Standing before my father's statue, my heart weighed heavy with a mix of emotions. It was there that I spotted two familiar figures, one white, and another a small, green Dragoness. Immy and Essie, my younger siblings, had been waiting at this solemn place, and they only noticed our arrival when we approached the statue.
Immy, usually brimming with energy and wit, turned her gaze toward us first. Her eyes widened slightly before she made her way to us. There was no usual banter or bickering between her and Sidus. Instead, Immy silently leaned her head on his shoulder, and he reciprocated the gesture. They stood like that for a few precious moments, finding solace in each other's presence.
Afterward, Immy came over to me, her eyes heavy with grief, and repeated the silent gesture. By then, little Essie had also noticed our arrival. Her eyes were red from crying as she ran over. She jumped onto me and used her small body to hug my face. Although she had grown somewhat since we last met, so had I, allowing her to sit comfortably on top of my head.
"Brother…" Essie called out to me in a soft voice.
"It's okay, I'm here," I replied trying to ease her emotions. The problem, however, was that I myself was still in a state of shock and disbelief.
After finishing our short reunion, Ynos turned to Immy and asked, "Where is Mother?"
My sister shook her head before answering, "She left already. She was here as the statue was placed, but then left along with a few others."
Confusion clouded my mind, and I couldn't help but ask, "She left? For where?"
Essie, perched atop my head, answered in her small voice, "She left with Grandmother. They said there was no point in all of this if they didn't…" Her voice caught, struggling to continue. I gently prodded for her to continue.
"If they didn't retrieve father's body…" Essie's words hung heavily in the air, and the weight of the revelation sank in.
Listening to Essie and processing her words, I found myself at a loss for a reply. My eyes involuntarily shifted to Grandfather, who had moved ahead, standing before my father's statue. His once stern gaze was now softened, revealing the unhidden sorrow beneath.
For several moments, Grandfather simply lowered his head, offering his silent respects to his fallen son. The army of Gods and Deities behind us remained patient and motionless, a somber atmosphere enveloping the entire scene. The weight of the moment pressed down on us all, leaving us in a state of mournful contemplation.
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Breta, her discomfort palpable, took a step back from the group. It was evident on her face that she felt out of place in this solemn moment and chose to silently stand with the army behind us.
Ynos, however, showed no hesitation. He walked up to the statue of our father, his expression filled with a mix of emotions that he couldn't quite hide. With a deep breath, he stood beside Grandfather, and Sidus followed suit. Immy joined them as well, creating a silent circle of family members around the statue.
As I approached, I, too, took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. With Essie back on top of my head, I joined the somber gathering, standing beside Grandfather and my siblings. Together, we formed a circle of reverence around the statue, each of us coping with our own thoughts and emotions in the presence of our fallen father's memory.
A part of me stubbornly clung to hope, refusing to accept the reality of the situation. Perhaps, I thought, if there was no body, then there was a chance he had survived somehow. But for my Grandfather, Grandmother, and even my mother, to confirm it… I couldn't ignore the crushing verification. My father was gone, and it was true. He had died in battle, defending against a sudden invasion that could have ravaged our world. He died as a hero, I knew that much. I knew I was supposed to feel pride in his sacrifice, but all I felt was an overwhelming sadness that threatened to consume me.
Memories of the past came flooding back with a powerful force, and I was transported to that distant day when I had first laid eyes on my father. The vivid recollection of our 'family trip' to the massive lake near our home. I remembered the feeling of awe and fear as effortlessly held us in the palm of his claw and flew us there.
The memories flowed on, like an unbroken river of time. I recalled standing up to him and using my dragon breath for the first time. As I stood before his statue, my mind continued to wander, I recalled how he had used his own dragon breath to obliterate a considerable section of the forest. I had been in awe of his raw power, and the way he effortlessly harnessed the energy that made him a true dragon. And I remembered thinking he was so damn cool…
Pulling me back from my memories was Grandfather as he took a step back and turned to face the army of Gods and Dragons. His eyes momentarily stopped over the other side of the Dragon Road where a few more 'new' statues were situated. I was surprised to see some old acquaintances standing in front of them.
Amidst the somber atmosphere and the contemplative moments shared with my family, I couldn't help but notice other figures gathered around the statues. One of them was a familiar face from my past - Allat, the water Dragoness who was there druing my naming ceremony. I remembered our initial encounter, but now, as our gazes met, I saw a different side of her. There was a brief flicker of surprise in her eyes, followed by a faint, almost melancholic smile. It appeared that time had mellowed her.
However, my attention was soon drawn to another presence that I recognized, one that I would rather have avoided - Ember, the red dragon with distinctive scars and an absence of wings. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of apprehension when he turned to glare at me. I prepared myself, wondering if he was about to start a confrontation, here of all places. But to my surprise, Ember merely harrumphed in annoyance and turned his attention back to the dragon statue before him, his back to me.
I couldn't help but let out a silent sigh. It seemed that time and circumstances had changed him too, or at least, dulled his animosity. I found myself thinking, 'At least he's not that stupid anymore.'