Chapter 89 🐉

"We didn't do anything. Your brother did! When we came, he had already done what he wanted to whomever he wanted, after your husband attacked our home. My grandma paid the price." Young Lydia spoke firmly. She knew she couldn't use her magic since the dragons were near, but they were standing inside the very Temple of the Supernatural and there anything was possible.

Iris didn't need veritaspell to tell her that the young witch was telling the truth. She was grieving, but these were times of war and grief was in the air. So she didn't waste her time on chit-chat and went straight to the point. Standing tall, she spoke confidently to the witches, even dragons could hear everything from the outside.

"I am Iris McBlaze, previously Iris Hanson, the so-called adopted sister of your so-called ally Akuma Waai."

She took a deep breath and made brief eye contact with every witch, male and female, and continued, "I am the crowned Queen of all shapeshifters under the blessings of Şekileus, the God of Shape-shifters. I know you don't trust me, but I know you must have faith in Şekileus. You all must've heard how the proceedings of my marriage went. Every step of the way, Şekileus chose me, allowed me, Us! Me and my husband, The crowned King of shape-shifters, Alpha Dominic McBlaze. Does anyone here believe that we could've cheated our way into the crown? That we don't deserve it, or are we on the wrong path? Because let me clear it out for all of you, once and for all, The previous queen's crown, which was hidden through ancient magic, revealed itself to me. Şekileus mated me to Dom and we found each other, married each other, and went through all the rituals that only Şekileus' magic could've turned into success. If either of us were wrong, none of this could've been possible. None of us would be here today! So I ask you again, not to have faith in me yet, but do you have faith in Şekileus? Or did you give up that faith when your coven gave up on earth magic?"

There was a rush of whispers at the last part. One of the elderly witches spoke with prejudice, "You know nothing of our past, so don't for even a second think that you can-"

Before she could complete her sentence, Iris interrupted her and spoke firmly, silencing every whisper and murmur, "O, I know enough! And I got that knowledge from a very authentic source."

Just then, as if on cue, Mage Master Aikis entered the temple. Even in his prime, he exuded power and authority. Iris spoke, "You must've seen his face in your history books. He was, but a teenager, when it all happened. He saw how that day went down. What Capricorn did and received."

Everyone was quiet. The incident being spoken of was centuries old. It had been one of the prime reasons why, after the first war, shape-shifters had to go into hiding. Mage Master spoke, "I know, you and I must remember the history a bit differently. But one thing we are all certain about is the role of Capricorn in the unfortunate events that followed the first war."

One of the witches began to say something but Mage Master wasn't done and spoke loudly and firmly, "Your time has come. The time to decide. The same decision that was given to your ancestors will be given to you. After all, you've walked on the same path as them."

Before any excuses could be sprouted he laid forward the choice, "This is your first and only chance to choose, after everything you've done. Siding with the enemy of innocents, bringing useless catastrophes on victims who had done nothing wrong to you. And worst of all, still sticking to the dark magic that was prohibited, for it turned the hearts of its practitioners just as dark as itself."

He took a deep breath and gave it to them straight, "Now once again, the same choice is put forth to you, either you bend the knee, bow to your new King and Queen, thus promising your allegiance to them for life and generations to come. Or this time you won't get banished, you will be executed. Choose wisely, death or life of prosperity and Earth magic."

When he said the last word, everyone stood astonished, some not even sure if they heard it right. None of this was prepared because no one was ready for what was going on at the temple. The witches as well as the dragons had come to fight Y, only to come face-to-face with each other and realize that their common enemy had once again slipped through their clutches.

Iris moved towards Mage Master swiftly, knowing that none of the witches had superhearing, she asked him in a whisper, "Mage Master, I trust you with my life, but, are you sure about this? Have you discussed this with Dom? What does he say?"

