CHAPTER 10

THE GLOWING CORE BEGAN TO SHINE SO BRIGHTLY THAT NO ONE COULD SEE ANYTHING.

THE THREE PUPS IN THE BRIGHTNESS

THE THREE PUPS—PAPA! WHERE ARE YOU?

[WHEN THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE PREVIOUS FYREKIN ANYWHERE IN FRONT OF THEM.]

HOPE: WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

SHADOW - I DON’T KNOW, BUT IT WOULD SEEM THE MOTHER'S CHILD HAS PERISHED DUE TO THE PRINCESS’ FIRE.

[THE GUILTY DRAGON BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.]

RAVEN: I-I-I- I'M SO SORRY! I JUST WANTED TO HELP!

[THE ALSO-CRYING PUPS FELL TO THE FLOOR, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO NEXT.]

OAKLEY: LISTEN, I KNOW YOU YOUNG ONES ARE HURTING, BUT REMEMBER WHAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR. HE WANTED TO RID THIS PLACE OF THE EVIL THAT HAD TERRORIZED IT FOR SO LONG.

[THE FOUR CHILDREN, ALL CRYING, STOOD UP AND ATTEMPTED TO SHOW COURAGE FOR THE LOST FYREKIN'S SAKE.]

RAVEN, I WILL LEVEL THIS WHOLE TOWER!

KOSUH: MY LADY, VYN, WAS HELPING TO CLEAR THIS PLACE OUT SO WE KOBOLDS COULD HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO REBUILD. I BEG YOU NOT TO DESTROY IT.

AIKIRIUS: DO NOT FEAR, FOR WE ARE GOING TO CLEAN EVERY BIT OF TRASH OUT OF THIS PLACE. IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO FOR FAILING TO SAVE YOUR TWO FRIENDS WHO DIED HERE.

[THE PARTY CONTINUED THEIR ASSAULT AS THE THREE CHILDREN STAYED BEHIND WHERE THEIR FATHER HAD JUST PASSED AWAY.]

FARKAS: YOU ALL GO AHEAD; WE WISH TO PAY OUR FATHER'S RESPECTS.

SHADOW: ALRIGHT, BUT MY WIFE AND I WILL STAY NEAR IN CASE YOU NEED US FOR ANY REASON.

BACK INSIDE THE GODDESS REALM SAT VYN IN HIS HUMANOID APPEARANCE WITH A GLOWING RED ORB IN HIS LAP. IN FRONT OF HIM WERE THE TWO SPIRITS AND THE GODDESS HERSELF. [WITH A FAINT SMILE]

GODDESS - IF YOU MISSED YOUR MOTHER, THERE ARE FAR EASIER WAYS TO CONTACT ME. GURIS CAN ESTABLISH A PORTAL TO LET YOU VISIT ANY TIME YOU WISH.

VYN, I'M SORRY, MOTHER. I HONESTLY WANTED TO MAKE YOU PROUD.

GURIS - ME TOO

[THE GODDESS LOOKED AT THEM CONFUSED.]

GODDESS - YOU’RE NOT DEAD, MY SWEET CHILDREN. YOU’RE ACTUALLY EVOLVING AS WE SPEAK.

[VYN SHOT UP WITH A SMILE AS THE RED ORB BEGAN TO SHINE EVEN BRIGHTER.]

VYN: DOES THIS MEAN I SURVIVED THE PRINCESS’ FIRE BREATH?

GODDESS: YOU NOT ONLY SURVIVED, BUT YOU ALSO MANAGED TO CONSUME THEM, WHICH GRANTED YOU THE EVOLUTION TO DRACONIC FYREKIN. NOT MANY FYREKIN HAVE EVER DONE THIS.

VYN: IS THIS LIKE THE DRAGON WHO GAVE HIMSELF UP TO THE FYREKIN OF THE PAST?

GODDESS - I AM SORRY, BUT THAT WAS NOT WHAT HAPPENED. I CHANGED THE WAY REALITY SAW THAT TO PREVENT A CORRUPTED FYREKIN FROM EVER TRYING TO TAKE OVER THEIR WORLD. HERE, I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

[THE SCENE TOOK PLACE MANY YEARS INTO THE PAST.]

