Cadin – The Throne of Shadows

  Lord Vilgas marched into the throne room, his Royal Guard flanking him like shadows. At the far end sat Sovereign Fall, an imposing figure shrouded in dark, crackling energy. Beside him stood his daughter, Arcadia, watching everything in cold silence.

  “Vilgas…” Fall’s voice boomed through the hall. “What do you want here? I hope it is important.”

  “That ‘problem’ seems to have returned,” Vilgas stated grimly. “Isaac is alive.”

  The room went deadly silent.

  “WHAT? WHY DO YOU THINK THAT?” Fall roared, gripping the armrests of his throne so hard the stone cracked.

  “That cursed magic of his… it was witnessed by one of my commanders. And the appearance matches.”

  Fall stood up, furious. Dark energy crackled violently around him.

  “That is impossible… She guaranteed me…” he hissed, referring to Orion. “Damned liar… Where is he?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Then find out!”

  The two Lords stared at each other, the air thick with tension.

  “We cannot fail again,” Fall growled. “I will place a bounty on the entire planet. Make him a Level A Wanted Target. If you are right… he must be without his memories…”

  “I will speak to my subordinates.”

  “Get out… I need to think. Tell me of any developments.”

  Vilgas turned to leave. Fall watched him go, his eyes burning with paranoia. Arcadia watched her father, her expression unreadable.

  Feralium – The Hidden Cave

  Isaac poked at the dying embers of the campfire, lost in thought.

  “Isaac! I have news!”

  Dev came running up the path, out of breath but grinning. “News to help you.”

  “Really? What?”

  “I spoke with my Clan Leader… and he gave us a direction.”

  Isaac looked at him expectantly.

  “We are going to recover your memories with your old right-hand man… Gwyn.”

  “Gwyn…” Isaac tested the name. It felt familiar… warm, like an old wound that never quite healed.

  “Yes. The powerful Mage of the Cut. Your second-in-command and, from what I hear, a second father to you. According to the intel, he possesses a secret method to restore lost memories. It could be your chance.”

  “And where is this Gwyn?”

  “I don’t know exactly… but I know who might help us find him.”

  Isaac stood up, brushing ash from his pants.

  “Okay… then let’s go.”

  “Not yet,” Dev laughed, looking Isaac up and down. “When was the last time you went to a barber, my friend?”

  Isaac touched his matted beard and long, wild hair, grimacing.

  “Point taken.”

  Valoon – The Dragon Palace - Princess Aiko’s Chambers

  Aiko sat with a book in her lap, sipping a drink, trying to ignore the bustle of servants around her.

  “Princess, this dress is beautiful… it will be a gala night,” the servant gushed, smoothing the fabric.

  “I suppose so,” Aiko sighed. “Honestly, Papa and my husband are more excited to go than I am.”

  There was a knock at the door. Queen Sasaki entered.

  “Are you ready, daughter?”

  The servant bowed. “My Queen.”

  “Please… leave us,” Sasaki ordered gently.

  “Yes, My Queen. Princess.” The servant left.

  “How is my beautiful daughter?”

  “Mama, do we have to go? I never liked these things.”

  “We need to go, honey. You know the entire Komodo Family needs to be present. Your husband and your father are very animated about it.”

  “My husband is enthusiastic about anything that inflates his ego,” Aiko muttered, walking to the balcony.

  Sasaki followed, placing a comforting hand on Aiko’s back.

  “Do you still miss him?”

  “Yes,” Aiko whispered, tears pricking her eyes. “But I am accepting that I won’t have him anymore…”

  “I will always be here, my little girl… my princess. I will always be here when you need me. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, Mama… thank you.” Aiko hugged her mother tightly, letting a few tears fall. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Come… let’s finish here. Your father and your husband are waiting.”

  They walked down the grand hallway toward the main hall.

  “Taking the opportunity…” Sasaki teased, nudging Aiko. “When am I going to be a grandma, hmm?”

  “If it depends on my husband… not anytime soon, Mama.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  They both laughed softly.

  They entered the hall and saw Yamato, the Fire Dragon King, and Ryujiro, Aiko’s husband, talking in hushed, tense tones.

  Yamato’s back was turned, his shoulders rigid.

  “What happened?” Aiko asked, sensing the shift in the air. “Why the long faces?”

  Ryujiro looked up, holding a piece of parchment.

  “We just received an urgent message from Nebulon. Sovereign Fall has issued a search order. Level A.”

