Waiting for the natural flow of time to return, Orion walked around Horizon with no real purpose.

  Four shadows flew over him as his thoughts wandered aimlessly, making him return to reality.

  As he lifted his head, the griffin family flew past him, heading for the mountain.

  'It's a good thing they managed to make themselves at home.'

  'I should check out the area before we leave.'

  As he approached the area near the mountain, the earth shook. Heavy sounds of steps approached his direction, which notified him something dangerous was coming his way.

  Not one, but three. Three massive dragons were coming toward him. One of them was running, while the other two flew next to it.

  "Stop!"

  Putting his head in front of him urgently, Orion prepared himself.

  The jet-black dragon, which looked closer to a turtle than an actual dragon, abruptly stopped, scrapping its large claws on the ground.

  Having no such trouble, the two flying dragons stopped and looked at Orion before dropping to his level.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Raah!"

  The young dragons were still unable to speak the dragon's language. Yet, they were able to understand Orion's words thanks to Silka's authority over that concept.

  Leaning its head closer to Orion, the dark dragon smacked its jaws violently, creating a gust of wind strong enough to knock a normal person on their butt.

  'If memory serves...'

  Orion recalled the names they were given. He hadn't seen them in a long time, which was the reason for his surprise at the sight of these monstrously large dragons.

  In just one year, the mutations made them grow faster and helped them become one with their element.

  As he stared at the white dragon, he recalled their names.

  'Lucensia.'

  The dark dragon, tilting its head lightly, stared at Orion with its shining eyes.

  'Tenebrisis.'

  Lastly, the void dragon, who proudly gazed down at the master of the element composing its body.

  'Libranil.'

  Nodding to himself, he sealed those names in his memory.

  "What are you three doing so far away from the mountain?"

  They seemed to care very little about that question. Instead, their eyes gleamed a strange light.

  As Orion pondered how to make them turn back, another shadow covered the surroundings.

  An even larger dragon, wearing light blue scales, carefully dropped behind his children.

  "It might be our fault."

  "Hey, Monolavir."

  Waving to his friend, Orion watched as he apologized.

  "I'm sorry. We have discussed today's happening in front of our children."

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  Orion lifted his face and stared at the dragon.

  "Ah. Now that they know, they want to help? Is that what it is?"

  Slowly, Monolavir moved his head up and down while closing his eyes.

  "I bet Ruminona wasn't too happy about it."

  "That is an accurate assumption."

  Placing his hand on the black dragon's nose, Orion kept his gaze on the Azure Dragon.

  "So? What are her actual thoughts?"

  The dragon opened its eyes and dropped its head.

  "She's worried about them... But she trusts you. If you take them with us, please protect them from harm."

  Pondering, Orion closed his eyes.

  'She took a very difficult decision. Should I honor it or make the children turn around?'

  Protecting everyone wasn't an easy task. Adding three more to the equation wasn't the greatest idea ever.

  'Are they strong enough to defend themselves, though?'

  Quickly observing them, their auras began to reveal themselves.

  "!"

  "Monolavir..."

  Understanding his reaction, the dragon laughed.

  "We haven't done anything. Besides the basic education every dragon receives, neither me nor Rumi have taught them magic."

  "They are just like us. The mutation does the work instead."

  The three dragons turned to look at their father. Great respect showed in their eyes as they faced him.

  "They are great children. I'm sure they will be helpful in the future."

  "And I believe this particular event would be perfect to awaken their latent strength."

  "They won't have another opportunity in the future."

  His children turned to look at Orion with fierce expressions. The soul of the dragon faction was etched into their being, promising a splendid future for them as the greatest of all dragons.

  Orion, deep in thoughts, suddenly turned to the side with a hand to his chin.

  "I see no reason to refuse."

  "Fine decision."

  Monolavir nodded, accepting his two-legged friend's choice.

  "What about Ruminona?"

  Afraid of the reaction she could have at this news, Orion asked the one who knew what would happen.

  "I will make her understand."

  Letting out a rambling growl that was interpreted as a sigh to Orion, Monolavir continued.

  "Losing our first children caused us great grievances."

  "I lost myself in wrath, while she lost her pride as a dragon."

  "When it concerns our children, she acts overly protective. Although I will not condemn her for becoming like this, they should not be shackled by our mistakes."

  Monolavir lifted his large neck and looked behind him, toward the mountain.

  "We cannot deprive them of opportunities simply because of our fears. We are dragons; proud and mighty dragons."

  "This cannot be forgotten."

  Orion could feel the hesitation in his voice, but this was a matter only these two could resolve together.

