"Who says a lot can change in three years?" Piers continue, with an excited expression on his face as he addressed the small boy seated before him.
The child listened with rapt attention and eyes wide with wonder.
"I an, look at now. I’m married to the most gorgeous woman in the world, and I just achieved Sword Knight status."
The youngster hung on every word without saying anything.
"Do you know the best part, kiddo?" Piers asked, with a widening.
The boy shook his head.
"I’m best friends with the most powerful being in this world," Piers boasted, puffing out his chest with pride.
The child’s jaw dropped. "No way! Are you serious, Uncle Piers? You’re actually best friends with the Dragon God?"
"Uh huh," Piers confird with a nod. "Did you know we were once teammates in the sa guild three years ago?"
The four-year-old Prince of Zahka appeared utterly dazzled. His young mind struggled to comprehend such incredible claims.
At that mont, Katherine entered the spacious chamber with so laughter on her face. "Are you trying to blow my nephew’s mind today, dear husband?"
Both she and Piers reached for each other with natural affection. Their lips t in a deep affectionate kiss while Piers’s hand slid down to grab her backside
Little Will imdiately covered his eyes with both hands and turned around. "Ewww!"
The couple finally broke apart, still grinning. Katherine turned to address her nephew. "Will, your mother’s probably been searching for you all day. It’s ti for sword practice, young prince."
The four-year-old lowered his hands and looked at them both with narrow suspicious eyes. "Or do you just want to send away so you and Uncle Piers can do the sa thing Mother and Father did to make Mother’s belly big?"
Both adults’ eyes went wide as saucers. Piers erupted into uncontrollable laughter, doubling over and clutching onto his tummy.
Katherine rushed closer to her nephew, trying to manage the situation before he could elaborate further.
After so gentle coaxing and promises of extra dessert, the boy finally agreed to leave.
Once the chamber door closed behind the young prince, she turned back toward Piers, who had just recovered from his fit.
"That’s one remarkably intelligent kid," Piers said in between residual chuckles.
"Too clever for his own good," Katherine agreed with a shake of her head.
They naturally gravitated into each other’s arms. They both had matching rings on their fingers.
Her smile softened as she gazed up at him. "I ca to remind you that today’s the day, darling."
"I know," he murmured, grabbing her thigh and pressing her back against the wall in one smooth motion. Their lips crashed together one more ti.
"Right now?" Katherine breathed against his mouth when they broke for air. "We already went six rounds today."
"Are you backing down from a challenge, Captain?" Piers teased, using her old title with deliberate provocation.
Katherine’s competitive grin spread across her face. "Never."
They surrendered to desire once more.
Piers slid his hands underneath her long skirt and smoothly rolled down her panties, while Katherine made her grip on his trousers to have them unbuckled.
They both looked like beasts aggressively trying to undress the other.
"Agh~" that moan escaped Katherine’s lips, and so it began.
For the seventh ti.
Katherine and Piers had spent the better part of those three years residing in the Kingdom of Zahka. It was a honeymoon that stayed longer than planned.
They had married almost imdiately after the incident, when Samael’s threat had finally been eliminated and the tilines rged.
Under his wife’s expert guidance, Piers had dedicated himself to mastering swordsmanship.
Katherine proved to be a demanding instructor, pushing him beyond limits he hadn’t known existed. The countless hours of training, the bruises and exhaustion, had all culminated in his recent achievent.
Just last month, he’d been officially recognized as a Sword Knight, a rank that placed him among the kingdom’s elite warriors.
But more than martial prowess, he’d gained sothing infinitely more precious. A life partner who challenged him, supported him, and loved him with fierce devotion.
Every morning, he woke beside Katherine and felt like the luckiest man alive.
And today, that life was about to intersect with the past, and in the most significant way possible.
———
mbers of Ravens Grave had scattered across different paths in life over the past three years, each finding their own purpose in the reconstructed world.
Bernard had invested his savings and energy into establishing the largest inn Dragonhold had ever seen. The Bronze Hearth, as he’d nad it.
It was so large that it was built across an entire city block near the rchant district.
