Fifty-Eight: Daily Life

"What happened to you, who's been mistreating you?" Nidhogg held the showerhead, rinsing Lilith’s white mane. Hair once smooth as silk now bristled like dry grass. The Black Dragon raked her fingers through and hit knot after knot.

"No one mistreated me." Lilith sat meekly, letting the Black Dragon knead her scalp like soft dough. She didn’t mind the fussing; only a couple whimpers escaped when the comb bit into tangled thorns. "I’m just doing my research here. Everyone at the Academy of Astrology’s been warm as spring sun, and they help whenever I get stuck."

"Then why’d you run yourself into the ground?" Nidhogg’s fingers brushed the bruised moons under the Little White Dragon’s eyes. "How long has it been since you slept well?"

"I don’t remember. I crash when I’m sleepy in the day, then I wake and organize the files." Lilith bobbed her head like a drowsy sparrow. The Little White Dragon brightened. "I’ve charted several star maps lately. I’ll show you after we finish in the bath!"

"Alright, alright." Nidhogg sighed, helpless. The Black Dragon saw the White Dragon’s eyes glitter like twin stars and couldn’t bring herself to douse that blazing zeal.

She let out a breath and measured Lilith’s waist with a hand, like a tailor eyeing fabric. "You’ve thinned," the Black Dragon murmured, regret heavy as rain.

"It’s only been a week since we split," she thought, the days sliding past like drifting clouds. In that time the Black Dragon and Mio tidied the inn, then took Litt and Abaddon to wander Lamter’s streets. They toured the city’s bright landmarks with the two little rascals.

The plan was to leave the Little White Dragon at the Astrology Academy to focus, Nidhogg knew. When she loves something, she dives in like a koi and forgets the shore. But she also knew Lilith’s passions flash like sparks—bright at first, gone in a breath. A week should’ve cooled her down.

Nidhogg climbed Sirisaide Mountain right on schedule, but on the peak she found a Little White Dragon turned almost unrecognizable, like a portrait smeared by rain.

The petite Lilith had turned gaunt. When they met again, the girl who used to dress neatly had thrown on an oversized robe like a sagging curtain. Her white hair, once sleek, bristled like brambles. Her fine face was smudged, the look of a garden left untended.

Disheveled Lilith still clutched parchment and a charcoal stick like talismans. Every so often the Little White Dragon glanced at a tin of Stellar Liquid beside her. She fished out a deep-blue crystal with her grime-streaked little hand. It looked like a shard of night caught in glass.

Lost in focus, Lilith only noticed someone after Nidhogg reached her side. She didn’t look up. Her head stayed bowed, hand moving the charcoal. "Elsa, did you bring what I asked for?" the Little White Dragon murmured, eyes on the page.

Nidhogg stayed silent, looming overhead like a mountain. Lilith raised her head. "Elsa?" Then she blinked. "Nidhogg?" The Little White Dragon stared, stunned that it was her. "Why are you here?"

"What, I can’t come check on you?" Nidhogg stepped in, pinched the back of her neck like a kitten, and hoisted her. "Move. Into the bath."

"Wait, wait!" Lilith hurried to stow the charcoal and sort the parchments like fallen leaves. Only then did she follow Nidhogg, meek as a lamb, into the bathroom.

Nidhogg said nothing. She set Lilith on a little stool and began washing her hair and body, steady as a river. The Little White Dragon sat still, compliant, letting the Black Dragon’s hands roam up and down. They faced each other in silence. Only the shower’s sparse patter cut the thick air like thin rain.

After she rinsed the last soap from Lilith’s hair, Nidhogg lifted the White Dragon and settled her into the tub. The hot water steamed like soft clouds—she remembered this was Lilith’s favorite warmth. "How did you run yourself into this state?" The Black Dragon slid the stool over, sat at her side, and asked in a low voice.

"I’ve been busy with research. No time to groom myself." Lilith ducked her head, submerging her little face in the hot water. Like a goldfish, she bubbled, cheeks puffing—glub, glub.

"No matter how busy you get, you can’t neglect your body." Nidhogg rapped her knuckles lightly on Lilith’s head, like tapping a gourd. "White Dragons aren’t built for brute endurance. If you keep grinding yourself down, trouble will bloom."

"I know, I’ll watch it." Lilith covered her head, cheeks puffed like steamed buns. "Why do all of you love knocking my head? I’m not that smart to begin with. What if you smack me stupid?"

"Don’t worry. Even if you’re silly, I’ll still want you." Nidhogg smiled, a crescent warm as dusk.

"Typical—you never say anything nice." The Little White Dragon swatted Nidhogg’s hand, glare flashing like a spark, then melted back against the tub like warm mochi.

"I know, but once I get busy I just forget to rest." Lilith dunked again. The goldfish turned into a round little pufferfish—soft, sticky white dumpling soaking in heat. She puckered her lips and let bubbles slip out now and then.

"Even then, you don’t get to forget." Nidhogg’s brows knit like gathering cloud. "Next time I come, I’ll ask Mr. Joseph whether you’ve been resting."

"What if I haven’t?" Lilith decided to push her luck.

"It depends." If it’s just a little short on sleep, I’ll take you to bed. I’ll make sure you sleep well. "If you’ve run yourself ragged like this again, I’ll scrub you clean." Then I’ll have Mr. Joseph give you two days off. "If you make yourself sick…" Nidhogg counted off on her fingers like beads. She stopped, turned, and fixed Lilith with a gaze sharp as ice.

The Little White Dragon broke out in cold sweat, dew beading under that stare. She squirmed back and widened her moon-round eyes. "Th-then… what?"

"I’ll 'invite' her to sleep—so well she won’t dare to ignore rest again." Nidhogg’s eyes narrowed. The Black Dragon’s smile was gentle, silk wrapping a blade. To Lilith it read like a death warrant. "After you’ve rested, I’ll punish the disobedient little thing. Disobedient children need a thorough, proper sorting-out. Don’t you think?"

"You’re right. All of it." Lilith felt the hot water drop several degrees, winter creeping into the bath. One glare from Nidhogg and gooseflesh rose. Cold sweat rushed out like a spring.

"How long are you staying this time?" The Little White Dragon dodged that frostbite gaze by changing the subject fast.

"I planned to stay one day and see how you’re doing. But someone turned herself into a scarecrow, so I’m thinking I should stick around. It keeps you from pulling all-nighters for 'research' every day." Nidhogg’s eyes narrowed, voice calm as a lake hiding an undertow. Lilith heard the warning in it.

"N-no need. You should go back and watch over Litt." Lilith swallowed, the gulp dropping like a pebble. She refused in a hurry. If the Black Dragon isn’t here, she can burn midnight oil. If Nidhogg comes along, goodbye all-nighters. The Black Dragon has ten thousand ways to tuck her into sleep like binding ropes.

The Little White Dragon realized she needed to soothe the Black Dragon in front of her. Lilith reached out a small hand. She caught Nidhogg’s fingers like a bird finding a branch, and stammered, "D-do you want to get in and wash with me?"

"Is there enough room in the tub?" Lilith kept her head down, not daring to meet Nidhogg’s eyes. She sized up the bath—narrow like a little pond. For someone her size, she could perch on Nidhogg’s lap and squeeze in.

"Mm." Lilith nodded.