"I'm glad to see you are well."
His aged voice echoed.
The look on Caspian's face, even as he tries to keep it neutral, would convey his distrust of that statement.
Sighing, he spoke patiently.
"Caspian, things are more complicated than you know. I could not act hastily. How powerful a leader is individually is not always enough."
His face looked contemplative, his dim crimson eyes lost focus for a moment.
"Being the leader of a large empire like I am requires a delicate balance of different interests. And I cannot let my empire fracture and the negative impacts of that event occur, even for my precious daughter."
Caspian knew that his grandfather's hands were tied, and he couldn't act as freely as he would like, but he still wouldn't forgive him so easily, not after what happened to his mother was so fresh in his mind.
"Thank you for the wise words, my king."
Valerion said, half seriously and half sarcastically.
This elicited a small smile from Thalric as he commented.
"You know what, Caspian, I know this is our first proper meeting, but from the way you act, it reminds me so much of myself at your age."
He then laughed lightly as if remembering a bygone era.
"I was brash, thought I knew best, and saw the world as mine for the taking. Thinking might makes right, which in this world would be correct to an extent, and for dragons, especially, there is nothing truer, but there are lessons you will learn when you live to my age, and those will temper that spirit to be more cautious."
"My king, if I may?"
Valerion asked, and the old lion waved his hand, a casual way of giving him permission to speak.
"I want to ask one simple question. Why did you summon me?"
The directness of the question took Thalric off guard.
"Maybe... it was because I wanted to just speak with you after all this time, maybe it was to give, as you put it, some wise words. Perhaps I am trying to rid myself of some sort of regret for past actions."
His words seemed vulnerable, a side of him rarely seen by anyone.
"I will just say this, be careful, you are not in a position politically, nor when it comes to your own personal power, to be making enemies lightly. Just... temper that spirit a little, and take my advice."
His voice portrayed a grandfather's sincerity.
"That was all I wanted to say, you may go."
Caspian stood and bowed, then turned and walked away.
The old king left him these words: "I will be watching you closely from now on."
______
Exiting the throne room, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Saying things like that at the end would catch you on a watchlist back on Earth. Especially at that age. Reminds me of that godly dude who gave us all the free shit.
I shuddered at the thought of what will come to me in the future. There ain't no way this stuff is free.
Anyway, tempering my spirit, huh? I don't know about that, with my cheat, do I even need to?
I smirked confidently.
I am not like the inhabitants of this world; I am an anomaly, a person with the potential to outshine all.
I won't slow down from that goal of standing above all dragons!
As I was lost in my thoughts, a poisonous voice entered my ears, one I remembered well.
"Oh! If it isnt my dear cousin! Back from the dead and looking better than ever! I guess even half-breeds can scrub up well enough. You have your royal blood to thank for that, even if it's a bit thin."
A tall man, a little shorter than Caspian, but still tall, with short red hair and blue eyes, his looks were good for a royal, but paled in comparison to Caspian.
The thing that stuck out the most was his swagger as he sauntered over as if he owned the place.
As if everyone was beneath him.
Utter confidence, which in Caspian's view seemed misplaced, as if it were a false bravado.
Being 5 years older than Caspian and obviously not in a coma at all, he had only evolved once, and for a dragon, that might not be something to worry about.
They saw time differently than lower races, but to Caspian, the lack of urgency was a weakness he would exploit.
That sense of laxidical behaviour would be his opponents' downfall, as seen with Vorgath here.
I guess he is my first young master moment.
Caspian thought to himself, a small smile gracing his lips.