Chapter 7: The Interrupted Vows

The day of the wedding dawned bright and serene, the capital basking in a rare moment of peace. The skies were a clear, endless blue, and the soft hum of Emberstone towers harmonized with the songs of dragons gliding lazily above. Aetherians from across the kingdom had gathered for the grand occasion, filling the palace grounds with lively chatter and a palpable sense of hope.

Inside the royal chambers, Nyx stood before a polished mirror, his ceremonial robes draped over his shoulders. The dark fabric shimmered faintly with golden embroidery, the patterns of intertwined dragons symbolizing unity and balance. Lord Caine stood at his side, adjusting the intricate clasp of the cloak with the air of someone who had done this a thousand times.

"You look like a king," Caine said, his tone half-serious.

"I am a king," Nyx replied, arching an eyebrow.

Caine smirked, stepping back to admire his handiwork. "And soon, a husband. You're collecting titles faster than I can keep up."

Nyx let out a quiet chuckle, the lighthearted exchange easing some of the tension knotting in his chest. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? Uncle"

Caine shrugged. "A little. It's not every day I see you squirm like this."

Nyx sighed, turning to face his uncle fully. "What if this doesn't work, Uncle Caine? Lyra and I—what if we can't… connect?"

Caine's expression softened. "You already connect more than you realize. She's strong, steady. And more importantly, she believes in you, Nyx. Give it time."

The young king nodded, his gaze dropping briefly to the floor. "Time," he echoed. "Something I never seem to have enough of."

Caine placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Then let today be about the moment. For once, don't think about the past or the future. Just focus on now."

The grand hall was transformed into a vision of elegance, its Emberstone walls draped with flowing banners of gold and silver that fluttered softly in the warm breeze filtering through the high arched windows. The air shimmered with a palpable sense of anticipation, the guests' murmurs blending with the low hum of magic that seemed to permeate every stone. Rows of nobles, scholars, and commoners alike filled the chamber, their faces alight with excitement and reverence. Dragons perched on balconies above, their wings folded gracefully, their keen eyes watching with quiet intensity.

At the center of it all stood Nyx, his presence commanding yet contemplative. He wore ceremonial robes of midnight blue and gold, the fabric embroidered with intricate runes that caught the light like stars against a night sky. Chaos stood steadfast by his side, his scales a living tapestry of elemental hues, shifting with every breath. The dragon's golden eyes gleamed, reflecting both the grandeur of the moment and the quiet pride he felt for his companion.

Opposite them, the massive double doors swung open with a reverent creak, and all eyes turned as Lyra entered. She walked with a grace that seemed to transcend the weight of the occasion, her movements fluid and purposeful. Her pale green dress was a masterpiece, the delicate crystal patterns woven into the fabric catching and refracting the sunlight that streamed through the high windows, casting ethereal rainbows across the stone floor. Lexy, her crystalline dragon, glided silently beside her, each step a symphony of soft chimes as her crystal talons touched the polished stone.

As Lyra approached, her eyes met Nyx's, and for a brief, timeless moment, the weight of ceremony, responsibility, and expectation seemed to fade. In their gaze was a quiet understanding—a bridge built not just on duty but on the fragile, growing trust they had forged in recent weeks. Nyx saw not just a partner chosen by circumstance, but someone who shared his vision, his burdens, and perhaps, his heart.

The ceremony began, Lord Caine stepping forward to officiate. His voice, deep and steady, carried the significance of the union, each word steeped in tradition and the weight of history. "Today, we witness the bond of two souls, bound by destiny and duty, united in their service to Aether." The runes inscribed on the floor beneath the dais glowed faintly in response, their magic ancient and potent, symbolizing the sacred bond between dragonkind and Aetherians.

When the moment came to exchange rings, Lyra stepped forward first. Her hands were steady, her expression calm but resolute as she took Nyx's hand. The dark crystal ring she held seemed to pulse with its own light, a reflection of the power and promise it represented. As she slipped the ring onto his finger, her voice, though quiet, carried the strength of a vow forged in steel and fire.

"With this ring, I vow to stand by your side," she said, her green eyes unwavering. "To protect and guide our people together. To share your burdens and your victories, and to honor the legacy of those who came before us."

