once,” Ethan said, following. He watched his father knock on the door before opening it. His Uncle Chris lived there with his family. Granted, Chris wasn't one of his actual biological uncles, but he was important to the Oceina family all the same. According to the story Ethan had heard, Chris had been a Guardian, a normal human blood-bound to a dragon, to the old Great Inero Lord. He'd betrayed his dragon master to follow God's path and help end the old war between the Inero and the Oceina. Chris was a hero and a close friend of his father's. As a thank you, Darien had let Chris and his wife stay in the palace with Ethan's great-grandfather. His great grandfather Lucca passed away five years ago, and now the couple, along with their children, lived there alone.
Despite Sanctuary not being their home, Ethan and his father walked inside as if it was. The rule was, the doors to the palace were to always remain open for the family. Ethan himself had lived the first six years of his life in there before moving to Oceina City.
His Aunt Navi walked down the massive stone steps in the entryway of the palace. Ethan could never get over how elegant the inside of Sanctuary was. High ceilings with large stained glass windows, and the walls were the same color silver as the outside of the castle.
When Navi saw them, she smiled, first moving to hug Ethan, then his father. “I thought I heard the door. Your wife called earlier, saying you might be stopping by. I'm glad you did, because it's been a while.”
“I'm sorry we haven't come over sooner. Especially since Maya got sick again. How is she doing?” his father said, and followed her to the kitchen.
“Every day it's something else, but for the most part, well.” Navi started some water for tea.
Ethan frowned, thinking about Navi's first daughter. It was always the girls who had problems, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was the dragon DNA inside both of Chris and Navi. She had been wed to a Dragon Lord before Chris, or so Ethan had been told. No one liked to tell him those kind of details even though he continually asked. His parents had been alive during the war, key players. Their names would be forever written in dragon history, yet they wouldn't talk about the experience with him. How else was he supposed to learn?
Because Chris and Navi were both still technically human, they had children like normal humans did. But there were complications. The boys grew and aged like dragons but without the magic. The girls aged faster, or rather, more like normal human children. A dragon turned a year for every four years that passed for a human. Both Navi and Chris aged like dragons.
Even if their daughters weren't getting sick, then they aged faster than their parents. Either way, the couple had to watch their daughters suffer. Two so far had lived to be a good age and moved out to live normal human lives. They couldn't come home again if they chose that path, especially if they fell in love and wed. It broke his heart to watch.
“What brings you by?” Navi asked, changing the subject.
Darien laughed. “Searching the islands.”
“Anything?”
“No.” He shook his head.
Ethan gave an innocent shrug, but he liked the smile of approval Navi gave him. It made him feel better about sticking with his gut instincts.
“We stopped here for a break, but maybe we could stay a little longer? Ethan and some of the other kids, and their mother of course, are going to visit with Dani's family. It seems like a waste to go all the way up to Oceina City and then fly back this way again,” Darien said.
“Ah, it's your year to go there instead of hers to come to you, hmm?” Navi smirked.
Ethan couldn't help but grin shyly at her implication. “It's tradition. We share the same birthday. We have to spend it together every year we're able. Haven't missed one yet, and this might be the last chance, since she's getting married this year. I hear that complicates things.”
“I think it's sweet, and I'm sure Tyson will let you continue your tradition.”
“I'm sure he will too,” Ethan agreed. Tyson was a good guy.
The three were close. They'd practically grown up together despite all three of them being from different nations. Because Dani was Tyson's betrothed, the two naturally spent time together. Ethan became friends with them because his mother was best friends with Dani's. While they may have been separated by distance, they were never apart in each other's hearts. Phone calls were frequent, and visits happened as often as possible. Usually at least once a month. Ethan couldn't wait to see them again.
Navi stood to get the teakettle when it started to whistle. “As always, you know you're welcome to stay here. Just try to keep quiet since Maya is resting. Darien, if you have time to look at her, I'd—”
“Of course. You know I'll do anything I can to help,” Darien said softly.
Ethan nodded. “Me too.” Even though he didn't have powerful magic to do much, he would try.