Chapter 85: A Peaceful Morning

Before us stood a goddess who had once said she couldn't step foot in our world, which meant whatever we did broke something.

"You should've let her go in peace. It was a good end for everyone." Serena sighed, though there was no hostility from her.

"W-What do y-you want?" I asked, wincing soon after.

Even though I was alive, my body was far from healed. It shivered uncontrollably and ached beyond belief.

The goddess narrowed her eyes, "Your body is damaged beyond repair. The full potential magic that I gave you is gone forever. Holy saints can only create one miracle in their lifetimes. You've been the second one to achieve one."

Finn's feathered tail protected me as he held me close to his chest.

"Why do you show yourself after so many years of silence, Goddess of Light?" Soren asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Well, my energy is spent after stopping my husband from destroying you all. He thought the world deserved a restart. In truth, if you had destroyed the crystal before lifting the curse, it would've killed everyone in the world as the hex turned to the soil unhabitable." She shrugged, shaking her head.

"What?" Finn breathed.

"My energy is now spent. I thought I would disappear silently and make this a world without gods. It would've given you true freedom, but you buffoons have set loose a true monster in saving Sylvia. All the while, she will be useless in stopping it. This time, there isn't any improving it." She shrugged, shifting her gaze towards me.

Unable to grip myself, I felt my body tremble, struggling to grip Finn's shirt.

"Well, it doesn't matter. The life in your womb must be enough for what's coming. It seems Theodore survived even though you were determined to destroy yourself and him." She carried on, walking to the side.

Her body was slowly becoming more transparent with each step she took. Everyone's eyes were stuck on her, yet something about what she had said stuck on Soren.

"Wait, what? Sylvia's pregnant?" The truth-barer questioned, turning his gaze towards me.

The citizens of Traedan appeared to have hidden why they were intent on finding me after he let me go. Then again, he probably didn't tell them that either.

"How far along?" He gasped, shaking his head.

"Five months or so," Finn answered, glancing at his sworn enemy.

"If I knew… I… I wouldn't have…" Soren's eyes glossed before clasping onto his shirt and wincing.

Ah… this reminds you of… what you lost.

"Your son will have to be enough to seal the souls that got out when you opened the gate. If he doesn't fall for their tricks." She shrugged, ignoring him.

Finn huffed, picking me up from the floor. "Isn't this something for the gods to figure out themselves?"

In response to his tone, she smirked. "Hah, fuck no. I did say Sylvia was the second one to do a miracle, and you just broke the first one. It came from the chosen of all the gods to seal the monstrosity you set loose."

I held myself close to Finn; his heart was beating so fast.

"What did you do to Xavier?" I asked, triggering her to gaze to the side.

"My other half has already left this realm; when I'm gone, all the original gods will be extinguished, which means no more miracles for you lot," Serena answered, glancing toward Evelyn, who had lost all her previous luster.

Even though we had both lost something, Finn held me tightly while Julian gazed at her, unsure of what would come.

"It took a bit, but your sister now has no magic, while you have nothing more than a fraction of what you used to have. You'll be lucky to cast that silly little light spell you mastered." Serena giggled as her eyes, for the first time, appeared lifted.

"Is there any way to send her back?" I asked, triggering the goddess to narrow her eyes at me.

"Nope, death is all that waits for her in that world, and I have no more magic for transmigration." She shrugged, turning back towards me. "How about I leave you with a little warning?"

Nothing that ever came out of her was fully the truth entirely. I didn't have the energy to fight her this time.

"Everything you gained here will be lost before it's found again." She smirked as her body became even more see-through.

Her time was coming, yet there was no fear in her eyes.

No… She's stronger than I when it comes to facing death.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Serah huffed.

Serena shrugged, "I don't know. It's for you to figure it out. Well, enjoy your victory for today. Especially you, Soren, you'll be the most to lose out of them."

"Wait!" He tried to stop her, but she disappeared soon after.

