The kingdom of Eldrath was dressed in gold.
Banners hung from tall stone walls, their colors bright against the gray sky. The streets of the capital were swept clean, flowers scattered along the roads that led to the great palace. Merchants, nobles, and soldiers filled the square, waiting for the new king.
The air smelled of incense and burning torches. Bells rang from the towers, their sound rolling across the city like a celebration. To the people, this was the day of victory. To Darion, it was the day of his triumph.
He stood in front of a tall mirror inside the palace, wearing robes of red and black. His armor had been polished until it shone. A golden crown rested on a table beside him, waiting for his head.
Darion's reflection stared back. He was handsome, with sharp cheekbones and eyes that burned with cunning. But deep in his chest, his heart raced. He pressed his palm against his chest and whispered to himself.
"You won. He is gone. Kael is nothing but dust."
Still, even as he said it, a shadow of doubt touched his mind. He could still remember Kael's final words on the battlefield. The roar. The fire in his eyes.
"Even if I fall today, I will return. And when I do… the world will burn."
Darion shook his head. "Empty words," he muttered. "The dead do not return."
A servant knocked on the door. "My lord, it is time."
Darion lifted the crown and placed it on his head. The weight was heavy, but it felt right. He smiled. This was what he had dreamed of since he was a boy standing in Kael's shadow.
The Coronation
The great hall of the palace glowed with hundreds of torches. Long carpets stretched from the door to the throne. The throne itself was made of black stone and dragonbone — the seat of the Dragon Lord for generations.
Nobles in silks and armor bowed as Darion walked in. Soldiers slammed their spears against the floor in salute. The sound echoed like thunder.
High Priestess Elara stood beside the throne, holding a silver staff. Her voice carried across the hall. "Today, we crown a new king. Today, Eldrath rises under new strength."
Darion stepped forward, his chest swelling with pride. Elara lifted the crown higher, her words rising in blessing. "By the will of the gods and the choice of the people, may you rule with wisdom and strength."
She placed the crown on his head.
The hall roared with cheers. "Long live King Darion! Long live the Dragon Throne!"
Darion sat on the black throne, his fingers gripping its arms. The stone felt cold. Strange runes carved into it glowed faintly under his touch. For the first time, he felt the true weight of ruling.
But he pushed aside the unease. He raised his hand, smiling at the crowd. "My people," he said loudly, his voice strong, "the war is over! The tyrant Kael is no more. His fire has been extinguished forever. Under my reign, you shall have peace, prosperity, and strength!"
The cheers grew louder. But in the back of the hall, a few old knights exchanged silent looks. They had sworn to Kael once. Their eyes did not shine with joy but with unease.
Darion's Private Feast
After the ceremony, Darion sat in a smaller chamber with his closest allies. The table was heavy with food and wine. He laughed with them, raising his cup.
"To victory," he said.
"To victory," the lords and generals echoed.
One of the generals leaned forward. "But, my king, what of the loyalists? Kael had many. Some whisper that he cannot truly die, that dragon blood never fades."
The room grew quiet.
Darion's smile faltered, but only for a moment. He set down his cup and spoke coldly. "Kael is gone. I saw him fall. I saw the spear pierce his heart. His blood stained the battlefield. Do not waste breath on children's tales. His line is ended. I am king now."
The generals bowed their heads, though not all were convinced.
Darion leaned back, hiding his unease behind another sip of wine. In his heart, the echo of Kael's roar still haunted him.
Far Away — In the Cavern
While Eldrath celebrated, deep under the mountains, Kael opened his eyes.
He sat in the glowing cavern, his chest still rising hard from the battle against the guardian beast. Smoke curled from his lips as he exhaled. His hands trembled — not from weakness, but from the rush of new power flowing in his veins.
The crystals on the walls pulsed like beating hearts. The ground still carried the warmth of his flames.
Kael lowered his head, staring at his reflection in the pool of water. His silver hair clung to his face, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. Faint scales marked his skin. He looked like both man and dragon.
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he whispered, "I am alive."
His hands clenched into fists. "Darion thought he killed me. He thought he could steal my throne, my blood, my destiny."
The system voice answered inside his mind.
> [Quest Updated: Rebuild Your Throne]
– Gather allies.
– Awaken the Dragon Bloodline.
– Take back the kingdom.
Kael's breath shook. His chest burned not with pain, but with rage. Images flashed in his mind — Darion smiling, Darion raising the spear, Darion wearing a crown.
His voice grew louder, echoing through the cavern. "Enjoy the throne while you can, traitor. Every stone of that palace will tremble when I return. Every man who raised a hand against me will kneel in ash and fire."
The cavern rumbled, as if agreeing with him. The runes under his feet glowed brighter, wrapping him in light.
Kael lifted his head. His eyes were steady now, cold as steel. "I will rise. And when I do, the world will remember the name Kael Draven."
Two Kings, One Throne
That night, Eldrath slept under the rule of a new king. The streets were filled with songs and wine. Darion walked through the palace halls, the crown heavy but sweet on his head. He believed his dream had come true.
But under the mountain, Kael trained. He moved through the cavern, his fists cracking stone, his breath spilling fire. Each strike grew sharper. Each roar shook the walls.
Darion thought he had ended the line of dragons. But the line had only been reborn — stronger, fiercer, burning with vengeance.
The kingdom of Eldrath d
id not know it yet, but their new king had only borrowed the throne.
For the true Dragon Lord was coming back.