I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Chapter 574: Calm Time?

In the days that followed, tranquility began to settle over the Elven lands. The scars from the Great Calamity's attack were visible across the palace grounds and the villages beyond, but Elven Magic worked tirelessly to mend the damage.

Charred remains of walls and upturned earth that once spoke of war started to transformed into rejuvenated gardens and flowering meadows. The Elves were confident their Magic would restore every piece of their homeland, no matter the destruction.

Erend and Eccar, though healing well under the care of the Elven healers, carried layers of weariness from their battles. Injuries had built up from months of fighting, and no potion or spell could erase their exhaustion overnight. Yet, they felt relief in the calm and took solace in the absence of immediate threats. Chapter Continue:

One evening, Erend managed to reach Arty through their connected mind. Her voice filled with relief upon hearing his voice.

"Erend! Thank god... We didn't know if—"

"I'm here," Erend assured her, a smile crossing his face as he listened to his sister's familiar voice. "We're all fine. Eccar too. Can you tell General Lennard to pass word to Adrien and Billy's families? Let them know they are also safe."

Arty's response was filled with warmth and resolve, and she promised to convey his message. Knowing his family and friends would hear of his safety was enough to settle some of the worry that had been gnawing at him.

During the quiet weeks that followed, Erend found himself gravitating more and more toward Aurdis. With each evening, they'd find secluded moments away from the formalities of court, wandering together through moonlit corridors or meeting beneath the starlit canopy in the palace gardens.

Eccar, who noticed Erend's nightly escapes in the middle of the night, simply smiled and shook his head, choosing to keep his playful comments to himself.

Eccar, in his way, was also enjoying the quiet. For someone who had spent years in the chaotic realms, he took every chance to immerse himself in the comforts of this world. Elven healers tended to him daily, soothing his old wounds and coaxing strength back into his body. He accepted the peace, knowing their rest was both earned and, perhaps, a fleeting gift.

The days passed, stretching into weeks, and the Elves began to resume life as before, their laughter and music slowly filling the palace halls once more.

Under the pale light of dusk, Erend and Aurdis sat side by side in the small garden behind the palace.

It was a place of quiet beauty, nestled among trees whose silver leaves caught the last light of day and casting a gentle shimmer over the garden.

They had come here often in the past to find a moment of peace, where the weight of the world felt lighter, softened by each other's presence.

Aurdis leaned her head on Erend's shoulder, and together they watched the shadows stretch across the ground, peaceful and still.

Her hand slipped into his, their fingers interwoven and for a moment they simply sat in silence, letting the serenity of the garden fill the space between them.

"We were lucky," Aurdis murmured after a time, her voice soft with relief. "So many survived. Even our warriors and mages… they were wounded, yes, but…" She lifted her head slightly to look at him, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "It could have been so much worse."

Erend nodded, feeling the weight of her words. He thought back to the fierce battle they had faced, the chaos and fire, and the near-hopeless odds. Yet here they were, bruised but alive, their people safe and their world spared. Its was no doubt a huge success.

"It's because of you and Eccar," Aurdis said, a note of sadness threading through her voice. She lowered her gaze. "Without you, I don't know if… if we would have been able to stand against it."

She then looked up at him, her brow creased slightly. "And all I did was watch from the behind. I should have done more."

Erend's hand tightened gently around hers.

"That's not true," he said firmly with warm gaze. "You helped, Aurdis. More than you know. And I fought because I had something worth protecting… someone worth fighting for. You gave me a reason to keep going, even when it felt impossible. You and they all reminded me what I am were fighting for."

A small smile lifted the corners of Aurdis's lips, her expression softening as she looked at him. She rested her head against his shoulder once more. Right now, her heart lighter.

"Thank you, Erend," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "For all of it. For being here."

Erend brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead, feeling a peace he hadn't known in a long time.

In this quiet garden, with Aurdis beside him, he allowed himself to relax.

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In the bright light of his chamber, Saeldir worked tirelessly surrounded by shelves filled with ancient scrolls, delicate vials, and crystals that pulsed faintly with stored Magic.

He had barely rested since the battle, driven by an insistent need to ensure the palace grounds and surrounding lands were secure.

In front of him, a large crystal mirror shimmered, its surface rippling like water as he channeled his energy into it, using it as a conduit to scan the Magical currents in the area.

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowed in concentration. The mirror displayed layers of the palace's protective energy fields, each shimmering with various hues as they interlaced to form a resilient barrier.

Saeldir methodically checked each thread, searching for any signs of instability, any lingering spells that might have slipped through in the chaos of the battle.

For a while, everything appeared undisturbed, and he allowed himself a small measure of relief.

But as he glanced over one of the outer layers, his attention sharpened. A faint ripple had disturbed the smooth flow of the Magic. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but enough to set his instincts on edge.

Saeldir frowned, leaning closer, his hand hovering over the crystal as he focused on the spot. It wasn't just a ripple; as he observed, he saw the faint outline of what appeared to be a small vortex, spinning quietly against the flow of Magic.

It flickered with strange energy, Saeldir thought it was no natural disturbance.

Just as suddenly as it appeared, the vortex faded, leaving the protective barrier untouched.

Yet the unsettling sensation lingered, a warning prickling at the edges of Saeldir's mind.

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