22.1
“We have arrived, my Lord.”
Following the deep voice’s beckon, John and Evie hopped off Velerion’s back, landed on the worship grounds where they battled 1 year ago.
Velerion had brought them to at the circular patio where the last rites of their father, Lord Kharston, was last had.
What had been the broken grounds and melted stones of their battle were nowhere to be seen.
All that was before him and Evie was now completely pristine, whatever damage that occurred during his duel with Velerion was completely restored as though no battle had taken place.
According to Evie, the worship grounds that her father created was imbued with perpetual magic that allowed for automatic repairs, that way, it would double as a dueling platform for dragons who sought to set aside their differences thorough physical violence.
“Velerion, have you brought what I asked?”
At John’s question, the 10 meter tall Elder Dragon morphed into a human with cropped auburn hair, with a singular yellow eye on his left and a black scar on where his right eye used to be.
“Yes, my Lord, but what use is there to bring paperwork of—”
“Leave the worrying up to, John,” Evie cut in. “I presume you have continued with your usual duties?”
What Evie was referring to were the duties that Velerion took up as the acting leader of dragon kind after their father’s, Lord Kharston’s death. Preceding John’s victory against Velerion, it was Velerion who continued the tedious work that came with being the leader of dragon kind.
“Yes, I did. The other dragons…especially the ancient dragons, they disapproved it.”
“As long you have completed them, all is good with me,” John shrugged. “The paperwork I requested is the most important thing here.”
“My Lord?”
“You’ll see. Evie, let’s go.”
Without explaining much, the three of them moved towards the west, following a path that led to the back of the mountain and entered a ridge that only dragons who held influence and authority in the world was permitted to enter.
For the first time in existence, the annual dragon summit would be conducted by non-dragon race, a human at that.
The trio were greeted by eight ancient dragons in the room, with four ancient dragons governing the four cardinal points in the world, and the other four responsible for the intercardinal points.
Unlike Elder Dragons, ancient dragons were dragons whose age were as old as their title pronounced them to be.
Many of the ancient dragons were around 3000 years in age, even the youngest among them, the southeastern dragon, was 2841 years in age.
Having seen and witnessed great many things throughout their lifetime.
Of course, despite being ancient dragons, Elder Dragons still outranked and outclassed them in power and wisdom.
In simple terms, Ancient Dragons were observers of the world and followed the governance and guidance of Elder Dragons who were far wiser than they were for their dragon kind.
Today, John was pushed to be coronated as the leader of dragon kind by these Ancient Dragons.
It did not please him a single bit.
The ancient dragons must have saw this as a chance to break free of the Elder Dragon’s rule that had been in place for thousands and thousands of years.
John, who cared not for power, could see that as clear as day.
With Evie by his side, John moved towards the roundtable before him, his face unflinching as the bubbling rage that was building inside of him.
“Let us begin. I, John Sarvod, as the unofficially recognized leader of dragon kind shall begin the annual dragon summit of the year 5621.”
One of the dragons to his left slammed the table, “Unofficial leader?! What in blazes are you talking about, you have the approval—”
“This conference is held according Lord Sarvod’s liking, Northen Dragon! Withhold your accusations until given the permission to do so!” Velerion who stood a distance beside John snapped.
“What do you know, Velerion? All the ancient dragons have—”
“Shut the fuck up and let me speak, Northen Dragon!”
John spoke loudly, halting the other Ancient Dragons before they started to pile in on Velerion’s remark.
“M-my apologies.”
Ignoring Northen Dragon’s false apology, John continued, “Today, I come with only one agenda, and one agenda only. I have come to realize that the power that is graciously granted to me…”
Graciously granted my fucking ass. I did not ask for any of this.
“…is something far too much for me. For I am just a young man who barely knows the way of the world. I have to give thanks to everyone here to have bestowed such an honor on someone insignificant like me.”
Placing a hand across his chest, John lowered himself into a deep bow.
“The burden of your duties are understandably many. However, rest easy Lord Sarvod, all of us will be here to aid you. I would personally be honored to teach all of the duties to…”
“Thank you Velerion, but is not what I am getting at,” John who raised himself to face the others interjected.
“And what would that be?” an Ancient Dragon opposite of John raised a brow.
“I wish to abdicate my position as the leader of dragon kind. I do not want nor deserve the power nor want the responsibility of holding it. It was not my intention nor had I agreed to when I battled Velerion—”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Hogwash!!!”
The room shuddered as one of the Ancient Dragons unleashed a heavy aura around the area.
“How dare you insult our judgement! All eight of us have come into a mutual agreement to make you our leader!”
“Without my consent, mind I remind you.” John stood, unflinching despite the roar of the Ancient Dragon, “I clearly stated in my duel with Velerion, that I, only wish to make Ephinelyth mine and for Zondrac, the wyvern to be spared. The outcome is—”
“Mind I remind you, human!!! You were the one spouting nonsense about respecting dragon culture a year ago! That was why none of us interfered with your duel with Velerion.”
