Chapter 658: [Ancient Awakening.]

"Do you want me to return to my Sanctuary?"

"No, I will return to mine."

Kael answered and Ferrakar frowned.

"What...?"

Kael smiled at those words, then, with a thought, the space around him trembled and his Sanctuary opened.

Ferrakar’s expression changed when he saw that.

That energy this portal released...

It was far purer than anything he had ever sensed.

What...

Ferrakar did not understand.

He looked at Kael and his frown deepened. Even if he was a Hero from another world, it didn’t explain this.

The only difference between a Hero and a normal Human was that a Hero’s ability was comparatively stronger and that they grew faster than normal Humans could but...

Even if that was true...

A Hero was still a Human.

And a human shouldn’t... have a Sanctuary so... pure.

In fact, no being should have a Sanctuary like this.

On the other hand, Kael, oblivious to how the Steel Dragon was losing his mind, only held the Egg gently, then—

"I’ll be back."

He looked at Ferrakar and smiled.

With that, he stepped into his Sanctuary and he disappeared.

"!!!"

Ferrakar widened his eyes in disbelief when he saw that.

"What...?"

He couldn’t understand.

A Human wasn’t supposed to be able to enter his Sanctuary.

That was impossible.

Lavinia, knowing exactly what the Dragon was thinking, shook her head.

"Don’t think too hard. I tried it and I lost my mind, more than once."

Ferrakar turned towards Lavinia, just one look at her was more than enough to understand who she was.

"Dragonborn."

"Lavinia Dragonborn."

Lavinia introduced herself with a polite bow, but she didn’t grovel in front of the Dragon and the Dragon noticed that.

"You aren’t affected by my natural presence."

He commented.

"Dragons with stronger natural presence call me Mother."

Lavinia chuckled softly.

Her statement didn’t offend Ferrakar.

After all, it was the truth. Ferrakar had seen it himself, he still remembered the two Dragons that stood with the Hero. Their Blood was purer and stronger than his own, so their natural presence was stronger as well.

Of course, if he wanted to intimidate an entity, his presence would become stronger than theirs because of how high the difference between their strength was.

But that was not natural presence.

"What was that Sanctuary?"

Ferrakar questioned, he actually liked having someone he could talk to, someone who didn’t grovel at his feet and try to impress him.

"I do not know."

Lavinia shook her head.

"And when it comes to Kael, I don’t bother thinking. I would lose my mind if I analysed everything he did."

"Why show it to me?"

Ferrakar questioned curiously.

Without trying it for himself, he could tell neither he nor any other entity could enter that Sanctuary.

It was no different than an impenetrable fortress.

A trump card that might save his life one day.

"He should not reveal such gifts casually."

The Dragon spoke but then—

"He does not."

Lavinia shook her head.

"Only I knew that he could move inside his Sanctuary, and now you do as well."

Ferrakar frowned at those words.

"Why reveal it to me?"

"You gave him your child, that earns you some of his trust.

Think of it as his way of showing that he trusts you."

"The entire reason he had to walk in was because he did not trust me."

Ferrakar chuckled at the irony. Lavinia smiled as well.

"I said some of his trust, not all.

It is very difficult to earn all his trust."

"I presume only you have his complete trust."

"Yes."

Lavinia answered proudly.

"So he is trusting a Dragonborn, huh..."

Ferrakar commented.

Lavinia frowned at those words,

"What does my name have to do with it?"

"Nothing."

"It is far better than trusting a Velmourn."

Lavinia snorted.

She didn’t know why, but she seemed more irritated around the Steel Dragon, maybe she didn’t like what he stopped when he called them? Or maybe it was just that she wanted to be Kael’s perfect match in every possible way, so when the Dragon brought up her name, in an obviously disdainful manner, she didn’t like it.

The Dragon only laughed, not caring about Lavinia’s remark.

That should have made Lavinia even madder, but she quickly retook control over her emotions and closed her eyes.

The Dragon looked at her for a short moment, then at the Spirits around her, Spirits that were looking at him with curious looks on their faces and he closed his eyes as well.

’A Hero and a Human surrounded by Elementals.’

He noted in his head and that made his face grim.

Just... what was Nerathis sensing to bring the two of them together?

Just how strong was the threat they were facing?

Is it... not the normal cycle?

Or...

Was it something different this time?

He wondered in his head, but then, he shook his head and closed his eyes, waiting for Kael to return like Lavinia was.

...

Inside his Sanctuary, Kael stood in a lively green garden, this was Eira’s Space. Around him were all his children, from the oldest to the youngest—

All of them looking at the Egg in his hand.

At their new sibling.

This was especially true for Igni and Cirri, after all, their new sibling would be a Dragon as well, just like them.

"Paa~"

Eira jumped onto Kael’s shoulder and chuckled, clearly she wanted to rush him.

The rest of the children were no different, they wanted Kael to hurry up as well. Kael smiled at their reaction, then, he turned his attention back to the Egg in his hand, then—

[Origin Adamant Dragon’s Bloodline Detected.]

The message appeared in front of him and he—

[Ancient Awakening.]

He activated his ability and the energy in his body moved, this time, in a very very familiar manner. It was quite similar to how the energy moved when he used his ability on Igni and Cirri and that put a nostalgic smile on Kael’s face.

For now, however, he stopped reminiscing and focused on what was in front of him.

His future child.

His future family member.