Nyx's golden eyes softened, a flicker of something deeper passing between them. He took her hand in his, his movements deliberate, each action imbued with meaning. The weight of the ring he held felt more than symbolic—it was a tether to a future he had once struggled to envision. Just as he slid the ring onto her finger, a thunderous crack split the air.

The room shook as a blinding light filled the chamber, silencing the crowd. Gasps and cries echoed through the hall, and when the brilliance faded, a figure stood at the center of the dais—a woman cloaked in a traveling cloak of deep indigo, her black hair trailing like a comet's tail.

"Aria," Nyx breathed, his body tensing as he instinctively stepped in front of Lyra.

The name brought a flood of memories to his mind—an ambitious traveler who controlled the Cosmic Dragon of Stars, Velona

Velona, her star-hued dragon, loomed behind her. The dragon's celestial form rippled with a mesmerizing glow, and its eyes locked onto Chaos with cold calculation.

"You can't be serious, Nyx," Aria said, her tone sharp and incredulous. "Marrying her? Tying yourself to this place? You don't belong here."

Lyra stepped forward, unshaken. "He belongs where he chooses to be," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension like steel.

Aria's gaze snapped to her, her expression hardening. "You don't understand, girl. He's more than this—more than a king, more than this kingdom. He could have the stars, the cosmos, everything."

Nyx's jaw tightened, his voice cold. "Enough, Aria. My choice is made."

Her face twisted with fury. "You're wasting your potential! Staying here will only chain you to their failures."

Without hesitation, Nyx turned back to Lyra and placed the ring on her finger, steadying her hand. "My place is here," he said softly but firmly.

Aria's fury erupted. Velona's celestial form shimmered, her scales a constellation of stars that seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the universe. She hovered mid-air, eyes glowing like distant galaxies, as she released streams of starlight that warped the air with raw cosmic energy. Her claws traced trails of light, forming intricate constellations in the air, each pattern a symbol of forgotten power.

With a burst of force, Velona dissolved into a cascade of light, vanishing like a comet tail. She reformed behind Chaos in an instant, her claws raking through the air with blinding precision. The speed was almost beyond comprehension.

Chaos roared in response, wings flaring wide as he summoned a barrier of wind and fire. The flames surged, a torrent of raw elemental power meant to consume the starlight. Yet, Velona moved with startling grace—dissolving and reappearing in bursts of light, her form shifting between solid and ethereal. Each time she struck, her attacks carved deep gouges into the stone, the palace foundations shaking with every impact.

"Velona!" Nyx shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "You won't win this!"

Aria, standing atop a broken column, smirked. "You underestimate me, Nyx. That's your first mistake."

Chaos lunged forward, his talons glowing with molten energy. He swiped at Velona, who spiraled upward, leaving behind a trail of glowing embers. From above, she retaliated, summoning a cluster of starlight that coalesced into a spear. With a sharp motion, she hurled it downward. It struck the ground with the force of a meteor, sending stone and debris flying in all directions.

"Get everyone out!" Nyx's voice rang through the tumult, sharp and commanding.

In the midst of the destruction, Lyra sprang into action. Her eyes scanned the chaos with a healer's precision. She guided Lexy through the panicking guests, her voice calm but firm. "This way!" she called, directing them toward a side exit. Lexy's crystalline form shimmered, casting protective barriers of light that deflected falling debris.

A soldier lay trapped beneath a fallen beam, his cries lost in the roar of the battle. Lyra's eyes locked onto him. "Lexy!" she commanded, urgency sharpening her voice.

Lexy moved gracefully, lifting the debris with a single swipe of her powerful tail. Lyra knelt beside the injured soldier, pressing her glowing hands to his wounds. The golden light of her healing magic spread, knitting flesh and bone. "You're going to be alright," she murmured, her tone steady despite the chaos.

The soldier's eyes widened with gratitude. "Thank you, Lady Lyra."

"Go now," she urged, helping him to his feet. "Keep moving. Don't stop."

Her eyes flicked toward Nyx, who stood at the center of the storm, facing Aria. Their gazes met for a moment—a silent exchange of trust. Then she turned back to her task, rallying more civilians and guiding them to safety.

