Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 917: The True Enemy ()

Neveah’s heart broke with it. She quickly walked over, taking a seat by his bed.

"Verothrax. I’m fine... I’m unhurt. I’m home safely." She reached a hand out.

He flinched away from her but Neveah didn’t relent, placing her hand over his bandaged hand.

"What happened at the canyon, wasn’t your fault. You were also a victim." She said, her tone low and soothing. "I need you to understand that."

"Can you do that? For me?" She asked,

"So, you don’t detest me?" He looked uncertain, glancing up at her warily.

For a dragon lord that incited fear in thousands, she could hardly believe...he was still just a child at heart.

He had never gotten the chance to truly grow, put down to slumber for the centuries he might have gained the experience of age.

It might have looked like cruelty, but she couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain Jian had gone through giving such an order to a dragon lord he treasured so much.

But he did what he had to do for Verothrax’s own safety. Centuries ago, a dragon lord with abilities like Verothrax had was a danger even to his own kind.

"What have I said?" She asked him, "My Lord dragon considers you a son. You are precious to him, thus to me as well."

Verothrax seemed to search her eyes for a moment, and whatever he was looking for, he must have found. "I’m centuries older than you, Your Grace." He pointed out finally, "I won’t be your son."

She blinked in astonishment, and then laughed quietly. "I wouldn’t dare entertain the idea."

He smiled slightly, his eyes sad. "I am truly sorry, for all you had to go through, because I was gullible enough to fall for a witch."

Neveah grinned conspiratorially, "You wouldn’t be the first."

Verothrax’s lips twitched in amusement, nodding in agreement.

"I’m still going back out there." He pointed out, "I know you want to stop me, but I’m not trying to get myself killed."

He sighed, "Without your arcane, they should have me, at least."

"Verothrax..." Neveah tried,

He shook his head, "I may not have golden light, but I have my shadows. I have come to accept who I am, Your Grace."

"You are the light of the stronghold. I am the shadow dragon made flesh." His eyes darkened, "So while you rest, I will bring death on the intruders that threaten my father’s dynasty."

Neveah sighed. She had never once imagined she would be the light of anything.

She knew there was no use convincing him. He was as stubborn as the man that had raised him. Perhaps even more stubborn.

"Then let me heal you." She decided,

He hesitated, "Everon said no magic..."

Neveah interrupted him, "I have lost much, Verothrax. But this, I can still do."

___________

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Everon asked, coming to stand beside Neveah on the landing platform.

Verothrax’s ashen scaled dragon disappeared beyond the horizon, and Neveah sighed.

"For me? Maybe not." She admitted, accepting Everon’s offered hand as the magic she’d forced finally took its toll.

She leaned against him, drawing in a breath. "But he needs to find his atonement in his own way. He has to forgive himself. That’s the only way he will truly get past this."

Everon nodded in agreement. "I equally need to find a way to forgive myself for ever taking on such a stubborn patient."

Neveah grinned, nudging an annoyed looking Everon.

"I’ve recovered greatly. You said it yourself. I won’t be dying anytime soon."

"No. But I’m certainly losing a few decades of my life span keeping an eye on people like you and Verothrax."

Neveah shrugged sympathetically, "Many have much less than you’ve gotten. Take comfort in that."

Everon shook his head, but guided Neveah back into the second level, however he paused halfway.

"What?" Neveah asked, noting he was communicating with another dragon lord mentally.

"It’s Cassian. He’s here." Everon relayed.

Neveah frowned in confusion, turning and sure enough, the sapphire scaled beast made its landing, sending a tremor through the second level.

Cassian shifted, his armor gleaming in the sunlight as he strode over.

"Neveah."

"Cassian, did something happen at Aloria?" Neveah asked in bafflement, "How are you here so quickly?"

He winced. "I risked a Fae portal. But it was urgent that I deliver it in person."

Neveah stood up straight, "Tell me."

Cassian hesitated, glancing at Everon. "The forlorn army marching on Aloria was a decoy."

"When they attacked, their numbers weren’t anything like what the scouts had previously reported."

"So I flew out with my unit and sure enough, the true army was marching under magic concealment. We couldn’t see their numbers..." He ran a hand through his hair, "So I took Lord Finlor up on his offer to capture a forlorn beast alive and explore its memories."

"You did what?!" Everon exclaimed.

Cassian grunted. "The Fae would have done it either way. They needed to know where the rest of the army would attack from. Aloria was left greatly weakened by the last battle, they have to be more cautious."

"And no, this is not me supporting his methods. They are deplorable." Cassian added before Everon could continue, "Desperate times makes demands of us. I will ensure that he is punished for dabbling close to dark magic, I have made that clear to him." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"However, his findings..." Cassian trailed off, his expression grim. "That’s why I’m here."

"Tell me what he saw." Neveah insisted,

"The forlorn army under magical concealment, they’re not headed to Aloria, they’re also headed to Ebonhollow."

Neveah stiffened. "What?! Does Jian know about this?"

"I sent word before coming to you. By the Creator, Neveah, they’re close." He began pacing, "Terribly close. And what’s worse, they’re being led by a man who calls himself the ’Reborn Dragon King.’ "

She shook her head, astonished. "I don’t understand..."

Cassian stopped, turning to Neveah. "Jian won’t be facing Beoruh, Veah. Or Mykael."

His tone was the closest thing to terrified a King’s guard would ever allow, "He will be facing Asrig."

Neveah could have sworn, the world screeched to an instant halt.