Upon settling into the chair for this important conversation, I knew I would tell him who I was; it was only a matter of time. I knew every word he said and every action he took well before he did them.
Yet, when it came time to articulate my thoughts in response, my voice faltered, and my hands betrayed me with their restless twitching.
"What's the matter? Do you all need me to repeat myself?"
"No... but... I..." Leon couldn't even form complete sentences as he fumbled over his words as if speaking a tongue twister.
"Thought that you had no family left? Why didn't I make the effort to seek you out sooner? Why didn't I leave some sign to tell you that you had someone out there secretly looking after you?" I questioned.
In return, he could only nod unsightly, almost like a twitch or a jerk.
Seeing him act like this, despite knowing he would, pierced my heart with profound sorrow. We should have never met like this. I should have been there for him, watching him slowly grow into a proud dragon warrior, one who would carry our legacy with honor. Yet, that's not what happened.
As a newborn, he was abandoned and left out in the wild. In his first moments, he was inside a cocoon of flame, which engulfed the forest he awoke in. This catastrophic event triggered a devastating wildfire that threatened numerous villages, towns, and agricultural fields and closed vital trade routes throughout the Kingdom of Astreaus.
The intensity of the fires in the affected region surged dramatically, and the difference in size was like that of a golf ball compared to a beach ball. Furthermore, all Pathfinders on the lower end of their respective fire—and wind-based paths could not control the flames and smoke from the active fires in the affected areas.
The smoke and flames surged violently through the area, wreaking havoc on the environment and triggering an unprecedented drought. Soaring temperatures vaporized every drop of moisture in an instant. Normal people, who didn't have the protection of mana and magic, endured unimaginable suffering as the heat caused the water and blood within their bodies to boil violently, leading to uncontrollable tremors and spasms.
That was the BEST case scenario. The worst was being burned alive from the inside out, as many of the affected were.
As a result, the Non-Supernatural Emergency Execution Services (N.S.E.E.S), a team of non-magic personnel trained to manage typical emergencies—ranging from minor fires and medical assistance to law enforcement and civilian evacuations—were rendered powerless in the face of such overwhelming devastation.
The kingdom raised its Kingdom Alert Level(K.A.L) to BLACK because this phenomenon was "an event that dangerously affects a portion of the kingdom's territory and has the possibility of spreading across the entire kingdom."
The Kingdom of Astreaus National Alert System(K.O.A.N.A.S) issued a warning to citizens advising them to avoid the Kendrich area due to the alarming risk of spontaneous combustion.
In response to this alarming news, widespread panic erupted among the citizens, cascading through the community like a virulent contagion as they hurriedly fled from the affected zones. It's well within reason to panic over such a thing possibly happening to you. Who would want to burn alive without being able to do anything about it?
Amid widespread chaos and fear, the majority of the populace adhered to the stringent regulations outlined in the evacuation protocols established under the Astreaus Monarchal Constitution(A.M.C). The A.M.C. was made the current monarch, Rafphael Von Astrea The Third, took over the throne. All individuals of all statuses must follow all emergency clauses and assist in evacuating all residents within the danger zone.
During evacuation events, all community members must contribute in various ways. This includes providing mounts, carriages, aerial vehicles, and any terrain-based Pathfinders, as well as sharing vital information regarding recent changes in the surrounding environment or ecosystem. Locals must also provide extra food and water, clothing, footwear, and essential medical provisions.
"Status does not matter when suffering from a crisis" was his motto for how the kingdom should handle emergencies, and I agree.
However, despite this, there is always tension between the upper and lower classes regarding Priority Evacuation. The high taxpayers assert that they should have the privilege to evacuate their women, children, and elderly relatives before others rather than adhering to a system that does not prioritize based on class.
This exact issue arose during Leon's disaster, but on a scale unlike anything seen in the kingdom's history. Some outside force, whatever it was, slightly agitated the ordinary to act irrationally, and what followed was horrific.
