CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER : 49 : FLASH FORWARD!

Warmth.

That was the first thing Aiden felt as his eyes cracked open.

Not the heavy warmth of a camp blanket or the stale heat of a dungeon—this was soft, clean, perfumed air. He breathed in faint lavender, polished wood, and a trace of something sweet, like honey tea. His vision sharpened onto a ceiling he didn’t recognize—vaulted, inlaid with golden tracery, the height of wealth and refinement.

A palace ceiling.

He tried to move.

Nothing happened.

Panic swelled for a heartbeat—until his arms moved without his will, stretching with slow, practiced ease.

That wasn’t him.

The voice that left his lips was deeper, smoother, older. "Morning already?"

That’s... me? No. That’s not me.

Future Aiden swung his legs over the side of the massive bed, silk sheets sliding away. Light streamed through half-draped windows, spilling gold over deep crimson rugs and polished marble floors.

The double doors swung open.

"Master!"

A small figure darted inside—black hair bouncing, blue eyes bright, a big grin showing a hint of sharp teeth.

Luna. Older, but not aged—her beauty had deepened. She was barefoot, wearing light denim shorts and a loose off-shoulder sweater that kept slipping down one arm, revealing the strap of her bra. The casualness didn’t dim the elegance in her posture as she crossed to him.

She leaned in, resting her hands on his shoulders for a moment, her voice warm. "You overslept again."

Before future Aiden could respond, another set of footsteps thundered in.

"Daddy!"

An eight-year-old boy barreled toward him—dark hair, Luna’s eyes, wolfish grin. He leapt into his father’s lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Strong hands caught him, laughing. "Careful, pup, I’m still waking up."

"You’re slow!" the boy declared proudly, puffing his chest.

From the doorway came another presence. Lysandra entered, tall and commanding, her long blond hair, cascading over a fitted black sleeveless turtleneck tucked into a leather mini-skirt, with thigh-high boots.

Two children followed—a boy and girl, both seven. The boy was just a little taller, a few minutes older; the girl trailed slightly behind him. Both had bright, mischievous eyes and that same whisper of green in their skin.

"@#$%, @#$%, slow down," Lysandra said lightly, but her voice had the practiced weight of a mother used to being ignored.

’Huh? What names did she said?’

Both ran forward anyway, each grabbing a side of their father in a hug.

Lysandra sighed, but her lips softened. She stepped closer, leaning down to kiss future Aiden’s temple before sitting beside him. "Up. We’ve been ready for twenty minutes."

Future Aiden smirked. "And miss this welcome?"

Before present Aiden could even process the warmth of that exchange, another voice entered the room—smooth, edged with amusement.

Ivy.

She strode in wearing black short pleated skirt, a cropped wine-red hoodie that revealed a strip of toned stomach, and a pair of curved twin swords strapped low on her hips. Her black hair tumbled in waves over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes gleamed with a predatory sharpness.

Trailing just behind was Leona.

No longer the tiny dragon hatchling, no longer the small girl—she looked about fourteen now, though technically younger by birth. Her crimson hair shimmered, tied in a ponytail that draped over one shoulder. She wore a pleated plaid skirt over black shorts, paired with a white fitted crop top under a light jacket that left room for her sleek dragon wings to stretch. Twin horns coming out of her head. Her red eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Morning, Daddy," she said warmly, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "You promised we’d train today."

"After breakfast," future Aiden replied.

From the hall came a high-pitched bark.

Fluffynugget trotted in like not a day had passed—tail wagging furiously, hopping onto the bed without hesitation. Ivy bent to scoop him up, and the little beast immediately nuzzled into her chest with contented chirps.

Two more women stepped into the room. Their figures were blurred, faces indistinct, names swallowed into static even inside Aiden’s mind. One brushed past Ivy to smooth a hand along future Aiden’s shoulder. The other simply stood in the doorway, watching the scene with a soft smile.

"Everyone’s here," Luna said, glancing around. "We leave in ten minutes."

Future Aiden rose to his full height, moving with an ease and authority that made present Aiden’s chest ache.

