Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 717 - 716 - Gentle Brothers

Shea's final lesson went swimmingly.  She demonstrated an excellent grasp of how to apply her soul power and strength perfectly.

While she had grasped elixirs to an extent, she would never be able to make as explosive progress as she did in weaving.

Queen Elara was left floored in how 7 years transformed her daughter into a powerhouse!  Unlike the other children, she had worked twice as hard with Teela and Ruby to push ahead.

Sa had the easiest time of it but Shea left them all behind.  She had already been in the Soul Realm so when she had suffered through several tempering sessions with elixirs, her cultivation exploded.

Now, she was a tier 4 Sky Realm.  Unlike the other children, she stayed due to the fact her kingdom suffered under a beast tide.

When she grasped that, she felt guilty but Lind made sure she did not need to endure it.  She was only a child and did not have the strength at the time to help.  It was likely why she had come so far so quickly.

She was now a young woman but still the excited little girl now and again when it came to talking with him.

"Master!  I did it!"  The slim girl in front of him had all 10 fingers glowing precisely as she engraved a complex weaving.  Her breakthrough to the 4th Circle was complete.  Shea had actually gone far past what Lind himself had accomplished in the same realm!

Her hair was tied back but much darker than before.  Likely due to removing the impurities or focusing on her cultivation so much.  He was unsure but she did not seem to mind.  Her bright eyes were happy as she looked to the 'maid' standing not far away weeping in joy.

"You have done well but do not push it.  Your soul cannot sustain such powerful weavings constantly."  Lind praised her as Teela looked on with red eyes.  Shea dismissed the weaving and ran to her friend for a strong hug!

"You will catch up one day soon!  I want to see you pass me by one day!"  Shea was remarkably adept at reading people.  She could tell her friend was worried but Lind knew she simply wanted a happy parting.  He truly knew they would meet again if given time.

"Congratulations, Princess Shea.  With this, you are able to forge your own path ahead safely.  The next 2 circles are much more about your personal path so take your time and wait till the Heaven Realm before proceeding."  Lind Forged a badge right in front of them all.  The weaving badge was now highly valued in the present day and experts above the 3rd Circle were viewed very respectfully.

"You have done well, your Highness."  Queen Elara had never been discovered over the long 7 years but she had changed drastically.  The cold and rigid woman of etiquette had been replaced with a mother just trying to teach her daughter.

It had helped when Lind was gushing about his new babies and she demanded to see them after being nearly driven mad by him.  The chubby babies had smiled up at her and Elara simply melted.

It seemed politics and always wearing a mask for society had taken a harsh toll on her over the centuries.  Regardless, after that, she simply worked out a good balance but Shea had worked hard at all her duties regardless.

It was clear time away had done them both good.

"Master, do I have to go?"  Lind bonked her on the head but she smiled when he did it.  She was no longer the unruly child but their banter had become precious.

"You have far exceeded what I promised long ago but your kingdom has overcome its crisis.  You need to head home and start deciding what you will do."  Lind glanced at Elara who nodded ever so slightly but Shea did not notice.

She simply nodded and looked a bit gloomy but Teela was the one to hug her that time.

He was about to say more when a scream caught his attention.  He was about to summon Protean when his senses told him the cause.  A frown passed his face as a dark shape whipped around the corner before encircling his waist.

It was swiftly followed by a very familiar face who was very angry.

"Get back here right now, mister!"  Ethry was enraged but Lind also felt concern with his senses.  He looked down and found his son holding tight to him by trying to wrap around his waist.

Hei was actually whimpering!  He had 2 small nubs that would one day be horns on his head.  His legs were getting thicker too, just like Lind's dragon form.  Ethry even said he was going to be the spitting image of Lind but in pure black.

The fear in his son was real!  He was afraid of his mother, why?  Lind carefully patted his son as Ethry glared daggers at him.

Shea and Teela were instantly intrigued but knew enough to stay back.  Of all his children, Hei and his brother Zao were closer to wild beasts unless around family.