Fights broke out as the desperate scrambled for evacuation. Individuals clashed violently in their quest to be the first to escape, resulting in anguished cries for freedom, blood staining the cold stone floor, and the heart-wrenching wails of innocent children who were bewildered by the turmoil surrounding them, filling the air with a sense of despair.
The young and the elderly stood by, powerless, as their loved ones were overtaken by a fierce rage, turning against their once-beloved neighbors. Bonds of friendship shattered, couples were torn apart, and lives were tragically lost as an overwhelming instinct for survival surged through the hearts of all innocent.
Since Rafphael Von Astea The Third's ascension, Astreaus has been known for its tranquility and remarkably low crime rates. The kingdom prides itself on the fair enforcement of law among its citizens, so this incident catapulted the crime rate to unprecedented levels—the highest ever recorded in the kingdom's history.
Such events where the N.S.E.S is unable to handle an emergency safely or is beyond their capabilities is when the Supernatural Emergency Execution Services(S.E.E.S) steps in to handle any normal or supernatural event that endangers a large portion of the kingdom's safety. This elite force is equipped to tackle ordinary and supernatural threats that jeopardize the kingdom's safety, possessing the expertise to control frenzied crowds, combat swarms of lethal mana beasts, or mitigate disastrous natural events that endanger innocent lives.
Unfortunately, on the day Leon awoke, all four divisions were engaged in missions that took them far and wide across the continent that housed the Kingdom of Astreaus. As a result, they were unable to respond to the escalating conflict. Fortunately, my son Samuel, whom I sent to handle it, was more than capable of handling the situation. In fact, he was overqualified.
Even at the age of eight, Samuel was extremely powerful due to his numerous innate mana techniques.
With his special eyes, the Eyes of Another World allowed him to perceive all intangible things existing in higher dimensions or concealed behind barriers. This remarkable ability allowed him to detect ethereal entities and hidden objects, rendering any form of defense ineffective against him. Whatever lay within his line of sight was also within the reach of his formidable weapons and magical abilities; such was the incredible power bestowed upon him by his eyes. It was a gift so profound that even beings of divine origin envied it.
Pair that with his countless sword stances, techniques, magic-based attacks, Pathway abilities, and Authorities, which made him an absolute monster in combat, ranking him as one of the strongest mortals even as a child.
Samuel's mastery of swordsmanship was unparalleled, allowing him to sever the connection to the outside influence with a mere flick of his blade, as effortlessly as slicing through the air. He cut the invisible and intangible treaded line that connected the caster to the affected. Every precise cut rendered the citizens momentarily incapacitated, freezing in a state reminiscent of sleep paralysis, where only their eyes remained active. Simultaneously, as Samuel cut the invisible threads, he knocked out and safely relocated all 100,000 citizens within 5 seconds.
Once this monumental task was accomplished, Samuel advanced into the heart of the flames and smoke, prepared to confront any threat and poised to eliminate anything that dared to move. To his astonishment, however, he discovered a small flaming cocoon nestled at the center of the chaos.
"Huh? A cocoon? Is a butterfly going to fly out?" he said confusingly as he scratched his cheek.
Samuel, undeterred by the flames and smoke that enveloped him like a blanket, prodded the cocoon with his sword. The air crackled with electricity as tiny red sparks danced around him, nullifying the surrounding dangers.
"Doesn't seem too dangerous. Maybe I can pick it up?" he mused, sheathing his sword and bending down to the scorched earth. He grasped the remarkably hot, pill-shaped cocoon of fire and lifted it up carelessly.
"It's not even warm; it's cold. Why is everyone panicking?" Samuel remarked, his voice laced with confusion as he carried the cocoon away. Soon after, I guided Samuel to present the cocoon to King Rafphael Von Astrea and Queen Gloria Von Astrea, who would soon unravel the mysteries surrounding this fiery cocoon.
Returning to the present, Leon cleared his throat three times to clear his mind. After doing so, he straightened his posture and bowed respectfully as he thanked me. As for why he thanked me, I am not too sure, but I took it with a nod until I realized he had a smidge of jealousy and sadness in his voice.
