"Before you go to someone's home, say hello – or at least knock on the door, no matter how close a friend is. "Isn't that your human etiquette?"

"But this isn't your home......," Ed retorted subconsciously.

"So," asked Iss, rhetorically, "where do you think my home is?"

"Christersburg ......," Ed blurted out.

"If I'm not mistaken, Klithersburg is your father's property to this day. Isis calmly pointed out.

Ed, who was choked back in an unexpected place, stammered. He wanted to say "my home is your home", but in fact, all his "homes" were the property of River Singer, and even the place where they live now belongs to Allen in terms of contract.

When I didn't think of it, no one took it to heart, but once I thought of it, the young man who was over twenty years old and still relied on his father to live, and he was ashamed and embarrassed to spend it without any income.

"I ...... I'll make money. He stammered the words.

With a shake of his hand, Iss nearly tore off the last leaf left on Mulder's head.

“...... You should say that to Naria. He couldn't help but laugh, "And that's not what I meant." ”

He held Mulder to prevent it from getting up—he hadn't finished checking it yet—while agonizing over how to get it clear.

Something he hadn't thought about before seemed to be becoming clearer now. For a long time, he was obsessed with making everyone understand that he was a dragon, but that was not because he was really proud of it...... Not exactly. He just needed to grasp something unmistakable, because his true self hidden in his strong body was fragile and uncertain. His reluctance to let go of the people around him was not just because the dragon was greedy by nature, but because he loved them, and it was because of their love for him that gave meaning to his existence.

But if he keeps himself attached to it forever, one day, he will completely lose himself. Even now, what makes his soul strong is still an external force, but that little light illuminates the darkness he doesn't want to see.

"One day you and Narya will have a home," he began, "if we're lucky enough to survive." ”

His extraordinarily solemn tone made Ed not dare to interrupt him, and could only listen wistfully.

"I'm glad to be your friend and will always be Naria's brother. He said, "I know that there will always be a place for me in your family, but I am not just a 'friend' and a 'brother', I am also Iscontia Alan Christus. ”

Ed was at a loss for a moment. It seems that this is the first time that Iss has said so bluntly, "It's nice to be your friend", and he should be happy, but he really can't be happy.

"You want to say, you're a dragon?" he whispered.

Isis thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, I'm still a dragon." ”

He wouldn't deny it, even though his soul was still closer to a human. He finally understands what it means to "accept yourself", and it doesn't just mean that he has to accept the memories of his ancestors and the nature and power of being a dragon.

The lines between Ed's eyebrows clumped together. He vaguely understood what Iss was trying to say, but he didn't want to hear it at all.

"As you said, it's not really my home. "But I'll always have my own home, even if it's right next door to yours." Or, if you settle in Stonebuch, and I prefer to live on the glacier at the Spine of the World, won't we be friends anymore?"

Dragons don't actually have the concept of "home". But he wanted a home.

“...... But I don't like that. Ed understood, but stubbornly insisted, "We should be together, you, me, Naria, we should go on an adventure together...... Just like when I was fourteen. ”

It was their first adventure, and although it failed, it seemed to be a dream that he could not give up, and this dream was the initial motivation for all his efforts.

"There's no conflict here. "Of course we can go on an adventure together and then go home separately at the end of the day, and we can rest and have fun together before the next adventure begins, and we can have our own lives...... Isn't that right?"

- There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't like it.

Ed thought sullenly, unable to speak. He knew that his persistence was like a childish and greedy child, who would not let go when he grabbed what he was holding.

“...... I used to have a lot of friends," he said, fingers unconsciously scratching around the edge of the wooden table, "when I was in Visa. Most of them were the children of sailors and merchants, so, when they grew up, they also became merchants and sailors. ”

Unlike him, because his parents are arguing about his future, they can have more time to idle and not have to take on any responsibilities too early, and even marry and have children. They also swore that time and distance would not affect their friendship in any way. But when they had to run for a livelihood and couldn't see each other for a few years, when they "had their own lives", some things were washed away like sand on the bank of the river.

It's not that he doesn't know that life is like this, and he keeps gaining and losing along the way...... But he just didn't like it. What's more, Is, for him, is much more important than any of his friends.

"You won't lose me. Isis laughed, and after many years, his smile seemed to be back to the first time they met, his eyes were as clear as a teenager...... But after all, he is no longer a teenager.

"But I'm your friend, Ed," he said, "not your dragon." ”

.

When he flew back to Balach, Ed was still wilted. He was stabbed by Is's last words, even though he understood that Iss didn't really think he took him as his own, but on the May Day when he became a saint, Sean fought for this idea, and until now, for many people, Iss, is really "his dragon".

He also knew that everything Is's said was not wrong at all, and that it was himself who was in trouble...... But it was really hard for him to accept it for a while, and it wasn't much like Narya suddenly telling him, "I think it's better for us to be friends."

Stunned for a long time on the dragon's back, he lay down and asked for a promise.

"But I'll always be your best friend, right?" he stressed, "the best." ”

"That's not for sure. The ice dragon replied leisurely, spreading its wings and gliding down the current. It felt like it was getting lighter, so light that it could float like a cloud, and it was a wonderful feeling.

But Ed's mood was obviously not good, so obvious that Borena, who had come out to meet them, was taken aback.