Dragonlord

Ep 183. Some Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (5)

Ep 183. Some Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (5)

For quite some time, the dragonlord’s tales continued.

Of the First, and the root of divinity.

Of the war against the divine to defend demonkind’s heritage.

Of the lone dragon who’d remained behind to raise and nurture their children.

And of everything that had happened after Serenis’ return.

While Ardion would occasionally supplement the tales with details of his own, the gathered dragons otherwise listened in silence.

“…”

And when the dragonlord finally finished, the kin looked to Ardion in unison.

Soon, one of them would muster the courage to speak for their brethren.

“Elder Ardion. Is this all…true?”

The elder slowly turned to the dragon that had asked the question. But clearly, they weren’t the only one who was dying to hear Ardion’s answer.

After a small pause, the elder nodded his head.

“It is.”

“Then, the cursed kin…and the seal…that was all…?”

“…”

To mask the heart’s existence from the Twelve, it was hidden within the remains of its very holder.

And to keep it hidden from their curious children, their king was erased from history, his grave left to be remembered as a cursed seal.

A bitter smile accompanied Ardion’s answer.

“…Lies woven to blind your eyes. There never was a cursed kin…nor was there ever a seal that was placed upon them. The hollow is but a grave. His name was Vulka, the second lord of the dragonkin…and once, a father to us all.”

While the dragons each showed varying levels of surprise, Bruton and Aether merely looked to each other and nodded.

‘It’s as Lord Serenis once told us.’

‘Elder Ardion…he knew the pit’s purpose all along.’

One by one, the gathered dragons began to mutter amongst themselves in hushed tones.

“Should we…believe them?”

“I, I believed the dragonlord from the beginning! How else would one possess the means to bind the entire kin to their will? Besides, the elder’s vouching for her!”

“But Elder Ardion is pretty old now…what if he’s just gone crazy?”

“A couple others seemed to believe her too though. And I, for one, don’t want Raizel on my tail ever again…”

Serenis quietly watched her kin’s varying reactions.

This was all she could do for her kin: enlightening them on their history.

There was nothing more she could do. Nothing more she should do.

‘I suppose it’s time I take my leave. The decision is theirs to make…’

But moments before Serenis could turn away from the crowd, a hatchling jumped out from Ilias’ arms to scramble his way forward.

“Huh? Theo! Where’re you going?”

Although Ilias hurriedly called to the hatchling, Theolus only continued to squirm his way through the gathered dragons.

And, soon enough, the hatchling came to a halt before the dragonlord, wagging his tail as he looked up towards the towering white dragon.

“…Lord Sewenis!”

A number of dragons stood in shock. Even more looked to Serenis to gauge their lord’s reaction.

Though, Serenis herself only beamed back at the hatchling’s bold appearance.

‘He’s not just calling anyone his mother anymore, is he?’

Truth be told, Theolus did still refer to Eline as his mother, but…then again, the herbalist had been with him since he was in his egg.

Shortly after, Serenis lowered her posture, answering the hatchling in a gentle voice.

“Theolus. Was there something you wished to say?”

After rapidly nodded his little head, Theolus flicked his wagging tail forward, dropping the small pouch that was attached to it.

“…?”

The dragonlord curiously narrowed her eyes.

Soon after, Serenis quickly did away with her transformation to return to her usual size. She then picked up the pouch in her hand, prying it open with her fingers.

It was full of handmade biscuits.

Serenis looked to Theolus with vivid surprise. She could only imagine how much the hatchling would treasure something like this.

“Are you…giving this to me?”

Nodding once more, the hatchling gave a sheepish smile towards the dragonlord.

“Thank you for bwinging me here! Here, it’s warrm, there’s wots of food, and I can see the sun all day. Ewine likes it here too!”

“…”

A wide smile spread across the dragonlord as she listened to the hatchling before her.

“…Is that so? I’m glad.”

After explaining the gift, Theolus then turned around, flapping his small black wings towards Serenis.

“And, and, Waizel said, you taught her how to fwy. So, will you teach me how to fwy too?”

“Haha…of course. Anytime.”

While Theolus threw a small celebration at the dragonlord’s approval, the other dragons showed quite a different reaction.

After all, they’d heard another piece of shocking news.

