Once his magic was lost, I let go of him and stood, leaving only enough energy for him to meet his merited end.
The Warlock King collapsed onto the wooden floor, his form shaking as he looked up at me, his eyes fixed on the crown’s eyes. His mouth opened and closed weakly, probably begging me to finish him, but no words came out of him.
“I made a promise to my people once,” Evanna began, stopping next to me. “I told them that you would never stand before me again, unless I was landing the killing blow to your heart… You are not standing now, but a promise is a promise.”
The curved blade of her spear plunged into his heart, excruciatingly slow, returning every ounce of agony he had ever handed her.
His eyes and mouth opened widely in a scream that never came, and then his head lolled to the side, a mere sliver of blood dripping from his mouth.
The bands of the Dragon Crown unlocked on their own the next second, and I pulled it off my head, dropping it on the floor. The ring and the sword followed. Sending my magic onto them, I snapped the crystals out of each piece, gathering them all between my hands, and focusing my power on them.
Energy trembled in the air, the pressure intensifying until they burst into billions of particles, finally disintegrating into nothing.
“Why did you do that?” Evie gasped, holding my arm.
An encumbered breath sank my chest as I looked at her, feeling only my magic course through my veins again. “No one should have that kind of power. Not even me.”
With a nod, relief finally filled her lungs, even as tears gathered in her eyes. Evanna threw herself into my arms. “It’s over, Brax. He’s gone. He’s really gone!”
My arms wrapped around her, holding her fiercely, and for maybe the first time in my entire life, I breathed freely. It was over, and the power that notion gave us was something no crystal or warlock could ever surpass.
The voices suddenly returned, speaking all at once, and out loud. Evie and I stepped back to find ribbons of golden magic flying around the room, until we were completely surrounded. Each ribbon swirled in a different direction, forming several silhouettes of light along the throne room, facing us. No faces or bodies became detailed, but it was clear, the magic forms were people… or more importantly, souls.
“The power could have been yours, yet you choose to set us free…” they spoke in unison. “Thank you, Braxton. Long live the king!”
Just as they had formed, the ribbons of golden magic whirled through the room until they dissolved, never to be seen again.
A small, twinkling light called my attention to the Dragon Crown, but like the others, it vanished.
“Raithian’s body died without magic inside it, so it will never join our family in the Lake of Tranquility,” I explained to Evanna, remembering my mother’s words.
“He will never find peace,” she agreed. “But your family finally will.”
Nodding, I pressed my forehead to hers, taking a moment together, but the anguish of loss swept through our hearts swiftly, catching up with us.
“Grieve not, Devenish King. All who are worthy shall rise again…”
The unknown voice echoed in my ears like it had when I was dying, startling me. Exchanging a glance with Evie, I realized she’d heard it too. We rushed to the window to witness something we never thought possible.
Our fallen Dragons and Elevated Warriors began to stir along the battleground, shimmering peach magic showering their entire bodies and breathing life back into them. Slowly they stood again, as though waking up from a deep sleep, their injuries fading completely. It was like they had never left us. Our dead warriors began to awake too.
Desperately searching for the source of this miracle, I glanced up to find Terra hovering over them, her magic spreading over our army, and returning life as their reward. Glowing, her eyes swept the land below us, then connected with mine. “My king…”
Her gracious farewell echoed in my ears, revealing it had been her soft voice speaking to me all along. With a small bow of their heads, she and the other Celestials ascended, their infinite light dispersing among the clouds.
Evie and I hugged again, happiness overwhelming our being as my golden fog surrounded us. We reappeared outside the Crimson Fortress to find that Ignis’ embers had kindled the palace with flames, consuming it.
We ran towards our people, and the moment Asher came into view, alive, I rushed towards him.
“Thank you, Terra…”
Relieved to find me alive, he hurried towards me too, and we crashed, squeezing the life out of each other. Evanna hugged Elijah, and Hanna, moving onto Skylar and everyone else even if they hadn’t come back to life by the grace of the Sky Gods. Confusion gripped their minds, none of them remembered actually dying. Their memories stopped when they became seriously injured, so no one said a word, preferring to explain later. It was a lot to take.
I hugged Imogen, truly grateful to have her back, but my gaze caught Kingston on the other side with Willow, and I immediately walked to his side. “We won, Chief.”
“You did this,” he admitted, his voice hoarse as he pulled me in for a rough hug. “I know what you did for me. I know you saved me…” he whispered. “Thank you, Son.”
“Don’t mention it,” I answered, clearing the emotion from my voice before embracing Willow. I was taken aback by her inner strength. She was a hell of a warrior, not that we ever doubted it.
Glancing all around me, I noticed the Dragons’ eyes were no longer green, along with a few of the warriors Lachlan had betrayed. The rest had perished but at least these were safe, and with us.
“Lachlan?” I asked the chief, who shook his head at me.
“He did not make it.”
I guessed he wasn’t found worthy.
Spartan’s form shook next to us, getting the wetness off him like a dog would, and we all laughed as mud splattered over us.
“Stop it,” I chided, but lifted a hand to him, glad to see him alive.
Our family tree suddenly became alight, and I breathed deeply once more, seeing every branch, every leaf filled with their brilliant essences. My Dragon family was all there. A new branch extended towards me then, but its light was too dim to fully take hold or reach me. A pang of pain travelled straight to me, piercing my heart.
Whirling around, I searched for the source. Whoever the Dragon was, he had been gravely injured. He needed me. His soul was calling out for me.
My frantic gaze halted over Azazel’s form, cold dread capturing me. His body collapsed at the volcano’s base with Tharion standing over him.
No…
I began to run towards him, disappearing and reappearing only a few yards away. Assessing his condition, I went to him, slowing my pace even when my heart began to pound hastily against my ribs.
Azazel rested on his side; his heads spread along the ground behind him. Severe burns covered one of them, lying awkwardly as his chest struggled to rise and fall. The other heads had no light in their eyes, their gazes lost somewhere in the sky—where the Celestials had vanished. Only one head remained alive and focused on me, the main one, his one good eye intently following my approach.
Jagged slashes spread across his body. They were deep but blood struggled to pour from them. He didn’t have much left to spill, yet something told me it wasn’t a result of his battle with Tharion. Stopping before him, I lifted a single hand, seeing him lower his head for me to touch him. We finally connected fully.