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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/ArcAngel98 on 2025-12-20 22:04:13+00:00.
Farnír’s POV
Is it over? That one question rang in everyone’s mind. Of course, the battle was, but the chaos wasn’t. The dragon had left its mark on the fort. Even after the battle, more casualties were pouring in. Some were survivors of the initial attack, either knocked out or buried, sometimes literally, in the fog of war. Then there were those caught in the nuclear blast, burned, broken, and irradiated. I knew there would be casualties from using it, but actually seeing them with my own eyes was different. Everyone who knew even the most basic of healing spells was brought to the tents, and worked to the bone. Suma and I were brought the worst of the injuries. I was able to save most of them, Suma gave me the ones she couldn’t. But I have no idea how to bring back the dead, even with Chaos Magic. All in all, a third of the total forces we brought died, and another quarter were maimed, but lived. Those who were in the city supporting the efforts remained virtually unharmed, but everyone was evacuated to avoid the fallout by nightfall. Once all was said and done, and I’d given everyone a healthy dose of Inverted Death Magic to treat any lingering radiation sickness, finally then, was it over.
The Queen came out the next morning, along with King Hidra, who’d lost a wing in the battle and was being supported by two aids (one on each side), and Chancellor Aye-Aron, and addressed the entire army. I watched with Suma, Captain Gigoales, and Lieutenant Datahu from the side of the stage. She was perched on my shoulder as I leaned against a small post. The other two were perched on various objects like logs or branches. Nearly no one had familiars anymore to rest on. Mum was near the Queen’s retinue. Guarded by a few members of the Royal Mages assigned by the Queen. She was sitting on stone chair, holding what looked like a cup of tea. Where and how she got it though is a mystery.
Magic was used to project her voice across the town we’d taken shelter in. A sea of bobbing Neame heads waited for them to speak, murmuring to themselves until they three landed on a hastily built stage. “Our people, yesterday, we came against a great threat.” Queen Ompera began. “But we rose above it, and perched in the branches of victory!” A cheer rang out from the audience, loud enough to feel vibrating in my chest. It was primal, and beautiful. It wasn’t like any cheer a human might make. Not a roar of triumph. It was musical. Not really a song, but a hymn. Like a choir humming in unison. I’d never heard this many Neame celebrate, and it admittedly, caught me off guard. Suma probably would have given me a strange look, but she was sing-cheering too.
“We have lost much.” King Hidra said over the humming, glancing down at his wing. “But the price we paid had guaranteed the safety of our nations, our world, and our futures.”
“No longer with future generations have the looming threat of the Chaos Dragon hovering above their heads. They and we will soar freely and without fear!” Chancellor Aye-Aron said.
“Some of you have lost family, friends, and autonomy. Yesterday, heroes were made, and lost.” Queen Ompera said. My mind flashed back to Nine, who hadn’t survived the dragon’s attack. Who’d bravely fought the dragon, wounded him, and bought the rest of us time we needed. His body had been found by some of the rescue squads sent out to look for survivors. I hadn’t seen it, but… “But their memories will not be forgotten. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten. And your victory will not be forgotten!” Through our connection, I felt Suma’s emotion. She was a swirling storm of regret, sadness, and relief.
“To all, we plan to hold a celebration. Tomorrow at noon, we will hold a victory feast. At nightfall tonight, we will hold a vigil for everyone who gave their lives for our world, and will raise a monument in their honor.” Chancellor Aye-Aron.
“To all who have lost their autonomy, my kingdom will offer aid and kinship. No one will be left to fall.” King Hidra said.
“And mine.” Said Queen Ompera.
“And mine.” Said Chancellor Aye-Aron.
“Autonomy?” I asked Suma, quietly.
“He means their limbs. Some only lost legs, but others lost wings. That is a life changing injury… Perhaps we could do something?” Suma said.
I nodded, “I’ll speak to the Queen about it.”
“But for now, there is only one thing we need focus on.” King Hidra said.
All three spoke in unison, probably practiced, “The dragon is dead!”