Three stories tall with a red-tiled roof. The establishnt offered everything a traveler could desire: comfortable beds, fantastic als, strong ale, and entertainnt from local bards.
The success had exceeded even Bernard’s ambitious expectations. Most nights, every room was occupied, and the common area would buzz with rchants, adventurers, and locals alike.
Right now, he was behind the main counter, preparing to dish out the next set of plates.
The front doors swung open and two familiar figures stepped in.
"Bernard!" Elena called out.
He glanced up as genuine smile broke across his face.
Elena and Oliver approached, both dressed in the dark blue robes they decided to wear as a match.
"It’s today," Elena announced, practically vibrating with excitent. "Today’s the day!"
Innis erged from the kitchen, wiping flour from her hands onto her apron. Her face lit up upon seeing their forr guildmates. "Elena! Oliver!."
The four of them embraced each other dearly..
"Still can’t believe our Elena is the Guild Master of Ravens Grave now," Bernard said.
Elena ducked her head modestly, though pleasure colored her cheeks.
After Katherine had gone on the honey moon to Zahka a few years ago, she left the position to Elena until she returned.
However when it beca evident that such wouldn’t be the case, Elena took over the role much more permanently.
"And Oliver here makes a fine Vice Guild Master," Innis added, grinning at the younger man.
"Soone has to keep Elena from working herself to death." Oliver said with a shrug.
"Teaching the young mages is important duty!" Elena protested. "I can tell you that—"
"Save the lecture for later, scholar," Bernard interrupted gently. "We should start getting ready. We don’t want to be late."
——
anwhile, in the palace district, an entirely different preparation was underway.
King Oberon Thorne stood before a full-length mirror while servants made final adjustnts to his ceremonial regalia.
The royal blue doublet trimd with silver threading fit his fra perfectly, and the crown of Dragonhold rested comfortably on his hair.
Behind him, his children Alia and Kayden were similarly being attended to.
Alia wore a flowing gown of erald green, with her dark hair elaborately braided and woven with silver ribbons.
Kayden, now taller and slightly broader, cut an impressive figure in formal armor polished to a mirror shine.
"Father, we are ready." Kayden said, adjusting the sword at his hip.
But right then, Thamoryn entered the chamber from an adjoining room, looking rather wonderful in robes of deep purple accented with gold.
As Grand Magus, she’d always commanded respect, but as Oberon’s second wife, her position had beco even more prominent.
The marriage had been sowhat controversial, celebrated by so and criticized by others, but neither she nor Oberon paid much attention to gossip.
Beside Thamoryn walked a young woman who hadn’t existed in this world three years ago.
Liandrin.
Thamoryn’s daughter appeared to be in her early twenties, bearing similar resemblance with her mother.
She had the sa light blue hair, almost the sa shade as Kayden’s, and wore robes similar to Thamoryn’s as well.
The truth of her existence was known only to a select few: she had been the consciousness that once possessed Arianna.
However, during the world’s recreation, and the dragon God’s miracle, she had returned back to life.
The transition hadn’t been easy. Waking up with a physical body. But Thamoryn had been there every step, helping her daughter navigate this second chance at life.
Liandrin had proven herself worthy of it, dedicating herself to magical studies and assisting her mother with various responsibilities.
She caught Oberon’s eye and offered a small, respectful nod. He returned it warmly. Whatever complicated history surrounded her creation, she was family now.
From another doorway erged Ayan, Oberon’s first wife and the mother of his children.
Her expression wasn’t the brightest. It hadn’t been for a while, but she wore a no less magnificent attire.
Ayan had accepted Oberon’s second marriage, she had no choice in the matter. She’d never been unkind to Thamoryn or Liandrin, but neither had she embraced them with warmth.
"Everyone looks splendid," Oberon declared. "Shall we depart? We won’t be the one arriving late."
Talen, who’d been standing quietly near the chamber entrance.
He was the Grand Magus of Dragonhold now, which allowed Thamoryn to focus more on her role as the second Queen.
"The carriages are prepared, Your Majesty," Talen reported.
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