The Crown's Fire - Chapter 138

Chapter 138: A Mysterious Man
Jade Palace, Kingdom of Ebodia

Ezekiel remained unconscious even after being transported back to his own bedchamber in the palace.

Stephan took charge in his absence, providing an alibi that Ezekiel had met with King Nikolai of Valcrez in a confidential location to discuss crucial matters related to the strength and security of alliances between kingdoms. This explanation was accepted by the inner court, given the complexities involved with the golden dragon’s presence and the fact that it was under Ezekiel’s control.

The court understood the sensitivity surrounding the golden dragon, especially considering Valcrez’s history of animosity towards dragons, stemming from a purge incident thirty years prior.

Dana held her son’s hand tenderly and planted a gentle kiss on it. “My love, Ezekiel will wake up soon. Lurio confirmed that everything is normal,” Stephan reassured her, his hand comforting her shoulders.

Dana stayed by Ezekiel’s side, refusing to leave him even for a moment. Despite being back in his palace, Ezekiel remained unconscious, only briefly waking in search of Tarah before slipping back into his dormant state again.

While she knew Ezekiel’s physical condition was stable, Dana couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was still amiss. Mineah had told them everything that had occurred, allowing Dana to piece together the puzzle.

“He’s aware of the mark and the spell. He willingly gave Tarah my journal, and according to Cora, Tarah diligently studied and practiced everything within it… He must have foreseen this, but experiencing it firsthand must be incredibly difficult,” Dana murmured, her heart aching for her son.

For years, Ezekiel had kept himself emotionally guarded, especially against women. But all those barriers crumbled when he met Tarah. Despite her concerns upon learning of his feelings for the fated Seer of their kingdom, Dana, and Stephan had chosen to support him, prioritizing his happiness above all else.

“I believe Ezekiel will overcome this and find his footing again soon,” Stephan encouraged, his voice filled with hope.

“Yes, he will,” Dana agreed, a sense of relief evident in her voice. “He radiates warmth, and I can sense the immense power and energy within him. He truly absorbed the dragon’s spirit and its power, which kept him alive after the abrupt attempt to extract Vulcan’s soul from his body.”

Stephan nodded in understanding.

Dana took another deep breath, her voice tinged with frustration as she continued, “The method employed by Devon’s warlock to extract Vulcan’s soul was utterly ruthless, showing no regard for the well-being of the host. It’s evident that the warlock’s primary goal was to kill Ezekiel in the process. Thankfully, the dragon’s spirit somehow merged back into Ezekiel’s body, even after its soul was completely destroyed.”

Stephan’s brows furrowed with confusion as he voiced, “I still don’t understand this scenario of the dragon’s soul and spirit. Is it true that Vulcan’s soul is truly destroyed? And if so, how come his spirit remained inside Ezekiel’s body?”

Dana drew a deep breath before elaborating. “The dragon’s soul and spirit are distinct entities within a single body. The soul encompasses the dragon’s essence, manifested through its mind, heart, will, imagination, dreams, thoughts, desires, and decision-making processes, shaped by its life experiences. On the other hand, the dragon’s spirit is a divine and supernatural entity, linked to the Holy Spirit of the Almighty in heaven. It holds the dragon’s power and is an integral part of its inner being.”

“So it’s possible that this dragon spirit stayed inside Ezekiel’s body for good? Are we certain that it won’t be harmful to him in the long run?” Stephan voiced his concern.

“Yes, but to ensure that…” Dana’s frown deepened as a realization struck her. “It must be Tarah, considering she’s a dragon rider. She can form a life and death bond with the dragon’s spirit, but… no way… did she…” Dana trailed off, lost in her thoughts.

“What is it? Are you suggesting that Tarah performed the life and death bond, not for herself and the dragon spirit, but for Ezekiel and the dragon spirit? Is that even possible? But I suppose it makes sense, considering our son is safe and sound now. Did I understand you correctly?” Stephan sought clarification.

Dana smiled as she turned to her husband, who stood beside her while she sat in a chair near Ezekiel’s bedside. “You’re quite sharp, aren’t you?” she teased.

Stephan chuckled. “You know I enjoy solving puzzles, and I hate being confused, so I try to see things clearly as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, you’re always like that, and I love it,” Dana said with a sweet smile before returning her gaze to Ezekiel.

“The dragon’s spirit is directly connected to the Holy Spirit of the Almighty, so it’s never harmful,” she confirmed to Stephan, exhaling with relief.

However, there were still certain things that were difficult to explain and left unanswered. Dana released another sigh as she pondered, “The dragon spirit has its own will to decide whether it wants to form the life and death bond or not. I wonder what truly happened and how Tarah managed to convince the dragon spirit to agree to this bond, enabling it to stay here with Ezekiel instead of returning to the heavens after Vulcan’s soul was destroyed.”

“Tarah must have bargained with it… Like struck a deal that the dragon spirit deemed worthy. But we’ll surely find out the details we seek once Ezekiel is fully awake. I’m sure he’ll be able to explain everything,” Stephan suggested.

*****

Meanwhile, Tessa, one of the few servants assigned to King Ezekiel’s private wing, had her day off so she returned to the rented room where she resided in the capital city.

“You’re finally back. I hope you have a useful report to give me this time,” a mysterious man in a hoodie greeted the moment she entered the private chamber.

“Master,” Tessa politely greeted before reaching into her pouch. She handed him something and said, “I found this journal inside her bedchamber. I always see her writing in it so I thought it could be of use so I brought it with me.”

Taking a deep breath, she continued, “I heard that she’s missing, and some say she’s gone for good and won’t return. Also, His Majesty is still unconscious in his bedchamber…”

The man nodded in understanding. “You’re doing well, Tessa. Observe more and report to me every detail of what’s happening inside his private wing. Be careful not to get caught.”