Farewells

Parting ways with Raphael was akin to experiencing heartbreak, despite our brief acquaintance. He was my reflection, yet wiser and stronger. An archangel, as I should have been, but no longer. Not after the pact that altered everything. I had become something else. A man, a dragon, who chose to dwell in a foreign world rather than return to his own. A being with infinite possibilities to transform, evolve, start afresh, or tread the familiar path. A potential father, king, kin, and peacemaker.

Yet, peace remained elusive in this world. The war had ceased, but the issues persisted. The dragons felt deceived and oppressed by a concealed oligarchy wielding excessive power over them. And they were justified, in a way. We were far superior to them in strength and might. Aura, the leader of the oligarchy, was no more. Her demise left a void in her realm that others would soon strive to fill.

Novar, the dark lord who had reigned over the shadow lands for eons, had no successor. His people, the shadow dragons, were still ostracized and feared by the rest. The guardians, the only ones who could have intervened, did nothing but reunite after their prolonged separation. That was a relief, at least. They would have been our last hope had we failed. But they were also part of the problem. Many perceived them as puppets of the oligarchy.

Zeno had disappeared again. He didn’t stay to confront the aftermath of recent events. He was Novar's brother, the one who had slain him with Aura’s assistance. He remained a timelord, even after his fall from grace. He probably wielded more power than me, but not more than Raphael. Raphael advised me to seek Zeno if I ever wished to revisit my original world. He hinted that Zeno could forge portals between different worlds or universes. I didn’t comprehend how that functioned, but I surmised that we were indeed in separate universes. The laws of physics in my world didn’t permit the manipulation of elements and energies as they did here. It was too improbable to be the same universe.

I returned to the guardians with mixed news. I informed them about Aura’s downfall and the cessation of the enemy’s expansion. I told them that we had accomplished our mission. They accepted the change with resignation and relief. They hadn't served Aura for decades anyway, ever since Cyrus and Sol disappeared.

The city was in desperate need of a new leader, someone who could restore order and harmony in the aftermath of the war. The guardians had searched extensively, but none of the candidates seemed worthy of the throne. Then Freya whispered in my ear, “You know you have a claim to the crown, don’t you?” I shook my head and replied, “I don’t want it. I have everything I need with you. I can’t abandon our kingdom.” But she persisted, suggesting, “You won’t have to. I can manage things here. Vesper has been a great help too. Why don’t you consider their offer?”

I looked at her incredulously and asked, “You want me to rule over this other kingdom and its allies? How do you know they will accept me?” She smiled confidently and said, “Many of them still believe you are the chosen one from the prophecy, the one who defeated the enemy leader. They will hail you as a hero.” I sighed, “They already do.” She nodded, “Exactly. You don’t need my permission, but you have it anyway. You will still be the king of our realm, but also of Aura’s. Maybe you can even give it a new name?”

I hesitated, then said, “Alright, I’ll see if they really want me. I’ll discuss it with the guardians later, but first, I want to see our family again. Maybe take a day off.” She agreed, “Fair enough. Take your time. Let’s go home.” We used a portal in the temple to return to our kingdom and our loved ones. I also sought advice from Leo and met his wife by chance. She was a massive female wyvern, much larger than him, and she was feral, a wild one. But she respected me enough to not attack me. Everyone encouraged me to accept the offer. It was a new challenge, a vital one, and so I went back to the guardians and told them my decision. In no time, I was standing before a massive crowd of dragons, presenting myself as their new leader who would usher in a new era. I was ready to bring about major changes and use the technologies we had discovered in the kingdom of the Hidden Shadows to create a balance between the kingdoms.

Everything went according to plan, and I even had the chance to meet Zeno again on several occasions. He often visited the temple and offered to teach me how to wield the holy powers and more. I was filled with gratitude and optimism. This was a happy ending and a fresh beginning. But I was not alone in this journey. I had a family to support me. Even though I had missed the best years with them, it did not matter anymore. I could finally enjoy a proper honeymoon with Freya across multiple kingdoms.

We had gained control over most of the world with our influence and power. The kingdom of the Crashing Thunder still needed our assistance, and it had become so reliant on us that it was practically a puppet state. The kingdom of the Frozen Crystal always coveted the lands of the Hidden Shadows, but we could not let them have their way. They deserved their independence and sovereignty.

My daughters had fallen in love with the city of the Hidden Shadows when they visited it, and they expressed their desire to leave the palace and live there. We granted them their wish, as they were mature and skilled enough to protect themselves. They became so popular and influential that they were elected as the new leaders of the defeated kingdom when we suggested a new election.

Our family had amassed even more power, and I realized that I had accomplished what my enemy had wanted to do. We had essentially conquered the world. What would come next? I hoped for peace and order, but I could not be certain. I could not see the future, but I prayed for our good fortune and everyone else’s and that no one would ever dare to oppose me again. I would give them a fitting punishment. A royal one, or perhaps a holy one. It would depend on the situation.

Who knew if there were still other demons lurking around? There weren’t any, right? Right?