<h2>CHAPTER 98 – A NEW DAWN</h2>
The doors began to open. Anilithyistad and Adyana waited inside the Citadel along with Commander Cel’a. The giant Citadel doors opened fully and there standing in the light was King Axion, Mitakahn, and the rest of the group that went up against the Dark Lord. Adyana ran over to her sons and greeted both of them with tears of joy. She could not be more proud of them overcoming overwhelming odds and saving the kingdom. She tried not to focus on the fact that Mitakahn looked like he just been dragged through the nethers. She hugged them both, a son in each arm, and they embraced her back. It felt good to be back in their mother’s arms, both of them, a much needed reprieve. The queen’s boys were exhausted. They had seen true horror this day. Yes, the kingdom was saved, but at great cost.
The sacrifice was enormous. The casualties were piled high, starting with: Galastad and the Governor Demeter, and ending with thousands more. Kunezar was paralyzed from the waist down and might never walk again. Mitakahn was also visibly different. He looked like he had aged a decade in a day. His hair now had streaks of white along the sides and in the beard. He was also quieter, more introspective.
Beyond that, the Serengeti was speckled with horrors and some small towns that made it through everything untarnished. The true miracle. There were only three of them.. Zepathorum City was a mess. The city was host to a mass cemetery above the ground, rioting fires burning all throughout the shattered city streets. Buildings were crumbled and the entire east wall was demolished. But nothing could surmount the destruction of Port Caliber. The port city would have to be rebuilt brick by brick. It would take a long time for the nation to rebuild. After this war, the Lion Kingdom would never be the same.
They were all in the circle before the citadel now. Axion stood next to his uncle, caressing his FireSword while Eberlyn floated beside him. Chronis, along with the Chrome Face Condors left Zepathorum, flying into the air, heading back to their home in Legacy City. Mitakahn watched his bird fly off once again, wondering if he would ever return, knowing in his heart the answer was yes.
Jericho and Paxikahn made their way down the Citadel after they started feeling better. They met the returning warriors at the circle of the courtyard where the townsfolk were beginning to shuffle out of the Citadel basement shelter. They all greeted Jericho in smiles, especially Mortikahn. Mitakahn looked around. Everyone coming out of the shelter not only greeted the sun but greeted their new king. Axion saved the people of the Pride.
They all greeted and praised him as their savior. And the King reflected that praise right back onto Mitakahn with his eyes, knowing full well none of his would have been possible without him. The war was over. They could begin to rebuild. First they needed to ensure the enemy’s defeat. The rest of the day was spent searching the two cities for survivors and rogue darksiders, until finally they could rest knowing the kingdom was once again safe. That night they slept under the stars for the first time in weeks. Everyone needed a good night’s sleep, but after recent events everyone also had trouble relaxing in darkness. Eventually, it would come back to them.
One day later, the sun stood center in the sky. Axion’s time had come. All of the surviving citizens came out to see the new king take the throne. In the Lion Kingdom, a long standing tradition took place every time a new king was appointed. And now, in the first light of a kingdom’s rebirth, Axion knew tradition was needed most.
Crimson Boulevard was filled not with senators and ambassadors, but the survivors and townsfolk of the Pride. From way up top, Adyána reached under the throne’s armrest and triggered the other switch. The spiraling staircase leading up the Citadel began to straighten out and part the Citadel down the middle, and in doing so, opened it up. The Citadel opened in front of the courtyard and before the citizens of the Pride, all in attendance.
The crowd separated in half down the middle. Commander Cel’a accompanied Axion while they walked to the stairs. Down Crimson Boulevard, the society of the Lion Kingdom cleared the way for their new king to take the throne. Axion walked down the lines of mixed company: ragged and dirty villagers from the Serengeti, tarnished and homeless sailors and merchants from Port Caliber, the familiar faces of Zepathorum, the few resilient soldiers of the Royal Guard, the militia, and the remaining reinforcements from Metuchen and the Serengeti.
He owed each and every one of them a lifetime of thanks. He would dedicate his reign as king to paying them back for their sacrifices. When they reached the end of their walk Axion turned around and thanked Commander Cel’a for her service to the kingdom. The path up to the staircase started with Anilithyìstad, his sons, Jericho, and Paxikahn standing at the base. Anilithyìstad smiled and Jericho nodded his head, pushing Axion forward. At last, Axion arrived at the staircase.
