Melahn awoke with a yawn.

He quickly realized that Leoton's wing was wrapping around him.

He didn’t mind.

Each of Leoton's breaths shook the ground a little, which was quite relaxing for Melahn.

He weakly yawned and this awoke the true dragon.

[Good morning.] Leoton said as he stood up.

Melahn let out a small sound in acknowledgement.

Several true dragons flew past and this awoke Granitis and Obsidia.

[Would you like us to accompany you back?] Leoton asked but Melahn shook his head.

[No, it’s fine. And besides, I slept quite soundly last night, so thanks.] Melahn said while crawling out of Leoton’s nest.

He then waved everyone goodbye before walking south with his head raised high.

The morning sunlight brightly illuminated Damnations End beautifully.

Colorful flowers, lush green grass and fresh air.

A system supported by the transfer of life that occurred every day.

Melahn had heard that the continent of La-Alha was once a barren slab of rock and metal.

However, once the Dragon Lords placed the One Below within Mount Diáspartos, the continent grew more alive.

[Mmm…] Melahn droned as he came to a stop.

He looked west towards the mountain.

He took a deep breath before walking northward.

He came across a few true dragons but they paid him little mind.

He eventually ascended the side of the mountain and, after reaching the entrance of the Upper Sanctum, he took a deep breath and entered it to find not one but three Dragon Lords sitting in the center.

Melahn shuddered at the thought of meeting all of their gazes and so he turned to leave.

However, just as he took a step backwards, something grabbed him.

[Aww… look who’s back! It’s you, err… what’s your name again?] Çarethon asked as she cradled Melahn.

The Dzvinyu whined in panic while the other dragon lords gathered around Çarethon.

[Melahn! My name is Melahn!]

[This… thing is Pitiful. Throw it away quickly.]

One of the dragons Lords said as he looked Melahn over.

[Why are you here, little one?] The other asked as Çarethon tickled a squirming Melahn.

[I… wanted… to ask… if… I could… go far north.] Melahn said while trying not to laugh.

[And why would you want to do that, sweeting?] Çarethon asked.

[I… I’ve always wanted to make a garden of my own. And… I’ve heard that the north is mostly empty, so… I thought that I wouldn’t bother anyone up there.]

Çarethon exchanged glances with the other two Dragon Lords.

Their godly eyes shining ever brightly.

The second dragon lord’s face was riddled with scars, much like the rest of his body and the third had three of his eight horns broken.

[I do not see a problem with that although he would have to wait until the feeding is complete.] The third said while the second simply scoffed.

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[How does that sound, little Melahn?] Çarethon asked with a giggle.

[That would be lovely but… could you please put me down?]

[Absolute not! Also, you two, introduce yourselves!] Çarethon yelled.

[Tsk! I will not give my name to a mere lizard.] The second dragon lord said before flapping his wings and suddenly disappearing.

[Do you think… that we’ll ever find a cure for someone being an asshole?] The third asked but Çarethon shook her head.

[Oh well. Hello, little one. My name is Hereclahn, that was Gerahn and I see you’ve already become acquainted with Çarethon.]

[Yes. Leoton brought him over yesterday and I have since developed a liking for him.] Çarethon giggled.

[Ah, I see. Well, have fun. I’m going to stand guard by the southern wall. I shudder at the thought of a sudden surprise attack.] Hereclahn sighed while tapping his broken horns one by one.

[Mind if my sweeting and I join you?] Çarethon asked.

[Sure.]

Melahn didn’t even get a chance to speak as the world flashed rapidly.

The air was then filled with the sound of a million flapping wings.

Melahn looked up and gasped upon seeing a towering wall of Dzvinyu that flew across a dark mountain range.

The deafening sound quickly disappeared and Melahn noticed that he and the dragon Lords were standing on an invisible platform.

He would have panicked by Çarethon held him tightly, keeping his safe and sound.

[Mmm…] Hereclahn droned. His eyes scanning the swarm of dragons.

[Your kind will be key in our inevitable victory against the humans.] He growled but, again, Melahn didn’t understand why any fighting needed to happen.

He opened his mouth to speak but he stopped just as another Dzvinyu landed far below the invisible platform on a large boulder that sat on the edge of the mountain.

Like Melahn, he had four wings, two horns and his snake like scales were covered in scars.

[Madam and sir, has the time come for us to fly south or will you have us sit around for another half millennia?] The Dzvinyu asked.

[You will fly when we tell you to fly.] Hereclahn simply said but the Dzvinyu roared in response.

[No!] He yelled as about twenty other Dzvinyu landed around him.

[My brothers and I have decided to take a chunk of the wall to begin the war. Whether you geezers follow is up to you to decide.]

Melahn looked up to find that Çarethon hadn’t moved much since the aggressive Dzvinyu arrived.

[So… you would risk the entire mission simply because you cannot be patient?] Çarethon asked softly.

[It’s not that we’re impatient! The moment is ripe and the time to act is now. They are probably building their armies and fortifying their walls as we speak and if the plan fails it will be due to your inaction!]

[And what if rushing south, head first into the lands of those who slaughtered us eons ago goes wrong?] Çarethon asked as the air grew several times heavier.

[I- it won’t! We have the element of surprise!] The Dzvinyu yelled although his wings were slightly folded.

[Have you… ever seen a human, little one?] Çarethon asked as the air grew increasingly heavier.

So much so that it was getting harder for Melahn to breath.

[N-no.]

[Do you think you could kill one? Or one of their many powerful knights alone?]

The Dzvinyu lowered his head but Çarethon sighed before tapping on the spot in front of her.

The Dzvinyu flew up and landed where she had tapped.

She then tapped the top of his head, making him lower it further.

[Patience, little one. Do not let the hard work of your mothers go to waste. When the time comes, we will lead you south and you will fulfill your purpose. However, for now, I ask that you return to the wall.] Çarethon said sweetly.

The Dzvinyu nodded prompting Çarethon to raise his head.

[Good. Now go.]

The Dzvinyu flew off along with his companions.

[Damn. Were we that hot blooded back then?] Hereclahn chuckled but all Çarethon could do was sigh.

[We were far worse. Although I don’t see how else anyone would have responded to the words of that golden chit.] She said as the world flashed several times again.

[We would have ruled over all peacefully. Just like back home. Do you know what our home world was like, little Melahn?]

Melahn shook his head.

[It was paradise. Sure, we dragons fought sometimes and this sometimes led to mass destruction but it wasn’t anything nature couldn’t heal. We… we would have been kind Lords.]

[Just like now?] Melahn asked only to be tickled by Çarethon.

[Yes. Just like now. But… maybe this was fated to happen.]

[What do you mean?] Hereclahn asked as he rested his head on his arms.

[I mean… it’s no coincidence that he taught us how to speak and build the way he did. He was… preparing for us for the day when we would rule over another world. This one. That time will come but not before we rid it of a certain plague.] Çarethon said with eyes that glowed brightly.

[It’s nice seeing you all worked up. If only the Stone Lords could be just as enthusiastic.] Hereclahn droned.

[Yeah… oh- sorry, Melahn. I ended up keeping you with me for far too long... Unless you want to stay-]

[No, thanks!] Melahn said while desperately trying to free himself from Çarethon's embrace.

She let him go with a giggle and after waving the two Dragon Lords goodbye, Melahn made his way back home.

He eventually returned to the Evertree which he called home only people were avoiding him for some reason.

They all back away while he crawled in between the Evertree's roots.

Melahn wondered if it was because he had spent the day with the dragon lords.

He shrugged the idea off because the dragon lords weren’t bad company.

Apart from Çarethon’s constant drqgonhandling and tickling.

Melahn sighed before resting his head on his arms.

He stayed partly awake, expecting a certain someone to appear and hit him but that never came to pass.

Melahn would go on to dream about living in the center of a field of snow, in a garden that was filled with the prettiest flowers and the greenest grass.

A place where, like the Upper Sanctum, all life would be equal.