The sacred grove surrounding the Temple of Zeroth was bathed in an ethereal glow, the kind that made Einar feel like time itself had slowed. The ancient dragon statues stood guard over the temple, their stony eyes watching every movement. It felt as though they were sentient—alive with the power of forgotten ages. The air was thick with magic, each breath he took buzzing with an ancient energy that pressed against his skin, heavier than the stillness of the world around them.
Einar found himself standing in the heart of it, his chest tightening as the weight of what was about to happen sank in. He wasn't dreaming. This was real. The breeze in the trees, the hum of magic pulsing through the stones beneath his feet—it was all too vivid. His mind reeled, not quite able to grasp how he had come to be here. But this wasn't some blurry, distant memory. He could feel the rough fabric of his ceremonial robes against his skin, the cool metal of his dragon-horned crown pressing lightly against his forehead.
Beside him, Celestia stood radiant, her presence a beacon of warmth in the shadowed grove. Her golden hair shimmered in the low light, falling in soft waves around her face, framed by the majestic horns spiraling from her temples. Her wings, veined with gold, twitched slightly, as if responding to the magic that swirled around them. She was otherworldly, a being of light and strength, and yet so intimately familiar.
This is real, Einar thought. The clarity of it hit him hard. The temple, the ceremony, Celestia. Everything felt so impossibly real.
"Are you ready, Einar?" Celestia's voice broke through his thoughts, gentle yet steady. Her eyes, a deep, crystalline blue, held his gaze with unwavering certainty. There was a tremor beneath her words—a flicker of vulnerability, though she carried herself with the grace and confidence of a queen. It was as though this moment had been something she had waited for her entire life.
He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her question. The storm of emotions inside him—doubt, fear, love—threatened to overwhelm him, but as he met her eyes, those feelings seemed to fade into the background. "I've never been more ready," he replied, his voice steady, though his heart hammered in his chest.
The priest of Zeroth, a silver-scaled dragonkin, raised his hands toward the heavens. His robes, lined with ancient runes, shimmered in the dim light, as if alive with the same power that coursed through the temple. His voice, deep and resonant, carried through the air as if the very stones themselves were listening. "By the flames of Zeroth, guardian of souls and keeper of eternal bonds, we gather here to witness a union that transcends time and blood. A bond not just of love, but of fate. Intertwined as the dragons themselves."
The words reverberated through Einar, sinking deep into his bones. This was no ordinary vow. He knew that now. This was something far greater, something eternal. He glanced at the chalice on the altar before them. Engraved with intricate dragon runes, the water inside rippled faintly, reacting to the immense power that surrounded them. The moment felt heavy with significance, as though all of creation was holding its breath, waiting.
"This vow is sacred," the priest continued. "It is not merely a promise—it is a binding of souls. Once made, it cannot be undone. Not by death, not by time. Do you both offer your hearts freely, without hesitation?"
"I do," Celestia's voice rang out, clear and strong. Yet beneath that strength, Einar could feel the years of waiting, the battles fought, the sacrifices made for this very moment. She had waited for him. Despite everything, she had waited.
"I do," Einar echoed, his voice thick with emotion. In that instant, he realized the enormity of what he was doing. This wasn't just a vow of love. It was a promise to protect her, to stand by her, to be hers in every possible way. For eternity. It wasn't just the words that bound them, but the magic itself—the magic of this temple, the magic of their souls.
The priest dipped his fingers into the sacred water, his touch igniting the liquid with a faint glow. With careful precision, he traced the sigil of Zeroth onto their foreheads. As the mark burned into Einar's skin, he felt a warmth spreading through him, sinking deep into his flesh. It wasn't painful, but the sensation was intense—like the fire of creation itself had branded him. It was a connection not just to Celestia, but to something far greater. The power of Zeroth, the ancient god of dragons, pulsed through him, binding him to this moment. To her.
"As the sigil fades into your skin, so do your souls entwine," the priest intoned. "Bound by the will of Zeroth, in light and shadow, in fire and night, your bond is eternal. You are one."
Celestia turned to face him fully now, her hands trembling slightly as they took his. Her eyes, brimming with unshed tears, locked onto his, unwavering as she spoke her vows. Each word carried the weight of her devotion, the pain she had endured, and the love she had held onto for so long.
"Einar," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with the strength that only she could muster. "I vow to stand by your side, not just as your equal in battle, but as your heart in peace. I will protect you, defend you, and love you with everything I have. I have waited for you, fought for you, and I will never stop. Not in this life, and not in the next."
Her words cut through him, and for a moment, Einar struggled to breathe. She had always been the stronger one—the light in the darkness, the steady presence when the world crumbled around them. She had sacrificed everything for him, and now, she was offering herself to him again, completely.
His throat tightened as he spoke his own vows, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside him. "Celestia, I vow to protect you with all that I am. In battle, I will be your sword, and in peace, I will be your shield. No matter the shadows that follow us, I will never let them touch you. I will fight for you, love you, and stand by your side until the end of time. In this life, and the next."
The air around them seemed to hum with energy as the vows were spoken, as if the very fabric of reality acknowledged their bond. The dragon statues, once silent and still, now seemed to pulse with life. The ground beneath their feet trembled, the sigils on the statues glowing faintly as if offering their approval.
As the priest completed the ceremony, a final surge of magic washed over them, solidifying the bond. Einar felt it deep in his soul—a connection to Celestia that went beyond love or loyalty. It was something ancient, eternal, something that would never break. Not by death, not by time.
Celestia stepped closer, her lips brushing against his in a kiss that felt like a promise. The magic of the temple thrummed through them, binding them in ways words couldn't express. When they finally pulled apart, the world around them seemed to pulse with energy, the bond between them now unbreakable.
And yet, as Einar gazed into her eyes, a flicker of uncertainty tugged at him. Out of the corner of his vision, he caught sight of a figure—a silver-haired girl standing at the edge of the grove. Her piercing red eyes met his, holding his gaze for a fraction longer than felt comfortable. There was something about her, something that tugged at his soul, but the reason for it slipped through his fingers like sand.
Who is she? The question lingered in his mind, but before he could make sense of it, the vision began to fade. The temple, the statues, Celestia—they all slipped away like a dream dissolving into the morning light.
** **
Einar gasped as he woke, his heart pounding in his chest. He lay still for a moment, the remnants of the memory clinging to him. His fingers brushed against his forehead, where the sigil of Zeroth had been drawn. It was gone now, but the sensation of it remained—a faint warmth beneath his skin.
He sat up slowly, his breath still uneven. The room was dim, the early morning light filtering through the window. But as he looked down at his chest, something caught his eye—the pendant around his neck, the one Celestia had given his mother. It was glowing, faintly but unmistakably, with a soft, ethereal light.
His hand reached for it, fingers trembling as they wrapped around the pendant. The warmth of the memory still lingered, and as he held the pendant close, he realized something.
This is real.
It wasn't just a dream. The wedding, the vows, the sigil of Zeroth—it had all been real. Einar's soul, though it now resided in a different body, was the same. The man he had been, the love he had shared with Celestia, it was still a part of him.
The realization washed over him, a strange sense of peace settling into his chest. He wasn't just living someone else's life—he was living his own. And somewhere out there, Celestia was waiting for him.
He didn't know where, or how, but he would find her. He would bring her back.
In this life, and the next, he vowed silently, clutching the glowing pendant as if it held all the answers.
Just as he made this silent vow to himself, a voice called from outside the door, breaking through the quiet, pulling him back to the present. "Einar!"