I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Weeks came and went since Sirzechs and the rest gave Tiamat the old capital. A tiny group within the devil faction opposed the decision, but their claims were ignored by everyone as the plans for the creation of Shangri La gained support from all sides.
The beasts that once plagued the old street were long gone as Tannin's descendants, accompanied by a coalition of members under the alliance, ensured that none remained alive. Their corpses were harvested and sold for profit leading to many happy workers who made a profit in one way or another.
By the end, many of those involved had made enough profit to buy themselves a decent house in almost any area, but that was far from the primary goal of those involved.
With the beasts gone, a large group of builders and workers awaited their turn to act as the plans for the city's overall infrastructure had been completed. Tiamat had worked day and night to secure the final design for Shangri La, taking notes on the needs and preferences of many groups as the city itself would be a center for trade, a crucial point of interest for the plans of the alliance and the de facto capital of the said group.
Its design grew in complexity each day as Tiamat took in all the information, but regardless of how many changes were needed, it was still hers to decide what got approved. It remained her project, and she had rejected ideas such as casinos and said places as she saw no need for them within Shangri La; she redirected such thoughts to other sites like Grigory, which still possessed vast areas lacking development.
She had a clear vision, and although she accepted many ideas, not all were approved.
"A place for our children to grow safe and healthy. The land in which they can grow without hiding. The place that many generations will call home from now on. Where no race is marginalized or rejected, that is the place I will create with your help."
To some, it could sound like an ambitious goal with no holding to stand, but for the dragoness, she was determined to make the impossible a reality.
"Tia?" Ddraig called out to the dragon, who seemed lost in her thoughts.
"Oh, sorry, my dearest. I was reflecting."
"About the city?"
"How can't I? Today is the day, after all."
"It will be okay." Ddraig extends his hand to her. "Are you ready to go, your majesty?" The Welsh Dragon smiles as he awaits her decision.
Tiamat shakes her head before she grabs his hand. "I hope you stop with the jokes. We're not human; nobility titles don't have the same meanings."
Ddraig smirks. "Let me enjoy it just for a bit longer. Is either this or I tell people to call me Queen Ddraig."
"Don't. I won't be able to endure the shame. I didn't choose a dragon queen as my mate." The dragoness' eyes threw daggers at Ddraig.
"Alright, I let it go. This is your big day, so continue to smile. You work hard for this. Now, let's make our way inside." Ddraig started to walk alongside Tiamat into the main entrance of the old Lucifaad.
"Right," Tiamat said as they departed.
No other members of the alliance were allowed inside the city or its outskirts as it could be dangerous due to the terraforming process that was about to take place.
The massive group of builders and contractors patiently awaited the green light to begin once the process was over, but for now, they remained at a safe distance with tons and tons of materials. Alongside them were prominent members of the alliance and those interested in the city's creation.
Each of them wanted a piece of the cake, and those early to the plate were likely to achieve their goals.
Some of those present included Serafall, Yasaka, Suko, Hephaestus, several prominent members of the reformed church, a few humans who had business contracts with devils, Baraqiel, and many others who had plans that involved the city and its future. This also included the members of Ddraig and Tiamat's family, who were excitedly watching the big event.
It was indeed a big day in the history of the alliance.
Tiamat's POV.
The couple made its way through the streets while being careful not to fall victim to the old buildings, which were slowly falling apart.
Lucifaad had received no support for its reconstruction as the devils completely abandoned it after the war. Although it had been the nest in which their society was born, the scars of the centuries of torture and pain its people had endured under the leadership of the old Satans had left lasting effects on the survivors and their families.
"It was best for us to leave it behind and start anew away from it." Sirzechs had one said during a public interview days before as the residents of Lilith and the devil territories asked for the opinion of those in charge.
"Lilith possesses underground dungeons for criminals, but nothing compares to those below Lucifaad. Those dungeons were the places in which the old Satans and their allies committed some of the worst crimes against our family and those of many of us. The many disappearances over the years that were left unresolved got finally resolved once we made our way inside those accursed stairs. Nobody, including me, wanted to live in such a place after what we found." Falbium told the media when he was asked about the city's past.
There was no love, at least not enough for the old capital for a significant group to arise and oppose the plans of Tiamat.
As they made their way deeper into the city, Tiamat saw herself during the war as she supported Ajuka and the rest. The many lives she took as she defended the efforts of her allies to change their faction.
