“Oh dear.” Braxton chuckled, glancing back at her flabbergasted mother. “Come on, let’s join her.” Placing an arm around Ms. Reyes’ shoulders, he guided her towards Vyper and Suzie.
Star strutted to my side while Asher, Skylar, and the others prepared the Dragons to be mounted by our new friends. Braxton had designed special harnesses for them that contained rows upon rows of what he called “saddle seats”, attaching them to our companions’ backs so the humans could feel more comfortable and secure during our trip back. After all, it was the first time they’d ever be on a Dragon.
Seeing everything ready, I turned around to face Frank and the rest of our guests. “Okay, who wants to ride a Dragon?”
They all lifted their hands.
* * *
BRAXTON
“Welcome to Caelisium, the Sky Paradise…”
I glanced back at Ms. Reyes, Josh, Rebecca, and everyone else who sat on Vyper’s back once we came out of theEye of the World, welcoming them home. The amazement on their faces as they glanced at the majestic mountains that rose all around us, reminded me of the way I’d felt when I first arrived here. Their awed gazes followed the rushing pastures below us, and the lake that extended over as far as their eyes could see.
Unlike the first time I came to Caelisium, tall castles rose from the new seven territories as we flew, their kingdoms rebuilt to their full splendor. New cities, vibrant and full of life spread over each territory, occupied by our kin who migrated back to their origin lands a few months after the battle.
The home their ancestors were forced to leave when Raithian captured them and turned them into slaves.
We took the long way home, just so our new kin could see the true beauty of this world that was now theirs. They gasped and pointed, some even choosing where they wanted to live from the sky as we flew over the kingdoms.
Glimmering sand reached us while we flew over the newCresting Sun Empire. Once known as the Desertlands, the territory was filled with colorful houses, markets, and homesteads for miles and miles. The scorching heat of its sands was balanced once more by the population that called it home. The tan and gold castle stretched all the way to the sky, with multicolored flags swaying freely in the breeze like they had never fallen.
The sand below us shifted, lines carving a path a moment before Knight burst through the dunes and took to the sky, provoking new shouts of amazement from our guests. Three other Dragons flew out of the sand to join him among the clouds before we swerved towards the next kingdoms.
As our people began to reclaim the lands of their ancestors, each of the kingdoms’ formal name was also reclaimed. The Desertlands officially changed to the Cresting Sun Empire, the Highlands became the Rising Summits Kingdom, and the Woodlands turned into the Prospering Forest Empire. In the same fashion, the Greenlands were the Evergreen Meadows Kingdom, and the Icelands’ very fitting name turned out to be the Crystal Alpes Empire.
The Wetlands title was reinstated to the Ocean Guardian’s Sanctuary,since that was never occupied by man, and we wanted to honor the ocean guardians. Finally, the Blazelands… Well, that remained empty since the only kingdom that ever existed there was the one Raithian created.
I liked calling itTharionland, but that was another conversation entirely. He travelled there sometimes, to recharge, but always came home to us.
The Outlands, orthe in between, were never mentioned again after the land was cleansed. A special memorial was added for the fallen of all the previous battles. It was now a beautiful park and monument, filled with appreciation and remembrance.
My attention returned to Little Suzie, who sat in front of me, hugging Vyper’s neck. “It’s a Dragon,” I whispered, finding it way too funny.
“Flying Dinosaur!!” she screeched, glaring at me like I had just insulted him.
“Leave my babe alone,”Vyper growled in my mind, absolutely smitten with the beautiful, brown-skinned princess on his neck. In his defense, he wasn’t the only one. She was absolutely adorable.
“She’s not yours, you know? Suzie is a human, not a Soulris.”
“My Babe!”he screeched just like she had, making me cringe.
“Fine…” It looked like Vyper had claimed his soulmate, not caring that she wasn’t even from this world.
Chuckling, I turned to the others when a new kingdom came and went below us. “We are almost there. You guys are going to love the Castle of Dragons.”
When my gaze returned to the front, I caught the moment we flew over the March of Kings. Giggling children ran and played along its rebuilt park, while others dipped their feet into the large Truth Teller fountain—now restored and gushing with crystal clear water.
A heartfelt smile captured my being when my eyes went to the path created by the statues of all past kings. One I had the privilege to walk. Angus Devenish III no longer stood alone; his line broken no more. Beside him, a statue of the Harbinger of Justice was erected, and before them, King Ezra and Queen Sienna took their rightful place in our history—the three of them changing it forever.
Their presence in the March of Kings served as a reminder of the transition they ushered with their courage and sacrifice. Thanks to them, Evanna and I now ruled this free world. Our statues stood proudly at the end of the march, waiting for the king and queen who would one day stand before us.
Caelisium wasn’t just for the Devenish king anymore, but for him and his queen to protect together. None of us could make it alone, and it was time to recognize that.
“Bye, Dad…”I waved to his statue like a crazy person, and faced our incoming kingdom, the smile reaching my face.
The onceLost Kingdomwas restored to its glorious heights and dubbed the Kingdom of Dragons, taking its rightful place as the first territory—though it had once been part of the Greenlands. In place of the massive broken statue that used to occupy its tallest spire, our Dragons now landed there from time to time…
