《The Lord of the Seas》 Chapter 0: Prologue ¡°How do you feel about tonight¡¯s fight, Jerry? This is the fight all the fans have been waiting for year round!¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling great Tom, tonight, we are going to witness history. A lot of people are rooting for the youngest rookie this sport has ever seen, a prodigy and a legend in the making. Marcus Callahan has gone undefeated in his first 6 fights and all of them have never gone past the first round. He is a talent that the sport has never seen and if things go the way I think it will, he will be the youngest champion in history.¡± ¡°I will admit the kid¡¯s a monster. But I think you¡¯re forgetting something, man.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s up against Julien Fronterra. He¡¯s up against the greatest of all time.¡± The man could hear the crowd roaring, he could hear them chanting his name. He doubted most of them were cheering for him though. He was moments away from perhaps the greatest fight of his life. If he wins this fight, he will become the first fighter to defend two titles simultaneously. He¡¯ll be the undefeated double champ in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. There will not be a single critic in their right mind who could not deny his greatness. If he¡¯d retired a year ago, he would have already cemented his name as one of the best to ever step in the octagon; but that wasn¡¯t enough for him. But he didn¡¯t want to be ¡°one of¡±. He wanted to be the One. That name that stands above all else. He¡¯d given his life to the sport and he was going to ensure that he was the one who they¡¯d be talking about years after he died. He felt light on his feet, bouncing up and down as he stepped out into the open arena. It was deafening yet he simply drowned out all the noise. Gloves taped. Mouthguard in. Finally, he steps into the ring. This is where he thrives, this is where he goes to work. Everything passes by in a flash, the only thought in his mind is how fun it¡¯s going to be to smash this boy¡¯s face in. Finally, the bell rings and all hell breaks loose. Intuitively, both fighters knew this was going to be a slugfest. Even with his opponent¡¯s Olympic wrestling background, Julien was a takedown artist. Going to the ground would not be wise for Callahan. The most effective way to win this was to strike it out and the young challenger was confident he would not lose in that aspect of the fight. However, his opponent fought like a man possessed. For the first time in his fighting career, Marcus Callahan experienced what it was like to be weak. None of his strikes would land yet all of Julien''s did. He could feel each blow through his guard, his eyes trying and failing to read the champ. There was no end to his combination, no tells, nothing he could use to predict what he was going to do next. A right hook, then another one. This is it! There it is! And the challenger falls for it, hook line and sinker. Julien¡¯s fist flies past and narrowly misses Callahan who thinks he has this fight. A split second later, Julien lands a spinning back elbow to the front of Callahan''s face. The pain is nothing like the rising star has felt before and he crumples to the ground. He can barely keep conscious, let alone get back up. But nothing happens. He can feel the blood dripping down, a nasty cut has opened up but through the red veil; he can make out what has happened. The man is standing over him, grinning from ear to ear. He gesturing with his hand for him to get back up, mocking and belittling him. This is nothing but a game to Fronterra. This is nothing more than a spectacle. The bell rings and the first round ends, the crowd is going absolutely nuts. Beyond any fighting ability, what Julien Fronterra excelled in was psychological warfare. If it was one thing he loved, the champ loved putting on a show. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Everything seems to be going well on the surface but Julien can feel it. Something¡¯s off. All has gone according to plan but there¡¯s¡­a deep, dull ache in his chest. But the boy has not landed any blows, at least not any that could do real damage. He ignores it. It could just be jitters. Julien tells himself there''s nothing at all to worry about because he has this match and he pushes on. The next round is not any different from the first. The challenger is shaken to his core, humiliated and unable to think straight. At this point, the crowd is going wild as they watch the greatest fighter they will ever see in their lifetime play with his food. Only the sharpest of eyes would have realized that as the fight progressed, the champ was slowing down. Suddenly, there¡¯s a sharp stab in his chest and Julien stumbles. He must be getting tired, Callahan thinks. That''s what the crowd thinks too but Julien knows that something horrible is happening to him and there is nothing he can do to prevent it. His vision blurs, he can feel the shortness of his breath and his limbs feel sluggish. The young challenger does not hesitate to take advantage of the sudden chink he sees in the champ¡¯s armor. He swings wildly, desperate because he knows this is his only chance to win this fight and he lands. Julien¡¯s head flies back and he stumbles, somehow able to remain standing. Every instinct is screaming at him to fall but he delivers a fierce front kick to drive his opponent back. His heart is failing him. Marcus stops and he wonders why. That¡¯s until he realizes he¡¯s on his knees, his body refusing to listen to his cries for it to continue fighting. The ground rushes up to meet him as he crumples to the floor of the octagon. The referee jumps in, stopping Marcus from jumping in and finishing him off. He makes an instant decision and waves the fight off. A TKO loss, the first one in Julien Fronterra''s perfect professional record. The crowd roars in approval but there¡¯s no sense of triumph in Marcus¡¯ face. Instead, there is¡­concern. The referee has the same expression and those sitting nearest to the octagon can see it too. The commentators are silent and soon the once-deafening crowd follows suit. Paramedics rush in and the world gradually realizes that this isn¡¯t just a defeat, it¡¯s a tragedy unfolding in real time. Julien Fronterra lies on his back, staring at the blinding lights above. He could feel it in his bones. He can feel it in his soul that he is about to die. The paramedics yell something he isn''t able to make out and he can¡¯t help but let out a little laugh. Who woulda thunk it? Who would have thought that he¡¯d end up dying in the ring? What better way to go out than doing what he loved? He felt pride well up inside of him, knowing that he quite literally fought to the bitter end. He could feel his chest getting tighter, it was getting harder to breathe with each passing second. Yeah but so what? Don¡¯t get it twisted, Julien Fronterra loved fighting. It was his outlet, his passion and eventually his craft but he knew what he¡¯d truly wanted all along. He wanted to have people he could call his own. He always told himself he¡¯d start a family after this fighting career was behind him; once he¡¯d finally made something of his life. He¡¯d always wanted to be the father he never had. He¡¯d always wanted to come back home, knowing that there would be people waiting for him. To get to the level he had reached in this sport, he¡¯d had to sacrifice all of it. He¡¯d pushed people away. He¡¯d achieved what he¡¯d always set out to do. In his dying moments, Julien asked himself: was the sacrifice worth it? He¡¯d give it all up for people he could call his own. People who he loved and who, he knew, cherished him the same way. Tears began to well up in his eyes, sobbing now. It didn¡¯t matter if he went out fighting. He just knew he never wanted to go out alone. Yet, he was aware his time had come and the worst part was that all he could feel was regret. Not joy for what a fruitful life he''d lived, not pride for what he had been accomplished in the short 27 years of his life but regret for the things he knew he could¡¯ve done; held back by his own fears and insecurity. Finally, his heart beats one final time and Julien Fronterra draws his final breath. He whispers something only he can hear amidst the chaos. "If there¡¯s a god out there¡­ please¡­give me another chance. Let me live again. Let me find my people.¡± The world fades to black and he can feel nothing. It is a void, endless and empty. Julien can feel himself falling endlessly through the darkness. So this is how death feels like. He thought it would¡¯ve been more painful. Suddenly, there is a green light that explodes before him and his fall is abruptly halted. Slowly he begins to rise and there is nothing he can do despite the fear rising within him. There are cracks, as if this reality of the afterlife is being forcibly torn open. He should hear nothing, see nothing, feel nothing, BE NOTHING. What the fuck was happening? Could he not even rest in peace after death? Was this hell? Punishment for making a living off of hurting people? He¡¯d never ever felt terror like this even against the most dangerous of human beings. The being that emerged was not human. Julien can barely make out a silhouette, a figure who is obscured in an emerald sheen that seems to emanate around him. ¡°You want a second chance? Very well. I will watch your progress with great interest¡­Julien Fronterra. Prove to me you are a worthy investment.¡± The voice sounds amused. It does not sound human. With a wave of a hand, his soul that should have been suspended in the abyss; waiting for judgement to the afterlife, begins to ascend. He could feel the resistance, the chains of death that should be untouchable trying to hold him down. His prayer had been answered. In a single gesture, he had been granted a second chance. With that, he was reborn. Chapter 1: Reborn It took days to adjust to this new body of his. Maybe weeks, it was hard to tell as he drifted in and out of consciousness. From the get go, he knew this body was not his own. Yet this body he now occupied was not one of a newborn, that much he knew. It was not muscular in any sort of way but it was far larger and powerful than his previous body. He saw flashes of memories of a life that was not his own, bursts of emotion that was not his own; but he was only able to see glimpses and not the whole picture. Firstly, his name was Lukas Drakos. He had worked hard to get where he wanted to be. He had worked hard to earn the respect he knew he deserved. Then something happened. He did not know what it was but he knew it had caused pain like he had never felt before. It was just a second of reliving the event but it felt like his entire body had been torn apart again and again and again. That same pain was still there when he finally awoke, a constant dull throbbing that spread across his entire body. Secondly, he was not human. He¡¯d found himself in a dimly lit room and as he slowly recalibrated from regaining his consciousness, he realized he¡¯d been underwater all this time. The man had no difficulty in breathing even submerged in water. He had no problem moving in it either. It wasn¡¯t like swimming which he¡¯d never even been a fan of, slow and clumsy. Now, it was as if the water obeyed his every movement. He was able to move with a grace that he¡¯d never even been able to, all of it fluid and without resistance. Lukas thought he looked humanoid enough. There was nothing abnormal about his appearance when he looked down at his body. It was thin but yet still had some decent muscle mass on it. It was large yet not disproportionate. The only thing of notice were the scars that streaked across his frame, starting from below the neck and ending just above his hip. Just what the fuck had happened to the original owner of this body? This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Thirdly, Lukas Drakos was royalty. He already knew that this world was not his own, that much he could tell as the memories of the original were made known to him. He¡¯d read stories of this, a world of magic and fantasy. The world was nothing like the modern one he¡¯d once inhabited, kingdoms and the aristocracy was how this world worked. One thing was for certain, it was that he was fucking royalty. The room, despite not being the most well-lit, was lavish and filled with the fanciest shit he had ever seen in his life. Paintings, vases and chandeliers. How the fuck did chandeliers even hang down from the ceiling if they were underwater? He decided not to waste time trying to make sense of it. At least he wouldn¡¯t have to suffer through poverty again because that wasn¡¯t not something he wanted to have to go through again. He was even dressed in posh robes which he quickly threw to the side. The more he looked around the room, the more he realized that despite the luxury, it had been quite a while since the room was properly maintained. Would someone who had all this wealth not have had people to clean and tidy the place up? If he was really a noble of some sort, would there not have been people tending to him? Finally, Lukas Drakos had been bedridden for a long¡­long time. All of the memories of the original Lukas Drakos were from when he was young and now he had grown to become a young man. He guessed he could have been anywhere from his late teens to his early 20s. He needed a mirror to be sure. Was he in a coma of some sort? He figured it had something to do with the scars to have put him under for a while. He was lucky to have survived whatever had given him those injuries. Lukas suspected waking him up had required some divine intervention, the same one that had put him in this new body. He was surprised he had not lost his mind. After the encounter with what he could only assume was a god, his state of mind had been fragile. He was on the verge of insanity so he wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if the god made sure he remained sound of mind. His body, though powerful, is stiff and weak after years of dormancy. ¡°Lukas?¡± He turns to face a woman standing at the door. A woman with scales that cover her arms and a long reptilian-esque tail that trails behind her. He doesn¡¯t know what to make of it. What does not confuse him is her appearance but rather the way she looks at him. The warmth in her voice. The love in her eyes. The woman races forward and crushes him with a hug, tears running down her face. Tears of happiness and joy as she holds tightly onto him as if afraid that he may escape her embrace. ¡°My son! My son has returned to me!¡± His mother cries, rocking from side to side. This woman is his mother. Something that he¡¯d never been able to have in his life but this is a new life so he hesitates only for a moment before returning her embrace and holding her close, unable to bring himself to break away. This is his second chance, just like the god had told him. He will not waste it, not when he knows now that he is not alone this time around. He is Lukas Drakos now. He is reborn. Chapter 2: Home It took a while for both of them to compose themselves after their emotional reunion. He could not imagine how much pain this woman had to go through, waiting for her son to wake up from his coma. It seemed that she was the only one left who continued to hold onto hope that the youngest of the noble Drakos bloodline would return to her. Lukas had never been a good liar in his past life and now he saw no point in doing so, especially not to this woman who cared for him so deeply. He¡¯d told her he did not remember much and it broke his heart to tell her that he did not remember her. He asked her, almost desperately, to tell him everything. He wanted to know who he was, what he was, where they were now and how long he had been in that coma for. She smiled, holding his hand tight and giving it a small squeeze. That was all he needed to calm himself down. ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk, shall we?¡± Even though it was a suggestion, he was being led towards the open doors. They walked through hallways and down spiral staircases. They walked through libraries, great dining halls and past numerous bedrooms. He was impressed by the grand palace but what stood out to him was the emptiness of it all. This place had been abandoned long ago. The reason why there had been no one else to tend to him when he woke up was because he was a lost cause. No one thought he¡¯d wake up. ¡°How long was I¡­¡± ¡°One hundred and eighty eight years, Lukas.¡± He took in a sharp breath of air (or was it water because they were under the sea? He had no idea) and realized she wasn¡¯t fucking with him. ¡°Wh¡­what am I? What are we?¡± He asked. She paused for a second before opening the doors to the entrance of the palace. ¡°See for yourself.¡± He¡¯d already stopped listening to her, watching in wonder in the world he had been reborn into. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Lukas saw a city. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. He¡¯d always thought it¡¯d be dark and gloomy this deep under the sea. It was far from it. Schools of radiant fish wove between towering coral-like structures that formed the city''s foundations, their colors shifting like a living aurora. Massive stone monuments, carved from deep-sea rock and enchanted with ancient runes, rose and seemed to spiral towards the very surface above. Bioluminescent moss and glowing anemones had crawled up the walls, lighting the city with a soft, ever-changing glow. The streets were flowing currents, allowing for effortless movement. Giant serpent-like creatures soared gracefully through the water above, their scales reflecting the city''s luminescence like liquid gemstones. Lukas noticed some of them had wings while others like his mother did not. Their offspring play in open plazas where water flows in controlled whirlpools. He could even see some humanoid serpent-like creatures, just like his mother. The market place was bustling but tranquil, with floating stalls held in place by enchanted anchors. Merchants sold enchanted pearls, rare deep-sea herbs, and weapons forged in volcanic trenches. There¡¯s laughter, music, and the warmth of a society that he¡¯d never seen before in the modern world. ¡°This is Linemall. This is our home, my son. This is the last place in Hiraeth where our people can be safe. It is a sanctuary for all Dragon-kind.¡± A youngling who was smaller than the length of his arm moved through the water with curiosity towards him and he watched as it circled around him in fascination. Selene smiled and nodded encouragingly. Lukas reached out a hand and the youngling did not hesitate to nuzzle against it with joy. It nipped at him playfully and he let out a small laugh, his sharp teeth gnawing at his fingertips were extremely ticklish. ¡°Speak to him, my Lord. Not with words but with thoughts.¡± Selene instructed. And so Lukas did as he was told and reached out with his mind. Eyes closed, Lukas concentrated on projecting the thoughts in his mind, a greeting to the youngling. He wanted to portray a sense of warmth, where words would not be needed and then he felt it. For a second, he felt stupid. What if he was doing it all wrong? Then he felt it, a sudden connection. A pathway that formed between his mind and the world outside of it, there was no mistaking it. This was it. He sent his greeting, trying to convey warmth and kindness through this link with all of his might. He felt a hand on his shoulder which made him open his eyes. The youngling was no longer attached to his hand but it seemed to look at him in awe. It wasn¡¯t just the youngling however. His eyes widened as he looked past it to see the entire community of dragons staring at him. His message had not just reached the youngling, it had seemed that he had gone a little overboard. He was uncertain how they would react but before he knew what was happening, they had all stopped what they were doing. Merchants and customers, young and old, it did not matter. They looked towards him and lowered their heads in respect. He could only nod awkwardly to acknowledge their gesture and then the entire town erupted in celebration. ¡°Spread the word!