Chapter 42

**Chapter 42: The Dragon Gods Council**

The mansion, a sanctuary of ancient power and modern grace, welcomed Astraylius and Diggory as they emerged from the swirl of teleportation. Imana, with the all-knowing gaze of the Omniscient, stood before them, her presence commanding silence.

"Listen," Imana implored, her voice resonating with the gravity of untold secrets. "The dragon that Diggory and Lythiria faced was none other than Bahamut, the Dragon God of Annihilation. His wrath is the end of worlds, his might uncontested."

Astraylius's eyes widened, the name Bahamut stirring a primal awe within him. "Bahamut," he echoed, the word a tempest on his tongue.

Imana continued, "Lythiria, as the daughter and heir of Yvelina, is destined to ascend as a Dragon Goddess. Her potential is immense, and thus, she was taken—to be nurtured in the ways of divinity."

Diggory clenched his fists, his loyalty to Lythiria unwavering. "Then we must act swiftly. Her fate, and that of the cosmos, hangs in balance."

Astraylius turned to Imana, determination etched upon his visage. "Tell us of the other Dragon Gods, their Astras, and their dominion. We must understand the allies and adversaries we face."

Imana nodded, and the air around them shimmered with the power of her words:

1. **Tiamat, the Matriarch of the Depths** - Her Astra, the **Abyssal Conch**, calls forth the leviathans of the deep. Her dominion is the **Oceanic Vortex**, where life and death swirl in the currents.

2. **Vritra, the Storm Warden** - Wielding the **Monsoon Scepter**, he commands the tempests. His realm is the **Skyward Expanse**, where clouds form at his beckoning.

3. **Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serenity** - The **Plumed Orb** is his Astra, a beacon of peace. His dominion is the **Ethereal Canopy**, a haven above the turmoil of the world.

4. **Nidhogg, the Rootbound Ravager** - With the **Tendril Crown**, he ensnares the unwary. His territory is the **Subterranean Maze**, a labyrinth of roots and earth.

5. **Fafnir, the Hoarder of Flames** - The **Inferno Chalice** is his Astra, containing the fires of creation. His domain is the **Molten Keep**, where treasures and secrets burn bright.

6. **Jormungandr, the World Encircler** - His Astra, the **Eternal Coil**, binds the fates of many. His realm is the **Cosmic Ring**, an orbit of destiny that surrounds the stars.

7. **Ladon, the Orchard Guardian** - Bearing the **Blossom Staff**, he protects the sacred groves. His dominion is the **Verdant Vale**, where life blooms eternal.

8. **Ouroboros, the Cycle Eternal** - The **Ring of Renewal** is his Astra, symbolizing infinity. His realm is the **Temporal Nexus**, where time begins and ends.

9. **Leviathan, the Tidebringer** - With the **Crest of Waves**, he ushers in the tides of change. His territory is the **Aqueous Throne**, where the sea's heart beats.

Astraylius absorbed the knowledge, each name a piece of the puzzle they sought to solve. "We stand at the precipice of a new era," he declared. "With this understanding, we shall navigate the trials ahead."

In the quietude of the evening, within the walls of the mansion that had witnessed many a secret, Astraylius stood with a revelation that sent ripples through the fabric of his past. "I fought Leviathan in my youth," he declared, the memory surfacing like a specter from the depths of his mind.

Diggory, ever the stalwart companion, could barely conceal his shock. "Leviathan? The Tidebringer himself?" he uttered, disbelief etching his rugged features.

Imana, with the wisdom of the Omniscient, nodded solemnly. "It is a past that binds you to the present, Astraylius. The threads of fate are entwined in ways we are only beginning to comprehend."

She turned to them both, her gaze piercing the gathering shadows. "The matter of Lythiria's fate is not ours to decide alone. The Council of Dragon Gods and Goddesses will convene on the morrow. They will deliberate upon her destiny, and you, Astraylius, and you, Diggory, must be present to hear the decision."

Astraylius's jaw clenched, the warrior within him stirring. "Then we shall stand before the Council and await their wisdom. For Lythiria, for the legacy of Yvelina, we will face whatever may come."