Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 822: Unkind Magic ()

The silence in Forest Tajmaé was punctuated by tension. The void looming over the forest overlooked the dispute brewing between the nymph guards and Dante.

He stood perfectly still...too still. But his hands were clenched into tight fists, scales lined the side of his neck, visible in his agitation and his eyes were narrowed in warning, lips curled in deadly promise.

His predator curled within him, as surely as cold wrath.

It would take barely a minute, to be rid of all the nymphs in his way. A blink of an eye before blood dyed the forest and painted his claws red.

But Estelle’s steady grip on his arm restrained him. A little too well...a little too easily.

The moment the void had ripped open, Dante had demanded entrance into the High Lady’s hall.

But despite the urgency of the circumstances, he was denied.

Lord Farren stood between both parties, greyed hair framing his face, wrinkled in age and the frown of displeasure. His eyes darted between both parties whilst leaning heavily on his wooden cane to support his weight.

"The danger is apparent to us all. Lord Dante is the only one who can contain his fellow dragon. It is within reason to grant him entrance to go to his side." He reasoned.

The nymph guards were not unfazed. It was obvious in their uneasy stances and darting eyes that they were unsettled by the changes in the forest. Even so, they did not give in.

"Do you dare take responsibility for holding a Dragon Lord captive?" Dante snarled, muscles pulled taut in his readiness to lunge, if given a reason.

"The terms were clear." The Head guard, Timmon reminded. "Once the procedure begins, no one goes in or out until it is concluded."

His gaze shifted to the looming void and then back to Dante, expression firm and determined. "No matter what."

At any other time, Dante might have found their loyalty commendable. But this was not such a time.

Verothrax had been in nymph custody for days now. Whatever they were doing to him, he was becoming increasingly agitated. And it was evident in the appearance of a void.

The void was still but a miniscule tear in the sky, but that was something that could change in the blink of an eye. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Getting to Verothrax to assess the situation for himself may not have been the best solution, but it was certainly better than doing nothing.

It was one thing to stabilize his magic, it was another thing to rip open a new void while he was still volatile.

Nymphs, they didn’t understand exactly what Verothrax was capable of. The breaking was known to all, but the Dunes were so far away from Tajmaé, it may as well have been an unfortunate incident from a distant land.

And though nymphs had a long life span, it was not nearly as long as dragons. Those who had witnessed Verothrax’s abilities wreck havoc in the uprising knew to fear him.

It was forgotten knowledge to this generation of nymphs. But the dragons remembered and Dante had heard enough from his father.

Verothrax could not be controlled. Only contained. Before departing Scabbard, his father had warned him clearly: If Verothrax lost control, he was to be put to slumber.

Verothrax himself had left the same request.

Neveah had given no instructions on it. But Dante knew she was aware of what needed to be done.

Would she have made the obvious choice?

Whatever choice he made, he couldn’t do it from outside the hall. And as much as he loathed having to back out of what he had tacitly agreed to, that was secondary to the safety of the realm.

"There will be no need to intimidate my guards." Lady Melissa interrupted from the entrance of the hall.

The nymph guards turned, clearly relieved they did not have to take on Dante.

Dante glanced behind the High Lady, but Verothrax was nowhere in sight. Her gaze followed his.

"He is unconscious... recuperating, I hope." She explained.

Dante’s brows furrowed slightly. "It was successful then? All the Fae magic ability is gone?"

Lady Melissa’s brows furrowed in exhaustion. "All I can say for certain is that we have done all we can for him."

Her gaze moved to the skies, face weary. "It should not get any worse while he is at rest. Though his magic defies the laws of all magic I have ever known."

"It is as unkind as the method through which it was forced upon him."

"When he awakens, only then will we know for sure. We already have a way to confirm... if we were successful."

Her reference to the void was made in a melancholic tone. "I hope I do not come to regret offering my aid, Lord Dante."

Dante pursed his lips. "The dragon court acknowledges your contribution."

Lady Melissa smiled, almost grimly. "I didn’t offer it to the dragon court. Or for the benefits..."

Estelle unconsciously shifted closer to Dante. It was subtle, but the visible claiming didn’t escape him. Nor Lady Melissa.

Her gaze shifted to Estelle and then back to Dante. "I know now she is no wife of yours, Dante Mycroft. You have turned me down, and deceived me... I should loathe you."

"Dante didn’t know anything about that." Estelle interjected. "I came up with it myself...out of urgency."

Estelle’s hold on him tightened and he drew her closer to his side. "It was no deception."

"Is that your truth? Or only what you wish to believe?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Do not fret, I will not make the offer a second time." Lady Melissa assured. "I know folly when I see it... and you Dante Mycroft, are ignorant to your own truth."

"Your soul still lingers with the deceased. You cannot move past what you have failed to recognise and confront." She shook her head slightly, passing a sympathetic look to Estelle.

"Some things... cannot be held onto, no matter how badly we might desire it."

A beat of uneasy silence followed. Dante frowned at the veiled warning, but he didn’t protest it.

Estelle would have to make her own judgement on what was worthy to her. He wanted the same too.

"You may go in and watch by his side, till he awakes." She glanced up to the void again. "And Creator save us all."