Tsk!
“You claim to respect our laws, but it is dragon law for the leader of dragon kind who garnered the approval of all ancient dragons!”
“You don’t seem respectful of my decisions, fellow Ancient Dragon,” John smirked as he turned to Evie and spoke telepathically. “Which dragon is this? The dragon of illiteracy? Or is it the dragon of hypocrisy? One moment he is—”
Shing!!!
A brilliant light flickered before John’s eyes, missing his face by a meter as Evie tail pulled John back from where he stood.
All that John could see was the snout and whiskers of a reptile being repelled by the other Ancient Dragons.
Alas, it was the dragon—in humanoid form moments ago—opposite of John who lashed out and attempted to strike him.
“Stand down, Eastern Dragon!!!” Evie hissed, her tail had wrapped itself around John, eyes aglow in brilliant white as her hands charged with intense similar energy that sought to vanquish the Ancient Dragon’s threat against John.
The other Ancient Dragons had moved to intervene the Ancient Dragon of the East, restrained the dragon before he could do any more harm.
“My Lord, for the Eastern Dragon’s transgressions, the Ancient Dragons and I shall duly punish—”
John adjusted his collar shirt, gently rubbed the white tail that had coiled around his body, “It’s alright, Velerion. I understand his rage. I get where he is coming from. Though, I am not the one he should be worrying about…”
The ancient dragons all turned to Ephinelyth, who now adorned a keen glint of a murderer, her hair floated as the air around them crackled with heavy magic.
“S-silver maiden of judgment… W-we did not mean to disrespect—” one of the other Ancient Dragons got to his knees, his body shaking as his voice cracked. “T-the i-intercardinal Ancient Dragons d-dare not g-go against Lord Sarvod’s w-wishes. I-if he wishes to abdicate… P-please…”
Even the Eastern Dragon who tried to attack John shivered in his grimacing expression, the way his body shuddered and trembled at the face of Ephinelyth was akin to a puppy who was starved for days.
“It’s alright, Evie, let me handle this.”
“…”
Ephinelyth’s magic still persisted despite everyone’s fearful gaze was cast in her direction—everyone except John.
“Trust me, babe,” John squeezed Evie’s tail, gently coercing her to calm down telepathically as he felt her body soften so slightly at his touch.
“I trust you, but what happens if they attempted that again? What happens if they rob me of you?”
“Ha, they won’t! But if they try, I trust that you will bring everything they hold dear to ruins.”
“This is no joking matter, John.”
“I know. That is why I am trying to resolve this as quickly as possible.”
“…”
Evie was unresponsive, but John knew she was far from letting go of what happened. Therefore, he opted for a more direct way of convincing her, the only way to convince a telepathic dragon who was as adorable as she was.
With a smile John conjured a scene in his mind that his wife would be receptive to.
It was the scenery of of him holding Ephinelyth by a grassy mountain top, his hands running though her silver hair as he nuzzled his face into hers, pecking her soft cheeks as she squirmed at his silly gesture of affection, whispering sweet nothings to her as he—
“Fine.”
At her proclamation, the coalescing magic around them disappeared, her previously floating silver hair returned to normal as John pulled Evie to his side, holding her tightly to assure her, and the Ancient Dragons who almost looked as though they had their souls ripped from them.
“You promised, John.”
“As soon as we leave this place, Evie. You pick the venue, I prefer somewhere not too cold.”
“Ufufu, but cold enough to snuggle.”
“That would be perfect.”
“Back to topic.”
John placed his hands to the round table looking towards the Eastern Dragon, who was now under the watchful eyes of seven ancient dragons and a very unhappy Velerion.
“Put aside what happened just now, Eastern Dragon. I understand your reasoning, that is why my full proposition is to abdicate my position and restore Velerion, the Magma Elder Dragon as the rightful ruler of all dragon kind.”
“Me!? My Lord, but only you are fit to…” Velerion’s voice trailed off when John shot the Elder Dragon a look.
“Velerion!? With all due respect Lord Sarvod, are you insolent? What good is there allowing a dragon whose only ambition is to rule over us? Velerion may have the power and authority, but he is far from suitable as our leader. This is just your selfish desire of not wanting the responsibility that we Ancient Dragons entrusted to you.”
“I-if I may,” another dragon raised her hand.
“Yes, um…” John quickly responded.
“SouthWestern Dragon, sir. What Eastern Dragon was trying to convey, is that your abdication of power, is an act against the dragon culture and values that you said to highly respect. For this act of shunning responsibility will garner distrust among the common folk.”
“Is that true, Evie?”
“The way they spin it certainly makes you a hypocrite.”
“Seriously?”
