Chapter 63 – The Silences of the Heart and the Shadow of Dragons
Two hours later, the training session came to a complete end. The Golden Cube pulsed one last time. The light, dense and almost alive, folded in on itself with a deep exhalation, as if the world itself had just caught its breath after a long apnea. Arthur stepped out of the cube, one foot and then the other, still feeling the vibrations of the training coursing through his muscles. His breathing was calm and controlled, yet his body bore the unmistakable marks of undeniable progress. Beside him, Merlin emerged slowly.
The throne room of Britannia reappeared around them: the immense pillars, the stained-glass windows tinted with gold and azure, and the ancestral throne dominating the chamber, a silent witness to ages long past. Twilight was already filtering through the tall windows; heavy rain continued to pour down upon the capital. Arthur stretched lightly, then turned toward Merlin.
" It was harder than last time," he said. "You're becoming more and more demanding with the training." "And yet, you endured. That's what matters most," Merlin replied in a cold voice.
Something was different. Arthur frowned. Merlin did not move. He stood still, his gaze fixed on Arthur with a troubling intensity. It was not the cold observation of a master evaluating his student. It was something else. Something heavier.
"Merlin…? Is something wrong?" Arthur called out.
The old mage blinked, as if waking from a dream. Yet his eyes remained locked onto the young king's face. He stepped closer slowly, each footstep echoing in the empty hall. The nearer he came, the more his expression changed. When he spoke, his voice was veiled.
"You have… you have grown a great deal, Arthur…" he murmured. "Physically?" Arthur replied, raising an eyebrow. "I suppose so."
Merlin shook his head. "Not only that. Your bearing… your gaze… earlier, in the way you fought, even your posture."
He stopped a few steps away, stared at him for a long moment, then briefly closed his eyes.
"You are beginning to resemble him more and more." Arthur felt his heart tighten.
"You're talking about my father…?" he asked in a hard, cold voice. Merlin opened his eyes again. They gleamed. "You know, Arthur, Richard truly was the greatest king of Britannia and an extraordinary warrior. He was not merely strong… He was a living legend, a golden phoenix, an anomaly of humanity. On the battlefields of Britannia, his name alone was enough to silence enemy armies. It was said that when he advanced, even the air itself seemed to bend beneath his will. His armor bore the marks of a hundred battles, yet never a single crack in his determination… I still get chills just thinking about him."
"Arthur… forgive me, but you should begin to use his—" "Shut up!" Arthur shouted. "I'm sick of hearing you talk about my father. He's dead and he will never come back, and I have no desire to resemble him in any way."
Those words fell like a thunderclap.
"Arthur, listen to me. You need to become stronger! As long as you refuse, I cannot teach you Richard's blessing. As you are now, you are still far from his level and from that of the other kings. My duty is to ensure that you are fit to take part in the coming battles."
Merlin lowered his head. "… pffff."
Arthur took a step toward him.
But the mage suddenly pulled him into an embrace.
The gesture was awkward, almost trembling, yet filled with immense warmth. Arthur froze for a second, then slowly placed his hands on the old man's back.
"You have never been alone, Arthur," Merlin murmured. "Never. You know, if anything were to happen to you, I could not bear it. I have already lost your mother, King Richard, Jeanne d'Arc. I have lived too many years and seen too many people die. So I beg you, please, learn Richard's blessing."
"I know… I know that I am weak, inexperienced, naïve, and that compared to the other kings my level is ridiculous. But I'm trying. I'm doing my best to step out of my father's shadow and finally become King Arthur, not Richard's son. I will not accept a power left behind by my father. I will master my own blessing, and I will surpass my father and all those who would dare attack my kingdom," Arthur replied.
Merlin clenched his teeth.
"Be that as it may, I suppose the only solution is to help you develop a blessing of your own."
The words hung in the air, simple and powerful.
Night eventually fell over Britannia.
Kingdom of Dragons — The Eternal Night
Far away, in the heart of the Dragon Kingdom, the silence was different. Older. Deeper. In the great draconic throne hall, Flora still lay resting upon a bed of crystal and golden roots. Her breathing was slow, almost imperceptible. Her hair seemed to float as if underwater, bathed in a gentle glow.