She destroyed many of the buildings that now lay in ruins, and many of the old blood stains that had survived the test of time could be attributed to her as she killed thousands back then (maybe even more), but none was enough to make her turn around.
"Those that led the past dictate the present can't hope to reach a brighter future. We have to continue forward." Tiamat continued to hold Ddraig's hand while her face looked utterly determined.
"Right, so let everyone see your vision as it becomes more than a dream."
With their energies flying high, the couple increases speed and follows an almost straight path into the old castle in the city's center.
The old walls barely hold themselves together, and the proud flag of the old Satans that hung from the main wall was nothing more than a rugged relic of the past.
The duo continued forward as they crossed the remains of the main bridge to reach the courtyard that led to the castle's main entrance. The tall door barely hung from its edges as Sirzechs and his group blasted open before they invaded the building.
No corpses remained on the premises, but one could still see and feel the intensity of the fights that took place inside long ago.
As they enter, Tiamat stops to take in the sight one last time. "I might not feel proud of the lives that I took back then, but coming here once more reaffirms my conviction from back then. What we did change the faction, and although the aftermath wasn't perfect, it led to today. The sacrifices weren't in vain."
Ddraig reaches out and touches her right cheek. "The souls of those allies that fell back then are likely at peace knowing that their enemies fell and their descendants now live in a different age. Now, it is time for you to write another page in the long history of this faction. Erase the last remnant of what they left behind."
Tiamat nods before she reaches out into her personal dimensional storage and pulls out several blueprints and city plans alongside a bag of seeds she had patiently waited to use. The number reached at least 80, and each one began to float around them. The bracelet on her right wrist began to shine as it awaited her to be activated. "Awaken and remake what lies around to fit my dream."
The jewels grow brighter as several magical circuits appear around Tiamat's hand before they stretch out around her body and reach the floor. Once on the floor, a new magic circle is born, and from within, roots spread out in each direction.
The roots reached every corner of the old capital and its immediate territory. Be it the dungeons that dwell below or the ruins on the farthest parts, no area was left untouched. By the end, blueish roots had spread enough to create the final magic circle, allowing the process to begin.
Ddraig and Tiamat begin to float as the ancient spells that dwell within the bracelet are activated individually.
"Ddraig?"
"I'll be right here. Go ahead and show us your vision." The dragon says as he remains as close as possible to his mate; if he moves too far from the core, who knows what could happen to him?
They were dealing with magic and spells that matched those of Gaia; this was no child's play, so they had to be careful.
Knowing that Ddraig had her back, Tiamat closed her eyes and said one word. "Begin."
An immense blast of blueish energy erupted from the circle and into the sky. Tiamat felt her mind connected to the bracelet and every corner of the old capital. Heavy amounts of information were driven into her as she knew every city detail. A human mind would have been seriously damaged if they even dared to try such an action, but it was only a minor annoyance for the mind of a being like her, at least for now.
"I can see everything; nothing can escape my sight… What is this?" She finds a curious object as her connection reaches the deepest areas of the caves below. "I should keep this to the side for later. So let's move you to the surface." Tiamat drags the object to the surface thanks to the connection and places it in a safe location. "Anyways, it is time to erase the past and start anew."
General POV.
From a safe distance, their allies watched in awe as the remains and land of the capital were deconstructed into the most basic of states, primordial matter. The buildings, ruins, and even the dirt below each building were turned into a mass of amorphous gray liquid, which began to spread until it formed a dome that enclosed the whole area.
"Is that supposed to happen?" Tosca asked Hephaestus as she observed the dome.
"Give it a minute." The god said as he took a sip from his drink. "To new beginnings." He raises his glass cup before the dome implodes, releasing massive amounts of energy, blinding everyone for a few seconds.
As they get accustomed to the brightness of the explosion, those present watch as several elemental figures arise from within the center of the blast. Giant eastern elemental dragons shoot out to the sky before they descend to the land, combining themselves to bring Tiamat's vision to life.
The process happens so fast that it is hard for most to keep track of everything that is happening.
Large walls of transparent crystals arise within the land as if creating two massive wings enclosing the area to protect from outside attacks. The crystals stretch away from the winged incomplete dome and reach out to the base of the mountainous region as if it was some kind of tail which then refines itself until it forms some sort of passage leading into the inside of the dome. The "tail" seems to be the main entrance into Shangri La, but those who knew about Tiamat's plans knew this wasn't the case.
By looking into the inside of the dome through the crystals, one could see a new city combining large bodies of water, forested areas, and several essential buildings with large open areas awaiting development.
