Lily curled up as tight as she could, eyes wide as she buried her nose in her great grandmothers adventures. The young builder couldn't help herself as her smile grew wider as she lost herself in the pages.


"Daisy, my child… the light you see before you is a portal to the next land you must free from the Dragonlord's curse. You will have to start from scratch, relearn many things, but I believe in you. You will do well here." The voice echoed as Daisy slowly stepped up onto the pedestal that the portal called home, the bright light was almost blinding as she went to step onto the light.

"Daisy! Miss Daisy! Wait!"

The builder slowly turned, her silver hair circled around her as she stared down at the friends she had made in this place, Pippa with her hands clasped before her, Rollo with concern on his face. "Is something the matter?"

"No, we just wanted to see you off." Pippa laughed as she ran up to her friend, wrapping her arms around the builder in a tight hug. "Thank you for helping Cantlin. The Golem has agreed to watch over our town in your stead."

Daisy hugged her friend back, squeezing the loud and sometimes bossy girl back. "Good, if he acts up then I'll come back and put him in his place again." She held her fist up in front of her chest, a grin on her lips. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to come back and visit you all!"

"I wish you were staying behind to help us rebuild Cantlin back to its former glory." Rollo frowned at the two girls, but soon shook his head. "I'm being selfish, though. You have others you need to help like you did us."

Daisy gave Rollo a hug, laughing softly before pulling away. "Thanks, dad." She laughed more when she saw tears form in his eyes, he had swore that he would be a father-figure to her. "I promise I'll come back and help touch things up when I get a chance."

The builder stepped back to the portal, smiling as she waved to her friends. Lightning and light gathered around her, only for it all to turn to darkness. A moment passed and Daisy was pushing herself up off the ground, groaning hatefully as she paused on her knees. "I hate that feeling." She grumbled, taking pause when she saw murky waters surrounding her.

The air was heavy and the horrible stench coming from the waters made her cough as she stood. "Where am I now?"

"Long, long ago, the island you see before you was home to a prosperous city, surrounded by crystal clear waters. But now, all has been corrupted by this blighted mire. The few survivors live in constant fear of a dreadful disease. Here, my child… I offer this gift unto you…"

Daisy held her hands out, frowning at the flag that appeared in her hands. "You never did tell me what to call you…"

"I have no name in the way that you do… I was once worshipped… I still am… but my name was lost a millennia ago. Now, my child. Go. Save Rimuldar."

Daisy lifted her chin before pushing onward through the dead shrubbery and murky waters, not knowing what she would find in these lands, but she did know one thing. She would save these people and become one step closer to saving her friends for good.


Daisy reached down, giving the sickly man a gentle shake. "Are you still alive, sir?" She sat back and smiled when his dark eyes fluttered open. "My name is Daisy, I'm going to take you back to Rimuldar so you can get better, okay?"

The man groaned but stayed limp as the girl maneuvered him onto some makeshift cot that she tied to her hips so she could drag him behind her. He came in and out of consciousness as she made her way back to wherever she had said she was going. He came to what felt like not long after she had first found her to see her fighting off several monsters. He struggled to keep himself awake to watch her.

She danced with the monsters, trading blows with them easily as she took them out. She was a blinding fury in the small skirmish, watching the way her muscles flexed and moved made the mans jaw drop. He stared at her as she came back to him, picking up the cot and dragging it behind her. She was bleeding from her side, but she didn't let that bother her. She said something over her shoulder at him, but he couldn't hear her. His ears were so stuffed up that he felt like he was in a tunnel.


Daisy poked her head into the infirmary that she had built, frowning at the man that lay on the bed. He had been moaning throughout the night but seemed to be doing much better thanks to the wonderful Sister that had come to help. "Elle? Do you think he'll recover?"

"Hm?" The Sister turned, giving the builder a soft smile. "But of course. I think by tomorrow morning he should be up and walking around."

"So soon? Do you think that's wise?" Daisy stepped in finally, looking down at the man. She didn't know why she was so concerned about him, but she so desperately wanted to see those amber eyes again. She hadn't caught his name before he went into this deep slumber, but there was just something about him from the moment she had laid eyes on him.


Daisy plopped down on the ground just outside of town, a groan leaving her as she relaxed. Well, relaxed as much as she could with a small rock digging into her lower back. She closed her eyes, letting the bustling noise of the growing town pull her into a soft slumber.

Only a few breaths passed before someone plopped down next to her. She couldn't help the small smile that quirked up the corners of her mouth. "Draven, didn't you say you were going to help Elle with some things around town?"

"I already did them, Daisy." The man smiled down at the builder when she opened those bright blue eyes. "Then I spotted a beauty taking a break and decided to keep her company."