Catching onto this, I raised my hands and gestured to the four others sitting at the table. My words, however despite knowing they would hurt me to say, I continued to forcefully spit them out, "Why do you sound like that? You already have a family who loves you deeply, and it only grows by the day. I am not so important that you require my love, attention, or affection. Me giving you all of that would only put you in danger. You would be used against me, further hurting my already shattered heart..." I paused as I raised my left hand and rested it like a shade cover above my left eye.
My lips trembled slightly as my words struck deep at my heart, reminding me that I lost all that I cared for. Tyrus, my beloved husband, was gone and left this world entirely. My children, who are my lovable war machines, were reduced to nothing. Just thinking about having someone used against me felt like a million spears were puncturing my heart. The remainder of this was unbearable as I commanded the chairs to move backward so that my guests could leave before they saw me break down into a pathetic mess.
"I'm sorry, but I want to stop here for now. Please use the manner however you like until you make a decision. Just exercise caution and steer clear of the... chained door and the 'pictures.' " A soft sniffle escaped as I concluded my words.
The invisible hand that held my heart in a chokehold tightened even more than before, with only my groans of pain being held back by my pride as a queen. I waited for my guests to respectfully leave before the dam that was holding back my emotions broke, letting lose a sea of emotions, cries, sniffles, and hiccups.
My eyes let loose a river of tears, dripping heavily down my face with the coldness of steel, causing my cheeks to tremble and shake under their weight. They irritated my skin, and the feeling of ants crawling onto my face caused me to wipe away my tears. Each one touched down on the stone floor beneath my feet, creating a small puddle of water beneath my chair.
My breathing became ragged and heavy as if I had pneumonia. Soon after, snot began to build up, limiting my labored breathing. Heavy breathing filled the air as I gasped and groaned like a wounded animal, waiting for death to catch up to me. In between my gasps for a clear breath and my sobs, I hiccuped periodically as my head slumped down as I rested my head against the cool wooden tabletop.
"My dear, what am I going to do? Why did you leave me, Tyrus? You said we would be together for all of eternity. I'm... alone," I wept, heartbroken cries spilling forth from my lips. My fingers clawed at the opulent wooden table, the sound of my nails scraping against the surface mingling with the many marks I had etched into it over time. A harsh screech pierced the air as splinters bit into my fingertips, drawing forth golden-hued blood from my weakened body.
Amid my agony, a voice reached my ears and momentarily stopped my sobs.
"I believe you all understand who I am and why I am me. I wanted the simple joys that most people take for granted, yet they remained just out of reach for me. I couldn't have a loving mother who would read me bedtime stories while I drifted asleep or a father who would play ball with me. I didn't have anything until I met you all," the voice stated.
"I'm grateful for Mason, who has shown me the joy of embracing my inner child; for Arnold, who taught me how to balance enjoyment and responsibility; and for Sam, who taught me to be honest with women. If I didn't have you all, I'm unsure where I would be now."
'Who is talking?' I wondered.
"I couldn't imagine a life without my dumb, duty-bound, and woman-crazy brothers that I have. I'm thankful to you all and to the love of my life. I love you with all of my being. You are my family, and that NEVER change. But despite this, I still want more, even seeing the consequences of my poorly judged actions. If Christina is family to Sam, then she's my family as well. I want to get to know my mysterious grandmother and show her that she still has family. She has US: four helpless brothers who can't function without each other, a wonderful woman who will make the perfect mother and a knowledgeable and well-kept woman who is nicer than she appears.
You all heard Christina. She's not that much different from us; in fact, she's more human than most of us," the voice confidently stated.
'He's talking about... Sam, my son? Why is he talking about my son?' I thought.
"Hearing her cry like that destroyed me for wanting more, but even still, I want it. I sound selfish, but I am for a different reason. Now, I want more for someone else. I want to give her what she doesn't have anymore: a loving family. I want to be there for her when she wants someone to laugh with. I want to be there for her when she's sick and can't get out of bed if that's even possible for a dragon. I want to be her shoulder to cry on when she needs it.