¡± His mother shouted, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Spread the word that Lukas Drakos is alive once more!¡± Lukas watched in amazement as the entire town cheered and he could not help but laugh. He would cherish this moment while it still lasted, taking his mother by the hand and joining in with the crowd''s celebrations. This was Linemall. This was his home now. Little did Lukas Drakos know, this peace would not last. His message had reached far further than he had intended it to. What meant to be a greeting had become a declaration. He had himself made known to all in Linemall and he would need to be ready to answer those who chose to respond to such a bold greeting. Chapter 3: The Weight of Nobility Lukas is handed bottles filled with drinks he had never seen before, offered platters of seafood that made his mouth water and delicacies which had appearances that had the opposite effect. He watched in a bit of fascination at the tight-knit community before him, laughter and music in the air. There was no technology, people glued to their screens or plugged into headphones. It was strange but¡­Lukas liked it. He was beginning to realize the true meaning of what it meant to be of noble blood, especially when it came to dragon kind. It was more than simple respect that you showed because it was what was socially acceptable. The reverence they seemed to show him surprised him and the sincerity in how they treated him made all the difference. Was this what it meant to be a Dragon Lord? It was more than just a leadership position like all the politicians back in his previous life. He was to act more than just a ruler, he was to be somebody they could rely on. A sanctuary, that was the word his mother used. He suspected there was a reason why they had to be kept away, separated from the rest of this world. This was where they knew they were safe, able to live out the lives they wanted to without fear of danger. And it was part of his responsibility to ensure that things remained that way for his people. Suddenly, there¡¯s a commotion and the music dies down. The look on some of the wyvern¡¯s faces flicker from joy to wariness and the crowd parts for the Dragonborn. Lukas will later understand this about Linemall: Hierarchy matters. The lowest of dragon kind are wyverns, they are blessed with immense physical strength and can grow up to enormous sizes. But they are not winged creatures and are essentially the common folk of the dragon race. A tier above them would be your classic fairytale dragons, winged creatures who are capable of flight and are able to wield some form of magic. Due to this, some of them are able to breathe fire which gave birth to the legend of their fire breathing abilities. They make up the majority of Linemall¡¯s population. Then you have your Dragonborn, the nobility and the upper class of dragon kind. They are capable of the ¡°Draconic Flow¡±, a system of divinity created by the first Dragon Lords. This grants them great power and affinity to specific types of magic. They range from direct offspring of the Dragon Lords to their distant relatives and it has taken armies of humankind to even bring down a single Dragonborn. Despite this, their power is incomparable to the top of the food chain: The Dragon Lords. The first three of the Draconic races were the first Dragon Lords due to their immense power and intelligence. As the first three Lords passed, their power and title moved through their bloodline, and today now rests in the three Lords of today¡¯s time. Through them, and the heirs before them, the Dragon Lords continue to guide their kin to protective areas to prevent them from outside harm throughout the ages. As their powers continued to pass down from one another, it came with the ultimate goal to protect their own people. As it became more common for humans to hunt dragons, for their treasures or their scales, it came upon the Lords that they would have to create a safe space to keep them out of jeopardy and provide freedom from harm. The Dragon Lords take upon the responsibility of keeping Linemall safe and protecting its inhabitants, even if it costs their lives. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Lukas Drakos is the descendant of the first Dragon Lord of the Seas and thus it was only right for the Dragonborn of the Seas to greet him. He watched them carefully and did not like what he saw. They were dressed in bougie robes which made them look a bit like dickheads if he was being honest and they carried themselves as if they had a stick up their ass. It was almost like they were displeased that the crowd hadn¡¯t parted sooner. ¡°Greetings, young Lord Drakos. It brings me great joy to see that you have awoken!¡± The leader of the pack declared, giving him a deep dramatic bow which immediately irritated Lukas. His tone was thick with veiled contempt. Perhaps his words were polite but their disdain for him was unmistakable. He was beginning to realize what sort of position he was in. ¡°We will have to make room for your residence at the palace, I¡¯m afraid it is a little packed at the moment¡­¡± The Dragonborn¡¯s eyes trail towards his mother who has been by his side and immediately he drops the act. ¡°This one of low blood will not be allowed to-¡± Lukas had risen from where he sat and he stood around two heads taller than the Dragonborn. The noble flinched at the sudden movement and composed himself once more, eyeing him suspiciously but before any more words could be spoken; Lukas wound back his right hand and struck him across the face with a vicious backhand. He had not even meant to put much force behind it but he could hear bone break as the man stumbled back and fell to his knees, crying as he clutched his shattered jaw. Yet, Lukas felt no remorse. The fact that he was being treated like an inconvenience had already pissed him off, the audacity to tell him that they were ¡°making room for him¡±. Fucking bitch. Then he dared to call his mother a ¡°low-blood¡± to her face. Lukas had not realized how protective he had already become of this woman, Lukas Drakos¡¯ mother. What he did know was that he was not going to allow her to be disrespected. The Dragonborn were taken aback and so was the crowd but he could tell they had it coming for a while now. Wyverns attempted to hide their pleased expressions while other dragons seemed to chuckle heartily at the sight unfolding before their eyes. ¡°What do you think yo-¡± One of them cried out. ¡°Shut the fuck up.¡± Lukas snarled. And he made the wise decision to shut the fuck up as ordered. ¡°I am Lukas Drakos. I am your Lord. All of you are fucking beneath me, do you understand that? Make room? The entire palace is mine, I¡¯ll live in the fucking kitchen if I want to. And my mother will be allowed to be there because I fucking say so. Do you understand?¡± They nod, their faces pale and full of fear. That was more like it. ¡°Send him to get his jaw fixed and make sure, he doesn¡¯t misspeak again.¡± He pointed at one and gestured to him to handle the sobbing mess crumpled on the floor. ¡°You two, make sure everyone here gets reimbursed for providing me with food and drink and pay them generously.¡± The two he pointed out next nods obediently, having been sufficiently humbled by what they had just witnessed. ¡°The rest of you, run along and ensure that when I get there, I will be met with a palace fit for a Dragon Lord. Understood?¡± They didn¡¯t need more encouragement to get out of there as fast as possible. The moment they are gone, the crowd cheers and erupt in applause. The celebrations continued but Lukas knows he cannot stay here forever. He needs to find out more about this world he has been born into. With a satisfied grin, he turned to his mother and held out his arm for her to take. ¡°Would you lead the way to the palace, Ma? I¡¯m afraid my memory¡¯s a bit fuzzy.¡± Selene stared at the man and for a moment, Lukas thinks she¡¯s going to scold him for being so rash. Then she smiles and links her arm through his. ¡°It would be my pleasure, Lukas.¡± Chapter 4: Katrina Drakos The reason why the DragonBorn treated his mother the way they did was because Selene was a Wyvern. She had no royal blood in her and thus when Lord Jaren, Lukas¡¯ father, fell for her and made him his concubine; the decision was extremely controversial. The more he learned about his mother¡¯s past, the more he appreciated Selene even after everything she¡¯d been through. It was also why they had treated him with such contempt: because of his parentage. It was clear they did not respect him which was why he did what he did to that bigmouth of a Dragonborn. It may have seemed impulsive but Lukas knew if he let them continue to step on him, they would not change how they looked at him. He needed for him to respect him, even if it meant first making them fear what he was capable of doing. No different from intimidating his opponents before dominating them in the ring. As they glided through the waterways of Linemall¡¯s underwater region, he watched as hundreds of dragonkind paid their respects to the newly awakened. His mother didn¡¯t say much and Lukas could not read the expression on her face. How long had it been since she had been to the main palace? He knew Lord Jaren was no longer with them and he wondered what his mother might be feeling, the memories she was reliving in her head. Finally, they arrived. This time, the DragonBorn stood ready for his arrival. Their heads were lowered now as they should have been and they bowed when he made his way past them. The ancestral home of the Drakos bloodline stood as a testament to the majesty of the sea and the unyielding power of the Dragon Lords. Unlike the cold, oppressive cobblestone castles of human kings, this palace breathes life and magic, a structure woven into the ocean itself. The palace was not simply built¡ªit was shaped by the first of his kind, grown from living coral, bioluminescent crystal, and ancient sea-dragon bones that have melded into an unbreakable fortress. Its outer walls pulsed with light, shifting between deep blues and shimmering aquamarine, as if mirroring the tides and moods of the ocean itself. The entrance is marked by colossal gates of obsidian and pearl, etched with the history of the Drakos lineage. As Lukas approached, the palace itself seemed to recognize his presence, the palace itself was alive. It was a breathtaking sight as the gates parted for the young Dragon Lord. An acknowledgement that could not be denied, even by the most stubborn and hardheaded of the Dragonborn. As they enter the Grand Estate of the Drakos Household, they are greeted by a large expanse. A coliseum of water and stone, the training grounds of the Drakos Palace are where the fiercest dragon warriors hone their skills. He could sense the history of this arena, its overwhelming past to the point where Lukas felt as if he were being watched over by spectral remnants of the past Dragon Lords, their magic lingering in the walls, observing every fight. There seemed to be more than enough weapons, armor and equipment to arm thousands of dragons when he looked to the side. But it was largely empty. How strange. Selene took in a sharp breath, stepping onto the arena herself. It seemed like she¡¯d been here and she knew this place well. He wanted to ask her more about the palace but he knew this was not the time. Lukas knew she needed to take it all in, to process and live through a past life she had thought long been forgotten. Then he sees her. In the middle of the fighting grounds, there stands a long figure who seems to have been watching him this entire time. What¡¯s her deal? He glances at Selene who seems to recognize her and she replies to his unspoken inquiry. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°That is your brother¡¯s daughter. Katrina Drakos. She is your blood.¡± Lukas flinched and the figure finally began walking towards him. He had a brother? Would that make him the current Dragon Lord? From his glimpses into Lukas¡¯ life before the incident, he knew he was close to his family. It wasn¡¯t like your typical feuds and assassinations with everybody who had a claim to the throne fighting for it. It was a childhood full of love and care. So if he had a brother, wouldn¡¯t he have come to greet him? Why had he been left alone in that abandoned palace with only his mother to care for him? He¡¯d allowed his thoughts to run wild, so much so that he had not noticed that his mother had distanced himself from him and his niece was picking up the pace. In fact, she was sprinting towards him at full speed and clutched in her hands was¡­a giant fucking hammer. Holy fucking shit. The girl took a giant leap, her feet pushing off and cracking the concrete beneath; rising and then falling with inhuman speed, swinging with all her might. If he had found himself in his original body and assuming he had the ability to function underwater, he would have died right there and then. But this body was not human. It was stronger, faster and sharper. He stepped to the side and his fighting instincts kicked in. A huge swing like that is extremely powerful but it¡¯s also a huge risk because it opens you up if your opponent is able to react to it. And react to it, Lukas did. Instead of falling back and creating distance, Lukas closes it. He realizes how much more freedom he has in the water as it seems to go where he goes. It seems to obey his movements in every intentional action he makes and he pulls back before slamming his fist into her face. The blow lands and her head wrenches back violently but she does not let go of her hammer, allowing its weight to anchor her in place. Without it, she would have likely been blown back. Lukas has the slightest of moments to get a good look of her and he realizes how vastly different she looks compared to him. Her hair is blonde, her skin clear as glass, her body unblemished by scars like his. Her eyes are a deep sea green while his are a bright blue. She¡¯s shorter, smaller than most of the Dragonborn and thus tiny compared to him. But there¡¯s a fierce flame in her eyes as she meets his gaze, and they both can¡¯t help but grin. Perhaps they''re not so different after all. She¡¯s a fighter. Just like him. Her nose is bleeding, likely broken but it doesn¡¯t seem to faze her. In fact, that punch just added fuel to the flame. She floats there and swings her hammer back up to rest on her shoulder. ¡°Hello there, Uncle. My name¡¯s Katrina. You¡¯re strong. Let¡¯s fight, shall we?¡± There¡¯s nothing like a greeting through an exchange of fists and Lukas is impressed. She seems young and despite her age, it¡¯s clear to him that she¡¯s stronger than any of the DragonBorn he¡¯d encountered so far. But the gap between them was painfully clear from the get-go. It took a while for him to get used to moving underwater and learning how to take advantage of the freedom of movement he had with the flow of water at his disposal. This was what it meant to be a Dragon Lord. The absolute pinnacle of the draconic race. And this was when Lukas Drakos had awoken only hours ago from a nearly two century long slumber. He was weaker than he would ever be and yet his physicality was far superior to hers. Her movements became more desperate, clearly irritated by the fact that none of her attacks were landing. With a guttural roar, a flip is switched within the young girl. She¡¯s pissed and this time there¡¯s something different. He can feel it, he can feel the magic within him responding to it. Divinity. This is the nature of this world, this is the law of nature here: Magic. The water around them seemed to be drawn towards her hammer and he could see its consistency change. It took on an almost pseudo solid state, surrounding her hammer and taking on her weapon¡¯s shape. The water forms a hammer far larger than the one in her hand and he watches in amazement at the spell she has cast. Caught up in a trance, he doesn¡¯t move to avoid the hammer that is now aimed straight at him. As the hammer seems to collide with the surface of his skin, the water breaks apart and suddenly his skin morphs into scales. There¡¯s a huge disruption of energy as the hammer dissipates back into the surrounding water, and his scales seem to glow with power that he had no idea was within him. ¡°The Robes of a Lord¡­¡± His niece whispers as she drops her hammer to the ground, seemingly exhausted and out of any more energy. He can feel the power of the ocean in the palm of his hand and if he really wanted to, he could crush the young girl in front of him with the weight of the seas. But he¡¯s seen enough and he releases the energy he¡¯d been holding onto. She''s family. Lukas crouches in front of her and offers her a hand which she takes hesitantly. He pulls her to her feet and nods in approval. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you too, Katrina. I¡¯m Lukas. And I want you to teach me magic.¡± Chapter 5: To Inherit the Throne To bear the title of Dragon Lord is to shoulder the burden of protecting their race from all who threaten their existence. And with that responsibility, all Lords inherit the Three Legacies of a Lord. Lukas Drakos, heir to the Drakos bloodline, has not merely inherited the throne; he has inherited the history of tens of thousands of years since the first of his kind. These are the Three Legacies:
The Crown of a Lord
To mark their Lordship, each holds greater mental powers than the rest of their kind, this referred to symbolically as the Crown, and literally applied through mental abilities others do not innately possess. Each of the Lords has the innate ability to communicate with telepathy, a skill that increases in scope and ability with time. This is the reason why the townspeople greeted him when he first tried speaking to the young wyvern. They can telepathically commune with others of their race with ease, and with those they have formed strong bonds with. The strongest of Lords can telepathically commune with any being, needing only to transfer ideas, and being in a sense omnilingual. In this way, the Lords can commune with any of their ilk, and even other Intelligent Familiars, to provide aid. The Crown further grants the Lords incredible mental fortitude, able to resist any mental attack or effect, so that their eyes and heart may lay solely with Linemell. They exist to serve the draconic race and no one else.
The Robes of a Lord
It was what Katrina was talking about are the scales of a Dragon Lord. Similar to the Crown, this is a further mark of their Lordship. Each of the three have incredible resilience by virtue of their station, but beyond this, their scales are immune to elemental attacks and effects that strike against them, and such attacks are absorbed. In this way, the Lords may themselves be a shield for their people. But the benefits of this extend further. If struck with elemental attacks, after absorbing them into their scales, the Lord in question gains temporary control over the element, able to launch attacks with it. How long they maintain this control scales with the power of the Lord in question. Mages and elementalists, thousands of them can fall upon the Gates of Linemall and The Lords will not fall to them.