Daisy rolled her eyes at him as she rolled over, putting her back to him. She tried her best to hide the stupid smile that formed on her face but no matter what she did or what she thought of, she couldn't make it go away. "You're a kiss ass."

"It made you smile, that's all I care about." Draven laughed as he reached down, touching the silver hair. "Daisy… a few days ago… I overheard you talking to Elle. You told her that you had been dead, but something brought you back so you could bring building back to us-"

"That's what really happened, I'm not about to debate with you on my mental health."

"No need to get defensive. I was only going to say that I would like to accompany you so that I might help keep you safe. I saw the state you came back in the other day, the… thought of you getting hurt and being alone… it stirs something inside of me…"

"Can you even wield a sword, Draven?" Daisy sat up and frowned at him, flinching back in surprise when magic formed in his hand. "Draven?"

"No, I'm no swordsman, more of a magic wielder." Draven grinned at her when she shot up, grinning at him. "So, is this excitement a yes to me joining you?"


Daisy rolled when she heard Draven shout her name, she watched as fire magic hit the large green dragon, causing it to reel away. She took her chance and ran at it, letting her blade dig into the thick scales of its' underbelly. She bounced away a few steps, grinning when the beast collapsed. She turned to Draven, seeing an excitement in his eyes as well. "We did it!"

She ran at Draven, dropping her sword so she didn't cut him as she threw herself around him, her lips crashing against his. The two went stiff for a moment, gawking at each other before diving into a hungry kiss.


Lily set the book down, her fingers drumming on the hard cover. "I didn't want to read that…" She frowned as she stored the book away into the drawer of her bedside table. "I'm surprised it took her that long to find a companion though." She put her arm over her eyes as she relaxed into her plush bed. "Malroth would totally take a dragon kill from me." She laughed softly as she turned her head, easily blowing out her candle.


Daisy stumbled on her feet, a cut on her forehead had blood spilling down into her right eye. She slammed her sword into the ground to help steady herself as a scarewolf stalked towards her. It raised its' claws, only to scream out as fire shot forward, engulfing the monster. "D-Draven?!" The builder whirled, eyes wide as she stared up at her best friend, her throat tightened up when she saw him standing there. Tears threatened her already skewed vision as she stumbled into his open arms. "What… how?!"

The last she had seen of him; he had taken a hit from a Drohl for her. He should be dead. "Sister Elle healed me." He kissed the top of her head before kneeling down and putting his forehead to her belly. "I couldn't… I'll tear this world apart if anything happens to either of you, Daisy." He stood, hands carefully cupping her cheeks as he pulled her into a soft kiss. "From this moment forward, nothing will happen to you or to our child. Not if I can help it." The magic caster threw a hand out, a barrier came up, easily blocking the tornado that came speeding at them, ripping the town apart. "Hades Condor doesn't know who he's messing with."


Lily thrashed around until she was sitting up, sweat dripping off her as she stared at the wall across the room. "Wh… what the hell?" She wiped her face off as best she could, fear gripped her in a way that she hadn't felt since she had faced off against Malroth. It was suffocating and horrible. She squeezed her eyes shut, digging the heels of her hands against her eyes as she struggled to think straight. She kept seeing the lifeless body of her lover.

No. That wasn't right. That wasn't Malroth being torn to shreds. That was Draven. She crawled out of her bed, letting out a yelp when she fell and slammed her head into the ground. The builder felt her muscles tighten up when pain ripped through her, the scream that left her throat left her feeling numb and her throat sore.


Daisy cradled the small bundle to her chest as she and Draven stepped onto the glowing portal. She hadn't heard that voice in so long, she wondered if the being had given up on her back when they had fought Hades Condor. She closed her eyes, letting the light wrap around her until she no longer felt sick to her stomach.

When she opened her eyes, Draven was crouched with his head against her thigh, a groan leaving him. "I hate the portals too, they're the worst." She laughed as she stroked the top of his head. "Come on, let's get her into Cantlin and then we can move on."

Draven gave a nod before standing and following her into town where they were welcomed with excitement and a wave of love he'd never seen before. He looked to Daisy, seeing how she shied back from it all, but basked in it at the same time.


Lily's eyes shot open and she looked around, feeling water lap at her body and face as she pushed herself up, so she was sitting up better. "Hello?" Her voice echoed around the dark room, a small squeak left her when the large white head of the beast emerged from the shadows and looked down at her. "What was that?"

"I hadn't meant for you to see that." The beast grumbled as it gave her a side glare. "Do you know who that bundle was?"

"Was that Gram?"

"It was her, yes."

"Was that important?" Lily pulled herself closer to the white beast, something urging her to touch the soft white feathers.

