(Planet Nemo, The Aftermath)
In the immediate aftermath of the war, the atmosphere within the Dragon Army was one of strange duality—joyous, because they had prevailed, yet sombre, because this victory had not come without its cost.
The trenches that had hours ago been filled with desperate cries and clashing steel now echoed with cheers of survival.
Exhausted soldiers embraced one another, laughter bubbling out through cracked lips as they realized that they were going to live to see another day.
Yet for every cheer, there was a sob close behind it, for too many of their brothers and sisters had not risen from the mud.
*CRACKLE*
*POP*
Fires burned across the ruined battlefield, casting deathly shadows over rows of bodies being laid out with care.
Some were covered in cloaks, others in the broken banners they had carried, their faces already pale under the light of the flames.
Survivors knelt beside them, heads bowed in silence, murmuring names and prayers as though clinging to their memory was the last honour they could offer.
"WE HELD STRONG, MY MEN! I AM PROUD OF YOU ALL" a Legion Commander cried, his voice raw but unyielding, his battered spear raised high above his head.
A ragged cheer followed, yet his own expression did not brighten— his eyes were already lowered to the lists of the dead that would have to be written tonight.
Meanwhile,Veyr stood on a rise of rubble, his sword planted in the earth beside him, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths.
All around him, soldiers shouted his name, chanting "Dragon, Dragon, Dragon," their voices ringing with fervour, as he raised his fist in acknowledgement, but when his gaze fell to the rows of corpses being dragged away on stretchers, his grin faded, replaced by a solemn weight only he could carry.
Nearby, Leo wiped his daggers clean, though the blood clung stubbornly to the steel, smearing rather than vanishing.
The chants of "Shadow Dragon" followed him as well, men and women hailing him as a living legend. But Leo did not care for it.
He simply clapped alongside them, then pointed towards Veyr in the distance, reminding the men as to whose army this was, and who they should be thankful to.
Meanwhile, Viper and Su Pei had already retreated to their private cabins. The duo, not even remotely interested in public appearances now that their role in this war was over.
At the same time, the Cult Engineers began working twice as hard to ensure that the process of fortifying the planet was completed as soon as possible, as they wanted to ensure that a repeat of the Yu Clan attack never occurred.
Finally, by nightfall, the army lit pyres not only to cook or warm themselves, but also to burn the dead.
Around the flames, stories of the fallen were told, their laughter, their courage, their foolishness, their dreams all discussed with the living.
Some wept openly, others raised cups in shaky toasts, but all shared in the same truth: they had survived because their comrades had given everything.
They had survived, because their comrades had sacrificed their dreams and ambitions for them.
And hence it was their responsibility now to carry them forward.
Today, the Dragon Army had endured.
Today, the Dragon Army had successfully defended planet Nemo.
However, tomorrow, they needed to push forward again, for what the dead wanted to see most was the Cult revived to its previous glory.
And the Dragon to rule over the universe.
—----------
*Bzzt* *Bzzt*
*Bzzt* *Bzzt*
A crystal stone vibrated, as a Lieutenant rushed towards Leo with his hand outstretched, as he presented the stone to Leo.
"It’s a call from Juxta, Lord Shadow Dragon. I suppose it’s for you—"
The Lieutenant said, as Leo accepted the stone and poured his mana into it to connect the call.
*Blip*
On the other side stood Charles with his face covered in slime and dirt, as he looked at Leo with his eyebrow outstretched.
"Boy, why are you not rushing back to Juxta? I thought I made it clear that I needed help when I sent that SOS" Charles admonished, as Leo shook his head in denial.
"What good are you if I have to come back and bail you out?
Also, I had problems of my own to handle." Leo said, as he rotated the stone to show Charles the scale of destruction all around him.
"The Yu Clan attacked us mere hours after we captured Nemo. It was a bloody battle and a hard-fought victory." Leo said, as Charles let out a deep sigh and nodded in understanding.
"It was stressful here too. But I handled it. So I guess if you aren’t on your way home already, you can relax for a few days before returning." Charles said, as he let out a small grin which Leo instantly mirrored.
"Yeah, I need some time to be back. We need to stay on our toes at least till the planetary defence is set up.
Then there’s some hostage negotiation to do with the Yu Clan, since we are holding about 7 million of their soldiers.
Should take me at least a month to wrap all of this up, but I’ll try to be back sooner than that." Leo said, as Charles nodded before popping a cigarette in his mouth.
*Bzzt*
*Light*
"You know boy...." Charles said as he exhaled a mouthful of smoke.
"There were a couple moments today, where I wasn’t sure whether I’ll live or die.
And oddly enough, you were the only one who came to my mind as to whom I owe a goodbye.
So in-case a day ever comes when I can’t say this to you.....
Goodbye." Charles said as his expression softened just for a split second before returning to his usual calm.
For a monarch like him, it was unusual to express such care for anyone.
And hence, even though he did not say much, Leo understood the hidden implications behind those words.
For Charles to have even said this much, Leo understood just how big a deal it was, and hence he was thankful for it.
"Yeah, you’re not dying on me anytime soon, old man, I still have to surpass you before you can...." Leo replied, his own eyes moistening a little as he looked away from the crystal stone.
"Come on son, we both know you can’t surpass me in this lifetime.
At least keep your expectations realistic." Charles taunted, as they both broke out in laughter, which smoothened the emotional atmosphere between them.