A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.1
****
Lord Feryzen landed, wiggling his head before lowering it to see the Prince. He smiled at him. The star mark on his forehead glow.
"Am I cool, Prinsiaze?"
Prince Valerian jumped down and ran to him. The dragon closed his eyes to feel his soft touch on his head.
"Amazing! You're amazing, Grampa!"
Lord Feryzen's tail turn into color red. Prince Valerian climbed his wings until he's standing on the dragon's back.
"Mommy! Look, I'm here! I'm on a dragon!" He shouted while waving his hands in the air. Azarese smiled and clapped her hands for him.
"You're amazing, baby. You're amazing."
Priedo transferred them behind the Lord except for Skadi Eira who chose her cloud over the dragon. Solana chose to stay with her, but she wanted to ride the dragon, too.
"I have one like that. I'll let you ride it," she told her and Solana held on it like a promise.
"Is everyone ready?" The Lord asked. Prince Valerian is sitting on his head, holding tight on his horns. Behind him is his mother, then Watts, Ohms, Franchetti Xerene, Voltage Xirquit, and Duke Paris. Priedo is standing behind the Duke with Prince Valor.
"Safe travels, everybody," Chancellor Titania bid and waved her hands to them. Her team will be their support.
Lord Feryzen began walking. Then he ran, until he began soaring through the skies. Prince Valerian laughed and raised his hands in the air. Lord Feryzen raised his head slowly to push the Prince back. Azarese caught him in her embrace. The Prince couldn't stop giggling.
"Mommy, when I'm a dragon, you'd be the first to ride me. Okay!?"
She kissed his head and nodded.
"Hold on tight!" Prince Valor cried out as they get nearer to the Wall.
Ohms wrapped his mother's arms around him, holding. Watts placed his arm around Azarese's waist, while the other is securing the Prince, too. Priedo placed his hand on Duke Paris when he's the only one who doesn't have anyone to hold on to.
"You're my friend now," Duke Paris tearfully said to him, and Priedo only smiled.
Lord Feryzen thrusts his massive form into the Wall; he's struggling as he move forward against the Wall's resistant surface. Despite his immense strength, the Wall undulates and pushes him back with equal force, struggling to repel the his entry. As his dragon's body is halfway through, shadowy arms, hands, and tentacles stretch out from the surface of Wall. They grabbed him; pulling and pushing him back with desperate strength. Below and around, grotesque monsters converge, their hungry eyes gleaming as they close in, eager to feast on the dragon caught in the Wall's relentless grasp.
From the black oceans emerged a kraken, its roar scared the children.
"PRIEDO!"
Prince Valor looked down and pointed his finger gun below when the Lord shouted, "Don't, Valor! Don't use your powers!"
"But the monsters---!"
"NO! I will!"
Lord Feryzen opened his mouth. He charged a white Star Beam from left to right, clearing the incoming giants and cutting the Wall's arms. However, his beamed unexpectedly ricochet.
"WATCH OUT!"
The dragon let out a thunderous cry when it wounded him. From his neck to his shoulders, the beam cut him. He almost lost his right wing had he not lowered his body.
"KUYA!" Watts Xirquit screamed when the line behind him were sent flying after the Wall's arms hit them. They were distracted and it took its chance.
Lord Feryzen screamed and used all his strength to fully enter the Other Side from getting his other half stucked in the Wall. He swiftly flew and let out another star beam, cutting the rampaging kraken below them into two. Then he took a swift turn to catch the falling Earthlings,.
Ohms activated his suit and caught his mother's hand. But they didn't see a flying Veil that suddenly fell down like an asteroid from the dark clouds on them. It landed behind Ohms, burying its claw on his back before tearing him apart.
"OHMS! NO!"
Franchetti Xerene fell into the ocean. The Wall's arms were squeezing the life out of Duke Paris. Priedo saved Voltage Xirquit first; but when his wife fell into the ocean, he jumped to follow her. At the same time King Liorei who's flying by himself shifted to save her.
When Franchetti Xerene opened her eyes, she found herself in the hallways of Heart Palace. The first she did was check on herself. She's a whole, she's complete, and she's dry.
"H-Hello!? Volt!? Ohms, Watts!" She called but nobody answered. The hallways were eerily silent. The atmosphere she's feeling is stale and cold. The Heart Palace was never this silent and empty and cold before. It's not the Heart Palace she knew.
She took careful and light steps as she tread through the hallways. She checked every room, peeking between the thin gaps and found nobody inside every time. She's confused. Her heart is beating abnormally fast. She could feel it under her skin, her instincts were tingling---something is not right.