"In a way…" The beast leaned into her touch, a sigh leaving it. "I brought your great grandmother back to help defeat the Dragonlord. I gave her some of my power to be able to fight. I kept giving her power to keep her alive until the fight was over. I thought that fight with Hades Condor was what drained her of my essence. Little did I realize that she had a little pup that was gobbling up my power. I only realized when your mother used my power to protect you what had truly happened."

"My mother… used your power to protect me?" Lily straightened up at this. Her grandmother had told her that her mother had passed during Lily's birth, a tragedy of the times. "What do you mean by that?"

The beast raised a feathered brow at the young builder. "Do you not know of your mother's death?" One of the long whiskers reached out, touching Lily's face gently. "It is a dark tale that I will not burden you with now, perhaps some other time." The beast rest her head on her large clawed paws, a sigh leaving her. "I think you should visit Cantlin again, you know where the portal lies now."

Lily stared at the beast for a moment before her brows climbed her forehead. "You showed me through Daisy?"

"Daisy showed you through me, child. You are bound to her through your bond with me. She made a temporary bond permanent by having a child who took that bond I gave her. Your grandmother didn't have any need of that bond, so I was unaware of it, then your mother was born, and I was still unaware of it… until you were born."

Lily sat still and waited, watching the beast in hopes that it would give her the story of her mother, but the beast stayed quiet. The builder gave a frustrated huff before flopping to the ground. "You aren't going to tell me, are you?"

"No, because it isn't time. When they time is better, I will tell you the secrets of your mother. For now, go back to Cantlin and go get Malroth before he destroys two worlds."


Lily's eyes snapped open and she was staring up into the face of the Royal Cleric. "Uhm…"

"You woke everyone with your screams, child. How are you feeling?"

"I'm not a child. I'm fine. Where is Queen Varia? I would like to go visit my grandmother in Cantlin."

"If you are ill then I would advise against traveling, builder." The cleric stepped back when Lily sat up and looked around for her chair. "Here." The older woman grumped at her as she rolled the chair to Lily's bedside.

Lily grumped back at the old woman as she maneuvered herself into her chair and pushed herself out of her room. She paused in the doorway and pointed to the bedside table. "There are two small journals in there, would you hand those to me?"

The cleric gawked at being given such a simple order, but when Lily showed no signs of moving, the cleric grumbled once more as she grabbed the journals and handed them to the builder. "You should rest, honestly."

"I will, when I get home." Lily tucked the journals against her side before wheeling herself out of the room and down the hall, butterflies swarmed in her belly as she tried to keep her face neutral. She was going home. She was going to see Malroth again.


Dracken let out a sigh when he heard the grumbling behind him, Malroth had become even more of a hothead than usual, and the longer Lily was away, the worse it got. He turned to say something to the bundle of dangerous muscle behind him when he saw Lulu run into the underground temple, eyes wide as she looked at both of them. "Lady Lulu, is something wrong?"

"Ships…" She panted, leaning against one of the pillars as she looked down into the hall at them. "There are ships coming."

Malroth sat up at her words, his brows knitted together with concern before looking to Dracken who gave a small nod. He looked down at the body he had been sitting next to. He hadn't heard from Lily in nearly a month, seeing her like this drove him up a wall, but he knew she would come back to him soon. He could feel it. "Where at?"

"The docks, Digby ran to the Scarlet Sands to warn them and they warned us in the Green Gardens." Lulu looked down to Lily's body, frowning before she turned and ran after Malroth. "Who do you think it is?"

"No idea. But I know it won't be Shane."

Lulu couldn't help the giggle that left her. Malroth was surprisingly salty that he had been too distracted to help take care of Shane and anytime something went awry on the Isle, everyone would make mention of Shane.


Lily looked at her grandmother, then to the raised platform. The stone was broken up and all but destroyed as Lily pulled herself up onto the platform. She looked back at her grandmother, giving a small smile. "Gram… how did… how did my mom die?"

"Your mother was away from me when she passed, one day I woke to someone knocking on my door and when I opened the door, there you were in a basket. Truth be told, I don't even know where my daughter is, if she's alive or dead." Her grandmother reached out, touching Lily's cheek. "You know how to work this?"

"No idea. But I gotta give it a try." Lily leaned into the soft hand before pulling away and scooting further back on the portal. She spread her fingers over the stone, her eyes closed as she breathed in slowly. After a few slow breaths, she could feel a magic thrum around her.


Malroth and Lulu waited on the beach, watching as two men waded through the shallow waters up to the group waiting on the beach. Behind Malroth was Babs and most of Khrumbul-Dun while the ones from Moonbrooke stood further back. "Who are you?"