[A FYREKIN AND A SAPPHIRE DRAGON STOOD SIDE BY SIDE AS AN ARMY OF HUMANS APPROACHED.]

FYREKIN, I WILL PROTECT YOU, MY KING, NO MATTER WHAT!

DRAGON - I CAN’T LET YOU DO THIS!

FYREKIN: I MUST BE MY KING, FOR YOU MUST LIVE ON SO THAT THE DRAGON RACE MAY DO SO AS WELL. NOW GO!

[THE DRAGON WAS SADDENED BY THIS BUT HAD NO CHOICE; HE COULDN’T LET HIS FRIEND DIE IN VAIN.]

DRAGON: ALRIGHT, BUT CONSUME MY FLAMES SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE!

THE DRAGON ENGULFED THE FYREKIN IN A BLUE FLAME, MAKING THE FYREKIN DISAPPEAR IN A FLASH. BEFORE HE BEGAN TO FLY AWAY INTO THE DISTANCE

[AN HOUR HAD PASSED, AND THE FORESKIN AWOKE TO THE ARMY BEING ALL AROUND HIM, UNAWARE THAT WHERE HE NOW SAT, THERE WAS NOTHING BUT ASH UNDER HIS LITTLE FEET.]

HUMAN SOLDIER: HERE HE IS! SLAY THE ABOMINATION!

[THE FYREKIN ACTIVATED A SKILL, RELEASING WHAT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT FIERY DRAGON THAT SPRANG FROM HIS FLAMES TO REPEATEDLY ASSAULT THE ARMY.]

[THIS WENT ON FOR HOURS UNTIL FINALLY, A STRANGE HUMANOID APPEARED.]

[THE HUMANOID HAD A YELLOWISH-WHITE GLOW WITH WINGS LIKE AN ANGEL AND A DEVILISH SMILE.]

HUMANOID: CONQUERING FLAME!

[FROM THE HUMAN, A YELLOWISH LIGHT EMITTED, ABSORBING ALL THAT REMAINED OF THE FYREKIN WITHIN A MINUTE'S TIME.]

[BACK TO THE PRESENT]

GODDESS - YOU SEE, MY SON, A FYREKIN CAN’T CONSUME A DRAGON SINCE THEY ARE COMPLETELY IMMUNE TO FIRE, AS THE FYREKIN ARE. UPON RECEIVING A DRAGON’S BREATH, THAT MEANS IT WILL DO YOU NO HARM, THOUGH YOU CAN CONSUME IT TO EVOLVE INTO A DRACONIC FYREKIN.

VYN: DOES THAT MEAN THERE ARE THINGS NOT EVEN GURIS KNOWS?

GODDESS: YES, MY CHILD, THERE ARE THINGS YOU ARE MEANT TO LEARN FOR YOURSELF, BUT IT IS NICE OF YOU TO VISIT ME TO LEARN THEM.

[THE TWO DIVINE WOLF SPIRITS SAT WAGGING THEIR TAILS AS THEY LOOKED AT VYN.]

VYN: MOTHER, ARE THESE THE WOLVES I CRUELLY HURT?

GODDESS: AH, YES, THIS IS BEATHE AND BÀS. THEY BOTH BECAME DIVINE WOLF SPIRITS AFTER THEY PASSED, AND THEY AGREED TO STAY AND GIVE ME COMPANY.

[VYN PROCEEDED TO BOW TO THE TWO.]

VYN, I AM BEYOND SORRY FOR WHAT I DID TO YOU.

BÀS: YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE SORRY. YOU ARE A MONSTER NOW, JUST LIKE US. IN THE WORLD OF MONSTERS, IT IS EATEN. YOU WERE SIMPLY FOLLOWING LIFE’S CYCLE.

BEATHE - BÀS IS RIGHT; IF ANYTHING, WE OWE YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF OUR CHILDREN, OR SHOULD I SAY YOUR CHILDREN? NEXT TIME YOU VISIT, THOUGH, WHY DON’T YOU BRING THEM ALONG? WE COULD HAVE A FAMILY FEAST IF MOTHER IS OKAY WITH IT.

[THE GODDESS WITH A KIND SMILE]

GODDESS: OF COURSE, ALL OF MY FAMILY IS WELCOME HERE.