There waiting for him was his beloved, Eberlyn, dressed in a beautiful golden gown. She said softly to him, after a kiss on the cheek, “I’m here to take you the rest of the way.”
Eberlyn put out her hand, and Axion took it. Together, they began the last steps to the throne and the rule of the Lion Kingdom. Axion journeyed to the top of the stairs as Eberlyn floated beside him. Mitakahn, Queen Adyána, and House Casterosi waited at the top of the citadel stairs. They arrived at the top and the crowd below them cheered. Adyána anointed her firstborn son with the Crimson Cloak of Kings. Mercinestor held the Scepter of Zenothorus and stood before him and the throne.
Axion hugged his mother and continued forward. Mercinestor presented him with the Staff of the Nation. And Axion stood before his kingdom, finally atop the throne. He sat on the throne and the crowd bowed down before him. From the crowd Anilithyìstad called out, “ALL HAIL AXION! PRIDE LORD AND HERO KING OF ZEPATHORUM!”
King Axion stood up, along with his kingdom, and raised the Sword of Heroes in the air proudly. The King charged his firepower, and the ruby gem vents on the sword fired off high into the sky in exploding red flares and orchestral flames. Down below, the entire Pride sang and danced in jubilation. They celebrated the birth of a new era. Mitakahn watched it all and smiled, biting back tears of pride and honestly... utter relief.
For the momentous events that have passed unlocked a window of tangents and prophetic covenants in the world of MagnaThora. And these two brothers would find themselves at the center of it all. Axion now sat in his kingdom as King, and Mitakahn was beginning to realize his own fate as a godwalker. Without any of them knowing it, the Dark Lord Malinor had actually succeeded and began the chain of events that would eventually lead to the Age of Solstice, and greater MagnaThora’s complete undoing.
They would spend a great deal of time rebuilding the damage caused from the war. And the dead that gave their lives to save the kingdom would always be remembered and honored. But for now, the kingdom would come together in harmony and celebrate in a well-deserved time of peace.
They danced and sang in revelries below. Eberlyn joined them and danced with her flaming wings swaying along with her hips, enhancing her enchanting dance moves. Adyana watched her, reminiscent of their time in Ashtown, at the festival. The royal family and Mitakahn’s company celebrated on the several levels of the Citadel. Mitakahn and Cipher shared drinks with King Axion and the ordinary townsfolk, now invited to the top of the Citadel, in the throne room, on the opened balconies. King Axion sat on his throne, in his royal apparel, showing his subjects and brethren the view from the top.
“We got here together. Let us never forget it.”
Axion fit well in his new position. The crown sat comfortably on his head, as it was always going to. Given all his reluctance and reasons to refuse the throne, in the end it only furthered his inherent claim to the throne. Axion was worried he wasn’t good enough and in that self-doubt and self-awareness he found his worth.
When the time came he did what was right and what needed to be done to protect his kingdom. Axion gave his all. The throne and crown was now his, along with its new addition. At the center of the golden crown with crimson trim there was a new jewel. The royal family agreed with the combined wisdom of the kingdom and its allies that the gem prison would be welded onto Axion’s crown. As much as Mercinestor wanted to continue being the cor’s guardian. He would have to settle for being the crown’s guardian instead, a fitting job.
It looked like a ruby gemstone, but it was not. Now the oval-shaped gem was cut and refined in perfection. The Cor Incapsulate decorated the crown, holding its prisoner in plain sight: the Dark Lord Malinor stuck in the NetherRealm for all eternity.
● ● ●
The next day, after the smoldering ruins of the cities and the countryside finally stopped smoking and the skies were clear of any cloud sinister or not, it was the brightest morning of their lives. The sun came up as if it was there all along. Mitakahn woke up early and walked the beach. The sun lit the lake up in almost unbearable brilliance, reminiscent of the Phoenix. Mitakahn walked along the water, sinking his feet. It was so quiet. The crashing waves were the only ambiance. Mitakahn felt at peace.