The Crest of a Lord
The third and final mark of Lordship, and the power that lets the Dragon Lords stand against any invader - Their bloodline, and their heritage of the Lords before them, manifested as the Crest of their Lordship. The Dragonlords can call upon their heritage, and through their bodies, become the embodiment of their bloodline, gaining immense power for as long as they can maintain this state - The length of this ability, like the above, scaling with the Lord in the question. While in this state, the Lord gains access to the Divinity of their predecessors, able to cast spells at higher power and without a toll on their Mana Pool (essentially the measure of their stamina when it comes to using magic). Usage of this skill is dangerous if done for long periods, as the Lord may lose their sense of self the longer they channel their heritage through themselves, until they lose themselves completely in the sea of voices, becoming naught but a beast. These are the Three Legacies of a Lord, two of which Lukas has already inherited; Katrina explained to him as they walked through the palace. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Sometimes, the offspring of the Dragon Lords are only able to inherit one or maybe if they are lucky two of these Legacies. Only the true heirs, the ones who eventually lead the draconic race inherit all of the Three Legacies; making them the most powerful of their species. Arguably and potentially one of the most powerful of this world. After making sure his mother had settled in their new quarters (which the Dragonborn definitely made sure was up to standard), Lukas visited his niece who had been sent to the infirmary. She was a hard-headed one, already up on her feet and immediately requested for another duel. This girl was most definitely a battle junkie, not the first time he¡¯d encountered the type. He¡¯d laughed and told her to show her around which she gladly did, on the condition that they would fight again another day. She was a hyper energetic kid who didn¡¯t seem to be able to sit still, swinging her hammer around; a hammer that she carried around everywhere she went. He asked many questions and she answered every single one. Yet there was one he was hesitant to ask but finally did, because he had to know. ¡°Katrina.¡± He called out to her and she turned, recognizing the seriousness in his tone as they walked towards the giant libraries of the palace which Lukas wanted to see. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Where is my brother? Where is your father?¡± This is the one thing that Lukas could not make sense of, no matter how hard he thought. If his brother was dead then was there another who ruled over the Seas of Linemall now? If his brother was alive then why had he not come to greet him? It was as if they did not want to speak of Rodan as if he never existed. Katrina¡¯s voice trembled with a mix of frustration and sorrow as she met Lukas¡¯ gaze, her fists clenched tight around her weapon. It took her a while to answer him and Lukas felt like it was because she didn¡¯t want to accept it herself. "For five years, the seas have been without a Lord. My father vanished without a trace. He is likely dead, Uncle. The tides no longer answer to a master, and in his absence, the vultures have come to feast." Vanished? Could he have been killed? Perhaps his brother had been overwhelmed by the weight of his position and abandoned his post; but he¡¯d never suggest it out loud. He wondered how alone she had been, probably fighting off those who wished to take advantage of the power vacuum created by her father¡¯s disappearance. She was a fighter after all. But deep down and especially right now, Katrina was still just a young girl; scared and without a father. Right now, she needed someone to be there for her. ¡°We can look for him. We¡¯ll do it togeth-¡± ¡°No. I can no longer live in the past, waiting for him to come back. Our people need someone to lead them and that someone is you. I know it is.¡± Her eyes flash with defiance now and Lukas takes a moment to admire her strength. For the sake of her people, she is willing to let go of grief for a better future. Before he can give her a proper reply, a voice behind him interrupts their conversation. ¡°And I am afraid my granddaughter is right.¡± He turns to face a woman who is just a little shorter than his mother who stands right beside her. Her words click in his head a second later and he realizes who is standing before him. The woman is Rodan¡¯s mother: Lady Kaitlyn Drakos, the wife of Lord Jaren. ¡°The Seas of Linemall need a ruler. They need a new Dragon Lord of the Seas, Lukas Drakos. They need you.¡± Chapter 6: One Month Lady Kaitlyn Drakos carried herself with the effortless grace of nobility, yet beneath the delicate nature she presented lay the quiet steel of a woman who had weathered storms few could endure. Her golden hair was just like Katrina¡¯s, but instead braided up neatly compared to his niece¡¯s which had been let down. Beneath elegantly arched brows, her eyes, cool and calculating, held a knowing sharpness; as if she saw through the veils of courtesy and deception alike. Her beauty was timeless, regal rather than warm, her tone firm rather than fierce. Draped in flowing robes the color of deep sapphire, embroidered with silver to mirror the shimmer of the tides, she stood as the perfect consort to the late Lord Jaren. His mother had her arms linked with hers which Lukas found quite surprising. The usual trope in these Korean dramas he used to watch to pass the time was that the King¡¯s official wife would always be at odds with his concubines. But they seemed to share an almost sisterly bond, a genuine friendship. It seemed like not everyone who carried noble blood had such disdain for the ¡°lowbloods¡± of the draconic race. ¡°You have grown since I last saw you, Lukas. I am¡­glad that you woke up because many suspected you never would again.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lady Drakos.¡± He responded with polite courtesy as he should. She nodded, acknowledging the respect he seemed to show her. ¡°As Katrina has told you, your brother is likely no longer with us. The Seas can no longer live in the past waiting for its Lord to return, Lukas. Rodan always believed you would come back to us. He loved you fiercely and he never gave up on you. Now, you must take on the responsibility he once held.¡± The Lady Kaitlyn watched him, observing to see his reaction. This was an evaluation, he quickly realized. Lukas chose to stay silent, thinking about what the right move here was. Did he really want such a huge burden? Yes he liked these people and this new world he inhabited seemed pretty fucking amazing. It was not like he was completely against the idea. But more importantly, he had to be honest with himself: was he really fit to be a leader? Not only to lead but to protect the draconic race? Was he worthy of such a position? ¡°How will you answer the call, Lukas?¡± Her voice became more firm, challenging him to speak up; urging him to answer the call. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°I am a descendant of the Drakos Bloodline. If called to serve my people, I will serve. But¡­I¡¯m afraid I have little memory of my past, Lady Drakos. At this time, I don¡¯t think I will be able to fulfill such a role. I am not fit to rule as of now.¡± Lukas lowered his head in humility, hoping that it wouldn¡¯t piss her off. He glanced at his mother who smiled encouragingly at him but he suspected she would probably support him no matter what his response. He gave her a quick smile back before meeting Lady Kaitlyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡­I understand.¡± The consort said with a sigh, very much to his surprise; voice heavy with disappointment. Lukas had honestly thought that she¡¯d force him into the position but she was much more understanding. He was starting to like this Lady Kaitlyn. ¡°It was a great ask of you¡­perhaps I shouldn¡¯t have suggested such a thing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just need one month.¡± Lukas declared after a bout of silence. ¡°Pardon?¡± Lady Kaitlyn enquired, her eyebrow raised in confusion. Katrina and his mother stared at him quizzically. ¡°Right now, it¡¯s quite clear I¡¯m not fit to rule. I¡¯ll need a month. The only reason why you¡¯re in a rush to put a new guy on the throne is because somebody is threatening your authority, no? You need somebody to put him in his place. I¡¯ll just need a month and I¡¯ll be ready.¡± He¡¯d dropped his well-mannered facade, there was no point in it. And he wasn¡¯t bluffing either. If he had a month to adjust to his new body and capabilities, he knew for a fact he would be ready to fight. Selene, his mother, stared at him in horror. Katrina¡¯s eyes were filled with glee while Lady Kaitlyn stared at him in shocked silence. ¡°Yo¡­you are smarter than I give you credit for, young man. But the one you¡¯re up against is not going to be an easy opponent. He is the successor of a fearsome race, one that has terrorized the seas and clashed with the Drakos Family time and time again over thousands of years.¡± ¡°What race is more fearsome than a dragon, Lady Drakos?¡± Lukas replies with a savage grin. Lady Kaitlyn stared at the young Lukas in front of her, millions of calculations running through her mind. She looks right into his eyes, searching for a chink in his armor; a telltale sign that he¡¯s bluffing. But she can find none. Is this just pure delusion, arrogance that comes with youth? No. This is different. There¡¯s something more to his claims. There is certainty. Before her stands one who may be a Dragon Lord greater than her husband will ever be. Maybe even greater than all who have come before him. He knows he will win. She doesn¡¯t know how, but she believes him. The Lady Kaitlyn Drakos matches his grin with a toothy smile of her own, the biggest one she¡¯s shown in a long time. ¡°Very well then, Lukas Drakos. Do not disappoint me. I leave the Fate of the Seas in your hand.¡± Chapter 7: Not Alone A Dragonborn stood before a lowly wyvern who had his head bowed down before him. He holds a bag of coins by the drawstring, measuring out the weight. Just by feeling alone, he knows for a fact that the wyvern¡¯s short by a few hundred Drachmas. He smirks and with glee, he realizes that he¡¯s a few short. But even that small movement creates a twinge in pain, memories of the giant Drakos Lordling cracking him across the face. His jaw had shattered, making him experience pain he had not been put through in all of his 120 years of life. How could Marshall Sterling, a Dragonborn, be sent to his knees? He was the top of the food chain, a pureblood who should bow down to no one except the Dragon Lords? Such shame. Such humiliation! Just recalling such a horrific incident made his anger grow, now irritated, Marshall smashed his foot into the wyvern¡¯s head. The wyvern yelped but did not try to fight back as the Dragonborn stomped again and again on his skull. ¡°You think what? Just because that little Lordling has awoken, you think you can get away with your payment fees? You fucking scum need to know your place you lowborn bastards! Fuck!¡± The Dragonborn roars with anger, letting his Draconic Flow unravel and for a second, scales travel along his arm and he grows to a monstrous size in an instant. Marshall takes in a deep breath to calm himself, basking in the familiarity of being in a position of superiority. This is how it should be. This is how things are. But when he looks up, he can see that a young girl is crouched in front of the wyvern. She¡¯s casting a spell, her hands glowing as the warm light relieves the draconic of its pain. Her blonde hair is tied up in a tight bun and strapped to her back is a giant warhammer. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far, Marshall.¡± Katrina Drakos glares at him with a fury that makes him think twice before moving any closer to her. Sterling weighs his options well. Should he cut his losses and avoid getting into more trouble? His emotions, however, overwhelm logic. ¡°Bitches like you should fucking stay in the Pala-¡± ¡°Oooh, would you look at the mouth on this guy?¡± Before Marshall can react, a large hand closes around his jaw from behind. He knows the voice but he can barely recognize the behemoth of a man standing behind him. He¡¯s grown to become even bigger than before. The Dragonborn squirms helplessly, kicking at his assailant but it is futile. ¡°I know you.¡± Lukas remarked as he held Marshall to face him. There is just a moment of silence which makes the Dragonborn think he will be spared. He is wrong. ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡± There¡¯s a crunch and his jaw is once again broken. His guttural screams of agony are muffled through Lukas¡¯ grip and tears begin to stream down his eyes, snot running from his nose. Lukas drops him to the floor and Sterling is on his knees yet again. That doesn¡¯t matter to the Dragonborn anymore. This is no longer about pride and Marshall knows it. He¡¯s about to fucking die. ¡°Marshall, was it?¡± Lukas squats down to meet Sterling¡¯s gaze. This man is fucking crazy. Marshall can see the amusement in his eyes, not even bothered by the fact that he has just hurt another of his kind. How can somebody be so unflinching? So calm and collected? If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Do not ever consider yourself to be a Dragonborn. From now on, you are my servant. Do you understand? You are a dog. When I call, you will answer.¡± This was not a request that could be accepted or refused. It was an order. ¡°I know for a fact you¡¯re not bright enough to be the brains of this operation. You and your other friends have been doing this for quite a while to every business owner in the Seas.¡± Marshall¡¯s face turns pale white, his eyes filled with a different kind of terror. The fear of knowing that he¡¯s been caught red-handed ¡°The first thing I¡¯m going to need you to do for me, is tell me this. Who¡¯s behind all of this? And if you don¡¯t, I will break more than just your jaw. Understand?¡± Oh. I''m fucked, Marhsall Sterling thought. He is right. ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ ? ? ? ? ? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ A month had passed and he had put that time to good use. In the mornings, he would spend hours at a time in the library, asking the scholars within them and learning all there was to learn about the draconic culture and history through books and scrolls. After just a month of studying, he knew he had not even scratched the surface. In the afternoons, he would spend his time with his mother; learning how to fully adjust to his body. It didn¡¯t take him long to master the Draconic Flow, an almost sacred art that allowed the draconic race to take on a human-like form. But what he really wanted was to get the hang of moving in his draconic one. The first time he ever went through a full transformation, it had been completely disorienting. It felt almost nauseating to suddenly have such a different perspective. He was enormous in size, even though he was definitely considered on the younger side of the draconic race. From what he¡¯d learnt, he was just in the starting phase of growth. Despite this, he towered over his mother in her wyvern form. He was bigger than any dragon he had ever come across and though his strength was not much different, it felt more fitting for this form. It wasn¡¯t just the size, but it was the very magnitude and presence this form commanded which made it so terrifying. He could quite literally feel the strength coursing through him. No wonder the dragons in those storybooks were always regarded as almost god-like. But he knew what a real god was like and he knew he was nowhere close in comparison. He had a feeling that would not be the last time he would meet that god who had given him this second chance. In the evenings, he would train with Katrina. She taught him magic and she taught him the true nature of the Draconic Flow. The reason why the Dragon Lords of Old had created this was far from just physical, for why would a dragon stoop down to the likes of a human? This was a secret closely kept only within the direct bloodline of the Dragon Lords. The Draconic Flow was a cultivation technique. In such a compressed form in the shape of a human body, it allows any Dragon to gather and grow their Mana Pool in a more efficient manner. The larger a being¡¯s Mana Pool, the stronger they become in all areas; magical and physical, for mana is the lifeforce that fuels the existence of magic and vitality in this world of Hiraeth. This was what he had to focus on, growing his Mana Pool to the full extent of its limits such that he could realize the potential of his true power. For the first week, Katrina would also continually ask him to fight which he gladly took up. But soon, she began to avoid him and he realized she no longer felt like getting ragdolled every time they fought. Thus Lukas had to search beyond the Seas of Linemall and there he found the creatures of the vast ocean to battle. He never lost. Then he would return and he would feast. This was his top priority. His body as it was clearly was at its weakest. He needed to bulk up and put some muscle on his bone. He thought this process would take at least a year, if not two, like it would for a human. But draconic physiology was different. He grew at an absurd rate which made him just think this was fucking unfair. At the same time, the amount of food consumed was concerning sometimes even to Lukas himself. As a human, he could eat what he did in a day in a matter of minutes and his appetite was truly endless. And he fucking ate. If he was not training, fighting or learning then Lukas would be in the kitchen; chowing down on meals seconds after they had been made by their head chefs. He would do this day in day out, without a single day of rest or recovery. He had a promise to keep. He was ready now. He knew he was. Lukas was sure that he could win and he¡¯d done his research on this enemy the Lady Kaitlyn had warned him about, just like he did with all of his opponents before stepping into the ring. But this time, he had Selene, his mother who cared for him constantly. He had Katrina who was something like a little sister, annoying but sweet in her own way. And he also knew Lady Kaitlyn was on his side. It felt¡­different. He had nobody in his past life and that had haunted him when he drew his last breath. Julien Fronterra had died alone. But he knew one thing was for certain: Lukas Drakos was alive. And he was not alone. Chapter 8: Jesse Sterling The interrogation process was long and arduous but Lukas got the information he needed. The corruption ran far deeper and it seemed like he had no end. These Dragonborn did not care about its people, they did not care about Linemall. They were just worried about their own personal gain, drunk on power without anyone to keep them in check. So the people of the Seas suffered for years on end because there was nobody powerful enough to stop them. He saw how Marshall Sterling had treated that wyvern, how long had they been collecting these ¡°payment fees¡±? How long had this been going on for? How long had the people of the Seas been mistreated? He¡¯d had a long day and he was hungry. That night, he found himself reading through the interrogation reports in the kitchen, trying to wrap his head around all of it. Laid out before the Lordling was an entire feast of food that the chefs of the palace had cooked out for him. He ate ravenously, pausing in between bites to study the reports more closely. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door slowly push open. He thought he¡¯d made it clear that he didn¡¯t want anyone to enter while he was eating his meal. To his surprise, he saw a young Dragonborn sneaking into the kitchen. He watched with amusement as the boy looked outside one last time, to make sure the coast was clear before closing the door behind him. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be here.¡± He remarked before taking another bite into his meal. The boy flinched, shock apparent on his face as he finally met Lukas¡¯ eyes. For a split moment, he can see the boy thinking about what the right move is here. He looks like he¡¯s around six years old but he looked twenty and he was going on three hundred. ¡°It¡¯s alright, kid. I ain¡¯t gonna rat on you. Eat.¡± He shoves a plate towards him, gesturing to him to come forward. Relief flashes on his face and the kid gives him a sheepish grin before diving into the plate of food he has just been offered. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Mine¡¯s Jesse! Jesse Sterling!¡± The kid introduces himself between mouthfuls of food. Lukas stops, tilting his head to the side and setting his report down. No fucking way. Sterling? Jesse Sterling? ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re a Sterling? You don¡¯t look like your brothers at all.¡± Marshall and his siblings have a very distinct crow-like look. They have sharp noses and almost beady-like eyes, with dirty blonde hair. This kid has brown hair and wide eyes. This kid looks charming, even sweet. He could never have guessed it. ¡°Yeah! How do you know my brothers? Do you know where they are? They said they¡¯d get me some food but¡­they never came back. That¡¯s why I snuck into the kitchen, I was starving!¡± The concern in his voice is heart-wrenching and he even stops eating; waiting earnestly for a response, worried sick about his brothers. ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you hear? They got rounded up, a whole bunch of the Dragonborn did earlier today. Bad people doing bad things they shouldn¡¯t have, kid. Don¡¯t worry though, if your brothers are innocent, they¡¯ll be set free soon.¡± Lukas tells the little Dragonborn, enjoying this interaction immensely. For just a brief moment, he can see anger flash across the boy¡¯s face but it soon turns into what looks to be a genuine display of worry. This kid really is something else. ¡°My brothers aren¡¯t bad people! I¡¯m sure they have the wrong people! Who are you? How do you know all this?¡± The way he asked Lukas made it seem like it was just an innocent question, born out of curiosity. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Oh me? My name is Lukas Drakos. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Jesse Sterling.¡± The boy¡¯s expression fades, replaced by one of understanding. He is silent, setting the plate down. All of a sudden, the kid doesn¡¯t seem too hungry anymore. ¡°In fact, right here, are the investigative reports from the interrogation of all 54 that were apprehended today on suspicion of corruption and extortion.¡± Lukas sets down his plate, tapping on the reports laid out in front of him. The kid is silent, watching him without a word. ¡°Of course, they were all pretty adamant this was just a simple way to make more money at first. It took a while but they eventually cracked. And they all said the same exact story. We checked and we checked again because honestly I couldn¡¯t really believe it. All of this was more than just a couple nobles on a power trip, this was intentional. It was deliberate. And you know the craziest thing about it, Jesse? They all said¡­that you were the brains behind the operation.¡± The innocent kid facade was up. Jesse was no longer even trying to hide it, he knew there was hardly a point in lying at this point Yet he continued to stay silent, eyes locked onto Lukas. There was a deep anger within those eyes. It was his eyes that betrayed him, eyes that made his hyperintelligence clear; almost unnervingly so. ¡°Fuck. Fuck FUCK! Why couldn''t they just keep their mouths FUCKING SHUT?¡± The boy screams with irritation, smashing the plate to the ground. It¡¯s an almost terrifying sight because this isn¡¯t just a temper tantrum. This is a genuine D1 crashout. Holy shit. Jesse takes in a deep breath, closing his eyes with his head raised to the ceiling. That¡¯s all he needs to compose himself. ¡°So what is it that you want? Do you wish to rule now?¡± The boy inquires, his voice calm and collected. Lukas is dealing with a fucking sociopath. ¡°I want you to answer that question, Jesse. What is it that you want? You¡¯re not poor, you don¡¯t need the money. Why do all this? You¡¯re smart and I don¡¯t mean that in a patronizing way. Why use it for this? When you could have done so much for Linemall?¡± Jesse scoffs, an eyebrow raised in his direction. ¡°For Linemall? What has Linemall done for me? What has it done for the Sterling Family? Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re doing this for the sake of your people, bastard. You want power. So do I. Money is power, Drakos. And I follow where the money goes. The power has not been in Drakos¡¯ hands for a very long time.¡± Lukas doesn¡¯t show it but the question did shake him. Was¡­he just hungry for power? Just like he was in his past life, searching for purpose through strength and domination? Was he really doing it for the people of Linemall, was he doing it for the draconic kind? He honestly wasn''t sure. ¡°Then where has the power gone?¡± ¡°The Kraken. It won¡¯t be soon till he rules over the Seas of Linemall and I doubt he¡¯s going to stop just there. It¡¯s only a matter of time before he¡¯s the one in control of all of Linemall. I hate to break it to you but the Age of Dragons is over, Drakos. We were too caught up in the glory and fame. It¡¯s time to move on. I don¡¯t want Rodan¡¯s brother to die too. Don¡¯t be stupid.¡± Lukas stopped and then he saw it. He sees that at the end of the day, Jesse¡¯s still a little kid. Rodan must have treated him well for the kid to have shown at least a hint of true emotions. For the first time, Lukas doesn¡¯t think violence is the right move here. Forcing the boy to submit through force isn¡¯t going to work, not like it had with Marshall Sterling. ¡°I''m not gonna die and Rodan¡¯s not dead. I know he isn¡¯t. And I will find him. We can find him. But I need to make sure that my mother is safe. I need to make sure my older brother¡¯s daughter and his mother are going to be okay. Rodan would have wanted to be sure that his people were safe too. Don¡¯t you agree? So help me kid. And I promise you. The power will return to the Drakos Family. But not if their own people are not behind them.¡± His voice softened and he meant every word he said. ¡°I¡­I will think about it.¡± There was confusion in the boy¡¯s eyes. Jesse wasn¡¯t expecting that from Lukas, a plea for support? He was nothing like Marshall had described him to be, a savage with brutish overwhelming strength that could not be reasoned with. Could he really be telling the truth? ¡°I will take my leave now, Lord Drakos.¡± Lukas let him leave, nodding. He sighed and watched as Jesse exited the kitchen. There was no point in holding him here. What did he get out of imprisoning him against his will? That¡¯d just end up turning him against him for good. He did know one thing for certain though. It was time to pay the Kraken a visit. Chapter 9: Kuria Prison The Kraken was the last known descendant of the monstrous offspring of Oceanus: Cthulhu. Since the dawn of draconic kind, they have been the eternal foes of Linemall¡¯s Seas. There was much he learnt about what kind of foe he was up against and from what he did gather, he really hoped Katrina wasn¡¯t fucking with him when she¡¯d told him about the Skills of a Dragon Lord. If he held the Crown of a Lord like Katrina said he did, then he would not have to worry about the main threat the Kraken posed. That ability, Lukas assumed, was the reason why he could have gathered so much power while still in chains. It was an ability that should not have any effect on him which was why he suggested he go alone. But his niece would not allow that. They travelled deeper into the Seas he had ever gone before, down into the depths of the ocean. They were heading to Kuria Prison, the stronghold which kept some of Hireath¡¯s most dangerous sinners. Katrina described it as a symbol of strength maintained by the Drakos Household for thousands of years. Lukas had a feeling that symbol no longer held the weight it once did. Finally, they arrived. Deep beneath the churning waves of the Seas of Linemall, hidden within a trench where sunlight doesn''t reach, lay Kuria Prison¡ªa fortress of iron and sorcery, once feared as an inescapable tomb for the most dangerous criminals of dragonkind. Carved into the jagged underbelly of the ocean itself, its black stone walls pulse faintly with the remnants of ancient runes, etched by the first Dragon Lords to ward against escape. The prison was more like an open air facility, with cells suspended like cages in the open water, reinforced by draconic sigils that leech the strength of those held within. The deeper one goes, the more the pressure of the ocean bears down, if not for Lukas¡¯ now draconic vessel; he would have been crushed under the pressure long ago. It was a reminder that Kuria was built not just to hold, but to break its prisoners. The corridors were vast and eerily silent, save for the occasional groan of chains or the distant murmur of seawater slipping through the cracks of forgotten chambers. Hulking, enormous dragons in obsidian-forged armor patrolled its halls, but none of them truly felt imposing despite their intimidating appearances. They were greeted by the Warden of the Prison accompanied by two prison guards and Lukas recognized the familiarity of his features. The sharp nose, the beady-like eyes. He looked like a crow. He looked like a fucking Sterling. ¡°Greetings, Lord Drakos. I¡¯m sorry I was never able to greet you after your awakening. We are short on hand as it is and you slip up for a second, and these prisoners won¡¯t hesitate to slaughter you for the sake of their own freedom. You look well, my Lord. I remember when you were quite young, always an intelligent one. But I hear you may not remember much from the past, my name is Samuel Sterling. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve met my sons?¡± His tone was polite, nothing like Marshall. But it wasn¡¯t like Jesse either. He was their father, yet seemed so different from his children. How peculiar. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. This wasn¡¯t an act, at least it was not one that Lukas could pick out. His eyes were¡­calm, peaceful even. He wouldn¡¯t have expected it from someone in charge of a prison filled with so many dangerous individuals. Katrina remained silent, her grip on her hammer tightening. She wasn¡¯t usually this quiet but he guessed that her cheery mood would not fit well in such a suffocating environment. She looked nervous. Katrina Drakos looked scared. Anyone would be creeped out of their fucking minds. But he wasn¡¯t, he suddenly realized. Could this be the Crown of the Lord? Was that the reason why he felt so at ease? Of course, he was still primed for action but that meant ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you Samuel. I¡¯m afraid my memory is fuzzy. I¡¯m sorry for coming on such short notice but this is quite urgent. Let us get down to business immediately, shall we?¡± Lukas gestured for Samuel to lead the way to the holding cell. Samuel gave him a smile and nodded. But he did not move. Instead, he moved to the side and indicated with an open palm to the hallway behind him. ¡°It is right this way. The Kraken will see you now, Lord Drakos. He has been waiting eagerly for your arrival.¡± ¡°Oh fuck.¡± Katrina whispered. Understanding dawned on her like it did on Lukas. The Sterling was in a trance. He was in a trance, eyes glazed over and unresponsive. The guards didn¡¯t seem intimidating because they were barely even conscious. All of them had long surrendered control of their mind to another. All nothing more than puppets on a fucking string. Lukas looked past the warden, deep into the prison. He;¡¯d thought it was another building in the center of Kuria. He¡¯d thought wrong. At the heart of this abyss, within the lowest and most fortified chamber, sat The Kraken. Bound but never truly imprisoned. In Kuria, power does not belong to the jailers. It belonged to him. His eyes, ancient, glowed in the darkness with an eerie, bioluminescent gold, their piercing gaze cutting through the dark like a predator watching its prey struggle against an inevitable death. There is intelligence in those eyes that Lukas stares into, a mind far sharper than any blade, one that does not simply seek destruction. The Kraken seeks control. Katrina once told him Lord Jaren, Lukas Drakos¡¯ late father, was the one who defeated the Kraken; leaving him imprisoned in Kuria for centuries. He could see the wound that Lord Jaren had dealt the beast during their battle, a giant gruesome scar across its bulbous head. He was a behemoth of twisting, coiling flesh, looming over the pair with his massive, slick body dark as the ocean at midnight, speckled with other scars showing a past life filled with endless battle. They were both similar in that aspect, except Lukas still wasn''t sure where he got his scars. His tentacles, thick as ship masts and covered in barbed suckers, writhe with a slow, deliberate menace. Each one moved as if it had a mind of its own, curling and moving with a grace unnatural for a creature of such monstrous magnitude. When he stirred, the very walls of Kuria Prison groaned under the weight of his presence. This guy was strong. ¡°Greetings, Lukas Drakos. It¡¯s good to finally put a face to the name. How about we have a little talk? It¡¯s about time, don¡¯t you think?¡± The thought was louder than any voice could have been and Katrina winced, flinching the sudden intrusion. This¡­was going to be fun. Chapter 10: A Score to Settle ¡°Is the Kraken your real name?¡± He asked, stepping forward and placing a hand on Katrina¡¯s shoulder, signalling her to stay back. It was dangerous and Katrina didn''t argue because she knew it too; the Kraken was far out of her league. He should have been scared. If he saw anything like this in his past life, he probably would have fucking freaked out at the sight of such a creature. To think a living thing like this could exist, it would test the limits of any sane man. But Lukas honestly didn¡¯t think it was just because of the fact that he had the Crown. It was because he¡¯d come face to face with a god before. The Kraken was no god. That meant he could be defeated. ¡°It¡¯s the only name you need to know, little Dragon. You have no idea how surprised I was when I heard your greeting. I would not be surprised if every single being in Linemall heard it. Quite bold, don¡¯t you think?¡± The Kraken rumbled and Lukas could tell the deep raspy heaves were laughter. ¡°Had to let you know that I woke up. I hear you''ve been a pain in my ass though, who you think you are? You know you just an octopus, fuck you think you doing tryna rule the Seas of Linemall? I¡¯m telling you now to back up because this won¡¯t end well for you, Squidward.¡± The Kraken was no longer laughing. He didn¡¯t know what that last term meant but he certainly did not think it was a compliment. ¡°You¡¯ve got a mouth on you, huh? I¡¯m afraid to be the one to break it to you but the Age of Dragons has passed us, little one. I will be the one to rule. Because like the young Sterling boy told you, money is power. I control your town, Drakos runt. You do not rule them. And you never will.¡± That caught Lukas a bit off guard and he hoped it didn¡¯t show in his face. How much influence did the Kraken have in Linemall¡¯s economy? Did it go beyond just Dragonborn extorting the locals? He had no idea how deep those tentacles of his went. ¡°So what? You want me to work for you, like the Sterlings do?¡± He scoffed. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Work for me? Lukas Drakos, I am going to skin you alive. I will ensure that you pay for the sins of your father.¡± The entire demeanour shifted as the Kraken¡¯s chains began to groan, straining as he moved closer to Lukas. They were inches away now. He could see how vicious a wound Lord Jaren had dealt to his head. It should have killed him. Simple thoughts turned into waves of emotions, crashing down on him. Rage, hatred and agony flooded down upon his mind and he could feel the immense pressure pressing down onto his skull. Scenes of a battle long past flashed before his eyes, the Kraken forcing him to relive it; to watch as the Lord Jaren claws dug into his own head. It was just a second before he could feel shields around his mind forming; the Crown of the Lord was doing its work. ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking kill you.¡± The message was clear as day, no words were needed for him to catch the drift. He whipped his head around to see Katrina on her knees, clutching her head; her hammer lay on the ground as she tried to withstand the mental torrent that the Kraken was sending out. ¡°Enough.¡± The last time, he tried using this mind talk shit; he ended up sending the thought across the entirety of Linemall Village. This time, he was intentional. He said it with such force that the Kraken¡¯s onslaught faltered before stopping altogether. ¡°But before I do that, I¡¯m going to make sure I take everything from you, Lukas. And I mean that wholeheartedly, I will make sure you¡¯re alive to witness it all just like how your father took everything away from me. I hope you spend the time you have left with your loved ones because the clock is ticking. We shall meet again, Drakos. And the next time, you will not have so much to say. I promise you that.¡± ¡°Fuck you talking about, octo-bitch? We settling this shit now.¡± Before the Kraken can even comprehend it, Lukas¡¯ right arm expands. The muscles expand, skin turns to scales and a giant beastly hand sinks its claws into the Kraken¡¯s head, right where the former Dragon Lord wounded him. A partial transformation, just going to show much he had improved in his control over the Draconic Flow. It''s like second nature to him now. This is what his main focus has been during the last month, learning how to move in this new draconic vessel he has inherited. His grip is unbreakable as Lukas summons all the strength he has to slam the Kraken¡¯s head into the ground; holding him there. Blue blood seeps into the water around them, its dark and Lukas can taste the iron in every breath of water he takes in. The Kraken lets out a scream so loud that the entire prison shakes and he begins to thrash around helplessly; squirming as Lukas¡¯ claws dig deeper into his skin. He is pinned down and despite his enormous size, it soon becomes clear that Lukas is stronger. Yet this does not make his enemy weak, this perhaps is one of the strongest that Lukas has come across; even Katrina would not stand a chance against him in a physical contest of strength. If not for the chains that were holding him down, Lukas would have had a much more difficult time handling him. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight. There is no next time. I¡¯ve got a score to settle with you, Kraken. And you¡¯re going to die now.¡± Chapter 11: Mercy The Kraken wailed, straining with everything he had to get loose of his chains. Each and every one of his tentacles had been restrained and it seemed to be holding him down quite well. There was desperation in those eyes as Lukas¡¯ other arm began to expand as well; muscles rippling as it transformed into its more monstrous draconic form. ¡°SAVE ME!¡± Lukas winced at the sudden cry of help the Kraken was sending out through his mind and he wondered who in the world he could be talking to. