Chapter 80: Return of the Black Dragons

Morning sunlight pierced through the broken towers of Ironridge Fortress.

For the first time in decades...

The fortress no longer felt abandoned.

Smoke rose from repaired chimneys.

Imperial banners once again flew above the walls.

Black Dragons patrolled the battlements.

The forgotten fortress had begun to breathe again.

Kael stood atop the eastern wall.

The mysterious egg rested inside a padded leather crate strapped securely to his back.

The system still refused to identify it.

Every few hours...

It gave a faint pulse.

Thump.

Almost like it was listening.

Walter walked beside him carrying breakfast.

"So..."

"Still no idea what kind of egg it is?"

Kael shook his head.

"Nothing."

Walter looked disappointed.

"I was hoping it'd hatch into something tiny."

Leon glanced over.

"So you could carry it?"

Walter grinned.

"So it'd think I'm its father."

Everyone ignored him.

Restoring Ironridge

Commander Aldric led Kael through the fortress one final time.

"The western wall needs rebuilding."

"The eastern watchtower requires reinforcement."

"The granaries are empty."

"But..."

He looked around proudly.

"The foundation remains strong."

Kael nodded.

"This fortress shouldn't be abandoned again."

He turned toward Darius.

"I want a full report."

Darius unrolled a parchment.

"Current supplies will last approximately two months."

"We recovered usable weapons for nearly one hundred soldiers."

"The wells are still functional."

"The forge only needs new craftsmen."

Walter smiled.

"So..."

"We're keeping it?"

Kael looked across the massive fortress.

"No."

Walter blinked.

"No?"

"We're restoring it."

"It's still Imperial property."

"We're simply returning it to the Empire."

Commander Aldric smiled.

For twenty years...

He had hoped someone would say those words.

A New Appointment

That afternoon...

Kael gathered everyone inside the command hall.

Commander Aldric stood quietly near the old commander's chair.

He had no expectation of what came next.

Kael stepped forward.

"Commander Aldric Vayne."

The old knight saluted.

"For twenty years..."

"You fulfilled an order everyone else forgot."

"You protected Ironridge alone."

"You preserved its history."

"You never abandoned your oath."

Kael looked around the room.

"So..."

"I cannot think of anyone more qualified."

He drew the Imperial seal from his cloak.

"In the Emperor's name..."

"I recognize Commander Aldric Vayne as the rightful Warden of Ironridge Fortress."

Silence.

Then—

Every Black Dragon slammed a fist against their chest.

THUMP!

Commander Aldric's eyes widened.

"...Your Highness..."

"I..."

Words failed him.

Kael smiled.

"The fortress has waited long enough."

"It deserves its commander back."

For the first time in decades...

Tears formed in the old knight's eyes.

He dropped to one knee.

"I swear..."

"...Ironridge will never fall while I draw breath."

A Letter to the Capital

Later that evening...

Kael sat at an old wooden desk.

He began writing.

To His Imperial Majesty

Ironridge Fortress has been secured.

Commander Aldric Vayne remains alive and faithfully carried out the final order given to him twenty years ago.

The fortress can be restored.

However...

Questions remain regarding the underground vaults.

I request permission to continue investigating their history.

—Kael Aurelius Asterion

He deliberately omitted any mention of the egg.

Some discoveries...

Required understanding before reporting.

Not secrecy.

Responsibility.

The Emperor Reads

Several days later...

Dragonspire Palace.

The Emperor quietly read Kael's report.

Magnus stood beside him.

"He didn't mention everything."

The emperor nodded.

"I expected as much."

Magnus looked surprised.

"You aren't concerned?"

The emperor folded the report.

"If Kael intended to hide something for personal gain..."

"He wouldn't have reported Ironridge at all."

"He reported what the Empire needed immediately."

"What he withheld..."

"...he's still trying to understand."

A faint smile crossed the emperor's face.

"That is wisdom."

He picked up a quill.

Imperial Decree

Commander Aldric Vayne is hereby reinstated as Warden of Ironridge Fortress.

Funds shall be allocated for its restoration.

One hundred engineers.

Two hundred soldiers.

Fifty craftsmen.

Effective immediately.

Magnus smiled.

"The old commander finally receives his reward."

"He earned it twenty years ago."

The Emperor replied.

The Road Home

The following morning...

The Black Dragons departed Ironridge.

Commander Aldric stood at the gates.

Beside him...

Dozens of newly arrived Imperial soldiers had already begun clearing rubble.

Life had returned.

Walter stretched in the saddle.

"I'm going to miss this place."

Leon stared at him.

"You complained every day."

"I know."

Walter laughed.

"But now it feels like home."

Kael looked back one final time.

The black dragon banner fluttered proudly above Ironridge.

Not his banner.

The Empire's.

Exactly where it belonged.

As the group disappeared down the eastern road...

The egg on Kael's back pulsed again.

THUMP...

A little stronger this time.

The system flickered briefly.

Hidden Notification

Synchronization Detected...

...

Growth Condition One Fulfilled:

A Home Has Been Restored.

Further Conditions:

Locked

The notification vanished before Kael could read more.

He frowned.

"A home..."

He whispered.

The egg wasn't reacting to mana.

Or battle.

It had reacted...

To restore Ironridge.

Kael gently rested a hand on the shell.

"What are you?"

The egg gave no answer.

Only another quiet heartbeat.

As the Black Dragons rode west toward the Imperial Capital...

None of them noticed a pair of golden eyes watching from the highest tower of Ironridge.

The ancient fortress had accepted its new guardian.

But the journey of the Tenth Prince...

It was only beginning.