From Arcadia, Storm and Aurora flew the remaining distance back to their hideout with Pyros.
Since they weren't restricted to the ground this time, the journey was a lot faster and the flight back took about a week to complete.
Normally the flight back would have been even faster, but they lost 2 days having to fly large detours around cities or fortifications, instead of flying straight to the Hatching grounds.
Storm hoped that during that time whatever spell was effecting his uncle would wear off, but he continued to remain unresponsive and only followed whatever instructions he was given by the holder of the control staff.
He only hoped that the hags could reverse whatever had been done to him.
If they couldn't, Storm wasn't sure if he would ever forgive himself for being unable to aid his uncle when he needed him most.
Their journey eventually ended at the same place where it first began, almost a month had passed since that time.
At first Storm thought that he had somehow gotten lost and had come to the wrong settlement as it was barely recognizable.
A large camp with almost 30 tents had sprung up around the entrance to the tunnels.
Druids, Gnolls and even other beastmen that wasn't part of their forces before, had worked hard to build this small settlement outside of the tunnels.
A wooden Palisades wall surrounded the entire settlement, further adding to the security of the settlement.
Storm wandered through the town until he ran across The Grans.
A look of shock appeared on their faces when they saw Pyros's condition.
"You poor dear!!! What have those people done to you!!?" They said.
"Please!! If there's anything you can do for him!!!" Exclaimed Storm.
They walked around Pyros and slowly inspected his body.
"Hmmm."
"His mind is clouded by some kind of suppression magic!!"
"It's attached to his head piece."
"We should be able to disable it."
They looked at the metallic plates around his chest and neck with skepticism.
"Those will be a harder matter though!!"
"It clearly wasn't designed to be removed."
"Will do what we can though."
Aurora handed the control staff over to them so that they can lead him inside.
They were just about to leave, when they saw the object Storm held in his forelimbs.
"That egg? Can we see it?!"
Storm reluctantly placed the egg on the ground and the Grans began crowding around it.
"This egg... where did you find it?" Asked the Grans.
"In a crazy mage's office? Why?"
"The child within, he has no soul."
"What!!?" Asked both Aurora and Storm.
"The child is stillborn, and has no life of his own."
"And yet he is not dead."
"We sense powerful magic that is keeping his body preserved until a soul can inhabit it's flesh."
"We can work with this!!" Exclaimed the Grans.
"Work with it how?
What are you saying?" Asked Storm.
"Remember when we told you about Mimereus's predicament?"
"How he needed an empty vessel that can house his spirit?"
"This will be the perfect vessel for his spirit. "
Storm and Aurora were both in shock.
"Are... are you saying what I think you're saying?!" Asked Aurora.
"Yes, we have everything we need to return him to the land of the living."
"Mimereus!! You need to hear this" called Storm.
Mimereus's mind awoke from his deep contemplation state when Storm called for him.
Everyone linked their minds to him so that they could give him the news.
He gave no reaction until the Grans finished telling him what they told Storm.
"What are the drawbacks to this procedure. " asked Mimereus.
"A hatchling's mind is not large enough to house an entire ancient's memories. "
"So in the beginning your memories and personality will be dormant. "
"And will only return once your mind matures."
"Your mind would be that of a hatchling."
"Innocent and unknowing."
"It will be up to Storm and Aurora to raise you."
That particular news caught Storm by suprise, but he quickly pushed it down.
He had already promised Aurora that he would give her a child and he had no intention of backing out now.
Whether that child was his by blood or not didn't matter.
He would raise him as his own and protect and nurture him.
Some of his suprise must have been sensed by Mimereus however.
"I don't wish to be a burden!" Said Mimereus.
"You will not, and have never been a burden, Mimereus!! We are willing to do this!!" Answered Aurora.
"I'll need a moment... to think this through. " said Mimereus.
"Of course, but you must make your decision by dawn!"
"Life magic is at it's strongest at the birth of a new day!"
"So the ritual must be performed then!" Said the Grans.
With the discussion over for the moment, everyone cut connection and went their own way.
The Grans took Pyros to the infirmary so that they can begin undoing what the Calderons had done to him.
Aurora took Mimereus's crystal back to their dwelling.
While Storm went to find his advisors.
They were suprised, but relieved to see that he had returned and after a brief discussion, he set up a meeting at noon tomorrow, so that they could brief him on the status of the hideout and any developments that happened during his absence.
With most of the day already over and with nothing else to do.
Storm retired to his dwelling so that he could catch up on lost 'opportunities' with Aurora.
Before he turned in though, he intended to seek out Mimereus one last time and get an answer out of him.
He entered Mimereus's mindscape and was suprised to find the normally bright and cheerful landscape had turned grey and colorless.
A depressing fog hanged over the landscape, indicating Mimereus's mood.
Mimereus was sitting by himself, staring into the fog while he brooded.
"That was quite a suprise they dropped on you, wasn't it?" Said Storm.
"Hmmm" grumbled Mimereus.
"How does it feel? Getting a second chance?"
"I'm not sure if I'm willing to go through with it anymore." Said Mimereus.
That particular piece of information caught Storm completely by suprise.
"Why not? You've wanted another chance since the day we first met!"
"You did not seem keen on the idea at first!" Replied Mimereus.
"No! It just caught me by suprise! I'm committed to the task! I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't!" Exclaimed Storm.
"What about your own plans for Aurora?"
"What about it? Nothing will change! And if we did have another child, you would just have a brother or sister who would grow with you.
"Do you doubt me or Aurora's ability to do this?" Asked Storm.
Mimereus immediately shook his head.
"No it's not that!"
"Then why do you hesitate?!" Asked Storm.
"Because I don't believe I deserve a second chance!!" Yelled Mimereus in frustration.