Until she made it to the Empress Siofra's chambers.
She stared at the doorknobs of the twin doors for a minute. It's like some bad ghost is telling her not to do it, but the good one is urging her to. Her fingers were already wrapped around the doorknob when she breathe in and made up her mind. She twisted the left door and pushed it open.
Her heart dropped.
The sight before her was nightmarish—her eyes widened, and her skin turned ashen as she took in the scene. The Princess, frail, naked, and trembling, was caught in a helpless struggle. Her father's rough hands were grabbing her body in violent madness, his eyes wild with insanity. Xerene's mouth fell open in silent shock, her body frozen in the doorway, as the gravity of the unspeakable act shattered her sense of reality, leaving her overwhelmed by a flood of terror, disbelief, and helplessness.
Princess Azarese's blurry sight noticed the light that sneaked its way inside from open door. Alas, her despairing heart is now filled with hope once again now that the Grand Duchess is here, shaking as she stood by the door.
"---chess... A-Auntie... Auntie! PLEASE! HELP ME! AUNT XERENE! HELP ME!"
The golden Princess used the strength she's been preserving for a miracle such as this to come and crawled away from the King.
Franchetti Xerene held a step back and almost fell.
Right in that moment, she doesn't know what to do.
King LIFE slowly turned his head to look at her. His hands grabbed the Princess, squeezing her so tightly that it crushed her bones. But she didn't want to waste this chance. The Grand Duchess is here. Surely, she will help her. The Grand Duchess is just; she won't just stand by as evil happen before her. The Grand Duchess may hate her but it won't change the fact that her father is abusing her!
"AUNTIE! PLEASE! HELP ME---"
Princess Azarese's eyes widened when the Grand Duchess turned her back on her and began walking away.
Her red diamond tears began to fall.
"... Why?"
Franchetti Xerene fled the scene in a blind panic and upsetting fear from the look she saw on King Life's face. Her heart is pounding with the horror of what she had witnessed. But as she ran, the Azarese's earlier accusations echoed in her mind, piercing through her terror.
"---Did you know that your mother saw me in that state!? She caught him doing it on me! I begged for her help but what did your mother fucking do!? SHE WALKED AWAY! SHE WALKED AWAY ON ME, LORD WATTS!"
It must be this right very moment. It was this moment. She was talking about this moment. It was not the Grand Duchess of the first timeline who turned her back on the Princess.
It was her, the Franchetti Xerene Xirquit from the second timeline.
Guilt twisted her insides, forcing her to stop, breathless and trembling.
Realizing the weight of her cowardice, she turned back, desperate to save the golden Princess and make things right---she would've done it if only her time did not run out.
Priedo lifted Voltage Xirquit from the waters and returned him on the dragon's back. Ohms Xirquit is in his brother's clutch, fighting for his dear life.
Prince Valor stand up and pointed his finger to the Wall. Its arms is taking Duke Paris back. No, rather, the Wall wants to devour him.
"Priedo, no matter what it takes, bring my friend's father here."
Priedo's eyes widened. Lord Feryzen looked back, about to stop his nephew but Prince Valor knew that he will, so he did it. He shoot a tiny Blackhole towards the Wall's arms. Priedo sent a sharp wind that could cut through the hardest metal. He opened a portal below the Duke and he got him when he fell over their heads.
Voltage Xirquit took his wife from King Liorei. She's awake, tears streaming down her eyes.
"Xerene! Xerene, what's wrong? Are you hurt? Speak! What's wrong!?"
Instead of answering her husband, she glide her eyes to where Azarese is, worrying about her dying potential husband, Ohms.
"Mommy! Kyaaah!" Solana screamed when the giants opened their mouths to meet them.
Skadi Eira yawned and flicked her finger in the air. Every giant that were going their way burst like a balloon. She drew an arch in the air to shield themselves from the pieces of guts that were flying everywhere. The monsters below, in the ocean and on land, were having a feast.
"Chill, girl. I'm the best," she boasted, feeling cool and proud about what she did. She smirked when her daughter showered her praises and claps.
"Such wound is beyond my capabilities. I... I can't! I don't know how!" Priedo.
Watts looked at his brother. Ohms's eyes were half open and his lips were curled into a smirk.
"It...hurts. Not g-gonna lie..."
"T-This is...my fault. It's because... It's because I rushed things!" Prince Valerian blamed himself and covered his face.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Mommy! It's my fault! He's gonna die because of me! Because of me! E-Everyone was put in danger...because of me!"
