CHAPTER 102: JUST AS ALWAYS

Surprisingly, it wasn’t as awkward as Riley expected. Or maybe he had simply been bracing for more resistance.

If he was being honest, it was likely just the product of his imagination, since he and his father hadn’t exactly been on tight speaking terms for the past five years.

Sure, they spoke when necessary. He still greeted him as a son greeting an elder should. But it wasn’t like before.

Not like when he used to chatter endlessly about the worm he found in the garden that morning or the fights that broke out at school.

Back then, they had been close. His father had been his ally when the time came to choose his career. But then, one day, Lawrence Hale was just... different. Distant. Gone somewhere Riley couldn’t follow, and the father he grew up with seemed like a completely different man from the one who had been with them these last five years.

Then again, the man hadn’t been sick five years ago.

For the longest time, his father had always been strong, determined, and the picture of health. Until one day, without warning, he fell ill.

At first, they brushed it off. A fever. Fatigue. Nothing serious. But soon enough, Lawrence Hale, who had once been the definition of vitality, was no longer fit for most things. He stayed in bed more and more, and as time passed, Riley began to understand how such a thing could turn a person into a shell of himself.

So he understood. He really did.

He even thought maybe his father hadn’t meant for any of this. If it had been the father he knew, he would’ve prepared him—just like he had prepared Riley for all those dreaded quiz bees.

But even after five years, Riley still couldn’t understand why he hadn’t just said anything.

That silence lingered in Riley’s chest, heavier than most things. It made him hesitate now, wondering what would happen if his father refused to answer the questions. Riley would only be royally pissed, but the golden lizard beside him? He doubted the dragon lord would stop at "pissed."

Thankfully, having Kael there seemed to loosen his father’s tongue, as if even Lawrence Hale, frail as he was, felt the weight of that presence and knew silence was no longer an option.

"You want to know about the attendees of Lord Kael’s succession rite?" his father asked, back still straight despite his illness.

"Yes, Dad. We’re specifically looking for the invited elders in attendance." Riley kept his tone even, carefully vague. No explanations yet. No hints that might nudge his father toward bias.

For one thing, he didn’t even mention the numbers. Back then, there had been seven elders. Now, there were eight. Prior to the rite, Lord Karion had still been the reigning dragon lord. But after passing the title to Kael, he had taken his seat among the elders, completing the eighth.

Better to keep it vague for now.

Lawrence Hale took a moment before speaking, his tone steady despite the weight of the subject. "While I don’t have any documents with me anymore, the attendance could be verified by the footage of the event. But as for the invited, that would be something you could confirm with Lord Karion."

He paused before continuing. "Back then, all seven elders, excluding the former dragon lord and the current dragon lord, were invited to the event. But from what I remember, only five of them were present, just as always."

"Just as always?" Riley echoed, eyes narrowing.

Lawrence seemed faintly confused by the question, but Riley could sort of understand.

After all, unlike Lord Karion, who had worked closely with the elders, his boss, the golden terror, clearly had no patience for them. In fact, Riley hadn’t even had the chance to meet all of them in his five years of working.

Okay, granted, for dragons that was like... five days. But even then, Riley knew his father’s work had once involved dealing with far more of them.

But him? Short of Kael’s parents, his nephew, and the occasional gaggle of dragons foolish enough to chase after the dragon lord, Riley had never needed to concern himself with the elders. Not until their last chaotic stint at the main estate.

So excuse him for not having any idea what belonged in the category of "just as always."

"Dad, could you please elaborate?"

Instead of answering, Lawrence glanced at the dragon lord, waiting.

Ah. There it was. A nod. Permission. Riley realized belatedly that his father was asking if he was allowed to discuss dragon clan matters.

Great. Were there clauses for everything? Next time, Riley was going to be extra careful about what he blurted out.

"Out of the original seven elders, two of them would be sent invitations, but wouldn’t show," Lawrence said at last.

"One of them would be Elder Zephyros Ironscale."

Oh! Riley knew that name. The oldest surviving elder. So why would the one with the most seniority never show up?

Was it because he hated the younger generation or—

Lawrence clearly caught the suspicious narrowing of Riley’s eyes and decided to cut speculation off before it went wild. "It seems he has a vow of solitude. He’s been secluded even before Lord Karion became dragon lord."

"Huh? Then how could he still be an elder if he’s stopped working for who knows how long???" Riley gawked. That sounded suspiciously like anyone’s kind of dream job. Staying in your position without ever going to work.

Lawrence gave no answer, so both looked to Kael.

"Elders remain in position until they’re gone," Kael said flatly. "So even if he doesn’t show, the position is still considered occupied."

Riley’s jaw dropped. "But if it’s like that, how do you even verify if he’s still alive? For humans, even pension plans require you to show up. Otherwise, someone could just claim benefits for a dead guy."

"There is a way," Kael replied, his tone final. "It’s confirmed he is alive."

No elaboration. Which meant it was probably some dragon-kind secret. Riley sighed. He could understand that much. Teachers don’t usually reveal how they kept tabs on students either.

Still, if Elder Zephyros never showed up for anything, that meant he never had a solid alibi. To Riley, that made his absence look less harmless and more... suspiciously normal.

"Then, Dad, what about the other elder?" Riley pressed.

"It’s Chancellor Malrik Veyth."

"!"

"Him???" Riley choked.

"Yes, him," Lawrence confirmed.

"So he also doesn’t show up to these events?"

"More like he couldn’t. For rites witnessed by beings outside dragon-kind, the chancellor is not permitted to appear."

"Why?" Riley frowned.

Lawrence shook his head. He didn’t know. But Kael, of all people, answered. "Because the dragonlings wouldn’t be able to come. And the overseer’s only job is to protect the nest."

Riley’s eyes widened. "So wait, you’re saying Chancellor Malrik couldn’t attend because the dragonlings weren’t allowed at the televised succession?"

Kael nodded once.

Riley’s face soured instantly. Then what the hell? If that’s his one job, how come dragonlings were escaping left and right?!

For a fleeting moment, Riley truly understood why dragons needed human workers. Because honestly, how incompetent were these guys?!