The queen tries to free herself the best she can, but it’s no use. The surrounding ice is becoming more and pure dense; why draining her source? With her source being drained, she can’t control it to transform into her dragon form. Loka has pulled a perfect trap off and the queen is all but happy about it. Meanwhile, Loka isn’t looking to be doing any better. He fights to stay conscious as the current of the ocean drags him along the sandy bottom. The light from the surface is gone as Loka sits in a cold darkness. He tries to use his remaining source to branch out and pull any living thing closer, but if he lets too much source leave his body now, he could very well die. Time is running out as he continues to create air to breathe. He pulls all his source back to him and gathers his thoughts. “I can’t tell if the dragons passed by yet, but am running out of air and the pressure on my bodies isn’t exactly ideal.” Loka thinks. He grabs his blade and sticks it into the sand below him.

  “Grow,”

  A tree begins to grow from under him. He prepares himself for the shift and pressure as he slowly rises up. Once he can see the light, he makes sure there are no other dragons around. The only presences he can feel is that of the queen. As he continues to rise up, he makes his source into strings and shoots out to nearby fish and plants. Once the connection is made, he quickly absorbs all the source in them. Once at the surface, he pulls back his blade and sheafs it. He takes a quick look around and sees that his trap is still holding up, and as expected, the other dragons had escaped before the ice became too dense.

  “They abandon the queen. It seems taking out your most loyal dog first led only Mayhem at the top. Knowing him. He’s probably on his way to Eaven with the other dragons to launch an attack on the elf king. He was never one for patience, but it seems it’s worked out in my favor,” he says.

  He then looks up at Thánato’s frozen body. Then at the orb in his hand. “I’ll make sure to hide this well.” Loka thinks to himself.

  “How long has it been…I’m finally home.” Cinder says.

  He places his hand on the mountainside and activates the lock. The mountain shifts open and Cinder walks up the stairs to the first gate.

  “Who’s there?” a guard asks.

  “Your savior.” Cinder told him.

  Cinder step forward into the light of the torch. He towered over the guard and leaned in close to open the door behind him. Cinder's familiar face was now clear to him. It would be clear to any cyclops that had been in the elf dragon war. Cinder the wrathful, his name is known far and wide. His mind and body covered in deep scares. Elder dragons, Loka, the elf king all opponents he has fought and lived to tell the tale, truly a legend. But sin stains his legacy, for only hatred fills his heart.

  “Your alive….hey WAIT!” the guard says.

  The guard runs after Cinder. “Your brother was looking for you!”

  Cinder stops and the guard runs into him, like a fly into a mountain. “So he’s ready to listen. Take me to him,” Cinder says.

  “Well, about that. He had left looking for you and Rev. It seems the last thing he expected was for you to show up at the palace.” The guard says.

  “Looking for me and who?” Cinder asks.

  The guard looks hesitant. "What should I do? I have to let him in. It’s not like I could stop him. Ok i just have to hold him here until Bron and Cass return. I do wonder what Rev has to do with this. I don’t think I’ve seen him for almost a year now.” The guard thinks to himself. He looks up to see that Cinder’s cold, but weirdly welcoming face.

  “It’s best that we talk inside, please come in.” The guard says.

  Cinder walks through the open gates and takes a breath of fresh air. “It’s even more beautiful than i remember.” Cinder says, as he gazes upon the mountain palace.

  They walk to the palace and talk. “So who is the other person Bron is looking for? I don’t think I am familiar with the name.” Cinder says.

  “Oh Rev yes, he’s an interesting person, to say the least. I have to admit I feel for him. From what I’ve heard, his past is full of suffering, but you’d be interested to know he was the chosen student of Ein. Supposedly, he saw great things in Rev.” The guard tells Cinder.

  “Ein…a cyclops of honor. Maybe too much for his own good. Is he around here? From what I remember, he was on the move as much as me.” Cinder says.

  The guard stops and faced Cinder. “Ein is…dead”

  Cinder stops. “How?” He turns to face the guard.

  “He died protecting the Rev and the people of Morton from a dragon attack. With the help of Judas, they fought the dragon off, but the damaged Ein suffered was too great to recover from. In his last moments he left everything in Rev’s hands.” The guard tells Cinder.

  “Died protecting the weak. I fitting death for such a man. Death by wound…Ein was a skilled source user. He could have healed himself surely, his source couldn’t of been drained in a simple fight with one dragon. “Tell me this dragon’s name, and I swear I will slay it.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “The dragon was Ash, and he was killed at the palace by Loka’s hand, along with Paul.” The guard tells Cinder.

  The air grow tense, as if Cinder’s presence was strangling the air around them. “Ash, I see how Ein could be bested in a fight. I also have no doubt Loka made a mockery of his fight with Ash, but what I don’t understand is why Loka was fighting Ash in the palace in the first place or why he killed Paul after the fight.” Cinder asks.

  “Loka was looking for the Hell scape ring and Paul had told him that we throw it off the mountain long ago. Loka didn’t seem to like his response.” The guards say.

  “And you're telling me everyone stood there and watched-”

  “Sorry, but we were powerless. Bron was trying to stop Rev from engaging.” The guard says.

  “Stop Rev from engaging? At least someone has some heart around here. I would like to meet this Rev. A student of Ein and a defender of his fellow cyclops.” Cinder says.

  “Well Rev is actually-” The guard stop himself for a moment

  “He’s what?” Cinder asks.

