Fire Child Part 11

The creature Zendrius assumed was the Agrarian hovered in the air and he found himself torn. He wasn’t sure if he should be horrified or amused by the strange sight. The Agrarian was enormous, its serpentine body spanned easily over a mile long but what made it so bizarre were its appendages. All along its scaly frame were thousands of small feathery wings peculiarly similar to the wings of a hummingbird. The collective drone of the fluttering wings was almost deafening, a fact that puzzled Zendrius, since he had not heard the creature’s approach.
The Agrarian landed with surprising finesse before six knots at the side of his body unfolded themselves into arms. “See, my information is never wrong. Why is he so tiny?”
“I was hoping you would know, my lord,” said Nessha as she lowered her gaze.
“Come closer nephew,” said the Agrarian as he beckoned with all six hands.
Zendrius grinned as he moved towards the towering figure. “Alright uncle, but don’t let those hands of yours wander below the waist.”
The serpentine being smiled, revealing a countless array of fangs. “I can barely see that tiny thing you call a sex organ, now shut up so I can determine why you’re not a Dannar between those legs.”
Zendrius was about to defend his injured pride when his eyes caught the multiple pupil eyes of his uncle. In that moment he instinctively knew to rather let it go and submit to the examination.
“Interesting, when did this appear?” asked the Agrarian as he tapped the mark on his nephew’s chest.
“I’m not sure, I only noticed it after Nessha pointed it out.”
“Hmmm, but it wasn’t always there?”
“No.”
“I see, and when you first noticed it, was this top sphere also already open?”
“Wait, what?” asked Zendrius as he looked down.
The fractal mark was still there but instead of six glowing spheres, there were only five. The sphere at the top was open, as if it had bloomed.
The Agrarian slapped his nephew behind the head. “Notice these things damn you!”
“I haven’t really had a chance to admire myself in a mirror you know,” said Zendrius dryly.
“No you were too busy fumbling to kill one lobventor.”
“How do you know about that?”
“It is my business to know everything, now try and burn my hands,” said the Agrarian before seizing his nephew’s body with all six his appendages.
Zendrius concentrated on the bulky three-fingered hands but the sanguine flames just continued to harmlessly flow over them. “It’s not working.”
“I see,” said the serpentine being before continuously tightening his grip.
“What are you doing?” said the teenage boy as he cried out in pain.
“I’m going to crush you into a paste, there is no room in Los-Reinar for a weak Dannar. We are the lords of this realm, your mere existence offends me.”
“My lord!” exclaimed Nessha as she heard a bone snap.
“Quiet, negna! Sit there and simper,” roared the Agrarian.
As if the physical pain wasn’t enough, a migraine ravaged Zendrius’ mind as images of the Fallen accompanied by an aversion to their presence filled his thoughts. They were outsiders, they did not belong in Los-Reinar. Another bone cracked when the young Dannar howled out in rage.
The Agrarian pulled back his burning hands and after realising no magical means snuffed out the sanguine flames quickly tore off his arms with his fangs.
Zendrius slumped to the ground but his eyes were crazed with fury as the flames perused his enemy.
“Interesting,” said the agile serpentine creature as he evaded the flames while his arms regenerated. His new appendages quickly weaved several signs and suddenly he was gone.
“Wha-” started the confused youth when his uncle appeared next to him.
The sanguine flames rushed back but the Agrarian calmly pushed a small ball of green energy into his nephew’s head and the boy fainted. The lord of the Garden watched with fascination as the sanguine flames returned to their master. “Well now, it seems you are worthy of being called a Dannar after all.”

Alyza smiled as she flexed her fingers and toes.
“How does it feel? Any odd sensations?” asked Zed’s mother.
“It’s nice to be able to move something, when will I be able to move the rest of my body?”
“Soon, you have been making surprisingly good progress so far.”
“When will I be able to see and talk the old-fashioned way again?”
“After you have regained control of your body.”
“Would it kill you to be less vague?”
“You mentioned Zed had foster parents before the priests took him in?”
Alyza knew better than to press her question. “Yes, but I don’t know much about them, they had already passed away in the fire when I met Zed.”
“How did the fire start?”
“That’s just the thing, the police was sure it was arson since the flames had spread unnaturally and thus had to have been manipulated with an accelerant. Zed was their prime suspect because he escaped the flames unharmed, despite that his room was the point of ignition. Most of the people still believe that it was him but there wasn’t any substantial evidence that proved their allegations so the police were eventually forced to close the case.”
“And how does Zed feel about that night?”
“He told me he only remembers standing in front of the house when the fire engine arrived, his mind must have suppressed the rest. I heard it is quite common among people who survive such traumatising effects.”
“I see, and then this priest, Father . . .”
“Warren.”
“Father Warren adopted Zed?”
“Yes, apparently he was good friends with Zed’s foster parents.”
“And how was he treated by the priests?”
“Well by some, but most of them didn’t seem to like him. I don’t know why. I think they also believed the story that he was responsible for his foster parents’ death.”
“How did Zed take this resentment?”
“He took it like he takes everything life throws at him with indifference and humour, but I sometimes saw that it bothered him,” said Alyza sadly.
“I see, thank you. I think you should rest now.”
Exhaustion overwhelmed Alyza before she could reply and Persephone of a Thousand Forms moved away from the egg.