In the middle of this unique city stood a tall oval gothic-inspired building with several towers, one of which seemed the tallest as it sat right at the center. Its composition was surprising as it was mainly composed of a mysterious kind of wood that possessed a white bark instead of using materials such as concrete. It was as if the building itself was a tree, which had been changed to resemble a Gothic building.
Two bridges, one in the north and one in the south served as the only terrestrial access point to the building. This curious choice happened because the building was surrounded by two spiraled descending streets that led to the city's lower levels.
Similar descending streets were spread throughout the city, allowing further access to the lower levels.
The secrets that dwell below were for its tenants to discover.
The magic continues its work for at least 30 extra minutes until it finalizes the building process for many of the curious buildings around the city.
The magic circle then disappeared, giving everyone the sign they needed.
"All forces mobilize the materials inside and begin to work. We have a long path ahead before the city is complete." Serafall ordered the groups.
Large beasts carrying tons of material began to travel by earth and air toward the newly created city.
Hephaestus then turned to Tosca and the rest. "Let's go and find those two. If my guest is right, they should be in the north region of the city, right where she likely built the second home for the family."
Tosca smiled as she spread her wings. "Let's go." The girl took off to the sky, with everyone else following closely behind.
Tiamat's POV.
"Tia? Can you hear me, sweetheart?" A voice called out to her.
Tiamat felt drained, but she forced herself to open her eyes. As she did, her eyes met those of Ddraig. "Is it done?"
"Yes. You did it." Ddraig answers as he holds her in his arms. "How are you feeling?"
"Drained. My head hurts." Tiamat felt a mysterious sensation on her right wrist. As she lifted her hand, she realized the bracelet had dissolved into her, and now the jewels were fused into her skin.
"I wasn't expecting that either. Hephaestus said nothing about this." Ddraig admits.
Tiamat said nothing and tried to touch the jewels. Once she did, the circuits from before reappeared before Tiamat felt every corner of the city as if it was still connected to her. The dragon rapidly moved her hand away. "I think I bit more than I could chew. The thing is still active."
"What thing?" Ddraig questions her.
"I still feel connected to the city. The connection wasn't severed."
"How connected are we talking about?"
"I'm not sure yet." Tiamat reached out and touched the wooden floor below them. As she did, she felt the same connection as before. "What is this? Am I still in control of the city? What if I said something like give me a tree branch?" the wood seemed to react to her as a small branch grew right after.
"... Are you saying you're Gaia now?"
"Ddraig, we both know that is not the case. I don't have such powers. This has to be an effect of using so much primordial magic at once. This can't be a permanent thing." Tiamat looked a bit scared. Her breathing increases as she imagines the possibilities. "What if I can hear everyone inside my brain? What if my anger starts an earthquake?"
Ddraig brings her closer to him. "Be at ease. We'll figure this thing out—one step at a time. If it is permanent, you'll learn how to control it. You won't lose control; you never have, so that won't happen. Stay calm; I'm right here for you."
Tiamat feels the warmness of his hug, and her nose inhales the lovely scent that his body produces. Her breathing relaxes, and she regains her composure.
"Feel better?"
"A bit. I'm still tired."
"I'll carry you as we look around the place, but before that, can you tell me where you got that?" Ddraig turns to the left, where a large ancient sarcophagus is lying on the floor.
Several chains surrounded the sarcophagus, and demonic symbols covered the whole thing. The dragon felt the multiple spells that were placed on the sarcophagus. "Where did you find it?"
"I felt it deep in the caves below the city. It felt widely misplaced." Tiamat admits.
"Misplaced? More likely hidden. What is hidden inside could be a weapon the old Satans kept hidden or something worse. Let's wait for the others to decide what to do." Ddraig said.
"Right. Can you move it to the side? Is right before the main entrance to the mansion." Tiamat says.
"Give me a second." Ddraig stands up with Tiamat in his arms before he approaches an ornamental wooden seat located within the entry hall they are currently at.
Their current location was the second residence that Tiamat had created for the family. The mansion was similar to the building that sat in the middle of the city; it was more of a giant tree that was artificially changed to resemble a home. The floor, the ceiling, and everything inside seemed made out of the same white wood.
The dragon felt a bit weird as he was a fire-breathing flying lizard that could likely end up with the whole mansion burning to the ground but knowing Tiamat, she probably thought about it before he even did.