[THE GODDESS THEN SNAPPED HER FINGERS, TURNING THE REALM INTO ONE GIANT MANSION WITH A FRONT YARD.]

GODDESS - THERE IS NOW PLENTY OF SPACE FOR YOU AND MY GRANDCHILDREN TO COME HOME NOW AND THEN. SADLY, THOUGH, SINCE THIS VISIT WAS AN EVOLUTION, YOUR TIME IS UP. MOTHER LOVES YOU ALL; NOW BE SAFE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR FRIENDS DOWN THERE.

BY THE TIME VYN WAS SUMMONED BACK TO THE WORLD, THE ENTIRE CAMP WAS DEVOID OF HUMAN LIFE. HIS THREE CHILDREN WERE ALL CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO WHERE HE DISAPPEARED. THEY CRIED THEMSELVES TO SLEEP. RAVEN ALSO LAID WITH THEM, HAVING DONE THE SAME.

[VYN DECIDED TO QUIETLY CHECK ON THE OUTSIDE, BEING SURE NOT TO WAKE THE FOUR SLEEPING CHILDREN.]

AIKIRIUS: HOLY SH*T!" HE ISN’T DEAD!

[THE PARTY, MINUS THE CHILDREN, HAD BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE, HAVING STACKED ALL THE BODIES INTO A LARGE PILE.]

OAKLEY, MY LORD! WE ARE SO RELIEVED TO SEE YOU ARE OKAY!

LARZ: YEAH, BOSS, WE HONESTLY JUST SAT HERE NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO NEXT WITH YOU BEING GONE.

VYN - THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. I WAS HONESTLY JUST CHATTING WITH MY MOTHER WHILE I WAITED FOR MY EVOLUTION.

THE GROUP FROZE.

AIKIRIUS - YOU DID WHAT?!

SHADOW: NOW, LET'S GIVE THEM SOME TIME TO EXPLAIN BEFORE WE FREAK OUT.

[THE TWO WOLF BEASTS' TAILS WERE WAGGING AS THEY WAITED FOR AN ANSWER.]

VYN: WELL, YOU SEE, THE PRINCESS’ FLAMES WERE ENOUGH TO EVOLVE ME INTO A DRACONIC FYREKIN, WHICH TOOK AN HOUR, SO I SPENT THAT TIME WITH MY MOTHER. SHE HAD LOTS OF GREAT INFORMATION AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT I NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

VYN (INTERNALLY) GURIS, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S NEW IN MY EVOLUTION?

GURIS: YOUR FLAMES ARE NOW STRONGER AGAINST MOST FORMS OF ICE OR WATER MAGIC, RESULTING IN MORE DAMAGE TO OR LESS DAMAGE FROM THE RELATED SPELLS. YOU LEARNED THE DRAGON TRANSFORMATION, BUT THIS DOES NOT GRANT YOU THEIR TRAITS, ONLY THEIR APPEARANCE AND ABILITY TO FLY. YOUR CONSUMING FLAME NOW HAS AN ALTERNATE FORM THAT WILL CREATE THE SHAPE OF A DRAGON THAT WILL SWOOP DOWN AT HOSTILE CREATURES EATING IT.

VYN (INTERNALLY): SWEET!

VYN SPROUTED TWO SMALL DRAGON WINGS THAT WERE EMERALD ON HIS BACK. THEN HE TOOK TO THE SKIES.

[VYN COULD SEE EVERYTHING BELOW HIM WITH A FRESH NEW PERSPECTIVE.]

[THE MONSTERS IN HIS PARTY ALL SAT BELOW, WAVING THEIR ARMS IN EXCITEMENT.]

[AFTER FLYING AROUND FOR A WHILE, VYN DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO LAND AND FOCUS ON HIS MISSION.]

[UPON LANDING, HE SAW THAT HIS CHILDREN AND THE PRINCESS HAD ALL AWOKEN AND WERE JUMPING IN EXCITEMENT TO SEE HIS RETURN.]

GAIA: PAPA, PAPA, WHERE DID YOU GO?

[VYN SMILED WITH JOY.]

VYN - I WENT OFF TO SEE YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDMOTHER. THEY ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. THEY EVEN TOLD ME HOW WE COULD GO VISIT THEM TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE.