“I am afraid these are the laws. Though we can spin it another way, it won’t be pretty trying to convince the Ancient Dragons otherwise.”
“Fuck!”
“If you wish to relay your responsibilities to my brother, we’d have to phrase it in ways they would accept. Something akin to the ‘word games’ that you seem to play with that silver tongue of yours.”
“Word games, word games, how do I get Velerion to be the leader and I have nothing to do with… Come on brain, there must be something… Velerion act for me and I do nothing… AHA!!!”
John jolted upright with his fingers pointing towards the Ancient Dragon of the East.
“That is it! If all of you wish for me to be the leader of dragon kind then so be it!”
Hah, hahaha!!!
John chuckled victoriously, spurring bizarre expressions among the Ancient Dragons.
“As the leader of all dragon kind, I hereby leave all my duties in the hands of Velerion who is far more qualified than I am to lead all of you.”
“That won’t work!” screamed another.
“Why not? If you all want me to be your ruler so bad, here I am relaying my duties to someone more capable than me, that is what I’ll do.”
“I for one, think he is incompetent. If you wish to push Velerion onto us, you give us a rationale to why you are doing so!” a different Ancient Dragon retorted.
“Surely you who defeated him would be a wisest choice,” said the one to John’s left.
John placed his right hand on his head, rubbed his temples as he let out a long sigh.
Why do they have to be such a pain in the ass, fucking hell…
“This is more proof that you are trying to ditch your responsibilities, young one—”
“Velerion, the paperwork you brought.” Interrupting Eastern Dragon, John gestured towards the roundtable.
“Yes, my Lord.”
Thud.
“These are reports accounting for the expenses Velerion had spent on Courzer, totaling amount of—”
“Hundred thousand gold pieces!?”
“Ridiculous! With that amount of money, we could have—” one of the dragons beside Eastern Dragon closed his mouth before finishing.
“Sir Sarvod, surely this must be culmination of all expenses since Lord Kharston’s departure.”
“—throughout the past year’s activities. Not accounting for construction or expansion that has occurred in Courzer and the various expenses he incurred when lending aid to each of you here.”
John finished his sentence, folding his arms as the 8 Ancient Dragons scrunched their faces into a flurry of emotions that can only best be described as shock.
“Surely, that can’t be right, the taxes imposed on dragons should be sufficient.”
“T-this amount of spending doesn’t justify what we have! H-how could we know this is not forgery from Velerion’s part, my respected leader.”
“N-no… My sanctuary’s upkeep costs only 50 gold pieces, n-not a-a thousand…” Northen Dragon’s body shaked as the blood from his face drained.
“I did not estimate that the treasury in Courzer required assistance from Lord Velerion…”
s
John drew his lips into a straight line, looked straight at Eastern Dragon who became mum.
“I will admit to you all here, I was hasty at dismissing my duties, and perhaps offended dragon culture in my proposal. But it is not without reason, these are merely the accounts of Velerion investing his own resource into the betterment of dragon kind!
“Even someone as arrogant and single minded as him is not without his merits. These are the personal funds that the so called ‘incompetent’ leader before me used.”
“…”
“Eastern Dragon. I don’t hold a grudge against your attempted harm against me, you have every right to hate me for disrespecting your traditions. But can you say the legitimate son of Lord Kharston, is unqualified to lead dragon kind?”
“…”
“Believe me, I know. He tried to kill me because I announced my love for Ephinelyth. He is so single minded in his duty towards you dragons that he is willing to bankrupt himself for you all!!!
“It is my failure for not considering the implications of my words of abdication. However, my conviction to make Velerion carry out my work is resolute, I know the limitations of my own abilities. I am not built for this. Therefore, until I am truly ready and needed, Velerion shall serve as my proxy.”
Clap, clap, clap…
“Well judged, young one. I recede my previous judgement of you in light of your actions.”
Eastern Dragon lowered his head, a smile appeared on the dragon as he placed a hand across his chest, symbolizing his apology towards John.
“To make up for my lowly behavior, let me be the first among the Ancient Dragons to be in favor of recognizing Velerion as the acting ruler of for John Sarvod. Alas, even I am indebted to Velerion for his efforts in Lord Kharston’s departure...”
“You can’t be serious Eastern, after all that push for Lord Sarvod to be our ruler?”
“H-he…c-convinced Eastern?”
“Sir Sarvod, I-I too shall support Lord Velerion’s reinstatement of power!”
“Even Southwestern is following suit…”
“I…I…”
“If that is your wish, my Ruler.”
“Very well, Lord Velerion shall be treated as highly as you.”
Without waiting for the few reluctant Ancient Dragons to fully accept what John had declared, he and Ephinelyth departed, entrusted the remainder of the summit to Velerion with a wicked smile.
“I’ll leave the rest to you, Velerion. Have fun, you deserved it.”
“My lord?”