"Me? My name is Arusu." The man smiled at Malroth, there was something dark in his eyes as he watched Malroth. "And who are you?"

"Malroth."

"That can't be. Malroth is a God. Well, not just any God, he's the God of Destruction." Arusu was relaxed, though his hand was resting on the hilt of his sword. "Who are you really?"

"His name is Malroth, who or what he is, is no concern of yours." Lulu snapped, her hands on her hips as she growled at the man in armor.

Arusu frowned at Lulu for a moment as he narrowed his dark eyes. "Fine, you're Malroth. Though I find that hard to believe, seeing as I killed him long ago."


Dracken had turned back to the altar and was mixing something when the sensation of being watched overwhelmed him. He lifted his head and slowly turned, seeing Lily was sitting up and watching him. "You aren't Lily."

"No, I suppose I'm not."

"Who… am I talking to?" Dracken set his tools down, watching the being as they got used to Lily's body.

"I have no name; it was lost a long time ago." The being with Lily's eyes looked up from her hands, watching the monstrous priest carefully. "I know you, Draven."

"Dracken."

"Dracken?"

"Correct." Dracken put his hand to his forehead, groaning at the sudden headache he got. "How do you know me?"

"Many ways. You locked me away in the depths of this girls' mind, first of all. I'm still annoyed with that, mind you."

Dracken flinched as he returned his attention to the being in front of him. "Right… I was trying to protect her."

"As you always have." Lily stood, stretching until her back popped. "She has come home, though she is in the wrong area. She's gone where she shouldn't have."

"Where did she go?"

"Hm?" The being turned back to Dracken once more, tilting her head and giving him a curious look. "I'm guessing somewhere near Giaga, perhaps if she is kind, Ramia will aide her in truly coming to this world, but she is close enough that I can control this form and take it to her."

"Wait, before you leave… someone has come to the island, can you-"

"I can sense them. As long as Malroth plays nice, they will be no real threat until after Lily and I return." The being gave a solemn grin, her eyes filled with a sadness. "I won't lie… I want to kill that builder. With her dead, I will finally be free to wander the heavens again. But then again… seeing these adventures she goes on has been entertaining. Perhaps I will lay dormant within her for a while longer." She straightened up and looked towards the beach, a growl leaving her. "What is he doing here? He should be dead." She turned to Dracken, giving him a small nod. "I will be back momentarily with the builder."


Malroth started to say something when Arusu's attention was pulled away and he was looking to the sky behind Malroth. Malroth turned, seeing the slender white beast taking to the sky and off in another direction. He let out a growl, though the growl was cut short when something clicked in the back of his mind. Lily was here. Lily was home. "Look. I'd love for you to stay and chat, but I have things I need to take care of and right now, we're missing a friend of ours and we don't feel like having company."

Arusu put his hands up, smiling at Malroth. "I understand. Something just came up suddenly for me as well. I'll come back in a few days' time, hm? Perhaps we can make a… cordial friendship of sorts, hm?"

Malroth tried his best to hide the way his lip raised up in a snarl, but he couldn't control it. He had to go find Lily, he had to make sure that she was alright. "Sounds great." He turned to Lulu, leaning into her so his lips were near her ear. "I'll be back, make sure they don't stick around." He started to go up the stairs to the temple when he saw Hermit and Dracken standing just beyond the rocks on the beach, watching him intently.

He turned and watched as the knight looking man turned and walked back towards the small boat that would take him to the large ship. Once Malroth was satisfied that the knight wasn't going to B-line back to them, he went to the two monsters, hands on his hips. "What?"

"Lily has returned, the monster that has been dormant within her went to retrieve her." Dracken rubbed his forehead, having to sit down on the larger rock so he didn't fall over. "Don't worry, she has no desire to bring Lily harm… anymore."

"Anymore?"

"No, not anymore. She had debated on it so she could be free, but I think she has grown fond of Lily much like your counterpart has grown fond of you." Dracken dropped his hand, clearly frustrated with something. "Once she finds Lily, she'll return. We just have to sit tight."

"Sit tight!? You really think I'm going-!" Malroth gasped, barely dodging the hammer from Hermit. "Hey! What gives!?"

"You need to have-have-have some patience, young Master!" Hermit growled at Malroth, giving back one that made Malroth quit his growling. "Have some faith in our builder, she has survived many things, I think she will survive one more trip back home."


Hey guys! Sorry I left you hanging for so long, there were twenty different ways I could have taken this chapter so I hope this one is the most enjoyable! Also I've picked up streaming in my free time, if you get bored come watch on Twitch! I'm MischiefHunter ! I might try streaming DQB1 or some post-story DQB2!

Love,
Chika