It was only some moments after the torrent of fire and light had turned the dragon’s body into ash upon the breeze, that Ezmeralda heard the cries which had brought such joy, even for a moment, to the creatures dying moments.

Indeed, she had been just a few steps from leaving the caldera completely, to find Axel, when she had turned back toward the Door in curiosity. What had it been, she wondered, that had Caused the dragon to fight around the entrance of the Door. What had it protected, in its home, that was so valuable? Gold, jewels, or magical artifacts? She wondered what it was, and as she had stood wondering, she had heard tiny squeals.

They were tiny, chirping squeaks that were unmistakable in nature. They were distressed and confused sounds, like animal young make when confused. Like a baby crying.

Such a connection caused Ezmeralda heart fall in her chest instantly. A moment of triumph, as the sun set, the culmination of all her life’s efforts and worries and pains, the joy of that single moment knowing that she had avenged her family, tempered by the fact that there was yet another dragon to kill, was gone in an instant as she realized a terrible, terrible truth. There was not more than one other dragon to kill.

She rushed towards the entrance of the Door like it her life depended on it. She tripped and stumbled, scraping herself and burning her arm on the hot ground, but she stood up and pressed on. Now, after the long battle, she was exhausted. Yet now was when she needed strength the most, and it was impossible to summon it as she became more and more frightened about the truth of her actions. The anger was gone, the rush of battle was gone, the spite and hate had vanished.

The edge of the door was not treacherous. Rather, it slid steadily down into the deep, overwhelming darkness, and Ezmeralda followed it with care. She created a magical light above her shoulder, but even this action caused her to almost collapse. Her body was exhausted, her soul was exhausted from absorbing and using so much presence.

It did not deter her as she delved deeper into the bottomless pit. She rushed by ruins of buildings that had been hewn from stone, and through the remains of an entire ancient civilization. It would normally have fascinated her to no end, but in this moment it was a passing thought. Then, in the midst of what was an underground city, she found them.

The dragon, it seemed, had made its home out of something that resembled an enormous underground building, that had once been built within the mountain by some ancient civilization. What sort of civilization, Ezmeralda could not tell.

She walked through a massive hole in the walls of the palace-like structure with trepidation, and into a massive ante chamber. She imagined that in some past age, this had been like a throne room or ball room - some sort of massive reception area. Now, even in the dark cave, it felt cozy and dry. It was a home.

In this corner of this tiny, barren home, there were two moving things. Ezmeralda shined her light on them, and she saw the broken remains of gem like shells shattered about the floor. Laying near them, and crying out, were two lizards. They were the size of small horses, like crocodiles, but seemed almost helpless as they flopped about with their eyes closed, covered in fluid from their eggs. They were crying out.

One was a beautiful dark color, shining like a dark night with lines of starlike silver. The other looked like its mother, with sunset colored scales.

Ezmeralda looked at the creatures and tried to summon anger. She raised a hand towards them, readying what power she had left as they cried. But like a candle in a storm, her anger vanished and her power would not be summoned.

She walked up to one of the creatures, the darker colored one, and placed a hand lightly upon it. It blinked one of its eyes opened, and looked at her. She recoiled out of fear for a moment, but the creature did not become angry or lash out. Instead, it just stared. It stared forward, curious, like a baby that does when it unsure bout what it is looking at. Ezmeralda continued to back away out of caution, and as she did so she noticed that the other one was looking at her too.

A blinding flash of light caught her off guard, and she was thrown backwards by the concussive force that followed.

Axel approached the entrance to the door with care. He stood upon the still scorching hot ground and looked upon the black mark on the ground nearby, which had once been the dragon woman, with disgust. None of it needed to happen. Rolf hadn’t needed to die. The Paladin could have taken care of this creature, and without a heart of vengeance driving him.

He wondered why Ezmeralda had gone into the cavern. Perhaps to see if the dragon had a hoard? Perhaps to see if there were anymore of them. The dragon had told him that she was protecting something in his second dream, when he had slept while Ezmeralda prepared her traps. She had said that she was protecting something precious to her, just as Axel was. She had said that she sensed he was a father and would understand. She had said it was the truth, and not a lie like her last illusion.

And then Ezmeralda had attacked, and she must have decided, Axel thought, that reasoning with the girl was pointless. He had then watched as Ezmeralda destroyed the ancient and regal being, mercilessly killing it on the ground with the fire of its very mother. How cruel.

It caused him joy when heard the cries of babes and saw Ezmeralda walk out of the cave, two small babies in either hand. They were infants, with little tufts of golden hair. He could not see their eyes, since they were closed as the babies cried, but he knew what sort of eyes he would see if he did.

Ezmeralda walked up to him without meeting his eyes, and then when she finally reached him she slowly sat down, and then crisscrossed her legs. She rested the babies in her lap, as they squirmed and continued to cry. Then, she turned her eyes up to Axel, who inwardly smiled. He was happy that she had not killed them, but sad that they were now orphans. Her face, her eyes, and her sorrow told the whole story. She had exacted her revenge, and in the process done to other innocent beings what had first been done to her, and she hated it.

“You did not kill them?” he asked.

She shook her head, as tears started streaming from her eyes. She was sad, and ashamed, and tired. Axel could see it all.

“You have a soft spot for children, don’t you?” he said.

“I- I was once just like this.” she said, as she pulled one of the babies back into her lap, keeping the little girl from squirming away and falling onto the burning ground - not that it would hurt the thing. “How could I?”

“Indeed, how could you?” he said, his voice as stern as he could muster. The truth was though, he felt glad. It was over, and while this was a terrible result, it was also better than what could have been. He was alive. Ezmeralda was alive. It would be hard to tell Rolf’s parents what had happened, but that challenge would be come to when he had to meet it. He would grieve many days for his lost ranger friend when he returned to Northrive. But first, was the challenge of returning ot Northrive, to see his daughter again, and to care for her. With that on his mind, he turned away from her, and began walking back towards one of the less steep sides of the caldera, where he would be able to walk up and out of it.

“Axel…”Ezmeralda whimpered out. “I -I…I don’t know what to do. What should I do?”

Axel stopped, and turned his head back to look at her.

“Well, I am going to go home and care for my daughter, who I gained from my sin. You should do the same.”