“There ya are, little miss Queen-to-be! What were ya doing?! Frolicking in the woods with your boyfriend?!” Gil shouted as Eri and Felix stepped out of the forest.

He was waiting impatiently at the edge of the clearing, his brow furrowed and drenched with sweat. “Gods, ya kids… Don’t you know I’ve been waiting for ya?”

Eri stepped forward and bowed. “I apologize–”

“No, don’t apologize. Either own it or don’t ever do it again,” the old man said.

Taken aback, she gave him a confused look but Gil pressed on.

“Ya want to be the queen? The queen doesn’t apologize, not like that. Ya should be more assertive and tell me off. Ya think Chief Yorlen apologizes for sneaking away to get a break? No, he doesn’t. And neither should ya.”

Her confusion turned into a frown. “Fine then, what do you want? As you figured out, I was spending time with my boyfriend,” she snapped. “If it were important, you obviously knew where I was,” she quickly added.

The old man nodded and gave her a coy smile. “Better, much better. Now come, we do have much to discuss.”

Still annoyed, Eri wasn’t going to let him dictate her actions. “I will join you shortly at your tent.”

Gil cocked an eye at her but didn’t say anything more. Instead, he gave a quick bow and left.

“What was that about?” Felix asked. He had decided to remain silent during that quick exchange.

“A lesson, I think. But he didn’t have to be so rude about it,” Eri said as she watched the ancient elven man go.

Felix wrapped an arm around her. “He does seem rather informed, but I agree. He could have been more tactful…” He trailed off for a moment before smiling. “So, I’m your boyfriend now?”

She felt her cheeks flush and any tension she felt quickly turned into embarrassment. “Oh, I mean… Well, I was just throwing his words back at him–”

He pulled away from her, feigning despair. “No, I get it. I am not good enough for her majesty!”

It took her a moment to realize he was mimicking her behavior from earlier. “I suppose I deserve that,” she said with a smile. “But Felix, no, you aren’t my boyfriend.”

He suddenly stopped his theatrics. “Wait really? But–”

“You know I was merely teasing you earlier about being clueless. But you really are, aren’t you? We’re practically engaged at this point.”

Felix stared blankly at her, his mouth hanging open.

She gave him a devilish smile, realizing the tables had turned. “Yes, Felix, hence why we’ve been courting each other. The next step is engagement, and after that? We become wedded.”

Not waiting for his response, Eri began walking away but not before she added one last final ribbing. “I can’t wait for you to propose to me…”

----------------------------------------

“Thank you for that,” a voice said behind Gillador.

“Ya know, ya shouldn’t sneak up on an old elf like me. And ya should’ve been the one to tell her that,” he responded, turning around to see Aluin.

Gillador was back near his tent, standing next to a freshly crafted table. On it, was a large parchment that he was using to draw on.

“I’m older than you, much older in fact.” Aluin smiled and approached. “And as for Eri, it wouldn’t have the same impact as it did from you.”

“Humph. Well, whose fault is that now?” He turned back to his drawing.

“Mine… What are you working on?”

“What do ya think?” Gillador stepped aside to allow Aluin a better look.

“Hmm, impressive. But isn’t it a little much?”

He scoffed. “Hardly! This is quaint compared to what I wanted. But it will have to do…” Letting out a sigh, he turned back to the Sage. “I ain’t getting any younger, and if I did any more I don’t think I’ll be alive to see it completed.”

Aluin gave him a knowing and sorrowful look. “Gil, you still have a few decades left in you. Mother Forest knows I’ve been alive for far too long.”

“Doubtful on that,” Gillador argued. “We still need ya, especially that young girl you want to make into a queen.”

“No, no she doesn’t,” Aluin said with a shake of his head. “The time I’m needed for is coming to an end. Soon, this generation will be able to lead themselves.”

“Is that what ya’ve been aiming for this entire time?” he asked suspiciously. “To find the right time to die?”

Aluin didn’t answer him and instead looked out into the clearing. Gillador followed his gaze and noticed Eri and Felix off in the distance.

“What is your opinion on them?” the Sage asked.

“The girl can do it. She will inevitably stumble and fall, but she knows how to pick herself up. The boy has me concerned, though.”

“Concerned? Why?”

Gillador cleared his throat and spat onto the ground. “He’s heedless of the future. Naive, I would say. But when I spoke to them a few minutes ago, I did see a determined spark in his eyes. Perhaps he is wisening up?”

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“You aren’t wrong. I told him as much earlier this morning. But I think that is also his strength too. Felix isn’t shackled to his past or scared of the future, like I feared. After spending several months with him, I think Queen Fea made the right choice.”

“I hope yer right about that. Because, I don’t think I could’ve agreed.” Gillador shrugged. “Then again, I ain’t ever been a top down kind of guy. Always started with the foundation and worked my way up from there.”

“I think you’ll come to see what I’ve seen with Felix, just give him a little more time.” Aluin stepped away and turned to him. “Anyway, I have someone else I must go and speak to… And it looks like I’m not the only one,” he added with a mutter.

