The next day the summit continued at the demand of Queen Daz, she’d woken up determined, while I was filled with doubt.

I hadn’t slept one bit, but she came bursting in my room. I could have been asleep naked who knows, she didn’t care, beaming ‘we must re-shape this unite,’ and here we are, the same room as yesterday, a bit banged up still, battered pride more than anything, apart from that everyone was fine.

Empress Milliana had greeted Queen Daz, but did not give me any such attention, she was certainly chatty last night, perhaps I hadn’t met her expectations.

“You saw how they came in here as if they had the right. They’ve already infiltrated Cathopia, don’t allow them within your walls too.” Queen Daz’s voice reached across the room strong and unwavering. “This is why I brought Fang with me, to show you light still reins, that Cathopia still stands beside as it always has. In the legends it was the first beacon of hope, let it be again, but this time not alone but together with the rest of you.”

“Well said your highness,” smiled Empress Milliana. “It would seem this world is not lost yet.”

“You seem to know more than you let on Milliana.” Queen Daz’s gaze fell upon her. “Care to share.” Everyone was looking at her.

“The eternal dragon from times gone by is returning.” She pointed upwards to the work depicting Fang in combat. “He purified the lands of darkness, bringing together Animalia.” She looked around the room. “I have watched as generations have forgotten the old tales. The clan set up in his name, his descendants fought back whenever it reappeared to keep the balance until only a few remain.” She looked directly at me. “A warrior of Fang is the only real hope for this world and there are only two. Yamato Fang whose whereabouts are currently unknown and his son Alex Fang.” I was shocked I never told her my name. “I’ll tell you this, if either one or both vanished from the world, then darkness would fall and there would be nothing you could do about it.”

“You’re telling me the worlds safety rests upon this child,” said King Skyrus. “He may be strong, but he is only one.”

“You said there were many,” mentioned Empress Lily. “What happened to them?”

“I am surprised you do not remember; it was you who chased them from this world, many years ago, the darkness subconsciously made you fear their power.” Empress Milliana looked upon them with such distaste.

“Chased them off.” Reko was just as confused as everyone else.

“The darkness manipulates without anyone taking notice, even changing history so all forget what he did,” responded Empress Milliana. “It has been going on so long you all stopped noticing, even shunning his existence, especially at one of his sacred sites, you should be ashamed. I thought about not coming but I wanted to see what would happen.”

“How dare you insult us,” growled Brocko.

I touched Arata’s fur, communicating silently with him. “What should I do?”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Even she is lost, no one can hide from the darkness’s influence.” He glanced at me. “If you cannot receive your awakening soon, then even you will not be able to stop the eternal dragon.”

“Is it really that important?” I questioned.

“Let’s just say, you only see a small portion of what is actually around.” He looked at Empress Milliana. “If she continues, she will drive them apart, you must speak. It was your ancestor who brought them together to begin with.”

“Will you help me?” I asked.

“Hmm, this once.” Arata stepped forward roaring to silence the room.

“Enough,” I said finding my voice. “It doesn’t matter what events happened in the past, to be honest not much about my clan I know, but I still walk forward, sure I wish dad was here instead of me, giving me the words I need to say as I don’t know what I will face as a warrior of Fang, not even the future matters if the eternal dragon returns, then it is something we must face together.” I stood strong, letting the words from my own heart leave my lips. “The only thing that matters is this moment, the new ties that must be made here, now, unbreakable.” I placed my hand on the table. “Join under my clan’s name, just as your ancestors did before.”

Brocko was the first to place his hand on the table. “You saved young Brendan; we will always be indebted to you.” He knew Brendan.

“I have seen how you’ve helped the tribes, I am in.” Reko was next.

Madi gently placed her hand down. “I will not charge you if have need of my services in the future.”

“Nicely said,” spoke Empress Lily.

“May my resistance be of use,” said Charlotte. “I will take orders from you from now on.”

“Interesting, you remind me of your father and King Alton.” King Skyrus was smiling as he placed his hand on the table, everyone now, but Empress Milliana. “Come now, the boy has merit.”

“We stand together,” said Queen Daz gazing at me proudly. “This young warrior has come a long way since his first days at the academy.”

I took a deep breath and allowed my clairvoyance to speak as I felt this strange faith. “Have faith in me, like you once did.” She stared at me, then slowly without a word she placed her hand upon the table. “Thank you.” I smiled.

The next few hours everyone discussed about the affects the darkness influence has had on each of the tribes and kingdoms. What had started as a disaster had been successful, the darkness had not stopped us from finding the light within each other.

Empress Milliana contributed quite a bit, even though she still kept much of herself closed off. I wondered if something bad had happened to her, surely more than Mila being sealed within a talisman, wasn’t all she had witnessed in her life.

Empress Milliana spoke of many rare plants which could restrain and purify dark energy, some of those plants grew in the underground caverns, which I had ownership over, so Queen Daz added the finding of these plants to me on return to Cathopia, great another job to my list of things to do.

As knowledge was shared, I felt this place had become safer or something, perhaps it was the stronger unity that the darkness had tried to break to begin with.

With the completion of the summit now over everyone had a luxury lunch of which my unit was allowed to attend.

Empress Milliana had apologised for the day before commenting. “Perhaps you can still bring hope to this world, but your struggle may be a hard one.” Like Raziel she was shown to know the events of the future but what fate waited for me I did not know, for now I would just have to do my best to fill everyone’s expectations.

Tomorrow we would return to Cathopia and make sure the plans listed today went into motion.