Omega's Rebirth

"Let me get this right. Dante was abducted to be mated to some nymph?" Estelle asked, still unable to fully comprehend what she had just heard.

"It is as you have heard girl. Three clans gather in Forest Tajmaé for blooming season. The Nord clan, the Gypsy clan and Druid Clan."

"For us druid nymphs, we live by a code of honor. We will never take an unwilling mate. But our two brother clans are a different story."

"The population of our race has seen a great decrease in this past century.

"Our kind require strong companions to propagate our lineage, hence interracial bonding has been favored, particularly with humans with a blessed aura."

"While we druids take pride in wooing our intended, the nords and gypsies will take a mate that radiates a blessed aura, with or without consent." The head guard replied as he led the way deeper into the forest.

Estelle gasped in horror, she could not imagine there were still nymph clans who observed such archaic bonding traditions.

There was no doubt that Dante would fit all requirements, he was broad, tall, strong and dashingly handsome too... Estelle knew nothing of blessed auras, but she surely knew Dante was a catch.

Estelle could not imagine anyone could turn a blind eye to Dante’s charms.

"That is horrid!" Estelle exclaimed with a shudder.

"Indeed. Our clan leader has entrusted us with the protection of the young druid nymphs to partake in the blooming hunt, lest they are forced to bond against their will." The other druid nymph agreed.

"If the Nord and Gypsy clans still honor the old ways, how can your clan just watch them cart away innocent people?!" Estelle hissed furiously.

"We nymph protect our own, and the old ways have stood strong for centuries. Just because we do not agree does not mean we will stand against our own kind." The head guard replied.

"So only your kin matter? Everyone else can just go to hell?" Estelle scoffed beneath her breath.

"And your kind is any different? Dragon tyranny has reigned for centuries, so much so they must forget that there was a time they were the ones in chains." The head guard countered, passing Estelle a glare.

Rage surged through Estelle’s veins at the mention of her kind. These tributary races had always been ingrates and Estelle was used to seeing their discontent with the supreme rule of the Asvar beasts.

"The dragons saved these lands! They protect these lands, they have shed blood keeping the stronghold and every race safe from dark forces and great beasts!"

"The same cannot be said for the nymphs who hide away in their forests for generation after generation!"

"All you know is the short centuries of depraved glory when your kind allied with the dark forces to enslave my kind! You all should be fitted for chains!" Estelle snapped right back, her eyes blazing with rage.

In those times, all the races had joined hands to overpower the beasts of Asvar for their greed to acquire dragon treasures. They took away their freedom and put them in chains.

Estelle knew many generations had passed and times had changed, but she would never forget all her mother had taught her of those horrible days.

Now that the tables were turned, the other races were always quick to call out tyranny... forgetting they were the very tyrants but some centuries ago.

"Speaking of those times, you and your kind still get to keep your lives and territories...you should be grateful for the mercy given." Estelle concluded in a dark tone.

The head guard passed Estelle another look before he grumbled beneath his breath.

"Many generations have passed since then, we are not the same kind our ancestors once were."

" But our traditions and cultures were granted liberty by the Dragon King. You and your companion should have stayed clear from Forest Tajmaé." The head guard murmured.

Estelle sucked in a deep breath to calm her rage, if she was to have any chance of finding Dante, she would need the help of the druid nymphs.

If they were the only clan who disagreed with the old ways, then Estelle was certain they could aid her in getting Dante out.

"You say the festival holds here in Forest Tajmaé, so all three clans have come to gather here from your respective territories?" Estelle asked in a much calmer tone.

"It is a festival held once in every decade, hence we have travelled far to be a part of it. Forest Tajmaé is our most sacred forest and here the hunt and bonding ceremonies shall be held."

"Once the blooming season is over, the newly mated shall receive the blessings of the forest spirit and the clans shall all return to our territories." The other nymph confirmed Estelle’s words.

"Bonding ceremony..." Estelle murmured to herself in horror.

"Do not fret, it is not as bad as you think. Though the Nord and Gypsy nymphs have taken forceful captives, the captives are still given a say in their own fate." The head guard assured.

"Truly?" Estelle breathed a sigh of relief.

"The captive must allow a time of a fourth night where the unmated nymphs whose fancy he has caught will contest for his hand... and then the choice of who to bond is solely his." The head guard explained. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"How is that even a choice?! He still has to bond one! Can he not chose to be let go?!" Estelle asked in astonishment.

The head guard chuckled quietly, shaking his head.

"Many humans flock Forest Tajmaé in hopes of being chosen as a prize. It is considered a great honor. Let go? That is out of the question." The head guard replied.

Estelle frowned in concern, she could not imagine how Dante would react to this situation but she knew for certain he would not be pleased.

Being a dragon born herself, Estelle knew there was a great wrong that should never be done to a dragon, and that was being forced to bond.

But it was even worse for a dragon like Dante...a dragon who had suffered a severing.

’I have to find Dante soon! I have to!’ Estelle thought to herself in urgency as they ventured deeper into Forest Tajmaé.