"They deserved it. It's not your fault. It's because they're weak and dumb, baby. Don't blame yourself," Azarese consoled and it didn't help at all.
"THE KINGDOM!" Lord Feryzen announced, getting all their attention.
Prince Valerian wiped his tears and crawled to the edge to look down. His mother holds him by the arm, afraid that he will fall.
Duke Paris gasped the Other Side's polluted air when his crushed lungs regenerated to their best condition after receiving treatment from Priedo. His fulfilling life flashed right before his eyes. God knows that he's not afraid to die; but he didn't want to leave yet. He already spent most of his life doing fulfilling things, but he's got another reason why he must live on.
For Emperor Max, for Aviana Lavender Lee, and for the future.
"Don't worry. The elder archmages are powerful. They will save him," Priedo assured the Xirquits with a smile. He only stopped the bleeding and that's the best he could do.
Lord Feryzen circled over the island.
"PRINCE FERYZEN! OPEN THE BARRIER! PRINCE FERYZEN HAS RETURNED!" The people shouted as they all gather at the center. Small dragons were seen circling in the same pace as the Lord, breathing weak fire breaths and singing.
The archmages stood on the entrance of the Palace and raised their staffs. A beam of light coming from their wands directed to the barrier and slowly, it unveiled the kingdom its been keeping from the world for centuries.
The dragons and people divided themselves to give Lord Feryzen a space to land. He roared and settled. When he lowered his head, the first thing their subjects see was their long-lost Prince, the Ki'zaar's heir, the reason why their Princes has to leave in the first place---Prince Valerian.
Hands stretched out, taking Azarese and the Prince over their heads.
"Kneel before your Prince." She demanded them when nobody would take the first initiative.
The flying younglings landed and returned to their Ancient forms. All at once, their subjects went down to their knees and grovel before them, bowing deeply in reverence.
Prince Valerian looked at his mother. His heart is beating fast. He couldn't explain the feeling. Excitement? Worry? Fear? But his mother knew, so she kissed his cheek to calm him.
Azarese went down and put her son down to the ground. She gently pushed him, telling him to go on first. Prince Valerian meekly walked. At first, the pressure was weighing him down. But as he took more steps forward, his little, trembling steps turn into a stride of grace, royalty, and authority. Azarese felt so proud to see her son overcome his own conflicts.
When he made it before the stairs leading to the Palace, the Prince looked back to his mother. She smiled at him and nodded. She caught a glimpse of a silhouetted figure coming out of the gigantic twin doors.
Prince Valerian touched his face when he saw the markings on his face glowing. Lines of written ancient language spiraled around his arms, tattooed on his skin.
"Valerian..." The Ki'zaar whispered. But with the silence in the island that even the waves of the oceans around us cannot break, all heard it.
Prince Valerian was frozen still, eyes widening. When he turned around and looked up to the person standing behind the kneeling archmages, he almost submitted to the weakness of his knees.
The wind blew softly and when the Ki'zaar's hair was sent aside, it revealed the smile on his lips and trails of tears on his face.
The Prince did not say a word, but he was crying his heart out loudly as he ran up the stairs. He jumped high and the Ki'zaar opened his arms for him.
"DADDY!" Finally, the Prince said it.
As the Ki'zaar and the Prince finally embraced, a powerful surge of energy erupted from their reunion, radiating outwards like a brilliant wave of light. The very air around them seemed to hum with life, vibrating with the deep, unspoken bond that connected the father and son. This burst of energy was not just a display of love but a profound merging of their life forces, an ancient and mystical synergy that had been dormant during their long separation.
The energy swirled around them in a dazzling display, enveloping them in a cocoon of shimmering light. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and the world around them faded into insignificance. Then, as quickly as it had spread, the energy began to withdraw, flowing back into the Ki'zaar, absorbed and taken by him. The light that had surrounded them now concentrated within him, filling the void that had been left by years of sorrow and loss.
The deep lines of grief and weariness on his face softened, replaced by a glow of vitality that had not been seen in him for many years. The life force he had lost when his son was taken from him had returned, restoring not just his physical strength but rekindling the fire in his spirit.
The Ki'zaar opened his eyes. It was as if the moons took residence within them. His eyes were glowing and so the markings on his face subtly. He could feel it. He could feel his power surging within his veins, a feeling he missed and thought had forgotten.
"At long last, my son. At long last," he said as his gentle touch rub the Prince's face.
The Prince looked up to him but he couldn't see him because of his long, dark hair. But he could the Ki'zaar's eyes flowing through, looking at him.