  “Level A?” Sasaki gasped. “Is it an Entity?”

  Yamato turned around slowly. His face was grave.

  “No… It is Isaac. The former King of Olympia.”

  The world stopped spinning for Aiko.

  Ryujiro held up the wanted poster. It was a sketch, but the eyes… they were unmistakable.

  Aiko’s legs gave out. She fell to her knees, gasping for air.

  “Aiko! Daughter!” Sasaki rushed to catch her.

  Aiko grabbed the paper, her hands trembling violently. She stared at it, sobbing uncontrollably. Alive. He is alive.

  Yamato looked at his weeping daughter, then at the ambitious Ryujiro. He turned to his guards.

  “We are not going to the meeting anymore.”

  “What?” Ryujiro snapped, his face flushing with anger. “Why? This is our chance to—”

  Yamato walked out without saying another word.

  Ryujiro stood there, clenching his fists, looking down at his wife who was crying for another man. He didn’t offer help. He just glared, his ego bruised, as Sasaki held her daughter on the floor.

  The Hidden Cave – The Hot Spring

  Steam rose from the natural stone pool. Isaac and Dev soaked in the hot water, sighing in relief.

  “So…” Dev broke the silence, admiring his handiwork. “Like the cut?”

  Isaac ran a hand through his short, trimmed hair and touched his clean-shaven face. He looked human again.

  “Yeah… you’re not bad with a pair of scissors.”

  “I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” Dev laughed, taking a sip of his drink.

  Isaac relaxed into the water, closing his eyes.

  “So… tomorrow we meet this contact? Where will it be?”

  “In a tavern in Feralium… I’ll give you the details tomorrow.”

  Dev refilled his cup. “Tell me… how was the experience in Orion’s clutches?”

  Isaac sighed, the steam swirling around him. “Not pleasant… I just remember that everything seemed real… mixed with strange dreams.”

  “Dreams?”

  “Yeah… of wars fought… of a dragon woman… and of…”

  “Wait,” Dev interrupted, grinning mischievously. “You dreamed of Aiko? You sly dog.”

  “Aiko?”

  “Your former wife,” Dev explained, enjoying the gossip. “One of the most beautiful young women among the Dragons… powerful… and with the keenest sense of smell in the world. It is impressive what she can do with that nose.”

  “I married a dragon?” Isaac asked, incredulous.

  “Yes. But rest easy… She took a humanoid form.” Dev’s smile faded slightly. “Besides… she has already remarried.”

  “Hmm… good for her,” Isaac muttered, though he felt a strange twinge in his chest.

  Dev relaxed, leaning back. Suddenly, his ears twitched. He turned his head sharply.

  “What is it?” Isaac asked.

  “Nothing.”

  Dev stood up, water cascading off his body. He grabbed a towel.

  “I’m going to get more to drink… why don’t you stay here a bit longer?”

  “Okay.”

  Dev walked out of the cavern light, his expression hardening as he stepped into the shadows.

  Valoon – The Dragon Palace - Princess Aiko’s Chambers

  Aiko lay on her bed, sobbing into her pillow. The knock at the door was persistent.

  "Mother... Please... I want to be alone."

  Queen Sasaki opened the door anyway. She sat on the edge of the bed, stroking Aiko’s hair.

  "Daughter... it breaks my heart to see you like this."

  "He is alive, Mother..." Aiko gasped between sobs. "Isaac is alive... and I am here, married to another."

  She stood up, walking to the balcony to look at the stars, seeking comfort in the vastness of the sky. Sasaki followed.

  "He must be coming to see me... thinking I waited for him... and now..."

  "You did wait, daughter. Don't blame yourself. You tried."

  They stood in silence.

  "Maybe it's not even him..." Sasaki offered gently.

  "It is," Aiko whispered. "I feel it."

  "Rest now. You will feel renewed tomorrow."

  "Mother..."

  The door opened. Ryujiro entered, looking annoyed.

  "Still crying? Can we talk?"

  Sasaki turned, her eyes flashing dangerously. She looked at Ryujiro, then back to her daughter.

  "I will be in my room if you need me. I love you." She kissed Aiko’s forehead.

  "Thank you, Mother... love you too."

  Sasaki walked past Ryujiro, stopping beside him. Her voice dropped to a lethal whisper.

  "My Queen..." Ryujiro bowed slightly.

  "If I were you, I would be very careful with what you say to my daughter... your wife. For your own good... I hope not to hear words like that again. Is that clear?"

