Ep 182. So Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (4)
Ep 182. So Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (4)
As Ayia uncomfortably shifted by the bedside, Raizel was slowly nodding her head.
The forr deity had just finished telling her everything that had happened – the eting, the agreent Serenis and Xerun had co to, and the contest that would be taking place as they spoke.
The youngling’s expression was literally unreadable – she seed satisfied, annoyed, angered, and amused, all at the sa ti. Even Light, who was generally quick with reading facial cues, found it impossible to tell what was going through the steel dragon’s head.
After the lengthy silence, Light bravely broke the silence in the room.
“Um…sorry, Raizel. You must be really worried about Serenis.”
“…? Why the hell would I be worried about her?”
“Well…she’s…not allowed to use magic. Isn’t that worrying?”
“Worrying about lord getting into a fight with that piss dragon? I’d rather worry about being hit in the head with a cot.”
“…I’m surprised you know what a cot is.”
“What?”
“Nothing! Nothing!”
As Raizel’s gripped fist rose into the air, Light frantically shook her head in dismay.
And, after a few seconds, the steel dragon lowered her fist with a tired eyeroll.
“…Whatever. You all could’ve gone with Ilias, you know. There’s no reason to stick around here.”
“Well, it…kinda seed like a dragon-thing. I don’t think we should be there.”
Seconds after, Karas chid in to add so unnecessary details to his student’s answer.
“And frankly, we’re scared of being trampled underfoot.”
“Yeah, that too.”
“…”
Although she remained silent, even Ayia was nodding her head. With so many dragons gathered in one place, a small accident could kill one of them.
Truth be told, Karas did want to go see the event for himself – for all he knew, it was likely a historical mont in the dragonkin’s history, and a chance to see it unfolding before his own eyes.
But with the number of dragons gathered there, he couldn’t possibly guarantee that one of them wouldn’t accidentally step on him. And even if he could keep himself safe sohow, he could hardly guarantee safety for Light and Ayia – not in his current state, anyways.
And once again, Raizel rolled her eyes.
“h. You’re not missing out on much. That piss dragon doesn’t stand a chance against lord, anyways.”
“…Hm.”
Karas gave a quizzical glance towards the youngling’s remark.
“How are you so sure of this?”
“…Lord can fly with on her back.”
“? What of it?”
“And Xerun can’t even lift my tail off his back.”
“…Oh.”
The next question that struck Karas’ mind was how Raizel had co to know that an elder dragon couldn’t lift her tail off their back.
…But keeping silent was probably for the best.
✧ ✧ ✧
Serenis shook her head as she watched Xerun squirm, albeit less and less energetically. His eyes were beginning to lose strength, and his body was steadily growing limp.
She couldn’t decide whether the gold dragon was being steadfast, or just outright stubborn.
‘…A minute longer and he’ll collapse.’
Which was not exactly an ideal outco.
Finally, Serenis tossed Xerun back unto the ground with her tail.
Normally, Xerun would’ve used his own wings to break the fall – but not this ti. He simply crashed unto the earth, powerless to fly or even stand up.
Instead, he only managed a series of coughs in an attempt to catch his breath.
“…”
Nurous eyes fell upon the elder dragon that was gasping for air.
Nurous eyes fell upon the dragonlord, who likewise descended unto the ground to tower before the heaving gold dragon.
After taking in the mix of awe and shock, Serenis looked to her kin once more.
“I realize how difficult it is for you all to believe my words. The return of the dead, and one claiming to be a king, no less…perhaps it’s only natural to retain doubt.”
Even had Serenis been in their position, she wouldn’t have believed her own story.
The dead returning to life was a ridiculous tale in of itself.
The dead returning to life after a thousand years was…well, beyond ridiculous.
‘Nevertheless…’
Serenis briefly closed her eyes in reflection before she’d continue.
“…But has it not struck you odd? How the elders would warn you all to never step outside our nest?”
“…”
No one spoke.
Instead, the gathered dragons rely exchanged uneasy glances with each other. So even looked to the ground, guilty to admit that they even retained such curiosities.
And in the following unease, only the dragonlord’s voice continued to speak.
“Did none of you truly wonder why your elders were keeping you all away from the frozen hollows of our valley? Who the cursed kin truly was, or why they had to remain sealed?”
“…”
As expected, her kin failed to answer once more.
And to that, the dragonlord only bead a thin smile.
“Once…your elders’ pretense served to protect you all.”
No longer would the kin need such falsehood to protect their children.
“But if their tales have beco nothing but a burden to your lives…then there’s no reason to tell such tales anymore.”
With that, Serenis looked to Ardion.
He was the only remaining kin who knew the truth behind their tales.
And in this mont, he was the only remaining kin who could answer to Serenis.
“…”
Even as Ardion locked eyes with the dragonlord, he couldn’t help but imagine what his past king would say.
The falsehood of his generation was woven by Vulka himself. It was the past king’s final will that had kept their children safe.
But as words would imply – it was in the past.
Through Vulka’s will, the dragonkin had lost their freedom, and forgotten their history.
In exchange for their survival, they’d co to deny the very existence of their lords.
That was the outco for committing themselves to the past.
“…How could the past lord’s will surpass that of our present?”
As Ardion delivered his answer, audible waves of surprise spread throughout the gathered dragons.
It was the first ti a kin had attested to the existence of lords – and it’d co from none other than their eldest.
After examining the unease that was washing over the crowd, Serenis let out another long sigh.
The dragons before her were their present.
And one day, they would together shape the kin’s future.
Hence, late as it may be, she had to return them their lost history. No longer would her kin allow ancient falsehood to determine their lives.
Vulka had given his life to protect their future.
Now, those he’d nurtured would co to know the truth,
See the world through their own eyes,
And choose their own path forward.
“…I shall tell you all. The tales of our past.”
Tales from hundreds, and a thousand years past,
Days that will never return to haunt us again.
And then, you will all decide for yourselves.
The worth of what we’ve done,
And the paths you’ll walk hereon.
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