Omega's Rebirth

"The tributary lords have banded together and they have begun swaying public sentiment in their favor."

"They are quite daring this time, they insist Lord Xenon’s wild haze can no longer be managed and a drastic decision must be taken to restore peace to the stronghold." Lord Decaron began first.

At the mention of Xenon, Neveah perked up immediately.

"Their demands are still within reason though their motive cannot be determined." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Be it to our kind or otherwise, Lord Xenon is a force to be feared. If things get as bad as that first instance, it would take at least a dozen of us dragons to overpower him."

"For one so strong that even we dragons are helpless, he would be a terror to the other races. We have no methods to control or restrain the Black Fiend in the event that the wild haze reaches it’s peak." Lord Lodenworth asserted.

Neveah’s heart sank right down to the pit of her stomach at the words Lord Lodenworth had just said.

Neveah had not expected to find Xenon at her side when she regained consciousness, not after their last encounter...but Neveah would be lying if she said she had not held hope.

Hope that Xenon had returned to himself, that he had overcome that horrible darkness consuming him and returned to being the Black scaled she knew... the Xenon that made her feel safe and cherished.

But Neveah herself knew that was asking for too much, even now... Neveah could still clearly recall the savage and blood thirsty look in Xenon’s eyes as he cut off her airway.

She could still remember clearly the chilling cold feeling of terror that ran down her spine, a terror she could still feel at this moment as though it had happened just yesterday.

Xenon was lost to the wild haze...these ten days had changed nothing.

The Xenon Neveah knew was still gone, and there was nothing Neveah or anyone could do to bring him back to himself.

While a council was being summoned to discuss Xenon’s fate for the safety and stability of the stronghold, while Neveah could understand the reason in Lord Lodenworth’s words, Neveah still wanted no part in this.

’Xenon has been through so much...he is already suffering. No one has the right to decide his fate...no one!’ Neveah thought to herself, her hands clenching into tight fists.

’Veah...control yourself. A King is never ruled by emotions.’ Neveah’s wolf reminded her.

’Never ruled by emotions.’ Neveah repeated to herself.

Neveah sucked in a breath as she unclenched her fists and returned her attention to the council.

This council was Xenon’s family, his clan. Regardless of how great the pressure, Neveah wanted to believe they would never yield to it.

All this while, the council stood solidly by King Jian and firmly protected Xenon... that would not change, would it?

"What would they term a drastic decision?" Lord Imagor asked with a sneer.

"Their demands are clear. The people live in fear of the Black Fiend and as word of Xenon’s wild haze spreads, the commoners are fleeing the Keep’s environs." Another dragon lord supplied.

"What is all the fuss about? We have faced Xenon’s wild haze times without number in these decades and have been able to keep it in check...it could have been a hundred times or more already."

"This is even the longest time Xenon has stayed sober. We will see to it as we always do, why has it become so great a deal this time?" A rider whom Neveah did not recognize asked with a scoff.

"As unpleasant as it is for us to have this discussion, the issue on hand is more pressing than you think. For some reason, there is a believe that Xenon’s wild haze this time will be as severe as his first."

"We all know the great damages during that event, if the people believe it will be as such again, they have reasonable cause to flee." Lord Decaron explained.

"Someone must be spreading false rumours then. Otherwise, what do they know about Xenon’s condition when he has been barred in Mount Edar all this while?" A dragon lord murmured thoughtfully.

"Whoever it is, they hope to sway the public into believing the dragons are incapable of carrying out our duties and favor ties to our kin over the safety of the people." Lord Lodenworth agreed.

"We cannot completely ignore the petitions, we must find a way to pacify the people. Our Liege has exhausted centuries of effort to earn the people’s faith, we cannot lose that." Lord Decaron added.

"Again I ask, what would one term a drastic decision?" Lord Imagor demanded, wanting to be clear on exactly what the petitions were asking for.

"The petitions are in tens of thousands...but their demand is the same. Banishment...or execution." Lord Rodrick revealed in a grim tone.

Neveah’s heart ran cold and her eyes widened.

The entire council fell quiet at Lord Rodrick’s revelation, even Lord Lodenworth who had been going on about reason was left in shock.

"Execution?! What a load of bull! Execute who?!" Lord Lodenworth exclaimed in horror.

"It seems you all do not fully understand just how dire the situation is." King Jian spoke for the first time since the deliberations had begun.

Glancing down at a pile of petitions placed before him, he picked up the one at the very top and began reading through it.

"Lord Tedrin of the elven race humbly appeals to the supreme king, there is a great threat to the stronghold which can no longer be tolerated."

"May Your Grace order for Xenon’s execution." King Jian read out with a quiet chuckle and then tossed it aside, picking up another.

"Lady Hilda of the South Mer Sea... appeals for Xenon’s execution." King Jian read out again, tossing it aside before he kicked over the table piled up with petitions.

"There are thousands of this in my study...more in my quarters! And what?! They are within reason?!" King Jian snarled.