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the guards rising up with vigour; raising their long spears as they turned towards the Kraken. Fuck. They were still under his control. ¡°HELP ME!¡± The Kraken¡¯s mental vocalization boomed through the prison and with horror, Lukas watched as the seemingly silent courtyard erupted with a cacophony of screeches from its prisoners. They banged against the cage with desperation as if it was their own lives that were being endangered. They shook the bars of their cages, some even banging their heads with full force against metal. He had to end this now. Before one of the guards reached him, a hammer came swinging down upon his skull; sending him to the ground in a thunderous crash. Katrina nodded at him. The only thing he needed to worry about was killing the creature in his grasp. Taking advantage of the split second in which Lukas had been distracted, the Kraken jerks back violently. Lukas grimaces as his sharp claws tear through flesh and the Kraken escapes from his grip at the cost of a terrible wound. But it¡¯s far from enough to take him out of the fight. Lukas rushes forward, planning to claw his way through the Kraken¡¯s head to end his life. The Kraken reacts just as fast and Lukas¡¯ claws simply tear through his tentacles instead of his head. Suddenly an explosion of darkness hits him full on in the face and he is blinded. It¡¯s ink. Fuck! He stumbles back through the water and urges the water to move him away from the murky substance. It¡¯s not only hard to see but it smelt strange, almost pungent; enough for him to want to move away from it. His eyes searched fervently through the expanse of black for movement; the Kraken and his enormous size should not be hard to spot even through the ink. Yet Lukas is unable to pick him out. Where the fuck did he go!? Bursting through the black clouds, a hand stretches out and Lukas leans back with the waters aiding his movement; barely avoiding a vicious strike to the head. And then he sees the figure emerge. The Kraken stands impossibly tall, towering over even the mightiest of Dragonborn, his body a grotesque fusion of man and abyssal horror. They stand eye to eye. His skin, slick and eerily smooth; its color a shifting, mottled black-blue that glistened like wet ink. His face was monstrous, his head elongated and cephalopodic, with countless tendrils spilling from where a mouth should be. These tentacles writhe and coil, exuding a silent menace, each moving as if alive with its own will. When he speaks, his voice is an unsettling, liquid resonance, carrying the crushing weight of the abyss itself. ¡°You¡­that¡¯s not possible.¡± Lukas whispered in dreadful realization. He would have suspected it was some kind of other form of magic that allowed him to take on this humanoid form, but he could recognize the familiar energy that exuded from the Kraken. It was the Draconic Flow. Someone had taught him the Draconic Flow, allowing him to transform and be free of his chains. It was incomplete, but enough to grant him the form that stood before Lukas now. His hands, elongated and webbed, end in jagged, claw-like fingers, built for grasping, for drowning, for pulling victims into the dark. His body is sinewy yet impossibly strong, like the coiling pressure of a deep-sea leviathan. There was a grin on his face as he watched the Lordling grasp at straws, trying to understand how he got his hands on the well-kept secret of the draconic kind. He didn¡¯t have time to worry about that problem though. He may have been surprised but Lukas had to put the Kraken down now, letting him escape was not an option. He closed the distance between them in a second, landing a swift blow to the gut and the Kraken responded by cracking an elbow across his face. Lukas¡¯ head swung back but he let the momentum carry him through the water, urging the seas to flow with it. Being underwater and having the ability to control the movement of it had given him so much more variety to choose from. It was like gravity no longer existed. His body spun with blinding speed as he landed a spinning kick to the Kraken¡¯s side. The blow sent the Kraken flying, crashing into cages suspended into the air before sinking to the prison floor. There was anger in his eyes as he stared up towards Lukas from where he knelt, a hand clutching his side. But then the anger began to fade and he shook his head in pure amusement. He was still bleeding from the wound that Lukas had dealt him while he¡¯d still been in chains; the Kraken was getting weaker with each passing second, he was losing too much blood. ¡°To think that I¡¯d be humiliated by another Drakos. You Dragons really are a pain.¡± The Kraken spoke now and his voice was nothing like Lukas would have expected. This entire time he had been using thoughts to communicate. His voice was smooth and concise, almost friendly. He heard no real hostility in it but Lukas knew otherwise. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Is this the true power of the Kraken? Draconic Flow or not, you really aren¡¯t much of an issue.¡± Lukas scoffed, inching closer and this time absolutely ready to take the Kraken¡¯s life. ¡°Pride has and always will be the downfall of your kind, Drakos.¡± A shadow loomed over the two figures and without warning, a spiked tail crashed into Lukas¡¯ back; sending him to the ground. It wasn¡¯t more so the force itself but rather the shock factor that had him so discombobulated. He raised his head to see a magnificent beast of a Dragon standing before him. His scales, pristine as moonlight on undisturbed water, gleamed like polished pearls, their luster untouched by age or battle. They were layered like the finest armor, a natural masterpiece of both elegance and indomitability. Golden eyes that now held an unnatural glow, a sickly radiance, twisted by the Kraken¡¯s possession of his mind. He was massive, even among his kin, his wings broad enough to cast entire villages in shadow, each beat of them sending massive tremors through the water. The great horns upon his head curved backward like a crown of ivory, adorned with runes that flickered with latent power. His presence alone was suffocating, a being born to rule the skies, yet now shackled to an unseen master¡¯s will. Without warning, Samuel Sterling roared, the sound of an ear-splitting crack of thunder over the stormy sea. The very air trembled as waves bucked and crashed against the prison¡¯s foundations, the force of his magic warping the tides themselves. It was greater than anything Katrina had been able to show him and he should¡¯ve known she was still but a novice in the arts of magic. Samuel Sterling had a Dragonborn longer than either Lukas or his niece had been alive. Without warning, Samuel moved, his speed unnatural. In the deep, where even the mightiest of creatures were sluggish, he cut through the water like a blade through flesh. The ocean itself twisted around him, drawn into the force of his presence, bending to his will. And then, the current shifted. What had once been a slow, crushing silence of the depths became a raging vortex. Lukas barely had time to react before the entire prison chamber erupted in a violent spiral of wind and water. A storm was brewing underwater. How fucking cool was that? Even Lukas had to admit that was pretty awesome. Samuel¡¯s jaws parted, and he inhaled, drawing in the very water around them, his throat glowing with a spectral light. And then, with a single exhalation, he unleashed a typhoon. The force of it was monstrous. The sheer pressure of the gale sent shockwaves tearing through the water, dragging debris and shattered stone into the chaos. The ocean itself roared as the prison walls groaned, the ancient structure bending beneath the violent currents now raging through it. Lukas felt himself being yanked off balance, his body thrown into the vortex, spinning wildly as the unnatural storm consumed him. The water became a cage¡ªwalls of slicing wind whipping through it, cutting through solid stone like parchment. And then he heard the familiar voice, speaking through Samuel. "This is the true power of the Kraken." Samuel¡¯s wings snapped outward, and the vortex intensified, dragging Lukas into its maw. The very currents of the sea obeyed the dragon, bending, breaking, twisting. He had not experienced a magic quite like this but it was nothing Lukas could not fight against. Time and time again, the strength of a Lord exceeded his expectations. If he really wanted to, he could fight through this vortex and take the dragon¡¯s life. Kill him now, and the Kraken would lose a valuable pawn. He knew this was the way. He had never shown mercy to his opponents in the octagon as Julien Fronterra and there was no reason why he should spare them as Lukas Drakos. This was just how it had to be if he wanted to win. But then, Lukas stopped as his eyes looked towards the Kraken and then Samuel Sterling. He was still Jesse¡¯s father. Killing him would leave that child fatherless. Killing him would mean that Jesse would not have a father to go to, to rely on, to love. Samuel¡¯s eyes, still glowing with that eerie golden hue, flickered for just a moment, a crack in the unyielding influence that bound him. They locked eyes and Samuel could see Lukas, ready to kill him on the spot. He shook his head in desperation, pleading with Lukas to spare him for he was doing this against his will. He wasn¡¯t beyond saving. Jesse could still have his father. ¡°FUCK!¡± Lukas roared because he knew what the right thing to do was. Even if it meant that the Kraken would escape his grasp. He watched through the whirling blades of wind as the Kraken rose through the water. He moved not with urgency, not with desperation, but with certainty. Even as he slithered toward the prison¡¯s only exit, he smiled at Lukas Drakos, smug and unbothered. He gave Lukas a small wave before clouds of ink exploded around them, obscuring Drakos¡¯ line of vision. He was gone. He cursed under his breath, now more annoyed than worried at the display of magical strength Samuel was dishing out. All elemental attacks did not affect him because of his title as a Dragon Lord and he could suddenly feel himself gain control of the winds itself. Lukas forced them to cease, disrupting the flow of the winds before shooting forward, grabbing the dragon by the throat. The noble dragon thrashed, his magic still raging in the waters around them, but Lukas did not let go. Lukas exhaled sharply, his grip tightening around Samuel¡¯s throat before driving his fist into the noble¡¯s temple. The force rippled through the water, a deep thrum echoing in the depths as Samuel¡¯s golden eyes dimmed. His massive body convulsed once before going limp, the raging winds around them dying instantly, silenced by unconsciousness. The ocean settled. But Lukas did not feel victorious. "Merciful. Just like your father." The Kraken¡¯s voice slithered into his mind, rich with amusement. He did not know where he was but the Kraken had made sure to send that message to him through mental connection, just to fucking rub it in. And rub it in, he did. "Let us see if such mercy serves you, Lukas Drakos. We will see one another soon. Very soon." Then, he was gone. Lukas stared into the darkness where the Kraken had vanished, his jaw clenched. Yes, he had saved Samuel Sterling but at the cost of allowing the Kraken to escape. He clenched his fists tight till the knuckles turned white as he realized...this was his loss.
Chapter 12: Lord of the Seas For thousands of years, Kuria Prison had been unbreakable. This was a fortress carved from the depths of Linemall¡¯s seas, where monsters, traitors, nightmares, legends and myths were locked away. It was built by Lukas¡¯ ancestor, the first of the Drakos bloodline and perhaps the strongest Dragon to have ever lived. It was more than a prison. It was a promise made by the Drakos bloodline. A promise to the people of Linemall that no enemy of the dragons would ever walk free again. The Drakos Household had made sure that promise was never broken, even during the Great War which ravaged the draconic race. Until now. The news of the Kraken¡¯s escape had spread like wildfire. For the Dragons of the Seas, he was more than just a criminal; the Kraken was something right out of the folktales their mothers used to tell them before they went to bed. The Cthulhu had just been a figment of their imagination, the notorious enemy of any Dragon who lived in the Seas. And now that nightmare had come to life in the worst way possible. Kuria had stood for millennia, unchallenged. No one in living memory had ever escaped its grasp. If the Kraken had broken free, then what else was possible? What other nightmares could escape to terrorize the Seas? The towns, once lively with trade and laughter, now carried only hushed conversations and hurried footsteps.Merchants locked their doors. Even the rowdiest taverns fell silent. Because the Kraken was out there. And worse, he could be anywhere. His power was unlike any other. It was the power over the mind. His voice could twist reality, turning brothers against each other, sons against their mothers. No one knew how far his influence had already spread. But it wasn¡¯t just fear that was affecting the Seas. It was doubt. For the first time in decades, the nobles and Dragonborn of the Seas found themselves at a crossroads. Who would they follow? The newly awakened Lukas Drakos, heir to a forgotten throne, or the Kraken, a name that had haunted their bloodline for generations? The Drakos family had ruled these waters since the first Dragon Lords carved their names into legend, but time had eroded their power. And now, as the Kraken¡¯s grip tightened, an unspoken question loomed over Linemall like a storm on the horizon: Was the Age of Dragons finally over? ©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥???©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥©¥ Lukas sat in the office that had once belonged to all the previous Dragon Lords before him, slumped over his desk. Katrina had gone to report what had happened to her grandmother, Lady Kaitlyn Drakos. He had sent away the guards, dismissed his attendants, and let the silence settle in. He needed to be alone with his thoughts and let the events that had just transpired to sink in. The Kraken was on the loose. He sat up as thoughts whirled around in his head, tapping his fingers rhythmically against the wooden desk. He needed a plan, a new one. He knew now what his opponent was capable of and what he had to do to put an end to this whole mess. Lukas just had to make sure everything was done right, executed perfectly to a tee. He could not allow for any margin of error, no matter how small. This was more than just a battle of strength, it was mental warfare. It was the type of fight he loved the most. A hard knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Did these Dragons not understand when he said he wanted to be left alone? ¡°Come in.¡± He said begrudgingly with a soft sigh but the annoyance faded as he realized who had stepped into his office. It was Samuel Sterling. He had broken an arm which was now in a sling, thanks to Lukas but otherwise Samuel seemed just fine. Behind him, stood Jesse Sterling. They both greeted him with a bow, paying their proper respects to the Lordling. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Samuel was the first to speak. ¡°I came to thank you, my Lord.¡± ¡°For?¡± Lukas asked, intrigued. But he knew the answer. He just wanted to feel a little better about himself after what had happened earlier that day. ¡°For sparing my life.¡± The Dragonborn¡¯s voice was rough, but there was no hesitation. ¡°And for proving that you are a better man than I expected. The Sterlings¡­have been at odds with the Drakos Household for centuries, ever since the Great War. I think it¡¯s about time we put that to rest.¡± Lukas was not expecting that and he didn¡¯t even know what to say in response. He still knew frighteningly little about the history of Linemall and its inhabitants: Dragon Kind. He watched as both Samuel and Jesse got down on one knee and lowered their heads towards Lukas, shocked at their display of fealty. ¡°From this moment forth, the Sterling Family swears loyalty to you, Lukas Drakos.¡± Samuel vowed, awaiting his response. ¡°I¡­I heard what you did for my father. Thank you, my Lord. We will provide any information you need to bring down the Kraken.¡± Jesse said, flashing him a genuine grateful smile. The boy seemed a lot less moody now that he had his father back home, he probably hadn¡¯t seen him for a while now. Lukas studied him, then Samuel, and saw something he hadn¡¯t expected. Genuine respect. Trust. The weight of an oath not made lightly. ¡°Thank you. I appreciate it. Truly.¡± Samuel exhaled, glancing toward the chair. ¡°May we sit?¡± He nodded and Samuel hesitated for only a moment before speaking again. ¡°I am ready to return to my duties as Warden of Kuria.¡± Jesse shot him a look of concern, clearly he had not known his father would say this. ¡°But you¡¯re still injured, no?¡± Lukas gestured at his arm which was in a cast, it didn¡¯t look like he¡¯d be returning to work any time soon. ¡°This is nothing you should be concerned about, I w-¡± ¡°No. From this day forth, you will be stepping down as the Warden of Kuria Prison. You¡¯ve done your part, Samuel. Be a father to your sons. Be a member of the court, a Dragonborn, an advisor. I will need your knowledge and perhaps even your guidance.¡± Lukas thought it was better if he could use a man of his experience at the Palace. They needed all the help they could get here and he already someone who could be Samuel''s successor to become the next Warden. Samuel looked relieved but Jesse looked like he was almost about to cry as he nodded towards Lukas in thanks. He knew Lukas had done it to keep his father out of harm¡¯s way and he would not forget this. At the end of the day, even as ruthless as the kid was, Jesse Sterling was still a kid and he loved his dad more than anything in the world; even money. Samuel did seem a bit curious though. ¡°Guidance? What could I possibly hope to guide you in? You are far more powerful than I, my Lord.¡± ¡°The magic you used against me,¡± Lukas said. ¡°The magic of the winds. I want you to teach me how to wield it.¡± A slow smile tugged at the old Dragonborn¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that, boy. The magic of the winds is a Sterling secret. This is a magic created by the Dragons of the Skies, my Lord. You¡­are a Drakos. You are born to wield the power of your forefathers. You are born to wield the Magic of the Seas. And there is no better person to teach you this other than Lady Kaitlyn for she is the greatest sorceress that the Seas have ever seen in thousands of years.¡± ¡°You flatter me, Sam. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you. Time has not been kind to you old friend.¡± A familiar voice spoke from the doorway as Lukas stood to greet the Royal Consort. ¡°Lady Kaitlyn, I see time has not made you any nicer either.¡± Samuel shot back with a bow, remaining as cordial as ever. Samuel and Jesse both rose from their chairs, understanding that it was time to take their leave. They glanced at Lukas for permission to leave and he nodded in approval. ¡°I will be in touch soon, Jesse. We have much to discuss.¡± With that, the Sterlings took their leave. Lukas had been dreading their next meeting. He had promised her he¡¯d take down the Kraken and now he had escaped from Kuria Prison. The Seas of Linemall were in absolute panic over the news. Yet she did not scold him. She did not berate him for his choices. Instead, she studied him with an unreadable expression, and when she finally spoke, her words were soft but firm. ¡°You¡­are your father¡¯s son, Lukas. More so even than my own, Rodan.