As Ddraig carefully placed Tiamat into the chair, he looked at her momentarily. "I like the place, but did you ensure it was fireproof?"
Tiamat smirks. "I did my research. I planned for everything. It is indeed fireproof, and the walls are soundproof as well." She explains as she knocks on the wall closest to her.
"Why soundproof?" Ddraig asks.
"You already know the answer to that." Tiamat smiles
"..." Ddraig says nothing and just turns around to take care of the sarcophagus.
"Ddraig?"
"I know, you perverted dragon king."
"Hey, it is bound to happen, and I'm just making preparations. I even made sure to make the rooms much bigger; yours is the biggest. I also made a separate room for myself. I don't think I'd like to share with Serafall that soon."
"... Let's talk about that on another occasion." Ddraig hid his blushing face as best as he could. He couldn't hate her for preparing, but he also couldn't but blush when she went on the offensive like this.
Ddraig finally reached the sarcophagus and gave it a second look. As he did, he noticed symbols of the Leviathan clan and a particular message he couldn't read due to the unusual scripture. "Leviathan, just what sort of thing were you trying to hide?"
His right hand reached out to touch the sarcophagus, but demonic energy flew into his body as soon as he did. The dragon gritted his teeth as the demonic power tried to suck his soul.
"Ddraig!" Tiamat called out to him.
"Don't move an inch. I won't let a damn protective spell be the death of me. Ascalon!" The bloody sword reached out and sank its teeth into the sarcophagus. Its holy power fought back against the spell, but this ended up with the other spells attached to the coffin being affected. The bloody beast chews through all the spells to protect its owner; its mind didn't distinguish between them, and soon, the sword consumed each one.
The chains around the coffin broke into pieces as soon as Ascalon consumed the last spell. Ddraig took a step back alongside the hound, which remained alert.
Silence took over the room. Nobody moved a single muscle as they waited to see what was going to happen next.
The coffin remained motionless for several moments before the symbols began to rotate as if a mechanism was being released. After each one stopped moving, the lid moved to the side.
With the lid gone, Ddraig and Tiamat expected the worst.
The Welsh Dragon prepared himself for the worst but reality is often disappointing.
A feminine hand slowly rises from its prison. Ddraig and Tiamat turn to each other looking confused.
Then their confusion increases as a sleepy purple-haired lady sits up. The girl yawns as she stretches out her arms. She was dressed in a full white silk dress with a flower tiara on her head. Then she looks around in confusion. "Where am I? Excuse me, could you help me?" Her orange eyes focus on Ddraig and Tiamat.
"Mom, Old man, we're here!" The mansion's front door is forcefully opened as Tosca comes in, only to stop on her track alongside those that had followed her.
The sleepy girl slowly turns around.
Everyone is confused about what is happening, but four devils within the group look far more concerned than the rest.
They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Years have come and gone since they saw the girl. Falbium, the oldest of the four, almost had a heart attack as he tried to make sense of the girl before them.
But only Serafall had the guts to step forward and ask the question that needed to be asked.
"Ingvild, is it really you?" Serafall asks.
"... Serafall-chan? When did you get so big?" Ingvild Leviathan asks with a sleepy voice as she tries to make sense of the appearance of the girl she met not that long ago at a party, or that is what she believed.
"This has to be a miracle or the cruelest of jokes," Ajuka said as he tried to hold his amazement. His eyes turned to Tiamat and Ddraig.
Both dragons looked as confused as he was.
20 minutes after.
"This place is amazing is as if we were inside a tree." Tosca's voice was heard in the distance.
"Now I really wanna move out. This is quite the place." Rias' voice was also heard.
The adults didn't look as happy as the kids investigating the place. While the kids were investigating the home, the adults were currently in the mansion's kitchen.
They had a major situation on their hands as Ingvild Leviathan was the missing sacred gear host that nobody knew where to find, and yet she was now present before them as if some kind of miracle.
"Ingvild, what is the last thing you remembered?" Serafall asked the girl.
Ingvild, who was holding a glass of water, turns to Serafall with a calm expression. "The sea near my mother's home in Lisbon. Dad brought me back to visit Mom. He said seeing her before I fell asleep again was best."
"Asleep?" Ddraig questions the girl.
"Yes. I have been dealing with a problem for the past two years. Sometimes I fall into a deep slumber and wake up days after. Dad said that he was going to find a cure." Ingvild replies.
"Sleeping disease. You are a victim of that damn disease." Sirzechs scratches his head as he connects the dots.
