Incoherent Perspectives
Chapter 16 - The Aftermath

They had returned with the others. Helia looked tired as ever, Aurroa was smiling, Asteria just looked like she didn't care, which wasn't unusual for her and Dawn just looked out of it. When they all arrived, I said nothing and just began walking. Some of them exchanged confused glances before walking. The path there seemed simple. Following a small creek decorated with pine trees and the occasional Weeping Willow took us closer to Vanderberg Highlands. About 50km from the region, the smell of smoke and fire began to emerge, smoke began filling the sky and the closer we got, the stronger the scent of something that smelt like a massive burning campfire. Entering Vanderberg Highlands put us in the centre of the war. The entire forest was burning and chaos was happening all over the sky. One incident I saw involved a Shadow Flare body checking an Ignisarbor causing them to lose the flight in the sky and fall to their death.

The bodies of many dragons littered the floor. Some were dead for weeks but the smell of the forest fire took over the scent of decay and others were only a couple of minutes old. I could see Cassius covering Helia's eyes and Dawn had her head down to avoid the terrible sight. You could barely step anywhere without stepping on the tail of a corpse. I didn't entirely know why we came here. I believe so we could see Queen Shizen. There was a small, heavy metal platted structure to my right that more dragons were fighting around and even more bodies littered the floor around it. I dared to enter and there was Queen Shizen, talking to one of her guards, I'd assume. "I didn't want it to come to this," she said to the guard. But all he could do was nod slightly. Once the guard left Queen Shizen noticed me standing in the doorway. "A human? You must be here to stop all this," she said, lying in one corner of the small structure that was about the size of a single Sunburst Aether cell. About 12 x 12 feet.

Tension filled the air everywhere. It was about as bad as the World Wars back home. Despite Queen Shizen winning from what I could see, she didn't want it to come to this, at all. I could see it in her eyes. "What is this war being fought over?" I asked her. "Control of Vanderberg Highlands. You gotta do something about this human. I can't go on much longer," Queen Shizen said. Just by looking out the window, you could tell this has been a brutal war for everyone involved. Especially for the dragons who call Vanderberg Highlands their home. Her face was plastered with worry. Which isn't what you'd expect from Queen Shizen. A dragon blacker than black and eyes, a reflective purple with a black sclera. She was sorta worried for her guards, but I'd imagine she was even more worried for Cassius. She seemed to be looking around frantically, almost like she lost something. Asteria didn't let Queen Shizen know? Well, I guess that's hard to do when his mother is fighting in a war. This was what we came here to do. We came this far and we can't back down. We were sent here to save and put this brutal battle to an end.

"Give me a moment," I said. I ran outside, trying to avoid the conflict and there, Destiny's Harbingers still stood. Cassius was still preventing Helia from seeing the battlegrounds and Dawn still had her head hung low. This was where the official final prophecy was going to be conducted. "Dawn and Asteria, go evacuate the remaining dragons. Our two Sagas, Aurora and Lumina. Heal the injured soldiers. The fewer deaths the better," I said. Asteria nodded with an affirmative gesture before seeing the fear in Dawn's face but somehow Asteria knew what to do to help her. "How am I supposed to help Lumina heal when I don't even know my Saga ability?" Aurora asked. Lumina smiled warmly before turning toward Aurora. "There are three types of Sagas. Healing Sagas can heal, Weather Sagas can control the weather, and Alia Draconos Sagas have a random ability from an existing breed of dragon but are more powerful. You don't know yours which often means you get to choose. So it will be fine," she said.

Aurora nodded reluctantly. "What about us?" Helia asked, not even facing my direction because Cassius was still covering her eyes like a protective mother. "You two can come with me," I said. Helia removed Cassius' talon from obstructing her view and the scene before her didn't even phase her. I began heading back toward the structure, Queen Shizen was sheltering in. "How is that supposed to fulfill the prophecy?" Cassius asked. "It's not, but she thinks you're dead," I responded. Cassius looked at me with a confused expression. But when I opened the door, their reuniting made my day.

For a brief moment, they stared longingly at one another, until Cassius realized who it was and when he did, he rushed into the small structure, his wings creating a gust of wind as he entered. Queen Shizen’s worried expression transformed into one of pure relief and joy as she saw her son alive and well. Queen Shizen immediately took him under a protective wing and I saw Cassius smile for the first time Dawn had arrived. “I thought I lost you, Cassius,” Queen Shizen said, her voice filled with emotion. It looked as if Cassius was about to cry, which would've been a first. "I'm here now," he said. His voice did sound like he was about to break down. It wasn't a part of the prophecy, but at least they were reunited and at least Destiny's Harbingers will push through... That's all that mattered to me.