CHAPTER 195: THE OATH

Then again, maybe it was a good thing that Riley couldn’t experience this kind of turmoil.

Because anything he could still vividly recall after so long was not bound to be good.

Kael could still remember his major blunder.

Even after close to a millennium, the dragon lord who had grown from that young dragonling still wasn’t certain whether it had anything to do with what happened.

But even if it didn’t, he couldn’t help but think that things would’ve been different if not for his stupidity.

It had all started during a meeting with the elders when they were summoned for the initial mating rites.

For one, he’d been hesitant about the rites because, honestly, who would want to be engaged to an egg?

Especially an egg that was far too excitable and would keep rolling off to random places.

But the strange thing was that the egg would only ever follow him around. Once he left for the nest, the very same egg would disappear from sight, only to reappear later, much to everyone’s panic.

It drove the little golden dragon insane. Not only were the dragons of the nest annoying, but now he had to look out for an egg that seemed determined to frustrate him.

What was he supposed to do with an egg that would only stop rolling when it could nuzzle against him?

So when the young dragon heard that even the first stage of the mating rites would create a connection with the egg, he decided it was better to perform the ritual right away.

That way, he wouldn’t have to chase after the unruly egg anymore.

Lord Karion almost passed out after hearing his son’s claim and even dissuaded him from doing it early because there was really no need to rush.

Sure, it wasn’t really the complete mating rite and wasn’t even permanent, but creating a bond like this, what if the poor egg ended up picking up on Kael’s natural irritability?

But much to the Dragon Lord and Lady’s surprise, the egg seemed excited to make a runic bond with their wayward child. Even attempting to resonate when they weren’t even situated on a magic circle.

And that was how Kael ended up standing before the dragon elders, holding the egg he was supposed to bond with.

It was a sight that could melt even the hardest and most questionable hearts.

Kael, the baby dragon—small, round, and with a glimmering coat of gold—stood in the middle of the ceremonial chamber with his wings puffed up like a stubborn chick.

His claws barely gripped the surface of the large egg he was carrying, and his brows were furrowed so deeply that it made him look like a very serious, very wrinkled old dragon trapped in a miniature body.

He had wanted to get over it as fast as possible because if he had to wear that absurd bow any longer, he might just decide to burn everything down

Thankfully, the runic circle below them shimmered faintly as his father, Dragon Lord Karion, prepared to begin the ritual.

"Do you swear to treat each other with respect?" his father asked solemnly.

The baby dragon blinked. "...What?"

Karion continued without missing a beat. "Do you promise to take care of your mate?"

Little Kael’s tail flicked in irritation. His golden eyes squinted suspiciously.

"Do you swear to talk to your mate using a reasonable tone and with reasonable words?"

The young dragon’s wings shot up in disbelief.

He was about to explode.

Why were there so many questions? This wasn’t part of the rites. He had reviewed the requirements himself! They were only supposed to step onto the circle and let a drop of his blood touch the egg. That was it.

But now his father was adding all sorts of nonsense.

The elders watched with visible amusement, some hiding their laughter behind their claws. Lady Cirila, Kael’s mother, was practically shaking from the effort of not bursting out laughing.

She knew exactly what was going on: Karion, ever the overprotective father, had been losing sleep worrying that their son might one day get angry and accidentally fry the egg if left unchecked. So, in true Karion fashion, he decided to add as many vows as possible to the ceremony.

But the little golden dragonling had reached his limit.

With his tiny chest puffed out and his voice trembling with outrage, he pointed a claw straight at his father.

"Father, you’re making this up!" he cried, his tone caught somewhere between youthful outrage and disbelief. "That’s not what it says on the scroll!"

The elders erupted into laughter. The sound echoed through the hall like a chorus of thunder.

Kael’s father, however, only looked at him with mock sternness. "It is now," Karion said. "And you will repeat after me."

The baby dragon gawked at him, scandalized. His tail smacked the ground as he hissed in frustration.

