After a while, Cessilia stepped back, her hands still on her dragon’s cheeks.
“I think we have to go now. Sorry for bringing you back into such a mess.”
Cece released a little spat out a mouthful of snow, and nudged Cessilia’s face with her snout, making her smile.
“You’re right. Let’s go.”
The two of them turned heads toward Jinn, who was still trying to fight the ice it was trapped in. Sadly for the Red Dragon, Cece’s thick ice wasn’t going to melt anytime soon. It tried to move again, but Cece suddenly growled as a warning, making Jinn whimper and calm down.
“...We’ll take care of him later,” said Cessilia. “Let’s go help the others now.”
Cece turned around, and Cessilia quickly climbed on her dragon’s back. When they took off, Cessilia couldn’t help but glance one last time at the beach, Jisel’s body still lying there and getting smaller as Cece flew up. She sighed, and then turned her eyes forward.
Her dragon knew exactly where to head first. Flying through the rain, Cece took her back to the Capital’s streets, flying above the main place of conflict. Just like Krai or Kian, Cece was too big for the narrow alleys of the island, so Cessilia jumped down, landing on a roof and sliding down until she hit the street. She had been dropped just streets away from the main battle, but the number of fires going on in the area was worrying her; the alleys were filled with dark smoke, ashes, and people fleeing. Some recognized her, and tried to run to her to beg for help, but Cessilia knew she had to keep going. Apologizing when she could, she kept running, trying to find her cousin’s figure she had spotted from above.
“Tessa!”
“Cessi!”
As soon as she heard her, her cousin stopped her fight and turned around, and the two of them ran to each other. The two women jumped into each other’s arms, relieved.
“You’re good!” exclaimed Tessandra. “Damn, I was starting to get real worried... Is that Cece up there?!”
“It is,” smiled Cessilia. “She’s back.”
“She’s back and with a massive upgrade, you mean! What the heck did she eat to get that big? And... is it just me or has she changed color too?”
“Just a bit,” Cessilia chuckled.
“What about... up there?” muttered Tessandra, glancing toward the castle.
“...I got it. I just wanted to check on you guys here first.”
“If it wasn’t for those fucking fires, it would be better. We’ve pretty much won the fight already, but putting out those fires is a bit more complicated than just kicking some asses. Don’t worry, though, we got this. You go get your man, alright?”
“I will. But first...”
Cessilia glanced up at the sky, at her dragon, and Cece loudly screamed back. Then, the Silver Dragon did a beautiful arc in the sky, and dived down on the Capital. Right before it hit the building, it suddenly flapped its gigantic wings, and blew a long wave of ice and snow above the whole area. Everyone stopped, speechless, to witness the incredible white specks raining down on them. Not only had Cece blown an ice mist over the building, but the rain itself was cooled down, and came down in little snow crystals above the streets. Thanks to that, the fires were all almost immediately blown out and dampened, leaving smoke plumes everywhere. Tessandra’s jaw dropped.
“What in the world was that?! You got a snow dragon now?!”
“An ice dragon.”
“Ah,” scoffed Tessandra. “Too cool to play the water dragon now, uh? Well, I’m glad our girl is back... and you too.”
Cessilia smiled, and they hugged once more, quickly but strongly. Tessandra had noticed not only how her cousin wasn’t stuttering anymore, but also how she was different. When they let go of each other, she put a hand on her hip, glancing around.
“Well, thanks for the help with the fires, I think we’ll manage things from here. You better go and save whatever’s left of your man.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Cessi, I’ve been having fun slicing guys in two for the last hour or so, shouting after your annoying brother, and spending time with my boyfriend too. Trust me, we’re good here. Even Nana’s turning into somewhat of a pyromaniac...”
“Nana?” frowned Cessilia, confused.
“Long story, but the family might get bigger quite soon... Anyways, I’ll update you later. Don’t worry about us, go!”
