A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1
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"It's glitching but they're in. The droids are in!" Duke Paris announced as the feed on the big screen glitches.
"Droids, can you hear me? Volty, Serin, Harmon, Spikey, Wattsy, and Ohm, answer," Watts said to one of the microphones.
"M-Master, h-hear..." The droids replied with static.
"Wattroid, stabilize the networks and signals now."
Wattroid nodded and connected himself to Wattsy. When it was successful, Wattsy helped the others, too. It was one of the main purposes why he was created. The helper of the team and the most important.
Once the screens were clear, they could hardly see anything from how dark it was. They activated the night vision. The first to scream was Duke Paris when they saw what the droids saw.
Ohm immediately bumped himself against Wattsy to avoid the hand that was coming to their way.
They are meters high in the air.
A giant!
"Calm down, everyone! Focus on your goals! Lord Feryzen, guide Serin and Volty the way to your kingdom. Everyone, don't be scared. Don't panic. Avoid contact with monsters at all cost. Ohm, Wattsy, begin the survey. Fly in separate ways. Spikey and Harmon, begin the search as well. Don't be scared. We're here," Watts assured his droids.
And so, they were relieved and calmed down. They avoided the giant. It's a good thing that it's slow. However, its roar is strong and loud. They had to remove their headphones while wincing. The droids were sent flying but they managed to get back on their track and flew away as fast as they can.
Prince Valerian looked back at his mother. Her eyes were fixated on the screen. Her hands were cold. She's keeping it all together. That darkness and chaos...was all because of her.
"Mommy, are you alright?"
It snapped her back to reality and smiled at her son.
"Of course. Why would I not be?" She pinched his cheek gently. The Prince said nothing more and watched again.
Ohm found a piece of wasted land, so he flew towards it. As he flew closer, his eyes zoomed to the flag he found.
"Flag of Vernignac Empire found. Master, I'm going to Vernignac Empire," he said, but the land he could see is broken and utterly destroyed.
Franchetti Xerene's tears began to fall as she cover her mouth when he saw the dismembered bodies pierced through the poles. It was preserved but the state of it were not better either. Her eyes widened and jumped up from her seat when she recognized whose head she's seeing.
Her first daughter, Selene Azazel.
"O-Oh my... Oh my god... Is that... S-Se... Sele..."
Ohm stopped right before the Duchess's head. He scanned it and when it's complete, Duchess Selene's information were flashed beside the screen.
"Did... Did you...do that?"
Franchetti Xerene asked her. Though her knees were shaking, she managed to get to Azarese just to ask her again, "Did you do that to her!?"
Prince Valerian glared at her.
"Raise your voice to my Mommy one more time and you will replace her."
Even his mother couldn't believe what he said. Voltage Xirquit came to collect his wife. King Liorei was in a distance. What about his daughter? If that's what happened to Selene, then about happened to his Lorreign?
The thought of it fuels his insanity.
The entire continent of Vernignac Empire was diminished to an island.
"Don't go to mine yet. I will go there myself," she said lowly but they heard it loud in clear. Watts stared at her for a moment before giving the droids an order. He said on time because Spikey was already assessing the only continent in a good condition, which is the Warlock Empire, and the Heart Palace is the only place with lights on.
Spikey turned around to leave when suddenly his feed died down.
"What happened? What's wrong?" Blaine Steel and Duke Paris tried to do something but Spikey won't pick up. So, they send Harmon who was the closest to check on Spikey.
"Ah, there's a fucking bug." Their hearts seemed to stop.
The voice is low and gravelly, with a deliberate, measured cadence that sends shivers down the spine. There is a detached, emotionless quality to it, devoid of warmth or compassion, making it feel as though the man speaking is entirely unfeeling and utterly remorseless; a kind of voice that seems to come from the depths of darkness itself.
"Master, Harmon can't move!"
Watts couldn't dare speak a word. His heart is beating fast and bits of sweat are building up on his face.
It is not a giant. He can't tell what kind it is, but it definitely is a monster, too.
A hand blocked Harmon's sight. They caught a glimpse of the mysterious man's silhouette.
"And it speaks. A robot? Who made you? Where are you from? Who are you talking to?"
Ohms slowly move his hand to reach for a button.
"Master! Master, I'm scared! I can't see! Harmon can't see!"
"Harmon?" The uncanny voice repeated.
"Speak your Master's name. Who is your master?"
Harmon screamed and tried to fought the hand that's holding her back by electrocuting it but it didn't affect him.
Ohms did it. He pushed the the control button assigned for Harmon, cutting the connection between them and shutting her down.