"Daddy, I can't see your face..."
The Ki'zaar gently wiped the tears off his cheeks and smiled.
"You will."
He reached for the Prince's hand and the Prince stood beside him, not taking his eyes off his father. The Ki'zaar raised his free hand to the sky.
"Raise your heads, subjects of Zin Draji Teivel descent. With my son's return, this world shall see light."
He looked down to the Prince and smiled, "Watch, my son. You will inherit even the skies."
So, the Prince drift his stares to the skies where everybody is looking at to.
The Ki'zaar fluidly moved his hand in the air. Soft like water, silent as the wind. But the magic that came from it sliced the clouds into a star shape. The clouds twisted and writhed before finally bursting open, sending tendrils of darkness spiraling away.
In their place, the sky emerged in a brilliant cascade of cerulean blue, pure and unmarred, as though it had been waiting in hiding for millennia. The sun, once a forgotten memory, shone down with a warmth and radiance that bathed the island below in golden light. Its rays, unfiltered and glorious, swept away the last remnants of the ancient gloom, revealing a world reborn under a sky that had not seen such clarity or brightness for an age.
"Light... LIGHT! THE SUN! THE SUN!!" The people cheered with tears.
A ray of light, sent by the moons to the sun, twirled down and kissed the Ki'zaar's fingertips. The Ki'zaar closed his eyes and let the light enveloped him. The moon on his forehead absorbed it when his transformation is done.
His body, once frail and bent, now stood tall and regal, exuding an aura of timeless power. As he transformed, his traditional Imperial clothes, once heavy with the weight of age, became a magnificent display of splendor. His face, now the epitome of beauty, was as flawless as polished ivory, yet it carried the wisdom of centuries. High cheekbones and a strong jawline framed eyes that gleamed like molten gold, filled with a depth of emotion and understanding that could only come from a ruler who had seen both the heights of glory and the depths of despair.
Most striking of all were the glowing ancient markings that adorned his face and body, just like the Prinsiaze's. These markings, ethereal and luminous, traced the contours of his skin like constellations against a night sky. On his forehead, a central sigil blazed with a brilliance that commanded reverence, while other markings cascaded down his arms and chest, intertwining in a beautiful, otherworldly script that told the story of his enduring legacy.
When the Ki'zaar turned to his son, he couldn't help but laugh when he saw the mesmerized look on his face. The Prinsiaze was gawking at him with his gaping mouth.
Prince Valor stood before them with the wounded Lord on his side.
"L-Let's save our reunion for later. He's wounded. We were attacked on our way here. And we have companions."
Prince Valor looked back. The Earthlings presented themselves to him and knelt before him to pay him respects. The Prince slip his hands from the Ki'zaar when his eyes found her.
Priedo assisted the Earthlings aside. Azarese remained on the same place, waiting for him to come to her instead of coming to him. Watts stood by, willingly watching to see how things will unfold between them.
"My Mi'zaar,"
The Ki'zaar took the first step. And on the second, he teleported to her. It surprised Azarese, so surprised that she thought she missed how she ended up in his arms. It happened like an accident because of how fast it happened, but him kissing her is not.
He pulled her even closer, and just like what happened when he reunited with the Prince, the life force he's shared with her returned to him to balance and continue the cycle she didn't complete.
His hand cupped her face. He didn't want to stop. Azarese couldn't follow his lead. First, because she's too surprised and second, it never occurred to her that the Ki'zaar will leap on her and kiss her hungrily like this. It was as if his life depended on this kiss, like it's all he will ever need.
"B-B--Brother! Have some s-shame! The younglings are watching!" Prince Valor interfere while blushing in embarrassment. The younglings are flying around them, curious about what the Ki'zaar is doing!
And it snapped the Ki'zaar back to his sanity. Azarese immediately pulled her breath and hang on him from the weakness he made her submit to.
"Let's go inside, my Mi'zaar."
***
The Ki'zaar looked into Ohms's wounds himself. They're in a room, and Ohms is laying face down on the bed. His whole back is rotting. Worms and other disgusting insects were seen hatching and growing on it, feeding on his flesh for nutrition.
"He's going to die," he said. Franchetti Xerene fainted, "---But we can do something about it."
Prince Valor gave his brother a glare of disbelief. He did it on purpose, he knew.
The Ki'zaar turned to the Prince and pat his head with a smile, "My son, you're brave. You shouldn't be seeing this, but here you are. You will be a great dragon someday."
