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[aspectoftime]

[Today, there is another dragon rather than the normally red one resting at Alexstrasza's tree. He is calmly looking up at the branches, the greenery around his massive form dusted with desert sand and glittering gold dust

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[payback]

[Someone else is feeling very sorrowful regarding Alexstrasza's departure... and the tree is the automatic place to go to feel close to Alexstrasza.

She looks up at Nozdormu curiously. Even as a Dragonsworn she never got a chance to meet any other dragons.]

[payback]

... Like a double-Dragonsworn?!

[aspectoftime]

That isss not posssible.

[But now he's amused.]

[payback]

Okay, in what sense do you mean?

[aspectoftime]

Sssswear yourssself to me insstead.

[payback]

What?!

[aspectoftime]

[He leans down, watching her carefully while the hourglass kept ticking.]

[payback]

Is that even possible? I swore to Alexstrasza... [She looks conflicted, and upset. She did not know the Life-Giver for very long, but Alexstrasza quickly became important to her. Rin glances briefly at the hourglass, too. It's obvious what the point of that is - choose, and quickly.]

[aspectoftime]

Yessss... it isss possssible.

[He cares nothing about the stress it puts on her, simply waiting to hear her answer.]

[payback]

[Fffuuuuuuu... she looks down as the sand in the upper bulb of the hourglass continues to play out.]

... I don't think I can do that. [At least not right away, without thinking of it for more time, evaluating the pros and cons.]

[aspectoftime]

Then we are done, here.

[He takes a deep breath, the hourglass breaking into sand once more and disappearing into his huge maw.]

Be gone, mortal.

[It was cruel, to test the girl this way. But if he was about to delve into draconic lore with a human - even one chosen by the dragonqueen - he had to be sure of her loyalty.]

[payback]

[Bluhh...

She will just be off without further questions, then.]

[aspectoftime]

[He doesn't allow her to walk far, reaching out with his temporal powers and tugging at the weave of time, rewinding it to the start of their conversation.

Now he knew.

Now they could start over.

-rewind-

[aspectoftime]

You are dragonssssworn...

[He leans his head down to her level, gemstone eyes suddenly a bit less stand-offish than before.]

For the sssake of my sssissster'sss sssworn... I will assisssst you, Asssano Rin.

[payback]

[Relief and gratitude lights up her whole face.]

Really? That would be so helpful! Thank you!

[aspectoftime]

However, time and life are different. I cannot tell you all of my sssissster'sss sssecretsss.