Epilogue

Adria Springs stared the city down from the fiftieth-floor balcony of the seer tower. The city, with its many tall buildings, seers tower is the highest of them all. Deciding to look up, the eye and highest levels are still covered with clouds. A rare day to see the massive eye sigil of the black empire. People and dragons almost forget it's there.

It was a beautiful day for Inclementia standards, cold and cloudy with a blast of wind chill. Adria shivered as a breeze of wind hits her. Even her thick layered dress and coat couldn't help protect her from that hit. She returns inside and sits by the fire. Reading her books on advanced knowledge of dragon and human anatomy. Being a healer and soldier for seers tower, personally working for the league of eight. Valadeera, Volaticus, Vipstranius, Colossus, Kaunis, Rapax, Akahai (gone rogue), Onyx (Taken away to be fixed. The siblings do not know…)

She worked for them for years much to her hidden dismay. Always thought of them as arrogant, dangerous, cruel, reckless, and selfish.

She missed the good emperor Edhem Marrick, her uncle. After all these years everyone seemed to have forgotten him, even after all the good he tried to do. She remembers as a child he planted trees in front of seers tower. Followed by gardens being created on top of the skyscrapers. The city was turning green, colourful, and full of life... A rare sight for the dark and dreadful north. It was a struggle, but Edhem managed to make it work.

Edhem held a festival about it, "The festival of Bloom" he called it. She remembers it clear as day. It was a peaceful time proven by Edhem inviting other leaders of the world. He happily welcomed them all as she watched with pride. All of the colours and styles of each country made her curious about the world. The accents, foods, and towns, were spoken off as she listened intently. The capitals of each nation sounded incredible to her. Aquarius City is a place of water canals, seashell buildings and islands. Ventus's whole city is built on a massive cliffside. Macdan city inside the mountain, Demir the city on top of the mountain. Vulkania is the settlement of volcanoes and firepower. Lan-Se is a city of trees and beauty, Dominus Sahara the Pyramid City built by human slaves. Suravi is a city that is relatively new compared to the rest, deep below the land as their other towns are connected by underground tunnels. Drascus is a savage city she is already familiar with. She could not help but admit Drascus sounded the most boring out of the rest. But then there was Loan… The golden jewel of the world. She would have given anything to see it… She did get her to wish eventually. But not in the way that she hoped…

Emperor Odysseus gifted Edhem the star flower and seeds to plant followed by the other gifts. She used to stare at it daily as it flourished in the throne room. Edhem was always worried that it would die. He had a guard and gardeners tending to make sure it will never die.

Emperor Edhem was a kind man who happily took her, a bastard child into his home in Seer Tower. Born by a prostitute who died from illness when she was young. Edhem sheltered and educated her, declaring that she is family. Raised along with her cousins. Even though they did not care for her, along with her father Prince Dargan. She wished daily that her father will one day love her. But it never came to pass as he died in a tourney, fighting against a giant scorpion (A massive arachnid Asotele happily gifted). Dargan wanted to show off and died for it, the stinger pierced him in the chest. She mourned but there was nothing she could do. Little realising what level of horrors were going to happen around the corner. The Shadow Emperor re-awakening… A blight of destruction and horror… Followed by his "children". Only now the Shadow Emperor is gone on a personal mission, and only Valadeera knows where…

The trees are now gone, dying soon after the shadow Emperor took hold of the country. Edhem gone… No one knew what happened to him. Her cousins, Demeter, Dargan the younger, Azazel, and Lillith, are dead. Their bodies lying on the floor freshly killed. Presented to the public. People and dragons did protest, but it was futile… They were slaughtered by the Shadow Emperors' own hands. His abilities are beyond the human imagination… So his rule of fear began. She was only spared because she was a bastard and managed to create a false story.

Adria sighs as she looks up at a dragon painting placed above her bed. A rogue dragon killing people in combat. Its claws show a gory end for those people. One part of the image disturbing her is the dragon crushing a human's head. The artist made sure that it was a bloodbath. She hated it… But she would not dare ask for it to be removed. This is the home of the Emperor and his children. A constant reminder… We will kill you. Her dreaming that flowers will one day return to the city.

With a surprise, her bedroom doors burst open. Guards of both species wearing draconium armour walk inside.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" Adria shouts furiously. "I am Adria Springs! Chief healer of this tower!"

"Come!" The head guard named Cole demanded. But his voice wavered with a hint of sadness. Adria had no choice but to follow, unsure of what was going to happen. They surrounded her to make sure she made no attempts to escape. Using a nearby portal they travel up to the highest level of the tower. The throne room.

