The sun had just started to rise above the horizon.
Storm and Aurora was standing outside the ritual site with the Grans.
They had decided that the best place to do the ritual was in the center of the newly constructed village underneath a great oak that had been carefully preserved and nourished by the druids.
A large ritual circle had been painted on the ground and in it's center was the egg Storm had found as well as the crystal that housed Mimereus's spirit.
As the sun's rays passed over the ritual site, the Grans stepped forward and began chanting.
The crystal began to glow and Mimereus's golden spirit manifested above the crystal, the tip of his tail was still attached to the crystal as he spreads his ethereal wings.
He looked at Storm and Aurora with a hint of sadness.
This would be the last time they would be able to speak for many years.
Until his spirit reawakened in the child and his memories returned.
"Do you have a preference for a name?" Asked Aurora.
Mimereus looked up at the sun in the sky.
"Orian." Replied Mimereus.
'Orian' was the name that the denizens of the world had decided to name their sun.
It signaled the ending of one life and the beginning of another.
"And what if you're reborn as a female?
We never found out the gender of the child in the egg?" Said Storm.
Shock showed on Mimereus's face before Storm burst out laughing.
"Just messing with you!
The child is male.
I had the Grans check before the ritual. "
Mimereus smiled at him.
"Guess I'll see you soon." He said.
With that, the last tether that held him to the crystal shattered.
He began to float upward towards the sky before a second tether grabbed a hold of his tail and began to slowly pull him towards the egg.
As he dissappeared into the egg, a glow from within shined and the outline of the child within could be seen.
At the same time, the child began to stir in his sleep for the first time since it's creation.
After a minute, the child settled down again and the glow faded.
"Did it work?!" Asked Aurora.
The Grans stepped forward and placed a hand on the egg.
After a moment they smiled in response.
"The child lives."
"Though it seems he's not yet ready to leave the comfort of his egg."
Storm and Aurora breathed out a sigh of relief.
It was official now.
Storm and Aurora had become parents.
Even if the hatchling did not share their blood.
They would raise him and see to it that he received a better life the second time.
Aurora and Storm took the egg and carefully placed it inside their nest.
The other advisors came by one by one to offer their congratulations to the couple.
Storm left the egg in Aurora's care, then went to the infirmary to check on Pyros.
His uncle laid on his side and seemed to be sleeping.
The metal visor still covered his head, though the plates that covered his front limbs had been completely removed.
The ones around his chest, neck and wings were still attached and unaltered.
Some of his scales had been stripped with the plates that were removed and several bleeding scars were bandaged up where the plates had been welded or bolted in place.
Storm looked at his metallic chest.
"Was there nothing you could do about these?" Asked Storm.
The Grans shook their head sadly.
"I'm sorry, Storm."
"But there's nothing we can do about the remaining parts."
"The ones in his chest are too extensive and are connected to many of his vital organs. "
"Removing it would kill him in minutes. "
"The plates covering his neck are bolted into place."
"Removing them would cause serious harm."
"He might lose his ability to speak."
"Or he might die instantly. "
"The ones around his wings are also too dangerous to touch."
"The bone structures of dragons are thinner and weaker at the wings."
"Removing them could possibly keep him from ever flying again. "
"The ones that covered the top of his head is the worst.
It bore directly into his skull and connected to his brain.
It's too dangerous to remove" Explained the Grans.
"Are you sure you removed the mind control then?" Asked Storm.
"We're sure!
We removed the bits that were responsible for it.
It's just a harmless hunk of metal now.
No different to a helm, or armor.
Storm hated himself for not being there to stop the Calderons from mutilating his uncle.
He vowed that when he found them again, he would make them pay dearly for what they had done to his family.
"Don't blame yourself, Storm!"
"There was nothing you could do. "
"The old one made his choice, knowing the risks."
"How is he?
Mentally, I mean?" Asked Storm.
The Grans shook their heads.
"We removed the fog that clouded his mind and his original personality is resurfacing. "
"He's currently still comatose and has not shown any signs of waking."
"We won't know the full extent of the damage until he does."
"The mind fog was acting as a pain suppressant that shielded him from the pain his modifications was causing him."
"Without it, his pain is returning in full and his mind is attempting to shield him from it by keeping him comatose. "
"It's possible that he might never awaken. "
"Even if he did wake up, he might not want to continue living with the agony his modification are causing him."
"If that came to pass, then we should respect his wishes and end his suffering. "
"I'm sorry, Storm. "
Storm wept for his family member.
After a moment he composed himself and hardened his heart.
"Do everything that you can for him.
If you require anything to help him, just ask and I shall provide it!" Said Storm.
The Grans nodded their heads.
"We shall do everything we can to lighten his burden, Storm. "
"We swear it!!" Exclaimed the Grans.
Storm left his uncle in the Grans care.
He had a meeting with the rest of his advisors in less than an hour.
But he decided to pop in at Aurora's first, before making his way there.
He gave her the report from the Grans and her grief was every bit as great as his own.
They comforted each other as best they could, before he turned back to the egg.
"Has there been any change?"
"The little guy has been kicking occasionally, but it seems like he wishes to sleep for a little while longer.
We should be patient. " Explained Aurora.
With that, Storm left to attend the meeting.
Leaving Aurora to care for their future son.