Lucas has been aided in his search for his soul, by Iris - now his paladin - and her story can be found HERE.
Between Audeo's teen and adult phases, Lucas has gone off to Moire to see about flying a certain Gold dragon/shaper.
She'd grown so much in just a few years. Though dragons and their ilk had such long lifespans, they all seemed to grow up fairly fast off of Earth. And they just kept getting bigger and bigger, didn't they? Lucas was perpetually amazed at how large Audeo's full grown dragon shape really was.
And how ... fluffy. Her adorable face and swishy tail would nestle among her great frilled wings, long ear twitching sometimes. And at other times, she would sleep beside him as a two-legger, with those great wings protecting them both.
There was no doubt in his mind: Audeo was ideal as a friend, a partner. Perhaps as a lover, she would have to decide that. After letting him go off to Moire, he knew that even Lennuv would like her.
And their shapeshifting contests! When she was littler she would challenge him, and he would come through - shifting quickly from one shape to another. But now? It was amazing. So fast, and so sure. After five or six years practicing, of course, she was ready to take on the world.
"I am ready to help you find your soul," Audeo said one day, surprising Lucas out of his reading. He put the book down, carefully, and avoided looking at her. "I know it hurts, but we should find Iris and Mistylia, and go looking for it now. You are strong, healthy. I am old enough and strong enough - and I know magic to help you."
Lucas gulped quietly. Perhaps she was right - this was time. He felt a cold, shivvering sensation at the back of his mind. It would mean he would have to go back into Hell. And while he did have 'friends' there, they were not to be depended upon to help him overtake a demon lord.
Or Renaud.
Lucas turned his peacock blue eyes toward Audeo. She stood as a humanoid, her fluffy wings gracefully standing behind her, her red skin the only other show of draconic influence. She was not innocent of the danger - one look at her and Lucas knew that she'd been studying up on it.
"Then we should find Iris, yes." Lucas sighed.
"I know you do not want to face it," Audeo said. "But... We have played enough, to take your mind off it. We should get serious and finish this. And then we will have all the time in the world to play again." She tilted her head, and placed her warm big hand on his shoulder. "Right?"
Lucas weakly smiled, "you are right."
"Then you will be surprised at how fierce I can be, to defend you. I know your paladin will lead the fight - I will be your shield." Audeo said.
They collected up books and clothing, items they'd bartered for or found or borrowed... Back to House Domina they would go! And some day after that, they would face the dangers of returning the last piece of Lucas' soul to him.