ALISTAIR: PAPA, WHEN?!

[VYN PUT HIS HAND TO HIS CHIN.]

VYN: HOW ABOUT WE GO AHEAD AND CHECK THIS PLACE OUT WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE KOBOLD TO ARRIVE?

ALISTAIR: OKAY PAPA.

VYN - YOU GUYS HAVE THINGS DOWN HERE?

SHADOW: YES, MY LORD, WE WILL NOTIFY YOU IN THE EVENT OF ANY THREATS. ALL OF THE TRAPS SHOULD BE GONE NOW, SO YOUR FRIENDS SHOULD BE SAFE GOING THROUGH THE WOODS.

Vyn: "You heard him let go.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

[Raven began to pout because she wasn’t invited.]

Vyn: You too, princess, let go.

[The five all check around the tower, admiring the ancient statues, before heading back up to the top of the tower.]

[Upon reaching the top of the tower, Vyn began to walk towards the weird-shaped object.]

Once he got close, a magical computer screen appeared.

Computer Screen: Dungeon Core Disabled Continue?

[Vyn clicked continue on the screen as his kids ran around the massive object.]

Computer Screen: Owner or None Do you wish to claim ownership of this dungeon core? Yes or No

[Vyn nervously hit the Yes button.]

Computer Screen: God Essence sensed initiating the start sequence

[The shape began slowly spinning and glowing in various colors.]

Computer Screen: Assign new dungeon master(s).

Vyn (internally) - I'm not sure...

[While playing, Alistair and Gaia ran up to the machine, touching it and yelling.]

Both - Tag!

[Immediately the two disappeared as if into thin air.]

Computer Screen: Dungeon Master(s) acquired

Computer Screen: Thank You

[Vyn began to panic, not knowing what had just transpired.]

Vyn: Shit shit shit! Please Guris I need to know what happened just now!

GURIS - I’M SORRY, BUT FOR SOME REASON, I DO NOT KNOW THIS DEVICE OR ITS PURPOSE. I TRIED CONTACTING OUR MOTHER, BUT SHE DIDN’T RESPOND.

VYN, WHAT ABOUT THE PORTAL YOU CAN OPEN FOR HER?

GURIS - IT REPEATEDLY SAYS THE CONNECTION IS BUSY EVERY TIME I TRY TO CAST IT.

FARKAS: PAPA, WHERE ARE MY SIBLINGS?

[VYN, WHO WAS FREAKING OUT, HAD TO PRETEND TO BE CALM.]

VYN, THEY WENT TO SEE YOUR GRANDMOTHER REAL FAST. I AM SURE THEY WILL BE BACK SOON.

[VYN BEGAN TO GO BACK TO THE TERMINAL.]

COMPUTER SCREEN: LOADING 5% COMPLETE

VYN (INTERNALLY): ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT.

[BACK IN THE GODDESS’ NEW MANSION] THERE SAT THE TWO WOLF PUPS, BEING HUGGED BY THEIR PARENTS.

Goddess - I see you two accidentally opted to become dungeon masters.

Gaia: Dungeon what?

Goddess: When you go back, you will no longer be a Wolfkin, or even mortal for that matter. Instead, you will be returning as a dungeon master, which is a form of demi-god meant to protect and maintain the balance in your new domain.

Alistair: Um, are you our grandmother?

[The goddess has begun to blush.]

Goddess - Yes, my darling, and therefore I get to be present in your new evolution. Sadly, time flows differently here than in the dungeon, so time is short and you will be heading back home soon.

[As soon as the words left her lips, it began.]

[First came Gaia; she began to glow white like her mother before appearing again, looking like a young woman with golden glowing ears and a golden glowing tail with her hair that looked like the void.]

[Next was Alistair, who began to do the opposite, sucking all light out as if he were a black hole before reappearing as a young, refined-looking man with ears and a tail that looked like the void with glowing golden hair.]

[The goddess’ eye widened when they both appeared.]

Goddess: To think two of my grandkids ended up forming a spiritual balance with one another!

Beathe - What does that mean, mother?

Goddess: It means that Gaia has become the Holy Wolf and Alistair has become the Demon Wolf. The two are tremendously powerful together; they are way beyond my power.