There the daughter of Shadow Emperor sits. Valadeera is a dragon with obvious ambition and is greatly feared by many. Adria had no fear of her... She won her favour sixteen years ago when she proved her worth. She travelled with the league of eight as they hunted the exiled royals. It was years of non-stop travel… They travelled the world finding clues to find Aelius and Laelia. Of which they finally succeeded…

The dragon sat on the throne looking as if she owned it. Her left claw resting on the arm of the chair. Her thin body rested like a snake as her tail waved around. Her bonemark eye on her forehead glowed with power, as she is easily one of the most powerful dragons in the world.

"Hello, Adria..." Valadeera simply says. "It has been a while, hasn't it?" Adding a happy chirp to her voice. Even though her mouth does not move as she speaks human through her bonemark.

"It has been... But that is good, isn't it? You have been well." Adria tried to speak cheerfully. Speaking to the Emperor's favourite daughter was a hard task. She can be happy in one moment, horrifying the next.

"I could be better..." Valadeera jests.

"What ails you, my dragon friend?" Adria asks. As usual trying her hardest to sound sincere and kind to her fellow dragon.

"You..." Valadeera smiled revealing her perfect white sharp teeth.

Adria is taken aback almost stumbling backward. "Me?" Saying aghast as dread filled her. "I ha-"

Valadeera screeched as she leaped into the air, falling just inches in front of Adria's face. Adria tried her hardest to hold herself together in pure fear. Balancing as she almost fell backward. She knows... SHE KNOWS!

"What did I ask you all those years ago?" Her voice echoed in the throne room. The guard humans and dragons shuddered trying to compose themselves.

"I don't know what you mean..." Adria says trying her hardest not to panic.

Valadeera repeats the question lifting a claw as she connects it to Adrias' forehead. Lowering it as blood is drawn slowly. Adria holding in her pain, wanted to scream.

"I don-" Adria says as Valadeera interrupts her.

"The gold bitch was carrying a baby. She had the swollen belly and all! You told me she did not give birth… So tell me… Why is the gold bitch's child running around? Hm? Mille Voix was quite a circus… TELL ME!" Valadeera shrieked which made the glass statue of herself crack.

Adria bit her lip hard until it bled. Trying to hide her tears. She knows… I intentionally lied. Because I hate you… I hate all of you… You destroyed everything! She wanted to say. But the words would not come out only a gasp. Valadeera's claw moves to her right arm. The guards hold Adria in place. As Valadeera started to slice her arm. Blood began to spill onto the floor.

"This can reveal the truth…" Valadeera takes a few steps back. Cole injects a serum into Adrias' body she screams horrifically as her veins darkened as the dark liquid pulses in her system. TRUTH SERUM! She collapses on the floor in pain.

Cole tried his hardest to remain still as he apologised in her ear. She writhed in agony as she screamed and wailed.

"Tell me, Adria… Why did you do it? We gave you everything. A station and respectable position. A bastard that nobody cared for… Climbing so high in the ranks." Valadeera asks.

"You all killed my uncle! The true Emperor Edhem!" Adria says as her Brown eyes which she got from her mother, corrupted into black draconium eyes. They burned as the rest of her body felt as if she is aflame. She struggled to control her thinking. "We were a glowing city! We had hope and you came and destroyed it!"

"Edhem? I forgot about him... Seemed so long ago." Valadeera paused as she remembered him. She shakes her head as she looks into Adria's corrupted eyes. "But never mind him, he is long dead. What happened that night? With Aelius and Laelia." The dragon asked with the restraint of fury.

"That night… When… We found them. Aelius was recently captured and we followed in their footsteps. Killing their followers one by one. We finally saw Stein and Laelia… Holding her large belly as she was bleeding to death. You chased after Stein…"

"I did… He was a tough priest to defeat. I will give him that…" She chuckled.

Adria began to heavy breath as the pain was unbearable. Her veins and skin have darkened purple as the liquid has pulsed through her whole body. "Laelia… She was not dead yet… Just very weak… Embedded with arrows, she was tough, but she would not survive long. I felt her swollen belly and glanced between her legs. I saw the umbilical cord and blood… She birthed very recently… As you dragons and warriors fought Stein. I caressed her head and cheek. I am so sorry… I whispered to her." Adria begins to sob uncontrollably. "Then I held her hand… Her eyes did not open only feint breaths and a weak heartbeat. I glanced behind me, you were all too busy fighting the priest. I grabbed my dagger and by force, I pulled out her placenta and hid it behind bushes. I then grabbed an arrow as I begged her for forgiveness… I stabbed her in the neck artery. I had to make sure the body was covered in blood. " Adria vomited black sludge as the serum took hold of her body. The memory haunted her every night… She never ended someone's life until that moment. It was a mercy for the poor Empress. Adria prayed repeatedly to Gaia, Aelius's, and Edhem's ancestors that the baby is safe.

