“A fetch?” Opal echoed. She was obviously confused, but she was young and definitely curious about the cryptic message that Nyer was feeding her.

The attendant stepped into the room, “Sir, if you please.. Time is up.”

“Goodbye Opal, Slate.” Nyer said solemnly before heading the call of the attendant. “Shall we get going now ?” He said with a hint of whimsy.

As Nyer exited Slate looked to Opal “Are you ok ?”

The attendant returned Nyer to the grand hall where there was a heavy silence cast across his two companions. Alexios looked stern, and Zoeva was worried. Standing before his throne and almost protectively shielding his love, was the Dragon still sporting his human form twisted with horns, wings, claws and scales.

“Is there any other business you have to tend to or can we say our farewell?” Seth’s voice boomed.

— — — — —

She turned to regard Slate, “Do you... Do you think there’s a family out there for me? Like what you have here?”

Nyer had a sublime smile on his face as he made his way into the hall and took his place beside his Queen where in just for a moment he gave the dragon a defiant yet deviant grin. “I believe all sides have honored their end of the arrangement.”

———

“I ... I don’t know ... I can’t really remember anything outside of this place ... Opal do you remember having another family?” He asked

Seth waved his hand to dismiss them, but his vermilion gaze bore into Nyer.

The emissary that had escorted the trio was waiting outside the grand hall to bring them back to the edge of the Mirror.

Zoeva leaned in close to Nyer as they made their exit, “You are to come to my chambers when we are home.”

— — — — —

“Sometimes I have dreams of another place, but the people look different there.” Opal answered, her voice had a strange calmness to it, “But I don’t remember interacting with them, but sometimes.. I see castles made of glass in them.”

“As you wish my Queen.” Nyer chimed happily.

———

“Maybe we should explore your dreams, I am sure there has to be a way.” Slate said obviously the whole moment tooknits tool on him.

Opal handed the play sword back to Slate, “Explore dreams? Is that something we can do? Is that something anyone can do?”

“Yeah my dad is really good at it so I must be to.” Slate slipped back into his confidence “I just need to figure out how. ...”

“Has your dad taken you into dreams before?” Opal asked as she went to the window, watching as the carriage departed, “Even if we figure out what glass castles are, I don’t know if I could get there alone. I mean, what’s your past all this? Isn’t it dangerous.”

“It probably is ... but I want to help you ... you look like you need a smile maybe I can find that for you in your dreams.” Slate said “we just need to be sneaky ... my dad might get mad if he finds out we are trying to find out about dreams.”

“You’re really sweet..” Opal stated as she stared out the window, her face reddened, “If I were a princess, I would love to be with someone like you, but I don’t know what I am.”

She suddenly turned back to face Slate, “What if you told your dad that you wanted to know about dreams because you’re a dragon? Like, you’re both dragons, So isn’t that a power you both have?”

— — — — —

“I.. I’m going to check on them.” Seth commented to Noah, “Opal changed.. She’s a true Lost now, poor child.”

“That could work we just need to be really convincing.” Slate belived in the idea.

———

“Make sure you talk softly with them.” Noah advised.

“I will.. my anger is not at them and it will not be directed as such.” Seth replied as he leaned in and kissed Noah softly, “Thank you for staying with me for this.”

He gave the Awakened a smile before venturing off to visit Slate’s room.

He knocked on the door and called, “Slate.. Opal..”

Opal fell quiet as she looked at the door.

“Hi dad.” Slate said opening the door slowly almost instantly looking to see how Opal was holding up.

“Hey Great Dragon.” Seth smiled before following Slate’s gaze to the petite Phoenix girl, “May I come in? It’s been a rather eventful day and I want to make sure you both are okay.”

Opal nodded at Slate, moving away from the window.

Slate moves aside taking up a place beside Opal.

“Those people are weird.” Slate stated

“Well yes... but we’re probably weird to them.” Seth held back a laugh, but couldn’t hide his smile at the bluntness, “Are you both okay after speaking to that man? And thank you for holding up. It means everything that you didn’t make me break my promise and if there is a next time, I will ask permission before agreeing to anything.”

Opal studied Seth for a long moment, “I still don’t want to go back with them.”

“You don’t have to go with them Opal, they are leaving and I’m not letting them in my room ever again.” A poof of smoke almost Emirates from Slate as he spoke

“Next time they show up without an invitation extended from us, you and I will go give them a Dragon’s greeting.” Seth pronounced, clearly proud of Slate, “And Opal, you are not a prisoner here to to them or anyone. You have the free will to do whatever you wish to.. But, you are both young and I would be remiss if I didn’t act as a parent to you as I do to Slate. If I am stern, it is because I’m worried about your wellbeing. May I know what you talked about with the man? You both seem to be quite on edge.”

Opal looked at Slate, “I.. I don’t know... I don’t belong here?”

“He talked about dreams, dreams that he had mostly and he asked us about ours.” Slate spoke up trying to recall the extent of the conversation he had with Nyer but it all seemed so big that his mind could not even begin to draw the full context of it.

“Opal I’ll make sure your ok, don’t worry.” Slate spoke confidently to his friend.

Seth’s gaze narrowed, “He asked both of you about your dreams? Tell me... have either of you encountered him before today, perhaps through a dream?”

Opal smiled at Slate before shaking her head to Seth’s question, “I haven’t.”

“I’ve never seen him before either. Do you know who he was ?” Slate asked Seth.

“When they gave the egg that held Opal, he was there as one of their Queen’s advisors, but you have grown much since then.” Seth smiled at Slate, but it quickly faded as he rubbed his forehead with a storm of thought, “It bothers me that they came here so suddenly with an interest in you Opal, but asked about your dreams. I wonder... Opal, how would you feel about Slate and myself guarding your dreams?”

Opal’s eyes went wide, “Like... you would see what I dream about?”

Seth nodded, “Yes, but we would do so without interruption. Sometimes the mind can conjure up strange things, odder than whatever dwells in the hollows of Arcadia itself, with no reason. But I fear that those three may be trying to influence you... And I think it’s time that Slate learn how to access dreams. It can be a powerful tool...” Seth turned his attention to his son, “And I can see, particularly after today and how you took care of Opal that you can hold the responsibility of such a gift.”

“That means you will teach me dad!” Slate stated exuberantly at the prospect “don’t worry Opal I will keep your dreams well guarded.”

Seth waited as he watched Opal’s equally excited reaction.

“That sounds so neat! Will I see you in my dreams?” She came nearer to Slate obviously blown away at the prospects presented before them.

“Potentially.” Seth interjected, “Slate’s primarily going to be stealthy. He should only be monitoring your dreams and intervening if he deems it necessary.”