  "All I ask is..."

  Turning his eyes to Orion once again, he let out a large cloud of ice crystals from his nostrils.

  "That you keep them alive."

  The mighty beast waited in silence as Orion lifted his head and clenched his left fist in front of his chest.

  "I swear it. They will return to you even stronger and in excellent condition."

  "That is all I needed to hear."

  A large smile formed on his face as Orion spoke the words he wanted to hear. There were no lies in his friend's statement, and he could expect him to hold his promise.

  Leaning his head closer to his growing children, Monolavir spoke to them.

  "You better follow his orders to the best you can. Being a proud dragon doesn't translate to being careless and ignorant."

  "Following the orders of a strong person, even unrelated to our faction, will lead you to understand what a 'Dragon's Soul' truly is."

  They came closer to him and listened carefully. Once Monolavir finished his lesson, he began straightening his neck.

  But, before he could, the three dragons caught his nose and hugged his face.

  "..."

  Rubbing their faces against his, they bid farewell to their father for a time.

  Seeing his offspring's affection, the dragon fell speechless.

  As he finally straightened, he stared at Orion with an unusual moisture in his eyes.

  "I leave them to you."

  Flapping his mighty and wide wings, Monolavir lifted himself off the ground and flew away, back to his mate.

  'Monolavir.'

  Orion was about to ask himself a question, but he shook his head.

  'No. It doesn't need to be asked. I can see it. You are a great father.'

  "Graaah!"

  "Ruuuuh!"

  "Arrrrr!"

  The dragons with unusual elements roared into the sky, saying goodbye to him.

  'One day...'

  A flashing image appeared in Orion's mind.

  A picture of Orion, surrounded by his wives, each holding a newborn in their arms.

  With a smile, he turned around and began to walk toward the place he came from.

  "Alright. Follow me. I'll introduce you to everyone."

  Waving at the dragons with his back turned, he returned home. The dragons turned around and, with earth-shaking steps, followed the man.

  ...

  "Woah! So you're a female!"

  Nia, in her excitement, rode Lucensia's back, who joyously flapped her wings at the discovery of new friends.

  "What a splendid beast."

  May stood next to Tenebrisis' left frontal leg. She placed her hand on his scales and praised him greatly.

  "Yes. Those scales are gorgeous."

  Even Deveralna, who was related to them, couldn't look away.

  "Nia. Get down there! It would be stupid to get hurt before departing."

  "Sis! Just join."

  "..."

  "What's this?"

  "Sure. Just this once."

  Getting swept by the mood, Mia joined her sister on Lucensia's wide back.

  "I... have never seen a dragon this close."

  Marie and the maids stared at Libranil from a distance away. The void dragon was lying on the ground, resting with his eyes opened.

  "You can touch him, if you'd like."

  Olivia, moving past them, approached the dragon with light steps.

  "Eh?! Can we?"

  Surprised, they followed behind her.

  Libranil's gaze fell on them as they approached, which made the maids sweat from the pressure.

  "It's fine. See?"

  She placed her right hand on the dragon's nose and gently caressed its scales.

  With hesitant steps, the maids stood on the side and copied her action.

  "Oh! It's hot!"

  Surprised, Alice exclaimed.

  "You're right. I thought it would feel colder to the touch."

  Eden agreed with her as they continued to pet the large dragon, who didn't seem to be against this small interaction.

  Everyone was making friends with the three dragons as they waited for everyone to reunite.

  As Orion observed everything with a smile, he finally glanced to his right.

  "You're finally here."

  "Am I late?"

  "Not really. I just wanted to say that."

  Elliott, followed by Layla and the other Remnants, walked in an organized group toward him.

  "We are also here."

  To his left, Titania and Henrietta also arrived. Next to them, Sirius and Procyon stood, waiting for their master to give them the order to join him.

  "Everyone's present."

  A shadow stretched behind Orion, and his brother emerged from it. Pressing his back against his brother's, Nylon crossed his arms.

  "Of course, you know I was there."

  "I would never miss your presence."

  "That's reassuring."

  Nylon took a few steps forward and joined Elliott.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Orion saw his parents, waiting for his departure. They would not join in this 'war', requested by he himself.

  Taking a deep breath, Orion closed his eyes.

  When he opened them again, he spoke those words.

  "Let's kill those bastards, once and for all."

  His words echoed in Elliott's entire being, but also into the mind of the man behind him, carefully hiding his presence.

  As the curtain to the 'Celestial War' was about to be lifted, all actors were ready to play their parts.

  The events that were about to unfold may forever be inscribed in blood.