“…Wait, what are they talking about? Did he just say she taught Raizel how to fly?”

“I thought Raizel didn’t have wings?”

“She doesn’t. Not since she was a hatchling…”

While the kin began to murmur amongst themselves, Ilias clicked her tongue, budging into their conversation with a gleeful smile.

“Tsk tsk. You guys don’t know yet, do you? Lord Serenis taught Raizel how to make wings with magic. She can fly on her own now.”

“WHAT?”

After Ilias’ short revelation, a second wave of shock spread across the gathered dragons.

Raizel hadn’t been able to fly her entire life. Everyone knew that.

And for those that remembered the steel dragon’s parents, their daughter being able to fly was nothing short of a miracle.

“…The steels had a completely different way of flying, no?”

“Their very wings were different from ours. Don’t you remember Ludin’s wings? It was a mystery how she could fly with those lugs of metal.”

“Wait, so…a human child taught Raizel something even we don’t know?”

“Were you even listening? She’s a dragonkin, just reborn in a human’s body.”

“…”

It wasn’t just Ardion who referred to Serenis as their lord.

It wasn’t even just Theolus. Or Bruton and Aether. Or Ilias and Raizel.

Even now there were countless others on this plain, rescued from the empire’s clutches through Serenis’ help – and not a single one of them even thought to question the dragonlord’s words. Eline certainly didn’t, either.

In fact, a literal former deity was amongst them now – one who referred to Serenis as the dragonkin’s ruler.

When one would say something ridiculous, it was likely a lie.

But when two would say something ridiculous together, there was reason to be suspicious.

And when three or more would say something ridiculous in unison…

‘…It’s usually real.’

As similar thoughts began to cross the dragonkin’s minds, Ardion let out his usual chuckle, quietly stepping forth to stand by Theolus’ side.

Then, the elder dragon respectfully lowered himself on one knee.

With closed eyes, Ardion bowed his head before the dragonlord.

“…This old brood humbly welcomes our lord’s return.”

“…”

As all eyes fell upon the elder dragon, an unsettling silence swept across the plain.

And soon, Aether carefully stepped forth as well, pulling her partner along with her.

“Bruton, we should…”

“…Mm.”

After a firm nod, Bruton walked together with Aether to stand by Ardion’s side.

The two then followed their elder’s gesture, lowering themselves before the dragonlord.

“The elders of the dragonkin welcome our lord’s return.”

Then, Ilias followed suit, briskly making her way through the crowd to stand with her parents.

And, after a light tap on Theolus’ back, mimicked their elders’ gestures together.

“Welcome back, Lord Serenis!”

As a number of their kin stepped forth, evident unease spread throughout the remaining dragons.

But what really surprised them was the event that would follow thereafter.

“…”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Seeing the hesitation amongst his kin, Xerun quietly closed his eyes.

And, soon after, the dragon’s golden scales disappeared in a flash of light.

Reduced to his usual size, Xerun trudged forth to stand before Serenis.

A mix of distaste and resignation remained in his expression as he met the dragonlord’s gaze.

“…It really was your heart…was it?”

“Has the tale become more believable now, child?”

“…Hmph.”

Though he couldn’t see any, Xerun could practically feel the brood’s eyes that were on him.

Eyes filled with anticipation, eager to hear what he would say; eyes filled with worry, curious to see how the dragonlord would react.

Then, the dragon spared a momentary glance at his father.

Ardion’s eyes remained closed, his posture ever the same – as if the elder had done this countless times before.

And, after another sigh, Xerun’s knee would likewise touch the ground.

“As the kin’s representing dragon…”

The gold dragon lowered his head, following his father’s gesture.

“…I, Xerun, humbly welcome our lord’s return.”

Even Serenis widened her eyes in surprise as Xerun knelt before her.

But for others, that was the last dragon that they needed to be convinced.

One by one, the kin that surrounded them followed after the gold dragon.

And, in mere seconds, Serenis was the only one who remained standing.

“The dragonkin welcomes our lord’s return!”

“…”

A scene she’d thought long past was unfolding once more.

A small laughter slipped out of Serenis’ lips.

Decades. Centuries. A thousand years, even.

No matter how much time passes…

“…Some things don’t need to be taught.”