The Result

No one knew what happened, or whether my father and the Hatmandor were able to deal with Hydra. We could only await their return, or the emergence of Hydra. Was I scared? Of course I was, who wouldn't be? I was afraid of my father disappearing once more. Afraid of losing my family and my friends. Afraid of losing my own life to a being no one else could face.

My mother had a worried expression, and she was even more restless than me or anyone else. I came closer to her, and gave both my brother and mother a hug. "Dad's strong, he will win. He can't lose, right? He is the Legendary Dark Traveller after all", I said. She hugged me back, "I know, I just couldn't bear losing him again… He fought against those beings already, he will win. I'm sure he will…".

Me, my mother and pretty much anyone in the North, didn't know where Hydra was located. Wherever it was, the strong earth tremors reached us occasionally. Fortunately, my father's construction skills were really good. The houses managed to stay upright, though some cracking was starting to develop. Suddenly, another load roar filled the entire area. As if that being was actually roaring in our minds.

Then, the tremors stopped. No more roars came from anywhere. "Did we win? Have they sealed Hydra?", one of the Grey Lizards asked. "We will find out once they return... ", aunt started but didn't finish. I could guess what words she'd speak next, 'If they return'. Whether that silence was the sign of victory, was really unclear. We had no clue what abilities Hydra had, or how strong of a being it was.

We stood there for some time. I wasn't sure how much time passed, but the silence was really starting to weigh on me. Minute after minute, the time slowly passed while my mother stared towards a certain direction constantly. Then a smile bloomed on her face. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth, but I couldn't see anything yet. "That father of yours, I'll punish him for making me worry so much", she said.

"That must mean father and others actually won!", I exclaimed. When others heard that, they also cheered up and whispered between each other. A while later, something appeared in our view, it was Frosty followed by the hooded figures.

Just as my father landed in front of us and got off Frosty's back, my mother appeared next to him with a punch. "Ugh, Fox, what are you doing?", father asked. "Don't play with me, this didn't even hurt you… I'm glad you're okay", she replied while hugging him. "I'm not that easy to kill, you know? Though Hydra was indeed strong", he said.

Before anyone could ask more questions, the hooded figures also landed next to my father. "We apologise once more, this shall never happen again", one of them said. "Don't worry about it so much. I knew this day would come sooner or later. Though I'm glad it happened now, not in the past. I'll scour the North in search of the Braman remnants, but you can help out if you feel like it", he replied.

"Bramans?", I asked confusedly, while walking towards my parents with Dante in my arms. "Yes, Bramans. I'll tell you more later. The gist of it is, Bramans were the ones who enticed Hydra for appearing here", father replied. "The most important part is that the Hydra has been sealed again. Once you get rid of Bramans entirely, we should be safe", aunt Alicia said while approaching us. "Yea, it's not that simple though", father replied.

"What do you mean exactly?", the Grey Lizards demanded answers. "Hydra is no longer around. On one hand, you'll never worry about it again. On the other, we are a bit screwed here", he replied. "Again, what do you mean exactly? Get to the point already", aunt demanded. "My predecessor sealed Hydra for a reason. Since Hydra is dead, they know about it now. Moreover, there aren't many people who can kill beings like Hydra… In short, they'll send more of them. Once they know I'm here, they will send even more", father explained.

My aunt's face changed a few times. "... How are we going to fight them? How many of them can you handle? Do we have to escape? Where do we go?", aunt showered him with questions. "Just because I said they'll send more beings here, that doesn't mean immediately. This might take a few years, or a few decades. We just have to prepare. Your knowledge of Formations is advancing. Hatmandor isn't doing badly either, but they'll need help. Henceforth, we agreed to let you and a few chosen people study their knowledge", father announced.

That alone made my aunt shut up. She wasn't alone, other masters were looking at him with hope. They wanted to be chosen for that knowledge too. "I'll try to handle them as much as I can. Frosty's here as well, don't take him for a weakling. You too guys. I've been busy with everything and kind of took it lightly. Eravak, you are the only one at Primal Limit stage. Choose a few candidates who have a chance to reach that stage, and I'll try to help them out", father added.

"Yes, Dark Traveller", the hooded figure called Evarak replied. "We will talk after I deal with those Bramans. You guys continue working on the Formation for now". He then picked my mother up, and jumped back onto Frosty's back. "What about me and Dante!", I complained. I wanted to be part of that, I wanted to know more and surely they'd talk along the way. "Your mother worries too much, so I'll take her with me. Mind your brother for now, we will be back once everything's taken care of", father said while urging Frosty to fly away.

The hooded figures also lifted to the sky, then followed Frosty to help my father out. "Alright guys, let's get back to work. We still have a Formation to finish", aunt announced, but I could tell everyone was excited. They were promised new knowledge, but not everyone could receive that knowledge. "I'll have to beg your father for that chance… Hmm, maybe you do it for me too. I'll do anything you want in exchange, alright?", Suly asked.

"Go away. You are not a master, and there are others who'd like the opportunity. Don't be so selfish", I replied, annoyed. Of course this sort of opportunity would be great for anyone, me included. I wanted to learn more, and especially such secret knowledge. Though there were others who spent their lives mastering the Formations. I wasn't selfish enough to simply steal someone's hard earned place.

"Come on… One person this or that way, what difference will that make to Hatmandor?... Or do you want to get in yourself?... Seriously, help your big sister out. This once, I taught you Formations after all!", she literally begged at that stage. "... Listen, I'll ask my father, alright? I'll ask him if you and me, could by any chance also fit into the group of the chosen people. Don't get your hopes too high, that's as far as I'm willing to go", I caved in a little. Asking and begging was a difference. Maybe father would agree, or maybe he wouldn't. That had to wait until he returned back home.

This alone was a small matter, compared to all sorts of other questions I had for him. Mainly, how did the Hydra look like? How powerful was it, and how he defeated it? The news of the Distortion Realm sending in more such beings was worrying too. I heard of wars and even read some tales about them, but didn't witness one before. 'He said it could be years or decades, but they will come. I have to make sure that my strength isn't going to hinder my father, and others. I'll have to train even harder, after the project is completed'.

I glanced at Dante, who was mostly scared but unaware what the future held for us. 'That's my little brother, I have to protect him too', "Come on little Dante, it's fine now. Daddy dealt with that annoying creature. Nothing to worry about anymore, right? Daddy's strong, so don't be scared anymore… Tickle, tickle, tickle", I tried to make him laugh. "Hehe, Anna bad.. Stop…". With my brother cheered up a bit, I left him with Leran and talked a bit with Dawn.

She was a bit out of sorts too, but glad the creature was gone. "Still, the future is quite worrying. I'll have to practice much more, we can't become hindrances to our parents, right?", she said. Dawn had basically the same thoughts as me. She also felt the strong need to improve herself, and protect others she cared about. This was our home after all.

"For now, let's just focus on what we can do. I have more Formation knowledge to absorb, while you have some skills to master. Let's give it our best, training and knowledge will not fail us, right?", I said. "Hehe, yea, well said. Let's give it our best shot, we are the future of the North after all", she agreed.