Alma stood not far away, motionless. She had been staring at Flora for hours without uttering a single word. Her eyes betrayed no fatigue, only a mute, almost painful worry.
"Come on… wake up… She's never going to open her eyes, this is unbelievable," she murmured softly.
But Flora did not respond. In the corridors of living stone within the kingdom, Seth walked forward with a determined stride. His heart beat faster as he approached Alexander's chamber. He stopped before the door. Then knocked.
"Come in, Seth," said a calm voice.
The door opened.
Alexander stood there, tall and imposing, his piercing gaze softened by a faint smile.
"You wanted to see me? For what exactly?" Seth asked. "Come, don't worry. Sit down."
Seth obeyed. Alexander remained standing, his gaze fixed on him, a discreet smile on his lips.
"What's amusing you?" Seth asked. "How should I put it… I was certain I had met you before, but I had some minor memory troubles."
Seth frowned.
"Indeed, the Meeting of the Twelve in Britannia," Alexander continued. "That was our first encounter." "You haven't changed much," Seth replied. "You, on the other hand… you have evolved tremendously. Your power has grown a great deal. Your aura as well. I admit that before, your aura was so faint that I hadn't even noticed you."
Alexander paused.
"Tell me, Seth… how is Suo?"
Seth looked away.
"I… I haven't heard from him anymore."
Alexander slowly nodded.
"I suspected as much. Suo isn't the type to play the good Samaritan."
He turned around.
"Stand up and follow me."
Seth rose, confused. Alexander took a few steps, and suddenly, in the blink of an eye, wings burst forth from his back.
Massive, scaled, partially draconic—magnificent.
"W–what?! That's possible?"
Alexander grabbed Seth by the arm.
"Hold on, or you might fall."
They launched into the night sky at a blistering speed, splitting the air in two.
"You can… transform halfway?!" Seth shouted, stunned. "Partially, yes. Dragons who have mastered their powers can use partial dragonification. It's effective, since our full dragon form consumes a great deal of energy. And I won't lie—I don't particularly like turning into a dragon."
The wind howled around them.
"Where are we going?!"
"You know there are five legendary dragons at the core, right? Well, first there's me—the Sacred Dragon of Destruction. Then Queen Flora, the Sacred Dragon of the Sun. After that comes the strongest among us, Abraham, the Sacred Dragon of Gold. The youngest is Vaeris, the Sacred Dragon of the Moon. And the one we're going to see now is the last: Obliranca, the Sacred Dragon of Spirit."
Seth felt his heart race.
"You're going to introduce me to… a Sacred Dragon? And there really is one stronger than you? You, the number one among the Class S? That's incredible—I thought you were the strongest of all dragons."
"No, not at all. Abraham is the oldest among us. He is over a century old. He is truly formidable in single combat. He would crush me."
A light laugh escaped Alexander.
"And before you ask… no, I am not the strongest among the Class S either."
"Yet you're ranked number one. The opposite would be illogical."
"Because I am ancient. And above all… because I am the intermediary between humans and dragons. In the past, we were at war—a war of extermination. There are five Class S members whom I am not certain I could defeat if they were to challenge me one day. And Suo is among them."
Seth remained silent.
"Tell me, Seth… do you truly know Suo?" "Not really."
"You see, Seth, every Class S is unique and has a story to tell—their suffering, their journey. I consider them my family. But Suo… he is different. Elusive, unreachable. A true mass of darkness in which you can easily lose yourself. And yet… I can feel that he is suffering deeply."
Their flight suddenly slowed.
"And you… Alexander," Seth said softly. "I sense an immense anger in your heart."
Time seemed to freeze. Alexander's eyes widened.
"A deep hatred…" Seth continued. "I have never felt such anger. You harbor resentment toward someone with all your heart, and you hide it behind kindness and a gentle smile—just as Suo hides his sadness."
Alexander looked away.
"You see clearly, Seth. That's surprising."
Ahead of them, a vast domain appeared, nestled among celestial mountains. Suspended temples, arches of light, and an overwhelming energy filled the air.
They landed.
"Welcome," Alexander said in a grave voice, "…to the domain of the Celestial Priestess. The Sacred Dragon of Spirits. Obliranca."
The ground trembled softly.
And something… was watching them.
To be continued…