¡± Lady Kaitlyn finally said. Lukas didn¡¯t know what to say to that either, on the fact that he did not remember his older half-brother Rodan; let alone the father who had passed long ago. ¡°You are like your father because you love your people, Lukas. I was not sure of you. You seemed hungry for power and I worried that was the only thing that mattered to you. It seemed I was wrong. I¡¯m sure of it now.¡± He didn¡¯t want to admit it but¡­the more he thought about it, the more he truly liked being here. He liked where he was now. He liked who he was now. For the first time in his life, he was fighting for something more than just his own self-worth. He was fighting for more than just his own sake. He was fighting because he¡­he was beginning to care about these people. He cared about these dragons, he cared about the Seas. Because he wasn¡¯t alone anymore. He had people to care about. He had people to fight for. ¡°Sure of what?¡± Lukas asked. ¡°You are the heir to the throne, Lukas. And it is time I teach you the magic of the Drakos Family. You¡¯ve relied far too much on your physicality, though impressive, will not get you far. There are many powerful beings in the world of Hiraeth and you will become powerful enough to protect Linemall for any who threaten its safety. And when you do eventually master the Magic of the Seas, Lukas Drakos, you will no longer be the heir.¡± She stepped closer, the weight of her presence pressing down like the ocean itself. ¡°You will be the Lord of the Seas.¡± Chapter 12.5: Tell Me About the Past Some time had passed since the Lady Kaitlyn had left and Lukas spent the rest of his time, strategizing, plotting, coordinating every single aspect of his plan. His mother entered without a word, carrying a tray of food. Simple dishes, warm and familiar, the kind he hadn¡¯t realized he missed until the scent filled the room. Selene placed the tray down and sat across from him, saying nothing except giving him a warm smile. ¡°You did the right thing,¡± she said finally. Lukas exhaled, running a hand through his hair. ¡°The Kraken escaped.¡± ¡°Yes and you spared a man who was under his control. You allowed a father to return to his family.¡± She folded her hands on the table. ¡°You made the right decision, son.¡± He looked into her eyes, searching for something he wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d find. Perhaps doubt? To see if she really meant every word she spoke, to see if she was just saying these things to put his mind at ease. But her gaze was steady, unwavering. She believed in what she said. She believed in him. For all the uncertainty and chaos in Linemall, there was none he could find in her. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Rest. Eat. And Think. But don¡¯t ever doubt yourself. And even if you do, believe in me that believes in you, Lukas.¡± Selene whispered lovingly, placing her hand on his and giving it a small squeeze. Lukas smiled for the first time in hours, grateful for this woman that was in his life. His mother stood to leave but Lukas held onto her hand, shaking her head. He cleared the desk and began to dig in. He had time. He still had time. The Kraken could wait. He was not alone anymore and he would spend every chance he got with the people he cared about. For tonight, he would eat dinner with his mother and put all of his worries at the back of his mind. ¡°The old man, Samuel, talked about the Sterlings hating the Drakos Family since the Great War, what¡¯s that all about?¡± He asked her. Selene raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wow, you really don¡¯t remember a thing huh? I actually fought in the Great War, you know. Those were hard times.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Tell me about the Great War, Ma. Tell me about the past.¡± And that was all that he¡¯d asked for in this second life: He was no longer alone. He had a family to call his own. Chapter 13: Setting the Stage One Day After the Kraken¡¯s Escape The Merchant Guild was formed, with approval of the Drakos Household. Going forward, all businesses across the Seas would need to be registered under the Merchant Guild. Registered businesses would receive a license to operate their respective businesses and be assigned an Associate of the Guild, who would advise them on all things business-related. All those who were licensed would have to make monthly reports on their revenue, costs of operation, and profit distribution to ensure equality and fairness; all of which would be recorded by the assigned Associate. The Merchant Guild being an extension of the Drakos Household¡¯s authority would manage all businesses involving necessities such as transport, healthcare, education, energy, utilities and security of the Seas. Any business choosing not to register with the Guild would be hereby shut down, by order of the Drakos Family. The Merchant Guild would proceed with the registration throughout the Seas of Linemall, hours after the announcement was made public to the general public. Two Days after the Kraken¡¯s Escape An army of giant octopuses begin to attack various towns across the Seas of Linemall. It is said that the Lordling Drakos single-handedly took down the army, displaying his great and undisputed strength. There are none harmed despite such a vicious attack. Lukas Drakos declares that for the next week, all food places would be serving octopus-related dishes for free to celebrate this great victory. All of the creatures slain were hung in town squares around the Seas for all to witness the greatness of Lukas¡¯ victory. Three Days After the Kraken¡¯s Escape The news of Samuel Sterling¡¯s resignation has been made known to the people. In his place, a new Warden of Kuria Prison is appointed: Katrina Drakos, the daughter of the missing Lord Rodan. Following the announcement, it is made known that 3 prisoners trying to escape were apprehended successfully with the new Warden in charge. It is well-received by the general population. It is good to see the next generation stepping up to serve the good of Linemall Village. Many say it was about time Samuel Sterling stepped down. Four Days after the Kraken¡¯s Escape If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Merchant Guild announces huge changes in the Sea¡¯s economy. Instead of working on a barter system, a new currency will be implemented: Tritons. Crafted from polished steel, the coins are durable and striking in their design, a reflection of the hard-earned peace the people of Linemall now fight to reclaim. It is a symbol for what the future holds for the Seas of Linemall. On the obverse side, the coin bears the figure of an Octopus Head. Once a feared symbol of the Kraken¡¯s influence, the head is now rendered in a stylized, bold design. Its bulbous eyes are marked with X¡¯s, mocking the escapee. This image is framed by crashing waves, symbolizing both the fall of the Kraken and the rise of the new order in the Seas. The reverse side is a simpler, yet equally significant design: a rising sun over a calm sea, symbolizing the dawn of a new era. The sun is flanked by two intertwined dragons, representing the strength and unity of the Drakos family and their return to power. Below, the inscription "UNITED UNDER DRAGONS¡± is etched in elegant, flowing script, serving as a reminder that the Age of Dragons is far from over. It was a concept that would take a while for the Seas to grasp but eventually, it would bring about great prosperity of the Seas. More importantly, it took away the greatest danger the Kraken posed to the Seas. The Seas¡¯ Economy was no longer in control of the Kraken. It was completely in the hands of the Drakos Family and there was little to nothing the Kraken could do about it. Five Days after the Kraken¡¯s Escape Lukas Drakos announces he will be going on a Royal Procession. He, alone, will travel through all of the Seas of Linemall to greet his people after his awakening after centuries. He would make a loop around the Regions of the Seas before returning to the Palace. Lukas listened to the concerns of his people, reassuring them that the Kraken¡¯s terror was a thing of the past. Anything he could do to serve his people, he would do it without hesitation. He made sure to meet directly with local Dragonborn, reminding them of the Drakos legacy and securing their loyalty. In each and every city, he would organize a local feast where all were invited to attend. Food, drinks, and plenty of alcohol were all on Lukas. He would show off feats: consuming more food than the people had ever seen before, drinking more barrels of alcohol the taverns could provide, and the people loved it. At first, there were only a handful of curious onlookers, but as his procession moved forward, the crowds grew larger. People who had lived in uncertainty for so long, living through the aftermaths of the Great War and Lord Rodan¡¯s disappearance. He was a symbol of change, of strength, and of protection. He was a sign of what was to come for Linemall. Some knelt before him, pledging their allegiance, while others cheered from the sidelines, their voices rising with excitement. Those who had once been too fearful to defy the Kraken¡¯s remnants found courage in Lukas¡¯ presence, and slowly, one by one, more joined his cause. The Dragonborn too, who had once been uncertain of Lukas¡¯ potential, saw the fire in his eyes and the power in his command. With each night that passed, Lukas'' procession became more than just a display of power. It had become a rallying cry for a new order, a new dawn for the Seas of Linemall. He had travelled the Seas, made his name known and now Lukas Drakos would finally return to the Palace, followed by thousands of the draconic kind. More than two weeks had passed since the Kraken¡¯s escape and it was like it never happened. All eyes were on Lukas Drakos, the new rising star of Linemall. His influence had spread even outside of the Seas and its growth did not seem to be stopping anytime soon. Lukas Drakos had spent hours crafting every single step and detail and it had paid off. Everything was leading up to this moment where he could finally reap the rewards of his meticulous planning. He only had one chance to pull it off and he was now almost drooling at the thought of it. 17 Days After the Kraken¡¯s Escape The stage was set. It was time for the main event. Chapter 14: Run It Back The final night of the newly awakened Drakos¡¯ Royal Procession was upon the Seas and it was full of life like the people had not seen since before the Great War. The crowd seemed to double with each town he travelled to and eventually thousands began to follow the Dragon who was to become their new Lord. It was clear to the Seas of Linemall who would inherit the throne from Lord Rodan, and they knew the Seas were in good hands. Not only was he capable, Lukas Drakos knew how to fucking party. This was something honestly Lukas had not done¡­ever. Julien Fronterra was a legendary fighter but to build such a legacy, he¡¯d had to sacrifice everything for it. Partying, getting drunk and having a wild night was not something a champion could do. As Lukas Drakos, he relished in it. Every single night, he put on a festival where all came together to forget about the problems of past and present and just had some fucking fun. After times of what seemed like endless tension, Lukas¡¯ Royal Procession was what allowed the Seas to loosen up. The final night was no different and with the army of followers he had gathered, it had become the greatest one thus far. Outside the Palace, the townspeople and visitors from all around the Seas came together to celebrate. The training grounds had been turned into a large dining area welcome to all. Lukas Drakos wolfed down plates of food without hesitation and laughed heartily as the people urged him to down another barrel of alcohol. It did not take much persuasion for him to obliged as he drank to his heart¡¯s content. He was in a good mood. He was relaxed. He was too relaxed. The crowd continued on with their celebrations as a lone figure walked past the throngs of people gathered in the training yard. Lukas did not seem to notice as the large hooded humanoid seemed to approach him. Dragons and wyverns seemed to glance in his direction, confusion passing over their faces only for a split second before returning to whatever they were busy with; as if they¡¯d never seen him at all. Lukas¡¯ face was red and he stank of alcohol, clearly intoxicated after having finished off 8 barrels of alcohol. He didn¡¯t even notice the figure taking a seat across from him. When he finally glanced upwards, the figure was hunched over a bottle of gin, pouring himself a glass. And then he saw those eyes, like red daggers piercing into his own. ¡°Lukas Drakos. You really are a pain in my fucking ass.¡± The Kraken said with a laugh before taking a drink from his cup. Lukas remained silent, setting down the plate of food in his hand. ¡°Really, I¡¯m impressed. You¡¯ve done more damage to my reputation, to the power I¡¯ve built up over the last few decades, to my pride than I ever could have imagined. Tritons¡­a currency system. You¡¯re far smarter than you look, Drakos. You pissed me off. Even your father never angered me to such an extent. You should be proud, Lukas. Truly.¡± The Kraken stands and reveals his hideous features, pulling the cloak off of his massive frame. All of Kraken¡¯s wealth came from his control over businesses, mainly the ones that provided food, construction, shelter and all the essentials; for they were the businesses that thrived in a barter economy. The creation of the Merchant¡¯s Guild had made it hard to remain in control of his businesses and the installation of the Tritons had rendered his pools of wealth useless. The armies of giant octopuses? Lukas had been behind all of those attacks, for he knew the kind of message it would send if he took them all down. The crowd doesn¡¯t seem to take notice, continuing on with their celebrations. It¡¯s as if the Kraken doesn¡¯t exist, influenced by the magic of the mind. Lukas has sobered up now, his smile completely vanished. But he does not move. He does not speak. ¡°I am anything but persistent. I will build my wealth once more, even with these new systems in place. In the end, I will be the one to rule the seas. Linemall is just the start. But I am also petty, Lukas Drakos. So before that, I must ensure I pay you back. Right now, your mother is in the Palace. She does not like the noise and thus she¡¯s turned in for the night.¡± The Kraken laughs now, taking the bottle by its neck and gulping it down greedily. His laughter is deep. It''s unsettling. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Lukas stands up, the bench behind him falling with a crash. His face is grim but the Kraken holds up a hand to stop him before he can say anything. ¡°Right now, thirty of your Dragonborn are heading towards her room on the upper left wing. They are going to slaughter her. Do you understand that Lukas? And I want you to drink with me, my dear Lukas.¡± The Kraken pushes the table standing between them away with a simple flick of the wrist, pouring him a glass of gin. The Kraken holds the cup out to him, grinning with his tentacles squirming in disgusting glee. He is savouring this moment with every fiber of his being. ¡°Drink with me, Lukas Drakos. Drink with me as your world falls apart.¡± Then the Lordling laughs. It escapes his lips and soon Lukas can hold it in no more. He doubles over, one hand clasping the Kraken¡¯s shoulder to hold himself up. The Kraken does not even move away, completely dumbfounded by such an absurd reaction. Is this guy fucking insane? ¡°Do you know what my mother¡¯s name is, tentacles?¡± Lukas snatches the cup from the Kraken¡¯s hand, accepting his offer and downs the cup. In the distance, there is a giant boom as the upper floors of the Palace explodes with a cacophony of screams and shouts. There is another incredible thunderous crash as the Kraken watches as five Dragonborn are flung through the walls of the Palace. ¡°My mother¡¯s name is Selene.¡± Selene of Dawn. Perhaps the most decorated and fearsome warlord of Linemall and the only general to have survived the Great War. Though unrecognizable in her human form, not a single person in Linemall could not recognize the red serpent-like wyvern who emerged from the Palace. In her jaw there were three Dragonborn who she spit out like chew toys and she let out a rumbling roar that shook the Palace grounds. The crowd roared with approval at the spectacle, recognizing the Sea¡¯s Wyvern war heroine. Thirty Dragonborn? Not even an army would be able to take her out. There was a reason why Lukas had come to her to learn how to move in this new dragon form of his. Not Katrina. Not Lady Kaitlyn. He went to his mother. During the one month of training he underwent, there was not a single time that Lukas had ever been able to best her mother in a clash of titans when both of them were in their draconic forms. He did not think there was any in the Seas that stood a chance, regardless of magic. The Kraken didn¡¯t know what to say. How could he not know who the bastard''s mother was, she had killed many of his own kin. He didn¡¯t know what to do. He realized that in all of his centuries of living, he was up against somebody who was two steps ahead of him. He was up against a fucking mastermind. Caught off guard, the minds that had been under his control were set free. In that instant, the winds swirled through the water as wyverns, dragons and dragonborn all around them were whisked away. Tables and benches, plates and goblets, everything was cleared away all thanks to the Sterlings who had been preparing for this moment since the festival had started. Lukas grabs the Kraken by his tentacles, pulling him close. The Kraken reels back but is unable to do so, his grip is like iron. ¡°Tonight is the final night of my procession. I say we go out with a bang no?¡± Lukas shouts, his voice amplified to the crowd who seems to all be watching in great fascination. They roar in approval, the spirit of the festival still very much alive in the air. ¡°Let¡¯s put on a show, shall we?