studiobondurri Ep 174. Get To Work. (3)
Ep 174. Get To Work. (3)
Ep 174. Get To Work. (3)
Ep 174. Get To Work. (3)
In retrospect, Serenis had never spared the time to properly take a look around the Dragon’s Valley since her awakening.
Her previous visits had all been rather short-lived. It didn’t help that she’d been far too occupied to spare the time for a proper tour during those times.
But with Eline having to examine Raizel, there was little to do but wait – and when Bruton and Aether had called for her, she’d thought it a much better outcome than lounging around doing nothing in their nest.
And as Serenis observed the valley on their way, she began to notice striking similarities between past and present.
‘...Some things haven’t changed, I see.’
After their short flight, Bruton and Aether had landed onto the valley floors to lead the rest of the way on foot.
And the road itself was nothing remarkable: towering valley walls stood on either side, with the occasional shrubbery decorating their surface. A stream of water occupied most of the floor, leaving only a narrow stone path for the dragons to follow along.
It was almost exactly the way Serenis had remembered.
Finer details aside, the valley’s overall layout had remained the same. This particular trail was especially easier to recall as it served a number of purposes before, including a practice ground for hatchlings learning to fly, and a path that other races often took when entering or leaving the valley.
‘And at the end of this trail was...’
As if to answer her thoughts, the two leading elders came to a halt. Bruton turned to face the dragonlord behind him, gesturing towards the structure ahead.
“Lord Serenis, my apologies for the sudden summoning. The other elders were requesting your presence as soon as possible.”
“...The elder kin? Here?”
“Yes. They’re waiting for your arrival inside.”
“...”
Serenis let out a small snort before turning to Bruton.
“And are these elders aware of the structure’s purpose? Seeing how it’s stood through the millennium, I don’t suppose its purpose has changed.”
“...It remains unused most of the time. But to my knowledge, the structure is...a guest hall.”
“...”
It was a structure that’d been built to receive non-dragons traveling to and from the valley.
It’d served as a gate to the valley for those who weren’t dragonkin: all paths that led deeper into the valley began here, and those that lacked the ability to fly had no choice but to pass by this structure. It was where the kin would welcome their guests or strike down guised intruders.
Hence, to choose it as their meeting place indicated the underlying message quite blatantly.
“...A guest, is it?”
“...”
As Bruton and Aether fell silent, Serenis briskly walked inside. She was quite eager to see the faces of those that were waiting for their lord’s arrival.
...Correction, their guest’s arrival.
✧ ✧ ✧
“Dragonlord Serenis.”
“...”
“Speak. That was your name, was it not?”
“...Hah.”
Serenis snorted at the irony of her title.
Despite referring to her as their lord, the gathered elders were atop higher stations, each occupying a seat above Serenis’ eye level. The dragonlord herself was standing on the centre of the stone floors, much alike to a sinner in question.
Soon, she raised her gaze to meet those falling upon her.
“And to what do I owe this pleasure...elders?”
The grey-haired elder wore a sheepish look. He stared into the empty ceiling, scratching the back of his head.
“...I tried to convince them otherwise, my lord. I’ve already told the others that the pit was not what we were taught it was. But...”
“I take it they weren’t keen on trusting your claims.”
“...No. And I should tell you that the others remain adamant on going nowhere near the pit.”
A long sigh escaped the dragonlord’s lips.
The fact that she’d been called here into a hall purposed for the kin’s guests already implied much about how the other elders perceived their lord. The fact that they were all seated at a higher council also indicated plenty.
And finally, Serenis looked to Xerun with a stern expression to deliver her answer.
“...I will not.”
“What?”
“I will not. The treasure you claim stolen has been mine from birth; the forbidden ground you speak of is but my own son’s grave.”
“...And on what basis do you suppose we’ll believe your claims?”
Xerun briskly rose from his seat. Golden wings sprouted forth from behind the elder’s back as he leapt from above.
Soon, he landed onto the floor to stand mere few steps away from the dragonlord in question.
“Do you take us for fools? That we’d truly believe in your tales of returning from the dead? You may have convinced Bruton, but your words will not blind us all. To our knowledge, you are but a human child who luckily happened to acquire the dragonkin’s treasure. You merely mirror our reduced forms, and lack the ability to become a proper dragon.”
“...”
Serenis didn’t bother to correct Xerun; after all, it was only recent when she’d regained the ability to take her proper form. And that was only possible after she’d absorbed Aymeia’s divinity.
But instead of correcting the elder, Serenis only beamed a soft grin, allowing Xerun to continue uninterrupted.
“Yet, we’ve chosen not to question your being as dragonkin – for we truly believed that you carry no ill will towards us. We’ve even chosen to refer to you as your claimed title. All we ask is that you return what you’ve taken to its rightful place, as our predecessors have intended.”
“...By whose authority are you making this demand?”
“The collective authority of all elders.”
“And should I still refuse?”
“...Then you leave us little choice.”
As Xerun raised his hand, several dragons appeared from the shadows of the hall, each one synthesizing a deadly spell.
And, unlike Serenis who remained ever so indifferent, Bruton looked around wide-eyed with panic. Even Aether seemed uneasy with finding themselves suddenly surrounded.
“Xerun! Cease this madness. Do you realize what you’re doing?”
“They are acting in the best interest of our kin, Bruton.”
“...”
“As am I. As we always have.”
After the brief quip with Bruton, Xerun’s gaze focused back onto Serenis.
“Dragonlord Serenis. Your ability to bend the kin to your will roots from speech. But such ability carries no meaning should your figure be blown to bits before words are spoken – and this time, Raizel is not at your side to protect you.”
“...”
Once again, Serenis maintained silence – and this time for a good reason. One word, and all that’s left to do would be fighting against her own children.
With his tone growing in confidence and authority, the elder dragon once again pressed his argument.
“I ask again. Return what you’ve stolen, Serenis.”
Stern gazes locked in the air as Xerun and Serenis glared into each other’s eyes.
Ironically, both were looking to each other as an adult would at an immature child.