(Drakken's POV)
"My Lord...." Mya said as she approached me, "I've been getting unusual reports from our Knights...."
I was raising Vaella into the air while I sat down, "Ho!" I said as I tossed her up while she laughed, "There you go!"
She simply giggled and smiled brightly as I caught her, pulling her back in to me. She nuzzled into me as she laughed, giving off a bright vibe.
"My Lord...." Mya said
"Hm?" I looked at her, "What is it? I am spending time with my little girl, can you not see?"
She nodded, "That is fine...but there is something you need to address..." She said, "Our Knights have reported unusual howling in the woods, near the Dark Shade....I know that the Guardian was long deactivated so there's no reason for something to be there....."
I sighed, "What?" I said as Vaella hugged my chest, "What now?"
"I am not sure." She said, "But there has been strange sightings too....aside from the pained howling...."
I patted Vaella's head, "Hm." I said, "Where did you say this was?"
"According to the reports, it is near the Dark Shade, in the cavern systems that are just a few miles away." She said
I stood up, holding Vaella in my arms, "I see..." I said as I looked down, "He did say he was going to try something....I ignored the prick, so I didn't ask what exactly."
"My Lord?" She raised an eyebrow, "Do you know something about this?"
"Not everything." I said, "We'll go and check it out. I am sorry, Vaella. Papa has work to do..."
"Aww...." She said with a frown
I smiled at her, "Don't worry, when we come back, we'll ride on Grayle." I said, "Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Yes." She nodded
The door opened and Maegelle walked in, "Where is Vaella? It is time for her bath." She said, "Oh, there you are my sweetling...."
"Mama!" Vaella reached out for her as she walked up to me
Maegelle reached me and took Vaella from me, "Oh, my sweet love...." She said, "You're growing bigger by the day.....the maids are constantly mentioning it."
"Her hair is growing quite nicely, I enjoy combing it for her." Mya said with a smile, "She's so precious, Vaella....."
"Unlike Astorias, Vaella's hair is never that dirty, so it's nice to clean...." Maegelle said, "That other girl, oh my....she likes to get dirty...."
"Always bothering Riktor...." Mya shook her head, "She's something else...."
"Hm." I closed my eyes, "I better not hear anything about my Astorias, you hear?"
"Don't worry." Maegelle said, "We know she's your favorite."
I opened my eyes, "Hey, don't say such things in front of Vaella." I said as I reached for my girl's cheek, "Ain't that right, my dear?"
She simply smiled, "Yes."
"Maegelle...." Mya said as she eyed her up and down, "Something is different about you....."
Maegelle looked at her, "Oh?" she said, "W-What is?"
"Don't tell me...." Mya walked up to her and gently touched her chest, "You're with child....."
Maegelle blushed, "I...."
"Seems the Five Days had some profit." Mya said with a smile, "Another one, hm?"
"That's right." I nodded, "My beautiful Maegelle will give me another child....I cannot wait until she gives birth....so we can continue and make more..."
"D-Drakken....." Maegelle said while flustered
I leaned in and kissed Vaella's cheek, "Go on and give this one her bath." I said before kissing Maegelle on the cheek, "Mya and I will go and check on something."
"Won't take long."
*************************
[Somewhere Near The Dark Shade]
"I am surprised that the Dark Shade has had no unwanted visitors..." Mya said as we walked below some trees, "Especially with the Guardian being deactivated...."
"The Shade has built-in defenses now." I said as we reached a cave, "I implemented them after the incident happened. And with the issue resolved, it has been gathering more and more power by the day. So it is indeed capable of fending off by itself....that is purely because of him...."
"I see..." She said softly, "My Lord, May I speak?"
I looked at her, she was standing a few feet away, holding her bow while her quiver was strapped on her, "What is it?" I asked, "You are my wife, Mya, you can speak your mind to me."
"Have you gone and seen her?" She asked, a serious look on her face
"Hm." I said as I turned back around, "No."
"I see...." She said, "Is it because you don't want to....or because you can't.....?"
"Both." I said
"I understand." Her voice was soft, "Perhaps you don't want to face her.....after all, you're trying your best to move-"
"I'll never move on." I cut her off, "Don't you dare forget that. I told her that I will never forsake her, Mya. That's a fact...."
"I am sorry." She said quickly, "I....it's painful to think about, I apologize for bringing her up."
"Don't be." I said as I felt an unusual pressure from her, "You have every right to speak your mind. I will not mistreat you because you bring her up, our Daranne...."
"I miss her." She said
I looked at her and offered my hand, "Come."
She walked up to me and took my hand and the moment she did, I pulled her in and kissed her hand.
"My Lord....?" She asked
"I miss her too...." I said to her, "Every day....."
"I know." She said softly
"One day." I told her, "We'll all be together. I give you my word."
She nodded, "Yes."
"But for now...." I said, "We'll have to see what he is up to....."
"Right...." She said as a loud howling filled the air, followed by a massive wave of wind pressure, "It's....from in there...."
I held her hand and pulled her along with me as I walked through the mouth of the cave. The moment we entered it, we were hit by a foul stench that made my eyes water slightly.
"Fuck....." I said, "What the hell....?"
Suddenly, there was a deep growl that caused the entire floor to vibrate. A massive green eye opened in the far end of the dark cave, and a snarl was heard. A dragon head was seen rise from the darkness, swaying from side to side as it snorted viciously.
"T-The...Cannibal...." Mya said, "I know it has been a long time since you've used it....but what's it doing here...?"
I sighed, "Thanatos."
I snapped my fingers and summoned a bright ball of flame, lighting up the entire cave. The light shone on the Cannibal's entire body that was pressed against the cave wall. The moment this happened, Mya let out a horrified gasp, one that was quick and quiet.
"W-What....?!" She exclaimed, "W-What is wrong with it?!"
I saw what she meant, and she was right to be taken aback.
The Cannibal's body was slightly distorted; it was much larger than before, and its wings were covered in a strange black film that contained a black liquid. There were strange limb-like appendages sprouting from the sides of its chest, extending to the ground as they were constantly bleeding completely. That must have been the source of the foul stench.
There were bones sticking out of its spine and from its hind legs, almost as if its skeletal structure was altered. The wounds it had were emitting a black smoke, which had some sparks in it. I noticed that on its neck, several black protrusions were not there before.
But what was more shocking to see, from Mya's perspective, wasn't all of that.
It was the second head growing from the side of its neck, a small dragon head that seemed like it was rising out of the dragon's flesh.
It was unsettling.
I narrowed my eyes, "Thanatos..." I muttered,
"You're trying to create a True Dragon Vessel."