¡± Lukas'' body convulsed as the Draconic Flow surged through his veins, a raw, unrelenting force that tore apart his human form from the inside out. His spine cracked and lengthened, vertebrae stretching into jagged ridges that split through his back, flesh giving way to overlapping plates of obsidian-hued scales. His ribs groaned, twisting outward as his chest expanded, the sound like wet branches snapping underfoot. Fingers blackened, nails warping into hooked talons as his hands elongated, caught in a grotesque in-between state of beast and man. His jaw unhinged, splitting wider than it should, teeth multiplying, reshaping into jagged fangs as his tongue slithered out, lengthening into something serpent-like. His skin peeled away in places, revealing sinew and shifting muscle beneath, until it was no longer flesh but armored hide. The Draconic Flow was far from graceful in nature. It was like horror you could not take your eyes off of. From his sides, short but powerful wings tore free, the membrane glistening with fresh, viscous ichor as they stretched, adapting to their newfound freedom. His eye, once human, bled into a haunting abyss of sea blue, pupils splitting like a serpent¡¯s; inhuman and predatory. It was as if the depth of the ocean had found itself in those eye sockets. Lukas took his time, allowing the crowd to see the full transformation through the Draconic Flow. The final shift came with a sickening crack as his skull elongated, reshaping into the unmistakable visage of an ancient sea dragon, crowned with straight razor, jagged horns that dripped with residual energy. The transformation left behind steam rising from his form, his body thrumming with power, his breath thick with the taste of brine and blood. The man was gone. All that remained was the Dragon. These were the sea serpents, the beasts of the ocean, the ones who had ruled the Seas of Linemall since the first of their kind. This was the power of the Drakos Family. Oh how Lukas had waited patiently for this day to come. He had been dreaming, salivating at the thought of this event and it was finally upon them. He was going to enjoy this. Tonight would be the execution of an escaped criminal of Kuria Prison and the end of a rivalry that had gone on for far too long. The Kraken watched on in horror, his tentacles still tight within the grasp of his claws. Wow. He was royally fucked. Chapter 15: To the Age of Dragons The Seas understood now what was happening and they loved it. Instead of dampening their spirit, they seemed to rise up with more passion than ever before. This was going to be one hell of a fucking show to witness. The training grounds of the palace had never seen a gathering like this. Dragons, wyverns, and dragonborn filled every possible space, perching atop the towering spires, coiling around the columns, their eyes locked onto the two figures standing at the center. The air was thick with anticipation, with suspense, with the promise of an era-defining ass beating. And it was the ass beating of the sworn enemy of the Linemall¡¯s Seas, the last of his kind: the Kraken. He had been played. He knew it now. With Lukas¡¯ claws still wrapped tightly around his swirling tentacles that hung from his humanoid face, Lukas wrenched him into the air and slammed him into the ground with such force that the stone beneath them cracked. The Kraken barely had time to grunt in pain before Lukas swung him again, then again, using him like a ragdoll, his body bouncing off the shattered earth with sickening force. The crowd roared as their Lordling brutalized his enemy, the sound of flesh colliding with unrelenting stone reverberating across the palace grounds. The Kraken held out a hand, screaming out in desperation. ¡°STOP! PLEASE! YOU BASTARD! HAVE YOU NO DECENCY OF A FAIR FIG-¡± But before the dust could even settle, Lukas was already on him again. He was fucking ruthless. This was payback. Before the Kraken could react, a colossal fist sent him hurtling backward, the ground beneath them shattering from the impact. The Kraken let out a guttural snarl. He may have been clearly outmatched in combat but he certainly would not go down so easily. He had abandoned any hope of fleeing from the scene. He really had no other choice but to face the young Drakos boy or he would die here. His form bulged, stretched, and in the blink of an eye, his humanoid body was no more. His transformation was grotesque, just as gruesome as Lukas¡¯ own transformation But he wasted no time, instantaneously warping into a mass of writhing tentacles, his once-human features vanishing as his true titanic form emerged. Lukas was going to make sure the Kraken made it known who taught him the Draconic Flow. But first, he needed to whoop his fathead. The Kraken lashed out with his tentacles, aiming to coil around his foe and squeeze the life from him, but Lukas was liquid in motion. A dragon¡¯s claw raked forward, then mid-swing, his form shifted. It was a seamless transition from beast to man. He slipped between the grasping limbs, now shrunk down to human form and completely avoiding the monster¡¯s attacks. He struck the Kraken''s torso with a brutal knee before expanding into his full draconic form once more, sending his opponent skidding across the ground. The fight was a hurricane of motion, transformations happening so quickly that even the trained eyes of the gathered dragonborn struggled to follow. A punch thrown by Lukas suddenly gained the mass of a draconic limb, closing the distance between them in an instant; violently flinging the Kraken''s head back. A grip that should have been inescapable became meaningless as Lukas shrank and darted free. He was untouchable, an absolute menace, and the Kraken was drowning in the relentless tide of his assault. No one, not even the Dragonborn, had ever seen the Draconic Flow being used like this. This was why he had not cared about magic for the first month of his training. He wanted to ensure that he mastered this Flow passed down from the founders of the Draconic Race and milk it for all it was worth. But the fearsome monster would not be defeated so easily. The Kraken bellowed, and the very air seemed to curdle with his presence. His form twisted, expanded, skin ripping with grotesque elasticity as new limbs exploded out from his body. Tentacles erupted from his shoulders, his back, even his abdomen; turning himself into an amalgamation of pulsing flesh. The ground beneath them darkened as inky blackness spilled forth, not just a smokescreen, but something sentient, something his will commanded. The ink stretched, thickened, took shape: monstrous arms, blades honed from the void itself. Round two baby. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lukas snarled as the world around him collapsed into chaos. He had not expected the Kraken to have something like this up his sleeve. He¡¯d thought that the extent of his magic had always been limited to just his control over the mind. No wonder his kind had always been able to pose such a threat to the Dragons of the Sea. The Kraken¡¯s magic was not just an extension of his body. It was a force of nature, an onslaught of regenerating, ever-shifting monstrosities that seemed endless. For the first time in this fight, Lukas was forced onto the defensive, his claws slashing through inked constructs only for them to reform instantly. He weaved through a web of grasping tentacles, tearing through them only to find more had come to take their place. The Kraken was no longer fighting to endure. He was fighting to win. The crowd could see that Lukas Drakos had underestimated him, they were nervous now. Was it possible that Lukas Drakos would lose this fight? ¡°IT IS PRIDE! YOU DRAGONS AND YOUR PRIDE, IT¡¯S A TALE AS OLD AS TIME! I¡¯LL FUCKING KILL YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW LUKAS DRAKOS!¡± No matter how dominant Lukas was when it came to physicality, it is the one who¡¯s magic was more powerful that would decide the victor of this fight. Because this was Hiraeth. This was a World built on the foundations of magic. The crowd murmured, watching their Dragon Lord slowly become engulfed, swallowed by the tide of abyssal magic. The Kraken laughed, deep and resonant, his tentacles stretching skyward as if to claim his inevitable victory. And then, Lukas exhaled, letting out a sharp breath of air. The ink stilled. The constructs quivered. From where he stood, Lukas lifted his claw, his eyes glowing with an unnatural brilliance. Water stirred beneath the ink, tendrils of it rising like spectral veins through the Kraken¡¯s domain. The air shifted, charged with something ancient, something undeniable. The Kraken¡¯s laughter faltered. "Fuck are you talking about, bitch? You talk too much." The Kraken¡¯s ink constructs trembled. And then, with a mere flex of his will, Lukas took control. This was the Divinity of the Seas. The magic that had been passed down, developed, forged and cultivated by generations of the Drakos Family. He could feel the familiarity of practicing this every single night since the Lady Kaitlyn had taught him it. She had taught him one spell. A singular spell for him to master. She had told him with this, it would be enough. He performed it every single night after each festival of his Royal Procession. He practiced it as he travelled to each city, practiced it while he ate, practiced whenever he possibly could. This was the foundation of the Drakos Family¡¯s Divinity, the first spell that every Drakos learns to master: Generation and Control With a mere thought, Lukas could summon water to his command, bending it to his will with an authority that no other Divinity User could override. It was more than the water just aiding his movements now, it obeyed his every command without resistance. He could either generate water or he could seize water from the environment itself, commanding moisture from the air, draining nearby bodies of water, or even melting ice into torrents. The latter method was far more efficient, consuming only a fraction of his energy, but it required an extra moment; just enough time for the water to recognize a new master, to detach itself from the forces it had previously obeyed. And once Lukas had seized control? The water was his alone. No other Divinity User, regardless of their affinity with the element, could reclaim or twist it against him. His will was absolute. He had drawn the water, the moisture within the ink the Kraken produced and manipulated, rendering it useless. The very moment he called upon this power, the battlefield no longer belonged to the Kraken. The ink that had once obeyed the Kraken began to rebel. What had once been his weapon became a traitorous tempest. The constructs faltered, then collapsed, dissolving into water that flowed toward Lukas like a current answering its master, the rightful master of these seas. Lukas did not even need to lift a finger. Just like that the ocean itself had turned against the Kraken. Perhaps it had never been on his side in the first place. For its allegiance had always lied with the Drakos Family. From where Lukas stood, the water around him began to glow a deep, otherworldly blue. It spread outwards, pulsing like a heartbeat, its rhythm syncing with the sea itself. The currents shifted, bending to his will, spiraling around him like a vortex of divine fury. The Kraken, battered and broken, still refused to surrender. His massive form thrashed, tentacles flailing as he desperately tried to claw back control of the ocean that had once obeyed him. But it was useless. The water no longer listened to him. It belonged to Lukas now. Then, with a single movement, the ocean answered. A force unlike anything before collapsed upon the Kraken. It wasn¡¯t a simple wave. It wasn¡¯t a current. It was pressure, an unfathomable weight of water condensed into an unstoppable, crushing mass. The very fabric of the sea coiled around the Kraken like a vice, its glowing tendrils wrapping around his limbs, binding him, dragging him down. The glow intensified, casting eerie shadows through the depths, illuminating the final moment of the Kraken''s influence. The Kraken let out one last, choked roar before he was silenced. The force of the sea slammed him into the abyss with a violence that sent tremors through the ocean floor, a final execution carried out by the very waters he had once ruled. The ocean calmed. The glow faded, settling into the natural rhythm of the tides. Then, the people of the Seas erupted into deafening cheers. Even from beneath the waves, their roars of triumph rumbled through the water, a chorus of dragons, wyverns, and dragonborn alike; voices that had been stifled for too long now rising in exultation. Their rightful ruler stood victorious, unchallenged, and the power of the Seas had returned to dragon hands. Lukas Drakos stood tall, the ocean at his feet, the tide bending to his will. The Kraken was defeated. Boy, did it feel good to do what he did best. Lukas had won. He caught a goblet of liquor that Jesse threw at him from the sidelines. With a grin, he raised his glass to the Seas. "TO THE AGE OF DRAGONS!" Chapter 16: Just For Tonight The festival continued late into the night. The first thing Lukas did after their battle was to make sure his mother was safe. Despite the facade he put on for the Kraken and Selene insisting she would be fine, he had still been beyond worried about her. Lukas¡¯ mother had lived up to her name. She¡¯d actually had to hold back or risk taking a few of the Dragonborn¡¯s lives. She seemed to be enjoying herself well and Lukas left her to the festivities. He sat perched on a ledge, away from the crowds below. The people hardly seemed to care about the massive destruction that his fight with the Kraken had caused. As for the Kraken, the monster would live to see another day. He still had questions that Lukas needed answering. But for now, he would savour this victory. The first in this new world that he¡¯d found himself in. Dealing with the Kraken, finding himself in his new body and travelling around the Seas, everything had happened so fast; Lukas realized he¡¯d never really taken the time to process it all. How fucking crazy was this? He was in a world of magic and living among Dragons. He¡¯d won yet another fight and it felt great but here he was again; away from the people. He was alone but this time it was by choice. He knew if he went down there, he could spend time with the people who mattered to him. But that was exactly the problem, he wasn¡¯t even sure that it was his place to care for those people. Had the Lukas Drakos, the true Lukas Drakos, had a choice? If not for his wish being granted, would the son of Lord Jaren and Selene of Dawn have awoken and lived out the life he was always meant to live? What if he had taken away all the happiness that the original Lukas Drakos was supposed to experience? What if by getting a second chance at life, he¡¯d taken away someone¡¯s only shot at it? What if he told them the truth? What if he told them all that he was not truly Lukas Drakos and that he had possibly taken away the real soul who first inhabited this body? What would they say, what would they do, how would they treat him if they knew? He also worried because the fact of the matter was that nothing truly was free in this world. He¡¯d have to pay a price eventually to that immortal being who¡¯d made all of this possible in the first place. He wasn¡¯t sure if he would be ready to pay that price when that day came but he did know that it wasn¡¯t one he would be able to refuse. It was guilt. That was the final wall that he could still not overcome in this second life. It was why he still kept everybody around him at a distance despite him truly beginning to care for these people as if they were family. He¡¯d tried to accept the fact that they were family because he was Lukas Drakos. But now, at this moment, he knew he wasn¡¯t. He was still Julien Fronterra. A fighter. A champion. A legend who had died alone. Did he really deserve all this? Did he truly belong in Hiraeth? This stream of consciousness was interrupted by a familiar voice. ¡°You have done well, Lukas. I am proud of you. Thank you. I mean that with all that I am, I thank you for what you have done. You have brought something to the Seas that has been absent for years now. You have brought hope.¡± Lady Kaitlyn Drakos held a glass in her hand. She seemed to have warmed up to Lukas, the harsh judgemental aura gone, replaced by acceptance and even a hint of warmth. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°My Lady. If not for your teaching, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to defeat the Kraken. I almost lost.¡± ¡°Oh come off it, young man. You were putting on a show. And it was a damn good one. It was no question that you would have won though since I was your teacher.¡± She laughed and took another sip of her glass. Then her expression grew serious, somber even. Lukas stood there silently, waiting for her to say what she had to tell him. ¡°You are more like your father than I ever expected. Lukas, from this day forth, you will lead the Drakos Family. This throne is rightfully yours and it is a responsibility you must take. Our best interest is to serve our people and right now, I think¡­no. I know that you are to be the one to lead the Seas.¡± She gave him a small smile, holding out a hand for him to shake. It was clear this wasn¡¯t something that Lady Kaitlyn had decided on impulsively. She¡¯d been testing him this entire time since the first time they met and she had finally accepted that he was worthy enough to lead her people. Lukas truly respected these dragons. She was graceful enough to step down, yield her authority and power for the betterment of the Seas. Yet he did not shake her hand. He was not going to accept her offer. ¡°If we are keeping the Sea¡¯s best interest in mind then I am not the one who should lead our people, Lady Kaitlyn.¡± The consort¡¯s smile faltered and her hand fell to her side. There was a mix of confusion, annoyance and even shock that was apparent in her eyes while her expression remained as neutral as ever. ¡°It may seem very daunting, Lukas but there is no greater honour to serve our people. We need you now more than ever, the Seas are just finally getting back on our feet. I implore you to not act so rashly. I will continue to guide you through this process.¡± She seemed genuinely baffled on why he¡¯d ever turn down her proposal. ¡°If we are keeping the people¡¯s best interest in mind, then it is you who should continue to lead our people. You are more worthy of ruling than I ever could be. This does not mean I am abandoning my duties however. I will continue to serve our people but Lady Kaitlyn, right now, you are the one who should sit on that throne.¡± And Lukas meant it too. He had a lot to think about, reflect on his situation and honestly he did feel like he wasn¡¯t ready. Everything was happening too fast and if he made the wrong move, it wouldn¡¯t just be him who¡¯d suffer the consequences. It would be hundreds and thousands of different people who would all be suffering with him. He couldn''t have that on his conscience. The Lady Kaitlyn seemed both flattered but at the same time, disappointed. Perhaps she was hoping for him to act with the same bravado he had displayed when they first met where he had made the claim that he would defeat any opponent no matter who they were up against. Lukas was still confident he could back up that claim. But this was more than just winning a fight. This was being a leader. That burden was not something Lukas was anywhere capable of shouldering. ¡°For now I would like you to continue to guide me. Teach me not only in the ways of magic but how to lead the Seas. And when that time comes when I feel like I am worthy enough, I will¡­inherit the throne. I give you my word.¡± This was no bluff. These were not words spoken simply to comfort the royal consort. It was the truth. He cared about these people, even if he had conflicting feelings. If ever came a point where he was worthy enough to lead the Seas then he would do so. ¡°That¡­is all I can ask for.¡± There was a sudden crash as the doors to the open balcony swung open. Jesse and Katrina both held barrels of liquor in their arms and they grinned from ear to ear once they finally found Lukas. ¡°WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? COME CELEBRATE WITH US UNC!