In a resplendent palace on the eastern side of the continent, a man lay on his deathbed, coughing murky black blood from his mouth. The man looked around 80 years old, with pale wrinkly skin and a frail body. Around him were six young people with concerned and sad faces. The man on the bed was once known as the Heavenly Dragon, the ruler of the Dragonian Empire and the strongest being in the world. Unfortunately, due to an event caused by beings in heaven, the Heavenly Dragon was injured beyond saving and now lay dying. The six people around him were his children, all half-dragons with genes from exceptional individuals of the six mortal races, Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Giants, Naga and Oni.
The youngest of his six kids, the half-oni Vivian, held his hand as she fought back the tears. She would be 19 years old in a few months, an exceptionally young age for a cultivator. For her to go through the loss of her father at such a young age was devastating, especially for someone as emotional as herself. The eldest boy, the half-human Zane, had a hand on his baby sister's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, while the eldest girl, the half-elf Bri, was hugging the half-giant Krieg for support. Off to the side of the room but still within his father's vision was the half-naga boy Lykan. While he was the youngest of the brothers, he was exceptionally calm and processed his emotions in a stable environment. For now, he deemed it best to wait for his father to call for him before approaching his grieving siblings.
Typhon, the Heavenly Dragon, once the great ruler of the Dragonian Empire, is now a dying man. The news would shock the heavens themselves; the great Dragon Emperor was killed because of the greed of a few constellations in heaven. Lykan knew that his grandmother, Tiamat, would see to it that the constellations responsible would pay the price. Yet those around him now, besides his siblings, were measuring up the slice of the pie they would get after his passing. So he resolved at this moment that he would maintain what his father had built over 150 years of his life, even if it killed him or turned him into a tyrant. While Lykan was internalising his new resolve, a calm voice floated across the room.
"Little Bubble, please come here."
Lykan slowly made his way to his father's bed before kneeling at its side.
"What is it, father?"
"Promise me something."
A flash of pain crossed Lykan's face briefly before responding to his father's plea.
"Anything, father, just name it, and I swear to the heavens I will make it so."
His father weakly raised his hand up and placed it on Lykan's head, gently brushing his black hair with his now feeble fingers.
"Never change who you are, Little Bubble. Not for anyone."
Lykan's eyes went wide as he heard his father's words. Those words sunk into Lykan's soul as he was again reminded that their father knew them all the best. Tears formed in his eyes as he nodded in response.
Slowly, Typhon looked to Lia, his half-dwarf daughter and beckoned her closer with the weak hand on Lykos's head. She knelt beside her younger brother and looked her father in the eye.
"Little Iron, I require of you but one thing."
"Anything."
"Take the jade necklace from my neck and keep it safe."
Typhon removed the necklace with his free hand and handed it over to Lia, who accepted it with both hands. It was a simple jade necklace, and there was nothing extraordinary about its looks. However, to Lia, it was the most precious item in the world. It was the first thing her father had ever made, and she remembered as a child that she would beg him to wear it. The necklace held innumerable memories for her of a time now long past.
Typhon turned his head to his still crying youngest, Vivian. Using what strength he still had, he squeezed her hand harder, causing her to look up at his face. Giving a gentle smile, Typhon shook his head slightly.
"Little Flame, please do not let this dampen your fire, do not let my passing snuff out your lust for life."
Typhon now looked at his other children, who all stood towards the foot of his bed.
"Little Mountain, I will count on you to keep this family together. You will have to be their immovable backbone."
Krieg thumped his chest with his large fist.
"I will not let you down, father."
"Little Leaf, please continue to shower this family with your love and affection. I know it is ill of me to ask this as your father, but please show your siblings the love I cannot give them."
Bri couldn't bring herself to speak but nodded her head to his words. Satisfied, Typhon now laid eyes on his eldest son Zane.
"Little Blade, my eldest. You have always been unstoppable, cutting down all the obstacles in your way. Please, never stop moving forward. You have always made me proud."
Zane cupped his fist and bowed deeply to his father. While they may not have always had the best relationship, Zane had always respected his father. Having said all that should be said, Typhon gently closed his eyes before continuing.
"Know this, my children. This is not goodbye. We will reunite eventually, either in this world or in the Heavens. So I will not tell you goodbye, simply, see you later. I will be watching."
With that, a small smile graced Typhon's lips, and a single tear rolled down his cheek as the life left his body and his muscles went slack. At that moment, thunderclouds clapped, and lightning struck the earth as if the planet itself was anguished at the passing of the Heavenly Dragon. Vivian let out a scream of grief as her tears redoubled. All of the heavenly dragon's children let tears fall down their faces as the grief of the situation overtook them.
The Heavenly Dragon was dead. Long Live the Heavenly Dragon.