---

The palace halls were wide and bright, lined with banners and elegant murals of battles. Children darted ahead, weaving between guards in shining armor.

Lysandra walked beside him. "You’re bringing all of them?"

"Not to fight," future Aiden said. "They’ll watch. Learn."

Leona grinned. "I can take them."

Ivy’s smirk was razor-sharp. "You couldn’t take me last time."

Leona’s wings flared slightly. "You got lucky."

"Keep telling yourself that," Ivy replied, not even looking at her.

Future Aiden’s low chuckle ended the exchange. "Save it for the forest."

They stepped into a vast courtyard bathed in sunlight. Stablehands and attendants were preparing travel gear, but no one was armored—just casual, modern clothes.

"Ready?" he asked.

A chorus of yeses followed.

---

Teleportation was instant—a bright white flash, a stomach-dropping lurch, and the perfume of the palace vanished into the earthy scent of pine and damp soil.

They stood in a wide clearing, the ground marked by scars of past battles. Sunlight streamed through the treetops, glinting off the faint haze of morning mist.

Future Aiden gestured toward a fallen log at the edge of the clearing. "Kids—bench. Watch and learn. @#$%, don’t let your sister wander."

"Yes, Daddy!" the boy said brightly.

He turned to the fighters. "Lysandra—defense. Luna—hybrid form, stay mobile. Ivy, Leona—full speed."

"Yes, Master," Luna replied, and her fang lengthened, her tail swishing behind her. Nails sharpened into claws in an instant.

Leona rolled her shoulders, her dragon wings stretching wide before folding neatly against her back.

Future Aiden raised one hand, and the air shimmered. Ten armored illusions materialized, swords drawn, shields ready.

The first enemy charged.

---

Ivy moved first—her twin blades flashing in a blur, slicing through the first illusion’s chest before it could swing. She pivoted, parried another’s strike, and drove her knee into its midsection.

Leona took to the air in a burst of wingbeats, flipping into a dive and slamming down claws-first on another target, the impact shattering it into motes of light.

Lysandra stepped forward with unshakable calm, intercepting three opponents at once. Her arms moved with precise timing, deflecting blows and shoving enemies back without losing ground.

Luna was everywhere—darting in, claws flashing, tail sweeping an opponent’s legs before she rolled away.

Future Aiden moved between them, his daggers only flashing when necessary—knocking an illusion off balance so Ivy could finish it, redirecting an enemy toward Luna’s waiting claws.

The children shouted from the log bench, cheering wildly. @#$% kept swinging a stick like a sword until his brother yanked it out of his hands.

"Sorry... Onii-Chan." The girl apologised, though it was filled with playfulness.

---

The battle sprawled out, and with each clash, their personalities bled into their fighting.

"You’re wide open, hatchling!" Ivy called as she intercepted a blow meant for Leona.

"I had it!" Leona shot back, slicing through another illusion.

Luna laughed breathlessly as she tripped one enemy into another. "And I thought we were training."

"Consider it warm-up," future Aiden replied, his voice low but carrying.

One by one, the illusions fell. Lysandra’s boots dug into the earth as she held her ground against the last three, deflecting blow after blow until Ivy and Leona cut in from either side to finish them.

The clearing went still.

---

Future Aiden said. "Better."

Leona landed lightly, wings folding. "I didn’t even break a sweat."

"You’re breathing hard," Ivy said, wiping her blade with a cloth.

Luna stretched her arms overhead. "If these had been real, they wouldn’t have lasted half as long."

"Or you wouldn’t have pulled your hits," future Aiden replied, giving her a knowing look.

She smirked. "Guilty."

The children swarmed them then, voices overlapping with questions about the fight. One of the blurred wives stepped in to gather them, her laughter muffled in static even in Aiden’s mind.

Lysandra stood close enough that her shoulder brushed his, watching the kids. "Same time tomorrow?"

Future Aiden nodded. "Same time. Every day."

Present Aiden felt the weight of it—the easy rhythm, the trust, the love—and the gnawing question of what had happened between now and then.

The forest began to blur, the voices fading, the warmth slipping away—

And he woke.

---

END OF Chapter : 49 : FLASHFORWARD!

---