Chapter Text
The lake they used to spend their afternoons in was gone. The water evaporated into steam, the grass bowed and decayed, and dark particles permeate the air like snowflakes in the snow. It wasn’t right. It felt suffocating and there were no animals in sight, not even the remains.
Scott stared at the markers; it was spreading. More barriers and signs were put up, ordered by his mother, warning everyone to stay away. In the first few days of its discovery, children and some adults were none the wiser. He doesn’t want to think about what happened to them.
Pyro stood by his side. Scott didn’t like the look on his face.
“It’s spreading,” they said simply.
“I can see that.”
“We have to do something.”
Scott sighed. “But what?”
“I don't know. Maybe a cure or something— just any way to stop this damn thing.”
“But where do we even start?”
“Not in Tegrith, that’s for sure,” Pyro said firmly.
—
It was night when Scott heard something hit his window. He looked down to see the silhouette of Pyro in the dark, gesturing at him to go down. So, he did, sneaking out of his window like he’s done multiple times before.
He followed Pyro to their usual meeting spot, a bench near the woods, perfectly illuminated by the moon.
“What are we doing, Pyro?” Scott asked curiously, noticing the backpack Pyro was wearing.
“We need to talk, Scott,” Pyro said, turning around to face him.
“What the hell happened to your face?” Scott gasped. Pyro’s left eye was swollen and bruised. “Did your father hit you again?”
“Look, it doesn’t matter,” Pyro said quickly. “I’m here to talk to you about something else.”
“What—“
“I’m leaving.”
Scott felt his heart drop. The anger he felt transforming into fear and dread. The silence was too much.
“What the fuck do you mean?”
“The corruption,” Pyro said, “someone has to stop it.”
“And that has to be you?”
“It’s not like I asked for it,” Pyro scoffed. “My father— he volunteered me, talking about how I should finally do something and prove myself.”
“And you know what,” Pyro continued, anger seeping into his voice, “I will do it. I’ll prove myself to him and everyone here. At least, I get to leave this godforsaken place.”
“So, you’ll just leave me,” Scott said quietly.
That made Pyro pause. They looked at him with a pained expression. Scott knew there was no hiding the tears in his eyes. He was too overwhelmed to care about it at this point.
“Scott, you’re the only good thing I have going on here,” Pyro said softly. “Come with me.”
Scott felt his heart twist painfully. “I can’t”
“Please.”
“You know I can’t!” Scott shouted. “My mother’s the mayor and I can’t just leave my family. They— they need me. I’m meant to take her position someday— I can’t, Pyro.”
It was silent for a moment. Scott wished he could turn back time; back to when they were just kids playing in the snow, back to when this corruption never existed.
“Right, of course” Pyro said. “I guess I’m not that important, huh.”
“You know that’s not what I mean!” Scott felt the tears fall. “I care about you, Pyro. You’re— you’re my best friend.”
He crying in earnest now. In any other scenario, Scott would feel embarrassed, but this moment was too emotional, too life-changing.
Pyro’s face softened. “H-hey, stop crying,” he said, voice strained. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to stop this and then I’ll come back. Just for you.”
Scott desperately wanted to believe him. “You promise?”
“I promise,” Pyro said.
“Then go,” Scott said, wiping his tears. “Just be careful and don’t die. Please.”
“I wasn’t planning to,” Pyro said with a smirk. Scott could tell he was trying to lighten the mood.
“Goodbye, Pyro,” Scott said quietly. His mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
“Farewell,” Pyro said like a dramatic bastard.
Before his friend could get far, Scott shouted after him. “Wait!”
“Hm?”
Scott didn’t want to hesitate any further. This might be the last time in a while before he sees them again. Scott has to let him know.
He walked closer to Pyro, and pulled him down to finally kiss him. He felt Pyro stiffen and gasp, but they eventually started to kiss back. Scott felt like his heart might explode.
When they separated for air, they pressed their foreheads together. Pyro was grinning like an idiot and Scott can’t help but smile back.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” Pyro said, confident and smug as always.
“You better be,” Scott said.
He watched Pyro leave to the woods. He stood there until his best friend was out of sight. He stayed there until the sun rose, feeling numb.
—
His mother found him there in the morning, standing in the same spot where he kissed Pyro, his first kiss.
“Scott, dear, what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Pyro left.”
Scott heard her sigh. “I tried to knock some sense into his father, but you know how stubborn that man is.”
“I hate him,” Scott said honestly. It never made sense to him how despite being adopted, Scott always felt loved by his parents, and yet Pyro could not say the same.
“And you have every right to feel that way,” his mother replied. “But you have to understand, my dear, that no one else would have volunteered.”
Scott knew it was probably the truth, his mother wouldn’t lie to him, but he didn’t like its implications.
“Listen,” his mother said gently, combing his hair, “Pyro is a smart kid. I believe he’ll be fine.”
Scott just nodded, his heart aching with a new sense of loss.
—
Every year, Scott waits for Pyro’s letters. For the first two years, he received at least two letters annually. Most of it was written hastily, with short bursts of information about new things Pyro has seen, read, and experienced, like a meal that was way too spicy or a book about skeleton horses.
They wrote about how they’re doing great, but not exactly elaborating on the fact. Scott would have loved to know if they have shelter, if they have enough food and money, or if they have any companions. He wished he knew where Pyro is, maybe then he could send him a letter back.
Occasionally, there was an update on their search about the corruption, but it was mostly vague, much to Scott’s chagrin. Pyro merely wrote about how he’s finding interesting things, making good progress on his quest. And yet, not once did they specify what exactly it is that they’ve discovered.
