Chapter 186: The Surpassed Limit
The celebratory banquet seemed like it was going to end without touching on any important topics. The king looked especially pleased about that, but the person who had suggested the dinner had been wanting to ask something for a while.
"Thalassa, may I call you that?"
Her gaze immediately turned to the one who had asked the question, though it wasn’t as if the siren’s attention had been far from him since her tense conversation with Cassian.
"I have nothing against it. What is it, Zakaer?" she replied, reaffirming the name the same way Lumia had called him earlier in the throne room.
"Mmm, I was just wondering where you were all this time before coming to Hidria. I suppose the people who came with you are from there..."
Thalassa nodded. Her eyes showed deep suspicion, but she delivered her answer with complete confidence. "In Demor. It’s a human empire on the northern continent."
The man raised his eyebrows, studying the response. "I think I’ve heard something about it..." His posture relaxed noticeably after saying that, as if learning the origin of her companions had stripped the matter of all seriousness. "I’ve heard many good things about you from Lumia," the ’fiancé’ changed the subject.
"Oh? I don’t see you two getting along that well," she replied, with a sharp edge.
Zakaer raised an eyebrow and smiled, amused. "She’s just shy."
"Why do you want to marry my Lumia so badly that you’d leave your homeland and offer help in a conflict that doesn’t concern you? Forgive me for sounding so blunt, but I think my doubt is justified."
The man’s smile softened. "I understand why you sound so concerned, but there’s no need. We dragons have been discussing for some time that it’s time for greater unity with other races. The upcoming meeting is proof of that."
Thalassa frowned. "Meeting?"
"Mmm, all the superior empires of the south will gather to address the issue of the corroded beasts. I only came to lend a hand and, while I’m at it, marry a beauty," Zakaer leaned back, relaxed, but before finishing he slipped in a small joke, "Of course, I don’t think Demor is invited. The last I heard, they were lucky to even have one Transcendent among their ranks. No offense," he added, glancing at Cassian.
Cassian simply raised his eyebrows in response. He wasn’t exactly interested in the answer itself. But he was quite a bit interested in how Zakaer saw things.
"No offense taken," Cassian said, which drew incredulous looks from those who knew him—they were sure he wouldn’t even bother responding—and looks of displeasure from those who disliked his intervention.
He focused on the cup of wine that had been served to him, toying with it for a moment before continuing, "I’m quite interested in hearing more. You said you don’t consider Demor because the last you heard they only had one Transcendent, but the last I heard... there were... a hundred? A thousand? I’m not sure," he finished with a shrug, downplaying the matter and making it unclear whether he was joking or being serious.
"Not even a hundred. I think a thousand is already way too far. Even among dragons it’s hard to gather that number."
"Is it? What a disappointment."
Zakaer clenched his fist. "You sound far too confident for it to be a joke."
"Sorry, I just wanted to know what was considered ’superior.’ I can see I exaggerated."
Lumia looked at Cassian in disbelief as he finished speaking, then turned her gaze toward Thalassa, who remained silent, and bumped her shoulder against hers to get her attention.
When the tutor turned to see what she wanted, however, Cassian spoke again: "That meeting you mentioned... It seems even among dragons there are people worried about the corrosion. Does anyone already have an idea of how to solve it or stop it?"
The dragon narrowed his eyes. "I don’t know what you expect me to answer. If we had an idea, we wouldn’t be talking about it here."
"Mmm, but with so many Transcendents among you, hasn’t anyone noticed anything? I haven’t met that many, but I do have some idea."
"And what idea is that?"
"Well, that something is wrong here, obviously. Or am I wrong?" Cassian finally reached the point he wanted to make, flashing a lopsided smile.
But Zakaer didn’t grasp the underlying meaning.
On the other hand, Cassian had scanned the entire world in search of Margery, but he had also taken the opportunity to learn many things. He hated doing this kind of massive analysis and always avoided it; archiving the information of so many living beings and so much land was unpleasant for his mind. However, since it was necessary anyway, he had tried to do it properly.
He knew everything about the dragon race in this world—from what they most wanted to hide to what had truly brought this man here, who claimed to have come for a simple "beauty."
He could understand why Nyx would be interested in this world, since not many possessed the same diversity. There was also the matter of the limits—he didn’t want to admit it, but those limits were the answer. No one seemed to have touched the immortal realms...
A sigh echoed in his mind.
«This kind of worry really doesn’t suit me,» he complained internally. «Of all the worlds, I had to pick this one... It seems the past doesn’t want to stay buried.»
And as if the things he was trying to avoid had come straight to his door, the presence of Xingyue became clear near Azure. He looked at the people who were still watching him with contempt or as if they had heard a madman speak, and stood up abruptly.
"I’m tired," he said in a flat voice. "Where am I going to stay tonight?"
Thalassa finally gave in to Lumia’s pleading gaze. But even as she did so, it was clear that Cassian had gone too far. Although she disliked Zakaer, she didn’t want her people to be drawn into the conflict between them.
"I’m tired too, Oreon. I hope you’ll keep that in mind and not take it too seriously..." Her voice was gentle, trying to ease the tension at the table.
The King of the Sea shook his head. "You don’t have to say anything. The young must have confidence; without it, we are all lost."
His Majesty scanned the faces of those present, who seemed to hold different opinions, reminding them that they were guests no matter how much they disliked it. Then he rested his gaze on Zakaer, who had fallen silent long ago with a furrowed brow. The dragon knew very well how bad things were here. No matter how many rules a world established, there was a limit they had to respect—and this one... this one had crossed it long ago.