Prince Valerian giggled and snuggled his hand, "I'm not scared, Daddy. Mommy is scarier than that."
"Truly, indeed. My Mi'zaar is ferocious like a dragon in the wilds. When I met her---"
"Brother, we don't have time for reminiscing. Help the poor boy out first,"
"Oh," the Ki'zaar is back to himself again, "My son, watch carefully. Someday, you will be a great dragon. You're brave---"
"Brother! Tsk!" Prince Valor marched and took the Prince away from him, "You can't hold the Prinsiaze unless your job is done. You get easily distracted!"
Instead of getting mad, the Ki'zaar smiled and pat his brother's head, too, gently.
"My young brother, you're very brave. I know you wouldn't betray my faith in you. I know you will be a great dragon someday."
Lord Feryzen massaged his temples and sighed. He's all healed, prioritized by the archmages.
"Dear Ki'zaar, please focus. The Mi'zaar... Erm, the Mi'zaar is waiting. We must attend to her and our guests at once. They still have other matters to deal with. We're competing against time. The Prinsiaze's brother is in great peril, and we must save him."
"Oh..."
"That's right, Daddy! My brother, Maximilien, is here! You will help us look for him, right?"
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence in the room. All eyes were on the Ki'zaar with a blank face. How would he take it in? That his fated wife is a wife to another man and others? That he could only take one in his lifetime, but the Mi'zaar can't and would take other husbands for life?
When he smiled genuinely, it brought them relief.
"Of course. Her children are my children, too."
They were dumbfounded.
The Ki'zaar lifted his sleeves. He placed his glowing hands gently over Ohms's wounds, and a soft, golden light emanated from his fingertips, enveloping the damaged flesh. Instantly, the rot receded, and the wounds began to close. They heard the tiny squeaking sounds of the hatched eggs as his magic kill them slowly. Within moments, the Ohms's back was restored to perfect health as the Emperor's healing magic worked with effortless precision.
It didn't even exhaust him.
When he's done he turned to his son with open arms.
"What do you think, my son? I made it look simple, but it took me years to learn that."
The delighted Prince ran to him and hug him, "Amazing, Daddy! You're very amazing! Please teach me that, too. I want to try!"
They smiled so bright at each other they thought the sun is in the room. It's blinding
The Ki'zaar lifted the Prince and threw him in the air. "Hihihi! Yey! You're the best Dad ever!"
Prince Valor sighed, but he couldn't help but smile. Seeing them together is so precious. He wish that it will last forever.
The Ki'zaar kissed the Prinsiaze's cheek. The Prinsiaze whispered something in his ear. Whatever it is, one thing for sure is that it's about Watts Xirquit because he looked at him.
"Come," he asked of him. Watts looked at everyone, then to Prince Valor who gave him an assuring nod.
He walked to the Ki'zaar who out the Prince down to meet him.
He scanned Watts Xirquit from his face to his feet, then back to his face. He even hold him and smiled so kindly and harmlessly.
"It's you... We finally met. The reason and the cause."
"S-Sorry?" Watts was puzzled, "The reason and the cause, what do you mean, Your Imperial Majesty?"
The Ki'zaar smiled so meaningfully and touched his face.
"My son told me that your son is nice to him. Do not feel threatened. We are both her husband."
It made Watts Xirquit blush. He took a gulp and turn to her way, and she's staring at the both of them seriously. What's running in her mind, he wonder?
Watts smiled at him, stiff, "I-I understand. My son told me the same thing as well. He loves yours very much."
"Kuya Zoddy is the best!"
The Ki'zaar finally dropped his hand and went back to his son.
"Let's have a feast. Liedo, bring all that we have to the tables. We will have a feast."
Meanwhile, in Warlock Empire, the current Emperor received the news about the intruders. From how a mythical dragon was sighted down to where it went.
He's playing with Harmon in the Tower. And when I said 'play', it's not a fun play but a terrifying one. He dismembered and opened Harmon, tools scattered on the table. He's trying to reprogram her. When he turned Harmon on, it won't speak.
"A dragon, huh,"
The chair spin from side to side. He's looking past the windows. And from the Tower, he's looking at a certain location. The only location with light.
"Come in," he said, not pertaining to the knight who delivered the news to him by the doorstep, but to the maid that's lurking in the shadows.
"You call for me, Your Imperial Majesty?"
He fixed his mask.
"Punish those things. Not paying respects to the world's Emperor is unforgivable. Right," he slightly turn the chair to the side and looked at her with a plain smile before continuing,
"---Celia?"