Cessilia nodded and, after one last glance, she turned around, headed for the highest roof she could find in the area. It did seem like Tessandra and her brothers had a hold of the situation already. For some reason, it looked like they had gathered the Yekara soldiers and mercenaries in the middle of the plaza, and were subjugating the last ones resisting, or hunting them down in the streets.
Quickly reaching the rooftop, Cessilia jumped just in time to be grabbed by silver-scaled claws. Holding on to her dragon, she quickly climbed all the way to Cece’s back and sat to take a better look at the situation below. The streets were still very animated with people either fighting, fleeing, or helping to put out the remaining fires. It seemed like the last fights were now pretty scattered, and would die soon. As Cece flew higher, Cessilia saw beyond the Inner and Outer Walls. For some reason, one of the bridges was gone, but Kian and Krai were still fiercely defending two of the three remaining, and the last one was visibly under the citizens’ control. In fact, she could see people going in and out, probably exchanging supplies or carrying the injured to safer locations. She could bet the camp they had set up before was helping again, and she spotted what she thought to be food distribution lines too. Someone had perhaps reused their ideas for the greater good...
As they got closer to the castle, Cessilia saw the plaza where they had freed Sabael and the others. To her surprise, she spotted Kassian almost there, leading more men and regaining control of the area too. Her brother looked busy, but he still glanced up, and smiled at her when their eyes met. Cessilia smiled right back at him, a bit relieved to have him help out too. How much more complicated would the situation have been, had her big brothers not shown up…? Still, the final battle was up to Ashen and her.
Cece flew in circles around the castle. The tower Cessilia had fought Jinn in previously with the banquet hall was completely gone and reduced to a mountain of bricks. In fact, a fifth of the castle had collapsed and been destroyed as a result. Cessilia sighed, but luckily, it was most likely Yekara men who would have been killed in that disaster. Meanwhile, Cece kept flying, trying to find a point to drop Cessilia at. She didn’t want to have to go back all the way from the bottom to the top, but her dragon quickly found the perfect spot. Ironically, it was the Cerulean Suite’s balcony.
Cessilia jumped into the familiar place, now looking all dark and gloomy. She loved this room a lot, and was glad it had somehow survived the castle’s collapse. She turned around to face Cece.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Her dragon screeched in response, and left, probably off to extinguish more fires and help wherever it would be needed. Cessilia turned around, resolute, and began running. The castle had never felt so empty and cold. She only stopped to grab some new weapons, having lost her dragon claw swords in the fight against Jinn. She didn’t expect any more dragon enemies, though, and a set of short swords taken from a Yekara soldier would be enough to face whoever was left. Now that her bond with Cece was re-established, Cessilia was even more unstoppable. She effortlessly fended off the few soldiers that dared to stand in her way up the tower. The only thing she was worried about was Ashen. How long had passed since they had split up? She was desperate to know if he was alright. She had left him alone against his adopted brother and Lord Yebekh. If anything had happened to him...
As she kept climbing up, her worry grew exponentially for him. Jisel’s words came back in her head. Would she really be fine without him? And what would happen to this Kingdom if anything happened to Ashen? The questions hammered her heart like a restless monster trying to bring her down. Still, Cessilia kept climbing. She couldn’t even feel the injuries of her previous fight against Jinn anymore. Her Dragon Blood was healing it all, as if getting ready for the next one. Her body was still covered in scales, but that wouldn’t be a problem if everything inside was healed just as well...
She finally reached the throne room and barged inside, opening the doors wide. She was shocked to find the room covered in blood. A real carnage had happened there. Cessilia suddenly remembered she and Ashen had also fought more soldiers before splitting up. Still, there was even more blood now, and fresher too. How could the two of them have... carried out such a bloody fight? There was even blood high up on the walls! Her green eyes moved, and she saw, right in time, the silver flash of a sword. Cessilia jumped without even needing to fight, blocking the blade right above Ashen.
Lord Yebekh’s eyes grew wide in shock.
“...You!” he grunted.
