Omega's Rebirth

It was already past sundown, and in a short while, the final streaks of daylight would give way for the darkness of night.

The evening breeze was particularly refreshing out here in the outskirts of the Fodder Groove, it was a welcome comfort to Jian’s troubled heart.

Although the comfort was fleeting, they had to be... how could a king dare seek for peace when his people faced the contrary?

Jian had taken a liking to this hill, perhaps because it overlooked the small town below, just as his balcony overlooked the Citadel.

The mundane and familiar sight provided a rare sense of warmth to Jian’s cold heart.

The day had been eventful, but the night was not any better.

An air of danger still lurked in the air... and then there was that treasure...a treasure Jian had stored away so long ago that he had almost let himself forget it’s existence.

"Decaron will see to it at dawn..." Cassian’s voice sounded from behind Jian.

"He will." Jian agreed.

"What is contained within that box... How could the dark sorcerers possibly know of it? And what could they want with it?" Cassian asked again after a moment of quiet.

They had refrained from speaking of the treasure all this while,

It was a closely guarded secret known only to Jian’s most trusted, even the young Starron girl had no idea of just what had been in her possession.

Or of what great consequence it was.

But Jian knew if the treasure was known to the dark sorcerers, it could only have been through one source.

"Asrig..." Jian murmured in a heavy tone.

It all seemed to lead back to that one person.

"What they want with it..." Jian said again.

Now this was the question even he could not answer.

____________

The dragon king was not the only one with more thoughts than he could hope to sort out.

Estelle sat outside her tent and she had been for a long time now.

Time and time again, Estelle had tried to imagine exactly what state Fort Blazed would be in, with each day that had passed, she wondered just how her father fared.

Each sunset had Estelle wondering if her father watched the same sunset as she did, or had he been taken to some plane where there was neither day nor night.

Even when Lord Decaron had decided on taking a longer route, extending their three day flight to the Fodder Grooves by a few more days,

Estelle found she could not worry about Lord Decaron’s instincts as much as she worried about each day that rolled by.

After everything, Estelle had gotten to the Fodder Groove. She had fulfilled her father’s orders to deliver the treasure to the dragon king, yet...

Estelle glanced down at the key chain on her neck, a quiet sigh escaping her.

The dragon king had let Estelle keep the key chain, it was her family’s heirloom. It was hers to protect.

Even if the treasure in the box was to fall into the wrong hands, it would be of no use without the keychain in Estelle’s possession.

As for the treasure, Lord Decaron would safely escort it back to the Citadel along with Estelle and Dante.

Estelle knew it was no longer in her hands, the dragon king would spare no efforts to save Fort Blazed and Estelle was being sent away to where she would be safe.

But Estelle could not help the heavy feeling in her heart, it was that feeling of helplessness that had become all too familiar to Estelle in recent times.

Estelle did not wish to be kept safe at this time, her father had done that all her life,

Estelle wanted to put herself out there, to battle whatever darkness she needed to, to save her father and her people with her own hands.

The part of the overly protected princess, Estelle had played it for long enough.

But before the dragon king and his elite squadron, Estelle knew she was nothing... she had no place here, she would only be a burden.

"Hey..." Dante called to Estelle, taking a seat beside her on the small rock.

Estelle had left her temporary tent and found a somewhat quiet place close to the forest line where she could sort out her thoughts.

"Hey..." Estelle said back, passing Dante a small smile.

Dante returned the smile, before staring ahead like Estelle had been.

"Everything is in order then?" Estelle asked knowingly.

"Lord Decaron has made the necessary arrangements, we leave at first light." Dante replied with a nod.

"You do not wish to leave." Dante added knowingly.

Dante had known Estelle for long enough, it was easy to decipher her train of thoughts.

"I should do something Dante, I cannot be expected to just sit safely in the Citadel while father and everyone else are still in danger." Estelle murmured.

"His Grace said not even a word to me of his plans for Fort Blazed, he only assured me he would do everything... I believe him, I trust him..."

"But I am not a child Dante, I am my father’s heir. I have a right to know...to fight... even if I am no dragon." Estelle continued.

"His Grace has many displeased today..." Dante replied with a quiet chuckle.

"I do not believe His Grace disregards you Estelle, he is not such a man."

"Lord Starron is cherished by His Grace, so are you... after what happened with Lady Starron, you can see why he is in a hurry to send you away." Dante reasoned when Estelle passed him a glare.

"And he is not the only one who wants more than anything to keep you safe Elle..." Dante added truthfully.

"You are treasured and valued Elle because of all that you already are, you have nothing to prove to anyone." Dante clarified.

"We made it to Keep Skies... I could not have done it without you. How are you always there when I need you?" Estelle asked a question she had repeatedly asked herself.

Dante smiled slightly, leaning his head back to gaze at the sky.

Dante said nothing more, neither did Estelle but both seemed comfortable in the silence, as though they could already read all that was held in the other’s heart.