Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 713: Not Yet Time ()

A shriek of pain tore out of Neveah’s throat, echoing for miles as her eyes snapped open. She curled in on herself, her vision blinded by the scorching pain.

Neveah gasped, grasping around aimlessly, she caught hold of something and supported her weight, pulling herself up to a crawling position.

’Did I make it?’ Neveah wondered, hope filled her heart from the sudden sharpness of her hearing and her sense of smell, amplified by almost a dozen compared to the dimness she had been cursed with a short time ago.

Neveah shook her head slightly, lifting her hand to her view and as her vision settled, the red, angry shade of the skin on the back of her palm became visible to her, and she could guess every inch of her skin was in much the same condition.

Neveah could only see that far, all around was pitch darkness and shadows. Neveah inhaled deeply, tasting the air...a familiarity she could never forget.

’Mount Edar... I made it... I am back...’ Neveah thought, her unsteady heart settled by just a measure.

The pain she had awakened with was quickly fading and Neveah coughed violently, struggling to catch her breath.

"What do we have here?" A low, gravelly voice sounded, much too close to Neveah.

Neveah jumped backwards, her gaze snapped up to settle on the source of the voice.

It was a man...or at least some form of a man. He sat on a boulder a short distance away, legs crossed over each other and robes splayed all around him.

In the pitch darkness of the mountain where one could barely see ahead, Neveah squinted to make out even the most basic features.

But what stood out amongst them was the large spiky horns that grew out of his head, and even larger scaly wings neatly folded behind him.

’Dragon scales...’ Neveah recognised.

’It was a man and a dragon, but it was neither man nor dragon...so what was it?’ Neveah thought in alarm.

Neveah retreated warily, gathering her strength as she stared at the strange looking man.

Had she not sensed life within him, Neveah would have assumed it was some kind of beast of dark magic.

"You survived a soul reaping mirage...far greater men and dragons have fallen to this. You should be proud." He spoke again.

"You...who are you?" Neveah asked cautiously.

"What...are you?" She asked as an afterthought.

"I have been many different things. I am not quite certain... how to answer that question." He replied.

Neveah had not truly expected a response, she only hoped to stall for time with her questioning and gather her strength to at least put up a fight.

"Do you want to kill me also?" Neveah asked again.

The winged man chuckled quietly and nodded his head.

"Yes." He admitted without hesitation.

"Everyone does." Neveah murmured, again unsurprised.

She chuckled dryly, leaning her head back against the rock.

"It is nothing personal. You are one of those... collateral damage." The winged man said, as though that was meant to reassure Neveah.

"I have always been that... collateral damage. Yet for some reason, I still live. Do it then, take your shot..." Neveah said, grunting as she got up to her feet.

The winged man watched Neveah in silence, his dim red orbs glowing despite the darkness all around them.

"You have many enemies...it is not yet time for you and I to be acquainted." The winged man said after a short moment of silence.

And then he got up to his feet and left, humming a quiet tune that echoed behind him long after he had disappeared from sight.

Neveah frowned slightly, a sense of foreboding churning within her but she ignored it and returned her attention to the steep climb.

An ache in Neveah’s skull reminded her of the presence in her mind and Neveah swiftly dropped her mind-block which she had not even realised was up.

’Veah! I couldn’t sense you! What happened?!’ Neveah’s wolf inquired in concern.

But Neveah did not respond, she did not need to. With her mind-block lowered, her wolf would have access to all of Neveah’s memories as they were bound in mind, and she would see all that had happened for herself. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

’Zephyr...we should get to him.’ Neveah’s wolf reminded her of their initial mission, saying nothing more on the topic...there was nothing to be said.

"Right." Neveah replied.

Neveah quickly began the climb again, making her way up to the cave entrance and when she arrived, she climbed into the cave and glanced around quickly, seeking out the small, ash dragon.

But instead, Neveah’s gaze settled on a little boy curled up on himself in the corner, eyes wide and terrified but he put up a brave front and there was not a tear to be seen.

He was barely two years old by human age and so much smaller in human form.

And Neveah would have sworn she did not know this child, had it not been for the head full of messy hair the exact shade of his scales and a face that was a minor replica of Imagor’s.

"Zephyr?" Neveah called, stepping close enough so he could see her through the darkness.

Zephyr’s head jerked up in alarm but seeing it was only Neveah, his eyes lit up with recognition and his bottom lip trembled as he reached his hands up to her, beckoning urgently.

Neveah’s heart melted, relief easing most of her tension as she quickly picked the child up and held him tightly to her.

"You naughty, naughty boy...do you believe every last Keep dragon is out turning the city upside down, looking for you?" Neveah scolded gently, ruffling Zephyr’s hair.

"Look... the mischievous little dragon turned into a little handsome prince, did you now? You finally decide to let us see your human form now?" Neveah teased, hoping to ease the child.

"Your father and I nearly throttled the poor flight patrol, with everyone looking for a little dragon, how could they not miss you and you knew it, full of tricks aren’t you?" Neveah teased, hoping to ease the child.

Zephyr giggled, nuzzling his head into Neveah’s shoulder. All his terror was forgotten.

"Come now, let me take you home." Neveah said, breathing a sigh of relief.