"Dad, call it that now that I remember. Are you, Sirzechs-kun? What happened? All of you were so young not too long ago." Ingvild asks.
The adults hold their faces as they realize the mess they have found themselves in.
Serafall grabs the hands of Ingvild. "Ingvild, look, there is something you need to know."
"Yes, what is it?" Ingvild asks.
"Look, please try to remain calm. This is going to be hard for you and us. Ingvild, you met me when I was 14; I…. I'm 538 years right now." Serafall admits.
Ingvild looks confused after hearing such words. Her eyes looked around, and the other devils looked as apologetic as Serafall. "That is impossible."
"Your disease is a dangerous one. As the condition worsens, the patients sleep more and more until they no longer wake up." Ajuka explains.
"Your father saw the dangers of the condition, and to save you, he likely put you inside that sarcophagus." Sirzechs points his finger at the object that sat on the floor near her.
"You have been sealed inside the coffin for over five centuries," Falbium says.
"No, that can't be possible," Ingvild says. The girl lets her glass fall to the floor and backs away from the group in panic. Her eyes teared up as she tried to make sense of everything that she had learned. Her mind slowly sinks into a place of panic and fear as she tries to wake up from this horrible dream. A dark demonic aura surrounds her as she sinks deeper.
Nobody dares to approach her as they fear making the situation take a turn for the worse. Yet one person decided that enough was enough.
"Ingvild, let's go outside," Ddraig says as he sees where this is going. His instincts tell him that if he allows it to continue, they will have a bigger problem. The dragon still carries Tiamat on his back as she cannot stand alone at that moment. "It is best if you see it with your eyes. Serafall, come with us. Ajuka, inform your team about her condition. Is best that she starts treatment as soon as possible."
"But-" Serafall is stopped by Ddraig.
"She won't believe our words. This is hard for her to accept. Her eyes need to witness the truth." Ddraig says as he begins to walk away.
Tiamat said nothing as she felt that they had no other way to help Ingvild.
Before any adult says another world, Ingvild chases after Ddraig without saying another word. Serafall quickly chases after her, feeling she has to take care of the girl as the current Lord Leviathan.
The remaining adults can't help but worry for the girl. Knowing that she had lost five whole centuries of her life and that every single family member she knew was gone was a tough pill to swallow.
They could only hope that the choice of Ddraig would alleviate the blow that was coming.
Some minutes later.
Ddraig, Tiamat, Ingvild, and Serafall were flying throughout Shangri-La. The group descended close to the city's center, allowing Ingvild to take in the sights.
"What is this place?" Ingvild asked as she looked around.
"This is Shangri-La, the city I created recently," Tiamat replies.
"Shangri-La?" Ingvild questions them.
"..." Serafall is unable to face her.
"Not too long ago, this used to be the ruins of the devil capital, Lucifaad. You need to know this now; the devil faction that you knew has changed. The faction had a civil war, and by the end, the side that your father was a part of lost to Serafall's side. Serafall is the current Lord Leviathan." Ddraig says before he begins to walk.
Ingvild's eyes grow wide in shock. She turns to Serafall.
Serafall tries to speak, but she's unable to. It was as if she was spitting on the face of her long-deceased family.
Ingvild clentches her fist and goes after Ddraig. As she follows Ddraig, her eyes notice humans, youkai, devils, fallen angels, and more races walking around while large beasts continue transporting the materials needed for the task.
Those same people nod and wave their hands as Ddraig passes them.
Ingvild notices the uniforms many are wearing, and her mind formulates more questions. "Who are you?"
"Me? I'm the Welsh Dragon, the Enforcer of the Alliance." Ddraig answers without turning back.
"The Welsh Dragon, but you were supposed to-," Ingvild is interrupted.
"Be sealed inside the booster gear. I know it. But things have changed since then." Ddraig continues forward.
"I'm Tiamat, the True Dragon King and Chaos-Karma Dragon. I'm his mate, his first bride." Tiamat says with a smile.
Ingvild gulps as she meets her eyes and sees the sharp eyes of a creature she was taught to fear and respect.
"Don't worry; we don't bite," Tiamat says.
Ingvild continues to follow them, but she drops her head as she begins to accept the cruel reality.
Serafall can only follow them and watch as Ingvild takes it all in.
Ddraig continues his tour through the city with Ingvild seeing all that Shangri La has to offer. Ingvild asked question after question, and Ddraig kept giving her answers while keeping a calm tone.
