The following morning started early, long before the sun would even begin to light the world. Nearly everyone in the castle and the city was preparing for the coming days. Only those who would be in the later shifts still had the luxury of rest. The atmosphere was oppressive as civilians were being moved deeper into the city, closer to the castle, for their own protection. Guards and soldiers were armed and moving supplies, gear, and themselves around as well.

I agreed that until it was time to strike at the Liches, and since I could use a wide range of offensive magic, I would be a part of the first wave of defenders. And so once I donned my new armor and was ready I made my way to the bustling western wall of the city. Torches lined the streets as people moved about. I saw the heavy siege equipment being loaded and prepared as well. Once I made it to the wall, I went to climb it, but the pulley system was waiting at the bottom, as was a familiar face.

“Come, no need to take the stairs,” Bowen said with a wave.

“Then I’ll join you,” I said, taking a spot next to him.

A loud whistle echoed in the tower, and the horses and men started the pulley system that raised us. “Where’s Sylvia? And this is some rather nice armor,” Bowen questioned.

“At the castle. It was agreed that she would be on standby in case the Liches showed themselves early,” I answered. “And thank you. It was a gift from His Majesty.”

Bowen nodded his head thoughtfully as he stroked his beard. “I see. He is a thoughtful man. The armor does suit you. Also, I was quite surprised to learn Sylvia would be going in alone. I’m sure you have your… reservations about that.”

I shrugged. “I do, but it’s mostly misplaced feelings. I know her, and I’m certain Sylvia will be more than fine,” I said.

Bowen nodded again as he gave me a sly look. “Yes…I heard about her fight in the tournament. Quite the spectacle, was it? I suppose there are some things you haven’t explained to me, mmm?”

“Many things,” I agreed.

Bowen chuckled to himself as the lift reached the top. Troops began unloading the lift, and we strolled out and across the buzzing walls. The wind swept over us, bringing in a new smell, the stench of rot. It was revolting, to say the least. And it was only getting more putrid by the hour.

“I suppose we will be seeing something quite magical from her then. After all, if her ability were simply to regenerate rapidly, that wouldn’t be enough to send her in alone. But if she can control blood on such a large scale…then she isn’t any normal Vampire,” Bowen mused to himself.

Only if you knew…

“Regardless, I’m surprised to see you here. You and your wife left the capital and your son behind. It must have been a difficult decision,” I said, changing the subject.

Bown sighed deeply. “Duty calls, I suppose.”

I smiled and said, “I thought family came first?”

Bowen chuckled and followed it with a weak shrug. “It does. If it weren’t for your honest request, I may have ignored it. But you have yet to lead anyone astray, and you were right in the end. If Curia falls, there will be no home for my children. So I must protect this city, if not for the kingdom, then for their future. For everyone’s future.”

“Even so, you agreed to lead the mages. I hadn’t expected that,” I said frankly.

“Yes…neither did I. It was a request from His Highness, Prince Xander. I may no longer be in the military, but I have the experience. And I can’t exactly say no in such times, can I? But I suppose that’s not the case for you,” Bowen said with a chuckle.

I was about to say something when Bowen suddenly stopped in his tracks. A bead of sweat rolled down his head as we nearly reached the corner tower of the western wall, which was eerily devoid of people. An oppressive aura emanated from the top of it, and we could see a lone young boy from atop. Or at least, that’s what he looked like at a distance.

Bowen looked at me nervously, and I shook my head. “I haven’t spoken to him. He sticks around me, or so he says, although I rarely see or sense him.”

“You…you know what or…who that is? I…this is familiar…like that one time,” Bowen said hesitantly.

“Yes, it should be. He is the child of Avasta,” I said.

Bowen’s eyes went wide as he gazed up at the tower in disbelief. “The son…of a Dragon Emperor?” He turned to me with a confused and worried look. “Why is he following you around? Why is something like that even here?”

It was my turn to sigh. “I wish I had an answer for you. Avasta sort of just dropped him on my lap without much explanation. He saved me once from another Dragon Emperor.”

“Ah…the time at the Adventurer’s Guild main branch…yes, I remember hearing about that, but I had no idea Dragons were involved,” Bowen mumbled to himself.

“I doubt the guild wanted people to know another Dragon Emperor had infiltrated it and caused a scene. Either way…” I said, trailing off as I looked up at the tower.

“I suppose I can go talk to him. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and he’ll help.”

—

Kelzrenth’s POV.

What is this noise…why can’t I understand it?

