Chapter 5

The other humans were the first to recover, "You must have her confused with someone else," the tall blond one stated, "her name's Nabe."

Kyrax blinked and his eyes darted to Narberal, who was watching him with suspicious, narrowed eyes. He was sure it was Narberal and she herself was instantly on guard when he called her by her real name. An alias perhaps. "Ah, of course, my mistake," he replied smoothly, all the while scanning the little group for anyone else he might know.

Kyrax didn't recognize anyone else, but the black-armored warrior gave off a dangerous vibe and with his face covered, he didn't know who it was.

"Nfirea!" the tense atmosphere was interrupted as the blonde girl flung herself at the boy in the wagon, the boy flushing a deep red.

"H-hey Enri," he stuttered nervously.

With the introductions the humans gave to Enri, Kyrax knew that the dark-plated warrior's name was Momon. Momon, Momon, Momon, the name was oddly familiar. He had come here in search of his brother and found one of his npcs. His brother, Momonga, Momon. His eyes widened and he stilled.

No way. He chanced a glance at Momon who was watching him intently as he waited for their introductions. Kyrax took a deep breath and decided to risk it. "I'm Kyrax," he said, watching in hope and incredulous joy as Momon flinched back as if hit.

"Kyrax," he murmured under his breath. Momon looked up at him as if actually seeing him for the first time, all his hostility gone, "Do I-Do I know you."

Kyrax smiled, he had a light feeling in his chest and his whole body was tingling with joy. The tenseness that had surrounded him since his arrival to this new world had evaporated and was filled with pure happiness, "I get the same feeling. Strange."

"Can I speak to you? In private." Kyrax nodded, waving away his two subordinate's concern as he followed who he suspected was his brother deep into the woods.

When they were far away enough, Momon turned suddenly, drawing his two swords, "It better be who I think it is, because you got my hopes up."

"I was thinking the exact same thing," Kyrax growled, surging forward as he morphed into his bipedal draconic form.

His broadsword clashed with the two swords Momon held and he shoved them back harshly, whipping his tail around and opening his wings suddenly so the warrior had to jump back to dodge.

Kyrax laughed in pure ecstasy, joy running in his voice, "You can't beat me with a sword, Aniki!" He swung his sword again and once again, Momonga dodged, the armor all vanishing as he lifted a bony hand and shot black fire at the dragon.

Kyrax rolled to the side and pushed off powerfully with his feet, using his wings to boost himself forward as he tried to close the gap. The sorcerer backed up as his brother advanced and suddenly he felt something wrap around his leg and he was jerked down to slam harshly into the ground.

He pushed himself up with his sword and sliced through the magical chain grounding him easily. Kyrax stood up, mere inches away from the skeletal form of his brother's avatar and he smiled, sheathing his broadsword.

Momonga relaxed and came forward. Kyrax reciprocated his steps and approached, letting his dragon form drop as he reverted to his smaller, human form. His brother's arms engulfed him, and skeletal as they were, they were warm, warm, warm, and so comforting. He felt his eyes well up with tears but he forced them down. The loneliness that had been caught in his chest had been swept away by the weight of his brother's love.

Kyrax didn't know how long they stood there, his brother's arms wrapped around him, but he was so happy, so content, he didn't care. It was with some sadness that he noticed his brother pull away, but he obliged and backed up.

Momonga was the first to speak, "You're here too. I-I never would've thought. You weren't in the game at midnight, otouto."

Kyrax scratched the back of his neck, "Uh yeah, actually I was." And he told him everything that had happened since he got off work. By the time he was finished, Momonga was shaking with rage, "That damned human!" he roared, smashing a skeletal fist into the trunk of a tree, obliterating it.

"Aniki! Aniki! It's fine, I'm fine, it all worked out." Even with that, it took Momonga a few minutes to shake himself of the rage induced frenzy.

Momonga approached him and knelt down so he was eye level with Kyrax's human form, "Now that you're with me, I won't let anyone take you away," he growled fiercely, "Anyone who even touches a scale or hair will get ripped to shreds."

And once again, he was engulfed in those arms. He loved it. He loved his brother. Wherever his brother went, he would go. Because his brother was his friend, his family, his protector, his home. His brother was, and always would be, there for him.