Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 757: Enemy Territory ()

A gasp escaped Neveah as a chilling cold draft stirred her back to consciousness. When she became aware of her surroundings once again, Neveah realized she was still standing on the unfamiliar mountain ledge where she had met Menarx.

The vision had felt so real, for a moment Neveah had braced herself, like those cruel, unforgiving vines were coming for her next. That she would be brutally executed without a trace left... the truth buried for centuries to come.

The thought ripped at her heart, like the loss and betrayal was her own. She had just witnessed history’s greatest lie. How could she ever tell this truth to Jian? How could she watch him crumble all over again?

Glancing down to her hand, Neveah’s gaze lingered on the shards of the memory orb still clutched tightly in her fist. That warm aura it gave off at first contact was all but gone, as was the dim glow. All that was left to Neveah were shards of magic, a heavy heart, and a mind clouded in dozens of unfamiliar memories of a childhood almost as pathetic as hers, and a life she had never lived. Some were clear, others were still blurry and jumbled up, perhaps they would settle in time... perhaps they would not.

"In her last moments, she must not have had enough strength to sort out her memories...so she gave it all to me." Neveah murmured, her tone was as heavy as her heart felt.

Suddenly, Neveah felt like she weighed quite a few tons. Between the finality of receiving Adrienne’s memories and the truth she had just discovered, it was like the burden of yet another lifetime had been added to her and the dreadful responsibility that came with knowing what no one else did, she was not sure she had enough capacity to carry it all and still make the right decisions like everyone expected her to.

"Till the end, she puts me in the worst position. And all I get is an apology..." Neveah murmured, exhaling heavily.

"Demevirld... let’s return now." Neveah thought to Demevirld.

The presence within her mind hummed his acknowledgement and with his guidance, in just a moment, a swirling portal appeared a short distance from where Neveah stood.

Not long after, Neveah was standing in the room in Fort Inferno, right where she had been. Xenon was no longer there, he must have gone to oversee the council like he said he would.

Neveah headed out of the room, walking down the hallway, she made her way to the war chamber.

There were a few dragon lords going by here or there and Neveah acknowledged them with a nod, but nothing more, this was hardly the time to make acquaintances. She was not familiar with the layout of Fort Inferno, this was true. But the war chamber, she could find... she could sense the aura of the infernal dragons gathered in a place and she let her senses guide her.

Neveah soon arrived at the double doors. It was a private council and so it was closed shut. She could still hear muffled voices from where she stood but that was only because of her hearing advantage.

The doors swung open before Neveah could reach for it and Xenon stood on the other side.

"I am late, aren’t I?" Neveah asked apologetically. His worried eyes scanned Neveah from head to toe and only when he was satisfied by what he saw did he speak.

"Menarx?" He asked in a low tone.

Neveah shook her head slightly. Xenon’s expression turned grim but he nodded his understanding and then he glanced back into the war chamber, and back at Neveah again, there was a hesitant look in his eyes, like there was something he had to say but could not bring himself to say it.

The war chamber had also gone completely silent. It was a strangely solemn kind of silence, and Neveah’s brows furrowed slightly. "Tell me." Neveah said to Xenon.

"A moment ago...you did it again." Xenon revealed.

"Did what?" Neveah asked uncertainly.

"You projected a message to the mind of dozens of dragon lords... perhaps every dragon lord." Xenon confessed grimly.

"What kind of message?" Neveah asked in apprehension. But somehow, her mind drew her back to that moment when the memory of Raena had dissolved in golden light.

"A vision... memory, something of the sort. But Veah, every dragon saw what you saw, through your eyes. Everyone knows now... what the Fae have done." Xenon said, his tone was tight and it was obvious he barely contained his rage. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Neveah’s heart dropped, her eyes going wide. "I... Demevirld..." She realized. It was without a doubt who had done this, and Neveah knew why he had...chaos, war, bloodshed, these were Demevirld’s purpose.

"The tension is through the roof. The Lords of all the fortresses have sent word to the Keep, they request the call to battle. Aloria must be declared enemy territory by royal order and sieged. Imagor has approved. As did I... the order will be passed on your consent."

"This is a full blown war, Veah...there will be no hesitation, and no mercy." Xenon said.

Neveah understood what no hesitation meant. Any non-dragon species caught in the middle would be overrun without a second thought. A moment ago, it had just been a defense of their territory to the dragon lords, but now...it was about vengeance.

This was exactly what Adrienne feared... Neveah realized. It was why the Fae had done all they could to overturn dragon supremacy. Because they knew, when the time came to pay this debt of life, they would not be able to afford the consequence.

Neveah had hoped for a little time to figure out what was right, she had hoped to leave the ultimate decision to Jian. But that was no longer an option now.

This was not how she had hoped to broach the topic, but it was for the best that everything was out in the open now.

She could understand the wrath the dragons felt, the betrayal and their need for vengeance she could not deny them this. Adrienne must have known too... that there was only one way this could end. Perhaps she could not beat to watch it happen while she lived and she equally could not carry the burden with her, and so she had only shared this truth now.

She strode into the war council. "Cut off all supply routes leading to Aloria and all fae settlements. As of this moment, Aloria is enemy territory and will be treated as such."

"As for the Fae invading Inferno...we will make an example of them. And I know just how." Neveah said, her eyes narrowed.