With the battle now over, Aurora left Razor in charge of the survivors and rushed to the infirmary to check on Storm.
As she rushed into the main room, she found The Grans carefully studying what looked like a massive deep purple egg.
"What the hell are you examining?! Where is Storm!?"
They gestured at the egg.
"He's in there!" Said one of the Grans.
Aurora stared at the object.
"Did you do this? Is this some kind of new healing spell I'm unfamiliar with?" Asked Aurora.
This wasn't us!!" Exclaimed the Grans.
"What happened then?"
"After he was teleported here his condition began to rapidly deteriorate. "
"We tried everything, but nothing helped and his heart gave out."
"We tried to revive him but the magic was unsuccessful. "
"We were just about to declare him dead, whet 'THAT' formed around him!!" Exclaimed the Grans.
"If he did that, then your readings must have been wrong and he wasn't really dead!"
"No, he definitely was! No heartbeat, no breathing, no mental activity. " Explained the Grans.
"Then... is he still..?" Asked Aurora.
"He's alive now. Though his mind seems to be dormant right now." Explained the Grans.
Aurora stepped forward and placed a claw on the shell.
There was no doubt about it.
The shell was warm, and she could feel the beating of a heart deep inside. Something stirred inside in reaction to her touch.
"What is this thing?" Asked Aurora.
The Grans shrugged.
"Beats me!"
"We've never seen anything like it before in our life."
"It seems to function similar to an egg or an cocoon."
"By protecting it's occupant while his body undergoes changes."
"But we've never seen a dragon go through such a metamorphosis before!" Explained the Grans.
"What is this even made of?" Asked Aurora.
"Solidified dark magic." Explained the Grans.
Aurora studied the egg closer.
"How long do you think he will be like this?" Asked Aurora.
"Difficult to say."
"I suppose until whatever transformation he's going through is finished." Stated the Grans.
"Keep me up to date on any changes to his condition. " stated Aurora.
She placed a limb on the hard shell.
"Get well soon!" Whispered Aurora.
A dull purple glow formed in the center of the egg almost like a response to her.
She could vaguely make out Storm's outline through the glow.
Curled up and suspended inside the egg.
Aurora smiled in response and left the infirmary to notify the council of Storm's condition.
It took a few hours for everyone to assemble.
A few were unable to attend due to their injuries being more severe than at first apparent.
Other attended while still covered in bandages .
Aurora started by first explaining how Storm was injured in the first place, before moving on to his current condition. Everyone else was just as concerned and suprised at the news.
"We cannot let word of Storm's injuries reach the rest of the populous! Morale was already low due to the Order, it would completely break if people heard their hero had fallen!" Exclaimed Grombrim.
"Agreed!! We should be able to keep news of Storm's absence between us and rule in his stead while he recovers." stated Augustus.
Aurora nodded her head.
"We've done this before when he was absent for missions, we can do it again." She stated.
Personally, it wasn't the populous Aurora was concerned about, but Orian.
He was already feeling miserable from being banned from taking part in the fighting.
Hearing that his father was injured and his fate currently unknown would break him.
After his father had sent him back to the city, she heard that he had locked himself into his room as hasn't stirred since.
She still had to inform him of what happened.
And so the entire winter passed by.
Things went on as normal, but Storm's absence was certainly felt by the people.
Despite their best efforts, rumors about his absence soon spread among the people.
Aurora's favorite one was that she was keeping him prisoner in his home while she and the council led a coup.
As expected , Orian took the news particularly hard. He didn't say anything, but she knew him.
He blamed himself for his father's injury because he was too weak to join the battle.
He withdrew from contact with his friends and instead spent every moment of his free time training himself. His only company being Chrome, who trained with him.
Their reaction trouled Aurora greatly, but she didn't know how to resolve the situation and reassure her child.
She took a more active roll in the running of the settlement and often gave advice when the advisors were unable to decide on their own.
Under her instruction, the underworld portion of the settlement was expanded and a second set of walls were constructed at the site where the Hive once stood in order to fortify the area and ensure the goblins couldn't return.
With the path open and with access to the wider Underworld tunnels now accessible.
The Pioneers Guild spread out far and wide and soon returned with knowledge of new mineral deposits.
Smaller underground villages began to take shape in order to service these outlying miners.
A direct path to another inhabited Dwarven undercity was soon discovered and trade between them began to take shape.
With underground caravans traveling between the 2 settlements daily.
This also gave Storm's forces a means to travel around the continent without having to worry about human patrols.
Even as winter started coming to a close, Storm did not stir from his egg.
Aurora was exhausted from the day's events.
As winter was soon scheduled to end, everyone was busy preparing for the Spring Equinox Festival and Aurora had spent the better part of the day planning for the event with the council.
She entered the infirmary where Storm's egg was located and found Orian curled up next to it.
Without another word, Aurora went to go sit beside him.
"I miss him." Stated Orian.
"So do I, son." Stated his mother.
"It's my fault he's like this!" Exclaimed Orian.
"Why would you think that?!" Asked his mother.
"If I wasn't so little and weak, then I could have gone with you!! Maybe I could have...!"started Orian.
"Stop!" Stated Aurora.
Cutting off her son.
"You forgot that I was there when he got injured, and yet there was nothing I could do.
Whether you were there or not would have changed nothing. This isn't your fault. " stated Aurora.
Her son gave no reply.
"It's time I resolved this!" Thought Aurora.
"I'm sorry, son." Exclaimed Aurora.
Drawing Orian's gaze.
"For what?!"
"You know, your father only stepped on a battlefield for the first time when he was 50.
I was even older before I had my first one.
We had perfectly normal childhoods without worrying about war, or fighting.
When Storm and I agreed to have you, we knew things would be difficult. But we never considered how much of a burden it would be for you, watching your parents fighting for their lives everyday. "
Orian gripped his mother's claw.
"I just wish I could do more. To grow faster and lighten your burden. " stated Orian.
"You shouldn't have to!! Your biggest worry should be what game to play with your friends!"
As mother and son attempted to comfort each other, they failed to notice the cracks forming on the egg in front of them.