"It's for the better. That's a dangerous man," he said and looked at his brother with an apologetic eyes. But Watts understood. He wanted to do the same thing, too, but he was too scared. A formidable being. They haven't seen much yet, but they already met someone so dangerous.
"You're not the only ones with a brain," the man said when Harmon suddenly shut down. He smirked and teleported back to the Palace.
"Y-Your Imperial Majesty, the Empress is asking for you," the servants made him know as he climb the stairs to go to the Tower.
He stopped, then he nodded.
"Bring this to the Tower. I will see my wife." He dropped Harmon on the servant's hand and teleported to their bed chambers. He found his wife on the bed, crying without an ounce of emotions on her face.
"Husband..."
"My wife,"
The Empress turned her head to his way. Once radiant with the brilliance of the sun, the golden eyes that once captivated all now appear dull and lifeless, like faded amber clouds obscured by a sorrowful haze. Even the brilliance and colors of her hair were became washed-out yellow, like a second-rate blonde.
She raised her hands to reach him and waited for him. But she's still as beautiful as ever.
"Husband."
"Yes, yes. I am here. Were you waiting for me?"
"Baby."
He smiled and knelt in front of her. He reached for the baby doll behind her and gave it to her.
"There, there. Baby is here."
The Empress returned to her silence and rocked the swaddled toy in her arms while humming a monotonous lullaby. He kissed her forehead, "I will be back, wife. Play with our baby for now, hmm?"
The Empress ignored him, so he took the chance to leave. On his way to the Tower, he wore his infamous mask.
"Our k-kingdom!"
Lord Feryzen smiled as his emotions mix up in him. He looked back to see the Prince. Prince Valerian jumped from his mother's lap and ran to see it closer.
Before they could give out an order, a hole was opened in the barrier for Wattsy. The people below it were all looking up to him. Prince Valor wiped the tears streaming down his face. He's smiling. Their people multiplied again.
Since the whole place is bright with fire and luminous stones, Watts turned off the night vision feature. His descended, looking at the new faces around him, scanning each of it but no records of them ever came up.
They're speaking of a language they don't know about, but Lord Feryzen and Prince Valor can understand them. Chase Hyatt placed a camera in front of them and gave them a look with a smile. Lord Feryzen nodded. So, when Chase Hyatt pressed the button, Wattsy relayed the colored holographic feed of their faces before their people, whose eyes widened and immediately glistened as their tears welled in their eyes.
"Dragon subjects of Zin Draji Teivel descent, yes, it is I. Your Princes are returning with the Ki'zaar's heir and Mi'zaar!" Prince Valor declared, becoming the button that made their people burst into tears.
They cheered, screaming and roaring. Younglings breathe fire and danced in the air. Seeing a dragon for the very first time, it amazed and fascinated them. Prince Valerian's emotions swelled in his heart. He's happy that they are already celebrating even though they haven't seen him yet.
"PRINSIAZE! THE PRINCE IS COMING!"
Wattsy strolled towards the Palace he found. Archmages and other servants came out to see the commotion. They were all in tears upon seeing the face of their beloved Princes. As Wattsy fly, the dragons, flying or in Ancient form, knelt and bowed their heads until it touches the floor.
Lord Feryzen gestured Priedo to come and he showed him to his parents.
"Priedo!" His family called out. Priedo wiped his ears and smiled at them.
"Let us bring you to the Ki'zaar," his father, the highest Archmage, smiled and caught Wattsy in his palms. The other Archamages followed him, too.
The Ki'zaar smiled weakly.
"My son..." he whispered so low and forced himself to get up. Using little magic, he opened the thin curtains around his bed. He sent out very tiny fire balls to the torches. The fire became brighter. He waited patiently for them with a smile, sitting by the edge of the bed. His long hair is covering most of his face, so he tried fixing himself, but his hair falls back again.
"K-KI'ZAAR!" The Archamages almost fell to their knees when they saw him up.
"You mustn't! Please, lie down---"
"Val...or..."
Prince Valor's lips trembled. His fists were shut tightly. His brother became thinner. His condition worsened and much worst than the last time he saw him. Yet for him, because he saw him coming, the Ki'zaar gathered his strength to get up just to meet him.
"Don't be stubborn and lie back down, brother," the smiling Prince said to his brother.
The Ki'zaar saw him through the gaps between his hair. He raised his shaking, weak hand, so the Archmages guided him and supported him. He tried to touch his brother's image on the screen.
"Healt...hy. I'm ha---ppy..."
