The Crown's Fire

"Son!" Ezekiel smiled as soon as he saw his mother rushing toward him. She smiled at him before enveloping him in a tight embrace.

"Mother," Ezekiel murmured, returning the hug with equal warmth. It had been too long since he last held her like this, and he cherished the moment as much as he could. "I’m truly sorry for keeping you all in the dark about my situation."

His mother pulled back slightly, her expression a mix of relief and reproach. "Your father will be furious once he learns of this, but thankfully, everything is well now," she chided gently, pushing him away slightly. "Do you realize the amount of worry you put us through? No matter the circumstances, you mustn’t shoulder your burdens alone. We are your family, and we’ll always have each other’s backs."

Ezekiel nodded earnestly, understanding the gravity of his mother’s words. However, her stern gaze softened as she continued, "I’ll be deeply disappointed if something like this happens again."

Ezekiel chuckled with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Ah, mother, please don’t make me promise. You know me too well," he teased, offering a playful wink. "But to ease your worries, I’ll do my best to avoid causing trouble like this in the future."

His mother sighed, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You... Anyway, how are you feeling now?" she inquired, scanning their surroundings before adding, "And where is Tarah?"

"She excused herself to practice some spells," Ezekiel replied.

"She’s certainly dedicated then," Queen Dana nodded thoughtfully. "I’ve heard she’s striving to perfect the teleportation spell. Being from Zion, she likely comes from a family of mages, given her aptitude for learning. And with the dragonrider bloodline running through her veins, she possesses quite the formidable combination of potential skills and abilities."