MIR, the sentient Wyvern.

The value of life

The "Old Man" and the "Son" were in the tower in the early morning, and Romas had just brought breakfast to his mentor.

While the "Old Man" was peeling an apple, with his lightless white eyes he asked:

"Our guests. How did they pass their first test?"

Romas:

"Nothing to report, no noises or complaints. They stayed in the stables all night and stoked the fire and patched the holes. The kids worked as a team and they were able to keep warm the rest of the night. They ate some of it and smoked the rest during the night. Smart work".

The candidate mercenaries almost all failed this test, confirmed the "Old Man."

"Help me down...I'll take the lift, my old bones are no match for age."

He went to a shelf and took a book / notebook protected by a brown leather cover smoothed by years of friction.

Then he entered a sort of plank box connected by a pulley and pulled a string connected to a bell far below.

"Master, it's dangerous! It's meant for meals... I can carry you"

"My old bones don't do the weight anymore!"

A good ten minutes later, I was with Kroa outside and the mountain air was chilly.

I missed the cozy warmth of our heated caves... We had gotten too used to the fire.

Krator was in a foul mood with the cold stones and the lack of hay or straw.

Then Kri ran after me and it was Kra's turn. We were running around the square, grabbing each other's tails.

The humans hid behind the shutters and did not dare to get in our way.

We were laughing and they could hear it too.

Soon we warmed up and started to shutter in the courtyard and went up to the tower.

We couldn't help but laugh and walk around it.

I hung upside down from 10 meters and jumped on Kroa, missing him, and we twirled around to spit each other laughing in the hay.

My sisters were chirping and came to join us.

Romas could only see that we were... children who wanted to play.

And Krator... well, he was not too talkative and did not know what to say. Everything came to him and that was that.

The events were accumulating without reason and without order.

Then, panting, I saw that Romas was with a "Sage" and I rushed towards them, at their feet.

Kroa missed his landing and bumped into me but we licked each other, a sign of affection, I almost did the same to Romas, I had to fight my instincts.

"Old": So... I didn't think I would live to see this peaceful sight again.

I then made my greeting gesture, followed by the others and we listened.

"Romas told me about an extraordinary tribe, different from the other dragons... and . I can only note. Your name is Mir, little dragon.."

I nodded without interrupting.

I saw that he had no light in his eyes... cataract... typical.... If I had a laser... I could give him back his sight, but the best thing is a lens... unthinkable at this time...

As if he had read my mind.

"You look at my eyes, Mir... but I see better now that the light is off... and I see in you a person and not a monster."