As Pyrite and Lapis stepped into the room, everyone stopped mocking the newly mated dragons.
Aurora got up quickly and guided the two to their table.
As they took a seat Razor addressed them.
"How are you two? Are you better now?"
They nodded their heads.
"We're getting there!
My sister is still a bit shaken up by her close encounter.
We just need time to process everything. " responded Pyrite.
"That fiend... he didn't..." started Kalipso.
Pyrite shook his head.
"Thankfully, he didn't get the chance before you arrived.
But she witnessed the Chimera have his way with a Griffin.
The Lich made it abundantly clear that she would be next." Explained Pyrite.
"We.... didn't see a Griffin prisoner in the pit when we arrived?" Said Razor.
Lapis shivered, causing Pyrite to embrace her.
"She..... didn't survive her run with the Chimera... The lich left to throw out the body when you three arrived. "
Anger showed on Razor's face.
"That beast had much to answer for!!" Exclaimed Razor.
"Is he gone for good now?!" Asked Lapis.
Mimereus hesitated before answering.
"I slew the Chimera, child!
And I destroyed the Lich's physical form ...
But he didn't die the way Liches were meant too...
Therefore I won't be suprised if he appeared again in the future.
Liches are notoriously difficult to slay." Explained Mimereus.
"It doesn't matter!! He won't touch you again!!
You have my word on that!!" Promised Storm.
The siblings nodded their heads.
"What happened to you, Auntie?
When you dissappeared, we all feared the worst, and after we were captured and saw the Lich's vile experiments, we were sure that...."
Aurora shook her head.
"I was never taken by the lich."
She gave a detailed account of her time while being captured.
Storm's temper rose again as she explained her treatment and wished that he was capable of traveling back in time in order to free her sooner and slay her captors himself.
She explained how Storm had rescued her and how she had been helping him ever since.
At the end of her account, the siblings turned to Storm.
"It seems that we owe you twice now!!
I owe you a personal debt for saving me and my sister, and for saving our aunt as well it seems!!
If you ever need anything, ask, and we shall do our best to grant it!!" Exclaimed Pyrite.
Storm smiled and dipped his head in gratitude.
"Your safety is reward enough for me!! You owe me no debt!!" Replied Storm.
"What is your name, stranger?" Asked Lapis.
"I am known by many names.
To the humans, I am known as Calamity.
To my friends, I am known as Storm.
To my family, I am Raijin" Answered Storm.
Recognition showed on the siblings faces when they heard his names.
They turned towards Aurora with a stunned look on their faces.
"Auntie?! Is this really...."
Aurora smiled and nodded her head.
"Yes!! This is the one I told you about while you were hatchlings!!
This is your elder brother!!" Answered Aurora.
They suddenly rushed forward and threw themselves at Storm.
The combined weight of two dragons knocked him over and all 3 dragons dropped to the ground, causing everyone present to laugh at the trio.
"Auntie told us so much about you!!
Everyone thought you were dead?!"
Storm laughed.
"The reports about my demise were greatly exaggerated!
I'm am still very much alive!!
Storm winced.
"Though, maybe not for much longer, if you two don't stop choking me!!" Exclaimed Storm.
His siblings realized their errors, and quickly released Storm, who crawled back to his feet.
Pyrite suddenly realized something, he frowned and gave Storm an accusing glare.
"Why do I smell our aunt on you?!!
What is the nature of your relationship with her?!" Interrogated Pyrite.
"Ohhh!! She sharpened his .... ow!!!" Started Grombrim.
Before he could finish, Kalipso fluttered her wings and the tiny dragon dove at him and rammed him in the stomach with her head.
The siblings looked at their aunt for an explanation, who did her best to hide her reddened face from view.
"I'm not sure how to tell you this... but... he and I are together now.
We're bonded now until death claims us one day."
"The siblings faces turned sad when they realized what this meant."
"So.... You won't be coming home with us!?" Asked Lapis.
"I will escort you two back home.
We both will! But I won't be staying...
my place is here! By his side!" Exclaimed Aurora.
The siblings looked at Storm.
"You both could return to the clan with us! I'm sure you would be welcomed!"
"I'm sorry, brother and sister!
But I cannot!
My task is not yet complete and there is too much at stake for me to turn my back now!
But I promise you!
When my fight is finally over!
We will be reunited and we can be a family again!!" Said Storm.
The 3 siblings embraced each other again.
After a while Storm spoke up again.
"Please forgive me!! But I must ask this?
There were more dragons missing, and yet we only found you two?
Do you have any information about the missing dragons?"
"Not alot, the males were all shipped off to Arcadia.
I was scheduled to be sent the next morning as well. " Explained Pyrite.
"Arcadia?! What could they be doing with the dragons over there?" Asked Razor.
"I don't know! But the Lich communicated by magic with a young mage regularly.
The lich called him 'grandson'.
There was something profoundly 'wrong' about the mage.
He made my scales stand on end!!" Said Pyrite.
"Wrong? How so?" Asked Aurora.
"Something about the way he looked at us!
He seemed covetous, jealous of us even.
Something about that look gave me the creeps!"
"Arcadia?! Wasn't that the place my uncle Pyros was operating undercover in?" Asked Storm.
Aurora nodded her head.
The siblings fell silent and avoided eye contact.
"You two heard something!!?" Accused Aurora.
"The... clan elder received a letter from him a week before our disappearance.
It was addressed to us.
He detailed how something big was happening and that what he needed to do would be very dangerous..." Explained Lapis.
Storm immediately grew concerned.
"Something about the letter was troubling... there was a certain 'finality' to the letter.
Almost like he was saying goodbye. " said Pyrite.
Aurora looked at Storm, concern clearly showing on her face.
"Storm!! We need to get to Arcadia and investigate immediately!!" She Exclaimed.