I gritted my teeth and stared out at the empty fields filled with the feeble attempts of mortals to protect what little they had. Yet, in the distance, I could hear something. This grating noise seemed to be all around me, yet also so far away at the same time.

No matter how hard I focused on the noise, I could not locate it. No matter how high I flew, how much mana I channeled into my eyes, I could not see it, yet it was there. I bit my lip in an attempt to steady myself. I felt unsteady as I was unsure, a first in my entire life. My heart thumped in my chest, and my brain was abuzz with the startling noise assaulting me.

I felt the urge to go forward, to find the source, yet every part of my body urged me to stay put. No, not even to run from the noise, but to avoid it completely. Why was that the case? Was I afraid? Not possible. Could I be sick? An illness carried on this grotesque rotting air?

Sick? Is this what mortals call getting sick? I’ve never been ill of anything in my entire life. It’s impossible, so what is it? What is this insanity-inducing noise?

“Wait…insanity? Am…I losing my mind?” I mumbled to myself.

Impossible…I’m far too young for that…no…it can’t be the case…Master was the only Dragon in centuries to go mad…what could cause me, barely born in this world, to lose myself already? I—

Gah!

The noise intensified immensely. I rolled over and fell to my knees in overwhelming pain, striking my head. It was like my head would explode any minute!

“Come. It’s time.”

I flicked around and, with blurred vision, tried to find the source of the voice. “What?! Who…?”

But there was no one next to me. I was alone.

“I order you to join us.”

I gritted my teeth and lashed out at the thrumming voice. Naturally, I only hit empty air. The noise was overwhelming me, and I let my mind slip to some other place because of the pain. The voice, a voice I had never heard, was commanding me, a noble being beyond understanding, to join it. Preposterous! I wouldn’t allow something to—

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“Get a grip on yourself, creature. Ignore the din.”

A new voice rang in my ear as the pain vanished and was replaced with something different. It was overwhelming in an entirely different way. It was a feeling I had only felt twice in my entire life—the presence of something profoundly strong. Far more immense than me.

Fear.

I turned my head, and what I saw could not be described. An overpowering sense of dread from an enormous dark shadow. Only its red eyes glared at me. And when I blinked.

It was gone.

“…Are you alright? What’s wrong with you?” the Half-Elf questioned, standing above me.

I blinked a few times and realized all was well. The noise, the pain, the voices, and the dark figure were all gone, like waking up from a bad dream—as if it had never happened.

Am I genuinely going mad?

I stood up instantly and dusted myself off. “I’m fine,” I answered curtly.

Kaladin raised an eyebrow at me and looked around the tower. “Is…crawling around on the ground something Dragons do in their spare time?”

“Of course not!” I snapped.

“…Okay, if you say so. Anyway, why are you up here? You are causing problems with your brooding,” he said.

“I— I’m not brooding!” I argued.

Kaladin scratched his chin. “I see…is this what Sylvia and Padraic meant back then?” he grumbled.

“Anyway, you never said why you are here. Is there a chance you are here to assist us? This is an unprecedented event. Surely the Dragons would intervene at a time like this,” Kaladin said.

“No. The loss of a single city or kingdom is but a drop of water in the bucket, and that is the world. If you mortals can’t handle this, then that is on your own incompetence,” I answered immediately.

He narrowed his eyes at me and asked, “Is that your stance or the stance of all Dragons?”

“It’s what I was ordered to do. We are not here to protect you from yourselves or any threat that rears its head occasionally. Even if this kingdom were to fall, another would take its place. As has been the case for all of history,” I said.

His eyes went wide. “All of history?” he muttered.

What? What’s with that reaction?

Kaladin shook his head and turned his back to me. “Then nothing short of a Dragon attacking will get you involved. That answers my question, so since you don’t intend to help, please leave so others can take their place before the battle.”

I watched him descend the stairs as I scratched the back of my head furiously. I was frustrated, confused, and more unsure of myself than I had been in a long time.

What is wrong with me? Then again…what’s even right anymore?

—

Kaladin Shadowheart’s POV.

What was wrong with him? What kind of Dragon talks to themselves and yelps in pain while crawling on the floor? And why did he look up at me with his Soulsight active in fear only to revert to being completely normal?

Is he going mad? No…I mean he is far too young, right?

“So…what did he say?” Bowen asked me, knocking me out of my train of thought.

“Not much, but he’ll be leaving. If anything, I have more questions than answers now,” I answered.

