"The Nazjara Isles are a densely connected archipelago south-west off the Mainland. The Nazjar are the sole rulers of the lands and seas surrounding the islands, their vastly different society, culture, and appearance remaining a true mystery. They maintain good relations with the other magically-adept races, particularly the Dendrin, who are their closest link to the Mainland. Several Nazjari trinkets and artefacts have made their way to the countries of Humans and Elvin, treasured as a true rarity among the populace and nobility alike.

The Isles are ruled by a monarch, whose title seems to translate to 'Empress' or 'Queen'.

There seem to be a few different kinds of Nazjar (the plural and singular form of the demonym is the same), but they all seem to share similar features. They themselves seem to be offended by any kind of attempts at classification in order to separate them.

If travelling to the Isles, take care of the local plants and animals, as most of them seem highly poisonous or venomous to anyone that isn't a native. And do attend the Solstice festival, it is a sight for the eyes."

-Races of our World, multiple authors, 560 AS

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Few months later

"Mommy, I don't wanna leave!" Korthonas pleaded as I held him in a tight embrace. My other children had already started to be somewhat independent at his age. I gently stroked his black silky hair that grew from only the top and back of his head, the sides of the scalp covered in glittering iridescent scales. I could see him being quite charming when he grew up, the black hair contrasting slightly with his reddish skin.

I looked into his watery eyes, the small swirls of red going around the pupil. His iris was black in colour, and his pupil almost completely melded with it, something I could never comprehend. The black contrasted with the yellow that was typical for our eyes. It looked odd, seeing a black circle inside a yellow eye compared to our slit pupils. But when the swirls came about, it looked mesmerising.

"Now, now, didn't you always tell me you wanted to see your dad?" I cooed as he gained a portion of the cheerful attitude he previously had. I had spent quite a lot of time describing where he would be going. After all, a half-breed had no place in the Palace, next to my other children, and my daughter had already started to threaten me. Any attempts to try and keep Korthonas here would be futile. I'd much rather not see him at all, but know that he is safe, than have to worry constantly about his well-being in the middle of my home.

"But you won't be there, mommy!" he tried to squeeze me tighter, his small arms reaching for one another at my back.

"You're a big boy now, you don't need your mother anymore. I'll go with you as far as I can. And your father will be there, waiting." At least I hoped that would be the case, I had no clue what I'd do if he refused. 

"Is he really as strong as you are?" I chuckled. He always wanted to know more, experience more. Cooped up in this place must've been tormenting for him. I had already told him a lot, and he alway had more questions for me. It was exhausting at times.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"He's one of the most powerful people I've met. And someday, you'll grow up to be as strong as he is." I pinched his nose, eliciting a small outcry from my son. 

"I really want to meet dad..." Korthonas calmed as I lulled him to sleep slowly in my arms. He was already getting heavy at four-and-a-half years old. I really was getting old myself, and he was a complete surprise to me, as I thought I was long past getting more children.

I slowly laid him onto his bed, stroking his hair once more. He looked funny as he slept, coiling into a ball, trying to hold onto his small tail. A knock on the door caught my attention now that Korthonas was firmly asleep. I turned to see Vastar at the doorframe.

I moved away from my son's bed, trying to keep him asleep this time. My slithering was, thankfully, quite silent compared to his steps.

Vastar bowed slowly. "My Queen..."

"Stop calling me Queen, Vastar. I abdicated the position to my daughter over a decade ago." The hissing of the snakes sprouting from my head only exacerbated my annoyance. It was sometimes annoying to be called Queen. I tried to consider myself past that, and I heard people giving me various names in the process. I preferred the one given to me by the Elder Council. Stone Maiden seemed to evoke everything I strived for in my youth.

"Apologies, milady."

"And I consider you a friend Vastar, you could call me by my name for once." She sometimes had silly antics, and we were both in late stages of our lives. That is to say, we were grumpy old women who were way past their prime, clinging on to anything they could.

"Is he asleep?" Vastar's single headsnake swivelled and pointed in the direction of the bed. I had always been a bit envious of other people having only two headsnakes at most, while I had to contain a tangling mess of them on my head. 'I didn't complain, though.'

"Yes. He's... restless these days. He's so different from my other children, they were all pretty keen to leave my side at an early age. Korthonas is... nicer, gentler. It's strange, to try and care about someone so much." I conceded. I wasn't a bad mother in any sense. All of my surviving children well quite well off. But Korthonas always seemed to want more from me, always wanted to have me by his side. It was curious to experience it. 'Was that how other races cared for their children?'

"How long until the travel?"

"About a week or so." I had only a week to see my youngest child off, and send him to somewhere he'd never been. I still held my hopes high that everything would go well. But there was still that tiny shred of doubt crossing my mind every now and then. "About a week until the boy meets his father, at last."

Vastar hugged me, and I felt a trail of a tear across my cheek. I was rarely like that. The hug was brief, but what I needed. I needed a friend to console me, tell me what I wanted to hear.

"Do you think he'll take him in?" That was the question.

I didn't know that much about the man. After all, we've met only a few times. The legend of him, though, was already well established even before I ascended the throne. 'It only made me more curious about him. I wondered how someone spoken about that much would actually look like. Feel like.'

I looked back at my sleeping child, the person that always reminded me of that time.

'Indeed, will Cerolus Kreshorok, the Lilinlord of Dralarag, take his son in?'