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They spent the winter in Crete with hundreds of other refugees displaced by the dragon attacks. It was crowded and uncomfortable, and supplies in the city began to run alarmingly low, until several long caravans of supplies arrived, courtesy of the dwarves. When spring finally arrived in the foothills, they gathered what refugees that wanted to join them in rebuilding Sevria, and set off.
The following morning, they were met by an unexpected visitor. It was still early morning, and everyone was still preparing to break camp when the scarlet form of an enormous dragon appeared from the mountains and casually made it way towards the camp.
Several refugees let out panicked shouts, alerting Damion and the others to their visitor.
“That’s Tempest!” Dar exclaimed in surprise. “I wonder what she’s doing here.”
They watched as Tempest lazily circled above for a moment, then dropped down to gently land a few yards away from the companions.
“Damion!” The huge serpent smiled as he approached. “I am glad I found you! I need to speak with you!"
“Is something wrong?” Damion asked in concern.
“Nay. All is well, my friend.” Tempest smiled happily. “But I do need you to accompany me. I have something I wish to show you.” Damion gave her a questioning look, but she refused to elaborate. “I cannot say anymore. I just ask you to join me, and all shall be made clear.”
Damion sighed, then carefully climbed atop her massive shoulders. As he soon as he had settled down, she launched herself into the air and slowly began to make her way into the mountains.
“Where are we going?” He shouted, trying to make himself heard over the roar of the wind.
“You’ll see.” Tempest replied mysteriously.
They had nearly reached the ruins of his home village, when the huge dragon veered to the west, moving directly towards a huge rock formation.
Damion was about to ask where they were heading again, when his eyes fell upon a truly magnificent sight. A huge fortress, carved from the very stone of the mountain itself, now stood high above the wooded valley, looking down upon the ruins of the old village of Sevria.
“Dear gods!” He whispered, staring at the fortress as they slowly began to descend.
It was enormous! It had huge spiraling towers that soared high into the sky, yet looked as delicate as the petals on a rose, and a huge inner courtyard that was easily large enough to hold several hundred people. The stone from which the fortress had been carved had been polished to a mirror-like perfection, and gleamed brightly in the morning sunlight.
Hundreds of dragons gathered around the outside of the fortress, quietly watching as they gently touched down in the courtyard.
Damion slowly slipped from Tempest’s shoulders and gazed around at the enormous fortress in disbelief. “I don’t understand! Who built this fortress?”
Tempest smiled. “My brethren and I felt that we should do our part in the rebuilding of what has been lost.”
Damion was dumbfounded. “How were you able to construct it? It would have taken us decades to build something of this magnitude!”
The huge dragon let out a booming laugh. “You seem to forget that humans are not the only creatures in this world that can manipulate magic.” She looked down at him with a sincere expression. “I wish to thank you for everything that you have done for us, Dragonkin. On behalf of all my brethren, you have our deepest appreciation. You may call upon us whenever you have need.”
“I am truly honored.” Damion replied, overwhelmed by the gesture. He suddenly sighed heavily. “I can’t believe that it is finally over. It seems like it was a lifetime ago that I first left the valley in pursuit of Kaviel. Now that it’s all over, I’m not exactly sure what I should do.”
“I’m afraid your work isn’t quite finished yet.” Tempest stated, her eyes glittering. “It is your destiny to be the one who wields the Dragon Sword. You are the one chosen to protect it from falling into the hands of another madman. I have the feeling that the fates have a great deal in store for you, my friend. In the meantime, you have a large number of tired refugees that are going to need your guidance. Their survival will depend on your leadership. You must not fail them.”
Damion stared thoughtfully up at the towering dragon for a long moment, then turned to gaze down at the valley below. Her words made him wonder if his adventure had really come to an end, or if it had only just begun.
After several moments, he returned to his place atop Tempest’s shoulders, and with a powerful thrust of her great wings, they launched into the air and slowly began to make their way back to rejoin the others.
Epilogue
She awakened, her rage burning like a fiery-lake of molten lava. Some unknown force had shaken her from her endless slumber, bringing her back into the world that had shunned her and her kind so many thousands of years ago. Banished from the world, she had remained dormant as the centuries rolled past, forgotten by all, until she was finally awakened by an event that had taken place somewhere that had shook the entire world to its very core.
Once again free from her endless slumber, an all-consuming hatred began to boil deep inside her black soul. It was finally time for her and her brethren to reemerge once more, and extract their vengeance upon the world that had shunned them so many centuries before!
With powerful claws, she slowly began to burrow her way out of her deep subterranean chamber, the promise of vengeance fueling her hatred and driving her on as she slowly made her way to the surface, and to the unsuspecting world above.
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