Lind was about to ask what was going on when much smaller steps were heard running.  He looked up to see a boy with bright sapphire hair breathing heavily.  He had a healthy glow to his skin as his simple shirt and pants were quite humble compared to how most royals made their children dress.

He was only 5 years old but he had clear eyes as he took a breath to speak.

"Momma Etry, it was not his fault!  I scared him!  I scared him!"  Tears began to form as Miles ran out of breath.  Hei poked his tiny head out with obsidian eyes looking at Miles crying.

Before anyone can try to explain, the flap of wings are heard as a massive roc baby lands next to Miles and encircles him with his wings.  Zao chirped and rubbed his head against Miles as Hei slowly floated out.

He carefully put his head against Miles too and it calmed the boy down.  Lind felt his heart full but saw Ethry was still a bit angry.

"Perhaps you can bring me up to speed?"  She looked at him and sent him the information.

Essentially, she saw Miles in Hei's pen where he spent most of his time.  She saw Miles on his back crying as Hei seemed to loom over him and Ethry exploded.  A quick glance at Miles showed his knee was lightly scraped.

Lind easily pictured his young son climbing the simple fence around Hei's area.  It was not an impediment, simply a designation for his territory as dragons and rocs were very territorial.

The 2 babies knew they were siblings but their instincts were very strong.  Actually, both Ethry and Kora were stunned at how mellow Hei was about it.  Lind suspected his own choices to create his new race path had to do with it.

They had much warmer reactions to their other siblings and strangely feared Ilyria at first!

Now, he saw them trying to comfort their crying brother and Ethry lost all her anger.

Lind knelt down next to them and all 3 looked up to him.  He smiled as he made sure to send out calming vibes as the 2 beastial brothers had yet to notice the strange humans around them.

Teela might get by but Shea and Elara did not interact with them at all.

[It is ok, I know what happened and Hei is not in trouble.]  Lind used telepathy as he could send soothing feelings at the same time.

He could feel the protectiveness in Zao and the worry in Hei but Miles was just upset he got his brother in trouble.  They moved into their father's embrace and he calmed them down.

Zao hopped onto his shoulder while Hei curled around his arm.  Miles was simply picked up and he turned to find a starry eyed Shea looking at them.  Lind actually blushed and Ethry giggled while Queen Elara seemed to be occupied with the wall next to her suspiciously.

"Is there something you want to say, wife?"  Ethry waved her hand as he sighed and turned to the rest.  "I have to take these boys back for now but congratulations once more–"

Lind froze as Hei suddenly slipped away before he could stop him.  Miles tied up his arms and Zao was on his shoulder so any sudden movement could hurt him.

Ethry was ready to move in an instant but they had to be careful not to hurt him.

Shea smiled as she held out her arm as Hei floated around it then sniffed at her.  He looked at Teela and tilted his head at 45 degrees before a tiny roar came from him.  Lind and Ethry relaxed as he rubbed his hand against Shea.

He smelled Lind on Shea's hands!  He had just shaken it not too long ago and Teela relaxed until Zao landed next to her on the ground.  He then rubbed his head against her which clearly melted her heart.

[All right, say goodbye.  We have to go.]  His voice gently coaxed them back and they actually waved in their own ways before Lind took them off.  It was a close thing but Ethry smiled and followed.

"Miles, you were going to meet them tomorrow, why did you come early?"  It was a mystery but the little boy looked guilty as he hung his head.

"I wanted to prove to Sally it was safe."  Lind froze then smiled down at his son.  He hugged him tighter as he understood that Sally trusted Miles a lot more than her older sisters.

"Still, next time you can simply ask for help.  There is nothing wrong with asking for help if you can, Miles.  Remember that."  The little boy nodded and they headed deeper into the palace.

Ethry was smiling at the 4 of them as she saw her son looking around in wonder as he rarely left his pen.

The brothers were getting closer and they all hoped Sally would join them soon.