Prince Valor walked away. Not because he doesn't want to see his brother, but to hide his ugly crying face. Lord Feryzen followed him to comfort him, so Prince Valerian climbed a chair to show himself.
"DADDY!"
He called out as loud as he could with tears flowing from his eyes. The Ki'zaar's eyes widened.
"It's me, your baby! You're my Daddy! They found me, Dad! I'm going there! I'm going there with my Mommy, so wait for me! I... I want to fly with you!"
Azarese smiled for her son.
Drop by drop, the Ki'zaar's tears wet his lap. He slowly nodded.
"We will do that, my hatchling. My adorable dragon. We will---"
The Ki'zaar coughed up blood. Prince Valerian almost fell from the chair when he flinched and tried to go through the camera if only he could to be with his father.
The archmages took over and blocked the Prinsiaze's view as they help the Ki'zaar. When he was better, he was already lying down on the bed. Wattsy is flying in front of him. Prince Valerian is still crying. He was so afraid. It scared him very much.
Thinking that it would make him feel better, the Ki'zaar showed him the toy his brother used to play with. A rattle. He gently played it for his son.
Prince Valerian ran to his mother and hugged her legs, "Mommy, let's go to Daddy now! Let's help him now! I'm so scared! Mommy, please, let's go to Daddy now!"
"Baby---"
Prince Valerian cried louder, "Please, Mommy! What if... What if it's too late!? Daddy is very weak! I don't want to lose him, Mommy! Please, please, Mommy! I want to see him now! Please, I'll be a very good boy!"
Azarese picked up her son and calmed him down, but seeing his father cough up blood must've scared him very much that it drove him delirious. He's been begging and his breathing is already not normal.
"Fine. Fine, we'll go there. We will go now."
Watts looked down upon hearing her decision. Then, he looked at the Ki'zaar. The shadow of the curtains hides his face, yet they saw a faint smile on his lips. He's still playing the rattle until the sound is gone.
"DADDY!? DADDY--- Mommy! He's not moving anymore! MOMMY!"
Prince Valerian stomped his feet and the ground quaked.
"C-Calm down, Prinsiaze! The Ki'zaar is only asleep!" Lord Feryzen said, stopping the Prince from getting angry and frustrated.
Azarese kissed her son's forehead. She wiped his tears and made their foreheads touch. She closed her eyes and smiled, "You will see him. Breathe in, breathe out. Be cool. You're a Prince. Save your tears for later. We're going. Once you meet him, we will find Maximilien. Hmm?"
"My Daddy..."
She nodded and buried his face on her neck. She gently rocked him side by side until he's fallen asleep, too. Her eyes searched for Watts Xirquit. And when she found him, he gave her a smile and nodded.
"Everyone, wear your suits. We're going now."
~
Their preparation is almost complete. Duke Paris is all geared up with Fiery determination plastered on his face. They're wearing whole-body bodysuits enchanted with layers of magic, made of materials that were both valuable and almost priceless, procured by Watts himself.
Aloisia and Calamity stood beside him. They looked at each other and nodded.
Azarese brush the dusts off her son's traditional clothes. Prince Valor and Lord Feryzen worked with Miss President and Givenchy Quine in its creation. It features a high-collared tunic made of scaled, iridescent fabric that mimics dragon hide. The tunic is adorned with intricate, flame-like embroidery in gold and crimson, symbolizing power and lineage. The outfit is completed with a wide, dragon-embossed belt, and a flowing cape that resembles a dragon's wings, shimmering with subtle enchantments that evoke the majesty and might of their draconic heritage
"Mommy, I want to see Daddy," the sleepy Prince sniffled. He's sat on the chair; his mother changed his clothes.
"We're going to him now," she told him with a soft smile and picked him up.
"I'll carry him. You should get changed," said Ohms Xirquit when he arrived, looking good and sexy in the suit he made for himself. He have his own lab, he said. A total shock for everyone even though they are aware about his abilities and prowess, too.
Azarese did not complain and entrusted the Prince to him. She only tapped her foot twice and black magic changed her clothes into a black halter-neck gown gilded in gold patterns. Hands put her hair into a braided updo and tied a one-arm cape across her body, with the symbols of her lawful husbands' houses imprinted on it with hers on her chest. Hands didn't let her look so simple and adorned her with jewelries.
"Let's go."
When they left Watts's office, they were transported to the camp they built. They found Watts as busy as ever, talking to his Ninang. There were more people outside, each carrying a container and transferring it to an open portal.
