Chapter 280: Shade Lands

After finalizing the plan with Breta and Sidus, we summoned Lord Arcturus and his advisors and briefed them on the details. His face lit up with excitement when he heard that a Goddess would be joining the battle.

"Send a messenger to the north and inform them of my brother's arrival," I commanded, gesturing towards Sidus who stood by my side. "We don't want any confusion when he gets there."

"Understood, esteemed Dragon. The messenger will arrive tomorrow!" The Lord beamed with pride.

Surprised by the swift response, I inquired, "Tomorrow? That's fast. How is it possible?"

"We have a messenger owl in the keep!" The Lord exclaimed proudly.

Sidus furrowed his brow and interjected, "An owl? If the distance you've shown us is to be believed, then no owl could make the trip in a day."

The Lord's eyes glinted as he began to explain, "These are not ordinary owls, noble Dragon. They shimmer and change colors based on the message they carry. A bright red hue signifies an urgent message, while a deep blue color indicates a warning of danger. Their eyes are imbued with magical ability to see through the darkness, allowing them to deliver messages even in the dead of night without getting lost. Moreover, when an owl delivers a message, it emits a burst of magical energy that seals the message and protects it from tampering!"

The Lord bowed his head in embarrassment, "Ah! I apologize for getting carried away."

I shook my head solemnly, my eyes fixed on the Lord. "It matters not what form the messenger takes, as long as its message is delivered." My voice was low and commanding, brooking no argument.

"As previously stated," I continued, "the Goddess shall remain with you and lead the counterattack from your flank, to retake the lands that were lost. Do any of you object to this plan?" I scanned the room, my gaze lingering on each face for a moment.

The Lord Arcturus shook his head emphatically, his eyes bright with excitement. "None, noble Dragon," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "We are honored to fight alongside the Goddess and reclaim what is rightfully ours." He thumped his chest with his fist, a show of loyalty and courage. The advisors quickly followed after his example.

"Good," I allowed myself a small smile before turning to Sidus. "Very well then, little brother. You know what to do. May the King watch over you and guide you to victory," I said, my voice ringing with pride.

Sidus nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I will not disappoint you, brother."

"In your journey, be diligent and clear the path from the trash that still roam the surroundings. And though I doubt it will happen, if you happen to face an adversary beyond your capabilities, you are to retreat and regroup with us. Have I made myself clear, brother?" I spoke with a stern voice, and my aura swirled around me, causing Sidus to lower his head in submission. It was necessary to do so since he was not foolish but rather arrogant, a trait that could be fatal in an unfamiliar realm.

"I understand," he replied, his tone meek and respectful.

With that, Sidus strode out of the temple under the awed gazes of the Lord and his advisors before he spread his wings, and took to the sky, his silhouette disappearing into the distance. I turned to Breta and the Lord, my eyes scanning their faces for any remaining concerns.

"Anything else?" I asked, my voice deep and commanding.

"About your destination, do you not need us to send a messenger?" Lord Arcturus asked hesitantly, his eyes shifting to the ground beneath his feet.

"I doubt your messengers will survive the perilous journey across the Shade-occupied lands. So there is no point," I replied, my tone brooking no argument.

"I understand," Lord Arcturus lowered his head respectfully, clearly understanding the danger.

I nodded and turned to Breta, giving her a long, searching look. "I leave this place to you. Stay safe," I said, my voice laced with concern.

"You too," Breta replied, her voice soft and gentle. "And don't do anything stupid," she added, her eyes flashing with a mix of worry.

A small smile made its way across my face as I turned and strode out of the temple, my mind focused on the perilous journey that lay ahead.

****

I spread my wings wide and lifted off the ground, feeling the wind currents under my scales. The humans below gazed up at me in wonder as I soared higher and higher into the sky, leaving the stonekeep and its inhabitants behind.

As I flew, the world below me shifted and changed. As I left the human lands and made my way to the Shade territory. Barren wastelands and dark, foreboding mountains appeared before me. The air grew thick with the stench of rot and decay, and I could sense the presence of countless Shade-tainted creatures lurking in the darkness.

But I was not afraid. Their auras were weak and I had faced far worse than this. I flew on, continuing toward my destination, my eyes constantly scanning the landscape below for any signs of danger.

Hours passed as I made my way undeterred across the desolate terrain, my powerful wings carrying me effortlessly through the air. It was then, that I spotted a sight that made me pause - a towering citadel of dark stone, surrounded by a moat of boiling lava.

I could sense the countless auras hiding within, my scales shivered in disgust, and my rage threatened to overtake me as I approached. There was no way I was leaving this place like this. Along the way, most of the creatures were simply tainted by the shades and turned into monsters, here, however, I could sense the presence of Shades - a lot of them.

With a fierce roar, I dived towards the citadel, the wind rushing past me as I picked up speed. I could feel the heat of the lava as I approached, but I did not falter.

As I landed outside the citadel, a horde of Shades suddenly surged towards me, their eyes glowing with malice. It seemed like they had long since spotted me as well. But I was ready for them. I opened my mouth and with a mighty blast of dragon breath, I incinerated the first wave of attackers, not giving them time to do anything. My breath attack blasted half of the citadel along with it, causing more Shades to spill out from within. A savage grin made its way across my face as I charged into the fray with claws and teeth bared.

"Come!"