Omega's Rebirth

Before he could venture any further, the mind link was abruptly severed. Menarx groaned in quiet pain whilst Jian exhaled a drawn out breath. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"She... doesn’t remember..." He murmured, his tone barely audible.

He hadn’t seen much of Menarx’s memories. Menarx was too weak to hold the link, but he’d seen enough. When Menarx first found her, the look in her eyes was filled with confusion, doubts and even...terror.

His heart constricted. All along, he feared the worst. If she was unhurt, why didn’t she return to the Keep?

She had Demevirld. With it, she could travel any distance with a flick of her fingers. So why didn’t she come back to them? Did she simply not want to return? Had he been mistaken about her heart?

Or worse...was she, gone? And the severing was only biding its time, before it came for him also.

He had sifted through every thought, pictured every possible scenario. But he had not accounted for this...

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to return home. It was that she couldn’t... because she didn’t know where home was.

"She could barely...recognise me." Menarx confirmed, "And I couldn’t convince her to come with me."

"That explains it..." Cassian murmured.

"She’s... not in good hands, Jian. I saw it myself. I couldn’t be of much help to her in my state. But she can’t stay there much longer... she might get hurt."

A low growl rumbled in Xenon’s throat. His eyes flashed with rage and something darker, something deadly.

Jian didn’t need to ask to know what Menarx meant by ’not in good hands’, he’d seen for himself and every fiber of his being burned with rage.

It was so fierce, it threatened to consume him where he stood. He wanted him dead...all of them. He wanted the entire race wiped from the face of the earth, their territory razed down until nothing was left of it, so no one dared lay a hand on what was his ever again.

This murderous intent that pulsed through him, that blinded every reasoning and stirred that bloodthirst churning within...he hadn’t felt like this since the overthrow.

Cassian ran a hand through his hair, glancing between Jian and Xenon. "So... what now?"

"What else?" Xenon’s gaze snapped over to Cassian and his words were hissed through gritted teeth. "We bring her home."

"I think it’s more complicated than that. She might not be willing to return with us, and those lands are unfamiliar territory." Cassian reasoned.

"And what is your point?!" Xenon snapped coldly. His eyes gleaming with a deathly promise. "You had best consider your next words very carefully."

Cassian winced, but didn’t back down. "The stronghold is in an extremely precarious situation. Dimension cracks appear randomly every other hour, completely out of our control. Forlorn attacks are reported multiple times each day. They get closer and closer to dragon territory by the day."

"We can no longer remain uninvolved or pretend we won’t eventually be affected. Now, even the fodder grooves have become an entry point. Not to mention thousands of petitions rolling in from the various races, seeking dragon aid."

"At this point, if it becomes known that the Dragon King has left the stronghold... Asvar will fall into anarchy."

Jian finally broke his silence. "Then don’t tell anyone."

Cassian sighed, moving closer to Jian, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "My Liege, you know I want Her Grace back as much as anyone else here. Neveah is not just Dragon Queen...her life and well being is inextricably entwined with yours and Xenon’s.."

"Keeping her safe, means keeping you both safe. That is my duty, and I would give my life for it without question." Cassian’s tone was firm.

"But... I hope we do not forget why we lost her in the first place. The threat of Beoruh and the Forlorn is still very real, and it’s not news to us that the arcane she wields is a threat to many." Cassian trailed off,

"The stronghold is no paradise either. Will she be any safer here?"

Jian’s hands clenched into tight fists. The truth in Cassian’s words could not be denied. The stronghold had dealt Neveah more than its fair share of pain and loss.

It was painful to admit, that he couldn’t even assure his woman safety in his own territory. Not with the forlorn roaming everywhere.

Even so, he couldn’t go on without her any longer.

"We’re heading back to the Keep." He ordered.

"But the dimension crack..." Cassian argued.

"Verothrax and Decaron will remain behind. Or would you rather stay behind yourself?" Jian asked.

