The golden dragonling didn’t know how to take this news on top of everything that had already happened that day.

He had heard a few things before. Snippets of conversation that slipped past him when he was even younger. Dragons gossiping in low voices, not particularly worried about anyone hearing them. After all, in their defense they were only talking about "the truth."

And because those voices belonged to elders and clan members, Orien had never truly believed they would lie about something like that. Some may want to goad him into getting angry, but with talks that other dragons couldn’t even hear, what was the point?

So he accepted it. Or at least, he accepted a version of it.

He framed what he heard in a way that hurt less.

But now he was learning that it had never been a matter of being unwanted. That his parents had not simply abandoned him and moved on. That in truth, if he hadn’t been ill with something his young and inexperienced mother couldn’t treat, he likely would’ve grown up with them. With her. All this time.

That truth was heavy. Too heavy for a single moment to contain.

Learning that his father had gone missing, and that it was likely tied to figures within the red dragon clan, sent his thoughts spiraling. His chest tightened, breath hitching as a familiar urge surged through him. A sharp, instinctive need to move. To act. To go.

He would have blitzed out then and there if not for the little sprite clutching at his arm with those slightly unfamiliar paws.

Surprisingly, the newly transformed drake hadn’t stopped him because he shouldn’t go seek revenge. Instead, Liam stopped him because according to the actual child, he was too young and likely too exhausted today.

Liam actually said it plainly, without fear or doubt, because he truly believed in Orien’s strength. But just not today. Maybe after a good rest then they can go and ask the red dragons for an explanation!

The golden dragonling, just like the others, couldn’t help but stop because Liam looked utterly serious.

Orien couldn’t actually explain that if he were to go there, he wouldn’t be asking questions.

But with such earnest eyes, who would be able to say anything?

Thankfully, the standstill was broken.

Lord Karion and Lady Cirila spoke openly, without evasion, claiming responsibility in a way that made the truth clearer rather than murkier. They explained that hiding the truth from the others had been done deliberately. That Orien had been left in their care under the pretense that something terrible had happened to Ilyss. That she had been forced to leave her child behind.

Apparently, it had been necessary to frame the situation like that.

"We aren’t entirely certain of the circumstances," Lord Karion said calmly. "But we’ve been instructed that the others couldn’t know that your mother was still well. If they did, they would also know that whatever was done to your father didn’t truly succeed."

"!!!"

"As fated mates, seeing that one was fine would be an indication that the other was likely still alive. So we never corrected the talk outside. Ilyss wanted it that way."

Lord Karion’s voice was steady, but there was regret threaded through it.

"But she did hope we would be able to explain this to you one day. But as you can probably tell, it seems we failed to do that."

"No, Grandpa. It was me."

Orien’s body drooped fully onto the floor, shoulders sagging as if all the strength had finally drained out of him.

"I didn’t want to hear it before..." he admitted quietly.

The golden dragonling thought that if only he had asked back then, actually no— if only they had allowed them to finish their words every time they wanted to bring it up—then he wouldn’t have had such thoughts for so long.

Lady Cirila moved closer and stroked his back in slow, soothing motions. Orien leaned into her touch instinctively, nuzzling against her palm like he had done countless times as a hatchling.

"At first, we tried to cure your aspect saturation in one go," Lady Cirila said gently. "We hoped you would hatch fine and be well immediately so you wouldn’t have to stay back. But it took longer than we expected. Even after you hatched, your red dragon bloodline kept resurfacing."

She looked at him with soft eyes.

"If anything, seeing how persistent it was helped us understand your mother’s choice better. If your father’s personality and mana were as stubborn as the mana that kept manifesting in you, then he would be fine."

Fine.

Would be fine.

Those words finally broke him.

Orien’s face twisted as everything he had been holding back collapsed at once. The tears came hard and fast, hiccupping sobs wracking his small body until he was dry heaving, clutching at the floor as if it could anchor him.

And then, to everyone’s surprise, another sound joined in.

Right beside the crying golden dragonling, the little drakeling began to cry as well.

Liam clutched at his chest, tears streaming down his cheeks as his small body shook.

"M-my Big Brother was found," he sobbed. "Even if it took a long while. H-he was found. And now th-they’re happy."

He sniffed hard, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand.

"You’d find them too. W-we can go look for them if you want."

Orien looked at Liam.

And then he cried even harder.

It became a full blown crying spree, loud and messy and impossible to stop. The adults did not try to silence them. They only gathered closer, offering warmth and quiet comfort until exhaustion finally won.

It was late when both children fell asleep. Their eyes were swollen, their breathing uneven, throats likely hoarse from crying.

Only then did the adults finally speak about the thing none of them had been able to ignore.

What this would actually mean for Liam.

And what of the fragment of Orien’s heart he had absorbed.

Honestly, none of the dragons truly knew.