Omega's Rebirth

That bitter taste of bondage was still heavy on her tongue, how could Neveah forget it so easily?

Perhaps it was for this reason that try as Neveah might, she just could not hate the dragons neither could she place them on the same level as the Eclipse Fang wolves.

It was ironic how Neveah considered being captured against her will by the dragons a much better fate than what she had endured in her own home... in the hands of her own family.

But this was just the reality, nothing the dragons had done could begin to measure up to Alpha King Lothaire’s cruelty.

Perhaps it was because Neveah had not expected much regard from strangers, and where there was no expectations, there was no disappointment.

However from her own family...it was undoubtedly a different case.

"That’s horrible." Neveah murmured in a low tone.

"But such was our reality and there were many who faced more terrible fates. Battle dragons, breeding dragons..." Menarx trailed off, falling quiet at the end.

Neveah knew for a race that valued might and honor as the dragons did, speaking about such a past must have been difficult.

Menarx did not need to say much more, Neveah knew of the dragons forced to battle each other and conquer territories for their captors and the dragons forced to bond and procreate...all against their will.

There was nothing more terrible than having even your basic instincts subject to the will of another.

"Lord Agardan’s call to battle came at such a time when my kind was ready...to reclaim freedom or die trying." Menarx continued after a moment of quiet.

Menarx’s eyes were distant, his mind replaying the memories of all he spoke of.

"My father answered the call to battle. And when my father summoned the North dragons and said to them...it was time to break the cuffs, I had just clocked my seventh summer... many, many moons ago." Menarx recalled.

"My father led the North dragons on Lord Agardan’s order, carving a path of blood and ash on their flight to the heart of our stronghold... this very Keep Skies."

"From North’s End, to Fort Inferno and Dusk Castle...my clan led the charge and conquered it all in their path till they arrived to join Lord Agardan’s main army." Menarx said, his tone thick with respect and reverence.

Just the tone with which Menarx spoke of his clan, his family and his father showed how deeply he respected them.

It was another reason Neveah found it hard to comprehend just why her own family was so different... so dark and evil.

While other families respected and honored each other, valued their blood ties more than their own lives... Neveah had only known a family filled with greed and thirst for power.

"But it was not without sacrifices... and it was on that very pillar my father breathed his last." Menarx murmured in a low tone.

Neveah gasped quietly, her eyes moving back to the pillar that stood high above all of Tavern’s end.

The pillar now appeared even more imposing in Neveah’s eyes, because it was clear to her that this pillar held a deeper significance to Menarx and to the stronghold.

"Father fulfilled his mission, he conquered the North and freed his people and all the tribes and clans of the North."

"Yet he did not live to see what great of an empire was built out of his sacrifice..." Menarx continued, sighing quietly.

Neveah could sense Menarx’s despair, it was clear in his countenance.

But she had no words to say that could provide Menarx comfort and so she could only remain silent and let Menarx say all that he needed to say, and hoped it could unburden his heart.

"My clan was named protectors of the North and since then, a tournament is held and a the victorious warrior of North’s end is honored with a place amongst the King’s guard."

"In my father’s place, my brother served on the King’s guard with Lord Agardan upon his crowning as High King."

"And when High King Agardan passed on...my brother would serve no other and retired to North’s End." Menarx revealed.

"So High King Agardan..." Neveah began but trailed off.

"Was the First Dragon King, the first known dragon of golden scales and My Liege’s father." Menarx completed, already guessing what Neveah wanted to know.

"Dragon King Jian is the second dragon king since the founding of the stronghold?" Neveah asked in surprise.

"The third, My Liege is the second born son. After High King Agardan passed, there was another to succeed him, his first born son." Menarx explained.

"Ah...but I have never heard the mention of another dragon king. Or that His Grace had a blood brother." Neveah wondered aloud.

"And for good reason." Menarx said in a serious tone but he did not say anymore than that.

Neveah also did not ask any further, whoever had ruled before King Jian was of no consequence to Neveah.

"If your brother was on High King Agardan’s King’s guard, should you not have taken over from him?" Neveah asked curiously.

"I could have...but serving as King’s guard is a duty and a lifetime bond. It is not a decision to be made easily... I did not find the High King’s original successor worthy of my blood vow and so I took no part in the tournament." Menarx explained.

"But His Grace was worthy?" Neveah asked again.

Menarx passed Neveah a glance knowing she and King Jian were not on the best of terms.

"He is worthy." Menarx replied with a nod.

"That pillar represents the first ever protector of the North, till this day, it is a reminder of my father’s valor and sacrifice."

"And before that pillar, I took a blood oath to protect my liege, my brothers and my people...to live for them and when it is required of me, to die for them."

"And when my oath was sworn and sealed with my blood and on the honor of my father and my clan, I was named Lord Menarx of Ruby Scales... Protector of the North." Menarx said.