  “He’s actually looking to challenge Loka as we speak. So I don’t know where he is exactly.” The guard says.

  “Wow, a man of true ambition, but to challenge Loka blinding is a dead man’s game. I most find him at once. Am sure a man like him will understand my vision.” Cinder says.

  “that was close, I almost told Cinder of all people that Rev was a dark elf. Wait, the palace is not full of humans and even some elfs. He might be a legend, but he has fallen far from the twin gods’ vision. Am sure he would not take lightly of humans and elfs in the sacred palace. I must keep him here until Bron returns, but not let him see any humans or elfs…What have I gotten myself into?” The guard thinks to himself. As his thoughts continue, they make it to the main gate. “I have to act now.” The guard thinks.

  “Wait, stay here Cinder. Please let me prepare a special welcome for your return.” The guard says.

  Cinder smile “If you insist, I will not decline such a generous gesture.” Cinder says.

  “Thank you, sir, it will be my honor to welcome your return properly. Please make yourself comfortable out here as I get things ready.” The guards say.

  Cinder nods his head and walks to a nearby bench and takes a seat. He takes in a big breath of air and lets it out slowly. He looks over the at palace and smile. “This is what I’m fighting for. A place untouched by the evils of the outside world. Loka will be sure to pay for his disruption of this peace. Along with ever elf and dragon that’s ever drawn breath.” Cinder thinks to himself. His hands tighten to a fist, but he is quick to release and take in the beauty of the mountain palace to calm him. The guard run to the front desk of the palace as fast as he can.

  “Cinder is here. We must hide all the humans and elves at once.” The guard says.

  The human woman at the desk looks at him, confused. “who is Cinder?” she asks.

  The guard’s body gramps. “He’s a cyclops, a very powerful cyclops. He has a strong disliking for elves and humans well to be honest, I don’t know how he stands with them, but I’d like not to take that risk of possible. Please, just inform the headman that Cinder has arrived. We must prepare a welcoming for him.” The guard explains.

  The woman at the desk gets goes to inform the head of the palace while the guard begins to hide all the elves and humans in the palace.

  “Please, you must hide, follow me at once and if you know where any other elves or humans may be, please trust me.”

  All around the palace, the humans and elves are gathered up and taken underground to the cellar.

  “The guard at the front gate told me to tell you that Cinder is here. He told him that we are preparing a welcoming for him to buy time to hide the humans and elves.” The woman explains.

  He sighs “Cinder, you say…Oh Paul, what would you do?… Gather all the humans and elves and bring them to the front of the palace.”

  “but sir-”

  “Please, trust me,” he says.

  “alright as you wish.” The woman says and rushes out to cellar.

  The head of the palace gets up and walks his way to the main gates. He sees the guard along his way gathering up humans and elves.

  “Phin, that's enough. Cinder will not bring shame to this palace any longer. We follow the rules of the twin gods, not the ones of a broken legend.” The head orders.

  The desk receptionist returns soon after with the humans and elves that were already in the cellar.

  Phin opens the gates “Cinder…we’re ready.” He says, voice ever shaky.

  Cinder gets up from his bench and walks over to the main gate, but the smile on his face quickly fades.

  He tilts his head to the side. “Where is the head? Because I hope these elves are here as an offering and nothing more?” He says in a condescending tone.

  “Cinder, your prejudice is not welcome at the mountain palace”

  Cinder looks over, Phil straightens up. “Noah, so you have taken Paul’s place. I would think a man that’s seen the death of his fellow followers would have some respect for their death and not bring their murders into the place created to protect us from those same murders, but it seems I was wrong.” Cinder says.

  “Stops this at once, Cinder. You are not a child, therefore do not bear the privilege of a naive than tantrum. The twin gods are here to accept you with your flaws, but only if your willing to change. Until then you are not welcomes at this palace.” Noah tells Cinder, his voice caring yet authoritative.

  Cinder squints his eye at Noah. It widens as he looks at the human and elves surrounding him. Cinder sighs. “So you have chosen the path of the enemy-”

  Shane steps forward. “Hey! am no murder. None of these people are. I took an oath to protect those who can not protect themselves and I intent to keep it.” Shane yells out.

  Before anyone can react, Cinder bolts forward, spear in hand, and swipes it to Shane’s neck, stopping right before it makes contact. Shane freezes, but Shon, Bane, and Pine rush to his side.

  “What do you think you're doing, old man?!!” Bane yells out.

  They try to move him. Grabbing the spear and his hand, but it’s no use. Cinder sends out a shock wave of air, sending them flying back. Shane slams into the metal gates.

  “Tell me, child, who are you going to protect?” Cinder asks Shane.

  Cinder turns to Bane and looks down at him. “Your voice is a deception for your lack of action. You may try to hide it, but you fear death more than anything else,” Cinder tells Bane.

  Bane's hands tighten to a fist, but as he looks up at Cinder, it’s as if all strength leaves his body at once. He instead curls into a ball, not daring to look Cinder in the eye. Cinder then turns to Shon and Pine.

  “Finally, you two, I admit I commend your bravery. I could tell at a second’s glance everything in you was telling you to run away, but you didn’t. your friend was in danger and despite your instincts you came to his rescue, knowing deep down your efforts would amount to nothing more than maybe a second for him to flee. That it was it means to be a warrior. That is what it means to protect those who can not protect themselves. Your oath is not one driven by ego or to receive praise. For now, you have my respect. And with that, I see your place in a world that will blossom with peace once more.” Cinder tells Pine and Shon.