Chapter 348: The Naming

Elyn’s POV

The cave exploded into cheers. Even I found myself clapping before I realized what I was doing.

"That’s incredible!" I couldn’t take my eyes off the little golem. It was unlike any of the others we had seen. Lithovar’s golems had been beautiful, each crafted with remarkable precision, but this one felt different. It wasn’t merely made of stone. Shadows flowed through its body as naturally as blood flowed through living creatures. They curled around its tiny limbs, disappeared beneath its rocky surface, then emerged again like gentle wisps of smoke. Its eyes were nothing but little pools of darkness, yet somehow they were expressive.

Aziren’s flames shot high above his head. "It talks!"

"It does," I replied with a laugh.

"It actually talks!"

"It certainly does."

Azerion rushed to Zorathys then — I had no idea how he escaped Rin’s hold, or maybe I did.

"Your Majesty," he said.

The cave became quiet. Zorathys slowly looked at him.

"I thought you disliked me," he said.

Azerion nodded without hesitation. "I do. Thank you for reminding me."

"You’re not welcome," Zorathys told him.

Azerion nodded, a smile on his face, and immediately pointed at the little golem. "Can he eat? Can we feed him?"

Zorathys sighed. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because you made him."

"I just reminded you that you dislike me," Zorathys told him.

"And I appreciate that," Azerion told him. "But that’s an issue for another day. Can he eat?"

Zorathys sighed. "Ask him, demon. Not me."

Azerion blinked. "I can do that?"

"You’ve been asking everyone else questions all day," Zorathys replied.

I almost chuckled at that.

"That’s true."

Azerion then walked back to the golem and asked softly. "Can you eat?"

The golem nodded. "I can."

Azerion gasped. "You actually can?"

"Yes."

"What do you eat?"

The little golem thought about it. "Many things."

"Snacks?"

"If offered."

Azerion’s eyes sparkled. "I like him."

"I thought you disliked creatures made by His Majesty," Rin muttered.

"I dislike His Majesty," Azerion said firmly. "I still remember."

Then he turned to the golem. "I have many snacks with me. I’ll share some with you."

Brixton stepped forward next, his eyes curious. "Can you fight?"

The little golem nodded again. "I can."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Brixton smiled brightly. "That’s amazing."

Thalira immediately raised one hand. "Your Majesty."

"Hm?"

"Can we give him a name?"

Zorathys looked even more tired and I suspected it had to do with the children asking him questions. "Ask him," he said.

Thalira beamed then walked back toward the golem. "Would you like a name?"

The little golem tilted its head. "I would."

That was apparently all the invitation the children needed. Immediately chaos erupted.

"I know!" Azerion shouted. "Let’s call him Rokhar!"

The golem looked uncertain. "Rokhar?"

"I don’t like it," Retheris said. "It sounds like you’re naming a pet."

"It is a pet."

"It isn’t."

"It could be."

Brixton shook his head. "He should have a proper Stone Demon name."

"Like what?" Thalira asked.

"Graventhar."

Everyone looked at Brixton.

"That’s literally just a rock with extra steps," Thalira said.

Velira smiled brightly. "What about Riveth?"

Retheris immediately objected. "No."

"Why?"

"Because he’s clearly a warrior."

"So?"

"He needs a heroic name."

"Like?"

"Dravar."

Velira looked horrified. "Absolutely not."

"What’s wrong with Dravar?"

"It sounds like someone who collects unpaid debts."

"I don’t know what debts are."

"Neither do I."

"Then why are you complaining?"

"It just feels correct."

Azerion raised his hand again. "I have another one."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Snack."

The cave fell silent.

"You want to name him Snack?" Velira asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"So I can say, ’Come here, Snack.’"

"No."

"But—"

"No."

Aziren bounced happily. "I know!" Everyone looked at him. "Glynthar!"

Velira tapped her chin thoughtfully. "What about Veskhyr?"

"That’s actually rather nice," I admitted.

The little golem considered it. "...Maybe."

Meanwhile Zayrion had remained completely silent. He simply watched the golem while adjusting his glasses. Eventually the little golem noticed. "You haven’t suggested one."

Zayrion looked surprised. "Me?"

"Yes."

He thought quietly for a few moments. Then he smiled. "How about Veylthar?"

The cave became quiet. The little golem repeated it softly. "...Veylthar." His shadowy eyes seemed to brighten. "I like that."

Zayrion smiled politely. "It means shadow in the old tongue."

"I know." The little golem nodded. "Then... my name is Veylthar."

Immediately the children cheered again. "Veylthar!" "That’s a good name!" "It suits him!" "I like it!"

Aziren was already tugging gently on Veylthar’s little rocky arm. "Can you play with fire?"

Veylthar nodded. "I can."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Show me!"

Tiny shadows gathered around Veylthar’s hands. Instead of extinguishing Aziren’s flames, they wrapped gently around them. The little flames immediately changed shape. They became tiny birds, then butterflies, then little dragons that flew happily around Aziren’s head. The little fire demon laughed so hard he almost fell over.

"My flames! They’re dancing!"

Veylthar smiled. "I can shape shadows."

Aziren clapped happily.

Thalira immediately pushed closer. "What else can you do?"

Veylthar thought for a moment. Then he raised one tiny stone hand. The shadows beneath our feet rippled. Several loose stones scattered across the cave floor suddenly floated into the air. They circled around us in neat little rings. Higher. Higher. Then they began spinning faster. The children gasped in delight.

"Again!"

Veylthar obliged. The stones arranged themselves into animals. A bird. A wolf. A tiny fox with nine tails. Zayrion looked unusually pleased by that one. Then the stones dissolved back into ordinary rocks before settling gently onto the ground again.

Everyone applauded. Even I couldn’t stop smiling. The cave had somehow transformed from a tense meeting into what felt like a playground. The children crowded around Veylthar, each asking another question before he had finished answering the previous one. Brixton wanted to know whether he could spar. Aziren wanted to know whether shadows could roast marshmallows. Retheris wanted to know whether Veylthar could prank people. Thalira wanted to know whether he could make exploding rocks.

"No," Veylthar answered immediately.

"Oh."

"Probably for the best," I murmured.

Velira was already asking whether Veylthar could make flower-shaped stones. Rin had somehow joined the conversation as well, though she mostly corrected everyone else’s questions. Watching them, I couldn’t help smiling.

Then something occurred to me. My smile slowly faded.

"Wait." I looked around the cave and frowned.

Zorathys glanced at me. "Hm?"

I looked around once more. "What are you looking for?" he asked.

I continued searching the cave with my eyes before finally saying, "Dracolthar."