Watts stopped talking when he caught the figure of her coming their way. The whole world and so time stopped for him, and all he could see is her.
He will be her husband again and he will make sure of that.
"What's with all these people?" She asked with a tone and arching eyebrow now that she's in front of him.
Watts Xirquit breathe in and looked at the people going in and out of the portal.
"They're storing foods I ordered in my space storage. Especially raw meat for the dragons. I don't know how they liked their meat cooked, so I ordered bunch of raw ones. They mentioned before about food scarcity. We have lots of resources and it wouldn't hurt to bring them some."
When the Lord and Prince heard about his generosity and kindness, they couldn't explain how indebted they feel towards him.
"Thank you, my friend. I will repay your kindness just name it."
Watts smiled at Prince Valor and pat his shoulder, "Just being a friend of mine is enough. We're allies. I will need you and your forces more more than you will need me. I'm also doing this to build a connection between humans and dragons, to let them know that we are not enemies."
Prince Valor gave his good friend a tight hug and kissed his head. Ohms glared at him.
"Thank you. Thank you very much. Your intentions will reach them. I love you, my friend."
Watts returned the same hug to his friend and nodded. It's a shame Maxigaufeas and Thirdy can't go with them. They're not going to have an adventure, but he knew their journey will be fun.
They finally parted. Prince Valerian opened his eyes from his short nap and looked up to see who's holding him. Ohms looked down on him. They made eye contact.
He started crying and searched for his mother.
"What did you do?" Azarese hissed at him as soon as her son is back in her arms.
"I only looked at him," he said the truth, but they didn't believe him.
"I like Uncle Watts. I don't like him. He's scary!"
Ohms only rolled his eyes. His mother smacked his arm when she saw it and gave him a glare. He hissed.
"Time is running short. We must go. My senses are tingling. An ominous feeling," Lord Feryzen made known as he gaze over the Wall. It just came to him and the thought of the man they heard ran across his mind.
"There will be a battle," Prince Valor said and looked past the skies. He closed his eyes and listened to the whispers in the wind.
"Uncle, it's best to ride on dragon back. The whispers told me that danger awaits us on the Other Side. Everyone," he faced them. Each were serious, prepared for the battle that is about to come. They will be battling against not just Veils but whatever Warlock Empire houses.
And Azarese knew the things she kept in it.
Skadi Eira yawned. Solana is awake; she was looking forward to seeing a dragon.
"Why are you here? You're not going with us," Azarese.
"Meh. But I want to. I want to see what the world had become after that day," she replied in a different tone and manner while looking straight into Azarese's eyes. She got what she meant. She's pertaining about their battle.
"Then get on me. I'm faster than you," proposed the Lord with a smirk to tease his nephew.
"You want to show off, don't you? We can just use Priedo,"
Lord Feryzen smirked even more, "You're just sad because you can't be in your dragon form, my beloved nephew. You still can't control your power. I can, and I'm faster. Cry."
Prince Valor huffed and puffed in frustration. He crossed his arms, ignoring his Uncle. Lord Feryzen went to the Prince and kissed his hand.
"Please watch me take form into a dragon, Prinsiaze. So that when you see the Ki'zaar, you will the difference between us."
The Prince flashed a gummy smile and looked up to his mother. Azarese is giving Lord Feryzen cold stares, but when she sees her son, she softened and smiled.
The Lord began to walk away to distance himself from everyone. They waited under the shade of their camp.
Priedo casted a barrier. The Lord's transformation from Ancient to dragon begins with his skin gradually becoming translucent, revealing a galaxy of stars within. As the change progresses, his body elongates and expands, growing higher than the trees, limbs morphing into powerful claws, and a tail unfurling like a comet's tail. Finally, his wings burst forth in a blaze of celestial energy, and its eyes, now gleaming with the wisdom of the cosmos, complete the metamorphosis into a creature of pure, astral might.
A dragon. A star dragon.
Lord Feryzen roared a mighty roar. He slowly pointed his head to the skies and opened his mouth. There, he showed the Prinsiaze his Star Beam Breath. It pierced through the clouds and cleared the whole sky. Prince Valor clicked his tongue. His Uncle is showing off and he's so annoyed.
"A DRAGON!" Solana and Prince Valerian cried out as their innocent eyes gleam in delight.
"We are really... In a fantasy world," Franchetti Xerene murmured and smiled as she watch Lord Feryzen take flight to show off more. He's leaving a trail of stardust. And every time he will flap his wings, the wind blows so hard that the trees bends to his grace.
For the very first time in their whole life, a mythical and legendary dragon was sighted.