Prince Damian asked Queen Safira if he could not attend classes and instead spend time with her, Fenris, and Drac, as he feels Drac is a good teacher. However, Drac must teach the dragon kids so he had to leave.
They have been shopping and exploring the planet recently, as Queen Safira wanted to observe the peace and see the school for when Prince Logon turns twelve.
Afterwards, they went on a trip to the vamprin moon with Prince Logon and Princess Aeryn to see the sights and the palace, which was a beautiful experience. Queen Safira, Fenris, and Prince Damian all used their necklaces to capture memories of the trip.
As Queen Safira led Prince Damian through the dragon's camp, she introduced him to every one of her clan members. The young dragons welcomed him with open arms, some even play with him as they enjoyed his company.
Damian couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe as he spent the afternoon with these magnificent beasts.
But while Damian was making new friends, Kiron was getting a harsh lesson in discipline. He couldn't quite understand why he was getting an "ass-whipping", but he figured it was probably due to his slacking off in training. So, with a shrug, Kiron set off to train harder than ever before.
As the night fell, the main city erupted in celebration. It was a festival of peace and prosperity for the entire planet, and the streets were filled with travellers.
Prince Damian and his companions watched the festivities from the penthouse of a luxurious hotel room, the lights and sounds of the party filling their hearts with joy.
The next day, the group set off for a swim in the sea. It was there that they met the water elf clan, who put on a spectacular show for their VIB guests. The fighting ring was half in the water and half out, and the water Elfs proved to be formidable opponents.
But the true highlight of the visit was the underwater city, a breathtaking sight that left Prince Damian speechless. No wonder the water clan were known as the toughest fighters of them all.
...
In the dark of night, the palace was quiet as all the inhabitants slept soundly in their bedrooms. However, in the chambers of Queen Safira, a warm and lively conversation was taking place.
The queen sat comfortably, surrounded by her little one, Prince Damian and Fenris, as she shared tales of the old wars. Though she kept the details vague, they listened intently, eager to learn more about the battles that had shaped her kingdom.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. "Knock knock," a voice called out. "Safira, it's me."
"Come in, Drac," the queen replied, her voice filled with a hint of sadness.
Drac, the queen's second-in-command, entered the room. "Hey everyone, hope I'm not interrupting, but Safira's time is nearing," he announced.
Prince Damian's eyes widened in confusion. "Nearing for what exactly?" he asked, looking to her for an explanation.
Queen Safira hugged him tightly and replied, "I can feel the pulling force of my Beast domain. It's getting ready to take me back home, darling."
Prince Damian's heart sank. "No...no...no...why so soon? I thought we had at least four more days, Safira," he exclaimed, holding her tightly.
Drac stepped forward and explained, "It's because she overused her power. She drained too much of it when she blew up the star. She exceeded 20% of her power, that's why she hasn't been using her powers since then to try to stay longer, son."
Prince Damian sighed heavily. "This is unfair. What am I going to do without you guys?" he asked, looking up at her.
Queen Safira held him closer and replied, "You will become a strong man and work hard for me. When I come back for your birthday, I expect a lot from you. Can you promise me that you will work hard?" she asked, lifting her finger to his face.
Prince Damian took her finger in his hand and replied, "I promise I will. And I'll be counting down the days until I see you. Please be safe as well," he said.
Drac gave the prince a reassuring pat on the back. "Kid, next time I see you, I'll show you some tricks," he said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Queen Safira gave Prince Damian a stern gaze, her fists clenched in frustration.
"I'm talking about combat, not everything I do is perverted," Drac exclaimed. "Plus, he asked me nicely to teach him."
Fenris interjected, "I have records proving that's not true."
Drac's face turned white with shock. "What?! You have what? No, no, it's impossible... hahah..."
"All your misconducts," Fenris chimed in with a sly smile.
Drac began to sweat profusely. "..."
Queen Safira softened her expression and placed a hand on Damian's shoulder. "Hopefully, when we get back, we'll have to answer my darling Damian. Then, we can help you get better. Please take care of yourself. Drac, is going to show you how to deactivate your bracelets, but don't use them unless you have to, do you hear me?"
Prince Damian nodded and hugged the queen tightly. "Yes, Safira. I promise I won't use my powers wrongly. I'll make sure to keep them well hidden from other races."
Drac walked over and showed Damian how to use the bracelets, explaining that they were made of Adimite and that nothing could break them except a god or another piece of Adimite.