Mitakahn had a newfound respect for the tide bringing the water in, and the sand beneath his feet. Nothing was more reliable than earth and water. Mitakahn meditated on the end of his journey before the beach and the sun. He opened his mind to the past, empowered the present, and looked to the future. Mitakahn absorbed the spirit of the morning sun.
From what looked like inside the sun, Chronis the silver-tailed hawk flew down and landed in front of Mitakahn. The silver bird looked him in the eye as best he could. Mitakahn was still mesmerized by this animal’s intelligence. Mitakahn could tell…the bird was trying to convey something to him. Mitakahn let his mind drift and Chronis began to caw like he did on the road, with Anilithion. If Mitakahn shifted his focus away from listening to the bird’s caws his could hear faint echoes of words.
“When you are ready. You must come with me.”
Mitakahn nodded his head. Part of him was excited about what that meant. Would he be able to see Chronis’ home? Legacity City was a complicated place. For many nations it''s a heaven, by many other names it is what the Magnanimous in the Pride call the AfterLight. The home of the gods, and the King of the Gods, Lord Patronalus. Mitakahn knew for now his kingdom still needed him. He would love to travel. He even had thoughts to help Zora see what lies in the south and if it can be salvaged. He had a lot to get to, but first, he helped put his home back in order.
The new King wasted no time in cleaning the streets and started reconstruction right away. Everyone supported King Axion, and his friends and family remained by his side to ensure the settlement of his new kingdom. It was not until after Zepathorum was cleared did they all begin to disperse and return to their own kingdoms. Commander Cel’a rebuilt the royal guard slowly. It began with all of the surviving warriors from the last stand who wished to continue service for their kingdom. Over in Castle Rosi Island, Cipher and Mercinestor Casterosi founded the Order of the Imperators, a specific sect of the royal guard dedicated to guarding the crown from the world and the world from what’s inside the ruby gem on the crown.
The princes of the Steed Kingdom packed up from the Citadel. It was time for them to return to Metuchen. They would return to their family and their lord, King Avalahn. Anilithion looked forward to seeing his shores again. The princes all said goodbye to Queen Adyána and Eberlyn. Anilithyìstad waited until last to say goodbye to his sister. He told her that if she ever needed anything, he would be there for her. Adyána thanked her brothers and her nephews for their support. And the Steed Kingdom left the Citadel.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Axion and Mitakahn escorted Jericho, Mortikahn, Paxikahn, Anilithion, and Anilithyìstad to the beach of Lake Niobi. They would travel around the lake and down through the Jungle Thicket, a task Anilithyìstad was known for. They would not risk returning to Metuchen by ship, for who knows what evil is still out on the Barren Sea.
That and the pass between the Chasm and the Straits was seldom tried and only once successfully navigated by the Dark Fleet. Anilithyìstad had much more confidence in the ancient jungle. It was time for his boys to learn the way. Watching them battle the juggernaut from the Citadel made it clear to Anilithyìstad; they were the inheritors of destiny and MagnaThora. He had his time and his adventures.
Axion bid farewell to his Uncle Anilithyìstad first. “Thank you for everything, Uncle,” said King Axion as he walked with him to his horse, “Without you…I do not know what would have become of me…”
“You did your country well, Axion. For that, I am truly proud of you,” congratulated Anilithyìstad, “We all are. You will make a great king. And we shall always be here for you. Two kingdoms connected by blood hold an oath no stronger.”
“Ay, Uncle. Zepathorum will always be there for Metuchen.” The two shook hands and departed.
Jericho polished off the new shine to his silver sword on his horse. He spent the nights in between now and the battle of Zepathorum branding a name onto the silver of his blade. It read, translated from shorelander native, “Wolfsbane.”
“That’s some blade you found,” commented Mitakahn.
‘Found?’ thought Jericho, “It was the blade that found me.”
He showed the silver sword to his cousin as Axion approached them.
“Look Axion,” Mitakahn pointed out, “It’s pure silver.”
“…Wolfsbane” Repeated Axion as he read it aloud.
“I should feel so lucky to escape all this tragedy with a gift.”
“It was not luck, but fate…that helped us escape tragedy, Jericho,” declared Mitakahn.
“Good-bye, cousin” bid Axion.
