Epilogue: 2 Hello New World

Author Note:

Hey there! Because my mother is getting a very invasive bone marrow procedure tomorrow, I'll upload the final chapter today. Thank you for reading, and please check the next chapter, as it will explain things a bit more about the future of my works. Thank you again!

In my eyes, after giving birth to Theodore, he was a perfect baby boy. However, much like his father, he had a tail, which was just as feathery but silver instead of the black his father had. The tips and roots of his hair were also like his father's.

Finn could shift into his dragon form as all the others could do the same. On the other hand, Theo couldn't morph like his father, but he had a demi form between the two. One he would struggle to master as he grew older.

Rizak was interested in teaching the little half-dragon his place in this world, as he had inherited my light and his father's fire. This was something I wasn't so keen on. After everything, I still didn't know his intentions for Theodore.

Though I knew he wouldn't hurt him. Yet, much like the owl taught me, I knew my son would also learn from him, but that was for the future. I was overprotective over the little one I had brought into this world.

After all, he was the fruit of love from Finn and me. However, after the birth, my husband was…

"No more babies. Ever." He huffed, eyes twitching as he could no longer recover quickly.

The lack of sleep, thanks to Theo's cries, was getting to him, yet it had been the most lively I had ever seen him.

"We'll see. You might want a little girl, too, once you see him grow up." I giggled, triggering him to growl.

"A girl? Do you want her to be the end of me?" He sighed, shifting his eyes at the sleeping Theo.

"Oh, come on, he won't always stay like this. There will come a time when he won't cry or look for us anymore. We have to enjoy these moments while they last." I hummed, touching the little sleeping dragon's cheek.

"Hah, that's true, he'll want his own life one day." He mumbled, rolling his eyes.

Oh… How many troubles will you bring us, little prince?

Using the crib to hold myself up, I shifted my gaze to my loving husband, who was still pouting.

"Hey, Finn," I tried to catch his attention.

The moment I called out to him, his eyes locked on me.

"Hm?" He hummed.

"Thank you." I simpered, triggering his gaze to widen before a soft smile curled up his lips.

"Oi, what for?" He stood up from the chair he was on before gripping my waist, steadying my stance.

"For giving me all of this." I cooed, resting my head against his chest.

"I didn't give you anything. You know my heart. Now I get to shower you with affection." He chuckled, triggering me to pout.

"I'm being serious here! I never thought I'd ever have this, Finn. It makes me want to have much more."

"Ah, give me a couple of years to recover." He whimpered, triggering me to touch his cheek.

"Fine, but then you better give me twins." I simpered, feeling nothing but affection for him.

A soft growl left his lips as he leaned into me, "You will never give me a break, will you?"

"Nope," I giggled as he picked me up.

Soon, months turned into blissful years, and I watched Theodore grow. A simple thing that filled me in was something I never thought possible. However, with each passing year, the Reapers became a real pest.

The beasts could feed off people's magic and life force, leaving some incapacitated and others dead in their wake. There were multiple ways to kill them, but it usually was with physical weapons, as pure mages were useless against them.

However, their sheer numbers made them deadly. The only bright side was that they mainly feasted on the travelers who braved the untamed roads. For some reason, they avoided big settlements, which was good.

We didn't know much about them other than that they were dangerous. It didn't help that I felt useless and stuck in the wheelchair. In my current state, I would be nothing more than fodder for them to feast on—something Finn didn't like me feeling.

I never hid my feelings, so he always made me feel loved when we were alone. However, those moments had gotten shorter, with Theodore running around in the halls, finding his way into our bed.

At five years old, he was a force to be reckoned with. Even though he was half Fithian, he was as powerful as his father, if not more. He was already showing potential for Finn's magic, and mine came when I sliced my finger with a mail opener.

"Ouch!" I yelped, startling little Theodore, who was playing with Solas on the floor.

I quickly withdrew it from the documents, scared I'd ruin them.

Great, just another thing.

"Mama!" He rushed to me.

"I'm okay, Theo. It's just a little scratch." I smiled.

Instead of listening to me, he pouted and grabbed my hand. That was when a gentle white light came from his hands, filling me with awe.

"Hurt, fly away!" His little hands had made my small cut disappear.

I couldn't help but gaze at my hand, making the little dragon gaze at me with his beautiful blue eyes. Shaking my head, I quickly drew him into my lap.

"Don't hurt more, right?" He beamed, making me snuggle my nose into his.

Those tiny hands of his were already performing miracles.

