Noa lay quietly in the cottage, indifferent to the outside world, while Rion was preoccupied with the village.
Far away, deep within the darkest corner of the Nuxtar Empire, under the light of Siamond and Ruya, an entirely different event was unfolding in the S Dragon Clan palace.
In a vast hall, filled with shadows, nearly five hundred black dragons stood silently in formation.
Suddenly, the doors slammed open. A tall, black-haired dragon with hair reaching his ears strode in. His eyes were deep, cold, and brimming with power. He wore black robes, and across his shoulders lay a cloak, its inner lining shimmering purple. By his side walked his loyal adviser, Marius.
The dragons knelt immediately.
Azel stepped onto the stage, raising his hand with authority:
Azel: Rise.
A heavy silence fell over the hall, replacing the usual clamor. He continued:
— I am Azel S Dragon, the new patriarch of the S Clan.
The reason I have gathered you today is simple: our clan, a lineage so mighty it once shook the world—so feared even the "Six Great Dragon Clans"—has now weakened, reduced to shadows of its former glory!
His voice echoed through the hall. Azel's gaze swept over every dragon present:
The last three Nuxtar Emperors, our own patriarchs, tried to suppress our clan, forcing us into silence, into extinction.
But now I ask you: what remains of us?
He drew a deep breath.
— Nothing…! In the last ten thousand years, we have lost seventy percent of our strength. Our kin have been humiliated, hunted, and some have hidden among humans, living as mere shadows of themselves!
A wave of anger rippled through the hall.
Azel continued:
— Do you know why this happened? Because they labeled us as evil. Because we were born with black mana. As if it were our fault. No! The fault lies within this world itself! Remember what our founder, Polat S Dragon, said: "If the world does not accept us, we will change the world ourselves."
He struck his chest with his fist.
— Let them call us evil! It matters not! One day, the S Dragon Clan will rise against the world. And on that day, we will write the true history ourselves!
He stepped to the center of the hall, his voice booming:
— Three centuries! For three centuries we have fought all dragons! They called us "children of darkness," yet we never fell in battle! Our soldiers could not be stopped, and our enemies trembled at our shadows. Look now—what have we become? A herd of the weak!
His eyes blazed.
— No more silence. As your new patriarch, I command it: every black dragon shall enter unrestricted growth! Raise your ranks by any means necessary! Awaken your power! From this day forward, we shall return to the glory of Polat S Dragon!
The hall erupted in a unified roar:
— For S Dragon! For our humiliated brothers, for our friends, for our clan, for our families!
Azel remained still, his eyes reflecting an unquenchable hatred and the cold spark of a long-planned strategy.
Azel: Show this world your wrath! Our descendants will one day be proud of what we have achieved, just as we honor Polat S Dragon, our ancestor.
The dragons roared with fire in their hearts.
That fire was the courage of fearless hearts returning.
Azel left the hall, followed by eight high-ranking dragons.
The patriarch ascended to his throne, surrounded by the S Clan's top eight dragons. Every step was deliberate and heavy, every glance filled with darkness and power.
Azel sat upon the throne, surveying the hall. His gaze sliced through the air, thick with tension, hatred, and strategy.
— Hear my command! — he said, voice cold and unyielding.
— From now on, we shall no longer concern ourselves with the Nuxtar Empire.
Marius stepped forward, cautious:
— Patriarch, what exactly do you mean?
Azel took a heavy breath and then smiled.
— The S Clan will no longer dwell within the Nuxtar Empire.
> Inner Monologue:
"Once, we infused creatures' spirits with dark mana, creating dragons. Now, we will restore that power. Others in the Nuxtar Empire will give their lives for it."
Marius immediately warned:
— This cannot happen. Our fate is tied to the light dragons and the peace treaty with C Dragon. Breaking it would spark war, and we are not ready.
The elders bowed in acknowledgment, agreeing silently.
Azel continued:
— Very well. How many black dragons do we have now?
Two elders stepped forward.
— Margarita: We currently have ten thousand.
Azel clenched his fist in anger:
— Ten thousand? How did it come to this?
— Margarita: Small wars have increased recently. The C Dragon Clan has sent elites disguised as criminals. They have ruthlessly killed our ordinary soldiers. In many regions, bounties have even been placed on black dragons' heads.
Azel's fist tightened further:
— Curse it! From now on, no dragon shall travel alone. At least three to four must move together. None may wander far!
— Understood, Patriarch, — said Marius.
Azel continued:
— Next, we will prepare five hundred elites.
This ritual is a mother passing her power to her child, sacrificing herself in the process. Born dragons gain intermediate strength and will grow faster than others. Within ten years, they will reach master level.
The elders bowed, acknowledging the patriarch's decision.
— Yes, Patriarch, — they said in unison.
Azel remained silent, the cold gleam of a long-term plan shining in his eyes.
The elders departed. Azel leaned back on his throne, resting his head and pressing his palm to his forehead.
> Inner Monologue:
"This is only the beginning… The S Dragon Clan will once again reveal its true power to the world."
He wondered about his brother too, who would rise anew with renewed strength. He pondered whether he hated him—or simply felt the pain.
The corridor outside wrapped them in silence. Only Marius and Margarita lingered, the elders having slowly departed, each lost in their own thoughts, their heavy footsteps echoing.
Margarita looked at Marius, her eyes reflecting a complex blend of respect, pain, and deep regret:
— Patriarch's speech… did it move you the same way it did me? — she asked, her voice low, steady, and solemn.
Marius bowed his head in silence. Slowly, he spoke, unable to hide his astonishment:
— Yes… it did. I admit it… it inspired me.
Margarita gave a faint smile but kept her seriousness:
— It did the same for me… but for another, the feelings were opposite.
Marius looked at her closely:
— What do you mean, my daughter?
Margarita closed her eyes for a moment, then spoke softly and firmly:
— Noa… was right. The Patriarch judged correctly.
Marius smiled faintly, exhaling heavily, feeling a deep ache and regret in his heart.
> "Azel… I never imagined you would face my brother with such coldness. You truly cared for Noa, yet you acted swiftly, as if playing a part. What we shared was never fake… but now…"
Margarita bowed her head, replying with quiet resolve:
— I will remember, elder.
The corridor embraced them in silence again, the sound of their steps the only thing breaking it. Each step, each word, left its mark with weight, drama, and intensity. Within the palace shadows, their emotions, regrets, and the tension of their choices were fully conveyed to the reader.
Hello, readers! What do you think will happen next?
Everyone believes Noa is gone… but Azel hid the truth. What could his real goal be?
Also — don't forget to hand over your Power Stones and store them in the library! Keep your collection growing!
And tell me — which part do you find more interesting: the politics or the psychology? Share your thoughts below! 💭🔥