And Jericho left them saying, “Good-bye, my friends.”
Mitakahn moved onto his uncle Paxikahn. After shaking hands, Mitakahn told his uncle, “To tell King Avalahn, thank you for his finest warriors, and their exceptional work.”
Paxikahn and the rest of the princes bowed their heads at Mitakahn’s words. “The Pride shall always be in your debt,” he concluded.
Paxikahn embraced Axion. “Farewell, brave King,” he said before he got on his steed.
“Thank you, uncle” Axion had always admired his uncle Paxikahn. Paxikahn was young and only a child when Axion was born. They had long since forged a special bond. For Axion, the darkest of times always seemed a little bit brighter with his Uncle Paxikahn at his side.
Mitakahn walked with Mortikahn. Mitakahn stood in silence, proud of his young cousin. He always knew Mortikahn would make a good warrior. Now, the suspicions had come true, and Mitakahn felt all the more validated. Mitakahn shook Mortikahn’s hand and thanked him for his duty.
Mortikahn answered, “You walk amongst the Gods now, Mitakahn, and it is I that am thankful to have you. I feel a great era is on the horizon, and you will be the key to it all…”
“Let us hope that it is an era of peace and serenity. Good-bye, Mortikahn,” Mitakahn finished as he walked away.
Axion grabbed his youngest of cousins and head-butted him, holding their heads together the King thanked Mortikahn, saying, “We could not have done this without you, cousin. Know that in every step you take for the rest of your life.”
Mortikahn hugged his oldest cousin, the king, and got on his horse. He turned around and bid farewell, saying, “You know it hurts now…”
Axion tried to make sense of what he was saying, as Mortikahn finished, “when you head-butt with the crown.”
Mitakahn reached Anilithyìstad and Axion concluded with Anilithion. They embraced each other with thanks and compassion. Mitakahn looked to his uncle, “I don’t know how you do it.”
Anilithyìstad responded incredulously, “How do I do what?”
“But one thing of all eluded me, one…mystery…”
“What?” Anilithyìstad asked.
“Why Anilithion?” asked Mitakahn, “Why did you send Anilithion for me and not Mortikahn?” he expanded.
Anilithyìstad spent time thinking about it, but it was clear that he already knew the answer… “Because Anilithion would give his last piece of bread to somebody if they needed it.”
Mitakahn continued the last of his farewells speechlessly, in deep thought over Anilithyìstad’s final words.
Axion turned to Anilithion and simply said, “Thank you for looking after my brother.”
“You’re welcome, King.”
“I know how trying it can be.”
Anilithion laughed at this and shook his head, “Mitakahn never led us astray. The entire time…he knew what to do and we did it.”
“He is a powerful being in this world-”
“But not nearly as powerful without you two,” interrupted Mitakahn as he caught up, throwing his arms over both of them.
Anilithyìstad and Anilithion were the last two to get on their horses and head down the shore. They joined the rest of their family and the cavalry that had survived and started their journey home to Metuchen Point.
After that, Humbler, Kunezar, Bridger, and Tron left for the Epitaph Road. Mitakahn, Excelsior, and Orion said good-bye to their closest friends. Excelsior and Orion would stay but a little longer, being wanderers in nature, there was no rush for them to leave.
They prepared for their departure in downtown Zepathorum, at the gates. After only a couple of days the gates of Zepathorum were clear, up and running again. The seven of them were all heavily responsible for said progress. They would not go by horseback but walk down the road. Mitakahn faced them, one by one, and said his good-byes.
Mitakahn put his hand on Humbler’s shoulder and shook his hand. “You will always be the rock,” Mitakahn bowed. He went around to Kunezar, who was strapped to Humbler’s back, the easiest way to get him home safely to the Komodo Maze.
“I’m sorry for what has happened to you, my friend.”
“This is not your fault, Mitakahn. I would have walked to the ends of MagnaThora with you.”
Mitakahn choked back some tears at those words.
“I will walk again someday. My people may not have as many resources in the SandLands, but that has made us cunning. Whether it be by my own legs or some other machination…if you ever need me again. I will be ready.”
“You are the best friend a person could ask for, Kones. Take care of yourself.” Mitakahn put both his arms on his shoulders, “I mean it. I will be around to check on you soon.”
