Chapter 193: Gratitude & Flashbacks

That was all Aiden needed to confirm before moving on to deal with the rest of the city.

Because earlier, when he’d spread his sight across the city he’d seen that some other mages had faced the same fate as Ravens Grave’s members.

His avatars were already spreading through Dragonhold with more replications of the Life Restoration Potion in hand.

But before getting to that however, he snapped his fingers and the women he’d left in his Pocket Domain materialized before him.

The moment Arianna and Laela saw him they ran forward and threw their arms around him so tightly he felt the air leave his lungs while tears streamed down both their faces.

“We were so worried,” Laela said between sobs and Arianna added “Don’t ever do that again” with her voice breaking.

Myrenne looked relieved to finally be out of that place and stood off to the side while Aeris watched the reunion with a small smile.

Aiden wrapped his arms around both women and held them close with a faint smile crossing his face as well.

Katherine approached after a moment and cleared her throat gently to get his attention.

When Aiden glanced up at her she met his eyes directly and spoke with sincerity in her voice. “Thank you,” she said simply. “You’re always saving this guild and I don’t know how we’d survive without you.”

Aiden nodded once but said nothing as he continued holding his women.

——-

Back in Dellheim, Cronyssia smiled faintly at Syqora who still cradled her head.

“My life was always going to end here you know,” she said.

The Dragon of Destiny clicked his tongue in frustration. “One of your problems is that you never listen,” he muttered.

—-

A hundred years ago right after the Demon King had been sealed, Cronyssia had immediately stationed herself at the gates in the edge of the demon realm and Syqora had come to speak with her.

“You know even we as dragons deserve some rest too,” Syqora had said while watching his sister stand firmly in her dragon form with her hands stretched toward the lock as she channeled her authority through it. “Even if this seal breaks one day that day can never be today.”

“Why don’t you go ahead and tell me the truth of why you really came here Syqora,” Cronyssia replied without looking away from the gate.

Syqora sighed heavily. “You’ve seen the future of this conversation already,” he said. “You know I came here to tell you that you will fall one day in this very continent.”

“Do you know how or when?” Cronyssia asked.

“You forget you’re just as much a dragon as I am Cronyssia,” Syqora replied. “I don’t have clearer details as to how or when but I see you fall here.”

He could see the fate of everyone but doing so for fellow dragons or other beings of equal existence had certain limits and the visions were never as clear.

Cronyssia laughed quietly. “My brother who knows everyone’s ultimate ending, and bears the burden of keeping silent about it, decides today to share mine,” she said with amusement in her voice. “Why break your vow now?”

Syqora sighed again. “I’m breaking it because of all our siblings you and I are the closest,”

he said firmly. “So don’t make me break that oath for nothing and abandon your post at Dellheim instead.”

The Dragon of Destiny had also known that Keyles and Veyqorin would meet their demise on the same day but because of the oath of silence he’d sworn to himself he hadn’t told them either.

People were going to live far better not knowing how or when their demise would come.

He stepped closer. “No doubt the seal will break eventually but before then we’ll have been prepared for his return. We could even ask Michael for help if need be.”

Cronyssia’s expression grew serious. “What does that say of us as protectors of His creation?” she asked quietly.

Syqora’s face turned moody and he sighed once more. “I take it you won’t change your mind.”

“You already know the answer to that,” she replied, now turning towards him with a smile.

Syqora turned to leave but stopped halfway as if trying to say something more, before clicking his tongue in frustration and walking away as his form shifted into his dragon body.

And with that, he flew out of the realm.

The flashback ended.

——

Cronyssia smiled up at Syqora in the present. “Don’t miss me too much,” she said softly. “After all I won’t exactly be dying.”

Syqora shook his head. “If your way of consoling me is to remind me that dragons like us never truly die then you’re doing a terrible job,” he said bitterly.

Because they were embodiments of concepts that ran the universe, the seven dragons never truly died.

Their essence would eventually be reincarnated, though it might take hundreds or even thousands of years before that happened.

Cronyssia laughed weakly. “For a being who sees every destiny you sure are shortsighted,” she teased. “No, I’m going to do exactly what Keyles and Veyqorin chose to do.”

Syqora’s eyes widened at that moment

—

Back in Dragonhold the captain had explained everything to Aiden about how it all happened.

From the leeches appearing to their guild members being taken over and finally how they’d been faced by practically the most powerful mages in the kingdom.

Aiden frowned as he processed the information. “From your explanation these are demons or at least they were taken control of by demons,” he said.

“I can still smell the stench of demons in the air and there’s more to explain about it but I can’t get to it just yet.”

He paused. “Were Thamoryn and Oberon part of those possessed? My avatars moved through the whole kingdom but couldn’t find either of them.”

Katherine shook her head. “I’m unsure,” she admitted. “I could only account for the mages I saw and they both weren’t part of it.”

Aiden nodded thoughtfully and Laela stepped closer to him. “What happened in Dellheim?” she asked.

“A lot happened,” Aiden replied. “And I have to go back there now. I only returned here to save the kingdom but I’ll explain it all when I come back.”

Laela nodded and Arianna moved in closer as well. “Be careful,” she said softly.

Katherine spoke up, thanking him once again. “I don’t know how you did it but the guild and the kingdom practically owe you their lives. I’m unsure what level of gratitude would be enough to thank you.”

Piers nodded in agreement while Elena and even Kayden added their own words of appreciation.

Kayden specifically said, “I am in your debt, Aiden. Know that I shall repay this” then he bowed slightly.

Aiden smiled faintly. “I’ll leave the rest to you until I return,” he said.

With that he teleported away and vanished back to Dellheim.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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