The mage merely smiled, "Child, look at them. What do you see? Villains, dark witches, or a scared generation who is conflicted between following their dead ancestors or moving on towards a new era? Because all I see is a bunch of confused children. And all they need is a little candy to bring them over to the right side. Capricorn is a very strong coven, ancient magic is still in their veins, no matter how thin. If they need the candy of Earth magic to be what they always desired to be, accepted, then why shouldn't we seize the opportunity? And with your leadership, as a witch born in this sacred temple, this coven could become the key towards saving the world, instead of destroying it, like their ancestors. Hopefully, they'll choose right this time."

The hall in which they stood had become eerily quiet as Mage Master stopped talking. He had slightly raised his voice at the end and was sure that some, if not all, witches had heard his intentions clearly. They were indeed confused. They had no idea if the mage was pulling a trick or was genuinely offering them access to earth magic after all the centuries of choosing to stay banished and not accepting the Crowned King and Queen of that time. The mage was, after all, their mortal enemy as long as any of them remembered. He had out-lived all the original Capricorn witches who sided with malicious humans and offered their dark magic that made SHS truly possible.

Lydia hadn't spoken a single word since all of the mayhem. Everybody looked at her hoping for some sort of guidance at this unexpected turn of events. It was her grandmother who was the final descendant of the original Capricorns who had been banished. Lydia took a deep breath and looked at her fellows troubled, "I don't know what you expect me to say or do. But I will do what I have been talking about with my grandmother for a while now."

She looked at Iris, took a deep sigh, and stepped towards her. She walked confidently and, once close enough, got down on one knee and looked Iris in the eye as she spoke, "My grandmother hated you because you got what we were banished from. But I always believed that Şekileus gives everyone what we deserve. So I, Lydia Capricorn, heir of Maria Capricorn, the original witch, pledge my allegiance to you and your husband. I do not speak for my Coven, every one of them has a choice of their own to make. I will not force anyone to make a choice, just because I made it."

Before Iris could respond, the same prejudiced elderly woman sneered, "Of course, everyone would choose to live. Who is suicidal enough to choose death? You are not as benevolent as you try to come out. The choice that you gave, is not a choice at all! A true choice would've been having earth magic and then choosing to bend the knee for this abomination calling herself queen or choosing our own paths. Now everyone will choose to live, even unwillingly. If you have chosen to be the judge, jury, and executioner, then it's not much of a choice as you are parading around, is it? In fact, if anything, you should be ashamed for siding with shifters instead of your kind!"

Mage master roared, successfully silencing the woman, "What you have received after everything your coven has helped Y do, is mercy. Be grateful that the order was not execute at sight. None of you would've even been alive to see the next Sun! But your Queen was merciful enough to offer you, not only life, but a life of respect and of pure Earth magic with only one choice to leave behind your dark magic ways once and for all. Compared to all the innocent blood on your hands, I'd say it's a very fair deal! Now take it or leave it. There will be no negotiations!"

Iris asked Lydia to stand up as she smiled at the teen, "You are a brave and wise girl for your age. If it weren't for times of war, I would've loved for you to come and meet my family. Nonetheless, once the war is won, you are very welcome to choose your own path with the Earth's magic. Mage Master will teach you all about it. The terrible days of darkness are behind you now."

One by one, most of the witches pledged their allegiance; the stubborn ones who still tried to trick and attack got instantly executed and became an example for the rest. Dom was beyond proud of his wife for wearing the shoes of leadership with such ease and dignity. Things were getting settled as Mage Master was announced as the new Master of The Temple. To revive it and to harness its power, much needed in the upcoming battles against Y.

Just then, a dragon rushed in with another video, clearly sent by Waai.

Everyone knew he was a psychopath, but no one expected the sight that beheld them as the video played, with an unrecognizable corpse that he claimed to be of young, innocent Isabella, Freddie's sister, spread on a familiar barren land where Nora and Freddie had been sent to recruit Alpha Alaric from his hiding, as vultures fed on her and Y's hysterical laughter rang from somewhere behind the camera,

"I WELCOME YOU TO THE FEAST IRIS AND DOMINIC! DON'T BE LAATE!"

**Author's note: