The Monster King's Legacy - Chapter 127

Chapter 127: A Little History
Standing in the heart of this majestic domain, Lance was struck again by its sheer scale. Everywhere he turned, there were signs of the dragons’ immense power and ancient legacy.

From what he had seen from Aelyndra’s back, the sacred dragon realm spanned several kilometres, perhaps, the size of a small country. Irrespective of this size, he had learnt that the major structures and where most of the dragons could be found, was in the heart of the lands, where several mountains stood close by.

Looking at everything, Lance could only marvel at it. “This place feels like it’s alive,” Lance muttered to himself, running his hand over a weathered stone etched with unfamiliar symbols. ‘Perhaps I should have started out with the more normal races rather than dragons,’ he thought to himself.

A low, rumbling voice startled him. “That is because it is.”

Lance turned to see an enormous bronze-scaled dragon observing him from a ledge above. The dragon’s molten amber eyes gleamed with curiosity. He had actually thought it was part of the strange rock formation of the mountain! He didn’t even imagine it would be alive. Apparently, what he was looking at were the scales of a dragon.

The first thing that came to his mind, was whether the dragon had shrunk its size, because though it was looking or perhaps feeling like an older dragon, it’s size was roughly the same as Aelyndra. That again made Lance wonder why he had yet to see any dragon in their humanoid forms, they seemed to prefer shrinking rather than transforming completely.

“Apologies,” Lance said quickly, stepping back. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

The dragon tilted its head. “You are the human traveling with Aelyndra, are you not? The one she calls an ‘ally.'”

Lance nodded cautiously. “That’s right. I’m Lance.” He said, thinking of the fact that everyone seemed to know Aelyndra here, from young to old.

The dragon snorted, a small plume of smoke curling from its nostrils. “A mortal wandering the lands of dragons. Curious indeed.”

The bronze dragon motioned for Lance to follow, “come with me,” he said, leading him to a vast alcove carved into the mountainside. Inside was a collection of ancient murals and carvings, each one depicting a scene from dragon history.

“These murals,” the dragon began, his voice deep and resonant, “tell the story of our kind. Our origins, our purpose, and the balance we are sworn to maintain in this world.”

Lance stepped closer, his eyes widening as he studied the intricate carvings, nodding in understanding.

‘I don’t understand half of all these…’ He thought to himself. ‘An old man indeed…’

“This… this is incredible,” Lance whispered, his fingers tracing the edge of a carving. “Dragons aren’t just powerful, they’ve been protecting the world for centuries.” He said, though his tone wasn’t as amused as his words, it was sincere. Then again, for a race that could live for over thousands of years, he expected as much, anyone would.

The dragon let out a low rumble of approval. “We are not merely creatures of might, human. We are guardians of balance. When the world is threatened by forces beyond the capability of other races, we rise to restore order.”

Lance’s admiration grew with every word. “So that’s why none of you assisted during the recent demon lord invasion? It wasn’t world ending.” He said.

“If no Dragon was present, then it must be so.”

Lance nodded in understanding before stating. “You know, Dragons are seen as legends.” Even though he said that, he only spoke about the monster races he was familiar with, though, the old Dragon wouldn’t know.

“Because we do not seek glory or recognition,” the dragon replied. “Our purpose is to protect, not to dominate. To ensure the survival of all, even those who might fear us.”

Lance’s gaze drifted to a darker section of the alcove, where the carvings took on a more ominous tone. Massive cracks ran through the depictions, and the dragons in these images seemed to be struggling against a force that even they could barely contain.

“What’s this?” Lance asked, pointing to the damaged mural.

The bronze dragon’s expression darkened. “A reminder of our greatest failure. Long ago, there was a force so destructive that even we could not contain it. Many dragons perished trying to seal it away, and the cost of that victory still lingers today.”

Lance felt a chill run down his spine. “Is it still out there?”

“Sealed, for now,” the dragon said gravely. “But seals weaken over time. That is why we don’t relent in our strength, why we grow stronger. To prepare for the day it might return.”

The weight of the dragon’s words settled heavily on Lance. For the first time, he understood the immense responsibility that came with their power, and the sacrifices they had made to uphold it. But then, something else floated to the top of his mind, perhaps, something that had been there as soon as he was shown the carvings.

“Dragons are intelligent creatures, perhaps the most innately intelligent and wise… I was just wondering, why do you still rely on carvings to record information?” Lance asked in the most polite way possible.

The dragon laughed lightly as it turned to lead Lance back out. “Of course there are other ways that all these and more have been recorded for the younger generation, and for record keeping. This is only a fancy artwork. Then again, I don’t know the proper magic to create illustrations, do I now?”

As they left the alcove, Lance turned to the bronze dragon, his expression sincere. “Thank you for showing me this. I didn’t realize… how much dragons have done for the world. It’s humbling.”

The dragon regarded him thoughtfully, his molten eyes narrowing. “You are not like most mortals I have encountered. Your curiosity is genuine, and your respect is… refreshing.”

“I’ve learned a lot since I met Aelyndra,” Lance admitted with a smile. “Dragons are more than I ever imagined.”

The dragon snorted again, though this time it seemed almost amused. “You learned what from that brat? You have a long way to go, human. Though, you are not entirely unworthy.”

…

When Lance returned to the camp later that evening, Aelyndra was already there, her posture telling of her exhaustion. She glanced up as he approached, speaking in a low and exhausted tone. “Went out exploring?” She asked.

“Learning,” Lance replied with a grin, dropping onto a nearby round and low cushion. “One of your elders, well, an elder dragon, showed me some of the dragon murals. Your history is… incredible.”

Aelyndra tilted her head, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “Naturally so.”