Humbler nodded at Mitakahn. The big softie became short on words when things got too emotional. Bridger stood out of the gates, staring out onto the road. Mitakahn walked up beside him, “I owe you my life.”
“I might say the same about you. We all do. It was you that led the way.”
“Yes, but you all made it possible. Especially you, Bridger,” Mitakahn intended, “Thank you.”
Finally, he walked over to Tron who stood waiting for him, “You were right.”
“Right about what, prince?” Tron replied.
“What you said after the Funeral…we got through this. We did it.”
The two shook hands and threw their other arms on each other’s shoulders.
“I will miss you most of all, Tron,” Mitakahn said closely, “You are a part of me, my brother.”
“All of you,” Mitakahn went on, “You are all my brothers, and I can never thank you enough for rescuing me from the darkness.”
They bowed their heads to Mitakahn, finished their good-byes with Excelsior and Orion, and departed for the Epitaph Road. Mitakahn waved goodbye to his friends as they left. They would walk together until they got to Epitaph City, where Bridger would go east, Tron would go south to Crucifire Plains, and Humbler carrying Kunezar would walk west until they reached the Komodo Maze.
Excelsior and Orion stayed a while after that. The two helped Mitakahn and Axion adjust into their new roles and rebuild their kingdom. Then after one last day’s hard work, without any warning, Excelsior and Orion parted ways with Mitakahn.
As they left Mitakahn yelled to him, “Where will you go?”
“Don’t worry, prince” Excelsior answered, “I’ll be around when you need me.”
Mitakahn watched the last and the most zealous of his friends leave. Excelsior’s drive was a core essential to the group, like Tron’s heart, and Mitakahn’s perspective. Even at the academy, he attempted feats that no one else would, or anyone else could even think of. And when Mitakahn needed him most, he was always there, a bottom line that mattered above all else. That was why he would be friends with these five for the rest of his life, his brothers in arms and warriors of virtue.
Mitakahn returned to the Citadel to end the day. He passed one of the middle floors where his Aunt Agmaritha and mother were talking in a lounge, “…All of my siblings, except Theo, were banished from the cities, which is why…”
Mitakahn walked straight up the spiral staircase behind them only catching glimpses of their conversation, “…The curse Benethor’s brother still lives on today…”
He kept moving up the Citadel to the Throne Room and walked in on Axion and Eberlyn planning their wedding. He did not interrupt them but stood beside the balcony, looking out onto Lake Niobi and the Serengeti.
Mitakahn thought about many things: how the view was here, when they were battling the juggernaut, whether all of the shadow was entirely out of the Pride, how strong the Great Gate actually was, and whether it could withstand the evil that challenged them.
Getting too caught up in his own paranoia, Mitakahn refocused his thoughts. He turned around and asked the King if there was anything left to do that day. King Axion rubbed his lightly bearded chin with the tip of the simmering FireSword in thought. After a long moment’s deliberation, the King told his brother to take some time off, and spiritedly forced him out of the Throne Room strongly urging him to look for Zora.
Out of the people who should have left already, Zora remained, helping with the reconstruction on Zepathorum. Her main focus was restoring the Gatehouse and the northern fields. The two places that her stardragons impacted most. She was living out her penance and repaying the city she damned, piece by piece, brick by brick.
Zora was currently resting her hardworking dragon. Fathom spent most of his time reforging the crystal walls, providing a little more modern foundations against the highest of color temperatures. So, Zora helped out in the courtyard. Axion was convinced, he told his brother, that she did this in order to be in close proximity to Mitakahn. At the behest of Eberlyn, Axion urged Mitakahn to tell Zora how he felt about her.
“We can handle it from here,” Axion said, smiling, “Go check on the courtyard.”
Mitakahn normally would find himself going to the gardens to be with the lions, but Maximus was lost in battle and Gabriella has never returned. For the first time, in a very long time, the citadel gardens were devoid of lions. It pained Mitakahn to think about. He would wait for Gabriella to return home. So instead, he took his brother’s advice and went to finally go speak with Zora. Mitakahn knew by doing so, somewhere, the Goddess Epiphany was smiling.