One second the Guardian was in front of Zinya and Kamila and the next she was past them like they were made of smoke. There was no need for magic or violence, her existence and ans were beyond what mortal minds could understand.
"And when that day cos, I'll kill you with my own hands." Salaark grabbed Kigan by the neck without him offering any resistance.
Even if he were still at his peak condition, the Dark Phoenix knew he was no match for the Overlord. She could Blink farther than he could Warp, walk faster than he could fly, and was stronger than his twin cores made him. Yet.
'It's over. I deserve everything Mother is going to do to . The Dark Phoenix thought. I won't be there to see the Master's plans co to fruition but I know he'll forgive . I've fulfilled my duty and that's enough. It must be enough.'
The white flas engulfed Kigan from head to toe and he gritted his teeth to withstand the agony.
Yet there was none.
The Rebirth Flas closed his wounds and restored his body. Kigan's mass returned to being that of a Divine Beast and his life force was whole again.
"Yet that day is not today." After healing him, Salaark took a few steps back to give him space. "Today you are not the Bloodstained. The lost son I know and hate would have run away at the first sign of danger.
"He would have brought sha to my na and Nest like he has done since the day he betrayed us. When confronted with his cris, Kigan Bloodstained would have scread and struggled like the cornered rat he is.
"You, instead, have fought to protect these two won and put your life on the line even when you understood you had no chance of victory.
"I don't know if you did it because I made Kamila an honorary mber of the Nest or because she's Lith's wife and Elysia's mother. I don't know if you simply did it because there's sothing between you and her sister. Honestly, I don't care."
Usually, being this close to a mber of her Nest was enough for Salaark to read his mind. To share their thoughts and feelings. Kigan, however, was beyond her Blood Imprint bloodline ability.
Not only was he still part Eldritch, and the Overlord's powers had no influence over the undead. Kigan was also part Balor which ssed up with her readings further. The two fallen bloodlines shrouded Kigan's Phoenix blood like a thick mist.
Salaark could spot vague figures and hear muffled sounds but that was it. It was the reason Leegaain still ignored Vastor's identity as the Master even after eting Zoreth in person so often.
Her Eldritch nature devoured every sll and energy trace lingering on her body. That and the influence of her troll core limited what he could read through the Dragon scales to her most surface-level feelings and imdiate thoughts.
"Today, you have acted like a proud mber of my Nest." Salaark's gaze softened as she looked Kigan straight in the eyes. "You have fought against impossible odds, defended one of my helpless Hatchlings, and submitted to my judgnt.
"Today, you are Kigan the Dark Phoenix and I am your mother. Today, you made proud, son."
Kigan fell onto his knees, more wounded than from any blow even a Guardian could inflict on him. Kigan clenched his chest to suppress his burning heart. He wanted to tell her how ashad he was of his past actions.
He wanted to let his mother know that he had overco the madness of the Abominations and how much he missed her and his sibling. He would have accepted any punishnt, given almost anything to redeem himself just a bit in her eyes before accepting the blade of the executioner.
Almost.
Opening himself to the Blood Imprint would have also ant revealing the Master's identity and all the plans the old Professor had shared with Kigan. The Dark Phoenix refused to atone for a betrayal by perpetrating another so he shut up and swallowed his feelings.
"Thank you, Mother" He kept kneeling and slamd his fist on his chest.
"I'm a bit confused." Kamila said once it was clear that no one would get hurt. "Are you forgiving him, is this a temporary truce, or what?"
"A truce, Featherling." Salaark turned to Kamila, cooing to her womb with guttural sounds that reminded her of the clucking of Elina's chickens. "He can stay until sundown. After that, I'll hunt Kigan down like the rabid animal he is.
"I can't taint the day of my beloved Hatchling's conception with filicide. Isn't that right, Kha'hak?"
"Hey, no cheating!" Leegaain put himself between the Overlord and the baby. "If I can't teach him how to say dad in Dragontongue, you can't teach him how to say mom in
Phoenixtongue!"
"What cheating?" Salaark scoffed. "It's called poetic justice! You ruined Kamila's first childbirth by making sure that Elysia's first word would be dad. It's only fair that the baby boy's first word is mom!"
"It's a ridiculous argunt that makes no logical sense but I wholeheartedly agree." Kamila nodded. "It sure would help deal with the baby blues if I catch it again." "Nonsense!" Leegaain said in outrage. "Think of Lith. How do you think he would feel about it? You can be angry at all you want but he's innocent in all this."
"That's true." Kamila sighed. "I guess I'll have to talk about it with him first. Please, Grandma, refrain yourself from pulling a Leegaain. I appreciate the intention but as Grandpa so opportunistically pointed out, it would hurt Lith like it hurt .
"That wouldn't be justice. Just being a Leegaain."
"Stop using my na as if it's so kind of insult!" The Father of All Dragons spoke in a
soft and soothing voice, no matter how angry he was.
He was already in grandpa mode and the only thing he cared about was the baby.
"It kind of is." Salaark chuckled. "Don't worry, Kamila. Our little one can't hear anything
yet."
Kamila didn't like all those "our baby" more than she liked the Guardians caressing her stomach so much but she could only grit her teeth and smile.
"Another baby so soon?" Now that the situation had cald down, the full scope of the revelation hit Zinya like a ton of bricks. "Elysia is barely over six months old and you
struggled so much with depression after your first pregnancy"
'Kami is already having her second baby while I can give none to Zogar, I don't care what he says about his experints. I know he's just trying to make feel better. His previous wife gave him children so he is not the problem.
'Maybe I'm too old or maybe all the beatings Fallmug gave broke sothing inside of that not even magic can fix.' She inwardly added, fighting hard to hold back her tears.
"I know." Kamila sighed. "We wanted to wait a bit longer but we had no choice" "You an the Guardians wanted a baby boy so bad that they forced you and Lith to make one?" Zinya was flabbergasted and horrified.
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