Nyx's focus remained locked on Aria. The woman who had once been a friend now stood as a formidable adversary, her ambition twisted into something dangerous. "Your obsession with power blinds you," he said, his voice like tempered steel. "A leader's strength isn't just about power—it's about knowing how to use it."

Aria sneered, the contempt in her eyes as cold as the void between stars. "You think you can protect them all? Let's see how well you stand against the stars."

Velona roared, her celestial body expanding as threads of starlight coalesced around her. The glow intensified, then erupted in a wave of pure cosmic force. It arced toward Chaos like a comet's tail, searing through the air.

Chaos braced, wings spread wide as he summoned a barrier of wind and lightning. The collision was cataclysmic. Energy crackled, and the barrier strained under the pressure, the impact shattering the stained-glass windows in a shower of multicolored shards. Rubble cascaded from the ceiling, dust and debris filling the air.

Chaos countered with a surge of fury, a vortex of fire and wind erupting from his maw. The flames roared toward Velona, a blazing inferno. For a moment, it seemed as though it would consume her.

But Velona dissolved into light, reappearing above Chaos. Her form shimmered like the night sky, and with a flick of her wings, she released a rain of starlight bolts. Each one struck the ground with the force of a meteor, leaving craters in the stone.

Nyx moved with calculated precision, weaving through the chaos. His blade glowed with elemental energy, deflecting stray starlight bolts as he shielded the remaining guests. Each deflection sent sparks flying, the runes on his sword glowing brighter with every strike.

Through the chaos, Nyx's sharp eyes caught sight of a falling beam on top of a young boy, no older than seven. Without hesitation, Nyx deflected Aria's strike with a swift parry and surged toward the child. His blade hummed with energy as he sliced through the beam, sending it clattering to the ground.

Nyx knelt, shielding the boy with his body as debris rained around them. "You're safe now," he whispered, his voice steady despite the storm. He glanced up, catching the eye of a nearby soldier. "Take him!" Nyx ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

The soldier nodded, scooping the boy into his arms and hurrying toward the exits. Nyx rose, turning back to the battle, his resolve hardening. 

Aria leaped down from her perch, landing with a predatory grace. A blade of starlight materialized in her hand, its edges shimmering with dangerous brilliance. "You're wasting your potential, Nyx. This kingdom will never be enough for you."

Nyx tightened his grip on his sword. "I don't need more than this. These people—this kingdom—are worth protecting."

Their weapons met in a clash of light and steel, sparks flying as they exchanged blows. Aria's strikes were relentless, each one fueled by fury and frustration. Nyx met her with calm intensity, his movements measured and deliberate.

"You could have had everything!" she hissed, her blade slicing through the air. "The stars, the cosmos, a destiny beyond this broken realm. And you chose her? This broken kingdom?"

Nyx parried, his golden eyes burning with defiance. "I chose to protect the people who believe in me. Something you'll never understand."

Above them, the battle between Chaos and Velona reached a fever pitch. Velona unleashed a supernova of light, forcing Chaos to shield himself with his wings. The ground cracked beneath them as Velona landed, her cosmic energy warping the very air.

Chaos roared, molten energy rippling through his scales. He charged forward, claws glowing as he struck Velona head-on. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the palace, shaking its foundations.

Velona summoned a constellation-shaped barrier, deflecting Chaos's strikes with bursts of starlight. She retaliated with a pulse of energy, her form flickering as she teleported around him in bursts of light.

"Chaos! Outside!" Nyx commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Chaos twisted mid-air, wings flaring wide to deflect Velona's incoming blast of starlight. Without missing a beat, he lunged toward Nyx, landing with a thunderous crash that sent debris scattering. The instant his claws touched the ground, Nyx leapt onto his back with practiced ease, his grip firm as he settled into position.

"Let's finish this," Nyx muttered, his golden eyes locked on Velona.

Chaos surged upward, smashing through the broken roof. Velona and Aria followed, streaking after them like a comet. Above the city, their battle painted the heavens with bursts of light and flame.

Nyx looked back toward the city, heart pounding. Smoke rose from the damaged palace, but the royal army was aiding in evacuation.

"Keep them safe," he whispered, then turned his focus back to Velona, guiding Chaos higher—farther from his people.