“Go on, then. Your little protege is on her way over here, and we wouldn’t want it to look like ya are influencing her! The Gods know ya will only give her unsound advice!”

Aluin let out a laugh. “Thank you again, Gil. I will have to rely on you more now…”

With that, the Sage vanished.

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Felix felt a cold wind blow through him as he watched Eri walk off. Her last remark made everything real for him.

Proposing… His stunned silence transformed into a grin. Of course, he had always known how this would end. But it had only felt distant, like a dream until this very moment.

Yeah, I’m going to marry her.

His smile slowly fell away, though. His thoughts turned back towards the strange happenings over the last few months. Right now, there was only one person who seemed to know what was going on.

He turned and started walking.

That chilling wind blew again, guiding him to his destination. A strange sensation washed over him, new and familiar all at the same time. His soul resonated with it…

Felix…

The voice was distant, but it spoke with power. Something within him yearned for it. He simply let it guide him.

Felix’s destination wasn’t the hatchery, nor was it the manor or kobold village. No, it was the shrine the kobolds had set up and dedicated to all the dragons who’ve hatched.

His slow trek across the clearing led him past many curious stares, including several elves who attempted to wave at him. He was too focused to notice.

It wasn't until he approached the shrine that he came to a stop. The place had changed since he had last been there.

There were four more eggs, repaired and sitting upon their pedestals. The tall pillars that encased the area were also changed. Now, they bore uniquely intricate designs. Impressive for the kobolds, but not something he paid much attention to.

His eyes settled on the singular individual kneeling in prayer in the center, an old gray kobold…

“Are you going to do the talking then?” Aluin’s voice said from his side. The elf had appeared from nowhere.

Felix gave him a nod. “I will.”

With a deep, steadying breath, Felix made his way over to the kobold. As he approached, Watcher ended his prayer and stood.

“Master,” the kobold said, turning and giving him a bow.

“Good afternoon, Watcher. I think we have a lot to discuss.”

“Yes, Master. Watcher ready, I will tell all.”

Felix didn’t wait and decided to start. “Watcher, who are you praying to?”

The kobold’s eyes locked with his. “God. Watcher pray to God.”

“And…who is God?” he asked, doing his best to keep his voice steady.

“Ah! Watcher show Master, it faster than tell!” The kobold gestured for Felix to lower himself.

Here goes nothing, he thought to himself and bent forward.

Watcher placed his scarred hand upon Felix’s forehead and closed his eyes. “Master close eyes, let Watcher show you.”

Taking another breath, Felix did as he was told and waited–

***

He let out a gasp, his eyes shooting open. Blinking, it took a moment for his vision to clear. And when it did, he was greeted by a strange sight.

A forest was laid out before him, that strange sense of familiarity struck him again. He knew this place, he had been here once before. There was another individual with him but their features were distorted in a way that made it hard to look at.

Who? he asked himself. The answer soon became obvious.

The individual was standing in the middle of a small clearing. They dropped to the ground and began drawing in the dirt.

Hesitantly, Felix slowly approached. “Hello?” he called out.

The person stopped and looked up to him. Hello, Felix. They went back to drawing in the dirt.

What are you doing? he asked, feeling a little creeped out.

Come and see, and you will know.

With a gulp, he crossed the last few feet that separated them and looked down.

What do you think? they asked.

I don’t– He suddenly felt mana well up around them. The ground began to shine beneath him.

What is happening?! he shouted and tried to jump away.

A hand caught him and froze him in place.

Please, stay calm. Moving isn’t advised, and you wouldn’t want this ritual to go wrong. You can trust me on that.

The hand released him and he cautiously settled back down.

Ritual? What are you casting? he asked, feeling his heartbeat increase.

He didn’t know how, but the person smiled. Your future, of course.

My what–

***

Felix saw the world.

Felix saw his friends.

Felix saw his enemies.

Felix saw his future…

A world, divided and sequestered. The Endless Forest was just one landmass upon many. It was small and quaint compared to its faraway neighbors, but it stood in defiance of the old.

It was there, his friends lived. It was there where his past love laid, and where his current love stood. It was his home, it was their home. It was a smoldering beacon of hope lost within a sea of ash.

It was upon that sea of ash that he saw his enemy. A young man with a war raging in his head and a predictably tragic future.

Felix knew him.

And he knew Felix.

Their eyes met, mutual anger rising in the two. One for the duty that bound him and one for the lives he must protect.

Ash surrounded them, ash laid beneath them, ash floated through the sky. The land burned and scarred, the wreckage of the manor stood in the distance.

An old rage awoke within Felix. He would not allow this to happen–

***

He was back in the forest. He was back with the mysterious figure.

That, Felix, is the future we are set to live.

Their hand touched his shoulder and instantly he felt his anger fade away. We can stop it, but you must prepare. And when the time comes, you must accept me. Just as you accepted Fea.

Hearing Fea’s name, Felix looked at the strange individual. Who are you?

She smiled.

Mirezabeth, the Dragon Goddess.