¡± Katrina roared as she began splashing alcohol all over the place and Lukas let out a soft chuckle at the sight. Even Jesse seemed to be in a good mood and that kid had been stressed ever since the Merchant Guild¡¯s creation was announced. He glanced towards the Lady Kaitlyn who gave him a small nod, signalling for him to follow the two youngins. It was a time for love and community. It was a time to let worries go and simply live in the moment because it could truly be your last. For now, he would not think about his past life and what seemed to be a troubling future that was in store for him. Just for tonight, it was a time for celebration so he danced and drank his fill. Just for tonight, Julien Fronterra allowed himself to be unapologetically Lukas Drakos. Chapter 17: The Truth Revealed Lukas lifted the giant cobblestone slabs like it was nothing and at the same time manipulated the waters to lift hundreds more around them. The Seas were alive with renewed vigour and the news of the Kraken¡¯s defeat had spread across Linemall. The Drakos Family may fall but it would not fall any time soon. Lukas wanted to get the construction of the destroyed training yard underway as soon as possible. So he put his money where his mouth was and had spent the entire morning with the construction crew. It gave him a good chance to get more and more used to the use of his new Divinity. What the Seas needed now was order. And to establish order, you needed power to assert that authority. Even though he doubted there was anyone in the entirety of the Seas that could even pose a challenge to him, he knew that the Seas were lacking in power. There was a reason why so many things had gone unchecked even with someone as capable as Lady Kaitlyn on the throne. It wasn¡¯t like they didn¡¯t have the manpower either and Lukas figured it was about time these damn Dragonborn stepped up to serve the Seas. What ensured his mother¡¯s safety was not only that she was strong but it was because these nobles were weak as shit. And that had to change. Lukas still wasn¡¯t sure that he was ready, if he would ever see himself as worthy as inheriting the position of the Head of the Drakos Family but he was sure that he wanted the best for these people. This was a society untouched by the greed of human nature, a true community that stuck together. He wanted to ensure that the Seas would be in good hands, even if those hands were not his. ¡°Lukas. He¡¯s ready to talk.¡± Jesse Sterling stood behind him, bowing as Lukas turned to face the young boy. He was like a machine. The only reason why the Merchant Guild had been as successful as it had become was because of him. It seemed like it had been a good idea to spare his father after all, for he had gained loyalty and trust from somebody who could¡¯ve become a very tricky opponent. A temporary loss to the Kraken had turned into a monumental victory with Jesse. Jesse himself had requested for the interrogation of the Kraken to be assigned to him, even with everything else on his plate. He seemed determined and Lukas obliged after some consideration. He ordered the crew to take a lunch break and followed after Jesse who led him to the holding cell. ¡°What information have you gained from him so far?¡± He asked. ¡°Anything of note that I should know about?¡± ¡°He has given up all the businesses that were under his control. The Merchant Guild has acted upon this information immediately and all of it seems to be pretty legit. He¡¯s also given us all of the Dragonborn who have been willingly working with and for him throughout the past 50 years. It¡¯s¡­a long list. I have captured and locked the corrupt nobles in holding cells until further notice. Their fates¡­well, I¡¯ll leave that to you to be the one who decides that.¡± Jesse nods, clearly satisfied with his own work and rightfully so. Lukas was impressed. ¡°It will be up to Lady Kaitlyn. For she is still the Royal Consort of the Seas and the current Regent. I am still a Lordling. I expect you to pass on all the information you¡¯ve collected during this interrogation to her as well, Jesse.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Jesse hesitated before nodding. This would not have been the first time that Lukas had had to remind him that he was not actually the one ruling the Seas. He did find some satisfaction and comfort in knowing that the boy trusted him to such an extent however. He was starting to grow a bit fond of the kid, even if he didn¡¯t act his age 90% of the time. Lukas had decided that it wasn¡¯t a good idea to bring the Kraken back to Kuria Prison. It wasn¡¯t like he doubted that Katrina wouldn¡¯t be able to hold her own if he tried breaking out again especially in his current state after their fight. But he knew what the Kraken could be capable of and he wanted to keep him close. So he¡¯d been put in the various holding cells beneath the Palace. The moment he stepped into the holding cell, he knew why the Kraken had folded as fast as he did. The cell had been drained of water, meaning for the first time in his second life Lukas was experiencing what it was like not to be submerged completely in the water. He had thought multiple times to swim to the surface but he hadn¡¯t the time nor the energy to do that. Magical energy was keeping the water out, as if he was stepping through a portal of sorts, but instead of being cast from a magical user it was through stones that lined the door. The Kraken remained in his humanoid form, chained up in the center of the cell. He was¡­crying and Lukas almost felt sympathy for him. For all around him, ten chefs stood in a circle all around him. In front of each chef was a grill where all kinds of cephalopods were being cooked up. The smell of grilled squid and octopus filled the room, the sound of the meat sizzling on the grill the only other constant. Jesse grinned from ear to ear as chefs would pass on the grilled seafood onto a plate before serving it up to Marshall Sterling who sat at a table right in front of the Kraken. He seemed to be having the absolute time of his life, feasting on the dishes served. He ate like a fucking pig, chewing with his mouth open and intentionally making the most obscene noises known to man. The very sight was nearly satanic and Lukas genuinely felt bad for the Kraken. He glanced at Jesse and Marshall who were cackling as he downed another plate with the Kraken wailing in desperation for him to stop. The heat from the grills, the smell of your own kind being cooked on a grill, the dryness and absence of water, the sight of an absolute sadist chomping down on your cousins...wow Lukas was thankful that he wasn''t the Kraken. ¡°Alright chill. Enough of this.¡± Lukas couldn¡¯t watch any longer. The Sterlings¡­they were really something. He was just glad they were on his side. He didn¡¯t just stop to give the Kraken a single respite of peace from the endless torment he¡¯d been put through thus far. He still had questions that needed answering. The Kraken finally raised his eyes to meet Lukas¡¯ gaze and he shook his head when he finally realized who was standing in front of him. ¡°What more do you want from me? Just kill me. Put an end to all this. Put an end to my life. Put an end to my race, dragon. You¡­the Drakos¡­have won. I have nothing more to say to you. I have told that boy everything he wants to know. Give me the mercy of at least a quick death.¡± The Kraken whispered before lowering his gaze, defeated. ¡°I just need to ask you some more questions.¡± He knelt in front of him, meeting him eye to eye. The Kraken looked uncertain, not trusting Lukas for a second. "I already told you, I answered all the boy''s questions. My businesses, all-" "I want to know who taught you the Draconic Flow.¡± This was the question that had been weighing heavy on Lukas¡¯ mind and the one he really wanted an answer to. Only those who have mastered the Draconic Flow could pass it onto other dragons. Even the Dragonborn never learnt how to completely control the strange power. For the Kraken, a creature who was not even of draconic descent, to have been taught the Draconic Flow; he must have had a brilliant teacher. He seemed surprised, shocked at the question before realization hit him. The Kraken finally cracked a smile, letting out a soft laugh. ¡°The Dragon who taught me is very much still alive. And I know exactly where to find him. If you want that information, then you are not going to kill me young dragon. Because now I have something you want.¡± The Kraken grinned now, realizing he had something of value now. Something that could keep him from an inevitable death. Lukas didn¡¯t like that look at all, one of certainty. ¡°And why in the world are you so confident that I would rather kill you than find this dragon in particular?¡± Lukas, for once, had no idea what to expect. He didn''t like it. He didn''t like this one bit at all. ¡°Why, you ask? Because, Lukas Drakos, the Dragon who taught me your race¡¯s beloved Draconic Flow is none other than your older brother¡­Lord Rodan.¡± Chapter 18: To the World Beyond Lukas found himself in the giant throne room where the Lady Kaitlyn Drakos sat before the crowd of nobles, her expression neutral while her eyes displayed a storm of emotions that the Lordling could not attempt to comprehend. They were not alone, surrounded by the Dragonborn that they could trust. Katrina stood at Lukas¡¯ right, struggling to keep her emotions in check. She had her blonde hair tied up into a tight bun, her eyes fierce. While most of the nobles around them wore robes of silk, she donned her armor with her gigantic warhammer remaining strapped to her back. She had rose to meet the responsibilities of the Warden well and it showed. The young girl seemed more sure of herself, confident in her abilities more than ever. Lukas had made the right choice making her the one to succeed Samuel¡¯s old post. Jesse stood at his left, glancing at Lukas from time to time. But he seemed busy scanning the faces in the crowd, his eyes darting around every few seconds; studying the room. Lukas could only imagine what was going on in that young boy¡¯s head. Intelligent beyond his years. Silence filled the court as the seconds went by, awaiting judgement from the dragon who sat on the throne. Lukas and Jesse had just delivered the news of what information they had gained from the Kraken¡¯s interrogation. He had refused to say more on Lord Rodan¡¯s whereabouts until he was guaranteed a pardon. If he had no confirmation that he would live to see another day then he would not speak. Jesse¡¯s father, Samuel Sterling, was situated right next to Lady Kaitlyn. He had become a very valuable advisor to the consort since stepping down from his position as the Warden of Kuria Prison and had been doing his part to help the Seas in any way he could. His mother, Selene of Dawn, had been appointed to the Royal Guard especially after her display of strength on the fateful night where the Seas witnessed the Fall of the Kraken. Now, the retired warlord and former General of the Seas was solely responsible for the safety of the Regent, Lady Kaitlyn. She was dressed in red flowing robes and flashed her son a toothy smile when their eyes met. ¡°How sure are you of his words, Lukas? We don''t have nothing to confirm whether he speaks the truth, no?¡± The Lady Kaitlyn finally spoke, her tone as calm as ever. ¡°He swore it on the River Styx.¡± Lukas had learnt the power of such an oath. Jesse and Marshall Sterling had scoffed at the Kraken¡¯s initial claim but once he said those words, their expressions changed immediately. To break an oath sworn on the River Styx would be worse than death for its punishments would chase you even after your passing. ¡°I¡­will need some time to think about this.¡± The Lady Kaitlyn finally decided, Katrina finally spoke up. She had been the first one Lukas had gone to with the information because beyond politics and decision-making, she was Rodan¡¯s daughter. This was her father they were talking about and after years of assuming that he was dead, she deserved to hear this more than anyone else. ¡°WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO THINK ABOUT, GRANDMOTHER? WE NEED TO FIND HIM NOW! HE COULD BE IN DANGER, HE CO-¡± There were tears in her eyes, her fists clenched tight and scales beginning to creep up her arms; waves of emotions seemed to be causing her Draconic Flow¡¯s instability. Her outburst was unexpected but it was promptly cut off before she could say what she wanted to say. ¡°You will not act like a child, Katrina. You are a Drakos and you will act accordingly. Keep your composure or I will order you to be removed from the court. You are not thinking rationally. I understand where you are coming from. But my first priority must always be what is best for our people. You cannot allow emotions to cloud your judgement.¡± She did not raise her voice, the sternness in her voice enough to silence the Warden of Kuria Prison. ¡°Lady Kaitlyn, I do not understand what else is there to consider.¡± She spoke now, seething as she reigned in control of her rage. ¡°This is Lord Rodan we are talking about, the rightful Lord of the Seas. Without him, the Seas fell to near ruins. Is it not in the people¡¯s best interest to find and rescue my father? So that he may lead his people once more? Who knows what the Kraken has done to him, who knows how long he has left? This is not a situation where time is on our side, grandmother. I beg of you.¡± Her voice finally cracked, filled with emotion. Lukas watched without a word but he finally saw Lady Kaitlyn¡¯s gaze soften, recognizing how much her granddaughter had missed her father. Recognizing, truthfully, how much the Royal Consort herself had missed her son. But yet again, the Lady Kaitlyn would not allow herself to be swayed by fleeting emotions. ¡°We have to consider the possibility of¡­betrayal, child. If what the Kraken claims is right then your father still betrayed his people by teaching him the Draconic Flow, putting that power into the hands of our enemies. Your father is not weak, Katrina. He would not have lost to the Kraken. We have to accept that it is likely¡­that your father turned his back on his people. Abandoned his position and worked hand in hand with the Kraken. Why would he do this? I have no idea. The Kraken needs to pay for the sins he has committed against the Seas. My conscience will not allow me to let somebody like him go free.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The nobles murmured in agreement, realizing the truth in the regent¡¯s words. She¡­was right. At the end of the day, if the stories of Rodan were true, the Kraken wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against such a mighty warrior. Lukas had been able to defeat the Kraken fairly easily, somebody who had mastered the Divinity of the Seas centuries ago like Rodan would have absolutely demolished the Kraken. He was a Dragon Lord, impervious to magic which affected control over the mind. There was no world in which the Kraken could have forced Rodan to teach him the Draconic Flow. Unless...he had done so willingly. Katrina looked around the room desperately, watching as the nobles nodded in approval. None would dare meet her eyes. None except Lukas. She sobbed, her eyes speaking more words than she could ever say in that moment. He had heard enough. ¡°May I propose a solution, my Lady?¡± Lukas¡¯ voice boomed across the court, forcing all of the attention on him. The Lady Kaitlyn¡¯s eyes narrowed in slight suspicion but granted him the approval to address the court with a curt nod. ¡°I believe you are right. There is a very high likelihood that Lord Rodan betrayed his people. And we know for a fact that he is not in Linemall. Or else we would have found him already. Am I correct to make such a claim?¡± He asked, knowing full well that he was right. She nodded again, wondering where he was going with this. ¡°Allow me to paint you a picture. So if you are right then we have a former Dragon Lord who is out in the world of Hiraeth doing who knows what. A former Dragon Lord who has power to rival any living creature who no longer has any loyalty to the Kingdom of Linemall. A former Dragon Lord who knows exactly¡­where Linemall is. If we do not do anything about him, is it not also possible he may be willing to lead our enemies right to our doorsteps? What¡¯s to say we don¡¯t put the entirety of the draconic kind at risk if we choose not to spare the Kraken?¡± The nobles gasped and Katrina looked at him, eyes filled with fury. She had asked him to help Rodan¡¯s case, not to slander her father¡¯s name even further. Then, the true intentions behind Lukas'' words began to sink in. She looked uncertain but understanding began to dawn on her thus allowing Lukas to continue on with this proposal. ¡°With this in mind, is it not true that we should do everything in our power to make sure he is brought back to Linemall immediately? Whether or not he has betrayed his people, that will be decided once we find him. And if he is, then he will return to Linemall to face his punishment. Until then, all I can say is that we must find him and bring him back to prevent putting the very safety of Linemall at risk. And I give you my word, I will bring him back." The nobles were silent now, still on the fence about such a situation. While many respected Lord Rodan, they weren''t sure it was worth risking their rising star Lukas Drakos to travel to the outside world to seek out a Dragon Lord who had already turned his back on his people. Why risk losing Lukas just to find Rodan? At the same time, the last thing they wanted was another Great War on their hands. Many of them here had lived through and fought in the Great War. Another event like that could wipe out the entirety of the draconic race. "Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to improve the livelihoods of all in Linemall. Though our economy has been growing fast, the Seas can prosper even more rapidly if you allow us to begin to expand the Merchant Guild¡¯s influence outside of Linemall. This will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for all in the Seas. This way, sparing the Kraken¡¯s life is in the best interest for the people." The nobles had only heard one thing that mattered to them: money money money!!!! At their core, they were nothing but greedy bastards. Dragons weren¡¯t known for their generosity after all. They were known for their treasure troves and mountains full of gold. Lukas knew that which is why he made full use of their character to his advantage. They maintained their composure and nodded after taking some moments to ¡°consider¡±. They¡¯d made their decision the moment Lukas had brought up the possibility of greater profits. The Lady Kaitlyn sat there, hesitant as ever but seeing the truth in his words. He knew she was trying to come up with any reason why she would refuse this proposal but she knew he was right. Deep down, even if the consort would never admit it herself, she was glad that Lukas had given her a reason to find her son. She didn¡¯t want to believe it herself, in fact she could not ever accept the fact that her son would ever betray his own kind. She had not shot down Katrina because she did not love her son, in fact Lukas knew she cared for him more than anything in the world. But as the one who was responsible for leading and caring for the Seas, she had had to put her duties above her own wants. Now Lukas had given her an ideal solution even with the dangers it posed, such that both the needs of her people and what she wanted could be prioritized. ¡°Very well, Lukas Drakos. But this time, it is not only the Seas but possibly it is now the fate of Linemall that lies in your hands. You will depart by the end of this week. Much must be done before then. The next few days are going to be very busy. This meeting is adjourned.¡± The crowd of nobles cheered and began to take their leave. Katrina enveloped him in a bear hug as she thanked him profusely. She proceeded to shake Jesse with excitement, shouting at the top of her lungs. Lukas glanced towards the woman who sat on the throne and she locked eyes with him. In that split second, she gave him a warm smile before mouthing the words: ¡°Thank you.¡± He simply took a bow, acknowledging her gratitude. With that, he turned, followed by Katrina and Jesse who were both discussing what had just happened, and walked out of the throne room. She was right. There was a lot to be done before their departure. He would have liked to claim that he had done all of that out of the kindness of his heart. Guess Lukas wasn''t so different from all those nobles. He was a little bit of a selfish bastard himself. Lukas Drakos was thrilled. For the first time in his second life, he was going to see what lay beyond the Kingdom of Dragons. He''d always wondered what it was like outside of Linemall and the moment he saw the opportunity, he seized it before it could get away. This would be an adventure like never before. Finally, Lukas was going to see what the rest of the world of Hiraeth had to offer!