Chapter 29: The Aftermath
January 18, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Flora awoke to the sound of waves.
Her body ached, every muscle screaming in protest. She lay on a stretch of sand, the sky above her painted in soft hues of dawn. The Sword of Vengeance rested beside her, half‑buried in the sand.
Aestus knelt at her side, relief flooding his face. “You’re alive.”
Flora groaned. “Barely.”
The dragon lay curled nearby, wings folded, breathing heavily but alive. Its scales glimmered faintly in the morning light.
Flora pushed herself upright. “Malum…?”
Aestus shook his head. “Gone. The sword vaporized him completely.”
Flora exhaled slowly, a weight lifting from her chest. “It’s over.”
Aestus hesitated. “Maybe.”
Flora frowned. “What do you mean?”
He pointed toward the horizon.
The sea was calm — too calm.
No wind.
No waves.
No sound.
Aestus’s voice was barely a whisper. “When Malum died… something else woke up.”
Flora’s stomach tightened. “What?”
Aestus swallowed. “I don’t know. But the future just went dark.”
Flora gripped the sword.
The victory felt hollow.
Something was coming.
And they were ready.
