Chapter 553: It’s Good Seeing You, Yu’Keto

Terra closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled a weary sigh, her patience tested. She adjusted her glasses once more, her voice calm but exasperated.

"Don’t copy her, young lord," she muttered, though there was no real bite to her tone.

Mar’Garet chuckled at the exchange, clearly delighted, while Ho’Rus clung to her shoulder proudly as if he had won some small victory.

Meanwhile, Alzuring stood beside Draven, both in their humanoid combat forms. The elder’s blue-scaled armor shimmered faintly beneath the moonlight as his voice rumbled with awe.

"To think the young lord was the reincarnation of the great progenitor himself... that was quite unexpected. It seems the dragon race is truly destined to reclaim the glory we lost over the millennia."

Draven’s arms were crossed, his purple eyes narrowed as he gave a curt reply.

"No."

Alzuring blinked, turning sharply toward him. "Excuse me, what?"

Draven’s gaze remained fixed on Alister, his tone edged with conviction.

"Our lord has already reclaimed our pride. The fact that he has won such a victory before us all serves as more than proof. It is not destiny we wait upon—it is a reality already forged by his hand."

He lifted his chin slightly, his helmet dissipating to reveal his face, showing his stoic yet proud expression, his voice carrying like steel through the night.

"Dragonkind need not speak of what will be regained. Look around you. Our progenitor has returned, our enemies lie in ruin, and our chains to the past are shattered. Glory is no longer a dream of tomorrow..."

His eyes glinted as he looked into the night sky, where a shooting star streaked in the distance.

"...it is the banner under which we already stand."

Alzuring stared for a long moment, then slowly inclined his head, a rare smile ghosting across his lips.

"I guess you are right. How foolish of me to assume otherwise."

Cinder held tighter for just a breath longer before slowly pulling back. Her silver hair clung to her face in the night breeze, her crimson eyes shimmering with a rare softness.

Alister’s hand lingered on her shoulder as he looked down at her with quiet warmth—a subtle reassurance that pierced deeper than any words could.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The battlefield was silent save for the distant crackle of flames where the city smoldered in ruin.

Alister’s gaze lingered on Cinder’s crimson eyes, the storm of emotion within them clear even as she tried to steady herself. He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before finally letting his hand fall back to his side.

Behind them, Alameck stretched lazily, as though the devastation were nothing more than a passing chore.

Alameck’s hand suddenly fell heavy on Alister’s shoulder, his grin wolfish.

"As much as I hate to ruin such a... touching mood," he drawled, "there is something I must remind you of. You and I, brother—we still owe each other that rematch we agreed upon."

Alister’s expression cooled, crimson-eyed Cinder still close at his side as he turned his gaze sharply toward Alameck. He pulled away from her slightly, his golden eyes narrowing with intensity.

"Now is hardly the time for that."

Alameck’s grin faltered, his expression twisting into a moody scowl. "Since when has the scene ever been a problem for us? Or..." his eyes narrowed, voice low with mocking venom, "is this you admitting weakness? That you won’t fight a battle you know you’ll lose?"

Alister’s voice cut through the night, even, firm.

"No. This is me refusing to display reckless behavior before our people—especially at a moment when we should be celebrating, not fighting... Brother."

The word lingered with deliberate weight.

Alameck opened his mouth, irritation flashing across his blood-streaked features—

But before he could speak, another voice carried across the ruins.

"...Father."

Both Alister and Alameck froze, their heads turning in unison toward the sound.

From the smoke and rubble stepped a silver dragon in his humanoid combat form. His armor, shaped of silver scales, bore deep gashes. Frost still clung to its surface, mingling with black scorch marks across his chest and arms. His breath came ragged, yet his stance was steady.

His silver hair, wild and disheveled, caught the moonlight—identical in shade to both brothers. His eyes, however, were different. They were tender, trembling, almost wet with unshed tears as he looked upon them.

"Father..." he whispered again.

The silver-haired figure trembled where he stood, his voice unsteady as his gaze locked on Alister.

"It’s you... isn’t it?"

Alister let out a quiet sigh, his golden eyes softening as he gazed at him.

A mix of embarrassment, guilt, confusion, and responsibility suddenly came crashing down on him... after all, this man was someone he had looked up to, and now turned out to be someone he once guided.

In truth, Alister had known for a while now—he just never knew how to approach him or bring it up.

Matters like this are delicate, even for a millennia-old dragon lord.

"...It is me, Yu’Keto," he finally spoke.

Yu’Keto’s breath hitched, his silver eyes widening as his voice broke with disbelief. "You mean it really is you... You’re serious, right? Right...?" ℴℴ𝘮

Alameck rolled his eyes, his expression twisting with mild annoyance.

"Come now. What’s with this childlike, repetitive questioning? It’s obvious he’s your father. Hasn’t it been evident since the day you learned I was sealed within his body?"

He tilted his head. "Come now, Yu’Keto—you are smarter than this."

Yu’Keto’s voice quivered as he tried to speak, the words tumbling out between uneven breaths.

"I... I had my suspicions but... I didn’t know what to... what to do with them."

He looked down at his hands, fingers trembling, then slowly lifted his gaze back toward Alister. His lips parted, but the words failed him, leaving only silence.

Alister stepped forward without hesitation. He closed the distance, and then—without ceremony—he wrapped his arms around Yu’Keto.

The silver dragon stiffened at first, startled, but then Alister’s voice rumbled softly above him.

"This may be confusing for both of us," he said, steady and warm, "but I just want to say... it’s good seeing you like this, Yu’Keto."

Yu’Keto’s composure broke. His body shook as hot tears welled in his silver eyes and spilled down his cheeks. He clung to Alister, arms tightening around him with a desperation born of centuries of doubt and longing.

"I... I don’t know why—" he choked out, his voice breaking, "but I can’t stop crying..."

Alister only held him tighter, silent, the weight of their bond speaking louder than any words could.