The point is that I want to join her. She was honest during the entire conversation, answering all possible questions without putting us in danger. Sure, she could be lying, but that's not what I got from her. What I got from her is that she's just a lonely woman with no one coming back to her. How could I not say yes to those eyes? In fact, who wouldn't say yes?"
'He's talking about me... crying? Me? Am I crying?' I lifted my head and looked down at the table to see tears pooling. After I wiped my face clean of the tears, I used a gentle gust of wind to disperse the remnants off the table. Sucking in the last bit of snot, I looked at the voice and saw Leon standing a distance away, his hand raised towards me.
The sight of him radiating with confidence seemed to illuminate him like an angel descending from heaven, and the kind twinkle in his eyes cleared my mind and emotions. At that moment, I saw Tyrus within Leon, which caused me to reach out to him instinctively.
"Tyrus, is that you? You look a thousand years younger... am I dreaming? Why do you look like that? Is something wrong? Why aren't you answering me?!? Tyrus! Why did you leave me all alone?!? PLEASE ANSWER ME!" I pleaded, but I got no response or indication that anyone heard me. This brought back the tears and sniffles as I pounded my fists into the table.
"TYRUS MY DEAR! WHY ARE YOU IGNORING ME!!!" I screamed as my blood began to boil as the table violently shook, creaking under the force of my fists. However, what I heard next stopped me from breaking the table entirely.
"I will be joining her side, believing in her, the woman who earned the respect of my father, mother-in-law, and brother Sam. They are people worthy of standing next to, people who I will stake my life on. If they believe in her, then I will believe in the them that believes in her," the man voiced.
"You believe in me? Of course, you would; you're my wonderful husband," I said with a snort.
I looked up and blinked away my remaining tears as I studied the beautiful murals that perfectly encapsulated my past. Seeing the many places, people, and things from my past sent a wave of nostalgia through my body like an ocean current.
Enchanting places, such as my former homeworld, |_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _| which was filled with heaven-reaching rock formations or and a vibrant forest known for its dazzling array of colors named |_ _ _| |_ _ _ _ _ _ _| |_ _ _ _ _ _|.
I thought of the wonderful people who filled my life with warmth and affection—my brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren—each one reveling in joy, free from the burdens of worry.
The murals presented a breathtaking array of images that stirred my old heart, showcasing the remarkable creativity of humanity. I was utterly astonished by the rapid progress that Mortalkind was making across various fields—be it in medicine, technology, culture, etc. Watching how mortal kind grew in all aspects of life intrigued me, showing me the smallest glimpse into what | | sees in them.
Re-experiencing my most cherished moments, my story as a dragon, gave me a sense of warmth I've missed in ages. However, it was short-lived the further I looked, noticing the gradual degrading of the craftsmanship of the murals. The sorrow and depression that consumed me as I made them after Tyrus left broke me and left me in shambles.
Realizing I was alone again overtook me, but it wasn't as extreme this time.
"Wait... no, that's right. You are gone. You did leave me behind. That man before me is not you. But I see you in him. Is this a sign from the beyond? Are you still watching over me, even after all these years after your death? If so, please tell me what I should do! I don't know anything anymore! The loneliness is deafening! I can't do this alone anymore! The pain... it's too much! Tyrus, if you truly are watching over me from beyond the grave as you promised, tell me what to do," I cried as I clawed at the table again.
Tears ran rampant down my face as heart-wrenching, stomach-churning, hair-raising sobs escaped me. The tears that weren't there moments before flowed down with the intensity of an ocean current, drenching me in salty tears.
Then, an unexpected shift in the air caused me to pause, lifting my gaze to discern its source. As I scanned my surroundings from my seat, I noticed nothing had changed, yet the breathtaking panorama of the endless flower garden and the cascading waterfall beneath the gazebo remained. Even without any visible change, I could feel it...
"What is that-" a presence I had not felt in ages halted my words.
"Tyrus?" I called out.
A soft breeze swept past me, and at that moment, a pair of arms encircled me with a tender embrace. They were slender yet strong, their warmth radiating against my skin. Their sun-kissed hue was neither too dark nor too light, and a hint of hair graced their surface. Immediately upon seeing them, I knew the owner.
