Dragonlord

Ep 182. Some Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (4)

Ep 182. Some Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (4)

Ep 182. Some Things Don’t Need To Be Taught. (4)

As Aymeia uncomfortably shifted by the bedside, Raizel was slowly nodding her head.

The former deity had just finished telling her everything that had happened – the meeting, the agreement Serenis and Xerun had come to, and the contest that would be taking place as they spoke.

The youngling’s expression was literally unreadable – she seemed satisfied, annoyed, angered, and amused, all at the same time. 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 comet.”

“...I’m surprised you know what a comet 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 seemed like a dragon-thing. I don’t think we should be there.”

Seconds after, Karas chimed in to add some unnecessary details to his student’s answer.

“And frankly, we’re scared of being trampled underfoot.”

“Yeah, that too.”

“...”

Although she remained silent, even Aymeia 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 moment 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 somehow, he could hardly guarantee safety for Light and Aymeia – not in his current state, anyways.

And once again, Raizel rolled her eyes.

“Meh. 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 me on her back.”

“? What of it?”

“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 become 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 moment, 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 come to deny the very existence of their lords.

That was the outcome 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 time a kin had attested to the existence of lords – and it’d come 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 come 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.