New World - A New Beginning

Chapter 78: Peace before the Storm

ASTHIA DARCK'S POV:

"So this is Lares?!" exclaimed Mia as she descended from my wyvern, her usual timidness nonexistent as she gasped at the glimmering city. I smiled, proud to call what stood before us my home.

Ever since the dragonkin emerged within Auroria, we had begun expanding our territory beyond the hidden world that lay behind the gate. The stone archway was now deep within a massive palace, a building allowing the final stretch of land occupied by the dragons to be relatively protected.

New houses could be seen sprawled out around the palace, the beginning of the dragon's expansion into Auroria's mainland. One thing we lacked, however, walls defensive walls. Unlike Eloria, Lares was completely susceptible to an attack, without anyway of slowing down the attackers and forcing them into a prolonged siege.

We walked through the gates that connected the main landing area for the wyverns and the gate, numerous civilians bowing down in respect. The royal family had returned, and more than anything, a human had come along with them.

I didn't know why Mia had insisted on accompanying me, but her being here was a step towards the future for the dragonkin. Jay was the first human to have intermingled with the dragons, and now it was time for more and more to slowly integrate themselves within our society.

Jay trusted this girl with his life, but for some reason, I had never seen what she was truly capable of. Was Mia Stil really someone whose power had earned Jay's recognition?

Two guards slammed their spears into the ground upon seeing my mother, stepping aside as the gate suddenly opened. The spiraling blue portal stood before us, Mia's eyes were wide in awe.

I watched as Mother entered the gate, my body stopping as my eyes simply looked at Mia's frozen body.

"Are you coming?" I asked ironically, Mia not even hearing my words as she stood in place. I grunted, walking behind her and gently pushing her through the gate.

"Ahh!" cried Mia as she tumbled through the portal. A large grin spread across my face in satisfaction as I walked through myself, meeting the girl on the other side.

"Welcome back, Princess Asthia," roared dozens of guards, all of them lined up on either side of the entrance.

"Thank you, Mako," I said, addressing the royal commander of the dragon's army. The buff man simply let out a smile cold black eyes falling on Mia.

The young girl stood up, perplexed at the official welcoming.

"Welcome to Lares, Ms. Stil. We are honored to meet you," announced Mako, bowing down in respect.

"T-Thank you. It's an honor to be here," muttered Mia, her shyness overcoming her. I smiled.

"Come on, I'll show you around."

As I headed down one of the bridges linking the numerous islands, my eyes met with my mother's, both of us understanding what was rapidly approaching.

Even if I was kept in the dark about pretty much the entirety of Jay's plan, I was still aware of the ultimatum that was to be delivered in a few hours. The 72-hour timer set in place was slowly ticking down, and Mother would deliver a speech addressing the entirety of Auroria.

"This place is amazing," muttered Mia, her words intended mostly for herself. I changed my focus, shifting my attention to the girl who was strolling right beside me.

"I'm glad you think so," I answered truthfully, pleased that the girl I considered a friend enjoyed my home.

We walked in silence throughout the endless maze of floating islands, the fresh scent of grass and the warm tingling sensation of the sun embracing us gently like a mother cradling her newborn baby. I knew this would probably be one of the final times I'd be able to appreciate the beauty of Lares in a very long time.

"Mia," I said, drawing the attention of the brown-haired girl, "why did you insist on coming with me?"

Mia looked at me, her neutral face breaking as a small smile emerged on her face.

"Because you're my family. Why wouldn't I fight alongside you?"

Her answer was delivered so nonchalantly that I couldn't help but be slightly embarrassed, my cheeks reddening in happiness at the heartfelt response.

"Thank you."

"..."

"Will you be okay during the fight?" I asked, not aware of her current power. It was true that I found it rather difficult to read her 'bind attunements' as the other races liked to call it, but whether or not she could effectively manipulate ice in the midst of battle was another question.

"I'll be fine," answered Mia, the girl clearly confident in her own abilities. "Do you know where we'll be going?"

I immediately understood the question. Mia was asking me which front we would be defending, whether it be the western front against the dwarves or the eastern front against the Fei. It was likely we would be facing an invasion from both sides, but Mother had already assigned a battalion that would be directly under my command.

Consisting of a simple twenty soldiers, Mia, and I, we were to operate as a small bombing force. A squad so small that we would be ignored by the frontlines of the dwarven army, blowing up their backline with brutal firepower.

That being said, getting through the frontlines of a Dwarven army was no easy feat. Some even considered it impossible.

"The western front. We'll be heading straight towards the Thorria, the capital of Schild."

"Won't it be heavily defended?"

"Yea, it'll be hard to take. We'll have to see how things play out, even I'm uncertain about a lot of things," I said truthfully, not intending to mislead Mia with the idea that I had a fully structured plan in mind.

"Do you think we have a shot?" asked Mia, her words forcing me to stop and think about it. We were heavily outnumbered due to the smaller military force that the dragons could offer compared to the Dominion alliance, not to mention we were surrounded on both sides, meaning we had an inferior strategic position...

My eyes met with Mia's, her brown irises looking straight at me.

"I think we do. Even if all odds are against us, I have to believe in my Mother, and Jay."

The girl nodded, sighing in relief.

"I'll trust you, Asthia. As long as I'm breathing, I'll defend my family with everything I've got. The only other thing I can do is place my hope in Jay."

"Same here."

Please, I whispered through the link, not caring whether or not Jay would choose to respond or even hear my message. It was possible to forcefully close off all telepathic messages if one of the users wished so, and I didn't know if Jay still wished to hear my voice.

Help us win this war.

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