“Truly, you are amazing, Kaladin. I don’t think I could casually go and talk to a Dragon like that…I don’t think most people could,” he said, sounding somewhat astounded.

“Is that so? I could see that with Avasta for sure, but that boy? He’s just a child,” I said.

Bowen chuckled nervously. “I don’t think calling a Dragon a child is the best of ideas despite his appearance…”

I shrugged. “Well, that’s what he appears to be for me.”

“Ah… about that. I got a closer look at him…is it by chance that he resembles you and your brother?” Bowen questioned.

“That is a question I would like answered. You wouldn't happen to know anything about the intricacies of how Dragons transform from…well, Dragons to people?” I asked.

Bowen shook his head with a rather serious look. “I have no idea. But I sure would like to figure it out. If Dragons can transform into people, then does that mean people could turn into Dragons?” he mused.

Hah…even at times like this, he is still curious.

“Let’s hope that’s not the case. Considering how they view us, the world would probably be a better place with fewer Dragons, not more.”

Ring.

Ring.

“Two bells, we are being summoned,” Bowen said, looking down at the city.

“Yes, shall we?”

—

From atop the walls, many were gathered around the three royal siblings and their Praetorian Guards. Below, the streets and pathways were filled to the brim with people as far as the eye could see. War God Vasquez handed the prince a pale blue stone, which he held up to his throat, and his booming voice carried out across the air.

“People of Curia, it is my honor as your prince to stand before you. I thank all of you for the tremendous work and resilience you have shown in these trying days. All of you are already aware of the threat that lies beyond these walls and the duty that must be fulfilled.”

“Rather than empty words or promises of a flawless grand victory in the face of the unprecedented attacks on our kingdom and safety from monsters and those who would see us defeated, I instead would make a request of every one of you. Today, fight not only for your kingdom but for your home. Fight for your families, friends, and those we have lost.”

Prince Xander swept his arm out and pointed beyond the walls. “The enemy today is no ordinary threat! There is no glory or riches to be had! We are facing a threat that does not care for such meaningless things! Those monstrosities’ only purpose is to see us ground to dust and removed from existence! They deny us even the peace of death! So today, we fight for survival! Our right to live! So fight with all you have!”

“Fight or be forgotten!”

The city erupted into a deafening cheer and rally of support. The atmosphere was still tense but the young prince’s words had taken a slight edge off of people. Prince Xander handed the stone off and strode away gallantly.

“A rather short speech,” I whispered.

Bowen smirked. “Short and sweet is just his way. It may come as a surprise, but Prince Xander used to be rather soft-spoken as a boy. He’s come a long way.”

Interesting…come to think of it, Prince Xander never struck me as either type.

“Let us prepare. The undead will be here shortly. I’ll be seeing you later,” Bowen said.

“Yes, good luck out there, Bowen,” I said.

Bowen gave me a firm nod. “As to you, Kaladin. Remain safe.”

“Same to you.”

I left Bowen to his duties and left to my position on the city walls. I was to be a part of a mage group to stop the initial assault. There, I found Prince Leopold, who motioned for me to join him.

“You seem rather calm,” I said to the High Elf Prince.

He shrugged. “Is but another day, Kaladin Shadowheart. A prince must remain calm even in the most dire of situations.”

I nodded in agreement. “Rather, it’s more surprising that a prince would be on the front lines.”

“I am just here as extra hands. And many tried to stop me, but I would not allow it. Besides, this may be the safest place in the city,” he said, looking at the assortment of soldiers, mages, and even War Gods.

“Perhaps…” I said looking out at the distance.

Far off from the city, a massive cloud of dust and dirt had been kicked up. The stench of death on the wind was overwhelming.

“What are our odds of success, Dragonslayer?” Prince Leopold questioned.

“What does it matter? I’m sure you already have your guesses. As Prince Xander said, we have no choice but to fight. It’s all we need to do in order to survive,” I said.

“Indeed…” Prince Leopold muttered.

“Kaladin, when this is all over, will you join me?” he asked.

“No.”

Prince Leopold chuckled. “I see. Well, how about a visit to Tel’an’duth to change your mind?”

“I…this is hardly the time for this, Prince Leopold…” I muttered.

“Is it? Well, perhaps you are right,” he said with a shrug. “But still, would you like to visit our empire?”

“Not any time soon. Maybe one day, when this is all over,” I said.

“Then I’ll hold you to it. Although I have a feeling you’ll be visiting sooner rather than later,” he said, facing the distance.