Zephyr took a sip of wine and considered my question for a moment before he smiled flatly.

"I think you deserve to know. Hell... You might be one of the few people who would probably understand me." Zephyr leaned back in the armchair and focused. With a heavy breath, he started his story. "It was a long time ago, during the early days of the Era of Heroes, well over three thousand years ago. The random hand of fate had brought me to the Gray Mountains, where I wanted to rest, to take a break from the constant battles and the hunts for Voidlings. I think it was back then I thought I should change for the very first time. I found a secluded valley, deep in the mountains with an enormous lake and a tiny forest, full of rare herbs and timid small animals."

Everyone stared at him in silence; Aoi looked as if she had never heard the tale before. Zephyr told us many details about that place and painted for our imaginations- a serene place, far from the burdens of this world.

"I had lived there happily for a few weeks when I found myself walking along the lake shore one fateful evening where I met her. A young, beautiful woman was lying in the short shrubs, badly wounded and unconscious. Her clothes were tattered, and I instantly recognized the magic that was used to almost kill her. A black, forbidden magic. It took me a whole day to nurse her back to consciousness and a few weeks more to heal her completely. At first, she was scared and terrified, but later, when she had recovered a little, she told me her name was Grandine Skash'a Lat-una Ignis. We spent months together, circling around each other until a strange spark inside me burst into a raging fire. Despite my many affairs of the past, I never felt anything like it. After I realised that it was love, I tried to deny it, but then when I gave up on that, I tried to think of a way to convince her that I was going to change for her."

Zephyr took a sip of water and looked at the glass until the surface calmed slowly. We were sitting in silence, but I saw how Zeus appeared unconvinced by Zephyr’s story for lack of solid evidence. Well... I guess they knew each other fairly well, and truth be told, they were not that much different in their affairs.

"One day we were sitting near the fire, observing stars and somehow, both of us decided at the same time to say, 'I must tell you something.' We started laughing, but soon after Grandine, with sadness in her eyes, told me that she was a Noble Dragon, an Elder Fire Drake. She confessed that her form was just a polymorph; something that is not a lie, but it was not the entire truth as well. I started laughing with all my fears off my shoulders, knowing if someone would believe me and my promise to change, it would be her." Zephyr grinned, recalling his memories. "She pouted cutely and transformed into a large Fire Dragon. I saw the pain in her eyes as she said, "I'm so sorry for deceiving you!" and tried to fly away. However, she couldn't because I was holding her hand… well, talon back then, but semantics. I transformed into my giant form and embraced her, saying, "I do not care, Grandine." It was only then she transformed back, and we explained to each other everything. We were seeing each other in secret for the next few years and we finally wed each other. During that time, I summoned my terrible excuse of a hero and I am forever cursed for that... Because of that, I wasn't there when she gave birth… I never saw my own child, Theon."

He took a deep breath and continued. "I know what you are thinking now. Zephyr the womanizer, settling down with a woman!" We saw in his eyes the true pain of irreversible loss. "But since the moment I met Grandine, I have been faithful to her. I hoped we could live a happy life..." The tears flowed from his eyes and we all were sitting in silence. When he finally spoke, he was furious. "But fate is not merciful even to the Gods. I was betrayed by the Hero I summoned and trapped in place beyond time for millennia. After you set me free, Theon, I could only visit her grave. I learnt only fragments of her history... She was killed, Theon... She died protecting our child, and I wasn't even there to protect her." Zephyr lowered his voice. "Her grave has probably already been destroyed."

"Who killed her?" I asked, knowing full well that by learning that, I would join Zephyr's vendetta against those who killed his wife.

"A Black Dragon Tiamat with the help of a dungeon, but no one knows which one," he sighed. "And I can't do anything, since he is technically a mortal..."

"I will kill him for you, Zephyr." My voice was cold and grim, sending shivers down the spines of anyone who could hear me. "You will make him suffer and after you are done with him, I will kill him and bury his heart near your Hero. They deserve each other for all of eternity..."

"He is insanely powerful..." Zephyr hesitated for a moment.

"And so am I! You are my friend Zephyr. I can't allow such a crime to be left unpunished..." I saw a long and mysterious look that Aoi gave me, which I ignored for now as I inquired further. "Was she buried in the Dragonkin's village?"

"Yes, she was. The Dragonkins managed to bury her body in secret, since they were rejected by the other dragons and people of the world as well." Zephyr covered his face in his hands.

"Her resting place is intact. I have full control over their village and the Mountain Dungeon minions were exterminated. I can order her remains to be brought here if you wish, Zephyr." I saw the disbelief in his eyes, so I allowed myself a soft smile. "Bob sent all his Goblins, leaving behind only those under level ten. I sent some wolves, but since I was not sure when they would arrive, I sent the Hussar detachment of Legio Aegis as well. They arrived after you finished loading the wagons and were well on your way to Avalon."

"Thank you, Theon. I couldn't stand the idea that the remains of Grandine might be dragged to the Mountain Dungeon." He sighed with relief and nodded. "If you really could arrange for her a resting place in Avalon, I would be thankful."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"No problem." I nodded with a soft smile. "She will rest along with Amber's parents in the Royal Mausoleum."

