Fey'rath flew directly toward the largest structure in the kingdom,a massive palace carved into the heart of a floating mountain. Its walls were made of black obsidian inlaid with veins of gold that glowed of mana crystals.
She landed on a platform outside the palace entrance and shifted back into her human form with a burst of flame. Yuki slid off her back, her legs shaky.
Owen landed beside them, panting. "Finally. My wings are killing me"
"Keep up, brat" Fey'rath said without sympathy. "You're about to meet the other Greater Dragons. Try not to embarrass yourself"
She turned and walked toward the massive doors without waiting for a response.
Yuki and Owen exchanged glances, then hurried after her.
---
The halls of the palace were grand and imposing, lined with statues of dragons in various poses, some majestic, some fierce, some serene. Floating orbs provided light, each one containing a different element. Yuki felt incredibly small here. Incredibly mortal.
Eventually, they reached a massive set of double doors, easily fifty feet tall, engraved with scenes of dragons in battle.
Fey'rath pushed them open without hesitation.
Inside was a throne room.
Or rather, a war room. A massive circular table dominated the center, covered in maps and glowing markers. And standing around it were four more figures, all in humanoid form, all radiating power that made Owen's scales itch.
One was a towering man, easily seven feet tall, with silver hair that seemed to shine like metal and ice-blue eyes that could freeze a soul. He wore heavy platinum armor that looked like it weighed a ton but he moved in it like it weighed like papers.
Another was a woman with emerald-green skin that had a faint scale pattern, green eyes with slit pupils, and long black hair. She was draped in flowing green silks that shifted colors as she moved.
The third was a young-looking man, or at least, he appeared young, with messy golden-blonde hair and a cocky grin. He wore casual clothing and was casually twirling a dagger that crackled with lightning.
The fourth was an ancient looking woman with long white hair, deep violet eyes that felt like they held centuries of knowledge. She leaned on a staff that pulsed with mana similar to what Owen feels from the Sovereignty of Space-time.
They all turned as Fey'rath entered.
"Fey!" the silver-haired man rumbled, his voice like grinding glaciers. "You're late for the council. And who is-...!"
He stopped mid-sentence, his ice-blue eyes locking onto Owen.
The entire room fell silent.
The emerald woman's serpentine eyes widened, her pupils contracting to slits. The golden-haired man's cocky grin vanished, replaced by shock. The ancient woman's grip on her staff tightened, her knuckles going white.
The silver-haired man took a step forward, his armor clinking. "Fey... What have you brought into Drak'thar?"
Fey'rath smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction.
"Welcome to Drak'thar, the Dragon Kingdom" she said, gesturing grandly to Owen and Yuki. "Let me introduce to the present Greater dragons in the room."
She pointed to the silver-haired man first.
"This is Glacius, First of the Dragon King's Greater Dragons. Master of Ice and commander of the Northern Flights."
Glacius's cold eyes never left Owen.
Fey'rath gestured to the emerald woman. "Veridra, Second of the Greater Dragons. Mistress of Nature and guardian of the Sacred Groves."
Veridra's serpentine pupils remained fixed on Owen.
"Zephron, Third of the Greater Dragons" Fey'rath continued, pointing to the golden-haired man. "Master of Lightning and... well, resident troublemaker."
Zephron's shock had faded, replaced by a calculating grin. "Now this is interesting..."
Finally, Fey'rath's tone became respectful as she gestured to the ancient woman. "And Chronara, Fourth of the Greater Dragons. The Timeless One. Keeper of Fate and Seer of all time"
Chronara stared at Owen with those violet eyes, not with shock like the others, but with something else. Recognition. As if she'd been expecting him.
"The threads of fate are cruel indeed" Chronara whispered.
Glacius stepped forward, his massive form imposing. "Fey'rath. Explain. Now. Who or what is this creature?"
"Is that...?" Veridra's voice was barely audible, her eyes still locked on Owen. "Is that the missing egg?"
"Don't be absurd" Zephron snapped, though his hand had stopped twirling the dagger. "The egg isn't due to hatch for another decade at minimum. The calculations were precise."
"Then who is he?!" Glacius demanded, his voice rising. "Black scales. Golden eyes. A baby dragon with a royal bloodline aura stronger than anything I've felt in a thousand years. EXPLAIN!"
Fey'rath opened her mouth to respond,
But Chronara moved.
Despite her ancient appearance, she crossed the room swiftly, placing herself between the other Greater Dragons and Owen. Her staff struck the ground with a resonant thud that silenced everyone.
"Enough"
Glacius stopped advancing. Veridra's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Zephron's hand stilled completely.
Chronara turned to face them, her violet eyes glowing softly. "Do not demand answers that even I cannot fully see. This child..." she glanced back at Owen, "...is not what you think. But he is also exactly what you fear."
