CHAPTER 21 – EMBRACING THE WAY

"Heaven lasts long, and Earth abides,

What is the secret of their durability?

Is it because they do not live for themselves,

That they endure so long?"

– Lao Tzu, Datalinks

The present, Ilsorin, last bastion of the Order of the Radiant Knights

With the aid of the H'raal and their immense fleet, and with the transhuman stellar civilizations working together, the war on Terra Para at last was turned around. The Revenant were beaten back and their previously unstoppable march was checked, while Kryoon City and Arcolant were bolstered with much needed aerial transport, and Consortium and Union forces were deployed for a series of rescue operations to ensure everybody beyond the cities was given a safe haven. Plans for planetary evacuation were set in motion, with the idea to use the H'raal sphereships to get everyone off-world, and let the Reality Vortex finish the job by imploding the planet.

At Ilsorin, the Radiant Knights celebrated. Airo rewarded their bravery and perseverance by granting all of them an extended rest, thus freeing their time for something else other than war. Even then, many Knights volunteered to pick up the slack wherever it was needed, assisting Consortium and Union troops in the field, acting as liaisons with the H'raal, or handling parts of the now-monumental logistical chains in the united front against the Revenant.

Of course, the Radiant Knights went completely ecstatic when they heard about Nightsong. The news of the dragonet's recovery flashed across the stronghold like a supernova, and the day after her heartwarming waking dozens of people crowded the medical level, everyone wanting to express their congratulations and to share in the joy of such a miraculous event. Kiana was beaming beside Nightsong, and people hailed her as a true hero, and both she and Nightsong were considered inspiring persons deserving to be made Radiant Knights, one for her courageous endurance and the other for her undying resolve.

"Hey, Ki! Hi, Nightsong! Good to see you both are okay now!" Zuckeroff said with a broad, idiotic smile, waving as he emerged from the celebratory crowd to greet the glowing pair.

"Void it, gamebrain! You didn't come see me even once while I was literally pouring my soul to save Nightsong!" Kiana said with a playful scowl, folding her arms, and blew a lock of dark-blue hair obscuring her face. "You forgot about me, huh?"

The astrior stammered, taking her verbal jab for real. "Uh, no! No! I, um, was, well, doing, um, stuff? Ah, I mean, uh, I had to be, uh, on missions and, um, stuff, and the sitrep was really bad, and, ah..."

"I'm just kidding, you doofus! Come here for a hug!"

"Hugs!" Nightsong yipped. "Can I get some too?"

"But of course, whippersnapper! C'mere!"

In the wake of three consecutive events – Veralla's Awakening, Nightsong's recovery, and the H'raal victory over the draconic Revenant – morale was fully restored and many were saying the worst was over.

Airo, however, wasn't so quick to let his guard down. He wasn't the only one either: Magus, Lylana, and Glawlrhain were all still on edge, because one key aspect remained yet unknown – Ferrtau. The former Lightbringer was nowhere to be found, and all attempts to learn his whereabouts were met with failure. The fact Ferrtau wasn't at the head of his scattered forces was troubling; there were very few explanations what else he could be doing, and all of them presented dark and sinister scenarios.

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

While Airo wasn't willing to let his archenemy stay in some strategic blind spot from where he could potentially strike, his daily routine became too busy to give this problem any more attention than the absolutely necessary. The H'raal alliance and the takeover of Consortium and Union military had suddenly placed Airo atop a huge conglomeration of different forces, resources, and people, all of whom required tight coordination in order to work together.

Airo spent most of the day in Ilsorin's command room, making QE commlink calls and listening to various reports, and personally reviewed mission plans and patrol schedules during every spare minute. He overhauled the whole chain of command, making it so interactions between the Radiant Knights, the H'raal, the Consortium, and the Union went smoothly. This required the removal of Admiral El-Qadir and Admiral Jarmil, and Airo replaced them with Captain Riley and Major Trahaearn, who fortunately quickly fell into step with their new duties.

With this issue resolved, Airo returned to handling the war itself, for while the Revenant were beaten back, the monstrous apparitions were far from defeated. Even worse, the condition of Terra Para's supernatural climate had continued to destabilize, and tremendous warpstorms ravaged the entire planet almost constantly. Even with the vastly increased military support, operations were more difficult than ever to perform in such conditions, and Airo closely monitored all commlink traffic and ongoing missions, careful to not let any disastrous slip-ups.

At night, however, his world changed completely. As soon as sundown came, he would transfer command over to Yeoman Cloud and his subordinates, and retire to his room, where he spent the evenings with Veralla. Following her Awakening, she had started to grow rapidly, becoming larger and losing her comical proportions, her limbs turning long and graceful, her smallish wingspan exploding in breadth, and her claws, horns, and crests thickened and expanded in size. Yet her nature remained gentle, her amethyst eyes full of light and affection, and her fierce-looking smile was always ready to show at the merest hint of happiness.

Over the long, grueling months he and Veralla had become very close, to the point he could scarcely believe it. They talked like lifelong friends, played computer games holding each other, and slept in a single bed, she snuggling against him with a soft hug. Given her increased growth, a new bed framework had to be nanofabricated, but this was the least thing occupying Airo's re-emerging sense of wonder.

So much had changed in his life. He had friends again. He dwelled among dragons, and one such creature was his dearest companion. His life had begun anew, and the memories of his previous existence now seemed like ghosts from a distant past. They were no less clear than before, yet they were much less troubling. They still hurt, yes, yet it was a healing pain, one which gave him release. He was alive once more. His soul shined with light. He was happy again.

He thought about all people he had met on his incredible, unlikely journey. He recalled the deeds he had done since his re-awakening from cryostasis. He remembered again the struggles, the anguish, the bitter hate he had felt throughout all this time, and the key moments which had given him the chance to ultimately rise above and embrace the light of the Great Cosmos once more.

And, in the center of all this, was Veralla.

She had never given up on him. She had stood always at his side, offering her support and inexhaustible joyfulness. She had saved his life, both in body, in mind, and in spirit. And she asked nothing in return, his smile and the brightness in his eyes a reward enough for her.

She was, without doubt, his soulkin.

And now when his mind wandered, his thoughts were about Veralla, not Zenassa.

There was a tingle, and a tiny chord of harmony replied him.

Realizing this life-changing shift, Airo once more reflected on the past. His grief seeped away from him, like a morning mist evaporated by the sunny rays of dawn. His rage melted, enveloped in the warm embrace of love. Hope sang within him, promising forgiveness and redemption. His past choices might have been wrong, yet now he had the freedom to choose again. He had the power to make the right choices.

And one of them was to let go of his revenge.

It was a difficult choice. So much of his life had been shaped by this singular purpose, had been guided by this burning desire. A choice which had dictated his actions for as long as he had been a free person.

To make Ferrtau pay.

Yet, Airo no longer had the heart to pursue such a goal. In truth, he never had any heart in it at all. He had been dead inside, and merely sought an escape, an illusive remedy that would've given him an excuse to not face his sorrow, and to not let himself grieve the loss of Zenassa. Now, however, he was alive once more, and he was free. Free to grieve, free to heal, and free to love again.

And free to forgive.

Airo felt ready to let go of his revenge. He felt ready to let go of his past. He felt ready to let go of his old ways, and embrace the future in full. Perhaps, once this war was over, he could start anew with Veralla. He would put down his sword and renounce his title of Dragonslayer. He would leave behind his warrior's legacy and would finally live in peace.

He would be free to embrace his second chance.