  Ryujiro swallowed hard. "Yes, My Lady."

  Sasaki left, and Ryujiro watched the door close, his jaw clenched.

  The Hidden Cave

  Isaac heard a thud outside. He opened his eyes, sensing something wrong.

  He got out of the bath, grabbed his pants, and crept along the wall toward the main campfire. He saw Dev standing there, looking down at the ground, holding a piece of paper.

  "What was that?"

  Isaac stepped into the light and saw a body lying at Dev’s feet. A figure dressed in black, throat slit.

  "Dev... what is this?"

  "An intruder."

  Isaac looked at the dead face. "Intruder? You killed him."

  "What does it look like?" Dev replied coolly, wiping a dagger on a cloth. He walked to a table. "Come... I want to show you something."

  Isaac approached, wary. "What?"

  "You are a Level A Wanted Target."

  "What?"

  Isaac took the poster Dev handed him.

  "What does it mean?"

  "It means you are dangerous on a national level and worth a lot of Dracnas... 40 Billion, to be exact."

  "But... how did they know I'm alive?"

  "The destruction of the Iron Transport probably had a survivor," Dev mused. "Or... it was those beast-friends of yours."

  "Samantha and Elana..." Isaac frowned.

  "Beast-kin have never been trustworthy, Isaac."

  Isaac sat on a rock, lowering his head. Did they betray me?

  "We need to hurry," Dev said, packing his gear. "This place is no longer safe. We need to travel to Feralium now. We will disguise you so the hunters don't spot you."

  Dev rummaged through a pile of items and pulled out a worn leather bag.

  "Ah, yes... here. It's yours."

  He tossed it. Isaac caught it.

  "It was your old bag... you had these things when I pulled you from Earth... right when it was destroyed. I'll grab a few more things... be right back."

  Isaac opened the bag. His heart stopped.

  Inside, there was a photo of Kate, smiling. A simple wedding band. And a golden box. He opened the box.

  The Hip Flask.

  Tears filled his eyes. He unscrewed the cap and took a sip. The whiskey burned his throat—a familiar, grounding fire.

  "Same taste..." he whispered.

  He saw some strange markings on the flask but put it away as Dev returned.

  "Shall we?"

  "Yes. Let's go."

  The Road to Feralium

  The wagon rattled along the dirt road. Isaac watched the sunrise. The star wasn't yellow like Earth’s sun; it was a blinding, iridescent white.

  "That sun is strange..."

  "That sun is called Paradise," Dev explained, pointing. "It is the home of the Entities."

  "The Entities live in the sun?" Isaac asked, amazed.

  "They say no creature other than an Entity has ever set foot there."

  They rode in silence for a while.

  "So... who is the contact? Can you tell me now?"

  "Adrian... a Elf. According to my intel, he knows where Gwyn is."

  "Where is he?"

  "The Bone Breaker. The best tavern in the city."

  Dev smiled and whipped the reins, speeding up the wagon.

  (Some time later)

  They stopped on the outskirts of the massive city of Feralium. The walls were high, damaged by war but still standing.

  "Okay... this is it. Adrian said he would be at the tavern in twenty minutes."

  "Okay, let's go then." Isaac jumped down.

  "No... not this time, Isaac."

  "What?" Isaac turned back.

  "My Clan Leader gave me Adrian's info in exchange for leaving you at this point."

  "You can't do this to me, Dev... I don't know anything about this place... I have no memories... I don't know anyone... I don't speak the lan—"

  "Ah, yes."

  Dev hopped down and grabbed Isaac’s hand. He pressed his thumb against Isaac’s palm. A glowing symbol appeared.

  "A gift."

  "What is this?"

  "The Zodiac Seal. With this... you will understand every existing language in the universe."

  Dev stepped back, looking sad but resolute.

  "I cannot go with you, Isaac. This journey is yours. You need to handle it from here on out. If you want a beginning... start by talking to Adrian."

  "Dev..."

  "Good luck, my friend."

  Dev offered his hand. Isaac shook it firmly.

  "Thank you, Dev."

  "We will meet again... very soon. I feel it here." Dev tapped his chest. "Here... take this bag too. Supplies for your trip... and an honest amount of Dracnas. Be careful."

  "I will. Goodbye."

  Isaac shouldered the bags and turned toward the imposing city gates. Dev watched him go, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

  "Hmm... see you later, King."