He then jokingly warned Damian not to lose his arm, as it would render the bracelets useless. He also pulled out new contacts and told Damian to wear them to hide his eyes and protect him from any unwanted attention.
Damian thanked Drac for his help and expressed his excitement about learning combat from the martial master himself. He hugged Drac tightly before turning to Fenris.
Fenris hugged Damian tightly, tears streaming down her face. "You be safe for all of us, Damian," she said.
"I will try my best, Fenris. And you all do the same. I'm going to miss you so much," Damian replied.
"I'm going to miss you so much, little one. I'll count down the days until I see you again," Fenris said, her voice trembling.
"Me too, Fenris," Damian replied.
"I look forward to seeing this intelligent young man in a few years. I bet you'll be super smart," Fenris said with a smile.
Prince Damian simply nodded, "Thank you, Fenris, for being such a fabulous helper and making my time here a fantastic experience."
"Thank you for being such a wonderful little man," Fenris replied with a smile.
"Also thank you for looking after me and giving me the best gift ever "
As Fenris looked at him, a smile spread across her face. "What is that, Damian?" he asked.
"Just a friend and a reason not to be afraid anymore," Damian replied, as Fenris pulled him into a deep hug.
Queen Safira stepped forward and joined in the embrace, the three of them holding each other for a moment before finally breaking apart.
"Damian, darling, we got you a birthday present," Queen Safira said, pulling out a medium-sized box about half the size of little Prince Damian. "But, you can't open it until your birthday. Can you do that for all of us?"
"You all didn't have to," Damian protested, disappointment clear on his face. "Can't I open it now and thank you all while you're still here?"
But, everyone shook their heads at him, and he reluctantly agreed to wait until his birthday to open the gift.
Queen Safira couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and Damian held her tightly as she cried.
"Everything is going to be alright," he reassured her. "I'm going to be alright, Safira, and do you know why? It's all because of you."
"I don't think I'll be able to go a day without thinking about you," Queen Safira said through her tears. "I'm going to miss you so, so much, Damian. Please don't forget or hate us."
"I'll never forget the beautiful face of the supreme existence that freed me from that cage, showed me true kindness and love, protected me, and even blew up a star for me," Damian replied. "You've done more for me than anyone else ever has."
With that, Queen Safira pulled out a ring and handed it to him. "Dimensional rings are expensive, so take mine. I'll get a new one. It has books for you to study, as well as a lot of money and other goodies. Just place a droplet of blood on it and it's yours. Use it well, alright?"
The ring was white Adimite, with a dragon scale pattern and a white crystal. Damian smiled and thanked them all profusely, eager to see them again.
"Safira, it's time we need to go to the clan members," Drac interjected. "I've already prepared them for departure. Let's go."
Queen Safira, kissed Prince Damian goodbye and headed out the door. But as she was walking, she heard her name being called from behind. She turned around to see a giant hug waiting for her.
"I love you, be strong for me little one. I'll see you soon and don't give up on me, as I will never give up on you," she whispered as she embraced him.
Prince Damian felt her warmth in his arms, but she soon disappeared, leaving only the sound of the door closing behind her. He fell to the floor holding his chest.
"I...I...I don't know what love is, Queen Safira. But I know you cared a lot for me. I'll miss you," he said, his smile fading away as his eyes returned to their void state again.
Meanwhile, in an empty piece of space, Queen Safira appeared, followed by Kiron, who held Fenris and said everything would be alright. Five years would go by in the blink of an eye.
Drac appeared moments later and announced that the clan members and main squads would be arriving in 10 minutes.
Queen Safira said, "Why can't I stay, Drac? Why is life so cruel and mean?" She looked into the distance at planet Asclepiu, sighing but not looking away.
Drac replied, "I ask myself that every day, Your Majesty. Why did they have to die and not me? They were innocent, yet I was the asshole..."
"No, you weren't, Drac. You were a loving father and a caring husband. You couldn't have seen that coming," Queen Safira interrupted.
"And yet I should have seen it coming and been there to protect them. Now they are gone forever," Drac said, sighing at the memories of his loved ones.
Queen Safira looked at him and said, "I'm sorry, Drac. I never understood your true pain until today. I love you both so much."
Ten minutes later, everyone arrived. Queen Safira congratulated them on doing a good job and working so hard. She then unsheathed her sword and channelled her energy into it, splitting a section of space and invoking the rule of law that was imprinted on her soul.
A gate opened, leading back to their domain. They all entered, and Queen Safira turned to look back in Damian's direction. She whispered, "I'll make sure your future is bright," before stepping through the gate, which closed behind her.