“The official story is that a secret team of ritual mages formed by the three leaders cast powerful fire magic, striking the dragon down.” Captain Gigoales said. “It would be wise to not contradict the story.”
“I’m a Viking that uses Chaos Magic in a world of bird wizards; I don’t need any more attention.” I said. Completely ignoring the fact I was about to offer to regrow countless limbs for the army of said bird wizards, which would immediately bring me more attention.
The three leaders dismissed the crowd after offering thanks to the town’s leaders for allowing us to stay here a few more days, and build the monument here. The vigil later that night was somber. Neame came and went. The monument itself was a stone raised from the bedrock deep below the ground. Carved onto in were not names, but a message that read: The dragon came and we flew to meet it. Those who died in service to the world are remembered in the forest, awaiting to be called on again. At the vigil, I met the Queen and the other two leaders, who ended up staying for the whole thing.
“Your Majesties.” I greeted her.
“Hello Farnír, how are you?” Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.
“I’m good. I liked your speech earlier.” I told them.
“Have you raised a tree yet?” Queen Ompera asked, referring to the symbolic act of growing a tree from a large pile of seeds. Everyone who attended was given a seed, and could plant it near the monument. Creating the forest it mentioned. Many of the Neame that died… there wasn’t enough to bury. So I guess they came up with this instead. It was similar to a death tree after all.
“I haven’t. But I will. I actually wanted to ask you something. Or maybe offer something?”
“Oh?” She said.
“I can use my Chaos Magic to regrow lost limbs. I can do it for others too. If anyone is interested.” King Hidra’s head perked up. He was trying to hide it, but he had been very depressed about losing his wing in the battle. I didn’t see it, but apparently he was caught by the dragon’s fire breath spell; like many others.
“I will ensure everyone who wishes to undergo the spell receives the offer. We can talk more about it later.” She said, clearly pleased. Maybe she expected me to make the offer, or maybe she’d planned to ask me herself about it later. Either way, she didn’t seem surprised.
Later, after gathering a seed myself, Suma and I found a nice spot and planted them. She grew a tree about three meters tall. Which was two meters taller than the average. I put mine in, thinking about Nine, and gave it some mana. It grew to the size of a mature alder tree fairly quickly; easily the tallest planted so far.
“What do you plan to do now?” Suma asked, looking up at me from beneath the branches of our trees.
“I’m going to take mum home.”
“And then?”
Suma’s POV
A year has passed since the battle with the dragon. Life has changed greatly. Mother and I no longer live in Zach-Ahshem. We moved to the Ambos-Ompera, the capital. Queen Ompera released Farnír and I from military service just a week after the three armies dispersed. She then offered me a position as a non-landed noble, a Barony, and a position as a healer for the Royal Mages. Though I have not been made a noble yet, as other matters have been taking precedence. Mother and Ceil did not marry, but they have started living together. Neither of them seems to mind the age difference. The Queen did offer a position of authority to Farnír as well, but he refused; tired of working in the military.
Landing in the Royal Mages training area, I contacted Farnír, who had been with Sela-Car, who moved to the capital recently as well, working on new runes to allow for faster travel between cities. Something he called, a ‘mag-lift carriage. “Farnír, are you ready? The ceremony is going to start soon.” I said frantically.
“Yes, I’m ready.” He said, and I summoned him. When he appeared, he was not covered in inks and dyes and clays as I expected. Instead, he wore fine garments of dark blues that covered most of his body.
“Oh? Your garments look… surprisingly presentable.” I said.
“I gotta look good. It isn’t every day my friend gets promoted to nobility.” He said. Today was the day. After a year of waiting, this was when I would receive my Barony.
“How has your work progressed?” I asked, perching on his shoulder, careful not to tear his garments.
“The mag-lift is… stalling. I’ll go home and get some more research on it later.” He said, walking to the grand hall.
“Speaking of which, how is your mother?”
“Still cancer free. Her doctor sure was shocked.”
“Has there been progress on your other venture?” I asked. Occasionally, he would have me summ...
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