His answer might have sounded cold to some, but he felt that holding information back would only hurt her in the end.
Once they had traveled through a large part of Shangri-La, Ddraig decided to take her to a different place.
"We're going to Grigori." Ddraig suddenly said as he stopped.
"But-" Ingvild was stopped once more.
"They aren't our enemies. Not anymore." Serafall said.
Ddraig created some distance before he changed forms. His massive dragon form shocked Ingvild to her core.
"Climb up." Ddraig lowered himself to allow them to climb his head. Tiamat was already waiting for them on top.
"Don't be afraid. He won't hurt you." Tiamat said as she waved her hand.
Serafall offered her hand to Ingvild. "Come, I'll help you."
Ingvild took several moments before she grabbed it. The pair climbs into the head of Ddraig and carefully settles down close to Tiamat, right in the middle of his head.
Ddraig takes off into the sky with a much slower speed to not scare Ingvild too much.
"So, what do you think of my city?" Tiamat asks the girl.
"... Feels empty. I saw no kids or families." Ingvild says.
"Makes sense. I just created it today." Tiamat touches her jeweled wrist. "It took a lot from me; that's why he has been carrying me, but its streets will be packed in the future."
"What happened to your wrist?" Serafall asks Tiamat with visible concern. "Sorry for not noticing before."
"Is alright. The bracelet fused with my wrist after the terraforming process was completed. I might have a bit of a problem, but I tell you afterward." Tiamat smiles as she tries to ease the atmosphere.
"I'll go tonight after I help Ingvild to settle down," Serafall says.
"We'll be waiting for you. There's a lot to discuss. I also have to show you the mansion. You'll have your own room. I made sure all rooms were soundproof." Tiamat says.
Serafall blushes. "You can be such a tease."
The girls laugh, and Ingvild notices the closeness between them.
"Do you live with them?" Ingvild questions Serafall.
"No… yet. I'm the girlfriend of this charming Enforcer for now, but in the future, I plan to marry him." Serafall says while she caresses the head of Ddraig.
The dragon didn't react physically to her words, but inside, he couldn't help but cheer in joy.
"You're in a relationship with him? A dragon? You are joining his harem? You… never marry a pure-blooded heir. What about your clan?" Ingvild continues. Based on what she knew about devil society, Serafall was destined to marry another devil to continue the purity of their bloodlines.
Serafall smiles. "I never accepted any of the devils that proposed to me. Since we met at that party, I had many males challenging me and trying to make me into their trophy wife. I never found a decent one back then, and when the war started, it was much harder to find one. Not everyone can find love on the battlefield. I only recently formalized my relationship with him but I feel like the happiest girl in the faction. My sister loves him as much as Mom and Dad. I have no objections to my relationship."
"Sister? You have a sister?" Ingvild continues to be amazed. It was already hard for a devil marriage to have one child, but having two was basically a miracle.
"Yes, I have a sister; she was born after the civil war. She is a bright girl and the current heir to my family. Sirzechs also has a sister. Also, Sirzechs married Grayfia, and they had their first son not long ago. Falbium is also married, and he has an adult son. The only single ones were Ajuka and me, but I have Ddraig now, and Ajuka seems to have something with a human." Serafall says.
"... That's a lot to take in. You... all of you have changed in so many ways while I was sleeping." Ingvild looks a bit down.
Serafall grabs her hand. "I know, there's a lot to take in. You missed a lot, but I'll try my best to support you. Even if you feel like you don't fit in, you'll find your path, and I'll be there to support you, so don't worry too much. You're not alone."
Ingvild looks deep into the eyes of Serafall and only finds sincerity. Her powers as a half-devil allowed her to detect lies, and as she listened to Serafall, she found none.
The child she met in that dance had grown into an adult. A reliable adult that was trying to support her in her time of need.
She was in a time that was past her own, where she had no friends or family to lean on, yet there was this small light trying to support her.
Ingvild couldn't hold the tears back as she came to accept her cruel fate.
Serafall embraces her alongside Tiamat.
"Is alright. We're here for you." Tiamat says.
"All of us are here to support you in any way we can." Serafall follows.
Ddraig relaxes as he sees a breakthrough. He had placed his hope on Serafall, which finally paid off. "She needs a friend, and you might be the one she needs the most right now."
The dragon continues his fly, feeling more at ease with the resolution of the situation.
Years…. No, I won't give you that. You're going to have to wait for Ingvild's future. That is the end of the chapter; we depart for Ra's realm in the next chapter.