Page 55 of Fire to the Stars

Will a dragon attack signs of Noctu before it attacks a closer human target?

Nothing in the archives suggests that a dragon’s motivation amounts to more than destruction. Yet for all his current lack of human intelligence, it is as if he instinctively understands that Noctu is the real enemy.

Translated from the research journal of Abel Estellio

le 26 juin 1760

The overall health of the dragon form has declined. Slow breathing. Delayed pupil dilation. Muscle atrophy. It takes almost ten times as long for his wounds to heal. Even the steam runs thinner.

My experiment is working. I am successfully draining Diu’s curse from his body. However, if I deplete his magic with no guarantee that it will release him from the curse, I could kill him accidentally. I need more time to experiment.

Theory: The increased healing rate found in human form will allow him to recover, then restore his dragon form to full power upon the next Ignition.

Even if it works, time is a luxury I may not have. When I went into downtown Loussil this morning to purchase more food and supplies, a gendarme recognized me. As I predicted, I’ve been presumed dead. He warned me that he’s legally required to report my status to the marshal, who will report it to the Guild.

The Guild will find me. They’ll demand I cease my activities, archive my findings, and resume normal activity. If I refuse, they will revoke my badge at best.

It is tempting to gamble and test once and for all whether depleting the magic will cure Micah. However, I will be patient. There must be variables I haven’t considered. I will remove the daggers from his spine and allow him to heal in human form.

There is one other problem. Although Micah won’t remember these experiments, he will notice the bloodstains on the floor. He will realize what I did to him. I just hope he’s grateful.

Translated from the research journal of Abel Estellio

le 27 juin 1760

My theory was correct. Micah healed perfectly when he returned to human form.

Unfortunately, the bloodstains in my workspace exposed the damage I had been doing to his body. I explained my reasons, but he acted as if I had betrayed him. He even refuses to acknowledge my findings as a sign of progress.

I told him to be patient. Now that I know I can keep him healthy, anything is possible, no matter how long it takes. Even if it means we must move locations to escape the Slayers Guild before they launch a search to stop me.

A cure exists. I know it. I just have to find it.

Translated from the research journal of Abel Estellio

le 29 juin 1760

After the Ignition this morning, I stuck the daggers back in the dragon’s vertebrae. I expected to restart my experiments with a healthy specimen.

The opposite occurred.

He’s even more lethargic in dragon form than the last time. I hunted deer for him to eat, but he doesn’t touch them. He won’t breathe fire when I unchain his muzzle or beat him on the mouth. The only part of him that acknowledges my existence is his eyes, in the rare moments that he moves them at all.

At night, the owl constellation consumes his attention span. Perhaps the Gods’ War is at the root of this behavior. Diu is at war against Noctu, after all.

Ultimately, it does not matter. We’ve reached a breaking point. I reviewed my records of the dragon’s vital signs. According to this rate of decline, Diu’s magic will run out within the next thirty-six hours. I wanted to avoid a gamble on my brother’s life, but the choice is no longer mine. This time frame will determine whether he lives or dies.

Diu help me. Help Micah. Prayer is all I have now.

Translated from the research journal of Abel Estellio

le 30 juin 1760

Micah died in his sleep this morning.

I thought he was asleep when I returned from hunting his next meal, but he wasn’t breathing. The scales had turned cold.