The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL] Chapter 411: After the Light

The aftermath was fine.

Eryndra didn’t collapse, and the people weren’t particularly alarmed.

Now, those would’ve been the words Riley would’ve wanted to say to anyone asking about their current situation.

Unfortunately, saying that would require lying through his teeth.

Because in truth?

Day Zero was a complete mess.

See, it was one thing to witness a strange beam of light. In a world governed by magic, even entire skies changing colors wouldn’t necessarily trigger panic. People had seen magical catastrophes, festivals, leyline storms, and enough absurd phenomena to become somewhat desensitized over time.

But a pillar of light visible from practically every territory by anyone possessing at least one functioning eye?

Oh, and of that accompanied by a quake powerful enough to shake the entirety of Eryndra?

You’d best believe it sparked talk of the end of the world.

The atmosphere shifted almost overnight.

From casually going about their day to beings from all over scrambling to return to their territories, Eryndra was swallowed by a tension so palpable that even the children had started asking what they were supposed to do now.

Liam and Orien came running toward Riley, their small faces filled with visible worry after overhearing terrified discussions outside the medical wing.

People prayed, cried, or desperately chanted their own versions of spells, while others whispered about bedtime stories that, unbeknownst to them, were actually so much closer to the truth.

Then again, who would’ve easily believed that some ancient being was awakening beneath the wastelands when even Riley Hale, who already knew about the eventuality, still found himself wanting to deny the entire situation?

However, he couldn’t really play dead for the children’s sake, at the very least.

Liam immediately clutched at Riley’s clothes the moment he reached him before leaning in closer to whisper nervously,

"Brother... is it time foralready?"

The ex-mortal felt his chest tighten slightly at the question.

Even now, despite everything, Liam still remembered the discussions regarding the troubles they could face. Though maybe that had a lot to do with regrettably witnessing the Elder’s oracle for himself.

The resigned but allegedly composed older brother crouched slightly to reassure the children, forcing a calm smile even as the tension outside was practically suffocating.

"It’s going to be okay," he said gently. "Things may just become a little busier than usual for a while."

That part, at least, wasn’t a lie.

"Moreover..." Riley continued carefully, "You two probably won’t like this very much, but you’ll both have to be pulled out of the medical wing for training."

"Training?" young Liam repeated, blinking in surprise.

"Yes, because we need to make sure the two of you won’t be left defenseless in case of emergencies."

He then leveled his gaze slightly to look directly at Orien.

The golden dragonling tried not to show it, but Riley already knew this little guy was probably worried.

Sure enough, he looked ready to complain at any second. Even so, there was something adorably petulant about the loud little "Hmph!" he let out afterward, as if deeply offended by the idea that he still had to train like he wasn’t already strong enough.

Riley couldn’t help smiling faintly at that reaction before asking,

"Would it be alright if another person joined your training?"

That immediately got the children’s attention.

Both looked surprised but curious.

"Who?" Orien asked immediately.

"Do you remember the red dragon?" Riley replied. "The patient the two of you helped?"

"Him?!" Orien exclaimed. "Isn’t he old-?"

Riley pursed his lips, trying to hold his laugh in.

This golden duckling had just called his own father old, as in the creaking type.

Then again...

That was technically true, so what exactly was Riley supposed to say to that? More importantly, even he had gone through similar suffering when he first met this guy, so at least they could all bond through shared experience.

"Well, yes," Riley admitted carefully. "But he says he needs practice because he’s become rusty."

"You remember how we told you he’d been sealed as a human for a very long time, right?"

Orien crossed his small arms immediately despite now being carried in one of Riley’s arms.

"So he’s like you, then?" the golden dragonling asked suspiciously.

"Hm...something like that," Riley replied after a moment. "Although unlike me, who had to learn most things from scratch, I think he just needs time to get used to everything again."

Orien huffed loudly.

"It’s not like we can stop him," he declared. "But if he wants to join, then he should work hard. We can’t wait too long for him."

The golden dragonling looked incredibly arrogant as he said it, but unbeknownst to the great one, it only made him look cuter somehow.

Riley felt himself relax slightly despite the circumstances, especially when Liam earnestly added,

"We’ll help him catch up!"

That immediately earned him a soft attack.

Riley rubbed his cheeks against his baby brother’s affectionately, causing the child to squeak in surprise while laughing.

Orien instantly looked offended.

The golden dragonling immediately shoved his tiny hands between their faces in an attempt to separate them, clearly unwilling to tolerate such favoritism (thievery) happening right in front of him.

And just like that, the three of them ended up laughing together despite having just heard rather depressing news.

Unfortunately, the warm moment didn’t last long.

The medical wing doors suddenly opened.

Lady Cirila stepped inside, her expression noticeably tight as she looked directly toward Riley.

"Riley, dear..." she called out immediately. "I think you’ll want to go see Kael for a moment."

"Huh?"

The black dragon blinked in surprise.

But almost instantly afterward, he felt it.

A sharp flare of irritation surged through the bond connecting him to his mate.

Uh-oh.

Not good.

It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know that he needed to get to Kael as fast as he could before the perfectly standing MBE imploded from the inside.

__

Riley’s arrival was just perfect.

Any later, and something in that otherwise pristine office might’ve already been charred beyond repair.

But why?

Well, the answer became obvious the moment he stepped inside and saw the familiar figure standing before his mate.

Long silver hair cascading down his back, catching the light with an almost ethereal sheen.

A frame tall enough to nearly rival his very own golden dragon.

Crown Prince Rowan Elowen.

Nothing quite confirmed that shit had officially hit the fan better than the sudden appearance of one of the recently sealed High Elves.