Lady Cirila had to turn away, pressing a claw to her snout to hide her smile. The elders were chuckling openly now, whispering about how the little one was truly so much like his grandfather.

But Kael, in all his stubby, puffed-up glory, refused to be outdone.

"I am not saying that! You are cheating!" he declared, wings trembling from effort as the egg in his arms wobbled dangerously.

Obviously, in the end, he begrudgingly said all of it.

Technically, at that point, the part of the rite that could be performed was already finished. Everyone had already had a good laugh—everyone except the baby dragon and his anxious father.

So they really could’ve gone home if not for Kael, who suddenly overheard something he didn’t like.

The young dragon’s head tilted slightly. His golden eyes narrowed, catching snippets of whispered speech that were anything but discreet.

While they found the whole ceremony to be entertaining, it would never be enough to diminish their true opinions on the matter.

Since the ordeal was over, they stopped pretending to be polite. Their tones may be hushed, but Kael already knew better. Even as a dragonling, he understood that if they truly wanted privacy, they could have just used sound barriers. The fact that they didn’t meant they wanted to be overheard.

And so, he listened.

"It’s a shame that the dragon lord’s fated mate is like that..." one of the elders murmured, her voice laced with sympathy that sounded anything but genuine.

Kael’s brow twitched. ’That,’ again. What did that even mean this time?

It wasn’t a secret that Lady Seraphyne of the Azure Flame was obsessed with bloodlines, but was she blind or stupid? How could she find fault with an egg?

"Ah, I understand, My Lady," another elder replied softly, his tone falsely regretful. "If it had been from a more powerful clan..."

The rest of their words were drowned by the polite laughter that followed, but Kael could feel the air shift. There was a sort of smugness behind their whispers. A quiet glee that had nothing to do with the so-called concern they were feigning.

Then, from where his father stood among the elders, Chancellor Malrik’s voice rose above the murmurs.

"How could it be a problem," the Chancellor said pleasantly, "when we should appreciate another Iron Dragon? Elder Zephyros Ironscale at least has someone who could take on the mantle. Isn’t that wonderful news?"

The older dragons nodded in agreement, their faces filled with what looked like satisfaction.

But to the young dragonling watching from below, it all just sounded stupid.

He frowned, his tail flicking against the floor in clear irritation.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Kael spoke up.

"What are you even talking about?"

His voice carried across the room, small but sharp. The adults froze. No one expected the tiny golden dragon to interrupt, much less question them so bluntly.

"Ah, Young Lord Kael," Chancellor Malrik said smoothly, his expression as calm as ever. "You may not know since Elder Zephyros has been in seclusion even before you hatched, but your mate actually happens to be the same kind as him."

Kael’s face scrunched up.

How could they sit there so proudly while talking nonsense? Were they really gossiping about an unborn dragon? Was this what ancient dragons did for fun, bully those who hadn’t even hatched yet?

Did they think they’d get away with it just because he still had to go to the nest to "study"?

Another elder spoke up, smiling as if this were all perfectly reasonable.

"That color and pattern are definitely the mark of the almost extinct Iron Dragons. To think you’ve found another one! Surely it’s something to rejoice about."

"Huh?" Kael tilted his head, then squinted. "Chancellor, have you gone senile?"

The entire room went still. Even his father blinked, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

But Chancellor Malrik only chuckled, as if humoring a child. "And why would you say that, Young Lord?"

Kael crossed his small arms, wings twitching in irritation.

"How could this be the markings of an Iron Dragon when it’s clearly a Black Dragon?" His voice rose, indignant and sure. "Have you skipped all the required historical readings?"

Gasps filled the chamber. A few elders exchanged wide-eyed looks.

And just as the young dragonling finished speaking, the egg he had been holding gave a sudden tremor.

It shifted in his arms, almost like it was startled, then began to nuzzle insistently against his chest.

The movement startled even Kael. He glanced down, confused.

The egg pulsed faintly with dark light.

He really should have known.

Because at that very moment, the young dragon had probably ruined everything.