Adria remembered the moment Valadeera and her seven friends laughed maniacally, after the battle against Stein. They won… Their human mind-controlled consorts caged and chained Stein and Aelius. The priest having lost consciousness as Aelius regained his. The gold Emperor's screams of grief and tears were indescribable. It did not sound human… When he saw his wife's bloodied body on the ground. This only made them laugh louder, it only made her want to cry with empathy. Her hatred of them grew ever more as she wanted to kill them.

"So she did give birth?" Valadeera stated.

Laelia's body was taken into the camp. As another human soldier looked at her body. To Adria's luck, they are not trained in healing or anatomy. The blood… Drowned her body red. They cannot tell…

"We Should just dump the body on Marlowe's front lawn." Vipstranius laughed as she looked at Laelia's corpse. This made Adria seethe in anger.

To her relief, the Shadow Emperor ordered them to send Laelia's body home. It was Aelius they were mainly after. But Adria felt the tension in the air. She was not present for that hologram. But the cheeriness and smugness of the dragons quickly vanished. If anything they looked nervous… Much to her joy and relief.

Adria tended to the body when the battle was over. Cleaning the blood was a task. She was so beautiful… Her face was soft and gentle, and her long light blue wavy hair looked as if it can blend in water. A true beauty… With kindness, she found a simple dress that would suffice. Dressed with, oils, herbs, and flowers. Her body will not decompose quickly on her journey home. "I am so sorry for everything… My uncle never wanted this…" Adria whispered in her ear. Knowing that Laelia will never hear anything again. Laelia was then sent home to Aquarius City where her family mourned and swore vengeance.

But it was not the only thing Adria did… As she watched Stein sleep in the black draconium crystal tube. They were going to leave soon. The dragons and everyone else were celebrating, Adria is alone with him… The draconium tubes are portable one specially made for gold priests and royalty. Mind control gear on his head as it looked like he was swimming in liquid. He is now a slave to the Shadow Emperor. Placing her hand on his forehead she asked about the baby. He answered… A little girl… A precious little girl. Gold eyes with gold hair like her father… He said. She whispered to him that she was never found, hoping to reassure him for the moment. Using a control device she made him forget… Hopefully, he will remember when the machine is removed one day.

Valadeera remained quiet as she looked disgusted.

"Don't look at me like that Valadeera…" Adria begins to laugh as she started to lose her grasp in reality. "I remember you saying once that you were always curious about pregnant humans. What it would be like to crush their belly with the unborn inside? You are a monster, like your siblings… Vile, despicable creatures who deserve the worst fate… I may die a traitor in your eyes. But I am glad to die knowing that a gold child still survives and none of you… With all your knowledge and foresight, saw none of this… None of you are as powerful as you think you are."

With a sudden movement, Valadeera crushes Adria's head with her feet crushing it onto the floor. Blackened blood began to spill on the pavement. Cole keeping it together as Adria his old friend is now dead amongst many others…

Valadeera remained silent as she looked down at the corpse. Realising she should not have killed her so suddenly. Father is going to be mad at me… Useless humans… She breathes heavily as she felt nervous. But he has to know…

The room fell silent as Adria's body continued to bleed out. The guards waiting for her orders to clean the mess up as usual protocol. But she did not do it as quickly as she usually did.

Her mind was distracted remembering that night. The hologram… They were happy… They got them. He was happy they captured Aelius. But then the dumbass Volaticus revealed Laelia's pregnancy. With fury and anger, the Emperor used his powers to create pain in all of their bone marks. All the dragons tried their hardest not to cry. The Emperor swears punishment when they return home. Valadeera's punishment was to be whipped seventy times. She still carries the scars to this day.

"That child could have potentially carried the gift of the past. The key that I need!" Her father said. Erastus' death was a massive blow to the Emperor and the dragons did not think of it. Happiness turned to sourness as the Emperor demanded to send Laelia's body home. The damage is done…

Even the many years of Aelius under their claws. They forced him to breed with no success. The women could never carry the child to term and will lose it a few months in. Only one priestess named Valerie managed to at birth full term, but it was messy business as they ended up cutting her open. As father demanded the baby to be born. The babe was a monster who only breathed once and died. Valadeera remembered the child was a girl that had two heads, scales, claws, and a tail.

A problem becoming more prevalent in the country's population each passing year. Dragons are also seeing this pattern emerging in their eggs. No one knows why…

"Cole…" Valadeera asks him.

He walks forward and bows low on the floor. "Yes, my Dragon Empress."

"Call Armageddon, I am sure he knows by now. But order him to send his best soldiers. I will be sending mine. Kidnap Iolene Ovideus and bring her to me alive. I will not fail again."