Kael stood, his expression calm. The battlefield around them fell silent as the Nagas and Najas realised their leader had been defeated.
"It's over," Kael said quietly. "Surrender. This battle is finished."
The Nagas hesitated, their serpentine bodies coiled and tense, but seeing Kael's power destroy their king even despite having the eye of Naga, they were lost. Slowly and reluctantly, they surrendered, those that had turned into giant serpents turned back into their original forms, those with weapons dropped their weapons and bowed before Kael.
Kael watched them all, his heart filled with the knowledge of what might have been. This war could have been avoided, but Veridian's pride had made it inevitable. As the last of the Nagas and Najas bowed, Kael turned back to the Eye of Naga, the relic now inert and harmless. He picked it up, feeling the lingering power within, "This needs to be returned to its rightful owner," he whispered to himself.
Kael's duplicates vanished as he stood victorious, his eyes scanning the Naga army that had surrendered now before him. He boomed, his voice filled with authority, "You have been deceived for a while now," he declared, his voice ringing out across the battlefield. "Veridian, your king, is a traitor. He sought to kill your queen and claim the throne for himself. With the help of the Najas, he faked the queen's death by abducting the queen and placing the body of another Naga, who was under a disguise spell to look like the queen, in the palace. He helped the Najas infiltrate the palace and when the palace was attacked, he used her supposed demise as a pretext for war, to further his own ambitions and those of the Najas by blaming the Garudas."
The Nagas and Najas exchanged wary and skeptical glances, their hisses and murmurs filling the air. "But this ends today," Kael continued, his gaze unwavering. "The queen is alive. After she was captured by Veridian and imprisoned with the help of the Najas, she escaped but Veridian tried to kill her. She survived because the Garudas saved her. The very people you were going to fight. I've heard tales of the wisdom of the nagas but you've all proven me wrong beyond doubt. However, it's not too late to make amends. I believe you still possess the wisdom to set things right. Do not let the lies and manipulation of Veridian as well as that of the Najas lead you further down the path of destruction. The Queen lives, all thanks to the Garudas and King Eothis who saved her and helped her recover when Veridian tried to kill her after she escaped his prison."
The Nagas regarded him warily with murmurs, their expressions a mix of curiosity, and uncertainty as they struggled to comprehend the truth of Kael's words. They needed proof. They had been lied to so much that they weren't sure what to believe anymore.
With a deep breath, Kael opened a portal back to the Kragnir and telepathically reached out to Zym, Zola, Mieza, Ethel, King Eothis, and Melinoe. His voice calm, "The war is over, come. We need to end this animosity between the Nagas and the Garudas and reveal the truth," he spoke to them in their minds.
A few moments later, out of the shimmering portal came Queen Melinoe, King Eothis, Mieza, Zym, Zola, and Ethel. As Queen Melinoe emerged from the portal, the Naga army's collective gaze fell upon her, their hisses and murmurs ceasing in an instant as they were shocked to see her alive and well.
They stared, transfixed, as their queen stood before them, her presence radiating calm and authority. "My people," she began, her voice like a gentle breeze on a beautiful day. "Never in all my years as queen did I imagined that one day, I would be betrayed by one of my own. We have been deceived, led astray by one who sought to use us for their own ambitions—Veridian and the Najas."
The Najas exchanged glances and put their hands up, their expressions a mixture of shame and surrender as the Naga army pointed weapons at them. The Nagas had come to realise that Veridian and the Najas were the villains all along and they had become allies with the Najas under Veridian's orders because they made Veridian their king without knowing he was the mastermind behind everything.
Melinoe's gaze shifted to Kael,"You defeated an army of ten thousand soldiers all your own?" Queen Melinoe whispered, her voice laced with shock.
Kael's eyes, now a calming blue held so much knowledge and peace. Kael replied, his voice calm, "It would seem so Your Majesty." "Veridian did put up a good fight though," he added, his eyes scanning the Naga army. "But I had to stop him."
King Eothis's looked surprised as it was evident in his amber eyes. He boomed, his voiced laced with admiration for Kael. "Even with the eye of Naga, Veridian still lost the battle, evil never wins as long as the good exists...you're brave and powerful Kael."
Melinoe smiled and shifted her gaze back to her army, "Veridian's treachery has been exposed, and he has paid the price for his betrayal," she continued, her words firm and gentle. " The Garudas are noble and have always tried to avoid conflict or any need for war. Today, we must put all the ancient animosity we may have felt towards them aside. Veridian and the Najas' conspiracy is all the proof that sometimes our biggest enemy is not a stranger but one of our own. Henceforth, we will forge a new path, one of peace and cooperation. The Garudas saved my life and stood by me despite the fact that we accused them of stealing our relic and even attacked their envoy. They are truly noble."
The Nagas regarded her, their faces reflecting their approval. "We stand with you, Your Majesty," one of the naga generals said, his voice loud and clear as the rest of the generals and then the entire army followed suit.
Kazu and the Najas, who had been feeling genuinely remorseful stepped forward. Weapons pointed at him and his faction halted their movement. Kazu looked up, his voice calm but held a tinge of remorse as he spoke, "Your Majesty, we the najas are truly sorry. We had always felt oppressed by the Garudas and felt they would one day attack us if we didn't make sure they live in fear of us. All we wanted was a future where the likes of both the nagas and Najas are respected by the Garudas but we went to great lengths and did great evil to achieve it and it was all because of Veridian's promises. He knew we needed our people to feel secure and he took advantage of that and got us on his side. We gladly accept whatever punishment you deem fit for our crimes Your Majesty."
Melinoe's gaze met Kazu's, her emerald eyes held both concern and curiosity. She declared, voice firm. "Punishment will not bring us peace, Kazu. I understand you, and I know you've all acknowledged your wrongs. To ensure this never repeats itself, you and your faction must swear your allegiance to me."
Melinoe's gaze swept across the gathered Najas, her eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity. "Swear to me, Kazu, that you and your faction will uphold the laws of Oephidia and protect and be forever loyal to your Queen and the kingdom. Let this oath bind you, now and forever."
Kazu's voice rang out, clear and resolute, "I swear allegiance to you, Melinoe, and to Oephidia. I pledge to protect and defend our kingdom, alongside my fellow Nagas."
As one, the Najas echoed Kazu's vow, their voices weaving together in a solemn chorus. And as they spoke, a strange, tingling sensation coursed through their veins.
On each of their wrists, a serpent tattoo materialized, its body coiled around their skin like a living bond. The mark pulsed with a soft, ethereal glow, symbolizing the unbreakable oath they had sworn.
Melinoe's gaze lingered on their tattooed wrists, her expression grave. "This mark seals your promise, Najas. Remember, if you break this oath, you will be instantly destroyed. The consequences of betrayal are absolute, and I will not hesitate to enforce them."
The Najas nodded, their faces set with determination, as they accepted the weight of their vow. Kazu's eyes met Melinoe's, a deep understanding passing between them.