"Tyrus, my-" I began, ready to turn and face him, but the arms tightened their hold, preventing me from moving, anchoring me in place.
"I am already gone, but my legacy lives on." Tyrus raised his right hand high, halting just beside my right eye. He directed my gaze toward Leon, who extended his open hand, inviting me to take it. The world around my distant guests came to a standstill as if time had paused, leaving them frozen at the entrance of my home.
"You must guide this young and inexperienced boy through his journey in this unfair world that opposes his every move. To ensure a future, he must be trained as a warrior worthy of his blood. You heard him just now: He has the resolve to fight for a brighter future. Now, it's up to you to shape him into someone who can see it with his own eyes."
"I don't care about him or the future; I just want to see you again, even if it's only once more! Please! Let me see your face, my love!" I pleaded.
"My little angel, looking at what's left of me would only deepen your suffering, and that is the last thing I desire. When I died all those years ago, I left a small part of my spirit with you, about the size of a grain of sand. I've always watched over you like your silent guardian angel, listening to your heart-wrenching sobs, the soul-crushing screams that escape your lips, the uncontrollable surges of anger and fury, and the creeping shadow of depression that has gradually enveloped you. Seeing you, my little angel, like this has destroyed what's left of me. The part of me that's left is fading away into nothingness as a result. It's time for you to move on from me and focus on your future, one where you will be happy and free from my loss," Tyrus said in a bittersweet tone.
Hearing Tyrus, my beloved, saying something like that sent me down a spiral of unadulterated anger.
"How could you say such things?!? You said you've seen my depression consume me, yet tell me to forget about you?!? What manner of madness has come over you?!?" I screamed into the air.
"That's what needs to happen for you to be at peace. Don't let the dead hold you back from striving forward. I'm not telling you to forget about me completely, but you need to let me stay dead. My time has passed and gone, and now you must not focus on me, who is long gone, but on what is in store for you in the future," Tyrus took a deep breath and continued speaking. Even without turning around, I knew he had a childlike smile.
"This might be cheesy to say to a grown woman, but just know that I will always be by your side until the end of time. I will never die as long as you, the person who loves me the most, live on with the memories of who I was. Spread the name, Tyrus, with my permission, of course, so my name never dies. If you live to spread the good I had in me instead of the bad and ugly, then you'll find that it's not so bad to live without me," his arms untangled themselves from my neck as I felt a slight push, causing me to stumble forward.
"Now go, my little angel. You don't have time to grieve. Focus on yourself, and what will happen to the future if you don't succeed in stopping Black," holding onto the table so that I could regain my footing, I spun around to catch a glimpse of my late husband fading away.
"Tyrus... you..." My brain was unable to properly cope with what my eyes saw properly, throwing my mind into disarray once more. I should have listened and not turned around, but I let my longing for my beloved get the better of me, and now I was suffering the consequences.
Tyrus's spirit showed his last moments, and it was mortifying. No one should ever look like this or experience something so horrible in their last moments alive.
His long, brown hair, which once flowed majestically behind him, was now pure white, with small clumps falling off and evaporating into nothingness. His light brown eyes, which once twinkled with confidence and showed Tyrus's playful nature, were now dull and lifeless.
Tyrus's body was covered in ghastly burns that burrowed straight through the bone as if he were constantly in a sea of acid. The patches of flesh holding on to his body by some miracle had a blackish color to them, drooping down and sagging. The golden blood flowing through his body seeped through his open wounds and poured out like a waterfall. Bones in various places popped out like a creepy Halloween prop. Purple violently pulsated in whatever places flesh held Tryus's body.
With each passing second, his body was rapidly deteriorating at an alarming rate. What was left of him was a mere hollow husk of his extravagant and majestic confident self.
"I told you," he said.
I reached him, but a gentle breeze pushed my hand back.
"Do not watch; instead, turn and look toward the one who will decide your future. Look to Leon Rallen Valcaress, the man who will free you from your cage of sorrow. He will be the key to your salvation. " After that, the wind grew silent, and the flowers that once fluttered in the air stopped.