"What does that mean?!" Zephron exclaimed, frustration breaking through his usual cocky demeanor.
Chronara's gaze swept across all of them. "It means his fate is intertwined with the fate of dragonkind itself. The threads are tangled, complex, shifting even as I try to read them. But one thing is clear..." she looked directly at Owen again, "...you are meant to be here."
Owen's wings shifted uncomfortably. "I... I don't understand."
"You will.." Chronara said softly.
Then she turned back to the other Greater Dragons. "Though we cannot simply ignore his presence, we also cannot judge what we do not understand. He carries the blood. He wields powers that should be impossible. And most importantly..." she tapped her staff against the ground "...the Dragon King will want to meet him when he returns."
"If he returns..." Veridra muttered darkly.
Chronara's expression didn't change. "He will return. The question is when. And until then..." She looked at Owen again, her violet eyes piercing. "You, young one, will need to prove yourself worthy of the blood that flows through your veins."
"Prove myself?" Owen asked warily.
Glacius crossed his massive arms. "If we're to accept you into Drak'thar without demanding a full accounting, which I am not comfortable with, then you must demonstrate your worth."
"The Tower of Royals..." Chronara said.
Owen blinked. "The what?"
Fey'rath sighed. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
"It's the only way..." Chronara insisted. She looked at Owen. "The Tower of Royals is a sacred place within the Dragon Kingdom. It's where dragons of royal blood go to train, to evolve, to unlock their true potential. The tower tests body, mind, and spirit. It pushes you to your absolute limits."
"And it's also the quickest way to force an evolution..." Zephron added, his cocky grin returning. "If you survive, that is. Lots of dragons don't."
"Zephron..." Veridra hissed warningly.
"What? I'm just being honest!"
Glacius's ice-blue eyes bore into Owen.
"The Tower has one hundred floors. Each floor presents a challenge tailored to the dragon entering it. Combat. Puzzles. Trials of willpower. If you can reach the top..." He paused. "You'll evolve. And you'll earn our respect."
Chronara nodded. "And more importantly, you'll be ready to meet the Dragon King when he returns."
Owen's mind raced. 'A tower that forces evolution? That sounds... actually perfect. I'm already at 95% exp. One or two good fights and I'd level up anyway. This might accelerate everything'
But before he could respond, Yuki stepped forward.
"Wait," she said, her voice shaking slightly but determined. "What about me?"
All five Greater Dragons turned to look at her, as if they'd forgotten she existed.
Veridra's eyes narrowed. "What about you, human?"
Yuki swallowed but stood her ground.
"Owen and I are... Partners. If he's going into this tower, I'm going with him."
Glacius scoffed. "Impossible. The Tower of Royals is sacred ground. Only those with dragon blood may enter."
"Then make an exception..." Yuki said firmly.
"Absolutely not..."
"She comes with me..." Owen interrupted, his voice hard. "Or I don't go."
The room fell silent again.
Glacius's expression darkened. "You dare make demands?"
"I'm not making demands..." Owen said, meeting the First Greater Dragon's icy gaze without flinching. "I'm stating a condition. Yuki and I fight together. Always. If you want me to prove myself in your tower, she comes with me. Non-negotiable."
Fey'rath groaned. "Oh, this brat is going to get himself killed..."
But Chronara... smiled.
It was a small, knowing smile, as if Owen had just confirmed something she'd already seen.
"Very well..." Chronara said.
"WHAT?!" Glacius, Veridra, and Zephron shouted in unison.
Chronara tapped her staff again. "The tower responds to intent, not blood alone. If this human is truly bonded to him, truly fighting as one, the tower will allow it. Or it won't. Either way..." She looked at Yuki with those ancient violet eyes. "You'll find out soon enough."
Yuki's hands trembled, but she nodded. "Thank you."
Glacius looked like he wanted to argue, but Chronara's authority was absolute. He turned away with a disgusted grunt.
Veridra's expression was unreadable, while Zephron just laughed. "Oh, this is going to be entertaining."
Fey'rath walked over to Owen and Yuki, shaking her head. "You two are either very brave or very stupid. The Tower of Royals isn't a joke. Dragons have died in there."
"We'll manage," Owen said with more confidence than he felt.
Chronara approached them, leaning on her staff. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow, you enter the tower. And young dragon..." Her violet eyes seemed to see straight through him. "When you reach the top, and I believe you will, answers will be waiting for you. Answers about who you are. And what you're meant to become."
Owen's heart pounded. "What do you mean?"
But Chronara had already turned away.
"Dismissed" Glacius said coldly. "Fey'rath, show them to the guest chambers. And keep them under watch."
Fey'rath sighed. "Come on, brats. Let's go before someone changes their mind about not killing you."
As they left the war room, Owen glanced back one last time.
Chronara was staring at him again, her violet eyes glowing faintly.