We were left wondering where the future was going to take us. With the curse gone, it appeared to be brighter, but with the goddess's last words, dark clouds appeared on our horizon. However, we needed a long rest to gather our thoughts.

Soren quickly bid us farewell, heading back with the others to Traeden, who was undoubtedly in chaos because of what had happened.

It was surprising to learn that all the humans had left without causing a fuss, and neither had the demons. Whether it was because of a charm in my final spell or not, I didn't know, but there was no further conflict that day.

Sadly, everyone knew it wouldn't last long; however, I slept more peacefully that night than ever before. Heck, I had fallen asleep before we left the crown room. The following day, I saw Solas sleeping beside me, cuddled up to me.

This pup was ready to join me in death if I had let it consume me.

Ah… I'm glad you're still here.

Moving my aching body was a triumph. However, what awaited me on the other side was a sight I thought I would never see. Finn was sleeping out cold next to me. His horns, everything that used to be red, were deep blue again.

"I never thought I would see you sleeping." I smiled, turning to face him.

Placing my hand on his chest, I trailed it down his shirt and onto his belly. His eye twitched a bit upon feeling me trail his navel. It was mean to me to test if he was asleep, but much to my surprise, that was all he did.

A soft groan left his lips, prompting my lips to curl upward as a giggle left me. The air was so pure compared to the last time I was in this room. Unlike before, we were in Finn's room, too, which appeared more lifted.

A soft hum left me as I couldn't help but snuggle myself into the sleeping dragon's arms. Everything had worked out; even if I had lost part of my magic, I didn't care. At least everyone was free of the curse, which meant my final gambit wasn't for naught.

For the first time in thousands of years, the residents of Fathal were sleeping peacefully, free from their hex. It wasn't long before I fell again into a dreamless state while in the arms of my beloved.

The next time I got up, it was because the slumbering dragon had moved. Fluttering my eyes open once again, I saw a groggy Finn for the first time. He always appeared ready for anything, but this time, the dream he had been having was hard to shake.

That wasn't the only thing that caught my eye either. Most of the feathers that were on Finn's skin were gone.

Only the ones by his wings remained. I stayed staring at the beautiful man he had become; it wasn't long before the groggy dragon found me gawking at him.

"Like what you see?" He smirked, triggering my heart to skip a beat.

He was also like the Finn I had seen in the past. However, unlike before, his eyes were full of life and emotion.

You're finally…

"Welcome home." I smiled.

He towered over me in a blink of an eye, leaning down on me.

"I should be the one saying that to you. You've been through so much. Thank the gods you came back to me." Finn sighed, trailing some of my hair on his fingertips.

That was when I noticed a change. It was pure silver.

When did that...

"How?" I mumbled.

"The magic that surged within you changed you. Rizak still doesn't know what it entails, but you aren't human." He informed, grabbing hold of my cheeks.

It dragged my eyes back onto him.

"What?" I breathed.

I felt fine, other than incredibly sore.

"It probably also means you'll age slower than you used to, which is something I don't mind at all. It means I'll have you around for a long time. It may not be eternity, but whatever time we have together will be enough." He simpered, prompting butterflies to erupt as I smiled back at him.

However, instantly, my thoughts snapped back to who I had endangered the most.

"Wait! What about the baby? Will he be fine?" I spurred out, gazing at him.

If my dangerous actions had caused the baby to get hurt, I…

"Theo's more than fine. He's thriving. The magic appears to have affected him differently from you." Finn informed with a soft smile on his lips.

A sigh left me, reaching to touch my abdomen.

So, you lived, too. That's good.

"I see. What about everyone else?" I asked, shifting my eyes to my beloved dragon.

"Hm… It's only been a day. So, it's hard to say how everything will be, but everyone's adjusting." He answered, pulling away from me.

I watched him walk towards the windows before opening them. The sunlight was so bright, the sky was a deep blue, and the air was purer than I had ever sensed. It was nothing like it was when the miasma was there.

No, it was a new dawn coming into our world—one I had brought.