"No, it doesn't! You're such a good boy, Theo!" I cooed happily, tugging away his silver hair with black tips from his face.

"Papa!" Theodore reached out to someone behind me.

Unlike before, I couldn't sense Finn or anyone anymore—another perk I lost when I purified the world.

"Hey, little cub, what are you doing with Mommy?" He asked Theo, making me glance over to him.

"I healed her finger!" I smiled, watching Finn pick him up from my lap.

"You did?" He asked, holding the little dragon up.

"I did!" Theo giggled, reaching for Finn's horns.

Pulling on them appeared to be his favorite recent hobby. However, the brunt of that playful affection was placed on his tail. Yet this gentle dragon never snapped at him. His tail and ears appeared to be the only thing that could differentiate him from a human, which was something he was still learning to control.

It was why things around him were usually on the floor. Learning to use his tail was something only Finn could teach him, while I felt behind on everything else.

"Theo will be a better healer than I was," I assured my husband, gazing at Solas, who yawned.

He had become Theodore's babysitter while I worked.

"But I think you're great already, love. No one, but you can say they healed the world." Finn chuckled, letting go of Theodore, who ran up to Solas.

It wasn't long until he was on the poor wolf's back. My healing abilities were the only magic I had left, barely any.

A soft hum left my lips, "Hey, has Serah reported back yet? I heard she went into Traedan to meet with Soren about some Spector sighting near the walls."

I knew Finn had returned from a meeting with Brielle, who was spearheading the study on Reapers with his sister. Soren had been the only human ambassador willing to work with us openly, though others were in the works, too.

Much like Serena said, he had a child with a human about four years ago in Traedan. The baby was noted to have perished in childbirth along with her mother, which caused him to go missing for a while.

The thought of losing Finn and Theodore trembles at my core. I can't even fathom the pain you felt. I'm so sorry I couldn't help you there.

It seemed like tragedy followed that man.

I can't imagine what it feels like to lose a child twice.

When the news arrived about his loss, we tried to give him a break from our work, which he declined. I never knew how strong he could be, but Soren was something else; instead of taking a back step, he moved forward even more invested than before.

You're probably the only reason peace stands and will stand while you live.

The tension was still high, and it felt like it could snap any minute. I never knew that holding the will of those who rely on you could feel heavy. Only while helping Finn through all the hurdles of ruling did I understand why he went mad when everything was destroyed.

While I was able to put my past fully behind me, my beloved husband still had nightmares about it.

I lost count of how many times I've held you through them.

"Yes, Reaper numbers are growing again, but we still don't know where they go when they disappear." Finn sighed, shaking his head.

"Is Sebastian still refusing to let go of the remaining humans in his care?" I asked, placing a strongly worded letter from Julian about it.

This wasn't the first time he wrote about it, and it wouldn't be the last, but at least the hostility stayed in words.

"Sadly, that old orc isn't going to let it go. He still wants an all-out war with Traeden. He has reasons for wanting to watch that kingdom burn, and his subjects agree. I honestly don't blame him for feeling like that. If I didn't have you to keep me grounded, I would surely be the same." Finn shrugged, grabbing onto the letter before throwing it in the trash.

"Then maybe she should host a matchmaking for the stubborn orc. If we go to war, the reapers will destroy us. We still don't know their intentions or anything about them." I sighed, glancing at Theodore, who innocently drew onto the stone floors.

The thought of him having to do anything to survive made my skin crawl.

No… There has to be a way where you don't have to worry about a single thing.

"I know, love, but we all know this peace is temporary—something you forged with your selfless deed. Anything will break it. That's just human nature for us and them." Finn didn't hold any punches.

This dragon knew what was coming, and it didn't shake him. He knew he would first die before anything happened to his family—something that brought him peace, but for me, that wasn't enough.

I want Theodore to experience everything this life has to offer. From love to loss, that's my one wish for you, my little dragon.

"I know. I wish it weren't. Theo doesn't deserve that." I shook my head, locking my eyes on my adorable son.

Oh… if only I could walk and run, I'd do anything for you.

"It'll be okay. We'll find a way out of this. We've survived monsters before, and this one will be no different." Finn assured me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

A soft hum left me as I turned to gaze at my loving husband, only to be met by his lips clashing with mine. Unfortunately, all I could do was hope for a brighter future—one where we'd be together until the end of time.

That was how the shadows within this world were unleashed into our world. However, how everything would play out wasn't my story to tell; it belonged to another whose destiny entwined with Theodore.

Their story… Well… It would change the world again.