He didn’t like how short and trivial these letters were. To Scott, it felt superficial, like Pyro isn’t sure about what he should write, as if he feels the need to hide things from Scott. It concerned him.
But Scott remained hopeful. Maybe, Pyro was just busy. It must be overwhelming to travel and be in a new environment. Maybe, they were just too tired to write down everything they’ve done. Pyro’s never been the best at keeping notes. That was more of Scott’s job.
Either way, Scott cherished these letters, smiling whenever he reads it over and over again. These letters were addressed to him after all, even though his mother is the one to receive it as the mayor.
Then another two years passed, where the letters dwindled to once a year.
These letters were even shorter, curt and repetitive. Pyro merely wrote about how he’s doing fine, learning about the corruption, and that they shouldn’t worry. There were no more comments about whatever new thing he’s seen nor any supposed discoveries about the corruption. Just a few sentences, regurgitated in the next letter, about how he’s doing fine. Scott hates it.
Then his worst fear came true, and the letters stopped.
—
It was winter again. Deep underground, the people of Tegrith go about their lives. Scott is glad to be here. At least, he doesn’t have to see the dying nature above, spreading far enough that they had to move higher up the mountain. At least, the frigid cold can slow it down for a while.
Scott was sitting on his desk, feeling numb once again, when his mother entered his room, carrying a stack of letters. She promptly placed it in front of him.
“Has Pyro written?” Scott asked impulsively.
“No,” she said, “but I have a bunch of letters from respectable ladies who would love to get to know you.”
“I’m not interested,” Scott sighed.
It was silent for a moment. Scott can feel his mother’s gaze burning into his skin.
“It’s been three years since Pyro last sent a letter,” she said calmly. “Seven years have passed since he left.”
“I know that,” Scott mumbled.
“Then perhaps, my dear, you should start accepting what may be the truth.”
“And what is that?” Scott snapped.
“He may not come back—“
“No!” Scott shouted, pushing his chair back. “He will be back. I know it—“
“And how do you know?” his mother challenged. “You have no contact with him.”
“Because—“ Scott sputtered. “He’s okay, I’m sure of it. And he’ll come back. He has to because— because he promised me he will—“
Before he knew it, his face was wet with tears. The fear and denial that he desperately bottled up seemed to overflow in this moment. The thought of never seeing Pyro again— his best friend gone like a bright flame snuffed out in a blink of an eye— was too painful to accept.
“Oh, Scott,” he heard his mother say, voice tight.
He can only accept her hug, shaking and sniffling like a child.
“Do you think I don’t miss him?” she said softly. “You two were inseparable as kids. He might as well have lived in our home.”
Scott heard her chuckle. It only made him want to cry harder.
“If I had known how much that boy meant to you,” she continued, “I would never have let him leave. And for that, I’m sorry, Scott.”
Scott shook his head. “H—he can’t be gone.”
“I never said he was,” she replied, “I’m just saying that it’s best to prepare yourself for the possibility.”
Sometimes, he hates how much his mother still thinks like a leader in times like these.
—
Scott was twenty five now, different from the seventeen year old who kissed his best friend that awful night. He was taller now and more built, muscles growing from the hard labour assigned to him by his mother. And yet, he still feels the same, still haunted by the image of Pyro, plagued by nightmares of what could have happened to him.
As time passed, a sense of anger mixed with that grief. Anger at Pyro for not sending letters, for not coming back, and for leaving in the first place. Pyro was supposed to be here. They were supposed to help Scott face the pressure of his family name. They should have been here to comfort him with jokes, to distract him with mischief, and to listen to his troubles. Now, Scott feels completely alone.
But life goes on and time waits for no one. He has to continue his duties for his people.
He was traveling to one of the villages nearby when he saw it. A flyer pinned to one of the trees. In big bold letters it read; Welcoming people from all over the continent to become Dragon Riders. It was a recruitment paper with a detailed time and place. Scott’s read about dragons before, but he never expected them to be real.
He stared at the paper for a long time before coming to a decision. This could be his chance. The paper talks about learning magic in an academy of sorts. Surely, a dragon and some magic powers could help his people. Maybe it holds the answers to stopping this corruption once and for all. Scott has to try, besides what more could he lose?
Deep down, he just feels restless. He was not a kid anymore. By this point, they expect him to lead, to claim a position, and to start a family. The corruption is still spreading and the pressure of expectations placed upon him was becoming too much. Scott would never admit it, but he wants to escape from it all.
By the time he got back to Tegrith, his mother was waiting for him impatiently.
“Where have you been?”
“I found something.” He gave her the flyer.
“No, Scott,” she said firmly after reading it.
“I have to try,” he said, determined. “The corruption is getting worse.”
“We could always move upward.”
“And after that? What would we do when this entire land is swallowed by it?”
“It’s too dangerous, Scott. There is no certainty you would find anything.”
“That never stopped Pyro from leaving,” he replied bluntly.
His mother paused at that, face pained.
“It’s my turn to be brave, Mom,” Scott continued. “You know no one else would volunteer. I want to do this for our people. I want to learn new things.”
“Scott—“
“Please.”
His mother sighed. “I know how stubborn you can be. Fine, I will allow you to leave, because I know how miserable you’ve been lately.”
Scott smiled as she went to comb his hair like she always did when he was a kid.
“Just don’t die, my dear,” she said simply, though he can see the worry in her eyes.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Scott said with a grin.
They hugged before Scott went to pack his things. His mother announced his leave for the next day and Scott said his goodbyes.
As he traveled outside of his home, he can’t help but think about Pyro. Would they be proud of him for leaving Tegrith?
Scott desperately hoped they were.