He didn’t wait for an answer. He strode out of the tent, but stopped in his tracks at the sight of two people he didn’t expect to see out here.

Lords Finlor and João of the Fae stood across from the command tent. A few dragon lords of the fourth squadron blocked their path to turn them away, but they did not look like they had any intentions to retreat.

His patience with the other races was quickly running thin. They had constantly badgered him and flooded his desk with petitions since the unified council and he didn’t think he would be tolerant for much longer.

Jian’s eyes narrowed and he turned to Cassian, "What are they doing here?" He hissed, audible to his King’s guard only.

Cassian shook his head slowly to indicate he had no idea.

Jian frowned deeply, but returned his attention to the two. They lowered their heads to a bow, but Jian neither acknowledged nor showed any reactions.

"Your Grace, we came with an urgent report." Lord Finlor called out. "If you would allow us a moment of your time."

He didn’t have a moment. But Xenon’s voice sounded in his mind,

’Hear them out. You can’t avoid them forever.’

The fourth squadron withdrew on Jian’s signal, letting both Lords pass through and they walked over to where Jian stood.

"Your Grace, we appreciate the audience." Lord Finlor expressed first, "I had thought you’d turn us away once again."

Jian pursed his lips. "It’s not too late for that. You came all this way, so get to the point."

Lord Finlor nodded. He exchanged a look with Lord João. "Last night, the Sea Kingdom was attacked by a Hydra. The Mer King confronted it with his elite soldiers."

Jian’s frown deepened. "A Hydra?"

Lord Finlor nodded grimly.

Lord João continued where he left off. "The battle ended horridly, the casualties are unspeakable... the East sea is dyed red with the blood of mer soldiers. The mer cardinals only managed to drive the beast back to the deserted shark caves, but at a great cost."

"The Sea King fell into a coma. It is unknown if he will recover, but the Sea court already prepares for a royal death."

"A tragedy. The Sea King was a respectable man." Jian muttered, his face expressionless. "That does not explain why you’re here."

Lords João and Finlor exchanged a look. "Your Grace... you can’t pretend the state of the stronghold causes you no concern."

It did. As much as he loathed it, it did.

"The state of your territories you mean.’ Jian scoffed beneath his breath. "Do I appear concerned?"

"If there is a royal death in the Sea Kingdom, the stronghold will be that much weaker." Lord Finlor reasoned, "And the Hydra is sure to attack again. It is apparent the Sea Kingdom faces an insurmountable threat."

Jian sighed impatiently.

"The elves and the Fae will be sending battalions to aid in the next battle." Lord João said solemnly. "Our waterways are interconnected. If the Sea Kingdom falls, we will lose major supply routes."

"I believe these are your concerns." Jian deadpanned.

Lord Finlor’s shoulders slumped. "Your Grace, the stronghold needs you now more than ever."

"I know you care for the people. And I know your disappointment in us is great...but the common people, our citizens, have done no wrong."

"Ebonhollow was enough of a tragedy. I hope you won’t turn a blind eye to the fall of another race."

The words hit heavier than Jian would have liked. The fall of Ebonhollow had been a thorn in his heart for centuries.

Jian strode past them, but a few paces away, he stopped. He turned, not to the Fae but to the dragon lords of the fourth squadron.

He didn’t need to read their minds to know their thoughts. It was the same thought he shared.

A Hydra, it was a fearsome beast. Not even a Fae battalion or elven soldiers could take it on.

A Hydra roaming loose in the seas... would eventually become a problem to the human settlements still under his protection.

The Sea City bordering the East seas, and The Rudder, the dragon fortress at the edge of the South Seas.

If not now, they would face the Hydra later. And the more kills it was allowed, the stronger its regenerative abilities grew.

Killing it now would save them the trouble in the future, even if he didn’t feel compelled to do the other races any favors.

"Verothrax will lead ten dragons. Slay the beast and return by nightfall." He ordered. "Interfere with nothing else."

"As My Liege commands." Verothrax accepted the order.

Jian didn’t spare another glance to the Fae.