Elin left some days after she had announced it and Jun offered to take her place in the team, as soon as he could afford to move.

The Dragontamers were working hard for the upcoming competition, the spring one. They got second place, without Elin.

Summer came, and with it Leif's birthday. Artemisia didn't come to celebrate.

- It doesn't matter - commented the fire Dragontamer, even though it was noticeable that he was disappointed. - You're here and it's enough.

Not even the next summer Leif's mysterious sister stopped by the island for her brother's birthday.

That autumn, Rorik and Lynae announced that they were going to get married soon.

That winter, Jun moved to the island. Their team, now that they had a water Dragontamer again, went back to winning all the competitions.

Mira, too, had accepted to participate and was training hard, even though he refused to compete right before every competition.

- I don't feel ready yet - he would apologize, even though he had become a Dragontamer with amazing abilities. - Maybe next time.

- Before those two get married and start making a family - would snort Leif, but always jokingly. He preferred growing old without ever competing by his boyfriend's side rather than forcing him when he wasn't feeling ready and putting at risk his safety.

***

It was Leif's third birthday that Mira lived with him.

It was early morning, he was sleeping on his boyfriend's bare chest when the warmth and a certain noise woke him up.

- Leif... - he blabbered, leaving some kisses on his chest to wake him up. The fire Dragontamer raised slowly an arm and ruffled clumsily his hair.

- Leif! Your sister is there! - yelled his father. His son opened his eyes, immediately awake.

- Misa! - he exclaimed, sitting up. Mira emitted a choked whimper, sleepy.

Leif ran to the door, followed by his boyfriend.

- Misa! - he repeated, happy, with shining eyes.

Artemisia was almost a copy of her younger brother, just a feminine version. She was really tall (at least that was different from her brother, who wasn't short anyway), had long blonde hair and sharp green eyes.

- Leif - she replied, hugging him. - Happy birthday, little flame.

Mira appeared shyly from behind his landlord, still half asleep.

- And who is he? - asked Artemisia, pointing at him with her head. Leif smiled.

- Misa, he's my boyfriend, Mira - he announced, proud, pressing a kiss to his temple.

- Is it his the dragon... the feathered one?

- Yes, it's mine. She's called Cloud - said Mira, still hiding a bit behind Leif. His sister left him in awe.

The Dragontamer smiled. Even her smile was identical to her brother's: rare but beautiful.

- She has a strong personality! Despite her size, she made clear right away with my X who's the boss - she laughed. They moved to the kitchen to have breakfast.

Leif exuded joy from every pore. It was obvious how much he loved Artemisia.

- Misa, why didn't you stop by the past summers? - he asked her, a bit disappointed.

- I've met some interesting people - answered the girl, vague.

- Does that mean that you have a boyfriend?

She laughed.

- No, little flame. You know that I don't get along with love. No, I've met two Dragontamers... who are very special.

- Tell us about them! - urged her her brother. He was still bare chested, and didn't seem intentioned to cover up.

- A couple not much younger than our parents. They had freed their dragons to live like common humans and have a family; for a long time it lasted - she paused, Artemisia, and met for a second Mira's eyes. - But then they lost everything. They found an island with three villagers. Three! Their dragons saved them and brought them there. They looked for the island they used to live on before, but there was nothing left. I stayed with them for a while.

To Mira Artemisia's story seemed tremendously familiar, but he listened silently nevertheless. Who knows how many people had a similar story.

- It's like Mira's story - commented the fire Dragontamer. - You have to know that Mira's island got destroyed too, destroyed by a storm, and he shipwrecked here many seasons ago. But he didn't even know dragons existed!

He laughed as he remembered that; his sister, instead, observed Mira attentively.

He gulped. Because maybe two pieces of the puzzle matched.

- And why would these two Dragontamers be special? - he asked cautiously Artemisia. His heart beat painfully in his chest.

He didn't think about that anymore, really. But how could he forget? They were his family.

- Because their dragons are white like the feather on their wrists, like I had never seen before.

- Like... this one? - inquired Mira, showing her his wrist. Artemisia looked at it just for a moment, before nodding.

At that point the boy started crying, at first quietly and then more loudly.

It wasn't just a dream.

Leif put an arm around his shoulder.

- Misa... do you think you can take us to those two Dragontamers?

They left that very day and arrived three days later. If it were for Mira, they would have never stopped to rest or eat.

- Wait here - said Artemisia, walking away.

The island was big enough for four houses, but it was empty. The villagers probably lived only of fishing.

The Dragontamer came back a while later, followed by two people that Mira could never forget.

- Mira...? - they said at the same moment when they saw him, before running to him to hug him. Mira nestled in their hug and cried for all the time they had been apart.

- Mom... dad... - he sobbed. They were crying too.

Leif watched them not too far away and couldn't help but smile at his sister for making possible that miracle.

Once the family had calmed down, it was time for the presentations.

- I'm Leif, I'm Artemisia's brother and your son's boyfriend...

Mira blushed, nodding.

- It was him who found me while I wandered around the village's entrance - he told them, omitting the fact that he had been caught for being suspicious. - He saved me.

The two lovers' eyes met and they smiled.

- He has hosted me until today... sorry, Artemisia, I've been living in your room... and he has taught me everything I know.

- You've become a Dragontamer - observed his father, ruffling his hair.

They were sitting on the sand, now, with their dragons around them: X, Cloud, Ruby, Novae and Diamond.

- Mom... dad... - began Mira, hesitating. - Why, if you have dragons, didn't you come to look for me?

His mother sighed quietly.

- We did look for you, honey. We went back to the island many times during the past seasons, but we gave up. We had to think about the worst - she answered, again on the verge of tears.

Mira nodded.

- Why did you never tell me about the dragons?

- We wanted a peaceful life, at least until you had grown up. It was our dream, to live on a island just the four of us, without dragons and everything that comes with being a Dragontamer - explained his father.

- What about our dragons? What are they capable of?

- We still don't know. We're doing some research. The ancient books say that they are linked to the stars, to dreams, and that they are the dragons from which the others evolved.

- This... is this claw from one of your dragons?

- Yes, it's Diamond's.

- And now what will you do? - asked finally Mira, not sure of wanting to hear the answer.

- Honey... - his mother smiled at him, and in her eyes, blue as her son's, there was all the love of the world. - We're going back with you. We don't have much here.

- We'll never leave you again - added her husband.

They hugged again.

Mira's parents said goodbye to the three villagers and put their belongings on Novae and Diamond, then followed their son, Artemisia and her brother on the trip back home.

Home. That word had never had a sweeter taste, for Mira.