"Thank you, Theon!" His voice changed a bit but dropped again, as if he was afraid that he was testing my patience when he asked. "If you could move the Dragonkins graveyard to Avalon..."

"No problem..." I was only half paying attention to what he was saying, already occupied with preparing orders to make it done.

"And if you could take Aoi as your next wife, I would be forever in your debt."

"No problem..." I replied automatically and then I realized what he asked for. I opened my eyes in shock, only to see the big grin on Zephyr's face. "Wait! What?!"

"I'm serious, Theon..." Zephyr tried to say something, but I raised my hand.

"Zephyr, the last few days were extremely stressful, and I don't think it's the best time to joke like that. If you are not joking..." I was unable to finish.

"Grandfather! What do you mean?!" Princess Aoi finally managed to regain her voice and turned her burning red face at Zephyr.

"Aoi, Theon, please, listen to me." Zephyr was suspiciously serious. "I never met my own child. Aoi really is my only family, and if any man is worthy to be Aoi's husband, it would be you, Theon." Zephyr turned towards her. "Theon will protect you infinitely better than I ever could!"

"But!" She took a deep breath, but I interjected.

"Hold on! Everyone stop!" Surprisingly, I was far calmer than I expected to be. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Zephyr, I am not sure if I should be grateful for your trust or if I should punch you in the face. I thought that I finally figured you out, but apparently no! You still can surprise me."

"Don't be mad at me. I do it for her and you." Zephyr suddenly looked at Amber and I followed his gaze, only to see her facial expression.

I gave her a long "E tu, Brute contra me?" gaze, but she didn't flinch, not even one bit. To make matters worse, Irene and Luna had matching expressions, truly fitting as accomplices. I finally understood what Amber meant during the audience with the Dragonkins, when she whispered to me that I should just change Aoi's status. How obvious it was now. She was a princess, so let's change her status to a queen. That will show them... Ughhhh...

"Grandfather! Don't be ridiculous! How can you propose something like that to a man holding so much power as King Theon? I am and will always be a failure!" Aoi shouted through her tears. The humiliation she must have felt now and that constant self-belittling made me change my stance a bit.

"Why do you believe that you are a failure, Princess Aoi?" Amber asked, still ignoring my gaze.

In the silence, Aoi needed to gather her thoughts, the only sound in the room was coming from the fire cracking in the fireplace. I just leaned back on the sofa and angrily took a sip of wine. Irene explained this to me so many times- it was a luxury for a noble to marry someone in love with. So why was I so worked up exactly? It's not like having another wife changed anything in my life significantly at this point. Zephyr was genuinely concerned about Aoi and her future so it was only natural that he was going to find someone for her. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, rubbing my eyelids and pulling the bridge of my nose afterwards. In the meantime, Princess Aoi started to talk.

"Dragonkins are quite similar to Dragons in one regard; power is an indicator of your status. The more powerful you are, the more respect you have. For generations, my family was the most powerful. The strongest warriors, the wisest rulers, the noblest of people- my house had everything until I was born. I was the first-born child and my mother died during labour. My father died protecting the village when I was three years old and with him, all knowledge of my family was lost. I barely remember the day when the World's Words manifested in front of me, offering me a class to pick. I was so excited that I made the biggest mistake in my life- without even realising it. I chose class: tank. My fate was sealed as a failure in the eyes of my kin; no matter how good a tank I could be, I wouldn't be strong enough to protect the village and my people."

"So you are considered a disgrace because of your class?" I looked at her in disbelief, all my previous reservations or even anger toward Zephyr crumbled.

"That wasn't all. I was unable to lead my people." She continued nodding sadly at me. "Since my father died, I was expected to lead. But I failed every time I tried. When I was ten years old, I had to organise the first defence of the village, but I failed. After that, the elders took all the leadership from me."

"Hold on! So after your father died, your people expected you to lead?! Since you were a three-year-old kid?" I looked at Zephyr, but he just angrily looked away, then at Aoi, who looked at me with her big blue eyes.

"Yes, I was the Princess after all. The tradition demanded..."

"Aoi... Your people are fucking morons." I decided to voice my internal thoughts. "You are not a failure. They are neglectful and lazy bastards, who dropped far too big of a responsibility on the head of a child in the guise of ‘Tradition’. No... You certainly are not a failure..." I smiled in a very evil way, making Aoi almost recoil in her chair. Zephyr, Zeus and Hera knew that smile very well, so they suspected what would come next. "So they dare to believe that you are worthless?"

"Not everyone, my Lord! There are good people who supported me all this time!" She looked at me in surprise and I smiled with relief when Zephyr nodded subtly as well.

"So they think you are a failure because you are a tank and not an attack-based class. You couldn't lead them properly, because no one taught you how to, but they still had the audacity to hide behind your back in their time of need?" I asked, almost laughing. "And that's why Viccar was leading the delegation, not you?"

"Well... It sounds really bad when you put it like that, my Lord..." She made a sour face but sighed and nodded. "But yes, that would be correct."

"Amber, is this really the proud and strong Dragonkin race you told me about?" Instead of replying, she just sighed heavily. "Irene, summon Idna. Let's meet with those powerful Dragonkin warriors and humble them, for their own sake."